apple trees

Just bought 2 apple trees - a bramley and a braeburn to plant on my allotment. Real spur of the moment - staring at me in Aldi saying 'Buy me'. No idea what to do . How close together do I plant them? Believe the bramley needs the braeburn to pollinate-well it says so on the packet. Dig a hole and put them in? Staking? Feeding? Edge of the allotment? I have an edge plot anyway so they wouldn't spread on to anybody else's plot. Help please.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on February 14, 2011 at 21:15

Confusing stuff I know !

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sue Gollop on February 14, 2011 at 23:35

Oh my. You guys have lost me. Do I need to leg it back to Aldi for another variety? Will the apple tree 2 allotments down help me out? (Nobody knows what it is!)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Flighty on February 15, 2011 at 8:52

Sue you're not the only one who's lost as I've read through all this a couple of times and I'm totally confused!

Come on guys Sue is wanting a clear and concise answer to her question!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sue Gollop on February 15, 2011 at 8:59

But I learned a new word - 'triploid' ! So thank you.

Flighty said:

Sue you're not the only one who's lost as I've read through all this a couple of times and I'm totally confused!

Come on guys Sue is wanting a clear and concise answer to her question!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on February 15, 2011 at 9:17

Sue...

The Braeburn is a self fertile variety so will not need a pollinator to produce fruit. It is, however, not really an apple for the UK climate as it flowers so late and fruit is unlikely to mature in all but the warmest parts of the UK. (so personally I would swop it if I could).

Bramley is an excellent variety that we all know. It is however a self sterile triploid meaning that it will not pollinate itself or anything else and so you will need a pollinator for this (maybe the one in the other allotment).

If you did choose another self sterile variety to accompany / pollinate the Bramley you could not rely on the Bramley returning the favour to the other tree.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sue Gollop on February 15, 2011 at 9:37

Got it! Thanks!

Stephen Shirley said:

Sue...

The Braeburn is a self fertile variety so will not need a pollinator to produce fruit. It is, however, not really an apple for the UK climate as it flowers so late and fruit is unlikely to mature in all but the warmest parts of the UK. (so personally I would swop it if I could).

Bramley is an excellent variety that we all know. It is however a self sterile triploid meaning that it will not pollinate itself or anything else and so you will need a pollinator for this (maybe the one in the other allotment).

If you did choose another self sterile variety to accompany / pollinate the Bramley you could not rely on the Bramley returning the favour to the other tree.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sarah Rideout on February 15, 2011 at 10:00

This is all very interesting and informative and I think points to avoiding those supermarket bargains, especially when its something as long lasting as a tree you want proper nursery advice and well looked after stock - sorry Sue, realise this is an irritating comment now that you've got them, and hopefully the advice you've had will help! Particularly interested in the planting an Alder idea.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jon on February 15, 2011 at 17:01

Hi guys

I too am looking to plant some apple trees. My garden backs onto a wall of garages, can i plant them within a few feet of the wall? I've heard a nightmare story where an apple tree's roots grew under the foundations of a house & caused some serious issues!

Cheers!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Debbie on February 15, 2011 at 20:21

AHA but Tesco are doing ornamental trees for £4 and BOY was I tempted. A bargain is a bargain and should be thought of as such. It's supposed to be fun.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on February 15, 2011 at 21:05

Its not the trees you need to worry about - its your soil!

A heavy clay soil may shrink back if the trees suck it dry in a Summer and cause you problems, but generally speaking trees do not go searching under (dry) buildings or walls as they are looking for moisture and nutrient.

Too many harmless trees are removed as an excuse for poor building practice.!

Jon said:

Hi guys

I too am looking to plant some apple trees. My garden backs onto a wall of garages, can i plant them within a few feet of the wall? I've heard a nightmare story where an apple tree's roots grew under the foundations of a house & caused some serious issues!

Cheers!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jon on February 15, 2011 at 21:23

Stephen Shirley said:

Too many harmless trees are removed as an excuse for poor building practice.!

Thanks - in it goes at the weekend then!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sue Gollop on February 15, 2011 at 21:59

You would have thought that by my age I should have known you don't get owt for nowt as we say here in Yorkshire

Sarah Rideout said:

This is all very interesting and informative and I think points to avoiding those supermarket bargains, especially when its something as long lasting as a tree you want proper nursery advice and well looked after stock - sorry Sue, realise this is an irritating comment now that you've got them, and hopefully the advice you've had will help! Particularly interested in the planting an Alder idea.