Dwarf Plum Tree

[Kimbo]

I have a dwarf plum tree that I bought this year for growing in a large pot. It has quite a lot of green leaves on and I am wondering whether I should put it in the greenhouse over winter especially as the dwarf cherry I bought at the same time had its green shoots killed off when we had a cold spell earlier in the year after we had a warm spell and it had started to grow. I still have the cherry stuck in its pot and it definitely looks dead to me but I dont know much about fruit trees - should I get rid or put it in the greenhouse over winter and see if anything happens in the spring.

[valmarg]

When growing fruit trees, etc in pots, in winter it is more important that you keep the roots frost free, ie protect the pot. Keeping them in the greenhouse would be ideal, but be careful in the spring not to let them start growing too early. Harden them off by leaving them outside during the day, and only putting them in the greenhouse if a hard frost is forecast.

With regard to your cherry tree, if you scrape a bit of the bark away at the base of the tree, and its green underneath, then the tree should be all right next year. If its brown and dry under the bark then it is most likely dead, in which case you should take it back to the nursery you bought it from. Any good company guarantees its stock, so you should get your money back or a replacement.

valmarg

[Snadger]

I have apple, plum, cherry, pear and apricot trees all growing in pots. Totally agree with valmarg on both points but for me the only one I will overwinter in the greenhouse is the Apricot because its early flowers can be killed by frost. I'm undecided how I am going to treat the other trees as although they are on dwarfing rootstock there is not enough room in my greenhouse for them.
This leaves me with two options as far as I can see, either I lag the pots for winter or I dig a hole somewhere and bury the pots up to ground level?
Interested to know what other dwarf fruit tree growers do for winter?

[Kimbo]

When growing fruit trees, etc in pots, in winter it is more important that you keep the roots frost free, ie protect the pot. Keeping them in the greenhouse would be ideal, but be careful in the spring not to let them start growing too early. Harden them off by leaving them outside during the day, and only putting them in the greenhouse if a hard frost is forecast.

With regard to your cherry tree, if you scrape a bit of the bark away at the base of the tree, and its green underneath, then the tree should be all right next year. If its brown and dry under the bark then it is most likely dead, in which case you should take it back to the nursery you bought it from. Any good company guarantees its stock, so you should get your money back or a replacement.

valmarg

Have scraped the bark and it is dead as a dodo. I have contacted the supplier (I got it online) and hopefully will either get a replacmenet (which I would prefer) or my money back.