frui:fruit_trees

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frui:fruit_trees [2025/12/08 16:40] – Dave Darbyfrui:fruit_trees [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Fruit trees & orchards+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Fruit trees & orchards ======
  
  
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-## What are fruit trees & orchards?+===== What are fruit trees & orchards? =====
  
 'Top fruit' can include apples, pears, plums, cherries, quinces, medlars, chequerberries, mulberries and figs. They've all been grown by humans for thousands of years, have played an important part in the monastic tradition, and were very fashionable in Victorian times. Until a few decades ago, the UK grew nearly all its own fruit – almost everyone with a garden had fruit trees. That's not the case now, and many skills have been lost, such as knowing when the fruit is ripe and ready to pick, or knowing that some fruit needs to be stored before ripening (pears, for example, are often picked under-ripe, and stored until ripe). Interest is beginning to grow again though, as people are becoming more concerned about food and nutrition. 'Top fruit' can include apples, pears, plums, cherries, quinces, medlars, chequerberries, mulberries and figs. They've all been grown by humans for thousands of years, have played an important part in the monastic tradition, and were very fashionable in Victorian times. Until a few decades ago, the UK grew nearly all its own fruit – almost everyone with a garden had fruit trees. That's not the case now, and many skills have been lost, such as knowing when the fruit is ripe and ready to pick, or knowing that some fruit needs to be stored before ripening (pears, for example, are often picked under-ripe, and stored until ripe). Interest is beginning to grow again though, as people are becoming more concerned about food and nutrition.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Correct pruning increases the health of fruit trees & improves the quality of fruit.+_Correct pruning increases the health of fruit trees & improves the quality of fruit._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-All about apples: Andy Howard shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for different varieties of apple.+_All about apples: Andy Howard shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for different varieties of apple._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of fruit trees & orchards?+===== What are the benefits of fruit trees & orchards? =====
  
 **Flavour & nutrition:** fruit picked for supermarkets is often picked under-ripe and put into cold storage for long periods – often several months. On your own trees, fruit can be allowed to grow to ripeness, and the flavour and nutritional value will be improved. **Flavour & nutrition:** fruit picked for supermarkets is often picked under-ripe and put into cold storage for long periods – often several months. On your own trees, fruit can be allowed to grow to ripeness, and the flavour and nutritional value will be improved.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Pear trees will give you beautiful blossom as well as delicious fruit. Image: [David Hawgood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pear_tree_\(Pyrus\)_in_blossom,_Kew_Gardens_-_geograph.org.uk_-_166662.jpg), [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)+_Pear trees will give you beautiful blossom as well as delicious fruit. Image: [David Hawgood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pear_tree_\(Pyrus\)_in_blossom,_Kew_Gardens_-_geograph.org.uk_-_166662.jpg), [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-2000 apple varieties have been grown in UK: some to be eaten in August, others in March; some for cooking, others for cider; some grow well in the west, others in the north. A good place to see & taste this wide variety is at apple days.+_2000 apple varieties have been grown in UK: some to be eaten in August, others in March; some for cooking, others for cider; some grow well in the west, others in the north. A good place to see & taste this wide variety is at apple days._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 See further resources (below) for step-by-step and monthly guides to growing and looking after fruit trees. See further resources (below) for step-by-step and monthly guides to growing and looking after fruit trees.
-### Old trees+==== Old trees ====
  
 Old trees are often neglected, and they don't produce so much or such good quality fruit. The main thing to consider for old trees is pruning - which can be complex, but here are the main things to remember: Old trees are often neglected, and they don't produce so much or such good quality fruit. The main thing to consider for old trees is pruning - which can be complex, but here are the main things to remember:
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 <caption> <caption>
-Very clear video on how to prune young apples trees, and maintain older trees, to encourage fruit production.+_Very clear video on how to prune young apples trees, and maintain older trees, to encourage fruit production._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### New trees+==== New trees ====
  
 First choose your tree(s); get them from a reputable nursery not the local garden centre – i.e. a nursery that produces the trees themselves by grafting. Choose varieties that will do well in your part of the country (a good nursery can give you loads of advice on this too). Most fruit trees will need a pollination partner (or 2), so make sure you get trees that are known to pollinate each other (or are self-fertile if you only have room for one). First choose your tree(s); get them from a reputable nursery not the local garden centre – i.e. a nursery that produces the trees themselves by grafting. Choose varieties that will do well in your part of the country (a good nursery can give you loads of advice on this too). Most fruit trees will need a pollination partner (or 2), so make sure you get trees that are known to pollinate each other (or are self-fertile if you only have room for one).
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 <caption> <caption>
-Chip budding is a good type of graft to use to propagate most types of fruit trees.+_Chip budding is a good type of graft to use to propagate most types of fruit trees._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
- +==== Rootstocks & grafting ====
-### Rootstocks & grafting+
  
