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Post by Cherry on Dec 26, 2013 21:09:39 GMT
I have a Christmas voucher which would easily buy a fruit tree and I wonder whether it is worth planting a peach or apricot. Which one is hardier? Would a cherry tree be hardier than a peach or apricot? I know steve grows amazing peaches, but I have the fen wind and the fen blow www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-22219642 to consider, although I have a spot near a hedge which would help. |
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Post by steve on Dec 27, 2013 11:17:48 GMT
Apricot is the more tender it flowers early so they are often caught by frosts and likes moisture, as it never rains where you are Cherry I would forget this one. Peaches are better fan trained if you want to go to that trouble? they are prone to leaf curl disease and squirrels like to pinch them when you are not looking  Having said that T&M are trialling cuttings from my tree by a fruit grower, this fruits and ripens very good without being fan trained and has some resistance to leaf curl but will not be decided if it is viable to mass produce until results in 2015 Cherry trees are less problematic IMHO I had Stella at my previous house and have a Morello here, both are heavy croppers and both are self fertile but I found Stella the more prolific of the two Of course there are now patio varieties where you can control the watering and protection better if you go for one of these any of the 3 will do but you will obviously get less fruit than on a large tree |
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Post by Cherry on Dec 27, 2013 11:40:36 GMT
OK steve. Thanks for an informative, full answer. The cherry I have in mind is Bigarreau Napoleon and Variks Black, grafted together on Colt because it would be grown near the house. It has to come from Suttons, so the other choices are Crown Morello, Regina or Summer Sun. I think Morello which is very hardy is mainly a cooking cherry isn't it? We grew one of the Bigarreau series in Victoria on our orchard. Could you give me an opinion on these please Steve? Have a look at them and see what you make of them. If anyone else has experience of cherries, please feel free to chip in. |
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Post by Cherry on Dec 27, 2013 12:05:38 GMT
I have just looked up Colt rootstock and this is too big. Husband has now said I can get one from elsewhere if I like. Wow, such generosity. I would still have the Suttons voucher.
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Post by steve on Dec 27, 2013 12:35:20 GMT
You could try and email them first Cherry, their info states that their Cherry trees are grown on Colt and Gisela rootstock, Gisela is more dwarfing than Colt? the only tree that it isn't clear what is used is the Morello and yes this is said to be for cooking but I can eat them off the tree ok....so I don't know if they mean that this is on Gisela or not or they can supply any on Gisela? you could make some very nice cherry pies though |
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Post by Cherry on Dec 27, 2013 14:52:04 GMT
Again, many thanks steve. I will email Suttons. The printed catalogue does not mention Gisela rootstock and that is the one I would go for. I don't like cherries, but everyone here does and they look pretty. I had to pick them when I was old enough to help out on the orchard. |
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Post by steve on Dec 27, 2013 15:11:39 GMT
It does seem a bit of conflicting advice, this is from their web site which is where I looked them up
The combination of modern, self fertile varieties, Colt and Gisela 5 rootstock on which our cherries are grown means that garden cherry growing can be a very rewarding experience with regular heavy crops being very much the norm. A free growing bush tree is the best growing style and because of the nature of the tree that we deliver, little need be done after planting. Growth will be quite rapid
for the first couple of years but then the influence of the rootstock and the formation of fruit buds will slow the tree down giving a much more easily controlled plant compared with older kinds.
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Post by Cherry on Dec 27, 2013 21:04:38 GMT
I will send an email to Suttons and let you all know what happens. I am sure you are all dying to know the outcome.  |
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Post by steve on Dec 28, 2013 0:05:26 GMT
If you could let us know that would be the cherry on the icing cherry |
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Having said that T&M are trialling cuttings from my tree by a fruit grower, this fruits and ripens very good without being fan trained and has some resistance to leaf curl but will not be decided if it is viable to mass produce until results in 2015
