Greetings to our tenants and gardeners! I do hope that all your hard work, during a difficult growing year, has been productive and beautiful.
Climate change
l think we have to accept the climate is changing, and the UK may well be in the forefront. Because of the changing weather patterns, I have embarked on a new planting plan for my allotment and patio garden.
I already have a mature apple tree on the allotment, and three years ago I planted a two-year old Bramley seedling, which this year has produced 15 apples and will increase productivity in the coming years. This gave me the idea to enlarge the orchard area with more dwarf-type fruit trees, which will provide a variety of fresh fruit for many years to come.
In between the trees I will sow meadow grass and wildflowers to attract bees and other insects, which will in turn pollinate the fruit.
Buying fruit trees
This is a long-term investment, so do get advice from the growers at a garden centre or one of the specialist fruit growers who offer a mail order service. Older trees in containers will produce fruit 1-2 years after planting, but they will cost more. Cheaper bare-root young trees are available in supermarkets, but usually take several years to produce a fair crop.
What variety?
Whether you buy an apple, pear or plum tree depends on your taste, but a sweet eating apple is always a good investment, perhaps pairing it with a cooker.
Remember, small trees grow into bigger trees! So, ask yourself:
- How big do you want your tree to grow?
- Is there enough room for it to grow?
- Will the tree encroach on the neighbour’s garden/space?
- Will it shade an area that requires sunshine?
Planting and care
- Plant bare-root trees in November to March
- Container-grown trees can be planted any time
- Dig a hole 2 ft (60 cm) deep and 3-4 ft (90-120 cm) in diameter
- Set a bare-root tree so the top roots are 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) below the surface
- Remove a container-grown tree and soil together, and plant surface to surface
- Fill the hole with compost and soil
- Support the young tree with a stake, angled to point into the wind
- Water well, especially in dry weather, for the first couple of years
Pruning
Check the tree label or consult a gardening book for pruning advice, but the rule of thumb is:
- remove any dead branches and twigs
- remove anything that looks diseased
- cut any branches that are crossing over another branch
Trees are fantastic and we need more of them! One tree planted could last 50 years or more, with very little care from us, and produce delicious fruit over a long period of time. I call that a win-win situation.
So, if you have a bit of space, why not give it a go? There will be a fruit tree to suit you and your garden, big or small. Even a patio can fit a container dwarf fruit tree and you will have done something to help our Earth.
Happy harvesting Jane