[Under The Hill]

I would like to plant some dwarf fruit trees on my plot, apparently I am allowed to as long as they are M27 dwarf.  I would like a plum, sweet desert apple and pear tree, has anyone got any tips of good trees that grow well in the south of England, in quite an exposed site.   And any good tips on where to buy also.  I have just started looking at there are so many to choose from!!!!

[Yorkie]

The rootstock names vary according to the type of fruit - it's not one label for one size for all.

I'd look for a local supplier to you and have a chat with them - they will know what grows well in your conditions.

[4 Seasons]

If you are only growing one of each then you need to make sure they are all self fertile.

1/ Old green gage (sweetest plum ever)
2/ Kid's Orange Red (great taste and will do exceptionally well where you are but you will need a polinator)
3/ Concorde (compact tree and much prefer it to others but not sure if it is self fertile, Conference is).

Look up  RV Roger on google for a good information bank and a wide selection. They will give you good advise over the phone too.

[Middlesexbloke]

Hiya

Had some very good crops this year from my dwarf fruit trees. They are in their second year in the ground on my plot. The plum is a greengage (Old Greengage), on Pixy rootstock. Had 12 fruit but absolutely delicious! The apple I have is Laxton's Superb, on M26 rootstock, which had a decent crop but most got eaten by foxes and rats, the ones I managed to harvest were very good. Sweet, crisp and juicy. Have one Concorde pear and one Conference pear, on Quince C rootstocks. They each ripened about 20 good sized fruit, very nice. Rats/foxes got some if those, too, so am going to have to think up ways of protecting the crop next year. I got my pear trees from B&Q (2 for £25), the apple and greengage at a garden centre. There are lots of good online fruit tree vendors, have heard Ken Muir and Chris Bowers are good. Hope that helps 

[Kristen]

If you are only growing one of each then you need to make sure they are all self fertile.

I think that "self fertile" in most fruit trees is a misnomer as even self fertile varieties pollinate better, produce heavier crops, are less prone to biennial fruiting and, some say, produce better tasting fruit if cross pollinated.

If there are other fruit trees on the allotment, or a crab apple nearby (for Apples, Natch!), then I would expect that pollination wouldn't be a problem and thus worth choosing varieties of personal preference (taste you like and suitability for the soil / local conditions)