My little plum tree is looking good, it's laden with fruit. There were more plums on it than there are now but many small specimens have fallen, I suppose it's the June Drop. There's still plenty of fruit left though and they're growing well.
.jpg)
I bought a Gloster apple tree in March 2012. It's on dwarf rootstock and grown in a container. I haven't had any fruit from it yet but it looks as though this year might be the year.
.jpg)
Similarly, my Golden Delicious, also on dwarf rootstock and grown in a container, was bought in August 2012 and hasn't yet given me any fruit but it's looking hopeful this year.
.jpg)
I've mentioned previously that I'm creating a new border along the fence. I've already planted my Golden Wings rose there but I'm now considering planting my two apple trees in this border too. As they're on dwarf rootstock, they shouldn't take up very much space but I think they may do better in the ground than being grown in a container.
My blueberries have flowered and I can see the beginnings of the fruit. It doesn't look like a bumper year, but we should get something. I've got three bushes. I think I may replenish the ericaceous compost this year as well as giving them a bit of a prune.
.jpg)
There wasn't very much blossom on my Stella cherry tree this year so I wasn't expecting a very big harvest. I think we'll be lucky if we can count how many cherries we get on two hands.
.jpg)
Overall, we should do quite well for fruit this year. Here's hoping.
Your post is giving me hope for my small fruit garden, I am not expecting much this year from my collection of bushes. But I will nurture them for future harvest. Do small trees grow well in tubs? I would love a tree.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that now I have quite a few fruit trees and bushes, I'll get at least some sort of harvest. There's fruit trees which grow especially well in containers. You should look for patio varieties or those grown on dwarf root stock.
DeleteHow lovely. It is wonderful to be able to pick your own fruit. I have wild plums, medlars blackberries and my old Blenheim orange, I look forward each year to picking the fruits. The birds take a lot, but that is fine, they have to eat to :)
ReplyDeleteYour garden must look very pretty....fruit trees, roses etc.....a little bit of paradise.
I hope you have a lovely weekend and that the sun is shining. A beautiful day here ........
It sounds like you have a wonderful collection of fruit trees and bushes. I think it's lovely to be able to share with the birds, I just don't want them to take all the fruit and leave me with none. My garden could look much better, I admit. It still houses a trampoline and two storey playhouse so I'm hoping that they will go very soon and then I can get round to getting the garden exactly how I want it. We've had a lovely day here today, a change from all the rain.
DeleteI hope that it all does well for you. I only grow soft fruit but would like a couple of apple tree as that's something I eat most days. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteMy soft fruit collection has increased since taking on my new plot, I'm looking forward to the increased harvest it brings. We were offered a plot with a lovely apple tree on it, we considered it but thought the plot we took offered us more.
DeleteSince you have several different types of fruit, surely at least SOME of them will do well...? My "Scrumptious" apple tree has about a dozen young fruit on it, but the last fruitlet on my pear tree dropped of this week. :(
ReplyDeleteI would hope so, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some do well. What a lovely name for an apple, Scrumptious, I'm sure they will be. A shame about your pears, you can't win them all I suppose.
DeleteOh I hope that you get some good fruit, Jo! I was getting quietly excited by the thought of having plums this year but they've all disappeared, and I've lost quite a few cherries as well. Having your first apples will be lovely, such a satisfying fruit to grow. Your trees will definitely be happier in the ground as they'll spread their roots and be healthier for it. They'll grow to about 12 feet tall - and need a lot less watering! Mine are on dwarfing rootstock and are about 9 feet now after 6 years in the ground as an idea for you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame about your plums and cherries. That's the problem with fruit, it can look as though it's going to be a good year and then it all ends up dropping off. I think my apple trees will be much happier in the ground, though I can't ever see them reaching 12 feet tall, they're so tiny just now.
DeleteHardly a plum to be seen on my tiny tree that I planted at the allotment. But lots of new growth, so I'm hopeful for next year. There are plenty of cherries on my neighbour's tree, quite a few of them dangling over my fence... Last year he gave me a load of them and they were utterly delicious.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get any fruit on my plum tree or my apple trees last year so I think they do need a while to settle in before they start producing. What a kind neighbour bestowing those delicious cherries on you, I don't think we'll have enough for one each this year.
DeleteYou have a lovely amount of fruit and it tastes so much better straight from the tree xxx
ReplyDeleteI hope I get to try that theory out this year, surely something must come good out of all the fruit I've now got.
DeleteIt's all looking promising Jo. I think that your dwarf rootstock apples would probably fare better in the ground. My plot neighbours planted their blueberries three seasons ago and are expecting a good crop this year. I had not realised until this spring just how attractive the flowers are.
ReplyDeleteI've just about made up my mind to plant my apple trees in the ground, I think it will be better for them than being grown in containers. I haven't had a good enough crop from my blueberries for some time now so I think it's about time they were cared for a bit better, they may reward me then.
DeleteWe just have fruit bushes here, how I would love some trees but we just don't have room at the moment but hopefully we can make room soon. What a wonderful variety you will have, hope you bumper harvest comes true :)
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of tiny trees available now which can be grown in containers and they slot in to the tiniest of spaces, may be worth looking in to. I'm really hoping that I get a good variety of fruit to harvest this year, I'm looking forward to seeing how everything does.
DeleteAlways a nerve wracking time isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt is. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all comes good, surely I must have success with something.
DeleteYou seem to be doing quite well on the fruit tree front, as I'd always been told to wait for approximately 7 years for most to bear any fruit. Not so with citrus, as they crop after a year or two. As for blueberries, which I love, I did have luck with fruiting, but then the birds feasted on them even with netting. Not much space in this garden for trees, but I must get planting blueberries, strawberries and some veg. Tkae care and don't get soaked again!
ReplyDeleteI didn't really know when I should expect fruit from my new purchases but I'm happy with how they're doing. The birds do love blueberries, though I don't net them. They're in containers near the house so it's only the odd cheeky blackbird which comes and helps itself so I don't mind sharing.
DeleteEven if you don't have lots of each fruit, you will certainly have a great variety of fruit! The blueberries look as though they are doing especially well, and they must be such a treat to be able to pick yourself. xx
ReplyDeleteIt will be nice to have a variety of fruit to harvest, assuming it all does well. I noticed more blueberries on the bushes yesterday than I thought so it might be a good year for them afterall.
DeleteI've been eagerly watching my pot grown apple tree but not looking too good so far. Not a good year for rhubarb for me. Hope you have a bumper fruit year.
ReplyDeleteYou never know, your apple tree may come good yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the fruit I have doesn't drop off, it's all looking good so far but you never can tell.
DeleteLovely to see all those plums! I'm similar to you, precious few cherries, a few blueberries but tons of plums and maybe a fair few pears....our old apple tree never fails, shame it's cooking apples!xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised by the number of plums there are, the tree really is tiny so I'm hoping that they all hang on to maturity. I'd love a cooking apple tree, all those wonderful pies you can make.
DeleteLol....I always wish I could bake. I've never had a go!xxx
DeleteThere's no excuse these days, you can buy pastry. How about a crumble, mmmm my favourite and not much baking involved at all. Don't let all those delicious cooking apples go to waste.
Delete