Grafting Apple Trees

Hello everybody,

So I've seen pictures of those apple trees which have another variety or two grafted on. It seems like a perfect idea for a small family with a small back yard. I was wondering, is it better to graft on a variety that blooms and matures at about the same time as your main tree? or is it better to have one that has a bit different timing? Also I was wondering if you have a mature tree can you try grafting on two varieties in different spots? or is it safer to wait for one graft to "take" before getting going on the second?

How many years do you have to wait before seeing fruit production from the new branch?

Thanks so much for any insight you can offer - Gen

If there are no other apple trees near by, having varieties with similar blooming schedules is good for pollination. Here is Adam County Nursery's Cross Pollination Chart. While similar bloom times are good, for maturity times it's better to try and get varieties with different maturity dates so you extend your season of fresh from the tree apple eating.

You can definitely do 2 or more grafts at the same time. I reckon it takes about 3 years for a graft to begin fruiting, depending on the vigor of the host plant and the variety that was grafted.