In the January gales 40 metres of our wall fell down, crushing half of our espaliered apple trees. The wall has now been rebuilt and it is time to replant some trees.
We decided to go for cordons this time as to replace the matured espaliers would be very expensive, if available, and would take a long time to grow from a young tree. Bare root trees were chosen as a wider range is available, they are cheaper and are planted in the winter when they are dormant.
Cordons are single stem trees grown on wires at an angle of 45 degrees.
It is not advisable to plant a pip tree in the same place as another pip tree was, and likewise do not plant a stone tree where another stone tree was. However we are able to plant more apples (pip tree) where the other apples had been as all the soil was removed when the foundations were made for the wall to be rebuilt.
We wanted to grow mainly dessert apples as we already have two large Red Bramley and two large Blenheim Orange and two early cookers called Grenadier so we have more than enough cooking apples. All the espaliers we lost were dessert apples.
I am also keen on the more unusual so here is the list we have just planted, mostly dessert but a couple of cooker/ dual purpose which tempted me by their name or the dark foliage.
Katy, Red Devil, Surprize, Winter Gem, Christmas Pippin, Scrumptious, Herefordshire Russet, Adam’s Pearmain, Bardsey, Chivers Delight, Pitmarston Pineapple and Sops in Wine.
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