Recommended varieties

[sewer rat]

Hi all
I have been thinking about what to put into two of my central flower beds to add a bit of height and have finally decided I'd like to put a couple of fruit trees in. I already have a very old apple tree in my garden (don't know anything about it other than it's a cooker that has good crops every year for the last 4 years).
I can't decide on which combination of dessert apple tree, pear tree or plum tree to go for. I know nothing about fruit trees - the existing one does everything right in return for a bit of light pruning. Any advice about varieties and anything else I should consider before making my choices would be gratefully received.
Cheers
Rat

[Nicos]

Is it worth trying to graft an eater branch onto the cooker aswell?Would give even more selection to the old tastebuds. Never tried it myself but haven't got an old reliable apple tree to try it out on!

[Jaxom]

family tree

Sounds as though you need a family tree. This is a tree grafted wit three type of fruit of the same family on.
Family trees
Jax

[Lottie]

Sounds as though you need a family tree. This is a tree grafted wit three type of fruit of the same family on.
Family trees
Jax

Golly the minarettes are bit expensive Jax - are they worth it? Anyone had any please.

They would be ideal for my small garden.

[poultrychat]

My only recommedation would be buy a British variety

[Jaxom]

Lottie: I haven’t got any minarettes but I did order a family tree from Mr. Fothergils. I ordered it back in September but have to wait until March for dispatch.
The Family tree I ordered has three fruits grafted on to it. Two types are desert and the final one a cooker/desert apple.
I am sorely tempted to buy a Family Pear as these also have three type grafted together. My garden is only little and single trees would be too big.
I think comparing the minarettes to the family tree I would plump for the Family tree as they are supposed to live longer. I was charged £36 for my tree. That price includes the cost of P&P, which I think, should always be taken in to mind.
The site I posted above is for Ken Muir, as the Mr. F site no longer displays my tree. I know that many consider Ken Muir to be a little on the expensive side but always the best quality.
Others would have to advise on minarettes as I know so little.
I believe that some sites are doing a package of four trees for £50. This consists of four trees; one apple, one pear, one plum and one cherry. If I remember correctly it is listed as "mini orchard"
Jax

[sewer rat]

Fruit trees

I have space in my beds for two "proper" trees - rootstock to about ten ft would be ideal. If I buy an apple tree and a plum tree, what do I need to look for in the way of self fertile / self pollinating, bearing in mind I already have a cooker tree ? As I hinted at, my knowledge of fruit growing consists of nil !
Cheers
Rat

[Jaxom]

Rat.
Choosing the Right Trees can be a problem unless there are other trees close by as a lot of fruit trees need insects to pollinate them, via another tree of a different variety.
There is a good company selling fruit trees that also advises on which trees flower at the same time of year. "Keepers Nursery" also informs as to which trees are self-fertile and which need another to pollinate them. http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/advice.aspx?ref=1
Here is an example http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/product.aspx?id=DISCOV
Sorry about the long links, but the "insert link" icon seems to have a glitch.
I will try a better post later. Or possibly edit this one.
Jax

[Jaxom]

Here is Keepers home page. http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/default.aspx
Jax

[Cab]

Have you considered something a little bit more unusual? You can buy apples and pears readily enough, so how about growing quinces or medlars?

[sewer rat]

Fruit tree suppliers

Cheers for the links Jax - will probably use their advice but buy locally - have £50 National Garden Vouchers burning a hole in my wallet just now.

Cab - thanks for your suggestion - I was looking at my Dobies catalogue today and am thinking about one or other - do you have a preference - and which fruit makes the best jelly - my personal favourite is rowan jelly.

Chers again
Rat

[Lottie]

Lottie: I haven’t got any minarettes but I did order a family tree from Mr. Fothergils. I ordered it back in September but have to wait until March for dispatch.
The Family tree I ordered has three fruits grafted on to it. Two types are desert and the final one a cooker/desert apple.
I am sorely tempted to buy a Family Pear as these also have three type grafted together. My garden is only little and single trees would be too big.
I think comparing the minarettes to the family tree I would plump for the Family tree as they are supposed to live longer. I was charged £36 for my tree. That price includes the cost of P&P, which I think, should always be taken in to mind.
Jax

Thanks Jax. I guess if you are guaranteed fruit in the first year it will be worth it. I am too old to wait 5 or 6 years for my first crop at those prices - it won't be cost effective

[Hardy]

cheap fruit trees

Woolies currently have some reasonable specimens at around £7.99. I noticed 2 varieties of plum (including one self-fertile), 1 gage, several pears, several apples (including what it called a "patio apple" - presumably for growing in a pot), also a peach and a couple of varieties of cherry. Again some self-fertile varieties amongs these.

Rat - I know it doesn't help you spend your National Garden Gift vouchers but at those prices you could almost justify buying a couple of fruit trees and still spend the rest on more gardening stuff!

[Cab]

Cab - thanks for your suggestion - I was looking at my Dobies catalogue today and am thinking about one or other - do you have a preference - and which fruit makes the best jelly - my personal favourite is rowan jelly.

Quince jelly is outstanding. And the quince also makes a fine fruit pie or crumble (ideally mixed with a little apple), an interesting wine, and is good in liqueurs, BUT it isn't something you can eat raw.

Medlar makes a passable wine and an okay jelly, but it really scores over quince in that its edible raw (once it has bletted, i.e. softened and gone sweet and gooey).

Rowan jelly is superb, and the rowan tree is very pretty. You could go for one of those, but I'd only do that if there is a shortage of rowans growing wild locally. Why cultivate something for a few pounds of fruit you can get wild?

[Nicos]

We bought a cob nut tree from Marshalls last year- cost about £20 and it fruited the first year.I know it's not fruit but as a 9ft bush it may not be too tall and its also got catkins in spring. Just a thought!