When is the best time to plant a fruit tree?

The best time to plant is November to March/April, when the plants are still in their dormant stage.

Are your fruit trees potted or bare rooted?

All our trees are bare root. With the exception of Blueberries, Figs, Kiwi

Buying bare root trees have many benefits to pot grown trees e.g.:

  • Better performance/Establish more quickly
  • Ease of planting & handling
  • More affordable
  • More economical,
  • More variety to choose from

How old are your fruit trees?

All our fruit trees are 2 years old.

Do I need a pollinator for my apple tree?

Pollination is a crucial part of growing quality apples.  Honeybees and bumblebees are the main pollinators of apples.  Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part of the flower.  For pollination to occur between two different apple trees they both need to be in flower at the same time.

When will my tree produce fruit?

Your fruit trees will start bearing fruit 2-4 years after planting,

Apple trees will produce in their first season.

Do I have to plant my trees as soon as they arrive?

No, your trees will arrive well packaged and can last for several days if you leave them in cool storage. If you cannot plant them right away, store them in a cool place and leave the plastic on the roots. Water the roots at least once a week and then cover them back up with plastic they come packaged in. Do not expose them to freezing temperature or extreme heat.

Do I need to stake my fruit tree?

It is always a good idea to stake a new bare root tree as this will prevent strong winds from knocking the tree or uprooting it.  If rabbits are a problem in your garden you can also add a spiral tree guard, which protects the bark from their gnawing.

How do I order?

You can email us at info@englishsfruitnursery.ie or call us on 053 9240984 to place an order or request pricing.

During our busiest periods, its always a lot quicker to email as the phone lines are extremely busy.

 

Can I visit your nursery?

We are not a Garden Centre. We are a closed Nursery however, you can call to collect by appointment to collect orders.

Our plants are grown in fields that can be a few miles away from our office so it is not possible to just turn up and select your own trees.

How much is delivery?

Standard delivery starts at €15 – this covers up to 12 trees. As we are transporting live plants, we need to ensure they arrive safely and in top condition.

Pallet prices range from €35-€60 ex Vat.

You are more than welcome to collect your order, please give a few days notice before arriving as the trees/bushes will need to be lifted in advance.

How do I pay?

You can pay by Cash on collection, On our online ‘Pay Portal’, Bank Transfer, Cheque or Postal Order.

Will my order fit in my car?

Yes, the majority of orders will fit in your car with the seats folded down. If you are in doubt, please call us.

Planting distances

Almonds  6-9ft

Apple & Cider Apple  3-9ft

Apple Trees M9 -3-6ft

Apricots  6-9ft

Asparagus  1ft

Blackberries  3-4ft

Blackcurrants  3-5ft

Blueberries  4-5ft

Cherries  4-8ft

Chokeberries  3-5ft

Cranberries  2-3ft

Damsons  4-8ft

Elderberry  5-10ft

Family Trees  6ft

Figs  10ft

Gages  4-8ft

Goji 9-6ft

Gooseberries  3-5ft

Grape Vines  3-4ft

Hazelnuts 6-9ft

Kiwi & Seabuckthorn  3-5ft

Lingonberry, Honeyberry  3-6ft

Medlar  6-9ft

MM106 / M26 6-9ft

Mulberries  15ft

Nectarines  6-8ft

Old Traditional, Crab 3-9ft

Peaches  6-8ft

Pears  4-8ft

Plums  4-8ft

Quince  6-9ft

Raspberries  1-1½ft

Red Currants  3-5ft

Rhubarb 2-4ft

Strawberries  1-1½ft

Sunberries, Jostaberry,

Tayberries Loganberries,

The Mirabelle Plum  4-8ft

Tummelberries  3-5ft

Walnuts  20ft

White Currants  3-4ft

Worcesterberry 3-5ft

When should I prune my fruit tree?

Pruning is essential for fruit trees as it encourages a good size and shape, keeps the tree productive and helps remove dead and damaged wood

Apple and Pear trees should be pruned every year, during the dormant season, usually around February.

Stone fruit such as Plums & Almonds should be pruned during the spring when the trees are just beginning to flower.  Pruning during winter can expose plum trees to fungal infections.

Espalier/Fan Training

We don’t supply Espalier or Fan trained trees, however we chose a variety from our products suitable for training.

 

Espalier:

Apples & Pears are suitable for both Espalier and Fan training as they produce their fruit on spurs, rather than the tips of branches.

 

Fan Training

Stone fruit like, plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, and nectarines are more suitable for fan training. This helps to maximize the amount of light hitting the tree.

 

 

 

How to plant Apple, Pears, Plums

  • Soak the bare roots in water for an hour.
  • Dig a hole large enough to cover the whole root system, and wide enough for the roots to grow outward. Approximately 1 ½ foot wide and 1 foot deep.
  • Break up any soil at the bottom and place the tree in the hole, preferably at the same depth it stood in the nursery (existing garden soil mark). Carefully spreading the roots.
  • Back fill the whole firmly with a mixture of the soil and multipurpose compost.
  • Drive a stake into the ground, at least 1ft or more.
  • Ensure the surrounding soil is at the level of the base of the trunk. Water well
  • Use a tree tie to attach the tree to the stake.

 

 

How to plant fruit bushes

Raspberry: Summer Raspberry varieties will fruit around July and autumn varieties will fruit around late August.

They should be planted 1-1½ Ft apart in moist but well drained fertile soil.   The roots should be no more than 4½-5″ in below the soil, spread out the roots and cover with soil. Choose a sunny spot in the garden if you can, however they will grow in shadier areas, you’ll get more fruit and sweeter tasting, if they’re in the sunlight.

Blueberries: Blueberries  will flourish in free-draining, acidic soil. To ensure best yields it is recommended to have P.H. 4.0-5.5 and at least two varieties for pollination purposes. Select a sunny, sheltered spot. While blueberries are tolerant of shade, better crops are obtained in the sun.  Dig holes about twice as wide and twice as deep as the roots of the plant.  They should be planted 4–5 feet apart in a row, with at least 8 feet between rows. Backfill around the roots with soil, firm in and water well.

Strawberries: Grow strawberries in a well-prepared strawberry bed, pot, growing bag or strawberry planter, in a sheltered spot that gets plenty of sun, for sweet, juicy fruits. Water plants well, especially in hot weather, and feed regularly. Replace plants every three or four years by planting fresh plants

 

Do my plants come with a guarantee

Plants leaving our farm are believed to be in good condition. When your delivery arrives please check your goods carefully and contact us with
any queries within 3 days with photographic evidence. English’s Fruit Nursery does not guarantee the further growth, flowering or yield of plants once delivered due to the fact that the care and husbandry after delivery is beyond our control. English’s Fruit Nursery shall accept no liability for any latent diseases which may be present but not detected at the time of sale.