Feeling Fruity?

[Holly]

Hello all,

Are you planning to put in any new fruit trees this autumn? What's on your tree wish list?

I'm also interested in learning more about whether you grow fruit trees on the allotment and, if so, do you make allowances for space restrictions? Have you inherited any trees on the plot?

Thanks! Holly



Your comments may be edited and printed in the October issue of GYO

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hi Holly,

I have a couple of three year old apple trees on one of my three adjoining half plots. Bought from a "low price" local supermarket for £5 each. I had a single apple last year and to help with pollination this year, I took a minarette pot grown tree down to the plot and I am looking like having a decent crop this time Because of the layout of my plots, the trees when full grown will have minimal impact on my other cropping requirements and the fruit will be a welcome addition to the produce I can take home.

[Newton]

To have an orchard must be wonderful. I have become an allotmenteer this year but was put off planting an apple tree or two as I knew so little about them. I know believe that I can be enjoying fruit in a couple of years so I can't wait to buy and plant some delicious apples. I would like to know what variety to grow in the north west. I love coxes and despise golden delicious.

[gojiberry]

I have a few cordon apple trees and the three oldest ones have at least two dozen apples between them. All cheapo trees from Aldi. Have tried trice to get a cordon cherry to grow but after two deaths I have given up. I have several trees in pots but the apricot, plum and greengage don't like the restriction so I may let them loose come September and try to keep them smallish with pruning.

Ian

[pipkins]

I would like to put more stone fruit trees up the lottie, already have apples, pears, plum, cherries and a cherry plum. Mine a minarettes and can be planted 2-3 feet away from each other. In the process of building another fruit cage to house any new additions.

[jackie j]

I inherited an apple tree and a cherry tree on the allotment but have no idea how old, or what variety they are, the apple tree is laden and a bough broke with the weight, the cherry tree had loads of blossom but only 5 cherries and four dropped off, the last one the birds had. I have put in an opal plum tree ( very young and small ). I did think of putting in another fruit tree but have decided it wouldnt have much room to grow where I would like to put it.

[VirginVegGrower]

On our allotment the parish council don't allow new trees, fruit or otherwise. There are some trees from years gone by when the PC were less PC! So we planted an orchard at home earlier this year. We put in eight apple trees, three pears and two plums. I also created a corner chamomile seat with a fig in the middle which should provide canopied shade when it has grown taller. An organisation, I forget who, were urging people to plant an orchard of minimum seven trees and create pockets of beneficial habitat to wildlife. I believe we've stoked our pocket :-)
Next year the wildlife swimming pool project!

[BUFFS]

since the chooks are now gone,i have reslabbed the coop area(soil underneath was old gravel stablefloor,no good for trying to grow in),so i will put corrugated clear plastic roofing and plastic sheets on the sides,we have one peach,but nectarines,maybe some citrus fruits,its about 15ft x9ft,so if i can keep them out of the worst of winter weather,i fancy a potted grapevine...= Mcwine..that would be different...

[Speed Gardener]

It's hard to resiset the temptation to buy more and more fruit trees and bushes, there's so much choice out there these days!
I have a plum tree with two types on it, a greengage and a small purple plum (I bought this before I really knew what I was doing variety-wise). I also have 16 apple cordons of old varieties, eaters and cookers bought over the last three years, plus a crab apple just to make sure they all get pollinated. All these are down the allotment.
I also bought another two year old apple and a maiden pear tree for the garden, just to make sure!

[solway cropper]

When we moved here I inherited four mature apples and a cherry tree. They were all neglected but still managed to give reasonable crops. I've tried to get them into shape and have also planted two plums (Opal and President) and a pear (Conference). Last year I removed one of the apples and replaced it with a late flowering variety (Winter Gem). This winter I intend removing a large cooker (unknown variety) and replacing it with two smaller trees. What fruit it does produce is badly scabbed and it casts a lot of shade on the veg. plot due to its size. Before I fell it I intend to graft two shoots from it onto dwarfing rootstocks just to see what happens.

A mistake many people make is to go with varieties that they see in shops rather than a type which is more suited to their local conditions. I understand that Cox is difficult to grow in parts of the country but people still plant it when there are alternatives available.

the recycled gardener

[delsupserve]

Hi Newton ,Might be a bit late in this reply only just spotted. Check with your site manager if trees are allowed. Only cordon grown are allowed on our site. Regards Mick.

[hamamelis]

My allotment came with a free large plum tree; I have no idea what variety, but it makes for nice chutney!
I've also planted what is supposedly a small variety of black mulberry, and a mini Elstar apple, which isn't doing so well, but was an impulse buy on sale. I did get a cheapo morello cherry, but it never made it to even putting leaves out, I think it had been in the shop too long. Might get a better quality one this year!

[Garden_Chris]

I've planted my first ever apple tree, a Redlove (you'll probably have seen the thread I made about it). Although Im planning on getting another to help pollinate it, but I have no idea what group it's in.

[northepaul]

We now have 2 allotments (one each)and after much thinking, have planned our fruit tree buying for this year. We already have a James Grieve and Sunset apple on one, to which we are adding 2 pear trees - a comice and conference and a worcester permain apple.
The other one already has a very mature (and in beautiful condition) spartan apple tree, to which we are adding a peasgood nonsuch, orleans reinette, ashmeads kernel and discovery apple plus a morello cherry which will be planted with the exsisting fruits (currents etc.) so if netting is required we can do the whole lot at once....we are also planning on (dependant on soil samples, but i suspect the soil is quite acidic) some more blueberries.....
I think that should keep us going!!

[How much?]

Blueberries! I have just been to Costa coffee, asked for any grounds and they gave me the full bag!
The bag contained ALL their rubbish from the day, yes I mean all of it including stuff you would rather not :-) really, what some people put in the bin!!!

Felt rather silly walking with it all on show :-) but grateful, just hope the Blueberries will be..