[TheSpartacat]

Trying to plan what to put next to my apple tree that is going onto my plot- dont really want to waste that space... and also want to put something in that can stay there, and not disturb the tree too much...

.. was thinking rhubarb?
I know it grows ok in part shade... and presumably it will be a few years before it gets any shade from the apple tree... (its M26, and 2 years old sapling) so will that be ok?

What do you all grow under your apple trees?

[Aunt Sally]

Rhubarb is a very hungre feeder and drinker - your tree will suffer.

It's best for the tree to have nothing but some good compost mulch under it.

[TheSpartacat]

How wide a space should you leave around it Aunt Sally?

[MoRo]

Hi
Have you thought of training your tree to grow on a trellis seeing as you have limited space? You can find training tips for cordons or espaliers.
Like Aunt Sally says, you don't really want anything growing under it.