Did you know autumn is the perfect time to plant fruit trees? The earth is still warm from the summer sun and generally very moist from the damp autumnal atmosphere. Planting now gives the roots of a young tree time to settle and become established before the spring stimulates new top growth. So if you want to look forward to a lovely crop of apples next year begin planting now! 

Most apple trees are pretty in shape and the Cox’s Orange Pippin is a good example. Its fruit is still considered the most flavoursome apple in the world.

Greengage trees certainly need the winter months to settle in. The ideal time to plant them time is late September through to November. They can take a little coaxing to fruit. However, once they are established and providing you plant them in a southerly aspect, you will be well rewarded. You will also find the fruit is very sweet and a far cry from the hard tasteless greengages offered to us at today’s supermarkets!  

Damson trees are another delight in the garden especially if you enjoy making jam! Did you know they originate from Damascus in Syria? Hence its older name “Damascene plum’. They like full sun, a sheltered position and good drainage. Other than that they very much fend for themselves and only need pruning if you need to keep them to a certain size.  

There so many varieties of fruit trees available that you would be wise to do a little research before deciding which is best for your garden and your pocket. Pop in to talk to one of our horticultural experts at our Titchfield Garden Centre