Hello everyone,
We're thinking of planting a mini orchard (if you could call it that!) on our newly acquired allotment and were wondering what the best varieties would be.
Ideally we'd like one cooking and one eating apple, same for plums and one or two pear trees.
Pollination for the plums shouldn't be a problem as there are plenty of plum trees there on other plots already.
Any advice on rootstock, suitability for where we live (Lancashire), how heavy cropping etc., would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, June
Recommendations for a mini orchard
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peter
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Buy maiden apple trees, on appropriate rootstock and train them as espalier along plot boundary. 
Easy to prune and pick, don't use lots of space, reachable from plot or path and can act as windbreak or hedge.
Go here http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/ for good advice and possible shopping.
Easy to prune and pick, don't use lots of space, reachable from plot or path and can act as windbreak or hedge.
Go here http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/ for good advice and possible shopping.
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.
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How about some "Family Trees" these are rootstocks with more than one variety of Apple, or pear grafted on,up to 3 i believe.If your prepared to wait, you could have your own choice grafted,I know Keepers Nursery will do this for you.It would take less room up and allow you to grow a bigger selection. You can have both cookers and eaters on the same tree.Hope this is of some help, and good luck 
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Hi June,
During the week I received the D T Brown seed catalogue and there are some very reasonably priced
old fashioned Apples (five in all) on M9 rootstock
which are the size very suited to making into Cordon type trees.
If you click on this site: www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/acatalog/index.html
and down the left hand column tick Fruit and then again Fruit Trees it will take you to these very reasonably priced trees and if you buy all 5 the price is £54.75. I have just ordered them yesterday for myself. I have had other fruit trees fro DTB and I can assure you that their quality is paramount.
Also there is a special offer on Rhubarb of three "Champagne Variety" for £ 7.90. which is very good value in comparison to others. I have ordered those as well. Champagne is one of the best varieties.
M9 rootstock will make small but very unobtrusive
trees, which to me I feel, ideal for allotments.
They can also can be grown as bushes rather than unmanageable trees which you do not really want on an allotment space wise.
I have no doubt that Keepers Nursery as mentioned by others is very good but do compare the prices.
Hope that this assists you in your quest.
During the week I received the D T Brown seed catalogue and there are some very reasonably priced
old fashioned Apples (five in all) on M9 rootstock
which are the size very suited to making into Cordon type trees.
If you click on this site: www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/acatalog/index.html
and down the left hand column tick Fruit and then again Fruit Trees it will take you to these very reasonably priced trees and if you buy all 5 the price is £54.75. I have just ordered them yesterday for myself. I have had other fruit trees fro DTB and I can assure you that their quality is paramount.
Also there is a special offer on Rhubarb of three "Champagne Variety" for £ 7.90. which is very good value in comparison to others. I have ordered those as well. Champagne is one of the best varieties.
M9 rootstock will make small but very unobtrusive
trees, which to me I feel, ideal for allotments.
They can also can be grown as bushes rather than unmanageable trees which you do not really want on an allotment space wise.
I have no doubt that Keepers Nursery as mentioned by others is very good but do compare the prices.
Hope that this assists you in your quest.
JB.
Hello everyone.
Many thanks for all the tips. I'm still unsure of the varieties to go for as I really don't think we've enough room for more than 5 or 6 trees in total. The layout of the site doesn't really lend itself to trees along our boundaries so the dwarf rootstock sounds the best bet.
A fellow allotmenteer told us he knew of someone who'd grown the family trees and they tended to grow lopsided with one variety more vigorous than other which he thought impacted on the yield of the others so I'd be interested if anyone has grown these.
I think I'm most unsure of which Pear varieties to go for as my husband fancies a Williams variety which I'm not sure how well it would grow where we are. I think part of my problem is there are too many to choose from! I had a look on the Brogdale website and became totally overwhelmed! We thought we wouldn't mind trying the heritage varieties but I wonder would we be sacrificing disease resistance and productivity compared to newer ones (practicality versus sentimentality!).
Anyway, thanks once again. June
Many thanks for all the tips. I'm still unsure of the varieties to go for as I really don't think we've enough room for more than 5 or 6 trees in total. The layout of the site doesn't really lend itself to trees along our boundaries so the dwarf rootstock sounds the best bet.
A fellow allotmenteer told us he knew of someone who'd grown the family trees and they tended to grow lopsided with one variety more vigorous than other which he thought impacted on the yield of the others so I'd be interested if anyone has grown these.
I think I'm most unsure of which Pear varieties to go for as my husband fancies a Williams variety which I'm not sure how well it would grow where we are. I think part of my problem is there are too many to choose from! I had a look on the Brogdale website and became totally overwhelmed! We thought we wouldn't mind trying the heritage varieties but I wonder would we be sacrificing disease resistance and productivity compared to newer ones (practicality versus sentimentality!).
Anyway, thanks once again. June
Hello June,
Not that I want to add to your quandry, but have you considered minarette or duo minarette trees. They can be planted as little as 2ft apart.
