Best Apples and Pears for Espalier?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Kristen, Nov 6, 2012.

  1. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I want to make an espalier of Apples and Pears. I know nothing about training or pruning fruit trees, but I've read a bit about it and gather than tip-producers are not suitable.

    I also went to an Apple Day and did some tasting; I wrote down a few that I didn't like the taste off ...

    So here's my short list, but I'd like to hear of Apple and Pear varieties that folk have/would like to have in their gardens pls - preferably ones that are suitable for Espalier, but just knowing peoples preferences, and the ones you hate, would be helpful.

    Apples:
    Adams Pearmain
    Beauty of Bath
    Blenheim Orange RHS=AGM partial tip-bearer
    Braeburn
    Clopton Red (local and of geographic interest to me :) )
    Claygate Pearmain RHS=AGM
    Crispin
    Discovery
    Granny Smith ? (Tip bearer)
    Harling Hero ? (Bit tasteless)
    Kidd's Orange Red ? Taste="OK" RHS=AGM "Very reliable and heavy cropping.fruit prone to coarse russet"
    Laxtons Fortune (RHS=AGM "The best autumn dessert apple")
    Lynns Pippin
    Merton Worcester ?? (Tart, not sure)
    Red Falstaff
    Redsleeves
    Rosette
    Sunset (on M29) "does best as at trained form, and fruits relatively early" RHS=AGM "Very reliable and heavy cropping"
    Tydemans Late Orange
    Winter Peach
    Worcester Pearmain RHS=AGM Tip bearer

    Pears:
    Beth (on QA) RHS=AGM "Heavy, regular crops."
    Catillac RHS=AGM Cooker only
    Concorde RHS=AGM "Heavy, regular crops"
    Conference RHS=AGM "Heavy, regular crops"
    Humbug
    Sensation
    Williams Bon Chretien RHS=AGM "Good regular crops"
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Going on from my Apple Espalier thread:
    http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/apple-recommendations-please.46726/

    I went to the Wisley Tasting day and sampled a few and after tallking to their staff about pollination groups and spreading the harvest/storage period I ended up ordering Egremont Russet, James Grieve & Fiesta.

    I'm collecting mine this coming weekend from:
    http://www.familytreesnursery.co.uk/

    They seem very helpful over the phone, I'll report back what the nursery was like after my visit. Maybe it's a bit far for you, but they do mail order too.

    You could add a Cooker to your list, "Bramley 20" is on the RHS list.
     
  3. Jenny namaste

    Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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    I love Crispin. Not widely grown or known but is crisp with a strong pineapple perfume. Bears rather large fruit but cooks and stores well for an English apple,
    Jenny
     
  4. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Thanks John. I am planning to get mine from AshridgeTrees - I buy a lot of plants (Trees / hedge plants) from them each year and have always been impressed with the quality, and they do a large range of Apples / Pears - £15 each for bare-rooted Maidens (much the same as your nursery [catalogue says £12-15] I think John)
     
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