Nursery News
On this page we will include
- items of interest and developments on the nursery
- things to do and watch out for on your own trees
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Rootstocks - June
![]() We grow apple rootstocks ourselves. They are mainly to supply our own planting but we can supply small quantities to customers. We grow rootstocks MM106 (moderate vigour), M26 (semi dwarfing), M9 (dwarfing) & M25 (vigorous) Available in February & March after we have harvested them.
In June growth of the stoolbeds is strong and we are able to 'mound up' some of this new growth with a mixture of composted green waste and sawdust. In the cool damp dark environment small roots develop over the summer.
This mounding up will be done a second time in early July.
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Vigornia Wines - a new vineyard - May 2010
 1000 new vines have been planted adjacent to the nursery.
Four different varieties hopefully suited to the British climate with its variable weather and shorter summers - Bacchus, Chardonnay, Fruhburgunder & Ortega.
They have been planted inside tubes for protection and to encourage early developmaent.
See Vigornia Wines for more details.
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Mother trees May 2010
In late March and early April we planted some new 'Mother' trees. These are trees which we take graftwood and budwood from and are the basis of our production. Over the years the range of trees we grow has expanded so to have one source for material for as many varieties as possible will be an improvement.
Here two rows of apples have been planted 3m apart
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After some years we hope they will become like these Mother trees planted between 2002 & 2005.This picture was taken in July 2009. The trees are kept deliberately dwarf and pruned back hard each year.
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Orchard and 'Bright Future' - May 2010
 May is the month for apple blossom. If you have established trees we hope they have plenty of blossom. If you have recently planted some trees from us they too many have had some blossom. Ideally as the young apples grow remove the fruitlets to ensure the tree puts its energy into growth particularly for the first year. Allow a few fruits to develop in year two.
Our small orchard with about 40 different varieties of apple has had much blossom on it.
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Over the last couple of winters we have been supplying Bright Future. The fruits in the photo look really good. However we have not had a taste of a real apple as yet. However this spring we have some trees that have flowered so we are looking forward to having some apples to sample and report on. Below is the description we have.
Flavour is good with a nice sweet acid combination, sweeter with age. To get best flavour and colour keep the fruits on the tree till early to mid October. Edible pretty much straight from the tree and will keep in cool storage (ie the average shed/loft) till December. Medium to medium / large apples. Pollination group C.
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