Planting fruit trees is an investment that will repay tenfold over many, many years. We stock a great range of soft fruit, from the traditional gooseberries and raspberries, to the less usual figs and blueberries. For those with a bit more space we also have an extensive selection of fruit trees like apples, cherries, pears & plums, or why not try a traditional Kentish cob nut? Just make sure you get to those fruit and nuts before the birds and squirrels do! Please see our stock list for our current range. There are rootstocks available that make fruit trees suitable for any garden.
Although fruit trees can be grown on their own roots, they are more often than not grafted onto a chosen rootstock (part of tree which includes the roots and the lower part of the trunk).
The rootstock will control the rate of growth of the tree, so you can choose a rootstock to produce a tree suitable for the position in which you plan to grow it.
You can choose rootstocks from those that produce large trees which are classed as vigorous, to those that produce much smaller trees (more suitable for training as a bush or even growing in containers) called dwarfing. Soil type also influences growth rate, with light sandy or chalky soils limiting growth more than clay-based ones.
As well as controlling height, a rootstock will also ensure that the tree comes into fruiting earlier in its life than if it was grown on its own roots.
There are many different rootstocks available for apples. The most widely available apple rootstocks are called 'M27', 'M9' and 'M26', and 'M106', producing trees of 1.5-1.8m (5-6ft), 2.4-3.6m (8-12ft) and 3.6-5.4m (12-18ft) tall respectively.
'Quince A' is the most common rootstock for pears and will produce a tree between 3-6m (10-20ft). 'Quince C' is less common and produces a tree growing to 3-5m (10-16ft). Pears on 'Quince C' are slightly quicker to produce fruit.
There are a couple of different rootstocks for plums. ‘Pixy’ is semi-dwarfing, ideal for pyramids and fans; ‘Ferlenain’ is similar to 'Pixy'; ‘St Julien A’ is semi-vigorous, useful for larger pyramids and fans; and ‘Brompton’ is vigorous and generally produces a tree up to 6m (20ft) tall.
The most commonly used rootstock for cherries is semi-vigorous 'Colt', which will restrict growth to about 6-8m (20-27ft). Semi-dwarfing rootstocks 'Gisela 5' and 'Tabel' will restrict the size to about 3-4m (10-13ft) making them suitable for growing as dwarf bush trees or possibly in a container.
Myrobalan rootstock not only ensures a reliable yield but also increases the tree’s adaptability to different soil types, improving its chances to thrive in various environments. Myrobalan is a standard fully vigorous rootstock, compatible with all European plum varieties, and the best choice if you want to plant a traditional plum orchard. Myrobalan produces a mature tree with a height of 5m - 6m or more, and fruit production should start at the age of 3-4 years.
(subject to availability)
(subject to availability)