[Duracell]

I was just looking over my plans and catalogues as you do this time of year and I would really like to grow more fruit than I do. I do not have a green house, I have clay soil well worked in places and not so much as touched in others (working on it though) and lots of room for pots in the front which is a sunny wall.I live in Northumberland. I have strawberry's but that is about it. So what works well this far north without a green house apart from rhubarb LOL

[vegmandan]

I think almost everything except perhaps some fruit trees like Apples or maybe Pears which can suffer from frost damage at blossom time,but It depends how sheltered you are .

I'm up north and have had no trouble with goosegogs,raspberries,blackcurrants etc.. but have never had any success with apples.

Loads of Cherries until the birds eat them and plums too so I'd say give everything a go and I hope you have more success with apples than me.

[Trillium]

I live in a much colder north than both of you and I can honestly say that raspberries, all the currants and gooseberries, tayberries and similars, rhubarb and all fruit trees will happily grow here. The only exception would be peach trees if you've not got shelter for them against winds. As for apples, they're so cold hardy it isn't funny so I'm surprised you've no luck with them. Best thing is to visit a local garden centre that carries fruit trees and ask which apple varieties do well in your area. It might be only a few, but a few is better than none. As for cherries, I get too many birds here to bother.
I grow peach trees in a sheltered area of my garden close to the house, but they are varieties that can handle the winter cold of my area. I'd LOVE to have the white peaches but they don't stand a chance here outside of a heated greenhouse. To compensate, I'm hoping to soon get cranberries and new blueberry plants.

[Yorkie]

On the subject of apples, steer clear of Coxes.  They don't suit the north at all.

[Goosegirl]

I live in the north too but not as far up as you and also on the west coast, hence lots of sea breezes!!! I'm going to get some fruit trees this year for a mini orchard I hope to make. I remember seeing fruit catalogues from specialist suppliers like Ken Muir (I forget the other one) and they often state in their descriptions which fruits like / don't like certain weather / site / soil conditions. Might be worth getting a couple of catalogues and having a peruse. Trees are not cheap at the best of times and it would be a shame to get the wrong one. 

[treacleminer]

I'm going to get some fruit trees this year for a mini orchard I hope to make.  

Hi Goosegirl - did you know that Sizergh Castle (NT) has an orchard with a lot of traditional fruit trees from the area?
Duracell - loads of the supermarket raspberries and strawberries are grown in the NE of Scotland - don't know what the soils like there though.

Janet

[realfood]

In Glasgow, I grow most soft fruits and top fruits outside. It is simpler to say what is difficult! Blueberry and Cranberry require an acid soil. Grapes, Kiwi and Pepino require a greenhouse.
For the top fruits, Apples are a problem due to Canker in the damp and cold conditions.
Apricots, Nectarines and Peaches require a Greenhouse or a very sheltered sunny position.

[Duracell]

Hmm, well i was thinking blueberrys but a container suitable variety for the front. I remember seeing quite a decorative one in the Marshals catalogue. I think I may try and find some space for blackberrys and some currents too. I dont have loads of space though so I try not to plant things that dont have a good chance of survival/good cropping.

Thank you for all the reply I feel more confident to give it a go now.

[greg.t]

hi, concord are a good apple to try well suited to our northern climate. l would look up some local nurserys and ask what does best..good hunting..

[Christine]

Hi - I'm in Northumberland. We've got strawberries, raspberries and tayberries.

We've also got a Victoria Plum, a crab apple, a Beurre Hardy pear, a Kidmans Red for eating (yep Cox's Orange no good up here) and a Howgate Wonder apple for cooking (it's a lovely apple and better than Bramley for up here).

We were advised by a private garden centre locally where the green fingered owner had been an allotment holder for over 40 years. Experience counted and we have been pleased with the results.

I know you can get small fruit trees for containers but the results seem to be very mixed - good and bad.

[Duracell]

Where abouts did you get the fruit trees that gave such great advice?

[Christine]

From Here

Bloke did say he wanted to retire in December so may not still be there. I've not had reason to go plant buying since early last year. If the weather ever improves this spring we may well drop passed to see who is there.