Chris Bowers & Sons

🌬️❄️ Winter is here!

Protect your fruit trees like a pro with these frost-fighting tips:

1. Mulch around the base 🍃
2. Cover young trees with burlap or blankets 🛌
3. Water the soil before a frost to retain heat 💦

Shield your orchard from the chill! 🌳🍎

🍏 Embrace the magic of winter and plant the seeds of change! Now is the ideal time of year to cultivate your own fruit tree. 🌳

✨ Early winter planting won’t only set the stage for a fruitful future, but it will also contribute to a healthier planet.

Let's help the environment together... 🌱

🌱🍎 Did you know that now is the perfect time to turn your small garden or balcony into a fruitful haven?🏡✨

Early winter is prime for planting, and the good news is, whether your space is large or on the cozy side, there's a fruit tree waiting to blossom just for you. 🌳💚

Thanks to modern varieties, you can find sizes that suit any spot, from easy-to-manage small trees to more standard beauties. 🍏🍐

At Chris Bowers and Sons, we have over 700 different varieties of trees and bushes, making us your go-to for turning your space into a fruitful wonderland. 🌈🌿

What fruit tree would you love to see in your garden? 🤔🍇 Let us know in the comments!

🎄✨ Only 2 weeks until Christmas! 🎁

Why not sprinkle some festive enchantment in your garden with a gift that keeps on giving? A beautiful fruit tree from our nursery! 🌳

"🌳🌿 Exciting news! Our brand-new wholesale catalogue is here! 📜🍏

Request your copy now by emailing us at [email protected]

Please note that this catalogue is for orders of 50+ trees.

Elevate your orchard with quality and variety from Chris Bowers & Sons! 🍎🍐

🎄✨ The Christmas countdown is on! 🎁

🍎 Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever surprised your loved ones with a fruit tree from our nursery – a unique present that blossoms into a lifetime of sweetness! 🌟🍐

🌳✂️ December to-do: Prune and prosper! 🍇✨

Trim your way to a fruitful future with our top pruning tips: ⬇️

1. Remove dead or diseased branches 🍂
2. Shape for sunlight pe*******on 🌞
3. Maintain an open center for air circulation.

Happy pruning! 🌳🍎

🍎 When it comes to the sale of fruit trees, trust the legacy of Chris Bowers & Sons – cultivating excellence for over 30 years! 🌱

Unlike others, our trees are nurtured from root to crown right here on our grounds, not bought in. 🌿

Our commitment to quality is rooted in decades of expertise, ensuring your investment in fruit trees is a gift that keeps on giving. 🌍

🌳 Plant with confidence and watch purchases flourish for years to come. 🌈🍐

Thank you to Irene for her lovely comments regarding her experience purchasing fruit trees from us 🤩👏🏼

Did you know that we have a range of expert growing guides on our website to help you get the best out of your purchases from us? ✅ 🌱

Check them out now over at www.chrisbowers.co.uk 📲

Our step by step guide on how to take care of your bare root purchases this season! 💚 🍂

➡️ Selection: Choose a healthy bare root plant, often available during the dormant season (late fall to early spring) when the plant is not actively growing.

➡️ Preparation: Before planting, soak the bare roots in water for a few hours to rehydrate them. This ensures the plant is adequately hydrated for the planting process.

➡️ Dig a hole in the planting area, making it large enough to accommodate the spread of the roots when they are extended.

➡️ Planting: Gently spread the roots out in the hole and position the plant at the appropriate depth. The crown of the plant (the point where the roots meet the stem) should be level with the soil surface.

➡️ Backfill: Replace the soil around the roots, tamping it down to remove air pockets. Water the plant thoroughly to help settle the soil and ensure good root-to-soil contact.

➡️ Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

➡️ Protection: Protect bare root plants from extreme weather conditions, such as frost or harsh winds, especially during their initial growth stages. Use temporary measures like frost cloth or barriers when necessary.

