Fruit tree suppliers

[Hereford fruit grower]

I just wondered, has anyone used Pomona Fruits for apple or pear trees? Their address is Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, i.e. on the east coast.

On Google Streetview, it's a domestic address and not a fruit tree grower. Are they perhaps buying all their trees from a supplier in Belgium or the Netherlands and selling them on?

I've provisionally recommended them to a friend in London who wants to plant a pear and two apples. He's within driving distance and could collect the three trees needed before the season ends. They're all in stock.

I bought some strawberry plants from them and they seemed OK. However, fruit trees are a longer-term investment, hence my question.

[veggiechicken]

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...tml?highlight=

[Bluenowhere]

Slight tangent but have heard good things about Keepers from our friends who have 50 plus fruit trees they have trained in their garden and own woodland so I’d hope they know a thing or two about trees. They highly recommended them for service and quality. https://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/

Not sure if they have the varieties your friend was after still in stock but they are only in Maidstone in Kent so not too far for your friend to drive from London, probably take about the same time as to drive to Walton.

[sparrow100]

I've not used them. I HAVE used, and would thoroughly recommend Blackmoor, Ashridge, Ken Muir and Brogdale. All provided great stock or, if there was a problem, resolved it quickly and easily. All happily provide pre or post-planting advice.

eta: the only one I drove to was Brogdale, to pick up a trained tree. The others were posted and all arrived in good nick.

[TrixC]

I nearly bought some trees from Pomona, but changed my mind after I contacted them with a question and was disappointed in their standard of customer service. I would not be at all surprised if they don’t grow their own trees. I would highly recommend both Keepers and Mail Order Trees.

[Kirk]

Special apples I have bought from Brogdale, used to drive down before the bridge cost went up. Slight problem with brogdale is deciding which ones and which rootstock. Having 2000+ apples makes it a difficult choice.

Great fun, identify 8 varieties, specify the root stock, have them grafted, go collect.

Ken Muir and Keepers were the others. Wanted a plum of a certain variety. Someone else substituted a different variety.

[Hereford fruit grower]

Thanks. I can't recommend Keepers. They mixed up too many apple and pear varieties and I'm having to do the work to document their errors. I know my Red Jonagold from my Jonagold, Rosemary Russet from Brownlees Russet or - much more obvious - Herefordshire Russet from Tydemans' Early Worcester.

If any more info. is needed, pls contact me privately.

If others haven't found Pomona very knowledgeable, then maybe that only leaves Graeme Bale.
Eshop selling fruit and nut trees, rootstock and scions - gb-online.co.uk

But my friend wanted to plant this season, and 'the season' is continuing a month more than it usually does which is 'helpful'. Pomona had more varieties in stock of the three I suggested.