Has anyone grown this ? If so a) what types b) in the soil or pots c) what yield did you get ? d) how quickly e) what rootstock are they ?
I had a bit of spare ground at the top of my allotment, and Ken Muirs were doing a special offer of six - 3 apples a pear, plum and cherry. I put them in January 2006, and did not let them fruit last year.
It was very dry, and I lost the pear and a red apple which were replaced by Muirs. The plum was poorly, but has recovered this year.
Of the three which I have allowed to fruit this year, the apple greensleeves is prolific - looks just like the catalogue - but OH reckons too tart, cherry Stellar looked good, and the two I had left after the blackbirds were tasty, apple Sunset less prolofic but v tasty.
Yes I would do it again as it is excellent use of a scrappy area for me. But I would choose my own varieties rather than buy a bargain bundle. See kenmuir.co.uk - but I am sure other growers do them too. Another option would be a family tree with three varieties on one tree, and I am wondering about some stepovers in another area.
I've had them before as they promise much but deliver not so much - fine if you like pruning but I can't see any other reason for them, doesn't seem natural nor beautiful like a fan trained fruit and I think it is asking a lot of a small tree - if you need a small variety then you could always pick a dwarfing variety
We bought minarette damsons from Ken Muir in the Spring but have kept them in pots until the planting season is upon us. Afraid it's too early to tell if worthwhile.
The cherry was definitely a waste of soil...
;D
Quote from: saddad on September 10, 2007, 19:24:05
The cherry was definitely a waste of soil...
;D
... whereas my two apples and one pear weren't! Didn't do much first year, but last two years I've decent crops off all of them :) Mind you, I didn't have a lottie when I got the minarettes - the new trees at the plot are a bit bigger...
Cheers,
Rob ;)
Thanks for that could you please give me an answer to other questions :-
a) what types b) in the soil or pots c) what yield did you get ? d) how quickly e) what rootstock are they ?
Quote from: Chantenay on September 10, 2007, 09:30:01
I had a bit of spare ground at the top of my allotment, and Ken Muirs were doing a special offer of six - 3 apples a pear, plum and cherry. I put them in January 2006, and did not let them fruit last year.
It was very dry, and I lost the pear and a red apple which were replaced by Muirs. The plum was poorly, but has recovered this year.
Of the three which I have allowed to fruit this year, the apple greensleeves is prolific - looks just like the catalogue - but OH reckons too tart, cherry Stellar looked good, and the two I had left after the blackbirds were tasty, apple Sunset less prolofic but v tasty.
Yes I would do it again as it is excellent use of a scrappy area for me. But I would choose my own varieties rather than buy a bargain bundle. See kenmuir.co.uk - but I am sure other growers do them too. Another option would be a family tree with three varieties on one tree, and I am wondering about some stepovers in another area.
Regarding the cherry have you considering hanging cd's glued together stick side out from the tree ?
Quote from: davholla on September 11, 2007, 16:30:25
Thanks for that could you please give me an answer to other questions :-
a) what types b) in the soil or pots c) what yield did you get ? d) how quickly e) what rootstock are they ?
in theory you can minarette any root stock but it tends to be best to choose a dwarf one as the whole point is to keep it small and manageable (b) fruit is always best in the soil as often whatever huge size of pot you choose it will eventually out grow it and it gets difficult to improve the soil or growing conditions under these restrictions (c) most fruit trees take a few years to come fully into cropping but it is natural for it to do so and each tree will do it in its own time, this will always be sooner rather than later if conditions are excellent and pruning has been done properly - hope useful :)
Thanks would you recommend them ?
basically, no - nearly everyone I know who has bought them gave up on the pruning because they didn't understand it for some reason and then let them grow to normal size and cropping well
if space is limited then any dwarf stock will be fine (always follow staking instructions and buy from a reputable nursery) and there will be many more varieties to choose from and overall much less trouble but if you are tempted then be bold and follow your own instincts :)
Can't answer the questions directly, but:
1. We have 4 Sunset & 1 Discovery.
2. Sunset - nice Apple - usually crops well but, contrary to the spiel, we cannot keep it for long - even in a cool barn. Too infirm to go down the cellar these days! Very poor this year.
3. Nice idea, but unless you're a dab hand at pruning, they can romp away from you. And I know how to prune!
(written before Calendula's)
How difficult are they to prune ? I have an unpleasant bit at the end of the garden and I was thinking of using them as a cover and source of apples - if it is worthwhile.
I personally don't think they are difficult but many do and it often gets ignored and you end up with a 'normal' tree instead of an upright cordon - the fruiting laterals are only ever pruned in summer to avoid disease problems by pruning in winter although you will probably find contrary info on this especially with apples but plums and possibly cherries (?) you don't prune in winter because of silver leaf disease
Sorry to re-start this but has anyone had ballerinas as well/instead of minarettes ?
Any ideas ?
Don't know about Ballerinas but, back to the choice bit, I could not have had one 'normal' tree in the space they are in whatever the rootstock.