Fruit Trees

Planting fruit trees isn’t only about the fruit. It brings a life full of beauty, balance, and a deeper connection to nature. Across the UK, plenty of people want to be more self-sufficient, cut food miles, and enjoy eating with the seasons. Starting an orchard is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to do all of that. At Arundel Arboretum, we’re proud to offer some of the best fruit trees UK gardeners can grow, along with friendly, expert advice for both beginners and seasoned growers. To make things even easier, we’ve put together a straightforward orchard planting guide UK gardeners can follow to grow and maintain their fruit trees with confidence. Planning an Orchard: What to Know Before You Start There aren’t many projects as rewarding as starting your own orchard. It’s easy to picture baskets full of ripe fruit, but the real success begins long before harvest. Preparing the soil, picking the right varieties, and planning how they’ll grow together all make a big difference to how productive your orchard will be. Choosing The Right Location and Soil for Growing Fruit Trees UK Choosing the right spot makes all the difference in how well your fruit trees will grow. They love a lot of sunshine, so a south-facing spot sheltered from strong winds is ideal for the UK climate. The soil is just as important. Fruit trees like their soil just right. Not waterlogged clay that suffocates roots, nor dry sand that leaves them thirsty. Most fruit trees like soil that’s slightly acidic to neutral (around 6.0–7.0). A quick soil test will show where you stand. Too acidic? Add lime. Too alkaline? Add sulphur. How Much Space Do You Really Need for Planting Fruit Trees? The space you need depends on the rootstock it’s grown on, as that determines how big the trees will grow. As a rule of thumb, leave enough space so the branches won’t bump into each other when the trees are mature, that is about 3 to 6 metres. It might look like a lot at first, but you’ll be glad for it later. Picking the Purpose of Your Orchard: Eating, Cooking, or Juicing When you start planning your orchard, it’s important to decide what you want from your fruit. Some fruits are the most tasteful when eaten straight from the tree, while others give their best in the kitchen, whether in cooking, juicing, preserving, or making cider. By mixing different types of fruit trees in your orchard, you can enjoy a wider range of flavours and uses across the seasons. You might, for example, pair sweet dessert pears with tart cooking apples. Or stick to one fruit type, but combine early- and late-ripening varieties.  A good mix is the UK favourite Discovery, which ripens early in the summer, with Braeburn, which is ready for harvesting much later, in mid-October. The key is to make sure they have a suitable pollination partners to make sure you’ll get a good crop. What is Pollination & Why Does It Matter When Planning an Orchard  Planting an orchard is not just picking a few fruit trees you like and popping them into the ground. Even if you give them the best conditions possible, you may end up with half empty baskets during the harvest. So what’s the secret? It’s the pollination. Pollination is simply bees and other insects moving pollen from one flower to another so the tree can set fruit. Without it, you might get plenty of blossom, but no fruit at all. You may think, well, pollination just happens naturally. What do I have to do with it? Well, pollination isn’t just a chance, and there’s a lot you can do to make it successful. First, it helps to know that fruit trees fall into three main groups when it comes to pollination:•    Self-fertile varieties. These varieties can pollinate themselves. They don't need another tree. Examples are modern apple varieties, such as Sunset or James Grieve, as well as some plums like Victoria. But even the self-fertile fruit trees give better crops when there is another compatible tree nearby.•    Partially self-fertile varieties. These can set some fruit on their own, but crop much better with a partner. An example is Conference pear.•    Self-sterile varieties. These cannot pollinate themselves at all and must have another compatible variety nearby. Classic examples are Cox’s Orange Pippin apples or many cherries. So, before you rush up and fill a trolley with fruit trees, it’s good to know which ones are quite good on their own and which ones need company. That’s where pollination groups come in. What Are Pollination Groups & How to Choose Compatible Fruit Trees Each variety is placed into a group based on when it blooms. Apples and pears are usually placed in groups listed by number (from 1-7), while plums or cherries are usually just described by their flowering time. It’s really quite simple. Trees that flower at the same time, or close to it, can pollinate each other because bees can move the pollen between them. For example, an apple in group 3 will usually pollinate another group 3, and often some from group 2 or 4 as well. Early-flowering plum trees must be partnered with other early-flowering plum varieties to bring crop.  