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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 16:05:01

Title: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 16:05:01
hi was wondering what the best choice would be for a bramley had  planted this earlier in the year and have noticed it hasn't flowered was wondering after some investigation its a triploid apple so thus needs two other varieties to fruit can anyone give me some advice as to what would be best i will buy a Granny smith as the whole family loves these would want a good red apple varieties to go with
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: grannyjanny on July 09, 2009, 16:35:01
Is it at home or on an allotment? If it's on the allotment there might be others that will cross pollinate with it. We've got Jonagold & a cox's orange pippin.
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 16:42:04
up the lottie there is other trees in the arean one is fruiting now (Bramley) mine flowered early  but nothing fruited yet dont mind as its a two year old tree only but mine is a triploid so im told there for will need three trees for the pollnation process
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2b2_apple.asp
I can see all the names was wondering out of the list 3 what was everyones preference
bramley
granney Smith
(3) ?
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: grannyjanny on July 09, 2009, 16:51:27
We got ours from Aldi & the bramley was full of blossom but they are being grown as an oblique cordon so it was all chopped off. I think I liaised with Saddad & he was very helpful (as always).
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 17:00:00
thats where i got mine from planted what feb march time grown about twelve inches wonder if saddaed online ill have a look thanks any how
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: landimad on July 09, 2009, 17:31:44
Apple crumble and custard :P
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: saddad on July 09, 2009, 17:48:11
Discovery if you want a small early dessert for the end of the Summer Hols, Fiesta to follow on... James Grieve but I find them a bit soft. Spartan and the newer Saturn(?)
:-\
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: lavenderlux on July 09, 2009, 17:58:44
If you purchased your Bramley this year, its rather early to expect it to flower/fruit as I think the ones from Aldi were only two year old plants.  You will possibly get some flowers next year but its more likely to be the next before it will bear fruit.  Depending on how many of your allotment neighbours have apple trees, there may be enough around for pollination. We purchased several apple trees from Aldi for our community orchard in 2006 and they fruited last year and this year most have really good crops.  Just needs time as two year old trees are still 'babies' - but it will be worth the wait!
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: grannyjanny on July 09, 2009, 18:07:26
We've got 3 apples on our Jonagold. Just hope they can stay on the tree.
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 18:15:13
just reading up on your recomendations and the saturn sounds good all be it i like the look of fiesta sparton seems a nice looking apple thanks im still reading up on the others  
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 09, 2009, 18:15:55
A triploid doesn't need two varieties to get it to fruit. It needs one, but it produces no pollen. The third tree is needed so that you have two pollen-producing trees, to pollinate each other plus the triploid.
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 18:20:53
Quote from: lavenderlux on July 09, 2009, 17:58:44
If you purchased your Bramley this year, its rather early to expect it to flower/fruit as I think the ones from Aldi were only two year old plants.  You will possibly get some flowers next year but its more likely to be the next before it will bear fruit.  Depending on how many of your allotment neighbours have apple trees, there may be enough around for pollination. We purchased several apple trees from Aldi for our community orchard in 2006 and they fruited last year and this year most have really good crops.  Just needs time as two year old trees are still 'babies' - but it will be worth the wait!

im aware of this but yet trying to give it the best chance as there is another apple tree on site thats at least four years old doesnt bare fruit he doesnt seem to care if it does or not however i want to have a variation of apples im not keen on granny smiths there a little bitter for me i prefer a red apple big and shiney ones you get dont know what make they are was hoping they would do as a companion if i could track it down i prefer the soft sweat taste of them slightly fluffy texture ill have my bramleys for cooking and the kids can have the granny smiths thanks all the same will ask him (plot holder) what tree it was anyhow  thanks again   
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 18:21:55
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on July 09, 2009, 18:15:55
A triploid doesn't need two varieties to get it to fruit. It needs one, but it produces no pollen. The third tree is needed so that you have two pollen-producing trees, to pollinate each other plus the triploid.

