Gardening
Growing Your Own Fruit Trees
You would be surprised at just how many people think growing fruit trees is difficult and time-consuming.
In fact, once established, they are actually very easy, providing you walk before you run! If you’re a first-time gardener I would recommend you start with apple trees, as they are very tough and their flowers are less susceptible to frost damage. (spellpundit.com) As you gain experience, you can progress to growing more demanding fruit trees like pears, for example.
Fruit trees need companions
As a general rule, most apple trees are what we call diploids, in other words, you need to have two different trees for pollination by insects, predominantly bees. This goes for most pears and some cherries, plums and gages. But as with every rule, there are exceptions; some trees are triploids which means you need two different trees to pollinate the tree. An example of a triploid tree is Bramley’s Seeding, by far the most popular cooking apple. Often when Bramleys do not produce fruit, it is because the two companion trees are of the same variety.
Where to plant fruit trees
Fruit trees must be planted in sheltered sites to protect them from wind damage and encourage pollination by insects. Chilling winds will damage blossoms so avoid cold, exposed sites. It’s simple, if flowers are damaged there will be no fruit.
When to plant fruit trees
November to February is the best time for planting fruit trees, but you can plant potted fruit trees all year round providing you water them well during dry weather.
Remember, fruit trees don’t live on fresh air as many people tend to believe, so feed them in spring when soil temperatures rise above 8-10 degrees with a balanced fertiliser like Growmore 7:7:7.
Don’t panic if you don’t have a garden, as dwarf apple trees like the Coronet miniature can be grown on the patio in large planters or wooden barrels. These trees have two different varieties grafted onto the main stem, so they are self-fertile; you will only need one tree to produce an abundance of full-size delicious fruits.
Our top picks
- Coronet Two Variety – Apple Tree
- Malus domestica ‘Bramley’s Seeding’ – 7.5 Litre – Apple Tree
- Corylus avellana ‘Halle’sche Riesennuss’ – 7.5 Litre – Hazelnut Tree
- Pyrus communis ‘Beurre Hardy’ – 7.5 Litre – Pear Tree
- Prunus domestica ‘Damson’ – 7.5 Litre – Plum Tree
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