Am I wasting my time?
Linda Taylor2 2103213618
Posts: 400
in Fruit & veg
My hubby has made me a container which for the last couple of years has been home to a conifer...yes very inspiring I know! I have decided that I would like a fruit tree, probably a pear. The container is fairly big 2ft x 2ft x 3ft deep so I think a miniature would look nice, but not sure what type. I have seen one of those trees that has got 3 different types grafted onto one base, so it is reckoned to be self fertile(I do only have room for the one tree).
What I want is your expert opinions guys....am I wasting my time, and if so, what would you go for?
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IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LIVE.
I AM IN DERBYSHIRE AND AM REALLY TOO EXPOSED TO BAD WEATHER TO GROW PEARS FOR ANTHING OTHER THAN THEIR BLOSSOM.
PEARS NEED WARMER SUMMERS THAN APPLES IN ORDER TO RIPEN. THEY GET FROSTED EASILY SO THE FRUITS HAVE LESS CHANCE OF SETTING.
IF YOU CAN SEE PEARS BEING GROWN AROUND YOU THEN THAT IS A GOOD SIGN.
NOBODY ELSE IS GROWING THEM HERE. BUT I LIKE THE FLOWERS.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
I am of the opinion that if you want to grow something you should just go ahead and do it. It might work, it might not but either way you will have gained something. You will get fruit or you will understand that the tree you chose just doesn't like you or the place where you planted it. Gardening isn't about playing it safe but more a question of trying to beat nature.....and sometimes succeeding. Look upon your proposed pear tree as a short lived decorative shrub.
Linda. A tree with different grafting's will be a small tree to be grown in a container, if you have a spot that gets a good bit of sun and is sheltered from the coldest winds then go for it, we gardeners are eternal optimists. Keep the tree in the pot it comes in for a year, or plant the pot into the container for a year or so until the root system starts to be too big for the original pot then plant the tree into the container. The size you quote is large enough to last several years though in time you may need to transplant into a larger one. In winter or cold periods put the pot in the shelter of a wall if possible, a brick wall will take in the heat from any sun we get then give it back at night reducing frost risk. Our William Pears grew on the wall as a fan along with Victoria Plums and we had very good harvests of fruit.
Go for it Linda, and be surprised, that is the beauty of gardening sometimes our expectations are fulfilled.
Frank.
Thank you guys
It is a sheltered spot that I have in mind, and it will get all the sun in the summer months. It is right by the wall of the house,and there are some other pear trees around, so I think I will go for it.Thanks for the encouragement!!
Thanks Verdun, will do. I want something that has nice blossom, but will be productive too, so I will ask their advice.