Keeping fruit on a first year graft?

I grafted a Frostbite apple scion onto a larger tree in two places. To my surprise, it looks like both are going to push out a cluster of flowers. Has anyone ever successfully fruited a first year graft? I really want to make this cross (w/ Redfield), and frostbite is a small apple, so I figure Ill let one graft grow out and pollenate the flowers on the other to keep one apple. Maybe Ill get lucky and it will hold.

1 Like

I’ve done it and I don’t think I should have. I think it was too much to ask of the new growth and set it back badly. I’d say bite the bullet and wait.

7 Likes

Remove flowers. the weight of fruit can break graft.

3 Likes

one apple, I would yes. even two. I want small trees and pruning less because the growth gets stunted doesn’t bother me, I also want to taste test everything and get to grafting.

a bunch? no because the branch is probably too small to hold them