Rule of thumb: If a variety you have chosen isn’t clearly marked as self-fruitful, always plant another different compatible variety. But even self-fertile varieties give better crops when pollinated by a partner. Rootstocks and Fruit Tree Varieties Explained Choosing rootstock is as important as choosing the variety. First of all, the rootstock determines how high and how vigorous the tree will grow, and also how well it will adapt to different soil and climate conditions. Choosing the right one is key to planning your orchard layout and spacing. •    Dwarf fruit trees UK are grafted onto dwarf rootstocks, which means they will be only 2–3 metres tall when they mature. They’re perfect for smaller gardens, patios, or squeezing in a few different varieties. And you can harvest the fruit without ladders! The only problem is they often live just 15-25 years. •    Semi-dwarf fruit trees UK grow a bit more, around 3–4 metres in height. They are usually the best choice for most gardens. Easy to manage while producing generous harvests, they have the perfect balance between size and productivity for the average garden. They usually live 25-40 years if well cared for. •    Standard rootstocks grow into full-sized orchard trees, often spreading 5–6 meters wide. They need plenty of space, but are ideal for traditional orchards, paddocks, or for anyone who wants impressive, long-lived trees because they can live more than 50 years, sometimes over a century. Once you understand rootstocks, it’s much easier to pick fruit trees that suit both your garden space and your long-term plans. But there’s still one important decision to make. Heritage vs. Modern Disease-Resistant Varieties When choosing fruit trees in the UK, one of the biggest decisions is whether to go with heritage fruit trees or modern, disease-resistant varieties. Each has its own advantages, and many gardeners like to grow a mix of both. Heritage varieties include some of the best-loved apple tree varieties UK, such as Egremont Russet, and traditional pear tree varieties like Conference. They’re valued for their unique flavours, history, and the sense of tradition they bring to an orchard. Heritage fruit trees are ideal if you want to help preserve older types that aren’t widely grown anymore. On the other hand, modern varieties have been bred to cope better with common problems such as scab, canker, or mildew. They usually need less spraying and less maintenance, making them a practical choice if you’d prefer a reliable, lower-effort orchard. These trees are especially useful in wetter areas of the UK where fungal issues are more often a problem. Best Fruit Trees to Grow in the UK – Available at Arundel Arboretum Here are some of the best fruit tree varieties recommended by Arundel Arboretum, each with its own unique flavour and growing qualities.Apples•    Discovery – early, crisp and sweet, ready in late August.•    Laxton’s Superb – aromatic, traditional, good for cooler sites.•    Braeburn – late ripening, sharp-sweet flavour, stores well.•    Egremont Russet – mid-season, nutty flavour, classic UK favourite. Pears•    Conference – reliable cropper, partially self-fertile, juicy and versatile.•    Doyenné du Comice – rich, buttery flavour, one of the best dessert pears.•    Concorde – sweet and smooth, heavy crops, part self-fertile.•    Beurré Hardy – aromatic dessert pear, needs a pollination partner. Plums•    Victoria – self-fertile, heavy crops, perfect for eating or jam.•    Marjorie’s Seedling – large, reliable, and late ripening, perfect for jams.•    Stanley – firm, sweet fruit, rich in flavour, self-fertile, ripens in September.•    Santa Rosa – dual-purpose, good fresh or cooked. Others•    Quince ‘Vranja’ – large, golden, aromatic fruit, ideal for jellies and preserves.•    Medlar ‘Nottingham’ – unusual heritage fruit, ripens late and eaten soft. Which Fruit Trees Grow Best in Different Parts of the UK? Choosing the best fruit trees to grow in the UK comes down to where you live. A tree that thrives in one region may struggle in another, so it’s worth matching your choices to your local climate conditions. South of England – Cherries, Peaches, FigsThe warmer, sunnier South is the only part of the UK where you can reliably grow tender fruits like cherries, peaches, and figs. They need long summers and fewer spring frosts to do well. Here you can enjoy varieties like Stella cherry or espalier-trained figs. The Midlands – Apples, Pears, PlumsWith its moderate climate, the Midlands is one of the most reliable regions for orchards. Apple tree varieties UK buyers love, such as Discovery or Egremont Russet, perform very well, as do pear tree varieties UK like Conference, and classic plums such as Victoria. The balanced rainfall and temperatures make it easy to mix different fruits in the same orchard. North of England & Scotland – Hardy Apples and PearsIn the North and Scotland, tender fruits don’t stand much chance. But hardy apples and pears on vigorous rootstocks can take the cold and still crop well. Late-flowering apples like Spartan or James Grieve are less likely to be damaged by frost, and pears like Concorde are also tough enough for chillier spots.  