Tried resurrecting an old thread for some specific help. tl;dr: Looking for RELIABLE source for multigraft cider tree. Failing that, 2-3 suggestions for zone 5 reliable dual purpose. See below for types I have.
I ordered & planted a cider multi-graft from Raintree spring of 2023; it clearly had a virus (and 2 of the 3 grafted varieties were susceptible, like Hewes), this was agreed to by the local Master Gardener who is an apple ace. Raintree has given me credit, but now I don’t trust them about virus-free (they never claimed the trees would be virus-free, BUT . . . they wouldn’t even admit the possibility). I only have space now for a single trunk, the concept of a multigraft cider tree appeals a great deal. If not, then dual purpose, preferably.
I have a Wickson crab & Rubinette (new 2023), trained to be small
Espaliered/training for smallness Tydeman’s Late Orange , Sierra Beauty, Goldrush, (none producing yet after 5 years, but probably because I was too aggressive with summer pruning).
I’m sorry you didn’t get a response last year. I’d like to know the direction you went with for Spring 2024.
I have personally not had good luck with multigraft trees of any variety. It’s very frustrating trying to balance the vigor differences. You end up growing to the lowest common denominator.
Now I recommend the 2-in-1-hole or even 3-in-1-hole. It makes it much easiest to prune.
As for your trees, if you’re looking for a recommendation of a dual apple, I would submit Ashmead’s Kernel for your consideration.
I have had good luck with multi grafted trees. Only one multi-grafted tree I have had issues with was a multi grafted pear tree- fireblight. So I took it out.
The other multi grafted tree that I had a problem with was when a beaver came to my pond and decided to eat three of the four varieties off the tree.
The 2 other multi grafted trees I have are doing fine, so far.
That is a good idea about putting two or three different trees in the same hole area. That may be a good alternative to a multi grafted tree. If one tree dies just replace the dead tree without taking them all out.
I replaced the multigraft with a Crimson Topaz because I couldn’t find a multigraft that was at all what I wanted. It’s doing well, and with the Rubinette, Goldrush, Sierra Beauty, Kidd’s Orange Red, Tyndeman’s Late Orange & Wixson, I should be set for a variety of late eating apples & maybe cider. IF I can get things to produce at all. The Rubinette has quite a few apples this year, the Wixson is coated, a few the Tyndeman, one Sierra Beauty. But I have cracking, and I will never again use plastic bags to avoid coddling moth because things got badly sunburned.
That is what I was afraid of if I used plastic bags onn my fruit- sunburned fruit. This year would have been horrible- we had temps into the 100’s for weeks on end. Even without bags put on the fruit there were a lot of my fruit that was actually being baked on the tree.