I'm planning on buying some fruit trees for the lottie, I'm going to grow them as cordons or fans due to space limitations.
Apart from apples, pears plums and cherries, I was thinking of trying apricots. I was wondering whether anyone has had success with growing apricots?
NB: Aldi are selling cheap fruit trees this week, which is where I'm planning on getting them from if they're on the right rootstocks!
I'm watching this thread sweet-pea, as I have a south facing fence demanding heat-loving fruit, and am very keen on apricots ... ::)
:-) I don't have a fence or wall :-(
I was planning on just growing them against a fixed support of stakes and wire.
Asked about apricots at college once (because I had problems with my peaches and thought apricots might be easier) and was told that if I couldn't grow peaches, don't bother with apricots, as they are much harder. So I took a deep breath and dug up the ailing peaches and chucked them.
However this year, saw peach trees in Wilkos for £5 each, so have bought 2, and intend to grow them in pots so I can move them under some shelter in the winter.
But can't get the apricot idea out of my head... especially having read a lot about this variety:
http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/rkmain.asp?PAGEID=20670&STK_PROD_CODE=1070-5691&CTL_CAT_CODE=M19200
Looks very appealing jenny, will have to think hard for £20 per tree! ::)
Jenny, what sort of size pots would be needed?
Jimmy, I shall be using pots about 50 cm dia (20").
Thanks for that, talk about learn something new every day - one of the aspects of this that I love.
There are some I can get from near me that are 55cm wide and have 60 litre capacity for about £8. Even better, they even have handles ;) Makes it a bit easier to move which will be likely.
One way of reducing the weight of large pots is to use chunks of polystyrene in the bottom instead of crocks (for drainage).
Best of luck with yours !
Never thought of growing Apricots as I always thought they needed a bit of extra care and attention as die back in harsh weather can be a problem.
I did notice Wilkinsons have Fig tree's in stock and did think about one of those instead but they grow a bit big for my long and narrow plot.
I ordered my fruit trees and bushes from Keepers last year, http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/ all turned up in good condition, plus if you want something special they will grow it for you! The cost a lot more than the ones in the supermarkets but they are good quality. They have two Apricot varieties one is hardy the other needs a south facing wall.
Good luck!
Went to Aldi this morning after reading about the fruit trees and picked up a cherry, apricot and pear so im very happy :)
I went to Aldi and came away with 5 trees! :o Three more than anticipated, but at £3:99 each I figure it's worth a try with them all. Got three apples, Granny Smith's, Elstar and Jonagold, and also Conference pear and Opal plum.
I know Conference is semi self pollinating so I've read that Williams will help to pollinate it, and with that in mind I've got a Red Williams coming - hope that will do!
Are you intending to plant out this week? I'm concerned about the weather, up here in yorkshire it barely lifting above freezing all week.
Elstar is a modern variety which is said to have good flavour and juiciness, store well, and crop heavily. The disadvantage (nothing's perfect!) is that it has a tendency to biennial bearing, and to avoid this you'd need to thin the fruit at an early stage. Granny Smiths is reliable and a heavy cropper, stores well, and is best treated as a cooker unles we get some very hot summers. Jonagold is another modern, a very vigorous grower and heavy cropper which comes into bear quickly, and produces excellent quality fruit. Conference is an old, reliable standby, and Opal has good flavour, but apparently suffers from bird damage. You've done pretty well with that lot.
I got Elstar, Grannys and Cox's Orange Pippin from Aldi last year.
Didn't get much fruit though, presumably because I was very late planting them out.
Any useful info on the Cox's, Robert?
Superb when it performs, but temperamental, susceptible to frost and disease, and needs good soil.