Fruit trees

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Discussion

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,521 posts

198 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
quotequote all
So as with most questions these days i know PH will have the answer.

My daughters school grows apple and plum trees in in school a and wants to do the same I need our garden.

We are in the east end of Glasgow.

Best time to plant? Types of fruit trees?


Thanks

mrsshpub

901 posts

183 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
quotequote all
THis is probably a good place to start: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Grow-Your-Own/Fruit?...

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
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We're going to plant some too, to make a nice feature of the boundary between us and the property behind (they're keen on the idea too).

The woman at the garden centre I use advised me to plant in spring next year as it's when you get the best trees available. The later in the year the slimmer the pickings are (so to speak) as people generally buy in the summer when they get the idea that an orchard would be nice.

I planted a pink lady apple tree this spring in a different location so I think I'm going to go with a mixture down this other end of the garden. Cooking apples, plums, cherries and some nice blossoms to break things up. Maybe even some berry bushes as the wife likes picking and cooking but I think they'll take a bit of keeping in check.

I've spoken to this guy before and he's helpful;
https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/sale#page1

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
quotequote all
LaurasOtherHalf said:
The woman at the garden centre I use advised me to plant in spring next year as it's when you get the best trees available. The later in the year the slimmer the pickings are (so to speak) as people generally buy in the summer when they get the idea that an orchard would be nice.
That's a point but nature isn't always the same as retail convenience. The RHS advice is more scientific: 'You will see apple trees for sale in two forms: bare-root stock (as the name suggested, the roots are exposed when you purchase these plants) or in containers. Bare-root plants should be planted from late autumn until early spring; containerised plants can be planted at any time of year, though winter is preferred.'

jas xjr

11,309 posts

238 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
quotequote all
Raspberries tend to grow well and are easy to grow.so many variables where trees are concerned, re soil,weather and other conditions.
Good luck.the results are worth it

dirty doug

483 posts

194 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
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+1 for raspberries.

Easy to grow & if you choose some that fruit in summer & some in autumn, your summer fruit crumbles may taste as delicious as mine & your freezer will overflow with home grown delights.

paulrockliffe

15,639 posts

226 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
quotequote all
Bare root plants/trees are being prepared for delivery from now until the spring, now is the time to order to reserve the best stock. I've got 5 trees due in the week of the 21st of November from Orangepippin.co.uk, 2 apples, 2 plums, 1 pear. I've had blueberries, cranberries and lingonberries delivered in the last couple of weeks and raspberries and black currants coming in November.

Mr GrimNasty

8,172 posts

169 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
quotequote all
Yes, order bareroot trees now, the best stuff sells out rapidly, garden center lady talk BS (probably because they get potted trees in in spring).

Raspberries need rich well-prepared soil and moisture to perform best.

Being up north check fruit tree varieties are suitable to a cooler climate/shorter growing season & frost hardy blossom, lots are not.

brrapp

3,701 posts

161 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
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As others have said, you can plant potted trees anytime but you're best to get bare root trees and plant them between now and late spring. Go to a local tree nursery rather than a national garden centre chain. You'll get good advice on what's suitable for your area. As you're in Glasgow, it would be well worth taking your daughter to something run by these people www.clydevalleyorchards.co.uk .

Chrisgr31

13,440 posts

254 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Or wait for Lidl to get them in in the Spring, ridiculously cheap! And their plum tree has done a lot better than the expensive one from the garden centre!

V8RX7

26,765 posts

262 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Bear in mind how much fruit you'll eat.

I have recently cut down 4 eating apple trees and 2 cookers because there was just far too much fruit to pick / eat and it attracted loads of wasps, took days to clear up etc

dmsims

6,452 posts

266 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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V8RX7 said:
Bear in mind how much fruit you'll eat.

I have recently cut down 4 eating apple trees and 2 cookers because there was just far too much fruit to pick / eat and it attracted loads of wasps, took days to clear up etc
This - the chainsaw is coming for the apple tree this week - massive PITA

Davie_GLA

Original Poster:

6,521 posts

198 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
quotequote all
Thanks all for the info. I@ll follow up.

Re: soil and quality etc. I live in a new build estate, all be it ten years ago. Any prep i'll need to do?

PugwasHDJ80

7,522 posts

220 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
quotequote all
dmsims said:
V8RX7 said:
Bear in mind how much fruit you'll eat.

I have recently cut down 4 eating apple trees and 2 cookers because there was just far too much fruit to pick / eat and it attracted loads of wasps, took days to clear up etc
This - the chainsaw is coming for the apple tree this week - massive PITA
If you are genuinely chopping an apple tree down, could i have the wood please? i use it for BBQ smoking and I'm alwqays after more.

V8RX7

26,765 posts

262 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
quotequote all
PugwasHDJ80 said:
If you are genuinely chopping an apple tree down, could i have the wood please? i use it for BBQ smoking and I'm alwqays after more.
Too late - all chopped for the woodburner.