Orchard Collection

Where to Plant
Choose an open, sunny position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Plenty of sunlight helps encourage good flowering, fruit development and ripening. Avoid frost pockets where possible, as late frosts can damage spring blossom and reduce fruit set. Allow enough room between trees for their mature canopies to develop and avoid ground that regularly becomes waterlogged.

Planting Your Bare-Root Trees
Plant while the trees are dormant, avoiding periods when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Unpack the trees promptly and soak the roots in a bucket of water for around 30 minutes before planting. Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread naturally without bending or crowding them.

Look for the soil mark on the stem showing the level at which the tree was previously growing. Position the tree so this mark is level with the surrounding soil, with the roots below ground and the graft union remaining above soil level. Spread the roots naturally, backfill with the excavated soil, gently firm and water thoroughly.

Staking
Stake newly planted trees to keep them stable while their roots establish. Secure with a suitable tree tie and check it regularly as the tree grows. Once the tree is firmly established and able to support itself, the stake can be removed.

Watering & Feeding
Water thoroughly after planting and regularly during the first growing season, particularly during warm or dry weather. Established trees may also need additional water during prolonged dry periods, especially while fruit is developing and swelling.

Apply a suitable fruit tree fertiliser in spring to support healthy growth, flowering and cropping. A layer of well-rotted garden compost or organic mulch around the base will help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep mulch clear of the trunk.

Pruning
Pruning varies between the different fruits. Apple 'Braeburn' and Pear 'Conference' can generally be pruned while dormant in winter. Cherry 'Stella' and Plum 'Victoria' should be pruned during the growing season rather than winter to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease. Young trees will also benefit from formative pruning to develop a strong, well-balanced framework.

Pests & Problems
Keep an eye out for common fruit-tree pests and diseases, which vary between crops. Maintaining good tree health, clearing damaged or fallen fruit and pruning at the appropriate time will help reduce problems.

Do I Need Another Tree for Pollination?
All four varieties in this collection are capable of producing fruit without requiring a separate pollinating variety, making this a particularly useful collection for starting a home orchard. Where other compatible fruit trees are growing nearby, cross-pollination can help improve fruit set in some varieties.

Cherry 'Stella'
'Stella' is self-fertile, so it can produce cherries when grown on its own. Its spring blossom develops into sweet, dark red cherries that ripen during summer.

Plum 'Victoria'
'Victoria' is self-fertile and is well known for producing reliable crops. Established trees can crop heavily, and thinning an exceptionally large fruit set can help the remaining plums develop well while reducing the weight carried by the branches.

Pear 'Conference'
'Conference' is partially self-fertile and can produce a crop without another pear nearby, although a compatible pollination partner can help improve cropping.

Apple 'Braeburn'
'Braeburn' is self-fertile and can produce fruit without another apple tree, although cropping may be improved where a compatible apple is flowering nearby.

Helping Fruit Set
Healthy spring blossom and visits from pollinating insects help fruit to develop. Keep trees well watered during flowering and early fruit development if conditions are dry, and protect blossom from severe late frosts where practical.

When Will My Trees Fruit?
Newly planted fruit trees need time to establish before producing their best crops. Harvests may be lighter at first, with cropping generally increasing as the trees mature and develop stronger roots and branches.

A Succession of Homegrown Fruit
One of the great advantages of this collection is that the four varieties ripen at different times, giving you a succession of homegrown fruit from around July through to November. Exact harvest dates will vary depending on the weather and where you garden, so use the months as a guide and check the fruit itself for signs of ripeness.

Cherry 'Stella' – July
Pick when the cherries have developed their characteristic dark red colour and taste sweet and juicy. Ripe cherries should come away easily when picked. Harvest regularly as the fruits ripen rather than leaving ripe cherries on the tree for too long.

Plum 'Victoria' – August to September
Harvest when the fruits are fully coloured, slightly soft to the touch and come away easily from the tree. Pick carefully as ripe plums bruise easily, and check the tree regularly as individual fruits may ripen at slightly different times.

Pear 'Conference' – September to October
Pears are best picked while still firm rather than waiting for them to become completely soft on the tree. Lift the fruit gently into a horizontal position and give it a slight twist – when ready for picking it should come away easily. Allow the pears to finish ripening after harvest for their best texture and flavour.

Apple 'Braeburn' – October to November
Pick once the apples have developed good colour and come away readily when gently lifted and twisted. Avoid pulling the fruit downwards, which can damage the fruiting spur. Handle apples carefully, particularly those you plan to store, as bruised or damaged fruits won't keep as well.

Top Tip:
Don't feel you need to harvest the whole tree at once. Check your trees regularly during their harvest period and pick fruit as it reaches the right stage of ripeness.

Cherry 'Stella'
Sweet and juicy with a rich cherry flavour, 'Stella' is particularly good eaten fresh straight from the tree. It's also delicious in pies, crumbles and desserts, or cooked down for sauces, jams and preserves.

Plum 'Victoria'
Juicy and sweet when fully ripe, 'Victoria' is one of those useful plums that's just as good eaten fresh as it is cooked. Enjoy straight from the tree or use your harvest for crumbles, pies, jams, chutneys and preserves.

Pear 'Conference'
Sweet, juicy and melting when fully ripe, 'Conference' is a classic dessert pear. Enjoy fresh, slice into salads or use for poaching, baking and desserts. Pears picked while firm can be left to finish ripening indoors.

Apple 'Braeburn'
Crisp and juicy with a distinctive sweet-sharp flavour, 'Braeburn' is excellent for eating fresh. It also holds its shape and flavour well when cooked, making it a useful apple for pies, crumbles, sauces and baking.

Storing Your Harvest
Cherries and ripe plums are best enjoyed relatively soon after picking and can be refrigerated for short-term storage. 'Conference' pears can be picked firm and kept cool while they ripen, while sound, undamaged 'Braeburn' apples can be stored for longer in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place.

Preserving & Freezing
A generous harvest doesn't need to go to waste. Cherries and plums can be frozen for later use or made into jams and preserves, while apples and pears can be cooked, preserved or prepared and frozen for use in desserts and baking later in the year.

Bare-Root Trees
Your bare-root trees will arrive dormant, without pots or compost around their roots, ready for planting. They will have no leaves at this stage, which is completely normal – once temperatures rise in spring, they will naturally come back into active growth. Unpack your trees promptly, keep the roots moist and plant as soon as possible.

What Does Grafted Mean?
Many fruit trees are grafted, which means the chosen fruiting variety is joined to a compatible rootstock so the two grow together as one tree. The rootstock helps influence characteristics such as vigour and eventual size. You may notice a slightly raised area where the two have been joined – this is the graft union and is completely normal.

If You Can't Plant Straight Away
If planting is delayed, keep bare roots cool, moist and protected. For more than a short delay, temporarily heel the roots into moist soil in a sheltered position until conditions are suitable for planting.

After Planting
Newly planted fruit trees need regular watering while they establish, particularly during dry weather in their first growing season. A spring mulch can help conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but always leave a clear gap around the trunk.