How to buy a peach tree as a gift....?

[1Bee]

I'd like to buy my in-laws a peach tree. They have a house in Brittany, and although they're not keen gardeners as such, they love pottering and are very fond of their fruit trees and bushes. They often mention how sad they were that the established peach tree died the same season they bought the house (they know not to plant another in the same spot).

If I buy a patio peach, then it will be left in a pot for months at a time with no-one caring for it, when they're not in residence. If I buy a bare-root tree, I don't know how long it would be before they could plant it out.

Can I buy a bare root tree and plant it up in a pot temporarily, so they can take care of it in the UK until they go out next and plant it out?

Any recommendations? Do I have any other options?

I like to buy Christmas gifts that mean something... sometimes it gets a bit complicated!

[veggiechicken]

Is transporting a peach tree in a pot going to be difficult for them? The peach trees I bought last year have been 5-6' tall, before planting.
Don't know what size a patio peach is.

[1Bee]

Ah, yes, that might be difficult. 4 foot would be manageable, but...

[fishpond]

Have a chat with Blackmoor Nursery as I believe they do send fruit trees abroad.
Failing that, plant it in your garden and email them an occasional photograph.

[nickdub]

Might it not be simpler to ring a local garden center near them in France and ask if they could hold a peach tree to be collected when they next visit ? Alternatively if they have a friendly neighbor over there, perhaps a tree could be bought bare root on the internet and delivered to them to be heeled in, until your relatives are there to plant it ?

[veggiechicken]

As a surprise gift, you could give them a tin of peaches and an IOU for a pre-ordered tree to be collected in Brittany

[Nicos]

Another thing to consider is the winter hardiness of the variety you choose.

I'm not very aware of the winter temperatures in Brittany, but in Normandy we have had -18C for several days almost every year for the past 10years....the lowest on record apparently was in the early 1980's....at -28C

Are you sure their original tree died of disease?
If so...might there be a variety which is more resistant?

Just a couple of thoughts worth considering....

[Nicos]

Oh...meant to say...I think it's a wonderful idea as a gift. Very thoughtful!

[1Bee]

Thanks everyone! I don't think I'm up to ordering locally to them (I love to speak my very limited French, but I HATE talking on the phone at the best of times....) but I wonder if I could manage a gift voucher or something similar.

If the worst comes to the worst, I'll buy them a tin of peaches (love it!) a gift boxed pair of secateurs and give them some Euros!

Nicos, it was a very established tree, and they seem to think it went down to peach leaf curl. I don't know specifics about winter conditions, but there are fruit trees everywhere - it's one of the things I love about visiting. And eating.

[1Bee]

I *think* I've found a local garden centre which I can buy gift cards from...