Frankenstein Trees

Frankenstein Trees?!?  What the heck is a Frankenstein Tree?  Well, that's what I call our four fruit trees that will each grow 4 different types of fruit.  We have 2 apple trees, 1 pear tree and 1 cherry tree that will each give us four different types of each fruit.  This is super cool and is also super weird.  I am still trying to wrap my head around it all, but am extremely excited to see it in action!

First, let's talk about what it means to be a 4 in 1 tree.  4 in 1 trees are different trees of the same species (apple or pear or cherry, for example) trees/branches that have been grafted onto an original tree.  These trees are self-pollinating and most (that I've found) come in dwarf form.

Next, let's talk about the word espalier.  According to the free dictionary espalier means:

1. A tree or shrub that is trained to grow in a flat plane against a wall, often in a symmetrical pattern.

2. A trellis or other framework on which an espalier is grown.

When you add the two together, you get Frankenstein Trees.  Our Frankenstein Trees include:

2 Apple trees with 4 espalier branches.  Each branch contains one of the following apples:
Red Fuji
Gala
Granny Smith
Golden Delicious

One branch of one of our Apple trees.  Last years Comice Apples 

1 Pear tree which also has 4 espalier branches.  Each branch contains one of the following pears:
Red Barlett
Red Anjou
Bartlett
Comice

Another picture from last year shortly after we planted this guy.  We didn't get any pears last year and doubt we will again this year.  I am hopeful for next year :-)

1 Cherry tree which has 4 (regular) branches (so maybe we can call this one a Semi-Frankenstein Tree).  Each branch contains one of the following cherries:
Rainer
Van
Lapins
Bing

Yet again, a picture from last year shortly after planting our cherry tree.  There was one cherry on this it last year when we brought it home.  I don't think we'll get any at all this year.  Maybe we'll have tons next year???

First off, why would we even want to attempt to grow such weird...um, I mean...interesting trees?  Well, because we have super limited space and because we love fruit!  We could never fit an orchard on our property, so this is the next best thing.  In addition to the whole fruit thing, the espalier trees take up almost no space at all (they are planted right up next to our fence).  It's kind of like magic!

This year we have countless baby apples coming to life on each of the branches of both apple trees.  We planted these two a couple of years ago, so I think they've gotten their roots under them and are ready to make some fruit this year.  Our pear and cherry trees are not as excited about this whole growth thing.  We put them in last year and I don't think they will do much of anything this year.  I think I've seen one cherry blossom and about 5 pear blossoms.  Maybe next year?

In addition to the Frankenstein trees, we have one regular old, boring Apricot tree.  We planted him last year, too and haven't seen much action there either.  Oh well, I am still super excited about the apples!!!