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When to plant fruit trees?

Last post 17-11-2009 6:40 AM by OrangePippin. 9 replies.

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  • 24/10/2009 08:01 AM
    • EvaInNL
    • Holland
    • 25 Sep 2009
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    Hello everyone,

    I'm new to this community and to gardening as well. Hopefully I can benefit from your experience and in turn I will share my gardening bloopers (and hopefully some successes as well).

    I'm wating for my alotment to be cleared and cultivated, should be ready in about 2 weeks. I was wondering if I could already plant a couple of fruit trees (all half stems) and some soft fruit shrubs. I'm thinking of:

    - apple tree (jona gold) - pear tree (giesser wildeman) - hazelnut tree (not sure which one yet) - plum (reine victoria)

    - blackberries - raspberries - red currants

    Unfortunately, I haven't a clue to when is the best time of year to plant them. Can anyone give some advice?

     Eva
  • 24/10/2009 08:37 AM
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    If bare-rooted, plant when dormant, November-March, but not when frosty or ground is waterlogged. 

    If potted, then you can usually get away with planting at any time, but November-March is still usually best.

    A third of trees die in their first year due to insufficient watering. Not related to your question, I know, but thought it worth passing on.

    Hope this helps.

    Welcome.
  • 25/10/2009 07:56 AM
    In reply to
    • EvaInNL
    • Holland
    • 25 Sep 2009
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    thank you headfullofbees, that is good to know! i had the idea of putting a pvc pipe or 2 down to the roots of my trees so the water can really get to them and your post has confrmed that that's not a bad idea at all!

     
  • 25/10/2009 11:15 AM
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    • Obelix
    • Belgium
    • 24 Nov 2004
    • 378
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    As stated already, any time now until the end of Jan or Feb - as long as the ground isn't frozen - is best for planting new trees and shrubs of any kind.

     Can I suggest you go for  a tasty British apple variety rather than one you can find in supermarkets?  And also make sure you have a pollinator to incerase your harvest.  Another apple from the same flowering period grouping will do nicely.  You can check the advice pages on this site for suitable pollinators and it's probably a good idea to check on one for your pear too.

    Lastly, make sure whichever variety you plant is on a suitable rootstock for your site and situation as they control vigour and thus height and spread.

    Obelix - Belgium
  • 27/10/2009 12:53 PM
    In reply to
    • EvaInNL
    • Holland
    • 25 Sep 2009
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    hi obelix, i'm afraid i have to be a bit patriotic about my choice of apple tree Stick out tongue i'm going for a dutch one and i'm lucky to live 10 minutes away from boskoop which is the dutch centre of apple tree cultivation and fruit trees/shrubs in general. but you're absolutely right on getting them from a good source and not from the supermarket or - possibly worse - diy centres.

    My choices for now are: 

    Gieser Wildeman (Pear) halfstem
    Jonagold (Apple) halfstem
    Reine Victoria (Plum) halfstem
    Amandel Robijn (almond) shrub
    Tayberry shrub
    Schneiders Spate Knorpelkirche (cherry) halfstam

    I'm assured they do well in my region and are all self-polinating (another good point you made). But it can't hurt to double check!
  • 15/11/2009 05:57 PM
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    Hi EvaInNL

    Jonagold apple is not a self-fertile variety (it is actually a triploid and will therefore not act as a pollinator of other varieties either).  I cannot comment on the cherry or pear varieties that you have chosen (as they are not grown here in the U.K.). I would suggest you double check again with your supplier.  The majority of pear & cherry varieties are not self-fertile. Of course if there are plenty of fruit trees of the same species around in neighbouring gardens (within bee flying distance) you may not need to worry too much.
  • 16/11/2009 08:30 AM
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    • EvaInNL
    • Holland
    • 25 Sep 2009
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    Thank you Pomona, I'll certainly double-check! I'll have to wait to plant them till next spring though, I don't get my allotment till January, so the shopping trip has been postponed... Sad

    thanks again for you advice!
  • 16/11/2009 09:56 AM
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    As mentioned by Pomona, Jonathan is a triploid variety.  Not only does that mean it will not pollinate other varieties, it also means it will need TWO other apple trees of different varieties as compatible pollination partners.

     

    www.orangepippin.com
  • 16/11/2009 11:52 PM
    In reply to
    • Obelix
    • Belgium
    • 24 Nov 2004
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    Sorry Eva.  I hadn't spotted you were in the Netherlands but here in Belgium (and the UK) there are nurseries that sepcialise in old varieties that are not grown commercially and which can have far better flavour than modern varieties.

    I suggest you check for those and also have a look at what your allotment neighbours grow on their plots as they will also act as pollinators for yours if you choose one in the right group. 

     

    Obelix - Belgium
  • 17/11/2009 06:40 AM
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    Hi Obelix, I think a good apple is a good apple - whether it is old or new is very little to do with it. Very few old varieties have better flavour than, say, Herefordshire Russet, or Red Falstaff, or Saturn. However, it is interesting that the varieties with the best flavour often have a strong element of Cox's Orange Pippin in their makeup.

    www.orangepippin.com