Jessaka,

That's a hard question to answer. Dwarf fruit trees have been dwarfed for a specific purpose--to remain small so that they are easier to manage (pruning, spraying, harvesting, etc.) and take up less space in a smaller home landscape. Most dwarf fruit trees also bear fruit much earlier, often only 2 to 4 years after being transplanted whereas standards (especially apples) can take several more years to bear fruit.

Almost all fruit trees are grafted onto specific rootstocks for specific purposes, unless you've raised a tree from seed or have deliberately sought out own-root trees (which are very hard to find). Obviously, the rootstocks chosen for dwarf fruit trees were chosen to dwarf the tree and keep it small. A lof of people feel like that IS the inherent problem with dwarf fruit trees--they are on rootstocks that were chosen because they are less vigorous and, therefore, give you a less vigorously growing and producing tree.

Standard trees are grafted onto very hardy, very vigorous rootstocks that give you large, vigorous trees. The downside is that trees growing this vigorously put their energy into growth, growth and more growth for several years before they begin to think about setting fruit. Managing their growth can require very vigorous pruning on the part of the grower, and harvesting the fruit can be difficult as the tree gets older and taller. I prefer standard trees, but you can't let their growth get away from you or you "lose control".

The ideal tree might be the semi-dwarf, which tends to be easier to manage than standard, but healthier, more vigorous and more productive (in terms of bushels of fruit per plant) than dwarfs.

As for that poor apricot tree, I don't know if it was "born cursed" or what, but it certainly has had its' share of challenges, hasn't it? For what it is worth, I read a Texas A&M study once where they tested commercially-purchased apricot trees against trees started from pits from ordinary grocery store apricots. Guess which trees were healthier and produced better? Those grown from grocery store apricot pits. The study's authors didn't have any idea why this occurred, only that it did.

Dawn

Well, I think I am going to replace that apricot with a real apricot tree this year. my apple and necterine seem to be doing fine even though the granny smith is producing and the tree (dwarf) looks stunted it produces. the necterine is taller than the other and the peach is even taller. maybe i should just plant an apricot pit. thanks for the information. but then i may be too old before i see any fruit.

Jessaka,

You're welcome.

I don't think you're too old to see fruit from a tree planted now. : )

I have a neighbor, now about 88 years old, who planted 4 new fruit trees when he was 85 or 86, fully expecting to harvest the fruit from those trees "one of these days". Who's to say that he won't?

Dawn