Now is the time of year to be planting fruit trees and understanding all the different sizes and shapes is over complicated. Here we have tried to make choosing the right size tree for your space simple.
Apples
MM.106 - Half standard or bush garden tree- Semi vigorous. General purpose for most types of tree; bush, cordon and half standard. Very productive from an early age. Semi Vigorous : Approximate size of mature tree can be up to 4 metres
M.26 - Semi Dwarf. Requires support on most sites. Good for bush and cordons in limited spaces. Suits certain varieties well i.e Bramley and Egremont Russet. Can induce 'bare wood' in some varieties such as Cox. Approximate size of mature trees can be up to 3 metres.
M.27 - Very Dwarf. Produces the true mini tree, varieties reaching no more than 2 metres with little support required, excellent for the small garden. Fruit size small. Good for triploids on strong soils but will stunt diploides on poor soils. Approximate size of mature tree can be up to 2 metres
Cherries
Colt - Semi vigorous. Fully compatible with all varieties, will contain trees to 4 - 5 metres. Considered very productive until the arrival of Gisela. Still good for bush and half standard cherries on thin soils. Semi Vigorous : Approximate size of mature tree can be up to 4 metres
Gisela 6 - Semi dwarf. 75% of Colt. All the attributes of Gisela 5 but for less than good soils. Approximate size of mature trees can be up to 3 metres.
Pears
Quince 'A' - Semi Dwarf. The ideal root stock for bush trees. Approximate size of mature trees can be up to 3 metres.
Quince 'C' - Dwarf and slightly earlier into cropping. Approximate size of mature tree can be between 2 and 3 metres.
Quince Eline - Dwarf. Similar size to Quince ‘C’ but more productive and very hardy. Smoother fruit with less russetting. Varieties reaching no more than 2 metres with little support required. Their fruit size is small but begins in the first year.
Plums, Gages, Damsons & Mirabelles
St. Julien 'A' - Semi vigorous. This is fully compatible with all plums, damsons, gages, peaches, nectarines and apricots and many ornamental prunus species. Good yield influence. Not suitable for poorly drained soils. Semi Vigorous : Approximate size of mature tree can be up to 4 metres.
