[infowarrior]

    I'm a fruit lover but don't know that much about growing fruit trees and want peoples ideas of what grows with least problems in the british climate.  Half thinking of sticking couple of fruit trees in the polytunnel maybe as I've got about nine foot vertical growing height to play with. Would I have to go with some kind of dwarf varieties?  I'm sure years ago I've seen pear trees that were more like bushes.  Could I get away with an apple tree in a polytunnel and if so, what kind?

                      Cheers.

[stompy]

Apples and pears are one of the best bets as they are native to here.

You would have to buy the variety on the correct rootstock M27 to keep it small and you would also have to prune and train it to keep it to the size and shape you require.

A good tree for the polly tunnel would be a peach or nectarine, they don't grow very well outside but under cover they do very well, you would need to hand polinate though

[arugula]

Being natives, I wouldn't have thought apples or pears need be inside. You could save the polytunnel space for peach and nectarine as stompy suggested or how about citrus? Orange, lemon?

[infowarrior]

Always thought oranges and lemons needed very warm climates to grow.  Sounds interesting, might look into those.

[stompy]

you can get oranges and lemons that have been bread to do ok in tyhis country now.

But they have to be over wintered indoors (polly tunnel/greenhouse)

[infowarrior]

   What about Kiwi fruit?  Will they grow fine in our climate??

[arugula]

I believe it originates in China, which has a variety of climatic conditions due to its size. I would say it could be worth a try.

[stompy]

I had a kiwi (jenny) for 5 years grew ok but never flowered. 

[TerryB]

Apple, Pear, Plum and Cherry all outside.
Save the space in the polly tunnel for things that need the extra heat or early and late crops.

[stompy]

Save the space in the polly tunnel for things that need the extra heat or early and late crops.

I would deffinately grow a peach or apricot inside as a fan or espalier.

You will never grow one outdoors with any reall regular success.

I have an 8ft x 12ft greenhouse and im thinking of growing a peach in there a fan at the back end with the root ball planted outside.

[aqua]

I grow peaches in my garden outside. my nectarine has produced it's first fruit this year.
apples pears plums and gages do well outside.

i wd grow tomatoes and cucumbers in a poly tunnel - if i was lucky enough to own one.

[sion01]

Whatever you grow try to make sure it flowers late or keep it out of the early morning sun as the blossom can get frosted

[infowarrior]

   Stompy, you mentioned growing peaches with a fan or espalier. What exactly are these?

[operabunny]

Figs, especially Brown Turkey, outside in a sunny position.

[lancashiregardeninggal]

Raspberries were the first fruit I ever grew and are soooooo easy and redcurrants, whitecurrants and gooseberries - all outside and don't mind not being in full-sun