Growing fruit in NE Scotland.

[new gardener 1052]

Evening folks being new to gardening and planted my first tree just a few weeks ago I'm starting to ask myself how realistic is growing fruit? (Will I grow anything or just wasting money)

After visiting a garden centre today and asking a member of staff about buying a pear tree my hopes have been squashed, I was asking about a concord pear tree when he told me I wouldn't get any fruit off of it due to the climate up here in aberdeen,

His comment has made my question my new found intrest in growing some fruit. I'm not expecting bumper crops of fruit the first year I planted my trees, but it would be nice to think I will get somthing growing in the next couple of years.

Made me think I might as well just be throwing money into a hole in the ground @ £30 a tree there not really cheap.

Has anyone on here had any luck growing fruit in aberdeen?

Kind regards ng.

[chrisdb]

I'm not in Scotland, but I think most of the currant family (blackcurrants, redcurrants, gooseberries) and the rubus family (raspberries, blackberries) should be possible. You want something that fruits quiet early in the year and either has frost tolerant flowers or flowers late. Of the tree fruit, I'd guess that apples are probably your best bet as they flower as late as early June for some varieties.

[chrisdb]

The following apples might be good for areas with late frosts according to Keepers

Discovery
George Cave
James Grieve
Katy
Laxton's Epicure
Laxton's Fortune
Worcester Pearmain

[Kirk]

For apples have a look at this:
Apple Tree Varieties Suitable for Growing in the North & Scotland

This RHS page would imply that Williams and Onward are possibles.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=275

Found this from the US:
"Among the hardiest European pears, perhaps even into zone 3, are Flemish Beauty, Luscious, Parker, and Patten."

No idea where or what Zone specifications are, also never heard of those pears in the UK but ask or search.

Orange-Pippin have this (no pears)
Fruit trees for North West Scotland - fruit trees for sale

[Jay-ell]

Is it specifically apples and pears that you want to grow?

Id second the suggestion of brambles and currants. I would also like to throw honeyberries into the pot as they are originally from Siberia so should be able to cope.

Im sure that there's something about having so many chill hours and day length stuff involved in selecting the right variety of tree (with some varieties better suited to the south and others to the north) which is in addition to the hardiness of the variety - but have no idea how it works.

[new gardener 1052]

I would like to grow apples mainly. But do like the thought of having a pear tree in my garden.

Needless to say after today's advice I have given up hope of owning a pear tree (don't really mind glad I asked advice because I nearly ordered one online last night)

I'm a bit miffed tho because when I bought a cox orange pippin I did ask if it would be ok growing up here and I was told if I plant it well and look after it I should be ok, yet after reading links that Kirk has kindly given me there is no mention of Cox's Orange Pippin being possible to grow up here.

I don't blame anyone but myself for not doing research before buying,& now feel I have wasted precious garden space.

I'm a bit hesitant now of where to go to buy my next tree Incase I make another bad choice of tree. I'm thinking of laxtons superb.I read its a sweet apple and I hope my boys will like the taste of the apples.

Ng

[chrisdb]

Generally bare root trees from an online nursery in the winter are cheaper (£15 maybe) and will establish better than trees in pots from the garden centre, and the online nurseries offer a lot more variety. The only problem is that if you only buy one tree, the postage wipes out the savings. If you buy some currants aor something as well though...

[out in the cold]

I am in Alford and have just bought my first apple tree.

Loads of folk.nearby grow apples and pears, damsons and Victoria plums do well, and I even work with a girl who grows grapes in her polytunnel.

You can grow lots of worthwhile fruit in the north east.

And it isn't just limited to Barra Berries either... We have wild rasps growing close by, and the dog always beats me to my crop of gooseberry, blueberries and the blackcurrants (hmph...).

I even gave a Japanese Quinces in the back garden, although it is sour as you get.

[new gardener 1052]

thanks for the tip chrisbd. i will have a look later on in the year. hi out in the cold. thanks for your words of wisdom haha, what apple tree did you go for? I'm glad to hear victoria plums do well i planted one of them too and it has prime spot in my garden,

[out in the cold]

My wife bought me a Family Apple, so it has two varieties, James Grieve and Elstar.

I will PM you a question re the Garden Centre.

[new gardener 1052]

My wife bought me a Family Apple, so it has two varieties, James Grieve and Elstar.

I will PM you a question re the Garden Centre.

Hi out in the cold no worries

[Jay-ell]

Has anyone mentioned blossoming groups to you? As your last frost date is later on in the year you don't want to buy trees which are at risk of having their flowers nipped off by the cold.

[Guest]

Don't be disheartened. Every gardener has challenges just look for solutions. Several people have mentioned varieties but what about micro climate, poly tunnels, sheltered spots etc. etc. Also what do other people near you have growing?

[orangepippin]

Aberdeen (i.e. the area near the city) is one of the better areas of Scotland for growing fruit trees. The growing season is a bit short but sunshine hours are significantly better than Edinburgh and Glasgow. Most plums and most early and mid-season apples should be successful.

You might be OK with a Concorde pear if you can plant it in a sheltered spot exposed to the south, and also Laxton's Superb apple (or Red Windsor, which is a bit earlier).

[BUFFS]

you have better weather on the east coast, that rare thing called sunshine, so you will be able to grow most fruit, i am finding it difficult to get pears to fruit, but the rest, with the likes of peaches/apricots in a greenhouse kept dry, as it rains too much here on the west coast, there is very little that will not grow but as said there are strains that work better, such as james grieves apples and the old reliable bramley, my stella cherry fruits well, as long as I can keep the birds off it...