I am looking for an overall encyclopedia type book on different fruit trees or plants, their propagation, types of grafts to use, when to graft/plant and the cultivars. Something like Micahael Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants and Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation, but focussing on fruit.

If anyone can help me out that would be awesome!!!

The best grafting book I have ever owned is the one authored by R. J. Garner -- the title skips me at the moment, but you could google it.

The best by far! True grafting porn!

Not sure what to tell you about specific fruit books, that might vary by your region. Are you from the Pacific NW?

Yeah, I'm in Portland. Thanks for the reference I will check it out!

Still around..? Good question, Though I’ve not found any ‘one’ book, I’ve collected and been inspired by several; here’s one, Western Fruit Berries & Nuts – how to select, grow and enjoy them; Lance Walheim & Robert L. Stebbins.

http://www.powells.com/biblio?PID=26593 ... 0895860783

And ‘right here’ at Powell’s! …it’s a basic starter book on fruit, but we all need to know the basics. I believe Robert Stebbins was affiliated with the HOS and is from ‘around here.’ It deffinately inspired me! In fact, in the back of my edition there’s an ‘address link’ to the Home Orchard Society, which first led me to this group!

‘Sunset’ books are a great resource, their “Sunset Western Garden Book” is an Encyclopedia of Western plants, including some great basic info on fruit bearing trees and vines. I have their individual books: “Sunset Pruning Handbook,” “Sunset How to Grow Fruits, Nuts & Berries,” and Sunset’s “How to grow Vegetables & Berries.”

still grinning

Here, let’s slip some of that past our Forum filters:

The afore mentioned books are pretty basic… but this one’s the Bible of Grafting. It’s got me in a whole bunch of trouble – actually, it’s likely to blame for me presenting the top-working session of our grafting classes next weekend! I’ve studied that book for weeks, it’s more a tool than a publication!

I believe at most of our HOS gatherings we’ve an excellent assortment of books for sale, I’m sure the Fruit Propagation Fair will include them. …just learn the basics ... so as to fully appreciate and utilize the advanced stuff.

I bought their little $2.50 grafting booklet once. It was good and I still have it. Pretty good illustrations in it too.

But RJ Garner really is over the top. Wouldn't you like to have him for a neighbor?

LOL

…got it right here! “Grafting and Budding Plants to Propagate, Topwork, Repair” (PNW496) – “A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication.” Actually, that’s about all anyone needs... It’s ‘thee publication’ I recommend at every event – usually grabing one to display at our gatherings. RJ Garner’s book’s a killer… but when you get down to basics (and for the money) this publication’s a must-have.


…agreed, and I suspect ‘we’re’ the RJ’s of our neighborhoods Picking up my Grafter's Handbook for the post above had me tied up for a while checking out several other methods of grafting I’ll never do… That book soon reminds me life’s too short!