Next week: Focus on early spuds, check on cold frames, harvest winter-hardy salads and good heated propagator options to try.
ANY fruit tree is a 30-year investment, so what are the key points to consider? Taste should be the overriding factor. There’s noticeable variation between varieties of apple, pear, plum, fig and gage; less so between cherries, apricots, peaches and nectarines. Autumn tasting days offer first-hand experiences, but recommendations are valuable.
Consider where the tree will go. Is a semi-shaded spot your only option? Sugar-rich fruits such as figs, gages and peaches need full sun, whereas acid (cooking) cherries will grow in shade. Avoid frost ‘pockets’ for early flowerers such as almonds, peaches and pears.
Some apples (such as ‘Court Pendu Plat’) flower
