Supermarket Fruit trees, bare root

Wortle

Hi, anyone seen bare root trees in Morrisons, Aldi, The range Band M etc.

If so can you please post

Variety, Rootstock, Prices and Retailer here.

Thanks

ArbitraryRandom

Not sure how much help it is, but I spotted the local tesco had trees outside on £7 or 2 for £12 (same sign as last year I think!)

I didn't look closely this time, but last year they had stella cherry, victoria plum, conference pear, and I think discovery apple, plus others I can't recall. If I remember next time I'm there I'll make a note  

twopenny

Rootstock I've never seen mentioned. Full size I'd guess.
There have been some Pixie tub trees at Morries.

From what I've heard on here they aren't always what the label says so you take your chances.

If there's a particular size and variety you want then the best thing is to find a nursery that does bare root. They are around £25 so a lot cheaper than the potted ones in garden centre. Available autumn to spring.

Or check the sale part of gc's. Ours has a sale on for some at half price. They need a new pot or planting straight away.

Wortle

Yes frustratingly people i heard about tesco, but we are quite distance to go to one on spec. If there are any sightings in Guildford / Camberley or Addlestone, Tescos somebody shout please. I did try phoning Tescos but it was all menus of ITTT and nothing that you could get thru to. I also tried ringing Morrisons. I spoke to someone after several menus and a second number to phone then more menus, they put me thru to a store number that rang to my great excitement. but after 10 rings or so I got cut off.anyway. I think you might call it a FRUITLESS exercise. ( Sorry, but I couldnt resist)

twopenny

Perhaps it's a sign that you shouldn't gamble on a dried out, unknown tree  . 
Unless you get them on delivery when fresh the supermarkets kill them off pdq.

ArbitraryRandom

T&M have a few available from £12 per if that helps? (untick out of stock and sort by price low to high): https://www.thompson-morgan.com/fruit/fruit-trees/apple-pear-trees likely 2 foot tall maidens. 

It might help if you can give an idea what you're after (how many trees, ideally on which rootstock/the size of the space and budget) and we can maybe help with online retailers?  

Or are you in the research/speculating stage  

alicef

Another option could be to investigate grafting courses and/or to find a local orchard owner from which you could take scion wood - there are nurseries that sell rootstock for grafting.

Wortle

grafting  - there are nurseries that sell rootstock for grafting.

Yes I am looking into that...plenty of you tube videos on that. Was going down that route last week but RHS marks it as difficult. But if you dont try you wont find out will you?

ArbitraryRandom

And really, the worst that happens is that the graft fails... as long as you've not spent a fortune on specialist rootstocks (you can get M9/dwarfing apple stock for £3-5 online easily enough), it's not an awful outcome. 

Farway

Wortle said:

grafting  - there are nurseries that sell rootstock for grafting.

Yes I am looking into that...plenty of you tube videos on that. Was going down that route last week but RHS marks it as difficult. But if you dont try you wont find out will you?

I've tried grafting over many years, and failed every time . I suspect it's like bike riding, once you can, you can

There is a FB page for swapping scions, I belong but have never used it for scions.

Now is the time for grafts BTW, just in case anyone is thinking about giving it a go

alicef

goodness, @Farway - I hardly use social media but I did a quick google on FB pages on UK scion wood - very interesting.  I don't have any room for more individual trees but if I ever decided to have a go at multiple grafting/family trees I know where to go for scion wood!