[Dawnuss]

I have always wanted some fruit trees in my garden but haven't really got the sort of garden for full size fruit trees. Anyone have mini orchards that could tell me a little about them.

[tosca100]

I have a few dwarf fruit trees in pots, Valentine pressies over a few years. Apple, plum and cherry. We have had a few apples but last year we went away in May for two weeks and had no-one to water them and no rain, (though we had some humdinger storms in Crete!) so although they set fruit, they all fell. We are hoping for more this year. They need to be self-fertile though.

[Ice]

Buy trees that are on a dwarfing rootstock and they shouldn't get taller than about six foot when fully mature.

[Aunt Sally]

As Ice said - M9 or M27 rootstock.

There might be some helpful infotmation here for you:

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2a_apple.asp

[Dawnuss]

http://www.gardenbargains.com/item-500532/bumper-mini-orchard-collection-5-trees.htm

I was looking at this offer. Any good??

[carlrmj]

I bought 8 trees from garden bargains last year,It was 4 for 29.99 or 8 for 39.99.

I had 2 morello cherry,2 braeburn apple,2 conference pear and 2 victoria plum.

They are on M9 rootstock(very dwarfing) and are not supposed to grow higher than about 7ft.

They are about 6ft tall now

Didn't plant till february last year,had 4 pears,all flowering now so hopefully a lot more

this year 

[Trillium]

If you're truly strapped for space, do espalier trees along a fence or back/side of a garage or shed. There are loads of tutorials on youtube and they're quite easy to do.

[Auntiemogs]

D.T.Brown still have a few left at half price.  Mine arrived today and they are lovely trees! 
http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/search/patio+tree/1

[sunshineband]

http://www.gardenbargains.com/item-500532/bumper-mini-orchard-collection-5-trees.htm

I was looking at this offer. Any good??

Looks good, and if those are fruits you want, not a bad price either. reputable company imho too

[WebSiteEvo]

You could try the concept of Forest gardening: http://www.agroforestry.co.uk/forgndg.html Its working very well for me over the last few years in quite a small space.

[Dawnuss]

Thankyou everyone very useful advice 

[Babycat]

have an apple, pear, plum and cherry.  Mine grow in massive tubs and this is year three and they finally looks settled so dont expect a fruit salad in the first year.

My uncle thinks I have done it wrong (he is a fruit farmer) and that I should have bought 'couples' rather than one of each.

Will keep you posted on fruit this year - plum is looking promising so far.

I also have a 8 year old fig in a pot that yields about 10-15 fruits each year.

x BB