➡️ Regular Monitoring: Keep a close eye on your bare root plants for signs of stress, pests, or diseases. Promptly address any issues to ensure the plant's health and vitality.

➡️ Maintenance: As the plant grows, continue to provide appropriate care, including regular watering, mulching, and periodic pruning as needed.

➡️ Patience: Understand that bare root plants may take some time to establish themselves fully. Be patient, and give them the time and care they need to thrive!

🛒 🌱 Shop our range of bare root stock on our website today - www.chrisbowers.co.uk

Bare root planting is a method of planting trees, shrubs, or other plants without soil surrounding their roots. 🪴

Instead of being potted in containers with soil, the plants are sold with their roots exposed. 👀

Bare root planting offers several advantages, including cost savings (as there's no container to pay for), easier transportation and handling, and the ability to inspect the roots for health. It's commonly used for fruit trees, roses, and deciduous shrubs. However, it's essential to plant bare root stock promptly after purchase to prevent the roots from drying out.

This planting method is particularly effective for establishing healthy plants that can thrive in their new environment when done correctly. ✅

The best time to plant bare root stock typically falls during the dormant season, which is late autumn to early spring. The exact timing can vary depending on the specific type of plant you're working with, so make sure to double check the plant’s description before you buy. 🍃 🍂

Have you purchased any bare root stock to plant this year? 🤔

You can shop our range of bare root stock on our website today - www.chrisbowers.co.uk

On this Remembrance Day, we honor the brave souls who sacrificed so much for our country, defending our freedoms and way of life.

Let us remember and pay tribute to their unwavering dedication today, and continue to pray for a peaceful future.

🌳🌟 Ready to explore our online world of fruit tree wonders? 🍐🍎

Head over to our website today and discover a cornucopia of fruit tree & bush varieties, along with a host of expert tips and growing guides!

Let's grow together. 🌿👩‍🌾

www.chrisbowers.co.uk

Thank you Mark for your fantastic feedback on our fruit trees. 🤩👏🏼

Fruit trees make the perfect gift, as they’re not only a thoughtful present but also come with the promise of multiple harvests - a gift that keeps on giving for years to come!

Have you ever gifted one of our products before?

Browse our extensive collection of fruit trees and bushes over on www.chrisbowers.co.uk today! 📲

🔥✨ Get ready to light up your Bonfire Night with a classic treat that's as sweet as the festivities themselves! 🍎✨

Try our perfect Toffee Apple recipe – crisp, juicy apples covered in a rich, sweet toffee glaze. Follow these simple steps to create your own Bonfire Night sensation:

1. Select your favourite apples – the crisper, the better! We recommend using Granny Smith apples for a tartier taste, which are available to purchase on our website if you fancy growing your own crop!

2. Insert wooden sticks into the apples for easy handling.

3. Prepare the toffee mixture by melting sugar, water, and a dash of vinegar.

4. Dip each apple into the toffee, swirling to coat evenly.

5. Allow them to cool on parchment paper until the toffee hardens.

Voilà! You've got the perfect toffee apples for your Bonfire Night celebration. 🔥🍏

Let us know your plans for Bonfire Night in the comments! 🎆🍂

John and Steve, the joint owners of Chris Bowers and Sons at Whispering Trees Nursery advise that the best time to pick fruit for storage is before they are fully ripe! 👍🏼 🌟

“With correct storage they should last right through until after Christmas,” says John.

“The secret is regular checking to remove any that have started to deteriorate and to eat those that are reaching full ripeness.”

Do you pick your fruit before it’s ripe? Let us know in the comments! ⬇️ 🤔

www.chrisbowers.co.uk

🎃🍂 Happy Halloween from our Fruitful Orchard to yours!

No tricks, just the sweetest treats that Mother Nature can offer. Wishing you a spook-tacular day filled with fruity delights! 🌳👻

www.chrisbowers.co.uk

🍎🌳 Harvesting the Sweet Fruits of Your Labour is Only Half the Joy! Proper Storage is Key. 📦

From the orchard to your kitchen, follow The Whispering Trees storage plan to keep your fruits fresh, juicy, and bursting with flavour for longer. 👇🏼

💫 Apples, both dessert and cooking, should be picked before fully ripe and individually wrapped in clean paper bags, newspaper or kitchen roll.

