Orchard Trees

Apple trees originated from wild trees in Asia Minor and probably arrived to the UK via the Silk Route. They have most likely been cultivated in the UK since Roman times. Apples include dessert apples, culinary apples, cider apples and crab apples. 

 Ideally apples should have

- a sheltered site which is  South or West facing

- deep, fertile, well drained soil that does not get waterlogged

- a soil pH between 6.3 and 6.8

Apple trees are amongst the easiest of fruit trees for us to grow since they are tolerant of many soil conditions, aspects and microclimates. Apples originated as woodland trees so they dislike root competition from grass when they are young, so grass should not be allowed to grow close to the base of the tree for the first few years.

Apples are tolerant of many soil conditions. If your soil is poor then they will benefit from a general purpose fertiliser or  mulch such as well-rotted farm manure can be applied in Spring. Watering will generally be required in the early years until the trees get properly established.

Apple trees are generally not self-fertile so usually require another tree of a different variety for pollination to take place. If trees are triploid varieties, like Bramley's Seedling or Ashmead's Kernel, they will require another pollinator to pollinate them and a third variety to pollinate the second variety.

Apples can be grown in a wide variety of forms - stepovers, cordons, espaliers, or in containers if space is tight; through to majestic large trees 10m tall.

Pear trees originated from wild trees in the Caucasus (a mountainous region to be found within parts of Iran, Turkey and Georgia). They have most likely been cultivated in the UK since Roman times. Pears include dessert, culinary pears and perry pears. Asian (or nashi) pears are of a slightly different origin.

 Ideally pears should have

- a warm sheltered site,  ideally South or West facing

- deep, fertile, well drained soil that is moisture retentive

- they generally need more water than apple trees to thrive

- a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0

Pears are slightly more difficult to grow than apples requiring warmth, shelter and soil with a high moisture content to do well.

Pears need a good level of moisture to thrive so incorporating moisture retentive organic matter at planting time and subsequent mulching to help keep the soil moist will help.  Pears benefit from feeding in late winter using a general purpose fertiliser such as pelleted chicken manure.

Pear trees are generally not self-fertile and choosing pears that will pollinate each other is not easy. Many pear varieties are triploid requiring another pollinator to pollinate them and a third variety to pollinate the second variety. There is also incompatibility of pollination between two broad groups of pear varieties. Checkout details from specialist suppliers like Keepers Nursery at www.keepers-nursery.co.uk for information on suitable pollination partners for each variety.

Pears can be grown in a wide variety of forms - cordons, espaliers and more unusually fans for growing against a wall; through to majestic large standard trees 15m tall for some perry pear trees.

Most of the commonly encountered plums or gages that we are familiar with - like the dessert variety 'Opal' or the culinary variety 'Blaisdon Red' - are European Plums (Prunus domestica) originating from the Caucasus. The slightly less well known plum species - Prunus institia - includes damsons, bullaces and mirabelles. Bullaces can be considered a wild fruit in the UK.

 Ideally plums should have

- a continental climate (cold, dry winter;  warm, dry spring and hot summer)

- deep, fertile, well drained soil that is moisture retentive

- soil that does not get waterlogged

- a slightly acid soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5

Plums are slightly more difficult to grow than apples requiring warmth, shelter and soil with a high moisture content to do well. Plum blossom is susceptible to frost since they flower early in the year. For less than ideal sites damsons and bullaces are hardier and more tolerant than most dessert or culinary plums.

Plums need a good level of moisture to thrive so incorporating moisture retentive organic matter at planting time and subsequent mulching to help keep the soil moist will help.  They dislike being sat in cold, wet soil.

Plum trees are frequently  self-fertile . However, better crops will be obtained if a suitable pollinator is available. Like apples plums are divided into different flowering groups so suitable pollinators will come from the same, or adjoining flowering group.

Plums can be grown as cordons or espaliers against a wall; or as bush, pyramid, half-standard or standard freestanding trees.

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium) originated in Eurasia and were probably brought to the UK by the Romans. Sour cherries are derived from Prunus cerasus and are named after a town on the Black Sea where the trees grow wild. Again they are likely to have come to the UK with the Romans.

 Ideally cherries should have

- a continental climate (cold, dry winter;  warm, dry spring and hot summer)

- deep, fertile, well drained soil that is moisture retentive

- soil that does not get waterlogged

- a slightly acid soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 for sweet cherries and a more alkaline soil - say 6.5 to 7.0 for sour cherries

Cherries are slightly more difficult to grow than apples requiring warmth, shelter and soil with a high moisture content to do well. They aren't too difficult to cultivate but heavy rain can spoil crops and birds are a constant threat to getting any crop at all.

Cherries need a good level of moisture to thrive so incorporating moisture retentive organic matter at planting time and subsequent mulching to help keep the soil moist will help.  They dislike being sat in cold, wet soil. Their root systems sit very shallowly in the ground so can be prone to mechanical damage when cultivating the soil around the trees, and to drought stress during prolonged dry spells.

Most sweet cherries are self-sterile so require a suitable pollination partner. Some of the more recent introductions are self-fertile. Sour cherries tend to be self-fertile. Cherries have many varieties that are incompatible pollination partners. Checkout details from specialist suppliers like Keepers Nursery at www.keepers-nursery.co.uk for information on suitable pollination partners for each variety.

Cherries can be grown as fans against a wall; or as bush, half-standard or standard freestanding trees.