BBC Gardeners' World

Comments

• Penske666

  15 May 2008, 04.02PM

  I think most people are put off by lack of knowledge about tree sizes, pruning etcetera.

  I bought a tree from a well known store in spring and it didn't even state the size code (here's hoping its not a monster) :)

• Gail

  15 May 2008, 07.34PM

  Having a apple tree overhanging into our garden I agree they are lovely this time of year its branches are a bit all over the place but the fruit last year tasted like nothing you could buy,just to go down the garden and pick them after watching them grow all summer is great.I have planted 2 fruit trees last year in half barrels one a necterine and one a cherry.

• stephen cox

  16 May 2008, 08.34AM

  where is monty don.He has gone from gardeners world with no explanation.

• Ian Mallon

  16 May 2008, 12.08PM

  I have a beautiful young apple tree in my garden which is currently in full bloom. The only thing is, I don't know whether it's a male or female. How can I find out? Many thanks

• sheryl

  16 May 2008, 06.07PM

  I have just bought an espalier apple tree, which I am hoping to keep in a large container. I only have a small garden so this method is ideal. Has anyone any experience of this type of growing as I would be grateful for any advice, being a novice but enthusiastic gardener.

• kaycurtis20002000@yahoo.co.uk

  17 May 2008, 04.01AM

  I moved here with my family in 1975, one apple tree was demolish and the other cut down and this quickly grew again I have had many years of beautiful blossom on this tree such a delight the fruits no good but what the matter.

• alan

  17 May 2008, 01.46PM

  My apple trees haven't blossomed this year. Why? they did well last year and look healthy.

• Gail

  17 May 2008, 01.49PM

  Just reading Penske666 blog on tree sizes,I have no idea on that for the two I planted in my half barrels,my trees came from a supermarket,but being in barrels I don't think I will finish up with monsters.I was also interested in the contents of Ian's blog on male and female trees,I have seen this information on some plants but never noticed it on fruit trees but I think one of my trees had on self pollinating could this be? I've never had fruit trees before.One thing I have bought this past week female is my cucumber plant,so does this mean you can get male ones?if thats not a silly question.

• Lorraine

  17 May 2008, 06.52PM

  I'm puzzled about Monty Don too. Carol Klein talks about him as if he's dead. What's happened?

• Grannyanne

  23 May 2008, 11.07PM

  I have a Bramley that I bought about 30 years ago as a weeny stem. It's now more than 20 ft. across and goodness knows how high, but keeps me in amazing apples throughout the year (after I've given bagloads away). They certainly earn their keep!

• Taybridge

  29 May 2008, 11.09AM

  If you're short of space I can recommend growing minarette (narrow vertical) fruit trees. If you purchase from a reputable supplier you get care and pruning instructions supplied with them. I have 2 apple varieties, 2 plum and 2 pear trees.

• Les

  30 May 2008, 04.42PM

  My apple tree has developed a white powdery fungus on some of the branches. Notice ants running up trunk. Any ideas how to treat?

• Gloucester Old Spot

  02 June 2008, 10.32PM

  We have both Afal Nant Gwretheryn (Hidden Village Golden Russet)and Afal Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island)apple trees growing now into their second year in our front garden.

  When we purchased the trees, we were advised to rub the fruit out in the first year no matter how tempting it was to leave, as fruit on one year old wood can exhaust the tree.

  So having done this and now we are successfully into our second year of apple tree growing, we are a little lost as to what to do next with fruit?!Do we rub out all fruit again? Do we just thin fruit out? Do we leave the fruit? How long does rubbing out or thinning go on for? If anyone can provide some sage advice it would be very much appreciated.

• vee r d

  03 June 2008, 10.47AM

  hi, i too have an apple tree that has developed a white powdery fungus on some of the branches. Notice ants running up trunk and put powder at the base of the tree but it hasn't done any good! Any ideas how to treat it?

• Frances M

  04 June 2008, 07.28PM

  I'm sure by now most people will have heard or read that Monty D has had a stroke. I'm sure I can speak for most people by wishing him a speedy recovery and good health in the future.

• Aunty Cru

  05 June 2008, 09.20AM

  I have just bought two apple trees for the princely sum of £9.98.(for both) I am hoping to train them along wires to provide a productive screen between me and next door. (If they live that is!) Having read some of the above comments I'm not so sure I have done the right thing it all sounds a bit complicated. (Rubbing out fruit?) I had thought it was buy tree, plant it, wait and then bingo apples!!!We'll see.

• amber

  07 June 2008, 04.02PM

  This weeks show showed the japanese coriander i cant find this plant anywhere cna some one help?

• Jenny

  09 June 2008, 10.23PM

  My son planted an apple seed 4 years ago and much to our amazement it has grown to over 7 feet high and takes pride of place in our garden. It has never flowered though and our son, now 6, is getting a little frustrated! Can anyone help me understand why it fails to flower but is otherwise very healthy.

• Carol

  22 June 2008, 01.14PM

  We have had white fluffy patches on our apple tree trunk for years and it has quite disfigured it. Nothing has seemed to work (not that we tried very hard) until last year the local woodpecker family decided to get to work and cleaned the lot up. Now we are waiting to see whether they will do the same this year.