💫 Lay them out in a cardboard, wooden or plastic box, spaced out to ensure a good flow of air.

💫 They must not be touching.

💫 Pears do not need to be wrapped and they mature more rapidly than apples.

💫 Do not mix different fruits in the same storage container.

💫 Keep away from onions and other strong smelling substances.

💫 Check regularly and remove diseased fruits.

💫 Keep in a dark, dry and frost free area.

Do you have any top storage tips? Let us know in the comments if you do! 💬👇🏼

www.chrisbowers.co.uk

With harvest season in full swing, we thought we’d share with you some of our favourite picks this season! 💚🍂

All available to purchase now on our website - www.chrisbowers.co.uk 💻

🍎 Falstaff Apple 🍎
One of the latest new varieties from East Malling Institute of Research, raised from a cross between James Grieve and Golden Delicious. The Falstaff is a very high yielding apple, with high quality fruits for picking and eating from October onwards and storing well. It provides beautiful golden yellow fruits, with a red flush and a juicy, crisp, sweet flavour. Falstaff is superb for pollinating other varieties, particularly Cox and Cox-type apples. The blossom has frost resistance and the tree is relatively compact and easy to grow and prune. The medium sized fruits have a Jonagold appearance and a similar flavour.

🍐 Packhams Triumph Pear Trees 🍐
For harvesting mid October and eating in November and December. A most beautiful clear yellow pear, ripening with an orange flush. Outstanding for flavour, the sweet, juicy, tender flesh simply melts away. Compact, upright growth.

⚜️Quince Patio Gold⚜️

An invaluable smaller growing Quince which is new to our nursery this year. Perfect to grow in containers, it thrives in a 20-25 litre capacity container bearing medium-large downy golden yellow aromatic fruits blessed with that indescribably unique flavour that only the Quince has. Doubling as an ornamental tree as well as a productive tree, with it's beautiful soft pink blossom, another feature of this variety being the ochre gold Autumn leaf colour which really shines in the fall sunshine. If you haven't thought about trying a Quince before, try this one. Patio Gold - remember the name, it won't disappoint!

🍂 Embrace the Winter Chill and Keep Your Fruit Trees Thriving! ❄️

Taking care of your fruit trees during the cold and windy weather is crucial to ensure a healthy harvest.

We’re here to help weather the storm and give you some top tips on how you can protect your fruit trees in such conditions!

1️⃣ Pruning and Thinning:

🌳 Prune any dead or diseased branches during the dormant season. This helps improve air circulation and reduces the risk of disease.

🌳 Thin out the tree's canopy to prevent wind resistance. This can reduce the risk of branch breakage during strong winds.

2️⃣ Wrap the Trunk:

🌳For young or newly planted trees, wrap the trunk with a tree wrap or burlap to protect against frost and windburn.

3️⃣ Provide Windbreaks:

🌳Plant windbreaks or install temporary wind barriers to shield your fruit trees from strong winds. This can be especially important in windy areas.

Remember that different fruit tree varieties have specific requirements, so it's essential to research and understand the needs of the specific types of fruit trees you are growing. You can find detailed growing guides and descriptions on our website for every variety that we offer! 💻🌟

www.chrisbowers.co.uk

To celebrate Apple Day we thought we’d share you with you the rather strange history of a well-known apple…🍎

Dating back 140 years, the ‘Bloody Ploughman’ apple has a rather macabre background.

The name, is taken from a poacher who was shot attempting to steal a bag of apples! 🍎 🍏

His widow, in despair, threw the apples onto a rubbish heap and from the seeds grew the ‘Bloody Ploughman’ with its striking red appearance and crisp, clean interior.

