Possibly a question already answered, but what would y’all’s advice be for base apples and pears for variety trial limbs to be grafted onto?
I researched varieties till my brain was mush last winter to decide which scions to order, but really came to the conclusion trial and error will be the only way to determine the final picks. There is just so much information, and conflicting information, and so many varieties. Add to that the regional differences, microclimate differences within regions, and the fact that the taste part is both supremely important and wholly subjective. I’m really thinking I want to plant out a few trees and spend a few years grafting everything to them, then pick the best few varieties to plant more of/topwork the planting. I’m 26, so I could reasonably spend 10-15 years figuring out what I like, then still have plenty time to plant more of the favorites and enjoy them in quantity before I die.
1, plant a rootstock and allow it to develop multiple graft sites, then install wanted varieties.
Or
2, graft over the rootstock with some variety that is disease resistant and has wide graft compatibility and allow this to form the frame. That way any growth not being used to trial other varieties will produce something.
Or
3 just graft everything to individual dwarf rootstock to get a crop to evaluate sooner. If I do this though, I would eventually have to replant with longer lived, more drought tolerant root stock after the experiment has run its course.
I think I’d prefer option 1 or 2, knowing I’m perennially curious and will likely want to continue trying a graft of this or that even after I have found suitable varieties to plant out. I suspect the trial orchard will be used as such long after it is needed.
Note, I’m mainly thinking apple and pear, but will likely end up doing something similar for many other fruits, so feel free to drop advice outside that category.