Family Apple Trees. Three varieties of Apples can be grown on the same tree.

If you are worried about cross pollination of your apple trees, then you can buy a 'family tree'. Then you don't need to worry if there are suitable trees around you to pollinate your own tree.

This is an apple tree rootstock, onto which has been grafted, three different varieties that are guaranteed to cross pollinate each other - ensuring a good crop of each variety.

You can have desert and cooking apples on the same family tree!

Family Trees are particularly suited to small gardens where there is only room for one tree.

Family Apple Trees are normally grafted onto a semi-dwarfing root stock - such as M26. This ensures that they are suitable for small gardens. The normally grow to a maximum of 7 - 9 feet tall (3m). The ultimate size will be determined by the way in which you prune your Family Apple Tree.

One potential problem with Family Trees, is the fact that one of the varieties can become the dominant partner, at the expense of the other two. (A bit like life really!). Just keep an eye on this situation, and adjust your pruning to ensure a well balanced Family Apple Tree.

Another option, is to buy a 'double' tree. These are generally better balanced without too many problems.