fruit-tree-advice---please
Hi everyone,
I would like some advice on which fruit trees to choose.
I am moving house in 2 weeks to one with a garden large enough for to grow fruit. The garden is SSE facing & quite open; it is near the top of a hill (smallish) in North Yorkshire - therefore fairly exposed & cold.
I would like to grow damsons, as they are so hard to find in the shops, an apple or 2 and possibly another plum. I would love a pear, but have been advised that 'you grow pears for your heirs'.
I've been looking at dwarfing or semi-dwarfing trees for space reasons & because I have vertigo & going up a ladder for anything other than prize fruit is a no no.
I am no more than an enthusiastic amateur gardener, so anything too fussy is probably beyond my skills.
Any advice/suggestions will be gratefully received.
Thank you
Caroline
Posts
...for apples, I advise getting rootstock M9 which is semi-dwarfing keeping the bush at 6-8 foot...they will need permanent staking with wooden stakes and tying in with appropriate tree ties...which shouldn't be too much of a problem..... there is a dwarfer type..M27 but I prefer M9 personally.... self fertile or preferably 2 that will pollinate each other... you can also get 3 types of apple on 1 bush... don't be tempted to get Cox's... they're difficult... plenty of others to choose from...
...perhaps one of the older varieties might appeal.. you'll never see these in shops...
...I don't think these days you need wait too long for nice pears...should you decide to grow these too...
This http://www.readsnursery.co.uk/ is a really helpful website and the nursery supplies first class plants. I've recently bought several fruit trees and bushes from them and I am very impressed.
They have a wide range of varieties, including some quite unusual ones.
They are also very helpful, taking time and trouble to answer email enquiries. I heartily recommend them - I have no connection with them other than as a very satisfied customer.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.