Apple trees next to vegetables in allotment.

[Stafford]

Hello
A question from a newbie!
I have just taken over half an allotment.
At one end there are apple treees about 3m high that have fruited.
The fruit has been left to rot on the ground.
I would not have chosen to plant these trees in the first place.
Possible drying of the surrounding soil, with extra watering of vegetables makes it seem a bad idea to me.
Would it be considered sacrilege to dig the trees out?
I suppose it depends whether you are a veg or a fruit person, though!
Please help!

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine Stafford, I think it is down to personal choice. I am by no means an expert on fruit or veg but if you don't want them, dig them up. I am not sure if they would survive a move to somewhere else if another plot holder wanted them. Keep them where they are till someone with more knowledge gives you some advice.

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Stafford

I suppose it depends if the trees cast too much shade on your plot if they do you could keep one of them and use the area underneath for your compost bins or something else like that.

[rana]

To acquire an allotment with some fruiting apple trees to one end would be some peoples Holy Grail. There may well be another plot holder who would be prepared to swap plots. This must be worth investigating before taking any drastic action.

[Two_Sheds]

At one end there are apple treees about 3m high

Wow, brilliant!
Depends what end they are: north end is ideal, but south end they will shade the rest of your plot.

I've had an apple tree on my allotment before, they don't affect other crops much if at all. You just may need to water a bit more that's all.

We need trees; wildlife needs trees: please don't cut them all down if you can possibly resist.

[zazen999]

Apple and Rhubarb wine. Lovely.

I'd go with either asking around and swapping plots or leave it where it is and just collect more water in the winter to keep the veg watered in the summer.

[Two_Sheds]

I make apple chutney, apple jam, apple sauce & apple wine. I'd love to still have an apple tree. I killed mine when I moved it

[Florence Fennel]

Some of my veg grows in the shade of my apple tree and I usually get a good crops even though they're a bit shaded by the branches of the tree.

[Mell]

I must admit I'd be inclined to prune then to a level that is easy to pick & produces fruit I wanted to use, so if they are all cookers & your prefer eater graftb them over to that

[Snadger]

If you don't want the trees but want to keep your plot ask around to see if anyone else wants the trees.

Apples are very resilient and even 10 foot high trees should be able to be moved at this time of year with a large rootball around them.

If no one else wants them and you don't want them either, apple wood is good burning wood!

[Stafford]

Thanks everyone!
I will keep the apple trees!
Thanks again you have been really helpful.

[gojiberry]

A lot of people are out to make a financial profit from their plot and mature apple trees will give a greater financial return than most vegetables. If it was me and the plot is big enough then I would work around them. I do however grow a lot of fruit on my plot.

Ian