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[Mikey]

I'm planning on purchasing some cordons later in the year for my plot, are there any good autumn shows which specialise in fruit trees. Someone has mentioned the Malvern show is this the one to go to?

[yummersetter]

If you can wait that long, there are usually a lot of apple tastings around apple day, third week in October. If you find one not far from you, it'll give you chance to try some - other than the winter keepers, which won't be ripe then. You may find farm shops with earlier varieties too. You need to taste freshly picked apples, I think, so you don't fall into the trap of buying common supermarket varieties which won't suit your area.

Or have you already decided what you like and are looking to purchase already selected trees? If so, I'd mail order from a good nursery.

[FB.]

Or have you already decided what you like and are looking to purchase already selected trees? If so, I'd mail order from a good nursery.

If you know what you want, I'd do it sooner rather than later.
The best nurseries soon sell out of unusual varieties. The nurseries which still have good stock of unusual varieties late into the winter are often the nurseries that those "in the know" won't buy from, on the grounds of poor quality or the risk of disease-carrying stock.

I would suggest not bothering with common varieties - go for older, rarer varieties which, although perhaps not such attractive fruit as modern varieties and not such high yield, they are usually surprisingly good for no-spray growing because that's how they were raised hundreds of years ago. Our ancestors, with little knowledge of pests and diseases, could not afford too many troublesome varieties.

[veggiechicken]

Why don't you grow some local apples Mikey? I've never been to either of these but they look interesting!
Welsh Mountain Tree Nursery
Dolau-hirion Fruit Trees

Apple days are held at St Fagans and the Botanic Gardens in the autumn

[Mikey]

No I haven't picked anything yet other than quantity, 12 apples and 4 pears. I was hoping to go somewhere that I could taste some options and make a decision based on that.

I used to think I'd like a russet but tried some from a supermarket last year and wasn't keen, so I don't want to make the mistake of planting something I don't like the flavour. I haven't heard of apple days?

I thought it would be a good idea to head towards the apple county, and see what was happening there.

[Mikey]

I could visit both of those VC, thanks.

Obviously they won't have apples I can try, but how do I determine what I want if I don't know what they taste like?

[veggiechicken]

They usually have a selection of apples to taste! You wouldn't be able to taste 400 in one go

[Mikey]

I've emailed both of those VC, so I'll see what they come back with.

If there are any others good ones around, I'm happy to travel, I'd combine it with a camping trip.

[orangepippin]

Since you are prepared to travel, Keepers Nursery near Maidstone usually have an open day in September, and they have hundreds of different varieties which you can try etc.

[yummersetter]

Oh, not far from the National Collection at Brogdale!
I once went to a grafting / budding workshop at Wisley and when the group were leaving the RHS apple collection I got myself 'lost' in the orchard and tried loads of weird and rare varieties of apple. I bought Ladies Finger of Lancaster and Tun apple from that experience - I would never have considered them in any other way.
Russets are lovely, subtle and satisfying, but they must be properly ripened and stored, which ain't the supermarket way! The best ones are quite late in the season and are glorious at Christmas.

[FB.]

Why don't you grow some local apples Mikey? I've never been to either of these but they look interesting!
Welsh Mountain Tree Nursery
Dolau-hirion Fruit Trees

Apple days are held at St Fagans and the Botanic Gardens in the autumn

Interesting that both of those nurseries in the links consider it prudent for home-growers to use a lot of heavy-duty rootstocks such as M25, MM111, pear seedling (P.communis) and Pyrodwarf (it's about three-quarters the vigour of seedling pear and therefore roughly similar to MM111 - not truly dwarf!).

[chris]

Ian sturrock & sons have been very helpful to me in the past - they also supply caerphilly county council with their fruit trees (no idea where they are planted though!!)

He does old welsh varieties - but are based in north Wales.

[StephenH]

Keepers Nursery. Amazing list of rare varieties. They sold me a Bramley in error for Brownlees' Russet a few years ago, but anyone can make a mistake, and they have a very good reputation.

[FB.]

sold me a Bramley in error for Brownlees' Russet

Bram-lee
Brown-lee

I can see how a Chinese whisper could have occurred at some point during order processing or even during the grafting.

Even so, mistakes are not appreciated.

[StephenH]

My thoughts exactly. It was labelled 'Brownlee's Russet', so I didn't find out that it wasn't until three years later, when it produced a single apple for the first time. Had I complained to Keepers, I don't doubt they'd've offered me a refund or replacement, or something, so don't let me put anyone off using them.