After Apple Trees

[oldie]

The plot I inherited Easter last year has 1 plum and 2 apple trees. None has been looked after for 7 years. The apples produced 3 fruit each the plum none. I'm leaving the plum at the moment but I'm going to dig out the apple trees which are pretty pathetic specimens. What would I put in their place? I'd like to use it for goosberries. Would that be advisable?

[rustylady]

Any idea how old the trees are Oldie? After all if properly looked after fruit trees can go on producing good fruit for many years. They may just need a little TLC. I wouldn't give up just yet. Plums take a good few years to come to fruiting, and so do apple trees (also with some apple trees they may be biennial bearing - i.e. crop one year then do nowt for the next year, then crop amazingly the year after). How big are your trees, and do you have any idea what varieties they are?

[oldie]

Been away and just got the reply. The plum tree I'm told is about 20years old. The apples are 6/7 years old no idea what, one eater the other probably is but no edible fruit. I have decided to get rid of them. They are spindly, skeletons and I'd rather use the ground for other things. Just wondered if there was anything I shouldn't put there immediately after.