There are a variety of different fruit trees that you can grow on an allotment, with the best being dwarf or semi-dwarfing rootstocks. By restricting the height of the trees, pruning is much easier, and they’re less likely to overshadow any nearby plots.
If you’re replacing an existing fruit tree, safely removing an old or dying specimen before planting a new one is important. It’s best to find a local tree surgeon to do this for you, as a professional arborist has the specialist equipment and insurance for this job.
When you’re surrounded by neighbouring plots, greenhouses, and sheds, the last thing you want is to damage anything nearby. Tree surgeons can also remove stumps and roots to free up space for your new planting.
Before choosing your new fruit trees, check the rules of your allotment association, as some have restrictions on the form or height of trees allowed.
Dwarf rootstock & varieties
Some of the best apple rootstocks are:
- M27 or extremely dwarf – reaching just 1.5 – 2 metres in height. These can be grown as step-overs.
- M9 or dwarfing – reaching 2 – 2.5 metres. These are a popular selection for high yields.
Good varieties to choose are:
- Red Falstaff – very easy to grow and produces a reliable and heavy crop.
- Gala – a highly productive variety that is crisp and sweet.
- Sunset – an aromatic and rich variety holding the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
- Scrumptious – heavy-cropping and sweet, a self-fertile tree.
The best rootstock for pear trees on an allotment are:
- Quince C – produces a compact tree that is easy to manage, reaching 2.5 – 3.5 metres.
- Quince Eline – renowned for its frost resistance and exceptional fruit quality, restricts the height to 2 – 3 metres.
Top pear varieties include:
- Conference – a self-fertile, reliable, and heavily cropping variety.
- Concorde – naturally compact habit producing sweet flavoured fruit.
Self-fertile trees
With limited space, having self-fertile fruit trees is essential. This means they don’t need a partner tree to pollinate, saving valuable space on your plot.
Self-fertiles and partially self-fertile varieties include:
- Apples – Queen Cox, Red Falstaff, Greensleeves, Scrumptious, Herefordshire Russet.
- Pears – Conference, Concorde, Invincible, Durondeau.
- Plums – Victoria, Opal, Czar.
- Cherries – Stella, Sweetheart, Celeste, Morello.
Space saving
To maximise the space on your plot, there are several ways to grow your chosen fruit trees.
- Espalier – ideal if you have access to a wall, or if not, use the side of your shed to train your apple or pear trees.
- Cordons – plant your cordon at a 45° angle to maximise growth of flowering spurs rather than wood. This method is suitable for apples, pears, plums, cherries, damsons, or apricots.
- Stepovers – similar to an espalier tree but trained to just knee height, ideal for planting along the edge of a garden path or a raised bed.
- Pots and containers – the benefit of planting a fruit tree in a pot is that it can be moved around to maximise sunlight exposure and also to shelter it during cold weather.
