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Post by ladybird on May 31, 2013 8:01:49 GMT
Has anyone experience with the ballerina type apple trees . I`m getting one as a presy from dobbies ,they are about £40  , could buy three fruit trees for that in dobbies , wonder if they are worth it |
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Post by Cherry on May 31, 2013 8:20:57 GMT
I had some of these left over from the garden centre when son was working there during uni holiday time. They did not produce for me. I gave one away and only learnt last week that the tree which went to Ely has done nothing, yet this person is a good gardener and has pollinators. That tree is 9 years old, but it was about 2 years old when I got it originally. The new owner is putting it out soon. There could have been something wrong with this batch and I hope other people have had better luck and you get good feedback.
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Post by ladybird on May 31, 2013 11:46:30 GMT
Thanks Cherry. I have apple trees a dual one, I think the apples on both are now golden delicious , but they are anything but delicious, and another pixi no name one that does nothing, also a brambly that needs planted somewhere .The ballerinas looked so neat and full of flowers, I`d hate to be disapointed at that price though. I am also wanting a plum tree , had thought of the victoria but there is also a czar one in Dobbies for only £12 99, great price, it does well in cold areas and isn`t so disease prone , the taste isn`t as good as the victoria though but it is good for cooking and jam . decisions decisions  |
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Post by Cherry on Jun 3, 2013 7:36:14 GMT
Those Ballerinas might be alright Ladybird. I would rather have a dwarfing rootstock which is slightly up from the Ballerina apple. Go for Victoria plum. They were very good in Scotland, and there were orchards of them in Lanarkshire, so Victoria should be good in the Belfast climate.
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Post by ladybird on Jun 4, 2013 11:59:32 GMT
Thanks cherry my heart wanted a victoria plumb really . I`ve not got much room for more trees really escept the plum , I was hoping to put the ballerina in a large pot .
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Post by Cherry on Jun 4, 2013 14:48:05 GMT
Thanks cherry my heart wanted a victoria plumb really . I`ve not got much room for more trees really escept the plum , I was hoping to put the ballerina in a large pot . Of course you wanted a Victoria Plum. I have a lot of plum trees, but no Victoria which I find strange. It must be an old variety, but it has never been bettered. |
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Post by Fractal on Jul 9, 2013 6:30:24 GMT
Hi ladybird, Ballerina Apple trees (if you want fruit) are not worth the compost they grow in! Waste of time.... Their only good for flowering. Some varieties are very prone to scab too. |
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Post by ladybird on Jul 11, 2013 7:36:10 GMT
Hi ladybird, Ballerina Apple trees (if you want fruit) are not worth the compost they grow in! Waste of time.... Their only good for flowering. Some varieties are very prone to scab too. Oh dear how dissapointing to hear that steve  , I must admit I was impressed by the number of flowers on the ones I saw in dobbies. I have read that they were originally created to help polinate orchard trees. My brother has fortunately left me the cash to get the tree myself so I may just get that victoria plumb AND another apple on a dwarfing rootstock |
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Post by Fractal on Jul 13, 2013 16:00:56 GMT
That I think is what they call a plan! Yes, I would do just that ladybird  |
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Post by sweetpea on Jul 14, 2013 17:25:35 GMT
If it was me LB I would tend to get cordons. You can get most fruit to grow as cordons and they don't take much room and are cheaper. Some info here: link |
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Post by ladybird on Jul 15, 2013 15:39:54 GMT
If it was me LB I would tend to get cordons. You can get most fruit to grow as cordons and they don't take much room and are cheaper. Some info here: linkOh Yet another idea, thanks sweetpea. And I doubt if my brother would know the difference since hes not interested in gardening . I`m going to have a rummage around the brogdale site . They can graft any tree they have onto any rootstock on request. I also have a great desire to do a bit of grafting myself, after seeing a tree with 50 different varieties grafted onto one tree. I have the knife,the book and the grafting tape. |
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Post by lesley on Aug 29, 2013 8:31:42 GMT
Does any one have a good Cooking apple apart from Bramleys |
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Post by Cherry on Aug 29, 2013 10:29:13 GMT
Oh yes! I grow Grenadier which I think are superior to Bramley cooking apples. Apart from the good flavour, the main reason is that they keep their shape instead of turning into a mush when cooked and look beautiful on the trees. I also grow Bramleys, but usually give them away.
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Post by lesley on Aug 29, 2013 15:41:39 GMT
Oh yes! I grow Grenadier which I think are superior to Bramley cooking apples. Apart from the good flavour, the main reason is that they keep their shape instead of turning into a mush when cooked and look beautiful on the trees. I also grow Bramleys, but usually give them away. Thanks Cherry do you grow eaters as well, were looking for a crisp eating apple, |
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Post by Cherry on Aug 29, 2013 19:00:58 GMT
lesley I like Queen Cox which can be late and is a beautiful looking apple. Such a pretty apple and tastes fantastic. I put these on the table with the dinners I have to make for the pilots' courses. I am quite fond of James Grieve which is self-fertile but my favourite is Queen Cox, also self-fertile. I have a Discovery and I really hate it. It tastes 'winey' to me and does not keep for more than a couple of days. I have to use it to make apple crumble for some courses I am doing for next week. The Grenadiers are not ripe yet. It is always another opinion. Every person is different.
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, could buy three fruit trees for that in dobbies , wonder if they are worth it
, I must admit I was impressed by the number of flowers on the ones I saw in dobbies. I have read that they were originally created to help polinate orchard trees. My brother has fortunately left me the cash to get the tree myself so I may just get that victoria plumb AND another apple on a dwarfing rootstock
