[Maison Lammonite]

Hello. We're new on here and would like some advice. We have a new bramley original apple tree and need to know what we should plant with it to maximise pollination. It's in a large pot at the moment but will be planted somewhere in a mixed orchard with a variety of fruit trees (pears, assorted plums, cherries, a quince and a couple of old unknown type apple trees). Do we need to
plant any other apple varieties and if so, how far away? We hope someone can help.

[mumofstig]

You need another apple that flowers in mid season.

IMO your best bet would be to wait and see if your other trees do flower at the same time, you'll know in a couple of months, in time to order for next spring if you have to

[joyfull]

I have a bramley and close by have a couple of cox's and egremont russets 

[waddecar]

Bramleys are triploid and cannot pollinate anything - including themselves. Check out this list of suitable partners

http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/searchpolpartner.aspx?id=BRASEE

[Maison Lammonite]

Thank you for the replies. I think we'll watch and wait this year with a view to buying suitable cross pollinators next winter.

[jonewer]

You actually need TWO pollinators for a triploid.

Barmleys are also very vigorous trees so you might want to bear in mind that its going to be rather large (depending on the root stock) and can biennial also. Not a very good tree to grow in the garden IMHO.

If I were you, I'd get ditch the Bramley and get something more suitable. Since you're in France, consider a Cour de Boef.

[gillie]

I think that Bramleys are also tip bearers, so if you prune them you cut off all the fruit buds!

You need two pollinators because the pollen of a triploid is sterile.  If you only have one the triploid gets pollinated, but there is no fertile pollen available for the pollinator itself so it does not crop.

Having said that in most areas there are enough apple trees around for pollination not to be a problem.

We grow Howgate Wonder, an excellent cooker with very large fruit which keeps until the Spring and does not have any of the problems of a Bramley.

[SG6]

You actually need TWO pollinators for a triploid.

Incorrect.
Another single non-triploid apple flowering at the same time will pollinate the Bramley.

The "problem" is that the Bramley will not pollinate the other.
So you then need a third to pollinate the first, again assuming that the third is not a triploid.

If you already have 2, or more, apples trees that give apples then you have at least 2 types that cross pollinate. Stick the bramley in, all that will happen is that pollen from any of of the present ones will pollinate the bramley and they in turn will continue pollinating each other as they have been doing for years.

[azubah]

You actually need TWO pollinators for a triploid.

Incorrect.
Another single non-triploid apple flowering at the same time will pollinate the Bramley.

The "problem" is that the Bramley will not pollinate the other.
So you then need a third to pollinate the first, again assuming that the third is not a triploid.

Thanks SG6. You have just explained something that has puzzled me for years.

I have a bramley and a ballerina apple tree, and get a good crop from both every year.
One of the neighbours has an apple tree, and only started getting apples after I got my ballerina.

[Maison Lammonite]

Thank you for all replies

I think we'll see what happens as we have at least three apple trees