The flavour of this particular apple is semi-sweet and suits both fresh eating and cooking. It’s season is from September to November. 🍂

You can purchase this and other varieties included in our ‘Heritage Collection’ today via our website - www.chrisbowers.co.uk

Selected here at Whispering Trees, ‘Black Lady’ has been chosen for its close-jointed compact habit, fast-track fruiting, and outstandingly beautiful lobed foliage. 🤩

When grown in a 24" container, Black Lady has truly thrived and regularly reaches fruiting age in just 5 years - that's significantly less than other Black Mulberries!

The fruits are great for simmering and serving with vanilla ice cream, they also make a delicious jam packed with taste and can even be made into pies. 🥧 😋

Black Lady is a very distinct new variety of Black Mulberry that we highly recommend! 🌟

Order yours today at www.chrisbowers.com 📦📲

Thank you Shell for leaving us such great feedback on your recent purchase of our fruit trees. 🤩👏🏼

Did you know that we have in depth product descriptions and growing guides on our website to help you get the best out of your purchases? ✅ 🌱

Browse our extensive collection on www.chrisbowers.co.uk today! 📲

📦 To ensure your trees arrive in perfect condition from us, we use natural materials such as straw (which many customers like to use as a mulch afterwards), bamboo, paper and cardboard to pack up your orders! ♻️

We try to limit the use of plastic as much as we possibly can in order to meet the benchmark in responsible packaging and remain as environmentally friendly as possible! 🌳🌱

Have you placed an order with us lately? If so, let us know what you’ve purchased in the comments below! ⬇️ 📦

www.chrisbowers.co.uk

Growing your fruit in a container? 🪴🍐

💫 Here are our top 3 tips for success:

1️⃣ Choose the right size container: plant in a 20-litre container and use a loam based compost, such as John Innes No 3. Make sure to water well after planting!

2️⃣ Don’t forget to feed: Use a slow release fertiliser that can be pushed into the compost or alternatively use a seaweed based foliar feed that should be applied every 3 - 4 weeks in the
growing season.

3️⃣ Water right: Water at the base of the tree every day when it is warm and dry or every 2-3 days otherwise. Don’t water between October and March though!

Do you have any other top tips for growing fruit in a pot or container? Let us know in the comments below ⬇️ 🤩

Do you want to grow your own fruit but have a garden or outdoor space that’s on the smaller side? 🤔

Well, we have a solution for you!

The below varieties are ✨PERFECT✨ for growing in a container! 🪴

Browse our full range of pot-perfect plants over on our website today - www.chrisbowers.co.uk 🌱 👀

As the leaves start to fall, so does the fruit! 🍂

Make sure to get out into the garden regularly this month and check for any fallen fruit that is starting to rot on the garden floor 🌳 🍏

Be quick to remove it so that you don’t attract any pests, and so that any harmful bacteria doesn’t spread to the rest of your garden! 🪰

www.chrisbowers.co.uk

💚

Thank you Nim for leaving us such a lovely review. We couldn’t be happier that you find our variety of trees and plants so impressive! 🤩

We’re also very proud of our website, which provides an extensive amount of information including growing guides, top tips and in-depth descriptions of each of our products. 💫 ✅

Why not take a read over on www.chrisbowers.co.uk?

Calling all fruit growers! 📣

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! October is the month for harvesting, so here’s some top tips from us on how to make the most of your harvest:

1️⃣ Be Gentle: Handle your fruits with care to avoid bruising. Use pruners or your hands, whichever suits the fruit best.

2️⃣ Store Smartly: Keep them in a cool, dark place that will remain frost free and well ventilated.

3️⃣ Check Regularly: Inspect your fruits often and use any ripe ones first to prevent spoilage.

Let us know in the comments what fruit you’ve harvested so far this season!

October is almost here, which means planting season is upon us! 🪴🍂

The autumn/winter months are often seen as the perfect time to plant fruit trees as they remain dormant, taking time to settle ready for new growth come springtime. 🌱

We would love to know if you’re planning on any new additions to your gardens this year.

Let us know your ideas in the comments below! ⬇️