When Your Dream Comes True You’re Out One Dream
I first learned of the existence of fruit salad trees (also called fruit cocktail trees) in high school. That was back in the 1900’s. Peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines can be grafted onto a common root stock to produce a nano-orchard of stone fruits because they are so closely related. The concept absolutely fascinated me.
I purchased one of these trees from Ison’s Nursery & Vineyard during the 2020 Stay-At-Home order. It was back ordered. I received it in the spring of 2021 and there was much rejoicing. The tree was thriving in the northeastern USA despite being born and bred in the southeastern USA. In 2024, the first year we expected a good crop from the tree, we had A Squirrel Problem.
So, for this year, we purchased a creepy reflective eyeball. Imagine a beach ball with a large, predatory eye on it. We hung that from the tree and it worked, by golly! I only had to move it twice to maintain the illusion of danger for our local squirrel population. I was duly impressed. We picked enough apricots to snack on and to make a batch of sherbet!
The nectarine-bearing branches did not produce well (there was only one small branch, if I am honest). The plum-bearing branches produced more than Mr. Food It Yourself and I could eat. We gave some away to family, and some to our local food pantry. Then a branch broke. The branch broke because of Black Knot Gall. The weakened, cracking limbs of the plum section of the tree were rotting because of the fungus.
Unfortunately, there was only one possible fate for the fruit salad tree. Here it is.
Awaiting the chipper at the town yard waste site.
Will I try growing a fruit salad tree again? Will I pick another fruit tree to grow in its place? Will I use that space on the Food It Yourself HQ property for something else entirely? Only time will tell. We have some plum jam for holiday gifts this year. Mr. Food It Yourself saved a few branches of the tree to cure and make into walking sticks. I have memories of delicious fruit and fruit-based treats. Yes, I dreamed of a fruit salad tree for many years. I tended one for only a few. I learned a lot in the process.
What has been the hardest learning experience for you in your DIYet? Share in the comments!
