In general, grafting to a dwarfing rootstock will result in the fastest first harvest. However, a strong dwarfing (or even semi-dwarfing) rootstock is not always available for all species. Typically because the standard tree does not grow that large to begun with.

I would also investigate rootstock based on hardiness and suitability to your area as well as disease resistance. Your local extension service should be able to help you with those details.

big city name might help ...

dad ... in z5 metro detroit .... had an apricot tree for 30 years ... and only 3 times did it bloom ... and one time set fruit .. and the tree rats ate them before they matured ...

i think the consensus was .. its tendency to early bloom.. and the locations proclivity to frosts fro about a months after bloom time ...

you might want to ask you local extension or Ag office is such are viable in your county ...

and it might follow.. that is you can glean info on bloom time.. that you use that as an important variable in choosing what type you opt for...

you might also research somewhat local orchards near you ... to see what they favor ... now would be the time to try to contact such places.. rather than in spring .. since they arent as busy ...

check out this link .. though it confused me a bit since its a NY operation ... if you could find a WI source you might be better off:

https://www.mehrabyannursery.com/growing-guide/fruit-trees-state/wisconsin/

generally:

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=fruit+trees+in+WI&ia=web

and here is a WI link to fruit trees in WI

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=WI+exgtension+office++fruit+trees&t=ffab&ia=web

bottom line ... when investing in trees.. you need to think in tree time... which is counted in decades .. whether or not any choice you makes cuts a year or two off the long term ... is worth looking into .... but ma nature has a way of getting back to the decade thing.. no matter what nefarious plans you make to cut the loop ... just be patient.. and it will all come together.. whenever the fates allow ...

and do start planning the spray regimen the will be requisite for this size fruit operation ... this is the part that broke down my home orchard dreams ... i just wasnt willing to spray the 3 to 5 times per season that was requisite to grow fruit with success ...

live you dream .. and have fun ...

ken

Interesting note you made: that I'll need to spray these trees? Right now we have 2 plum, 2 cherry and 2 apple. I do spray them with Neem oil but try to stay as organic as I can. Do you believe i'll need to be more aggressive due to the amount of trees that I'll have?

"Do you believe i'll need to be more aggressive due to the amount of trees that I'll have?"

Not necessarily. It's entirely possible to grow fruit organically. It depends significantly on the varieties chosen (focusing on disease and pest resistance) and what issues may be common to your locale. And what sort of tolerance you have for less than picture-perfect harvests.

Also, any number of fruit tree issues can be addressed by what are considered as 'organic' methods - horticultural oils (like neem), copper sulfate sprays, insecticidal soaps, Spinosad, pheremone traps, etc.

ETA: organic pest controls/pesticides are not necessarily any safer or have a lesser impact on the environment than non-organic ones. Do your research, evaluate the severity of the problem and select the least impactful control method you can. I have grown fruit trees successfully with NO pesticide applications (organic or otherwise) at all.

the expectation of many home enthusiasts is that they will get store bought quality and volume.. thru hope and prayer ... and it usually doesnt work that way ... the bigger the footprint.. the higher the odds the problems will find you ...

after that wisdom.. or lack thereof .. lol ... it is all left to the fates ...

i just cant answer your question ...

but it is surely a variable you will have to contemplate ...

again .. a local orchard might be able to tell you about how they deal with it all ...

ken

ps: let me know what our research says about apricot in your area...

I have a hobby orchard started in 2009 with a bunch of trees. You have an excellent nursery in WI; Wallace Woodstock in Neillsville WI. Look them up. I have been buying trees from them for over a decade and have been very satisfied. Drastically superior option to big box store trees. I have all the trees you mentioned except peach which have always died (3 attempts). I have mostly semi-dwarf and while they're advertised to bear in 3-5 years my experience here in central MN has been more like 5 most of the time. I do have a handful of dwarf trees and those have made fruit much sooner. In my experience the pear, apricot, and plum trees take little maintenace beyond pruning. Apple trees are another matter. I finally figured out a minimal spraying approach that has been very effective; Triazicide (called "Once and Done") twice a year; just after petal fall and again 4-6 weeks later. I make a lot of apple chips so if there are bugs I see it. With the mentioned spraying approach I get very little bugs. I suggest you keep a log with details like planting date, tree type, and, importantly, the rootstock. Also pay attention to getting pollinators as you pick tree types. If you like send me a PM and we can set up a phone call. I've learned a lot in 11 years.