 Each fruit variety is available on a number of different rootstocks, that will dictate the size of the tree. Make sure you get the one that fits your space. Note that the smaller rootstocks will produce trees that need more care and attention (staking, feeding,etc.) and that can't cope well with competition; larger rootstocks are not so fussy. But small ones start to give fruit when younger than large ones. Each fruit variety is available on a number of different rootstocks, that will dictate the size of the tree. Make sure you get the one that fits your space. Note that the smaller rootstocks will produce trees that need more care and attention (staking, feeding,etc.) and that can't cope well with competition; larger rootstocks are not so fussy. But small ones start to give fruit when younger than large ones.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Learn some grafting technques for apples, pears and other fruit trees.+_Learn some grafting technques for apples, pears and other fruit trees._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Not apples, but Asian pears; they crop reliably with delicious fruit – here in a forest garden in East Sussex.+_Not apples, but Asian pears; they crop reliably with delicious fruit – here in a forest garden in East Sussex._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 You can get rootstocks and grafts from good tree nurseries. You can also learn to graft yourself. Usually nurseries do it for you, and provide you with a small tree, or if you know what graft and rootstock, or what kind of tree you want to end up with, they can graft to order. Unusual varieties can be obtained from the national collection at Brogdale, and they can also graft to order. We know of one specialist nursery - [Cool Temperate Nursery](http://www.cooltemperate.co.uk/) in Nottinghamshire - who supply apple trees grown on their own roots, rather than grafted. Research indicates that these trees are better able to cope with poor soils and droughts, and that their fruit has better flavour and nutrition, and keeps better. You can get rootstocks and grafts from good tree nurseries. You can also learn to graft yourself. Usually nurseries do it for you, and provide you with a small tree, or if you know what graft and rootstock, or what kind of tree you want to end up with, they can graft to order. Unusual varieties can be obtained from the national collection at Brogdale, and they can also graft to order. We know of one specialist nursery - [Cool Temperate Nursery](http://www.cooltemperate.co.uk/) in Nottinghamshire - who supply apple trees grown on their own roots, rather than grafted. Research indicates that these trees are better able to cope with poor soils and droughts, and that their fruit has better flavour and nutrition, and keeps better.
  
-See our [further info section](/frui/fruit_trees) for step-by-step and month-by-month guides to growing tree fruit. 
  
  
 +===== Forum =====
  
-## Further resources+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Step-by-step guides to growing 12 different fruit trees](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/step-by-step-guides-to-growing-12-different-kinds-of-fruit-trees/) - [Step-by-step guides to growing 12 different fruit trees](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/step-by-step-guides-to-growing-12-different-kinds-of-fruit-trees/)
-- [Month-by-month guides to growing fruit & veg](/vegg/vegetable_growing)+- [Month-by-month guides to growing fruit & veg](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/plants/vegetable-growing/further-info/)
 - [ABC Science](https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2001/06/06/275069.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience) - how to stack apples to avoid bruising - [ABC Science](https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2001/06/06/275069.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience) - how to stack apples to avoid bruising
 - [Orchard Network](https://ptes.org/campaigns/traditional-orchard-project/orchard-network/community-orchards/) - find community orchards in the UK - [Orchard Network](https://ptes.org/campaigns/traditional-orchard-project/orchard-network/community-orchards/) - find community orchards in the UK
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-## Specialists+ 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [Cider, perry & juices](cidr:cider) 
 +- [Tree/woodland management](wodl:woodland_management) 
 +- [Beekeeping](bees:beekeeping) 
 +- [Community-supported agriculture](csas:community-supported_agriculture) 
 +- [Forest gardening](forg:forest_gardening) 
 +- [Nuts & nut trees](nuts:nuts) 
 +- [Natural pest & weed control](ntpw:natural_pest_and_weed_control) 
 +- [Keeping livestock](livs:livestock) 
 +- [Seed saving](seed:seed_saving) 
 +- [Smallholding](smho:smallholding) 
 +- [Soft fruit](soft:soft_fruit) 
 +- [Urban / small space gardening](urbs:small-space_gardening) 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • frui/fruit_trees.1765212021.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/08 16:40
  • by Dave Darby