Cultivating Your Own Orchard: The Joy of Homegrown Fruit Trees

The Allure of Homegrown Fruit

Thomas Ogren's passion for fruit trees began in childhood, with a daring adventure to harvest guavas from a neighbor's tree. This early experience sparked a lifelong love for growing fruit trees, leading him to cultivate his own orchard with a variety of species, all started from seed or cuttings.

Propagation Techniques: Cuttings and Seeds

Growing Fruit from Cuttings

Some fruit trees are remarkably easy to propagate from cuttings, a method that bypasses the need for seeds and accelerates the growing process. Species like grapes, figs, mulberries, and pomegranates are particularly amenable to this technique. Here's how to do it:

1. Select a piece of dormant wood, ideally pencil-thickness or slightly thicker, measuring 12-18 inches long.
2. Bury the majority of the cutting in the ground, leaving at least one bud above the surface.
3. For added success, plant multiple cuttings in the same spot and thin them out later.

An interesting discovery Ogren made was that plum wood used as a stake in a pot could root and grow. This accidental finding led to a deliberate method of rooting plum cuttings in the center of well-rooted perennial pots.

Cultivating Trees from Seed

Growing fruit trees from seed can be a more long-term project but is equally rewarding. Ogren suggests a simple method:

1. Create a designated area for discarded pits from plums, apricots, peaches, nectarines, apples, and pears.
2. Cover the area with compost at the end of the summer and wait to see what sprouts.
3. Pot the seedlings and graft them with your desired fruit variety.

Grafting: A Gateway to Variety

Grafting is a horticultural technique that allows for the combination of different plant varieties to create new fruit trees with desired characteristics. Cleft grafting is a straightforward method suitable for various fruit trees, including apricot, peach, plum, nectarine, quince, apples, and pears.

Steps for Successful Cleft Grafting

1. Prepare the rootstock by cutting it down to 4-6 inches above ground.
2. Make a vertical cut in the center of the rootstock and insert a scion with several dormant buds.
3. Ensure the cambium layers of both scion and rootstock align on at least one side.
4. Seal the graft with grafting tar or wax to prevent drying.

Grafted trees can be grown in pots for a year before planting or gifting. If a graft fails, the process can be repeated during the next dormant season.

Budding: An Alternative Propagation Method

Budding is another propagation technique, often performed in warmer weather. Shield budding involves inserting a bud into a T-shaped cut on the rootstock and securing it with clear plastic tape. Successful budding results in a new growth that can be encouraged by cutting the stem above the bud.

The Art of Grafting and Budding

While grafting and budding may seem daunting, they are skills that can be learned with practice and patience. These techniques open up a world of possibilities, allowing gardeners to create multi-variety trees that can self-pollinate and produce an abundance of fruit.

Final Thoughts

Thomas Ogren's journey from a young guava thief to an author and expert on allergy-free gardening illustrates the joy and fulfillment that comes from growing your own fruit trees. By mastering the art of grafting and budding, you too can transform your garden into a diverse and fruitful oasis.

For more information on grafting techniques and fruit tree care, consider exploring resources like the University of Missouri Extension or California Rare Fruit Growers. These organizations offer valuable insights and guides for both novice and experienced gardeners.