Apple and Cherry Trees

[Sam2702]

Hi everyone, I have just been brought a Stella Prunus Avium cherry tree and a Cox's Orange Pippin Malus Domestica which I have been told are suitable to grow in a large pot. Please would someone be able to tell me whether I should mix the compost with some grit or something and how often will I need to water/feed them? I was also told at the garden centre that I should spray with a fungicide once a week to stop leaf curl. I don't really want to do this as I like to garden organically so is there something else I could/should use? Any further advice on my new trees would be appreciated! Thank you. Sam


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[AllInContainers]

I have cherry and apple planted purely in multipurpose compost with plenty of crocks in the bottom for draininge. I also have other trees potted up with MPC again, but with 1/4 to 1/3 top soil mixed in. Watering ... give it what it needs. It depends on the size of the pot, size of the rootball and how free draining your mix is. You'll just need to get a feel for it.

As for the spray - head over to Victoriana Nursery's website. They have a spray there which is essentially garlic and chilli concentrate, and is fine for organic gardening I believe. It doesn't kills the pests - they just clear off somewhere else

[boundtothesoil]

I use a 50:50 mix of multipurpose compost and top soil (e.g. from mole hills) for growing apple trees in containers. The top soil adds a bit of density and textural variety to light weight peat based composts. I feed once a year in February with a 6 or 9 month controlled release fertiliser (i.e. an osmacote type) containing both macro and micro nutrients.

[Paulieb]

Hi everyone, I have just been brought a Stella Prunus Avium cherry tree and a Cox's Orange Pippin Malus Domestica which I have been told are suitable to grow in a large pot. Please would someone be able to tell me whether I should mix the compost with some grit or something and how often will I need to water/feed them? I was also told at the garden centre that I should spray with a fungicide once a week to stop leaf curl. I don't really want to do this as I like to garden organically so is there something else I could/should use? Any further advice on my new trees would be appreciated! Thank you. Sam


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

Where were the trees from? And do you know what the rootstocks are?

The rootstock determines the size of the tree and therefore it's suitability for growing in a pot. In general it will probably be fine, you'll just end up with a smaller tree than if planted in the ground.

Also with fruit trees in pots you'll need to feed and water more. Watering possibly twice a day when its hot in the summer. Feeding will be less often and will depend on the health of the tree and what you want the tree to do at a given point.

I would go for 50\50 soil and compost for the potting mix which will give the pot a decent amount of weight.

You don't need to spray anything weekly or ever. And cherries and apple certainly don't suffer from leaf curl. They do suffer from other pests and diseases but keep your plants healthy and they'll do just fine.