Discover the Unique Charm of Hard-to-Find Multigraft Apple Trees
If you’ve been following Carr’s Organic Fruit Tree Nursery for a while you’ll know we’re passionate about preserving and promoting heritage varieties.
You’ve probably twigged to the fact that new things are happening around the farm, and the nursery is no exception.
This year, we’re excited to introduce you to a truly innovative and versatile addition to your garden: multigraft apple trees.
As members of the Harcourt Organic Farming Co-op (and the only certified organic nursery in Victoria), we focus on building healthy soil for our trees to give them the best possible start in life.
We also specialise in hard-to-find varieties and multigrafts. However, it can be hard to persuade people to take a risk on a variety they’ve never heard of.
In a light-bulb moment last spring, we came up with a solution!
Our brand-new range of multigrafts combines modern varieties like Gala, Fuji, and Pink Lady with the heritage varieties that desperately need to be preserved for the future.
We’re hoping the security of planting a known variety will help people overcome the perceived risk of planting a variety they’ve never heard of. Plus, we had SO much fun creating this beautiful range of delicious multigrafts.
What Makes Multigraft Apple Trees So Special?
Imagine a single tree in your garden producing multiple types of apples. This isn’t a fantasy—it’s the reality with multigraft apple trees.
By grafting different apple varieties onto a single rootstock, you get the benefit of diverse fruit flavors, textures, and harvest times, all from one tree. There are multiple other benefits:
- Space-saving solution: for those with limited garden space, multigraft apple trees offer a practical solution. Instead of dedicating space to multiple trees, you can grow several varieties in one spot.
- Improved resilience: the increased number of varieties helps to mitigate the risks of the climate emergency.
- Extended harvest season: with different apple varieties grafted onto one tree, it’s possible to have early, mid, and late-season apples all ripening on the same tree. This provides fresh fruit over several months.
- Increased pollination: multigraft trees often include varieties that are excellent pollinators for each other, enhancing fruit set and yield.
A Heritage to Cherish
Our nursery has always been about preserving the past while embracing the future. The heritage varieties we graft onto our multigraft trees carry stories that span centuries.
For instance, the Court Pendu Plat dates from the 17th century and has an intense flavour and strong perfume. It sits harmoniously alongside the robust and sweet Opalescent, known for its versatility as both an eating and cooking apple.
It’s the perfect way to take a delicious and rewarding risk, knowing you have a balance of the tried-and-true alongside the rare and historic.
The Innovation of Multigrafts
Multigraft trees are not just about conserving space or extending harvests—they are also helping you become a part of living history.
When you plant a multigraft apple tree, you’re continuing a legacy of fruit cultivation that stretches back generations. Each graft is a testament to the art and science of horticulture.
We take pride in creating these rare and hard-to-find multigraft apple trees. With Katie’s dad, Merv Carr, bringing nearly 70 years of grafting experience to our team, we make sure each tree is crafted with the utmost skill and care.
Taking Care of Your Multigraft Tree
To help your multigraft apple tree thrive:
- plant in a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
- make sure to water your tree regularly, especially during the establishment phase.
- prune each grafted variety to maintain balance and health (we can help you with this when you pick your tree up)
- start doing some soil preparation now so the soil is rich and ready to receive your tree in July.
Let’s Grow the Future Together
We’re excited for you to try growing a multigraft apple tree in your garden. These special trees save space and give you lots of different apples. Plus, they connect you to a cool history of apple growing!
And if multigrafts aren’t your thing, we also have lots of single-variety trees including apples, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, pears, figs, quinces, and almonds.
Orders are open online now. To find out more about each variety in a multigraft just click on the entry to open up the individual descriptions. Trees will be available to collect at our Farm Open Days on June 29 & 30, and July 6 & 7, or at Alphington Farmers Market on July 14.
Katie, Merv & Liz from Carrs Organic Fruit Tree Nursery
