Fruit trees for a song

[allaboutliverpool]

This morning I braved the gales blowing off the Mersey to plant 4 apple trees.

The trees cost £3.99 each from Aldi, it seems that it is not only Chinese goods that are getting cheeper.

The trees are on dwarfing rootstock and are between 4 feet and 5 feet tall with healthy buds and roots.

How on earth do they do it at that price?

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html

[allaboutliverpool]

[star]

Im after cordons, but I have never seen them at Aldi or Lidl. Only the trees :(

[JimmyJames]

Can you not prune the trees into cordons?

[star]

I didn't think about that, I guess if its possible I could.....if I knew how to :-[

[Robert_Brenchley]

If it's a dwarfing rootstock it should be fairly easy to turn them into cordons; it's just an annual fiddle doing the actual pruning, and patience. Anyone know a web page with details?

[sawfish]

I always went to Lidl, Aldi, Woolies etc but I just braved the storm and went to Butterworths Organic Nursery in Auchinleck House Estate in Ayrshire, what a fantastically idyllic place even on a horrible day, dozens of amazing old varieties of fruit trees growing everywhere and the most beautiful peach tree in their conservatory growing round the glass roof and on to the house wall.

I got myself a lovely 'BLOODY PLOUGHMAN' cordon for £15 complete with individual planting instructions, a real bargain for such an unusual tree, I just wish I could go back and buy trees every month like they were flowers. I can see me getting rid of stuff around the edges of my plot so I can plant more unusual trees. The incredibly friendly and knowledgeable woman I met recommended the 'CAMBUSNETHAN PIPPIN', she said its fantastic to eat and to cook with.

In saying that my more ordinary varieties have produced lovely apples for me so I'm not complaining.

[JimmyJames]

I found this site was handy for pruning, planting and rootstock advice.
Have linked the cordon page:

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2e_apple.asp