Where to plant apple trees????

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Janeymiddlewife

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Where to plant apple trees????
« on: January 29, 2010, 10:18 »
I'd love to grow 2 semi dwarf apple trees (3m max height) on my plot - the question is where?? They need to go in soonish. Obviously the rasps & asparagus and strawbs (2nd year) are fixed, brassicas can't be disturbed yet (PSB). Each row is 10 foot wide, very slight slope, hence the waterlogging in bed 1. There are no rules against trees and have mentioned it to my neighbour who didn't raise any objections - any ideas peeps?
(measurements are approximate - plot is about 10x 45, clayish but improving slowly)

Bottom end next to bed 1 is a Bramble patch about 12 foot (!) behind which new plots are being marked out at this end, turf paths up both sides (rectangular plot) and road at the other end next to flowers)
Fallow currently digging over for spuds, poor drainage in winter, ditch at this end
About 10’ wide by 8’   BED 1
BED 2  10 X 3Winter lettuce IN         mange toute last year
Runner beans last year
BED 3  10 X 4 Parsnips/beets & carrots last year
Sweetcorn/courgettes                        Pear tree – useless, no idea what type
LINKABORD1m sq raised bed
Will have herbs this year      BED 4   6X4' Asparagus x 6, 3 more to come
Autumn bliss raspberries x 12 BED 5  10 X 4
Brassicas & leeks    BED 6 10 X 6'

Broad beans  BED 7 10 X 10
Garlic & Japanese onions
(Will plant mangetoute, courgettes & sweetcorn lLater)

Rhubarb   Strawberries x 3 varieties
Dahlias/daffs/lavender along front edge
« Last Edit: January 29, 2010, 11:08 by Janeymiddlewife »

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mumofstig

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2010, 10:29 »
Preferably along an edge where they won't shade anybody else's plot ( don't want upsets).
Failing that I'd plant them spaced out across along the midline, so shade isn't cast all in one area, but don't forget the rootspread......you can't grow right up to them :(

IMO What you gain in fruit you will lose in veg..depends what you want :)

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Janeymiddlewife

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2010, 19:29 »
Thanks mum, The most obvious place would have been bed1 next to the bramble patch so as not to shade too much, but it's going to be way too boggy in the winter.
As the kids aren't too fussed about veggies, but love apples i was going with the "grow what you all like to eat" mantra, I might end up with a nice seat underneath them and a bit of grass, but less room for big crops like squash, courgettes & corn - hmmmmmmmm!!

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mumofstig

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2010, 21:14 »
Not possible to make them their own raised bed, I suppose?

You could always train the squash shoots towards the tree ....as long as the roots are not right next to it, it wont mind at all :)

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sunshineband

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2010, 22:36 »
The additional raised bed for the apples sounds a good solution  :D

Love the idea of a bench, but would you have time to sit on it Janey?  :ohmy:
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Janeymiddlewife

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2010, 22:55 »
The additional raised bed for the apples sounds a good solution  :D

Love the idea of a bench, but would you have time to sit on it Janey?  :ohmy:

Oh I have to take frequent breaks if I'm digging  ;) and always have a flask of something to hand - no, not that sort of something!!!!!  See I'm not convinced about raised beds - I still think the bottom third of the roots would be sitting in puddled clay - they're probably OK for short rooted veggies & herbs - I'm also too lazy/cash strapped/ignorant to make one (delete as appropriate although alll 3 apply  :D )

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sunshineband

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2010, 23:02 »
You are right that the ground under the raised bed could puddle, but wouldn't the ground itself puddle anyway unless you dig a big hole and fill it with non clayey soil  :unsure: :unsure:

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Fisherman

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2010, 05:48 »
You could try training them in such a way that they don't cause too much shade on your plot or perhaps even to be a wind break. If you look up how to espalier apple trees it will show you how to train them. A raised bed also sounds good to keep the trees feet out of the water but doesn't need to be anything fancy. Just a raised section of ground will do. Add bone meal when planting the trees as this will aid good root growth.

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Janeymiddlewife

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2010, 17:56 »
Thanks for your ideas, all. Tried to dig today, no way was anything getting through that soil today, even at 4 after 8 hours of sun on it - there's always next week, or the week after - meanwhile I've 15kgs of seed spuds chitting!!

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sunshineband

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Re: Where to plant apple trees????
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2010, 18:00 »
You've made me think about planting some fruit trees on our plot at school, Janey  :D

Luckily there is plenty of time  :nowink:


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