Family (apple) tree

[Monika]

We are thinkimg of planting a family tree with the apple varieties James Grieve, Sunset and Discovery, all supposdely suited to northern climes. This is not a good fruit growing area but the chosen plot will be completely open to the sun but also fairly exposed. Will it work? Has anybody experience with these family trees? And what rootstock is it likely to be on, that is, how tall will it grow?

[Geoff]

Most of the advice I have read cautions against family trees as one variety tends to become dominant. Having said that nurseries do keep selling them so it is difficult to know where the truth lies.
The three varieties on your mixture seem very close to the same timing to me.
My climate won't be too much different to yours and I have picked 25Kg of Lanes Prince Albert and 5Kg of Gala this morning. Admittedly I have created the Orchard in a slight hollow with some protection from other trees mainly Birch.
If space is the issue I would go for three cordons of varieties recommended for the North with a more widespread use period than the three on your family tree. There is a lot of data on the Keepers Nursery site.

[Monika]

Thanks, Geoff. Yes, our conditions might be similar.
We really only have room for one tree in that particular spot and I thought I might try to get three varieties on that one. I will wait (and hope) for a few more experiences and then decide what to buy.