Cordons are Amazing Foundations for Grafting, One Cordon Can Take 30+ Varieties!

Skill Cult Steve shows off his cordon collection and points out some fun stuff about how grafting goes on cordons like peaches on cream, except these are apples, I know, please don’t ruin the moment.

This is a nice cordon appreciation video that shows some results of grafting, but it’s not a grafting or a cordon growing guide.

Anyone who has tried and either stuggled or failed to grow a Franken or Family Fruit Tree knows that it’s a challenge to balance the growth rates of the different varieties.
But as Steve shows, that’s barely an inconvenience with grafts on cordons.
Having 30 plus varieties on one cordon is so simple because cordons are pruned twice a year anyway, and the summer prune really puts the brakes on woody growth.
This forces the varieties in balance in one go, without the vigorous ones needing frequent special attention.

As Steve says, cordons take up very little space, and produce very little fruit compared to trees: they are like a single branch, albeit a hard working one.
Therefore, cordons shine for both small gardens, and small households with only one or two casual apple eaters who don’t need a big harvest.
When we add the grafting to the equation, you’ve got about 1.5 cordons per metre, with let’s say 20-30 varieties per cordon = roughly 30-45 varieties per metre!