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Mini Orchard 4 fruit trees 31.99 del

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  • I received my trees and tubs yesterday and was quite impressed - didn't expect them to be as big as the 5 - 6 ft growth they have already.

    So, now what would be the best soil/compost to use - I'm intending keeping them in the pots for now. I have them in a pot soaking for a bit.
  • ginvzt
    ginvzt Posts: 4,878 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Mine arrived yesterday too! However, I have also ordered a grape, which hasn't been delivered - maybe soon. The trees a big - they were left by the front door, and I had to take them into garage, and I was brushing the garage door with them!

    I would be interested to know what soil/compost to use too. I am hoping to get to Morrisons today to try and get some of the black buckets to keep them in temporarily. When I bought cherry from Ken Muir last year, they advised to use John Innes No.3, but it was so 'heavy', and I also read on other websites taht this is what is advised to use for planing trees/shrubs.

    I was going to wait until weekend, when I can get to garden centre and get some weed control fabric as well. Then I would put the trees in the buckets lined with the fabric until I can plant them in their 'final spots' in a few weeks time. Then it would be easy just to take out the trees with the weed control fabric out of the buckets and put them in the ground. Also, if in a few years time I wanted to move them /take them with me if sold house, it would be easier, I thought. I had a look at root control bags, but they are so expensive!
    Spring into Spring 2015 - 0.7/12lb
  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 14,715 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    John Innes no 3 is the compost you want for permanently planting in pots

    It is not cheap, nor is it light, but it is loam based, with long term nutrients added

    You could compromise by mixing 50/50 with garden soil or multi purpose compost

    You will need the pot and contents to be heavy or the trees will blow over, you may be better to use square or cylindrical clay / stone pots & not traditional flower pot shapes, unless very heavy
    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
  • ginvzt
    ginvzt Posts: 4,878 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I have a cherry planted in one of those plastic pots from Aldi last year (about 30cm diameter). It seems to be standing ok, I think it was blown over once or twice (when wind blow fence panels as well!)
    Spring into Spring 2015 - 0.7/12lb
  • ginvzt
    ginvzt Posts: 4,878 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I took my trees out of the bag this morning and added some water to the root bag. They are really tall! The pear treeing being taller than me (I am about 164cm).

    I also received my grape yesterday. I have ordered 'Boskoop Glory', but on the tree the label says 'Alfonso'? I am confused. Oh well, it is a decent size in the 5l pot, so it can stay in it until I am ready to plant it, probably will be another month.
    Spring into Spring 2015 - 0.7/12lb
  • Thanks Farway

    The trees came with 30 litre plastic tubs - hope these will be big enough for the first few years anyway. I am hoping to train them to run along fences. Do you reckon this is feasible or is it better to leave them to their own devices?

    Will look out for the JI no 3 as you suggest and hope to get them planted next weekend.
  • Thanks for the link I have been looking for fruit trees and these fit the billperfectly especially on price :)

    If I go for the pack with the included pots and get them before the end of the month can I expect fruit of them this years?

    Thanks in advance :)
    "You can measure a man's character by the choices he makes under pressure"
    Sir Winston Churchill
  • ginvzt
    ginvzt Posts: 4,878 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I don't know about the fruit. I have put mine in temporary pots yesterday - I got the Morrisons black buckets (8 for 99p!), and three of the trees had rootstock small enough to fit in. The cherry had a bigger rootstock and I have put that in the potato planter for now. It shouldn't be long until they can go in the garden properly - we are waiting for the stumps to be removed, and then I can arrange my beds and trees in between!
    Spring into Spring 2015 - 0.7/12lb
  • Thanks for the reply :)

    I would ideally like some fruit trees that will bare some fruit this years if possible, I dont want to be spending a fortune though these are around a price I would (rightly or wrongly) consider to be fair.

    They have some fantastic looking grape vines as well which I am really intrigued about as this would also supply another new hobby for this year of home brewing wine, I am thinking of getting 2 of them and growing them over 2 pergoda type arches in the garden.
    "You can measure a man's character by the choices he makes under pressure"
    Sir Winston Churchill
  • ginvzt
    ginvzt Posts: 4,878 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I wouldn't expect grapes to set any fruit this year, as most of the fruit trees, I think they need to grow for a couple of years.

    I have read somewhere that someone had fruits from the apple the first year they planted. I will be happy if there are any, but also know that I should remove all the set fruit to let the plant to establish in the first year. It is the long term view that you have to take on this!

    I bought a cherry last spring from Ken Muir and it didn't even flower. However, these trees are quite tall, I would say all of them are 5ft at least, so maybe they will give something this year.
    Spring into Spring 2015 - 0.7/12lb
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