Fruit trees

[allotmentlady]

Our tesco is selling fruit trees at 7.00 each, do other grapes think that these will be ok for lottie? I have mainly been given trees and bushes by other people,but would like some more, and the price seems really good;

[Alison]

Depends on what the trees are, is there information on root stock etc? If they're grown on a dwarfing stock and are of a variety you want then they sound good value.

[Paul Wagland]

You might need to check with your allotment steward / foreman that growing top fruit on your plot is ok... or have you done that already?

What varieties are they selling, and how big are they?

[FB.]

If you're allowed to grow fruit trees/bushes on your plot, then buying cheap-ish one's would be my choice (in case they get vandalised, stolen, or just don't like the conditions).
Just make sure that you research the disease resistance of the varieties. Lots of people don't spray them with chemicals, which can mean poor performance if yours is especially prone to certain diseases.
If you want to save research time, tell me the varieties available and I'll give an idea of their disease resistance in my area (as best I can).

It would also be desirable to know the rootstock that the variety is grafted onto, although, if unlabelled, it is likely to be MM106, or possibly M26 for apples, St Julien A for plums and Quince A for pears..
Strong rootstocks can be calmed down by reduced feeding/watering and summer pruning. It should be possible to keep even an MM106 at 6ft or less, so long as you prune it the correct way.

They should all be labelled something similar to:
Apple Bramley's Seedling MM106
Apple Egremont Russet M26
Plum Victoria SJA
Pear Conference QA

[bluemoon]

I'd go for the cheaper ones too. A Victoria plum I bought in Morrison's two years ago for £2.49 (on offer because it was 'dead') is now doing incredibly well. I admit it needed a bit of TLC at first as it only had three 3" long roots, and one of those was broken. But definitely worth it when you consider what it would have cost me elsewhere.

[T-lady]

I had a good look at these but there was no info about the root stock on the label so I've left them in the shop (secretly pleased having just spent £11 each on a number of trees from RV Rogers where I know the root stock and suitability)

[allotmentlady]

Yes I am allowed fruit trees etc, there was no info about the root stock but I have bought a couple, plum, apple cherry and pear, well more than a couple lol thanks for the info

[chengjing]

I bought 2 applesas well, they look pretty healthy. It says grow 3m in 10 years, guess they maybe M27 for apples.

[FB.]

I bought 2 applesas well, they look pretty healthy. It says grow 3m in 10 years, guess they maybe M27 for apples.

3m in 10years suggests MM106 being the most likely rootstock, although they might be M26.
M27 will probably only manage half that size (depending on pruning and shaping).