Dense Planting Cherry Trees

I've been reading on-line about planting cherry trees (and fruit trees in general) very close together when space is limited.

Specifically, I'm planning on planting three dessert cherry trees (good pollination partners with slightly different fruiting time) together to as a 'single' plant. Each tree is on Gisella 5 and the idea is to plant the three in a triangle with the trunks spaced about 18".

Does anyone have any experience of planting trees like this? What have your results been like?

Not seen fruit trees planted like this but have seen silver birch.

They were planted close together in groups of 3 over quite a large area and underplanted with lavenders, beautiful i thought.  

I dont know the root stock Gisella5, what form does it take.

I'd grow all three centre leader and stake them to a post between the three.

Just out of interested, is that one post over all or a post each.

If you're growing them like ballerinas i think they would be fine and dont'ya just love cherries, i do

I agree with Yorkie that the trees will not have nearly enough water to give decent crops of cherries.

Best to think again and save the disappointment, especially as the trees will not be cheap

Thanks for the advice guys, but I just want you to know what I'm thinking before completely dismissing it as mad.

I don't want three trees that  produce the full yield each. I want the equivalent of one tree's worth of cherries from three different varieties throughout the season, in the space occupied by a single tree, a bit like a pear or apple family tree. Instead of three trees producing a 45lb glut, I want a long season with 15lb of fruit per tree. Plus netting a single form should be easier than netting three trees.

You're right that the three trees would compete for both moisture and nutrients, but the plan is to restrict each through pruning to fewer than normal in terms of branches. In essence there would be the same amount of live tree by mass in the same area as a single tree.

As for staking the trees, it sounds like I would need to rethink that.

Cost wise it means paying more at the start for the same amount of fruit, but that's something I'm willing to accept.

Here's where I got the idea:

http://www.davewilson.com/homegrown/BOC_explained.html

Now, with what I've said above in mind, am I still insane or does it sound plausible?

Interesting idea and I can see where you are coming from.

I notice though that his three trees do not have anyhting else growing nearby at all.Probably because the roots of three trees would take a serious amount form the soil.

Personally I would have one tree and freeze the fruit I didn't eat straight away, or think of other space saving ways, like espalier perhaps.

But if money is no object........

Hope it works for you 

I think its a really interesting way of growing fruit.  As i love experiments i would try it and learn from the result

Just as an add on,  a previous owner of our house made and planted  the garden in the form its in now, about 30years ago.  She planted everything in 3's to get a quick impact with the intention to take the extras out as they grew.  Unfortunately she moved house 2years later and sold it to non gardeners who did nothing.
So  when i took over i had  huge shrubs and trees that look like one but are in fact in most cases 3 planted close together.  They had survived without watering or care of any sort.

So i'm inclined to think it will work

I think they'll do fine, like you say, each tree will just be smaller. Just be careful to make sure that one tree doesn't start dominating by careful pruning to keep them even in size as one of the trees may come with a better root system so will get off to a better start