Got a bit too excited

[bethduckie]

Have managed to acquire another lottie plot next to mine, so I now have two half plots. And then I got a bit too excited and ordered five fruit trees... apple, pear, nectarine, peach and apricot. I haven't dug the ground or anything yet... best get moving then!

Any tips on how to keep them alive? I had a nectarine a few years ago, but I managed to kill it off. oops. I'd kind of like to keep these ones alive... I hear you have to cover the latter three in Spring? What with?

I also ordered a sweet chestnut despite it being over twice the 'allowed' height- oops- I plan to plant it right at the back of the plot where it will look like it's part of the hedgerow. (my plots back onto some pretty tall trees) Probably it won't grow there, but I thought I'd try. Tips on that would be much appreciated too...

(they are all self pollinators by the way. I did consider that much. I am planning to prance about with a paintbrush if I ever get them to flower.)

[bethduckie]

Ok, so reading around the chestnut tree may well grow taller than the 5m it says on the website. A lot taller. I have mailed the company to try and cancel that part of the order/ get a credit note/ whatever. Sigh- I do wish sites weren't so misleading!

Think I'll put a small plum there instead.

[binley100]

I think clear polythene for covering to keep the rain off and to keep them warm when they blossom cos they blossom early.........but am sure someone will soon correct me if I'm wrong ......

[bethduckie]

Two thumbs up for Blackmoor, who cancelled the sweet chestnut without so much as a murmur.

Clear polythenre... do you mean wrap them up in cling film? Or drape sheet plastic over the top and tie it on- gets a bit windy on our plot and I have visions of a peach tree parachuting across the field... heehee!

[weekendwellies]

Heel them in somewhere for the time being until you can dig the proper locations for them.

[weekendwellies]

Heeling In: How To Heel In Plants And Trees

[Two_Sheds]

Check your tenancy agreement, there may well be restrictions on planting perennials ...

we can't plant them within 3 (or 5?) feet of next door's plot

[zazen999]

We're not allowed trees at all; they cut down 3 plums and apples last year on one person's plot that a tenant had put in about 10 years ago. VVG and I found the remains and there were still plums on the trees. Very sad.

[The current tenant didn't want them all chopped - the council made her take them down].

[allotment grower]

plant as soon as possible even if the means of planting in a area already cleared then move them to the area you want to plant them at a later date...

fruit suppliers are selling bare rooted plants and need to be planted as soon as possible..

[BarleySugar]

We have a 6ft height restriction for trees (and need to be pruned if they grow higher), and sheds should be in the designated places to cut down on shade cast on neighbouring plots. The shade is the major factor the committee will consider, so if someone has a tree grow taller in the middle of their plot, it will be considered more leniently than one on the perimeter.

[binley100]

We are allowed fruit trees ......in fact theres loads of very old fruit trees especially on the plots that are being recommissioned and they could do with coppicing cos some of the fruit is too high too reach .

[northepaul]

Blackmoor are good arent they?

We're allowed any trees (as long as they are edible) on our sites, no height restriction either, so I consider, after reading the bit by Zaz, that we're pretty lucky! (I have 14 trees!! )

[bethduckie]

We are allowed small trees, max 2m, and these are dwarf varieties I have bought. so should be aeasily enough m,anaged under that height. I do have a willow tree on my plot though- planted before I had it- it's getting big now and I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm kind of hoping the allotment people will chop it down...

There's also a big (non fruiting) ribes that's coming out.

We have rules, but I don't think the powers that be are that pernickety about them... one chap has a massive apple right in the middle of his plot, must be well over twice the 'maximum height' and nobody has batted an eyelid. It's a bit of a scruffy old allotment, our site, but I like it better that way, bit wild rather than neat and tidy!