Aldi fruit trees - let's all contact Aldi

[Jay-ell]

Aldi will be selling fruit trees on Thursday 5th of February and have a range of apple, pears, plums and cherries. Unfortunately they don't have a clue as to what the rootstocks for the various trees are.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuy...fruit-trees-3/


I wrote them an email asking about the rootstocks and explaining why it is important to know which rootstock was used and received a response quickly (which makes me believe that they didn't really look into it) saying that they didn't know.

If we all contact their customer service asking for the same maybe they will actually get in touch with their suppliers and find out

The wording of my email eas

You have fruit trees available for salenext week.

Although you state the varieties of the fruit you don't tell us what the root stock that the variety's grafted onto is.*

As the root stock controls the vigour and therefore the height of the tree it is important to know so that decisions can be made in regards to planting.**
Also, as many allotment sites restrict the planting of trees to those on dwarfing rootstocks planting a tree with an unknown rootstock isn't allowed.**

Can you please let me know what the rootstocks are for the trees you will be selling.

Aldis customer service email is customer.service@aldi.co.uk

[veggiechicken]

Good idea jay-ell. I've sent Aldi an email as suggested

[alldigging]

Emailed and tweeted!

[sparrow100]

Really good idea and have done it, this is mine:

Good afternoon,

I've seen that you have fruit trees on offer and I am really interested in buying them, but I can't see on this what rootstock the trees are grown on. The link I have is here: https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuy...fruit-trees-3/

Knowing what rootstock the tree is on is really important - it can mean the difference between a 6-8ft tree or a 20ft+ monster. The rootstock controls the vigour and the height of the tree.

I'd like to grow some on my allotment, but I can only grow trees that will be less than 8ft tall. I'd like some for my Mum's garden, and this is a fairly small space. I don't want to either take over her garden with the tree, or cause problems with the neighbours by the tree blocking their sunshine.

Please can you let me know what rootstock the trees are grafted onto? And please can you commit to labelling your trees in future with the rootstock?

[Kristen]

Unfortunately they don't have a clue as to what the rootstocks for the various trees are.

They may very well not actually know? In the past I have read of trees not turning out to be as labelled, and perhaps they are priced cheaply because there is uncertainty as to what the plants actually are.

[Jay-ell]

They may very well not actually know? In the past I have read of trees not turning out to be as labelled, and perhaps they are priced cheaply because there is uncertainty as to what the plants actually are.

Unfortunately this may be true however Aldic have ran this offer at the same price bracket for at least the last couple of years, plus the fact that they have specific varieties so it doesn't look like Aldi have just grabbed a bargain.

Of course the supplier may quite easily just used whatever they had to hand, as it doesn't look like rootstock or final growing height were considered in the order. However it may be that the supplier used specific rootstock but Aldi never request the information for the labelling.

This is the information I originally received, which looks like it comes from the order specifying what they wanted

2 year old grafted trees.

1.2m minimum height up to 1.8m.

Side branches.

Trees to be root balled in green bags with a mix of moist peat.

Trees to be feathered, bent and tied instead of trimmed where possible.

Trees are under no circumstances held up and supported with canes.

We may get the information on the rootstock or , if not, at least educate them on the importance of this information for future years.

[Nicos]

I agree...no harm in asking eh? !

[veggiechicken]

This is the reply I had:-

Thank you for taking the time to contact Aldi customer services regarding the fruit trees.
The fruit trees have a growth of 1.2m minimum height up to 1.8m.

I hope this information is of help to you.

Once again thank you for contacting us, we value your custom and hope you will continue to shop with us.

[Kristen]

However it may be that the supplier used specific rootstock but Aldi never request the information for the labelling.

Yup ... I don't know how they operate, I guess that plants, like these, are rather outside their core product range but as they do them year after year I am surprised they don't draw the conclusion (even if they did not know the importance at the outset) that they get the same questions each year and it would save them support-time by putting the information on the packaging.

Their answer of eventual height hints (is that fair?) at rootstock used, rather than specifically identifying it, but I guess that is going to be all the info that the majority of their customers need - I doubt their regular customers are even thinking about the importance of pollination groups and the like, let alone rootstock; a more savvy audience on a forum such as this of course.

I love a bargain, but I also hate to spend time growing something that then isn't suitable, or doesn't do well, so I spent £15 a plant on my Apples etc. in the expectation that I have got exact what I needed and the request varieties and, for me, I'm happier with that approach, and the yield, over the lifetime of the plant, will make my initial investment seem trivial. I might still get Lemons instead of Oranges though - let's hope not!

[Guest]

Unfortunately price doesn't give a guarantee as to what you get.
I started off as a bargain basement person in regards to trees and actually they are fine. However, having had my eyes opened I am having a bash at grafting - probably the best way of knowing what you are actually getting.

[Kristen]

Unfortunately price doesn't give a guarantee as to what you get.

Yes, you are quite right. My £15 was spent at a reputable fruit tree nursery, so hopefully they will be as-labelled, but opportunity for a labelling cockup at many stages from grafting through planting to shipping ...

We have an old Apple tree here which we love to eat. Not been able to find out what it is, so I'm planning to have a [first time] go at grafting from it as it isn't going to live forever. Fingers crossed for both of us I had a chat with a chap that prunes Apple trees and who used to do grafting (selling plants as a side line to his pruning business). He said his failure rate was quite high - I had assumed I would get 100% take (or re-graph onto the rootstock a second time), so I am assuming I need to graft " quite a few" to get a replacement plant for myself - with possibly side benefit of some for my friends too

[Guest]

I shall share what I have learnt in a short space of time incase anything helps.

When were you planning to graft? I only ask as a lot of online places are selling out of rootstocks.
MM106 root stocks are not advised for East Anglia
The important bit is lining up the cambium (the green ring just inside the bark) easier said than done as I discovered once you find them (not always clear) you actually need to grow a third hand.
I actually practiced on some sweet chestnut root stocks (sods law these will take and the proper ones won't) but also I tried different grafts. FB (resident fruity grape ) told me one way to graft and the gardener where I got the scions told me another. So it was a case of what I preferred.

There you go short and sweet, my apple grafting wisdom

[Jay-ell]

Kristen,
I not as bothered about pollination group being given as I can Google the variety (although yes having it on the label would be good). This is the response I got when I asked about the height

Good Afternoon Jason
Thank you for your e-mail.

I can confirm the size given is the size of the fruit tree supplied and not the maximum height when fully grown.
Many Thanks

[Guest]

I am waiting for a reply. Sent the e-mail a couple of hours ago.

[Kristen]

Kristen,
I not as bothered about pollination group being given as I can Google the variety

Hadn't thought about that, these days one can do that then & there in the shop of course ... well, those proficient in such things can!

Although I think that many people buying them may not realise that they could do with a different variety in the same pollination group etc.