As a sign of our commitment to the future I planted three new fruit trees today, each barely three feet tall above the ground. A fair old wait before we are able to enjoy any fruit. The feeling of optimism was encouraged by the bright sunshine on an albeit cold day. A change from the gloomy, grey and rainy days of late.
The trees were planted on a patch of ground where some fallen tree trunks had for some time been piled up. These have now been used as an edging at the back and reclaimed telegraph poles used at the front.
Two of the trees are apples: Spartan and Pixie. They are both pollinators for each other. The third tree is a self-fertile Conference pear. We have not had much success with pear trees that we have planted elsewhere on the smallholding. So we decided against any fancy varieties and chose an established variety which is usually relaible.
I used some lengths of gutter downpipes cut long ways as rabbit guards.
Some years hence I will report back on the quality of the fruit from these trees!
