FRUIT TREES

A place to chat about anything you like, including non-gardening related subjects. Just keep it clean, please!

Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud

User avatar
Shallot Man
KG Regular
Posts: 2668
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:51 am
Location: Basildon. Essex
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 41 times

I notice that the supermarket chain LIDL are advertising fruit tree's for £3.99, no doubt they are maidens, but worth a gamble at that price.
User avatar
oldherbaceous
KG Regular
Posts: 14432
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:52 pm
Location: Beautiful Bedfordshire
Has thanked: 711 times
Been thanked: 709 times

It might pay just to check what rootstock they are being grown on, so you know what size tree you will end up with.

But a very good price i have to agree.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

There's no fool like an old fool.
User avatar
Geoff
KG Regular
Posts: 5784
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:33 pm
Location: Forest of Bowland
Been thanked: 319 times

My neighbour has a Lidl orchard that is just starting to bear fruit. Some were end of offer half price sell-offs but they seem to be doing OK. Might go for the Opal Plum.
User avatar
Johnboy
KG Regular
Posts: 5824
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:15 pm
Location: NW Herefordshire

Hi Shallotman,
As OH has said with Lidl last year they couldn't tell you what the rootstock was and without that you cannot determine your planting distances and do not know how tall or how much spread to expect.
Certainly before buying even at that cheap you may not bargain for what you get. Thanks for the information but for me it is a decided no.
JB.
User avatar
Tigger
KG Regular
Posts: 3212
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:00 pm
Location: Shropshire

We have a few (planted 3 years ago) but they are on tall stock and all our others are short because we want to be able to reach the fruit without a ladder (in our old age!), so they're coming out this autumn and we've ordered others from Matthews.
alia
KG Regular
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:45 am
Location: New York City

even if they're on a tall rootstock, can you prune them in the summer to keep them small? or is it just too much work to fight the genes?
User avatar
Johnboy
KG Regular
Posts: 5824
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:15 pm
Location: NW Herefordshire

Hi Aila
On this side of the pond we have certain root-stocks that can give you the same apple from 5ft single trunk called a Minaret, which you could grow on your small plot, right up to what we call a Full Standard Tree which over the years could easily reach 45ft which most of mine are. This is achieved by using different root-stocks so you can now probably see the dilemma. If you do not know the rootstock what are you actually buying.
I know that you have the same system in the USA with the root-stocks but I have no idea what your system is called but would appreciate you finding out for me.
Sincerely,
JB.
User avatar
Piglet
KG Regular
Posts: 344
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 9:33 am

We use them for cordons as you can prune them hard to keep the shape.

They have been ideal for that and have fruited very well this year (the second season in the ground).

If you want known rootstocks etc then a specialist supplier would be the ideal choice.
Kindest Regards, Piglet

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic