Fruit tree- any ideas???

[Nicos]

I'm doing an experiment!!

I bought a Mirabelle tree from Lidl ( read - 'stick') about 3 years ago for 99p ( so wasn't honestly expecting much from it)
It was planted in the garden- and then just forgotten about ( shame on me)

Anyway- it's never blossomed but early last year the rootstock graft was damaged by a strimmer and soon after 5 suckers started growing.
I thought that maybe the actual tree would die , so I left the suckers to see what happened.

Yesterday I actually paid the poor sapling a bit of attention...and the original tree is looking OK- and the suckers are about 7ft high
...so...decided to remove the suckers

I now have 5 7ft high 'saplings' with no roots which I have shoved into the soil to see what happens.

First question is....are they likely to root??..if so , should I have done anything spesh with them?

secondly if they might survive ( even one)- what are they likely to grow into???...they bear 2" thorns.

I know time will tell..but I'm keen to know now!!

[FB.]

Taking cuttings at this time of year has the best chance of rooting. Some rootstocks will grow from cuttings, but the success rate is only moderate and varies between rootstock types.

Mirabelles are often on plum roots, so my guess is that your suckers are St.Julien A rootstocks (the most commonly used rootstock for garden plums/stone fruits).
As for what fruit it may or may not produce...who knows?

[Mell]

St. Julien is a member of the species Prunus insititia, which also includes damsons and mirabelles. It used to be grown for its fruit which drys well, not so great fresh though !

If your suckers take root you could graft other things onto them.

[Nicos]

Oh- OK...I'm happy with all that!!

Do I just water hem from time to time? Maybe mulch the soil to keep the potential roots a bit warmer???

If they are St Julian fruit then what a fantastic excuse to buy that dehydrator I've had my eye on for a while!!!

If they do all root- I do quite fancy having a bash at grafting!!

Thanks

[Mell]

dehydrators are great, jerky, fruied appkle rings, herbs, excess veg the possibilities are endless.. shame my spare time isn't !