| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| tahir |
ApricotsGorgeous trees, at every stage. The older varieties have been MUCH better than the new "cot" varieties. Alfred and Moorpark have both done well, no crop off Lilicot, Flavorcot or Tomcot, and the trees aren't as vigorous either. The only thing to watch with them is that branches are very brittle so you need to concentrate on formative pruning a bit better than we did. |
| mousjoos |
Any advice on pruning a "mature" tree?
We've had 1 , let's say, god crop in 7 years & for the rest, little or nothing. Added to this I've no idea how a good, healthy productive tree should look....& is there any form of annual "maintenance? |
| tahir |
Well, our orchard advisor reckons that apricot pruning should be limited to pruning out any dieback and crossing branches.
Justin Brookes (1930s/40s commercial fruit grower) reckoned to prune as much as a thinning mechanism as anything else as soon after fruit set as possible. He advised removing the ends of branches which I guess I'd agree with as it reduces the stresses on branches, we've had some spectacular branch failures. |
| Mary-Jane |
I would love to have a couple of apricot trees. Which type would you recommend as a good basic (nothing fancy) for a complete novice Tahir? |
| tahir |
Don't know how well they'd do in wet Wales but I'd definitely go for the older ones, thinner skinned, larger, more flavour. Before supermarkets intervened. Any of:
Alfred Early Moorpark Blenheim Moorpark |
| Mary-Jane |
Our soil isn't water-logged at all...in spite of the weather. Our biggest problem is the wind.
Is there a place to order them on-line, or would you recommend going to a garden centre? |
| tahir |
I like Reads:
www.readsnursery.co.uk I've had very few failures from them, and they played a big part in preserving the Rivers collection. But www.keepers-nursery.co.uk are good too. |
| Mary-Jane |
Lovely.  Thanks very much Tahir.
One more question. Is it 'best' to plant fruit trees in the Autumn? I have in the back of my mind from somewhere that this is the case. |
| tahir |
Winter (any time between late Nov-Mar), so go for bare rooted trees. |
| lottie |
I'd love a couple of apricots but decided when buying fruit trees that even in a sheltered-ish spot I'd be throwing my money away up here  ---if you get them to survive and fruit M.J. please let us know.
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| tahir |
I wish I had some pics to post of how beautiful they look. |
| tahir |
Not brilliant but here's a few pics, the trees are taken in May and the fruits were our first harvest in August. I took a camera up there the day we harvested but it had no battery
Click to see full size image 
Click to see full size image 
Click to see full size image 
Click to see full size image |
| lottie |
Impressive ----wish they'd grow here
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| VM |
Could you grow them in a greenhouse, do you think? We have a vine in our polytunnel which is doing nicely, and have plans to either have another vine or something else trained against back of greenhouse, facing south. I would love an apricot. But don't think any point trying them outdoors up here. Our allotment site is very exposed - plenty of sun (as much as you get in Manchester, anyway) but also plenty of wind. |
| lottie |
I've got a vine in a greenhouse and a fig tree in the only small sheltered corner---been picking both this morning . Apples and plums are fine here but pears struggle so apricots are no go---unless I splurged my hatching egg profits on a big polytunnel---that'd solve the rabbit and apricot problem in one go.
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