Topic: Orchards and edible hedging

[daveyboi]

Has anyone any ideas on creating a small orchard?

Also I came across this idea of edible hedging and wondered if any allotments had used this to hide their fencing?
http://www.kenmuir.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=122_123&product_id=651

[daveyboi]

Another question  I should of thought more before posting the start of the topic....

Have any allotments got a community orchard and how this works in practice.

[Robert_Brenchley]

We have two, one just planted and one which was set up a couple of years ago. They're both on plots where there was so much junk in the soil there was no reasonable prospect of letting them. It's a bit early to say how it'll work out yet, as the amount of fruit produced so far is obviously minimal.

[daveyboi]

We have two, one just planted and one which was set up a couple of years ago. They're both on plots where there was so much junk in the soil there was no reasonable prospect of letting them. It's a bit early to say how it'll work out yet, as the amount of fruit produced so far is obviously minimal.

I assume you mean the mini orchard and not the hedging Robert.
What sort of fruit did you choose?

[grawrc]

Sounds like a great idea. They say it will make a hedge 10 feet in length so 1ft planting distance but I'm wondering, when mature, how tall and wide it would need to be, since I assume hard pruning might mean no fruit? I know hazel can be cut to the ground but then would it produce nuts? And how would you organise the planting - plant in two of a kind, 2 sets of 5 or randomly? I suppose that would depend on growth patterns too.

[daveyboi]

Sounds like a great idea. They say it will make a hedge 10 feet in length so 1ft planting distance but I'm wondering, when mature, how tall and wide it would need to be, since I assume hard pruning might mean no fruit? I know hazel can be cut to the ground but then would it produce nuts? And how would you organise the planting - plant in two of a kind, 2 sets of 5 or randomly? I suppose that would depend on growth patterns too.

If you look at each of the varieties individual pages under hedging it gives your more details of height spread and distance options.

[manicscousers]

Are you looking to do a community orchard, Davyboi?

[daveyboi]

Are you looking to do a community orchard, Davyboi?

It is a possibility probably more an allotment community orchard than a public one.

Can not say too much at present as land negotiations are still in progress.

[manicscousers]

OK, it's just I've received a letter from People's postcode trust saying
"Apply to the People's postcode Trust if you want to build your own community orchard. Don't know if it qualifies  :)

[daveyboi]

Thanks manics will keep that in mind

[Robert_Brenchley]

I assume you mean the mini orchard and not the hedging Robert.
What sort of fruit did you choose?

Orchards; they're not too 'mini' since they're on large plots. They're both apple orchards, since we have a great many old trees on the site, and we want to continue the tradition.

[daveyboi]

What rootstock did you go for Robert ? M106?

[Robert_Brenchley]

I didn't do the choosing; one orcahrd is semi-dwarfing, so probably MM106. The other is full-size trees.