Fruit Trees Anyone know a cheap Supply?

mbga9pgf

I saw a few threads back last year talking about Aldi and cheap fruit tree supplies...

Searched online and most seem to go for 7 quid, which whilst reasonable, isnt cheap...

Anyone know of a good cheap source of cherry, apple (bramley and eating), plum, pear and other great eating (and preserving) fruit trees? (other than growing pips! :rotfl:)

Thanks in advance guys.

We are looking for 12 to go in our acre paddock, in a long line from our path.

RAS

I grafted my own apple and pear trees and made a cherry this year. Will be trying to bud some plums this months as well. Cost - between 70p and £5 for each rootstock, although only the most expensive dwarf cherry stock costs more than £2.

Youn will however want them as standards or half standards, so may not want the dwarf stocks.

If you live up north, try the Northern Fruit Group http://www.northernfruitgroup.com/.

Davesnave

As a new 'landowner' you shouldn't be baulking at £100 for a few fruit trees. It's not the done thing, old chap. I wish the outgoings on mine were as little as that. Just wait till you decide to mow and fence it!:rotfl:

Seriously, I think if you can find decent grafted fruit trees for £7, you already have a cheap source. The ones I'm seeing are 3x that. If you wait till the end of the summer, places like Homebase usually do clearance on fruit.

rms1

I bought a lovely Brambley apple tree from Lidl but they only have these occasionally

mbga9pgf

Davesnave wrote: »

As a new 'landowner' you shouldn't be baulking at £100 for a few fruit trees. It's not the done thing, old chap. I wish the outgoings on mine were as little as that. Just wait till you decide to mow and fence it!:rotfl:

Seriously, I think if you can find decent grafted fruit trees for £7, you already have a cheap source. The ones I'm seeing are 3x that. If you wait till the end of the summer, places like Homebase usually do clearance on fruit.

Cutting 1 acre using a 52 cm mulcher every 3 weeks. Self propelled. Yes, it hurts. But better than spending money!

As for fencing, we have around 200m of fencing with rabbit wire being put in next year, DIY. Posts are cheap as chips and labour is free. Couple of hundred for the wire and a little demo by next door in how to tension the wire and I will be grand!

Was thinking of using these peeps:

http://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/Fruit-Trees

http://www.talatonplants.co.uk/ShowDetails.asp?id=245

Any concerns?

RAS

It rather depends where you live - they seem to be west country, which is fine if you live in the area but not great if you live in other places.

RAS

As you have a field, can you find someone who sheep to graze it occasionally - some breeds do not browse heavily.

Also you can grow tip bearers, which cannot be grown well as restricted forms.

make sure your varieties cross pollinate and that you grow losts that keep well. Otherwise you haVE tons in September and nothing to eat by Christmas.

Consider a scratter and press for cider and other fruit juices?

mbga9pgf

I am only just learing about grafting... I didnt realise till recently you could graft 2 different trees together!

Where do people get their root stock from out of interest? Once they have the root stock, where do they get cuttings? can you buy cuttings or is it a simple case of heading out with secatuers?

mbga9pgf

RAS wrote: »

As you have a field, can you find someone who sheep to graze it occasionally - some breeds do not browse heavily.

Also you can grow tip bearers, which cannot be grown well as restricted forms.

make sure your varieties cross pollinate and that you grow losts that keep well. Otherwise you haVE tons in September and nothing to eat by Christmas.

Consider a scratter and press for cider and other fruit juices?

The farmer across the road has sheep; we are thinking either sheep or goats to fatten for food, sheep would be better for food, although we understand they arent the hardiest of species and we have running water through the property. We dont move in till next year, although cant wait; chickens, ducks also to follow!

Pedagog

Goats will eat everything that is green.

Davesnave

mbga9pgf wrote: »

Cutting 1 acre using a 52 cm mulcher every 3 weeks. Self propelled. Yes, it hurts. But better than spending money!

As for fencing, we have around 200m of fencing with rabbit wire being put in next year, DIY. Posts are cheap as chips and labour is free. Couple of hundred for the wire and a little demo by next door in how to tension the wire and I will be grand!

Was thinking of using these peeps:

http://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/Fruit-Trees

http://www.talatonplants.co.uk/ShowDetails.asp?id=245

Any concerns?

No concerns about the nurseries there, and you are almost Westcountry to answer RAS's point.

I agree about choosing the trees to get good pollination, avoid gluts and gain something from keeping the fruit, though by Christmas, even my better keepers were ropey. We are still eating last year's (frozen) plums.

I wish I liked cider. Mis-spent youth means I can't stand the smell!

Sheep are good for the land, but you would have to protect the trees especially parts under 1.5m. They are also great escapologists, only surpassed by goats, so the fencing has to be sound. Sheep are hardy enough, but can suffer problems on wet, boggy ground.

There's not so much bother restraining hens, but keeping foxes & badgers out has been a major expense for us. Posts 6' out of the ground, wire to 1m, then netting, plus two electric lines! However, it's either that or lose the lot, like several of our neighbours.

Good luck with it anyway. You will be very fit, guaranteed. I said it was going to be more than just a few trees!