Grow Your Own Magazine

Have three ornamental pots at the end of the sitting part of the garden just up from the veg bit which have always had box topiary things in them. Have got totally fed up with them and a friend is having the plants so was thinking what else to plant and if I can make them a bit more productive. Does anybody know how big a pot I need to get a reasonable crop off minarettes - have looked on the web and it just seems to say that they're good in pots, not much help! Alternatively would I be better doing away with the pots totally and planing directly into the soil?

I can't believe that none of you guys out there with all your knowledge can help me on this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Neither can I Alison so I have got my Ken Muirs fruit book out. Minarettes are particularly suitable for growing in containers. The container limits the size of the tree and so most rootstocks are suitable but the more dwarfing rootstocks are generally best. A maiden or two year tree should be used and the pot size increased as the tree developes. Plants should be potted into containers slightly larger in diameter than their roots are - up to 3 inches larger. The container must have adequate drainage holes.

www.kenmuir.co.uk

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Sorry for my ignorance. But is it an apple?

It can be Jennie but you can also grow minarette pears, damsons, gages and plums.

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Thanks Lesley Jay, sounds like I'll be fine starting them off in my pots and moving them on into something larger as and when needed. In fact my pots may be a bit on the big size to start with so would it be OK to put a smaller plastic pot inside to contain it better?

I'm thinking of getting three different types, apples are fine so long as I tie them into the ones I've already got. Also fancy a plum but only want one and so am thinking of getting one of those duo trees as seen on Ken Muir's which can pollonate each other but don't know how well they work. Has anybody got any experiance of these?

Trouble is Alison most of us have lottie/Gardens so wouldn't ned to grow them in pots My friend has a couple but they are in his garden so not much use I'm afraid

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Fair point Nick but just don't get me started on getting allotments - still not getting anywhere with the council on that one........................ Having to make the most of what I've got at the moment.

This sounds really interesting! Thanks Lesley for explaining. I wonder if they might work up here in a sheltered spot? Friends have never had any luck with their apple trees in the garden, but perhaps in a pot I could move them around a bit to get the shelter.

One of the main reasons I'm thinking of pots is that if I ever get the lottie then I'll be able to transplant them there pretty easily. Accordingly to the web sites, you should be able to get a decent crop but I don't know anybody who has tried!

Daughter brought 2 pear and 3 apple minurettes from Ken Muir this year but we planted them out as although she hes very small garden they can be planted 2 to 3ft apart.Have to remove fruit the first year whilst they get established so not able to say how well they crop.I have 1 minurette pear in a pot(again only planted this year)My pot is about 18in depth and 15in wide.This was big enough this year for roots to fit and have 3in growing room.

Thanks Lyndap, assume your trees are looking healthy and all that stuff - think I'll order some and give them a go, Ken Muir have some offers on at the moment so I'll have to take advantage.

I have 2 minarrete apples in pots - i got one apple off one of the trees this year (not sure if i was supposed to remove it but it tasted nice anyway!). For their first year i had them in a large tomato pot (kind of 25cm diameter ish), they will be moved into a larger pot this winter once dormant.

One word of warning - they get very top heavy and blow over easily in the wind so site them somewhere where you can tie them down or out of the wind! The blossom in spring was gorgeous.

There's no reason why you can't plant them in the soil - no faffing with changing the compost or pot size then and you could have a mini 'orchard' of small trees! I bought mine from KenMuir. Make sure you buy a good quality tree on a dwarfing root stock.

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