Fruit Tree Thread

[Richie]

How do.

I thought I would start a thread to do with the owning of fruit trees including growing, pruning, etc.

My garden isn't huge - about 60m² total but some of that is patio, some is a shed and some is a wildflower patch which leaves about 45m² of lawn as well.

Because of this, I decided to go for a couple of dwarf/patio fruit trees and grow them in pots.


Apple
Red Falstaff on an M27 rootstock. Designed to be kept around 6 feet high and 6 feet spread so suited for small gardens and can be grown in containers.

I chose this one due to it being Self Fertile as well as having good disease resistance and suited for the North i.e. frost hardy.

It arrived a couple of months ago in a transport pot:

The lower branch was unfortunately damaged. I attempted to see if I could save it but, given it was also pointing down, I pruned it off at the trunk I repotted it a day or so later into a proper pot.

It's sprouted a bit and seems to be doing well. It has since grown a 2nd branch on the main trunk as you can see (hoping another will sprout in the other direction to balance it out a bit):



Pear

Concorde on a Quince C rootstock. Again, designed to be kept around 6-7 feet high and 6 feet spread so great for small gardens and can be grown in containers

I also chose this one due to it being Self Fertile and frost hardy like the apple

Arrival at end of May with the apple:

<Initial image>

2 months after repotting out of the tiny transport container into a proper and final pot;

Again, this is doing well.



Any fruit tree growers here? Share yours along with questions and advice which I definitely will need as it's my.first time growing fruit trees albeit mini ones.

 

[Richie]

As with anything in pots, need to keep on top of the watering and fertilising.

I haven't had to water mine since I potted them with the amount of rain we've had.

I have one of those moisture meter probe things and the lowest is ever got to was just going into the "moist" zone before it rained again overnight and it was fully in the "wet" zone again (yeah there is a joke in there somewhere).

Potted with John Innes 3 and an inch of mulch (which you can see in the photos) so it doesnt dry out too quickly.

I plan on getting a couple of wheeled plant caddies so I can bring them into the house wall for Winter and give them a bit of protection.

 

[Richie]

If you select the correct size of tree for your plans then it shouldn't be an issue TBH.

I went for patio size for physical properties and also crop size... I'll give any extra fruit to family if there is any.

I dont expect any fruit until 2025 at earliest TBH as they are only 12-18 months old when I got them

 

[Richie]

@Richie I'd put some sort of support cane on that apple tree, as it looks quite skinny and top heavy.

It's caned already, just you can't see it very well in the image (you'll see the green clip which has a big hole for the trunk then a small hole to clip onto the cane)

I would use something thick than a cane, would stake it

I might do that. It's survived strong winds already and I plan on moving them against the house wall in Winter for more protection.

 

[Richie]

Anyone have recommendations for fertiliser specifically for potted apple/pear trees?

They were potted with blood,fish&bone in May along with John Innes No3 compost so should be ok for this year but I'm wondering what would be best going forward.

A lot of places are mentioning 10-10-10 NPK whilst others are advising different.

I see MG do Fruit&Citrus stakes but I'm not sure if they'd be suitable for potted Apple and Pear

 

[Richie]

Anyone know if this is something to worry about on my pear tree? (main pic then close up):

I can lift the bark slightly (didnt want to pull it too much) Hoping it's not the start of canker?


EDIT: I should add - the pear variety is Concorde which is meant to have good resistance to Canker. I am hoping its just a bit of split bark which will heal itself.