Single hen

[C&T]

Hi,

 

I went to the garden center to buy some turf. As they had none, it would obviously have been rude to leave with nothing (as though that would ever happen) and foolishly OH had let me go by myself...

 

So, I came home very pleased with myself, having found a dwarf apple tree. And better than that, it was a tree that produced 2 different types of apples - one type grafted onto the other - so that the two types should pollinate each other, and I will have loads of apples! (Reality might be different, and I may end up with 2.5 apples full of wasps, but hey!!)

 

So I would like to keep the tree in a pot, as then it can stand on my patio, look pretty, and get maximum sun.

 

Can anybody provide any advice on keeping fruit trees in pots? What should I feed them, and how often etc??

[eggypeggy]

I have a apple tree in a terracotta pot, which has been happily growing for the last 3 yrs. I top up the compost once a year with a spinkle of general purpose fertilser in spring, prune once a year in autumn to encourage new growth in the spring and that is that.

 

I might need to transfer the tree at some point to a slightly larger pot, or just when this pot deteriorates.

 

We don't get many apples, but we really appreciate the ones we get. I'm now hankering for a bigger apple tree and pear and plum..... etc etc

 

Good luck.

[C&T]

Thanks eggypeggy.

 

It is shooting nicely at the moment, and looks healthy and well...

 

I can remember as a 8yr old, we had an enormous Victoria Plum tree in the garden. The fruit was amazing! Either fresh, stewed, made into jam or bottled... Would love to have my own plum tree again - but need a much bigger garden then our little plot...

 

One day!

[eggypeggy]

Bigger garden would be good! I wish. Mind you you could grow a cordon plum tree along a fence. They just need a bit more effort with pruning, but yum would def be worth it.

 

Think I might try that myself, if I get a spare minute.

[C&T]

ooooohhhhhhh

 

Where the Honeysuckle was that I had to take out as it was not performing.... I was going to put in a new rose... But a Plum Tree to go with my new Apple Tree.... There's a thought!! Must do some research me thinks!

 

Evil thoughts!!!

 

Now, how can I raise the money for a nice little tree... I think the Chickens need to up the number of eggs they lay a day!

[cluckingmad]

lol, sad but true, all our eggy pennies go towards the girl's new run currently but some was used earlier in the year for garden-type stuff We've currently got a family apple tree (same as your C&T, but three varietys grafted we shall wait and see how that one goes..!), a plum and a summer cherry tree, all in large plastic tubs

 

You can train the fruit trees in all sorts of ways, cordon along fences or (and I really like this one) as a step-over to edge a border Thers also fan training (really good for cherries) or espaliers (good for everything), which are awesome for those of us with gardens less than as large as we'd probably like

 

My current problem is how to keep the girls out of the tubs where they enjoy a good ol' dig...