Page 1 of 1
FRUIT TREES
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:32 pm
by Shallot Man
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.
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:29 am
by oldherbaceous
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.
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:08 am
by Geoff
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.
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:04 am
by Johnboy
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.
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:57 am
by Tigger
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.
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:10 am
by alia
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?
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:02 am
by Johnboy
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.
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:39 pm
by Piglet
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.