10 easy to grow fruit tress

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10 easy to grow fruit tress
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OP

Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 11 12:20 pm Post subject:

You mentioned hazels - well I think Gunslebert is very good, seems to require no effort and very productive. As you say, pollination from nearby native hazels will work.

Just thinking about your requirement for trees that can be left to their own devices, so far the discussion has been about the most reliable varieties. However another angle is the rootstocks. For example you could have a very reliable apple (Keswick Codlin, Grenadier) but on dwarfing M27 as an extreme example, it would probably get covered by brambles whilst you weren't looking, or die from lack of water in a dry spell when you forget to water it. I've recently been very impressed (on the strength of one example) by 1 year bare-root M9/MM111 interstem tree that I planted in May, having left it around in the garage for at least a month. That MM111 on the bottom is an amazing thing.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 11 12:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the nut recommendation, I'll squirrel it away for future reference.

I understand what you're saying about the rootstocks although the woodland isn't quite that overgrown. The current apples are 106 & 25 and it'll be useful to see how they do. I'm not sure I will be able to be too choosy with the others as I might pick them up from a place like Lidl and I'm not sure they even mention the rootstock.

However, there are still plans for an orchard in a few years time so I'll be racking your brains about varieties and rootstocks then.

Any plum recommendation?

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 11 12:53 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Bernie66 wrote:

Pears are planted for the next generation rather than this one. And they're a waste of time too often.

Hmm. 3-4 yrs is start of cropping, not prolific here but quite good. Concorde is a good reliable one, Conference too.

I'm getting fruit on three year old trees that are planted in a cordon.

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9717
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 11 1:25 pm Post subject:

Tavascarow wrote:

Quince?
Pretty bomb proof AFAIK & makes the nicest jelly I've tasted.

only after we planted ours did i discover they dont grow well here - and ours has been dying slowly ever since. check your area.. see if others can grow them

OP

Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 11 2:45 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Thanks for the nut recommendation, I'll squirrel it away for future reference.

Just make sure you don't forget where you hid it.

Treacodactyl wrote:

However, there are still plans for an orchard in a few years time so I'll be racking your brains about varieties and rootstocks then.

The best and cheapest way to buy trees for an orchard is to order at 12-24 months in advance. That means you can specify whatever rootstocks you want, or interstems, or training style etc. You even have the opportunity to have them grafted in situ etc.

Treacodactyl wrote:

Any plum recommendation?

Purely on taste, Ariel is my favourite of the moment. I know gages are supposed to be better, but I reckon plums crossed with gages can be something special.

Mrs R

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 11 2:58 pm Post subject:

Bebo wrote:

tahir wrote:

Bernie66 wrote:

Pears are planted for the next generation rather than this one. And they're a waste of time too often.

Hmm. 3-4 yrs is start of cropping, not prolific here but quite good. Concorde is a good reliable one, Conference too.

I'm getting fruit on three year old trees that are planted in a cordon.

Our conference pear is only young but does really well - probably the best we have, and lord knows I never do anything fancy with it

madcat

Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 11 9:22 pm Post subject:
Cherry plums are a menace,they are hidiously prolific and grow like mad things.Mine are booked for a severe pruning. I don't like the fruit either.

giveitago

Joined: 02 Jan 2011
Posts: 151
Location: surrey

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 11 8:16 pm Post subject:
I dont know much about roots etc but what about a fig tree, sweet chestnut or just a plain old victoria?

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 11 6:24 am Post subject:

My medlar produced good sized fruit the first year I was here and every year since the fruit has been tiny, so not totally bombproof.

This is also the first year (we are in year 7) that we have had any hazels on our wild trees. Course the red squirrels will get them before us!

The only 'fruit' I have which nearly always produces well and rarely gets disease, is walnut, but you will have to wait a bit for them, but once they get going, my god, I have never seen such a fast growing tree ever.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45434
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 11 7:23 am Post subject:

Millymollymandy wrote:

The only 'fruit' I have which nearly always produces well and rarely gets disease, is walnut, but you will have to wait a bit for them, but once they get going, my god, I have never seen such a fast growing tree ever.

Yup, they are oh so vigorous. Mind you some of our chestnuts are as big as the walnuts. The most vigorous thing here is apricots though, I pruned in May and they're just huge again now.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 11 9:02 am Post subject:

I wish someone would tell my stumpy walnut trees they should be vigorous.

Although I'd love some walnuts and chestnuts I don't want to plant expensive trees in our woodland as they will not be looked after that much.

I'm not sure about a Victoria plum, aren't they meant to be a bit tricky to grow and better varieties out there? On the other hand I expect Victoria to be one of the plums that are often sold cheaply so I wouldn't rule one out.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45434
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 11 9:07 am Post subject:
Victoria is prolific and reliable (round here anyway) for your conditions you may want to consider some of the local varieties.

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