Info needed on fruit trees/bushes

[DopeyAlex]

Hey all,

Ok, i know this is a bit of a vague one, but i had a really good look on the internet last night for a few hours and couldnt find all that much info on fruit trees and fruit bushes. I found out a bit about when to prune some of them, but thats about it lol.

I was hoping that all of you who keep the following fruits could give me your opinions on the general care of them, such as:
-when to prune/how
-recomended foods/when to feed each one (e.g. BFB, citric food, etc.
-Pest/disease control methods and which ones need netting protection
-what water quantities throughout the year
-Whether to add compost or manure each year/when
-Pollination/whether i can grow with just the 1 tree etc.
-So basically, what your year care diary for each fruit tree/bush is

I got the following fruit trees/bushes from Welcome to Garden Bargains and received them a couple of days ago. So far i have POTTED them all with MULTI-COMPOST and BLOOD,FISH,BONE (BFB)

APPLE TREE -5ft with small buds and said to start producing fruit this year
PEAR TREE -5ft with small buds and said to start producing fruit this year
PLUM TREE -5ft with small buds and said to start producing fruit this year
CHERRY TREE -5ft with small buds and said to start producing fruit this year
APRICOT TREE -5ft with small buds and said to start producing fruit this year
ORANGE TREE -3ft and said to start producing fruit within 12 months
LEMON TREE -3ft and said to start producing fruit within 12 months
STRAWBERRIES -10 small runners
RASPBERRIES -Canes, but they buds look a bit dead at the moment
BLACKCURRANTS -45cm tall and said to start producing fruit this year
BLUEBERRIES -1ft bushes and said to start producing fruit this year


I already have the following fruit trees/bushes, but they were looked after by someone else last year. Heres their current info and from what i think i rememer of their last years harvest

2 x PEAR TREES - 5ft and 4ft both with foliage. NO FRUIT last year
STRAWBERRY PLANT - 1ft/sq with foliage and very few fruit last year.
RASPBERRY BUSH - 15in high, 10in wide with foliage and NO FRUIT last year
BLACKBERRY BUSH - 2ft/sq with foliage and NO FRUIT last year


Wow, just realised what an essay i've just wrote. Hope its not too boring and blabbery

Thanks very much,

Alex

[DavidT]

Alex, to give advice on pollination we need to know the variety of trees you have, especially the apple, pear, plum and cherry.

[DopeyAlex]

lol of course. They are:
Braeburn Apple
Conference Pear
Victoria Plum
Stella Cherry
Moorpark Apricot
Navelina Orange
Eureka Lemon

I would of throught that quite a few of these need a pollination partner, however on the site I got them from, it GUARANTEES lol that they will all start producing fruit this year, except the 2 citrus which will be within 12 months. Does this sound right to all of you???

The other main thing that im thinking about is plants foods/fertilizers for soft and top fruits. I will ask this in another topic now quickly tho.

Cheers, Alex

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Alex, they are all self fertile. Another one of our members asked if the fruit trees from that company were worth buying so I watched the video on their site and I was very impressed with the quality. However, I can't see them fruiting this year as they are newly planted but I can see them fruiting from the first year of planting (next year) - as they say on their site.

[DavidT]

Apparently they are not the easiest of apples to grow in the UK so best of luck.

[DopeyAlex]

ok thanks for the replies guys. Well wish me luck with the apples lol