Suitable place for fruit?
CThreap
Posts: 5
I live in a traditional Victorian terrace with a typical kitchen extension at the back. I am considering planting fruit espaliers in the side recess space between my kitchen window and the garden dividing wall. The space measures approximately 3 ft wide and 12 ft long. I'd be planting in pots on an east facing wall but of course the area is shaded by two story walls on the north, east and west aspects. However the opening to the rest of the garden is south facing and sunny and I have planted sweet peas there before with great success.
Would it be totally crazy to plant and fruit espaliers there? Is there any chance of success? Could anyone suggest any particular varieties of apple/pear/cherry (or anything else) that might do well? I rent my house and would ideally like something that would crop in a year or two. I already have garden wire on the wall so set up would be minimal.
Advice would be most welcome, I am a reasonably experienced gardener but a newbie when it comes to fruit and veg.
Posts
fruit trees need as much sunlight (as in direct sunlight) you can give them.
plus espaliers can be quite wide (up to 3 feet wide before the summer prune) so they might fill the space up so much you can't get down it!
how about fruit bush cordons? gooseberries, and the different currants do well in shade and grow well in pots.
Hi treehugger80
Thanks for your response. Glad to find this out before I have to hack my way through espaliers to get out of my back door! I hadn't thought about gooseberries or currants. I don't tend to eat them so will have to pick some up at the supermarket to see if they are something I would like to grow. Crumbles and jellies and lots of other options! I have six pots (65 x 25 cm and 25 cm deep). Would these be deep enough for fruit bush cordons? I presume one cordon per pot?
Thanks
I would do one cordon per pot,
you can also do layers of old gutters with holes in the bottom for strawberries on the wall as well.
Great thanks, I'll give it a try!