Really helpful, thank you! I’m hoping to plant an orchard in county cork, in the south of Ireland this winter. Have work to do to clear dreaded brambles from the site and put in a windbreak from the easterlies, natural hedge protects from the prevailing southwesterlies already. Videos like this so inspiring and instructive!
I'm a city person, but I'm doing quite well for myself so considering moving. I'm 25 and plan to buy my own property mortgage free in the following few years. One thing I've always wanted to do is own an orchard. I'm planning to buy a small field and fill it with dwarf fruit trees. Apples, pears, plums. I'm planning to also grow pink lemonade blueberries. Surprize are my favorite variety of apple.
If you don't mind sharing with the birds, I would add some other fruit bushes. Or, if you have an allotment near you, offer to help one of the older gardeners with some groundwork over the winter. They will gladly let you take some cutting or scion wood for help shifting a few barrows of manure, say. Esp if they are getting on in years. Even just take a walk around and chat to the people there. They will be happy to talk away about what they are growing and how to grow it in your area. And hey, there's worse ways to spend a hr or two on a nice evening. Best of luck with your project, I hope it works out for you.
Hi, lovely vid, thanks…we have an offer of some 15 yr old apple and pear trees that are no longer wanted…the trees are to be dug out by a digger..any tips to ensure success here? Thanks
Wonderful video Wade. Could you possibly offer some advice? I have a North facing site that is quite exposed and clayey in Cheshire. I want dwarf apples, pears and plums. Would I need to put down multi-purpose soil and if so how deep and wide per tree? Though you say try to select local varieties, what root stock would you suggest? Best regards, Steve
From Wade: For small trees I would advocate either MM106 or M26 as being a good choice of rootstock for apples. I prefer pears on pyrus rather than quince rootstock but they are more vigorous. Many of my apples are on M111 which is more vigorous but has good anchorage on exposed sites. I would not enrich the soil as it merely creates a contrast between the initial planting hole and the surrounding soil that the tree will ultimately have to grow in, Bare rooted trees are always preferable to potted ones for this reason, in that the roots can be reluctant to leave the enriched compost of the pot and get into the wider soil. My site is heavy clay and the apples and pears do really well, hold moisture well in dry spells. There’s a good list of Cheshire varieties so check out some of the local ones as well as regular favourites.Most importantly enjoy it…. having an orchard is a beautiful thing.
Reply from Wade Muggleton, who's orchard it is: “A few are but most are on M111, the orchard is very exposed and 600ft above sea level and as M111 is supposed to be very good for anchorage we opted for that on the majority of the apples”
Ur area looks very cold everytime i watch ur videos winds alway blowing, i live in zone 4 n its hards to plant fruit trees here i have been struggling with fruit trees such as apples and asian pears i dont know if my new cherries will do any good this yr.
Hi, in all your videos the music is way too loud and the volume of the spoken parts is too low. Could the audio in your future videos please please be more balanced?
Hmmm, this strikes me as nothing more than just organic. If you’re looking for something much more inspired. y the principles of permaculture, I recommend Stefan Sobkowiak of Miracle Farms.