Learn as we go
Cheers robert  wasnt sure exactly how it all worked
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: shirlton on July 09, 2009, 18:40:45
We got ours from Ashridge Nursery and they have alist of what goes with what, All you do is decide which variety you want. We had Bramley and Arthur Turner both cookers and a cox.
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: tomatoada on July 09, 2009, 18:43:10
I have a Bramley and a  Cox.   Do I need a third tree to get a crop from them?
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: shirlton on July 09, 2009, 18:49:16
The chap from the nursery where we got our said that they crop much better if you have the pollinators that flower at the same time
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 19:09:21
Quote from: shirlton on July 09, 2009, 18:49:16
The chap from the nursery where we got our said that they crop much better if you have the pollinators that flower at the same time

this is why im after a third gives the tree the best chance to be good cropper
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2b2_apple.asp
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: shirlton on July 09, 2009, 19:13:17
Did you notice that my 3 were in the same group Daileg
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 19:16:34
yes sorry only just seen your entry regarding what varieties you yourself had my apologies
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 09, 2009, 19:43:01
i have been trying various website the most informative i found was Keepers Nursary
http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/choosing-the-right-fruit-trees.htm

this is for anyone looking for fruit trees good site tells you companion choices what root stock to buy  and so on

hope it helpfull to anyone else looking  ;D

thanks to everyone else  as well for the usefull infomation as usual allways get pointed in the right direction to make the right choice
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 10, 2009, 08:18:38
Quote from: tomatoada on July 09, 2009, 18:43:10
I have a Bramley and a  Cox.   Do I need a third tree to get a crop from them?

You do if you want a crop from the Cox. You already have a pollinator for the Bramley, but the Bramley won't pollinate the Cox.

If you leave it as it is, there's a good chance there will be a tree somewhere in range that will provide the extra pollination. So you could leave it a year or two and see, if you don't really want the third tree. But be prepared to plant one if necessary.
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: Digeroo on July 10, 2009, 13:16:03
I bought a couple of bramleys from Lidl a couple of years ago and they have been very fruit shy.  But there was plenty of apple blossom around the neighbourhood when they flowered.  Finally got two apples on on tree and four on the other.  Result.

I saw a posting on another site suggesting using a feather duster to hand pollinate them.  Had an image of someone prancing round the garden in their pinny with a feather duster?  Perhaps something like this.

trishatruly.wordpress.com

Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: daileg on July 10, 2009, 14:39:48
went down homebase this morning they were selling a James Grieve for £5 no leaves about 18" tall looked dead no wonder had been reduced three times
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 10, 2009, 18:27:27
Quote from: Digeroo on July 10, 2009, 13:16:03
I bought a couple of bramleys from Lidl a couple of years ago and they have been very fruit shy.  But there was plenty of apple blossom around the neighbourhood when they flowered.  Finally got two apples on on tree and four on the other.  Result.

I saw a posting on another site suggesting using a feather duster to hand pollinate them.  Had an image of someone prancing round the garden in their pinny with a feather duster?  Perhaps something like this.

trishatruly.wordpress.com

You won't get fruit from hand pollinating Bramleys. they don't produce pollen. You need another variety.
Title: Re: bramley apple tree companion
Post by: Digeroo on July 10, 2009, 18:40:44
Presume you have to pass the feather over a flower from another tree first. 

I was very lucky.  My bramley started flowering and there were no other apple flowers in sight.  So thought I would have no fruit yet again.  Even went down to my local garden centre to see what was in flower and there was nothing. 

The very next day a decorative crab decided to open its flowers and voila there was a whole tree full of flowers for the bees to choose from.  Within two days almost all the apple trees in the garden had started flowering.  Three crabs, a James Grieve, a Discovery and a couple that shall remain nameless from Lidl, soon followed by Golden Delicious.  They are not supposed to all be in the same group, but it seems to work.