Guaranteed Fruit
7 June 2008

It is so easy for northern Ireland’s gardeners to grow a wide selection of fruit trees and bushes yet it can be the devil’s own job getting a crop fit to harvest and enjoy.

The first problem is frost. Lots of fruit such as plums, peaches and cherries flower early in the season and a light, late spring frost can destroy the blossom. Wherever possible select varieties that fruit late in the season thus avoiding spring frosts. Plant in a sheltered position protected from cold winds but not in a low lying part of the garden that becomes a frost pocket. Early morning sun from the east can damage flowers when coupled with a morning frost.

Pollination is essential for fruit and if the season is early flowers may be open before many of the pollinating insects are about.

Most varieties depend on cross pollination which requires as least two varieties. With plums the varieties ‘Czar’ and ‘Victoria’ are self pollinating. ‘Bramley Seedling’ apple requires two other apple varieties to ensure good pollination.

Dry soil conditions as the fruit is setting can cause the tiny fruit to drop off so apply a mulch of compost, farmyard manure or bark to moist soil.
Regular applications of a balanced fertilizer will ensure steady growth resulting in lots of young wood to produce the blossom. A high potash feed will improve the quality of the fruit.

Pruning is essential to encourage new growths and most fruit trees are pruned in winter with trained trees pruned in summer as well. Plums and cherries are exceptions.

Because of the risk of silver leaf disease they are pruned in summer when the disease spores are dormant with less risk of disease entering through the cut branches.

After all that you will have to net the trees and bushes to stop the birds clearing the crop before it is fully ripe.

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