The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on December 28, 2014, 09:33:21 am

Title: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: ScotsGirl on December 28, 2014, 09:33:21 am
ive just spent 5 minutes laughing at the accidental fruit tree post. Which prompted me to ask where is the best place to buy a couple of Apple and pear trees? Ideally dwarf but most seem to be about £25 and I was hoping to get a bargain as I will most likely kill them (or the goats will if they get in).


I've only got a smallish area to plant in but the goats and pigs love fruit.
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on December 28, 2014, 11:18:14 am
ive just spent 5 minutes laughing at the accidental fruit tree post. Which prompted me to ask where is the best place to buy a couple of Apple and pear trees? Ideally dwarf but most seem to be about £25 and I was hoping to get a bargain as I will most likely kill them (or the goats will if they get in).


I've only got a smallish area to plant in but the goats and pigs love fruit.
I usually buy mine from a garden centre and sometimes shops like morrisons.
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/fruit/fruit-trees/apple-pear-trees (http://www.thompson-morgan.com/fruit/fruit-trees/apple-pear-trees)
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: Bramblecot on December 28, 2014, 11:58:58 am
Try Adam's Apples website.  Most trees £12-15, loads of information on named varieties :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: Marches Farmer on December 28, 2014, 12:44:22 pm
I've always been happy with the quality from Deacon's on the Isle of Wight.
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: Womble on December 28, 2014, 01:10:11 pm
Yes, I've had great service from Adam's Apples in the past, and also Ashridge Trees.

It's a false economy just to buy any old supermarket tree. The ones I saw for sale this year had been dug up far too soon (still green leaved, as winter arrived so late this year), and didn't have any information on the tags about their rootstocks or pollination groups. That makes everything far more hit and miss, don't you think?
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on December 28, 2014, 02:00:06 pm
Yes, I've had great service from Adam's Apples in the past, and also Ashridge Trees.

It's a false economy just to buy any old supermarket tree. The ones I saw for sale this year had been dug up far too soon (still green leaved, as winter arrived so late this year), and didn't have any information on the tags about their rootstocks or pollination groups. That makes everything far more hit and miss, don't you think?
I agree, am gonna buy some dwarf apple trees for an orchard, as where I live is exposed to harsh weather, so am guessing trees and bushes, which can tolerate harsh weather. :)
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: Lesley Silvester on December 28, 2014, 03:56:59 pm
Now I want to buy some more fruit trees and I don't have room for any more.  :'( :'(
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: pgkevet on December 28, 2014, 08:53:58 pm
I second adam's apples if you want a good choice. If it's just cheap and take a chance then wait 2 mths and try Wilco's or B&M etc
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: john and helen on December 28, 2014, 09:09:04 pm
just bought 39 from Adams apples..fantastic service, and a really nice guy

http://www.adamsappletrees.co.uk (http://www.adamsappletrees.co.uk)
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: ScotsGirl on December 30, 2014, 10:16:49 pm
Iv emailed him but waiting for a reply....
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: spandit on December 30, 2014, 10:51:50 pm
Sometimes Aldi has them in for very cheap
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: devonlady on December 31, 2014, 08:51:44 am
Now I want to buy some more fruit trees and I don't have room for any more.  :'( :'(

MGM, the name has completely escaped me(age!) but have you considered the fruit trees that don't grow huge branches but put out tiny ones and can be planted about three feet apart yet still give a decent crop. Or espaliers or stepovers which will need a bit in the way of management.
                                                            Sylvia.
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: HesterF on January 17, 2015, 06:19:37 pm
Ballerina are the ones that just grow vertically but it's down to the pruning rather than the type of tree - although you do need them on the right root stock.

I need to plug Keepers Nursery in Maidstone too. Amazing range of varieties and brilliant service - we've had about 70 fruit trees from them so far and I think they're grafting one specially for us now (although I must check - it was about a year ago I asked them about it and it'll be next winter before it's ready!).

H
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: Caroline1 on February 06, 2015, 01:37:39 pm
Useful to know. I am also hoping to buy some fruit trees to start my own orchard, I have been looking at the Heritage sites for local varieties.
Title: Re: Buying Fruit Trees
Post by: HesterF on February 06, 2015, 02:17:13 pm
Good time to buy - I've just had a mail from Keepers saying they've got 25% off all their remaining bare root fruit tree and soft fruit stock. I shall be perusing later...