Knowledge Base

Quince have been cultivated for thousands of years. originally from the plains of Mesopotamia (an area which included present day Iraq, as well as parts of Iran, Syria and Turkey). The fruit was kn … read more

Pears are one of the delights of early autumn – yet somehow, they seem to be a more exotic choice than growing apples and come with a reputation for being somewhat problematic. True, they do need a sl … read more

What’s worse than finding a maggot in your apple? Answer – finding half a maggot! Dad jokes aside, it is so disappointing to wait all summer and watch your fruit ripen, only to find them inedible w … read more

History of trained fruit trees.Trained fruit trees can be the highlight of any garden – they are a superb example of form, function and beauty. From the elegant bare branches covered with frost in t … read more

What is an espalier?An espalier is a form of trained fruit tree, pruned to grow flat against a fence, wall or trellis. Traditionally it has a main central stem, and then horizontal branches which are … read more

Knowing exactly when to pick your fruit isn’t as straightforward as it may appear. Even the professionals get it wrong. I know in these turbulent times this will certainly class as a first world pr … read more

For the ornamental gardener, there was a time you could put away the mower in October and, save for maybe raking up the last of the fallen leaves, be safe in the knowledge that the garden was put t … read more

Visit our Plant Centre here in Pickering on any day of the year and hopefully you will find a fruit section with an array of plants for sale. The selection may change slightly from season to season, … read more

For many, a large part of the attraction of growing fruit is not only the delicious produce, but the sense of history that comes with it. Plant a Court Pendu Plat apple and you can enjoy biting int … read more

How to summer prune apple and pear trees.Gardening is full of sayings about what to do and at what time of year – start box hedge clipping on Derby Day, the Chelsea chop for herbaceous plants and sh … read more

Anyone who has gardened for a length of time has seen plants come into fashion and then disappear a few years later. Formal rose beds, gardening with grasses and tree ferns, as well as many others, … read more

When choosing a new fruit tree to plant, there are certain things I always bear in mind. The first is – is the fruit expensive or hard to find in the shops (such as mulberries and quince)? No point … read more

We are proud to supply fruit trees to the wonderful Habitat Aid, a company devoted to improving awareness of challenges facing native habitats by both providing practical solutions to gardeners wantin … read more

As a small child, every Saturday afternoon would entail a visit to my grandmother. A redoubtable woman in every sense, she loved her garden and through spring and summer we would drive out to a near … read more

Imagine if Willy Wonka had been in charge of fruit trees, rather than confectionary. The flavours and textures he would have created. Instead of Everlasting Gobstoppers, Hair Toffee and Magic Chewi … read more

“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.”  Theodore Roosevelt.Pears have a reputation for being difficult. They need a warm, sheltered … read more