Article from Jonn

In limited garden space it is possible to graft several apple varieties onto one base stock which in time will form the branches of one tree (bearing different varieties of apple fruit) by using whip and tongue grafting.

In this way it is possible to enjoy many different types of apples at different times of the year (early: August to September; midseason: September to October; late: October to December and extra late from December to May) without planting an orchard full of different trees as well as determine the size of the tree as dwarf trees can produce sufficient fruit. Ensure the shoot (scion) is harvested when it is dormant and store it in the fridge until necessary.

Make a sloping cut in the base rootstock with a sloping tongue and a similar but opposite cut in the scion pointing downwards so the two can be joined without a gap. Bind this contact point together and seal with wax to ensure that sufficient pressure is applied to promote contact between the two sections as the tree grows. A topdressing of sulphate of potash can be applied to promote flowering and fruiting.