Fruit trees - various types

[Mantha81]

Good Morning,

I have recently ordered and soon to be delivered mini fruit trees. I have lemon/lime/orange and apple/plum/cherry/pear. I bought them through the offer in the latest magazine.

After purchasing them, I realised that they had to be brought in in the winter, but that isn't an option for me, thus, how do I protect them over winter or have I just bought something that will die because it will be outsider?

Also, what soil do they like, do they need fertiliser for example (manure) or particular compost etc?

All help gratefully received,

thanks, Mantha

[WendyC]

Only the citrus need winter protection the others will be perfectly fine outside through the winter. I would pot them on using something like JI No3.

[Mantha81]

Only the citrus need winter protection the others will be perfectly fine outside through the winter. I would pot them on using something like JI No3.

thank you, how would I protect them?

[Bigmallly]

You could cover the Orange, Lime & Lemons with fleece & overwinter them in a shed, garage or similar. The Apple, Pear, Plum & Cherry should be ok.

[Mantha81]

You could cover the Orange, Lime & Lemons with fleece & overwinter them in a shed, garage or similar. The Apple, Pear, Plum & Cherry should be ok.

Thank you, they will be planted in the ground so can't move. Or, are you suggesting that I keep them in pots and put them in the shed over winter?

[WendyC]

They need to be moved under cover for the winter, so yes that would be easier if they were in pots.

[Bigmallly]

Yes if poss, as Wendy says put the Citrus Trees in pots, the others should be ok in the ground.

[Kirk]

For where you are the citrus will not survive the winter - technically the lemon might but I would suspect not as one coldish winter will wipe it out. The Lime and Orange will not make it through a UK winter.

The lime is a tropical fruit tree that live in temperatures of 25c and usually high humidity. Oranges are sort of Spain area of the world, Spain, California etc so agin a UK winter is too harsh for them.

So those 3 will need to remain in large pots and then brought in during the Autumn, especially the Lime.