Traditional Orchard

girlgonebush

Does anyone know where I can purchase fruit trees that of traditional varieties in Northern Ireland to establish a 'traditional orchard'? Not sure how many trees would be required for 1/2 acre - 1 acre of land.

And any idea of the cost per tree on average- would be looking at a selection of apple/pear/damson etc...and if anyone has any good recomendations of varieties - Id like them for making jam and cooking/baking with and may be the odd cider apple tree (when things get really tough!)
:beer:


Thanks in advance

happy_gardener

We Live outside Ballymena and have bramley, quince, medlar, mulberry, damson.victoria plum. many eating apple trees. cherry.conference pear., as well as numerous fruit bushes/veg plot and 20 hens!
I bought my trees from a great garden centre between Portglenone and Kilrea. Some of the more unusual ones I bought from Crawfordsburn at their Apple festival which is in the Autumn.
You usually plant trees when they are dormant....from late Autumn and depending on the type I paid from £10 to £18 per tree.
I also got some local hedging and 'normal' trees...hazel/willow..spindle trees . I love the trees we have and wish we had more space!( we have an acre).

I have never bought trees from B&Q/Lidl as the quality of the trees are not good...


Hope this info helps you....

natasha8642

happy_gardener wrote: »

We Live outside Ballymena and have bramley, quince, medlar, mulberry, damson.victoria plum. many eating apple trees. cherry.conference pear., as well as numerous fruit bushes/veg plot and 20 hens!
I bought my trees from a great garden centre between Portglenone and Kilrea. Some of the more unusual ones I bought from Crawfordsburn at their Apple festival which is in the Autumn.
You usually plant trees when they are dormant....from late Autumn and depending on the type I paid from £10 to £18 per tree.
I also got some local hedging and 'normal' trees...hazel/willow..spindle trees . I love the trees we have and wish we had more space!( we have an acre).

I have never bought trees from B&Q/Lidl as the quality of the trees are not good...


Hope this info helps you....

Do you have any quinces? I've been craving them in a really bad way (I'm pregnant). I've been around all the shops I can think of and most have never even heard of quinces!!

CL

My 92 year old uncle who was a farmer talks about Crimson Bramleys being the best cooking apples. Not sure where to get them though.

kidshorsesdogs

natasha8642 wrote: »

Do you have any quinces? I've been craving them in a really bad way (I'm pregnant). I've been around all the shops I can think of and most have never even heard of quinces!!

Not sure where you are but Ballylagan organic farmshop in Straid, Co Antrim usually have quinces, you could give them a ring 028 9332 2867
to make sure they have them before travelling..

natasha8642

kidshorsesdogs wrote: »

Not sure where you are but Ballylagan organic farmshop in Straid, Co Antrim usually have quinces, you could give them a ring 028 9332 2867
to make sure they have them before travelling..

Thanks for the info. I live near Glenariff forest park, just up from Waterfoot.

Wookey

girlgonebush wrote: »

Does anyone know where I can purchase fruit trees that of traditional varieties in Northern Ireland to establish a 'traditional orchard'? Not sure how many trees would be required for 1/2 acre - 1 acre of land.

And any idea of the cost per tree on average- would be looking at a selection of apple/pear/damson etc...and if anyone has any good recomendations of varieties - Id like them for making jam and cooking/baking with and may be the odd cider apple tree (when things get really tough!)
:beer:


Thanks in advance

Get some victoria plum in there, really nice fruit that seem to do well in our climate, should be able to be used in jams etc, they don't keep that long though once pulled as a fresh fruit.