You can find some info on this site -
http://www.kenmuir.co.uk/shopFrame.htm
- either select minarette or duo minarette from the drop down list where it says 'Please make selection'
or under 'Ask Ken' and then 'Horticultural advice', 'Apples & Pears'
Not that I want to add to your quandry, but have you considered minarette or duo minarette trees. They can be planted as little as 2ft apart.
You can find some info on this site -
http://www.kenmuir.co.uk/shopFrame.htm
- either select minarette or duo minarette from the drop down list where it says 'Please make selection'
or under 'Ask Ken' and then 'Horticultural advice', 'Apples & Pears'
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peter
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For heritage try Sops-in-wine, a deep purple small apple, with red-tinged flesh.
Also Gasgoines Scarlet, a magnificent and sweet eater, does not keep too well.
Also Gasgoines Scarlet, a magnificent and sweet eater, does not keep too well.
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.
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Hello again,
Yes,Belinda,I am in a quandry!! I do have Ken Muir's catalogue and have gazed longingly at the Minarettes. If I went down this route I'd probably want a dozen rather than half dozen which would cost well over £100!! The trouble is now I've got my allotment there's so many things I want to do to it that I'm in danger of bankruptcy rather than self-sufficiency!(hope I don't sound too much of a skinflint here but I'm trying to be realistic!!)
Going off the thread a bit in this vein, do any other allotment holders know any tips on how to get things like manure and basic paving flags etc., other than the obvious just going and buying them?!
Anyway, back to the fruit catalogues!
Thanks again.
Yes,Belinda,I am in a quandry!! I do have Ken Muir's catalogue and have gazed longingly at the Minarettes. If I went down this route I'd probably want a dozen rather than half dozen which would cost well over £100!! The trouble is now I've got my allotment there's so many things I want to do to it that I'm in danger of bankruptcy rather than self-sufficiency!(hope I don't sound too much of a skinflint here but I'm trying to be realistic!!)
Going off the thread a bit in this vein, do any other allotment holders know any tips on how to get things like manure and basic paving flags etc., other than the obvious just going and buying them?!
Anyway, back to the fruit catalogues!
Thanks again.
Oh how well I know that feeling - SO many things I want to do but can't afford all of them at once, nor am I physically able to, there just aren't enough hours in the day or pennies in the bank.
I have late crop main potatoes currently in the spot where I would like to put fruit trees and a fruit cage. I've decided to plant an over-wintering (hopefully) green manure when I lift the potatoes, and assuming I don't need the space next season will continue to plant long term green manures to keep the weeds down. Along with that I am going to try and save between £3 and £5 each week (hidden under the bed or somewhere!) then I might just be able to afford the fruit trees I would like come this time next year!! Wish me luck
Then there's the all important question - how to get stuff free or very, very cheap. If you find an easy answer to that one I'm sure there are lots of people on the forum who would like to know.
I have late crop main potatoes currently in the spot where I would like to put fruit trees and a fruit cage. I've decided to plant an over-wintering (hopefully) green manure when I lift the potatoes, and assuming I don't need the space next season will continue to plant long term green manures to keep the weeds down. Along with that I am going to try and save between £3 and £5 each week (hidden under the bed or somewhere!) then I might just be able to afford the fruit trees I would like come this time next year!! Wish me luck
Then there's the all important question - how to get stuff free or very, very cheap. If you find an easy answer to that one I'm sure there are lots of people on the forum who would like to know.
Yes, if I do get the answer to that question I'll be sure to post it!
Slightly off the thread of a mini orchard but on the subject of cheap fruit, I've ordered five blueberry varieties, early, mid and late, from J Parker (www.jparkers.co.uk)for £19.75 which I thought was good value. I've had one from them before, and while it was small when it arrived, three years on it's cropping well. Having said that I'll probably spend (at least) treble that trying to fix up some sort of fruit cage for them all!
Good luck with your fruit plantings, June.
Slightly off the thread of a mini orchard but on the subject of cheap fruit, I've ordered five blueberry varieties, early, mid and late, from J Parker (www.jparkers.co.uk)for £19.75 which I thought was good value. I've had one from them before, and while it was small when it arrived, three years on it's cropping well. Having said that I'll probably spend (at least) treble that trying to fix up some sort of fruit cage for them all!
Good luck with your fruit plantings, June.
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peter
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Freecycle, but don't put up Wanted's, just register and wait for what you want, use the waiting time to get rid of a few things you no longer want.
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.
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peter
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June, go to http://freecycle.org and follow your nose.
Basically imagine a version of e-bay, for local people , where everything is free and the first bidder wins.
The ethos is that stuff that is too good to dispose of up the tip, but not really saleable.
I got a 6x5 metal shed, Piglet got a greenhouse.
But remmeber to keep the thing going it need people with stuff to dispose of.
Basically imagine a version of e-bay, for local people
, where everything is free and the first bidder wins.
The ethos is that stuff that is too good to dispose of up the tip, but not really saleable.
I got a 6x5 metal shed, Piglet got a greenhouse.
But remmeber to keep the thing going it need people with stuff to dispose of.
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.
I support http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
I support http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/