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Apple Varieties North East England

koyukanokoyukano Posts: 72
in Fruit & veg
Hi, I have purchased some apple trees (M26 rootstock) and planted them in my back garden, these are Fiesta, Spartan, a Bramley Seedling and Reine des Reinnettes (king/Queen? of Pippins). I live in the North East of England, Durham to be exact and from what I have read I think these will do okay here, but I guess I would like some other peoples thoughts on this. Ideally I should have asked this question prior to purchasing I know! 

I think the Fiesta, Spartan and Bramley are all in pollination group 3 so that should be good for pollination of each other, my garden is east facing and I have planted them next to the north fance (left side of garden when looking out from my back door) so will receive sun all day long. 

Do you think these will do okay? I've also heard I should prevent any of them from trying to produce fruit this year by cutting the buds off? but I need to do more research on this as I read I need to be careful I don't cut off the full fruit bearing 'bud'. Excuse my terminology I'm writing this and am pretty sure I am not using the write terminology but cannot remember the names of each part of the tree off hand! 

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    It is easier to let it flower, and if any fruit form, pick off while young, You are less likely to damage the fruiting wood that way, snip them off with scissors.
  • koyukanokoyukano Posts: 72
    pansyface said:
    I’m sure they will be fine.
    Do you know the type of rootstock that they are grafted onto? A code on their label such as “M26” or some such?

    The Bramley, whatever the rootstock, will be the strongest grower so place that where it can flex its muscles without intimidating the others.

    Don’t fret about buds. Let them flower, if they feel inclined, and enjoy the blossom, but don’t let the flowers develop into fruit. Just rub them off with your thumb.
    Thanks for the advice both of you I will let them flower and then remove any apples that do grow in the 1st year, they are on M26 rootstocks all of them and I believe they are two year old's although look a bit small for 2 years? (not sure as these are the first apple trees we have ever planted), I did read the bramley being a Tri variety meant that they tend to be more vigorous so have put the bramley by itself, had the little one involved also which he loved! 
  • koyukanokoyukano Posts: 72
    pansyface said:
    M26, officially, gives you a mature tree of between 8 and 10 feet in height. That said, some trees are skinny little things and some are brutes, so there will be some leeway in that.

    Yes, they look like two year olds.  One year old trees, called maidens, are just a stick. Yours have little side branches so they were the second year’s growth.🙂
    Ah great glad they are actually 2 year olds and 8-10 feet sounds about what I wanted as I did not want too high trees considering I have a few of them in the garden, thanks for the info! 
  • koyukanokoyukano Posts: 72
    Will do, I had hoped that the water would just seep through the gaps in the paving over the time and then the paving would help to prevent any evaporation of water from the soil beneath it by shading the soil from the sun. However I will water regularly just in case, thanks for the advice Pansyface :-)  
  • tessagardenbarmytessagardenbarmy Posts: 346
    R V Rodgers nursery in Pickering, North Yorkshire specialise se in local, heritage fruit trees. They are great est for advice. 
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