• wee jenny

  25 June 2008, 08.43PM

  Our son sowed an apple seed 9 years ago and hasnt flowered any ideas when it might. our new apple tree this spring a discovery is looking good but our new victoria plum got the frost can someone reassure me it will be ok next year one half of it has no leaves!

• Joolie West London

  03 July 2008, 11.07PM

  I have two mature apple trees in my garden, one eater and one Bramley. Has anyone got any suggestions for preventing paraqueets eating the lot? Nothing seems to frighten them and each year their numbers are growing. They seem to be birds with attitude. Some of them stare straight into my face whilst I wave my hands about like crazy trying to get them to move on.

• hughes

  05 July 2008, 12.20PM

  we have just started our own orchard of fruit trees from a 70 year old grab apple tree to cooking eating apples plums and pears last year and this year is the first time the crab apple tree has produced fruit.

• mizzzy

  06 July 2008, 02.12PM

  i would like to grow dwarf fruit trees as my garden is small. Anyone know of any suppliers? thanx

• weejenny

  09 July 2008, 09.18PM

  re my comment on 25 june I have now discovered the problem with my new victoria plum is not frost but after phoning the nursery where I got it they explained to me its a root stock problem from a batch of plums sold throughout the country! I was told I can get a new tree at the back end.Im so glad I phoned them for advice. Has anyone else had this problem?

• dawn

  13 July 2008, 06.00PM

  Last year my pear tree was full of fruit this year i have none why is this? there is another pear tree close by and that as lots of fruit on it . this will b the third year for this tree.

• Doreen

  20 July 2008, 05.15PM

  I have a dwarf apple tree in a tub, I bought it as a bare root, it now has many leaves and small branches, do I prune it this year or leave it until next year?

• Jan's husband

  21 July 2008, 10.16PM

  Jan has received a Discovery apple tree in a pot as a surprise 50th birthday present. It's about 6 foot tall at the moment and fruiting. We're hoping to redesign the garden in a coastal area where it will go. Any advice welcome - e.g. how soon should it be planted, when should it be pruned, how large will it grow?

• lyn exeter

  22 July 2008, 12.57AM

  I have brought a apple tree and planted it in a tub but now the fruit that was on it has rottoned and the leaves have gone yellow i am watering it daily when we dont have rain

• bettina

  30 July 2008, 12.52AM

  Hi can any1 help a friend of mine bought a braeburn dwarf apple tree about 3 weeks ago and its not showing signs of life he was told these type of apple trees don't need another apple tree near to pollinate is that correct thankyou

• Christine

  30 July 2008, 03.20PM

  My large garden has mature fruit trees - Russett apple, Bramley apple, pear, Victoria plum etc. Fruiting last year was prolific but we only got a few Russetts - the squirrels destroyed the rest. Hundreds (no exaggeration) of semi-grown fruits on all the trees lay ripped off with a bite out. This year the pear tree is already stripped, the plums and apples are on their way.Nothing deters these squirrels. Does anyone have a solution?

• bev304

  31 July 2008, 06.04PM

  I am growing 5 apple trees all from seed the biggest is 15 inch what do i do now i no nothing about gardening it was a thing i did with the grandkids planting pips in rooting powder i have grown lots of flowers from seeds and put them in my garden but thats all i can do please help kids asking what we do next

• Growing fruit trees in pots

  15 August 2008, 11.20PM

  I have two apple trees and one pear tree on dwarf rooting stock. One apple is growing but it is only their first year. All are in large pots and watered regularly. Do they need pruning and if so, how?

• Michelle

  15 August 2008, 11.15AM

  How do I know when apples are ready for picking?

• GeordieJames

  14 September 2008, 09.20AM

  Hello all - new to this blog/gardening malarchy and need some advice on the care of old apple and pear trees. We bought a house a year ago and inherited 4 apple trees and a pear tree (along with raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries). The apple trees look fairly old and gnarly and have what appears to be a lot of old wood on them.

  The apple crop this year was pretty impressive but because we've been busy renovating the house I haven't had time to care for the garden.The upshot has been all the fruit falling to the ground, pretty early (July/August) leaving very little on the trees themselves.My question is what i should do now (or when appropriate) to help the trees for next season and hopefully hang on to their fruit a bit better.

  The branches appear very brittle so we've lost a few over the summer in the ridiculous rain and wind we've had.Should I get up on a ladder and cut away anything 'dead' and how far back should I go ?Thanks for any help you can offer.James

• G G Grower

  26 September 2008, 06.58PM

  Can anyone knowledgeable be of assistance? I am continually getting conflicting advice. I want to plant and establish a small, edible fruit orchard - mainly apple, with pear, plum and perhaps cherry. The site is coastal, North Wales - low lying and subject to strong winds. Pointers appreciated.

• Jonty

  08 October 2008, 02.43PM

  in replie to G G Grower, you will have to be very careful in the selection of which varieties you grow as the conditions are quite harsh. I have been in the process of establishing an orchard in a similar location to that which you describe, and have learned some things along the way, for example you may need to use 1 stage larger rootstock than would usually be recommended for the size of tree you plan to grow as it needs extra anchorage in an exposed position, and the wind will tend to burn the ends of the branches slowing the growth. you may find some information which is useful to you here: http://www.glasu.org.uk/reports.htm not least this information sheet: http://www.glasu.org.uk/reports/newharvest/PerllanauPowysAppleVarietiesPoster.pdf hope this helps and good luck! Jonty