I'm kind of a n00b when it comes to gardening but I think it's time to get past onions and tomatoes.
I want an orchard at home. So, we picked up a couple Parkland apple trees at auction last year and for Father's Day my wife got me a bosc pear tree! I understand it's great for pollinating but we need another pear variety to actually get fruit. So, I'll suck it up and buy the varieties I want, but I am thrifty. Am I able to grow bosc pear trees from seed (knowing the fruit won't grow true) and graft other species on it? That's how nurseries do it, right? /u/roketgirl suggested quince is more common to use than pear for rootstock, but since I’ve had a little while to think I’m not sure I’ve even seen quince around here in stores, or greenhouses, let alone the actual trees. I live on an acreage, so having many 20' tall trees isn't a concern for me. We have easily 3/4 of an acre to dedicate to fruit without actually clearing or doing anything.
The bosc we have is hardy to our zone, which is great. It's also sheltered by a wind break and will get as much sun as I can give it. If/when we graft scions of other varieties on the bosc rootstock will the grafts have to be equally hardy? My better half thinks it's the actual roots that are the most sensitive to our chilly winters, but I'm not entirely convinced. If we stuck .. I dunno golden spice (good to zone 4) would it work in our zone 2? Would the golden spice tend to survive and produce? I completely agree with her that it has to blossom late enough for frost not to get it, but I’m still concerned about the temperatures we get to.
I guess the same question applies to the apples, too. Can I grow Parklands from seed and get grafty?
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