We visited friends and relatives in Canada. We drove all the way from California, went around many western states and ended up in Vancouver where Greg Neal treated us for a ride up the beautiful Grouse mountain. I budded some of Greg's prize citrus plants. We also drove our van down to Victoria, took a ride in one of the many BC ferries. Truly super-efficient handling of many cars and other vehicles, it took less than 10 minutes to load and unload several hundred cars and more than 1000 passengers! The ferry ride was short. When we got to Swartz Bay Ferry terminal on Vancouver Island, I dropped by at one of Greg Neal's contact, Bob Duncan, in Sidney, BC, Canada. Sidney is located in Vancouver Island and part of the large peninsula where the beautiful Victoria City is also located. We have some friends and relatives over there and we visited many historical places, including the famous Butchart Gardens.

But let us keep this topic related to fruit growing. This monday, Bob is retiring from his entomology work and will dedicate himself to fruit growing and propagation. He as 3/4 acre planted to fruit trees in his big estate. He has many temperate and subtropical plants aside from citruses. He has ornamental bananas and I have encouraged him to try growing the fruiting edible types. he has pomegranates, avocadoes, as well as plums, pears, apples, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and the cherries which are a major stone fruit of Canada. He has also jujube, figs, kiwi, feiojas, loquats and many other fruit trees.

But keep in mind that none of the trees are taller than 10 ft, he has been training them for ultra-dwarf sizes, even the fig trees, and he uses ultradwarfing rootstocs where possible but he consistently produces big quality fruits. He is planting high-density, often the trees just 2 ft apart, and it works.

This is is Bob Duncan's yard, he obviously have larger areas planted to lan grass, and in-between the trees too, for tidier walk within the fruit trees:


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24

And he has nice flowers too:


By joereal at 2007-08-24

Ultra-dwarf cherries (Gisela 5 rootstocks) totally enclosed in bird nets:


By joereal at 2007-08-24

Fig trees that are agressively pruned each time a branch has fruited:


By joereal at 2007-08-24

Different kinds of Kiwis:


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24

Apples that are planted straight up, just 2 ft apart:



By joereal at 2007-08-24

Or planted diagonally like decorative fences bearing full-size quality fruits:


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24


By joereal at 2007-08-24

It is the same style for all of his fruiting trees, except perhaps for the citruses. But for plums, apricots, pears, peaches, pluots and others, he cultivates them the ultra-dwarf way.

Standing over at the "dream orchard". Would like to build one similar, when it will be retirement age just like Bob. From left to right: My wife, yours truly, and Bob Duncan



By joereal at 2007-08-24

Sounds like you enjoyed yourself, I would some day like to go out and see the western provinces. So much too see as I would like to see California and some other states.

Impressive back yard!

Joe, why do you suppose Bob Duncan grows his apples at a slant instead as straight up? - Millet

Based on what he told me, it is one of the traditional old English way of growing apples. From my own thoughts, there are some advantages to it in that you will have longer fruiting branch for a lot shorter height. It would look very odd if you only planted one apple tree that way, but several apple cultivars, it could look pretty. Another way is to criss-cross them forming like a checkered row fence and by then you wouldn't need a lot of wire cable support except against perpendicular winds. But using the newer ultra-dwarfing rootstocks, the straight up growing is preferrable and he's starting to do just that.

Joe, thanks for the pictures! I have only heard of and talked to Bob Duncan.
I have heard that his place is amazing and your pictures prove it! It is too bad (for me) there is 35 miles of water between us. He knows so much... he would be a valuable contributor to this forum . I now have 3 plants from him 2 citrumelos and a Oro Blanco. Joe, did you get any pictures of the Meyer Lemons and the hardy citrus he has growing... outside and unprotected ?
Apparently his dunstan citrumelos do well up against a south facing walls....

Thanks! Greg