[wbmkk]

I want some fruit for my new allotment. I'll probably get a Bramley Seedling apple (for yummy crumbles), some blackberries and raspberries. The blackberries will really just be put against the rear fence on my plot, to act as a bit of a wind break.

I visited a local nursery and to say the fruit tree selection was pretty poor is an understatement. I would probably be better off buying from the supermarket, one of those £5 trees from the likes of Aldi etc.

However, there must be reliable online tree suppliers that offer a decent product, for a fair price.

Which companies to folk here recommend please.

thank you

[J_B]

i got a couple of bare root trees one plm and one pear from www.gardenbargains.com/   but if u search the forum there are other companies who have been suggested as well

[Annen]

I quite often go with Blackmoor Nurseries but they lost thousands of trees last week in the gales, so I don't know how they are doing.

[AnneB]

My favourite is R.V. Roger at Pickering.  They have a huge selection.   We have had redcurrants, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and cranberry from them.  All were very good quality and the customer service is good.

[allotmentann]

Mailordertrees are excellent.   

[carlotta]

Another vote for Blackmores!

[Gardener and Rabbit]

Blackmoor Nurseries and Ashridge Trees were both excellent for bare-root trees when we planted our cordons. They both replaced a tree that failed to take without any problems too.

[RichardA]

Ken Muir have never let me down. Good advice on the webpages and good choice, excellent trees, bushes and plants and well packaged.
R

[Yorkie]

I'm a great believer in using a company that has the best chance of knowing your local conditions.

Therefore I'd agree with R V Roger of Pickering.

[wasthiswise]

Another vote for RV Roger. An immense range of varieties too.

[jonewer]

I want some fruit for my new allotment. I'll probably get a Bramley Seedling apple (for yummy crumbles), some blackberries and raspberries. The blackberries will really just be put against the rear fence on my plot, to act as a bit of a wind break.

I visited a local nursery and to say the fruit tree selection was pretty poor is an understatement. I would probably be better off buying from the supermarket, one of those £5 trees from the likes of Aldi etc.

However, there must be reliable online tree suppliers that offer a decent product, for a fair price.

Which companies to folk here recommend please.

thank you

I would advise very strongly against planting a Bramley. Yes, it is a good cooker and a very fine apple with no mean heritage credentials (the original tree is still alive, around 200 years old!) but it has a number of serious drawbacks on allotments and in gardens.

It is an extremely vigorous triploid which can tend grow to a ludicrous size, even on dwarf root stocks and doesnt pollinate other trees.

It is a veritable scab magnet so unless you are prepared to spray with a fungicide regularly, be prepared for a crop of scabby apples.

It is also a tip bearer, which means pruning needs to be judicious and attempts to limit the size by pruning will result in no apples the next year.

Plus, you can buy Bramley at just about any time of the year from any supermarket. Why not grow something you won't find in the shops?

There are many other good cookers out there but also ask if a cooker is really what you need. How much do you actually cook with apples? Would not a dual-purpose cooker/eater better suit your needs?

Look into Peasgood Nonsuch, Orleans Reinette, Rev. Wilks, and Blenheim Orange. Leave the Bramleys to the professionals, they are not an easy variety to grow.

[Yorkie]

Some good points there, jon