Appletreeman

!!National hedgerow week!!
We are in progress of planting our own hedgerow here in Spittalfield.
So many benefits for wildlife and biodiversity and you can mix in some fruit trees and bushes for extra edibles if you want! We have put some currants, damsons, apples and berries in this mix for the 30m stretch of hedging.
Did you know here at Appletreeman we sell mixed species hedging plants? We have over 30 species of hedging plants to choose from as well as the fruit trees and bushes. Perfect for providing some shelter for an orchard.

We have some "seconds" available at the sales area at farm at the moment. Perfectly healthy, just a bit wonky! It was difficult to get a decent photo of them, but hopefully you get the idea!

Our orchard where we grow our stock trees for propagating heritage fruit trees is looking gorgeous this week. Fully embracing the no now May (except for our paths!).

Beauties of the week:
We've got 2 x stunning crab apples in flower in the sales area just now: Red Obelisk and Roberts Red. Just imagine them when they're mature trees in bloom!

We're open 7 days a week for sales of apple trees, soft fruit trees and soft fruit bushes.
Plenty of apple tree stock just now with heritage varieties as well as modern varieties.

🍏🍐🍎Our sales area at Blackhaugh Community farm is now open! Lots of potted fruit trees and bushes for sale.🍎🍐🍏

That time of year to do a bit of hard graft....

Really ? These Jargonelle pear buds are starting to open!

One more step along the way.This week has been all about labelling our stock in the field, getting the trees ready for lifting and delivering this winter. Lots and lots of labels!!
Now we are just waiting for the trees to drop their leaves so we can begin to lift them...

Here's Andrew enjoying his (semi) retirement this week by helping Lynsey bud next year's Scottish heritage varieties of apple trees for sale. Once a grafter, always a grafter.

This year's Appletreeman bare root sales will open for orders on 1st September. Not long now!

We're re-stocking and sprucing up the sales area at the farm in Spittalfield this week: potted fruit trees and soft fruits

The weather is improving and temperatures are going to rise rapidly. So many trees have been posted around Scotland for planting next week. If you are still looking to collect your trees please get in touch soon so we can lift them for you.

Thank you to everyone who has ordered trees for 2023.
All our bare root trees are sold out as they have been pre-ordered. We will be delivering or asking you to collect over the next 8 weeks if the weather is good enough for lifting them.
So, if you have ordered from us, please think about where they can be stored, ideally a cool shed or garage, or to be heeled into a vegetable plot or raised bed. The important thing is to give the roots protection from frost.
We will be in touch very soon!

Everything is frozen solid this week in Perthshire so no tree deliveries of trees for a while i'm afraid.

I spent a few hours yesterday putting on tree protection tubes. It's been so mild I am worried there will be a lot of voles this winter in the orchard. Don't neglect this task!

The Conference pears fell off yesterday and they are delicious. It's been a really good year for pears here.

The sales area is now restocked and we are now running an
AUTUMN SALE.
Many soft fruits and shrubs are reduced in price. Also many potted hedgerow and forest trees for only £4. NOW is the best time to plant these potted trees. Some mystery trees are only £10 each so come and grab a bargain!

Tydeman's Early Worcesters are superb this year and I have seen the best crop of Monarch cookers in 15 years. King of the Pippins are just turning a yellowy orange and oh a delicious Jargonelle pear still hanging on! Weird how Cox Pomona are awful but the neighbour, Cambusnethan Pippins are actually quite nice. Which is opposite to usual years.

George cave, Beauty of Bath and now Lass O Gowrie apples being munched. A few delicious Goudknap pears too... and i am soo glad it has finally rained!

Its a hard thing to do but i did actually prune some plum trees last week....

Came across this beautiful flower at Denmarkfield this morning - Goatsbeard

I love these sundews seen at Crianlarich today. But whats the central spike? A false flower?

The harvest is looking promising for later this year with these Cherry plums expanding well and plenty of apples coming on.

Strangely a few of my apple trees are in full flower! Climate change is having weird effects on trees. Generally flowering is 14 days earlier than say 40 years ago. This tree is a month late....perhaps we will move to two harvests a year in the future?

"Oak before Ash, you're in for a splash. Ash before Oak, you're in for a soak."

The Ash is winning for flowering first here. I wonder if it will be a wet summer....

Anyone got any more horticultural rhymes/ sayings? We'd love to hear them.

Ne'er cast a cloot til the May is oot!