Wales & West Country – Cider Apples and Perry PearsThis region has a long tradition of orchards and there’s a reason for it. The damp, fertile soils are ideal for cider apples and perry pears. Varieties such as Kingston Black and Blakeney Red thrive here, producing fruit packed with the tannins and sugars needed for pressing.  Coastal Areas – Hardy Rootstocks and Sheltered PlantingGardening near the coast comes with challenges like strong winds and salt spray, but with the right choices you can still grow successfully. Stick with hardy apples, pears, or plums on wind-tolerant rootstocks such as MM106, and always plant in a sheltered spot. Apples, pears, or plums can all succeed near the coast, but avoid tender fruits like peaches unless you can provide extra protection. How to Plant Fruit Trees in the UK Best Planting Season - When to Plant Fruit Trees UK The best time to plant fruit trees in the UK is between November and March, when they’re dormant. Container trees can technically go in any time, but autumn and early spring are best because the roots have time to settle before summer. Soil Preparation for Orchards UK Fruit trees love a sunny, sheltered spot with well-draining soil. Before planting, dig in some compost or well-rotted manure to feed young roots, and also clear out any weeds so they don’t have to fight for space. If your garden is heavy clay, improve drainage with grit or raise the tree slightly on a mound to help with drainage. Correct Tree Staking and Support for Fruit Trees Young trees often need a bit of extra support while they find their feet. A single stake with a soft tie, placed on the windward side, is usually enough to keep them steady but still flexible. After two or three years, the roots will be strong enough to hold on their own, and you can remove the stake. Mulching and Protecting Orchard Blossoms  Spread a ring of mulch, such as bark or compost, around the base to lock in moisture and keep weeds down, just be sure to keep it away from the trunk itself. In spring, keep an eye on the blossom. If a late frost threatens, cover the tree with fleece or netting to help trees to set fruit. Orchard Maintenance Guide UK Looking after an orchard in the UK isn’t complicated, but a little consistency goes a long way. With regular feeding, watering, pruning, and ground care, your trees will stay healthy and reward you with good harvests year after year. Feeding and Watering Orchard Trees Young trees need regular watering, especially during their first few years and in dry spells. Once established, most trees get by on rainfall, but giving them a deep soak in summer helps boost both growth and fruiting. For best fruit tree feeding, use a balanced fertiliser in spring, then switch to a high-potassium feed in summer to support flowers and fruit. Adding a fresh layer of mulch each year locks in moisture and steadily improves the soil. How to Prune a Fruit Tree Even orchards face pests and diseases from time to time. Aphids, codling moths, and apple scab are some of the most common issues in the UK. The best defence is regular checks. When you catch problems early, it’s much easier to handle them. Encourage natural helpers like ladybirds, use pheromone traps if needed, and stick to disease-resistant varieties so you won’t have to rely on sprays. Weed and Grass Management Around Trees Weeds and long grass compete with fruit trees for water and nutrients. Keep a clear circle around the base of each tree as part of your regular orchard care. Mulching helps suppress regrowth, while hand weeding or careful hoeing protects young roots. Start Your Orchard with Arundel Arboretum If you’re planning your orchard, come and visit us at Arundel Arboretum in West Sussex, near Chichester. Here you will find a wide selection of fruit trees suited to the UK climate, along with expert advice to help you find the best trees for your orchard. Prefer shopping from home? Browse our online store, place your order, and we’ll take care of the rest. Either way, your perfect orchard starts here.Remember, the best time to plant an orchard was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

Morus Nigra Morus nigra is the black mulberry tree. It produces purplish-black, sweet, juicy fruits during the summer months. Morus nigra fruits are delicate and should therefore be eaten soon after picking. Morus alba ‘Pendula’ Morus alba ‘Pendula’ is the weeping mulberry.  It is deciduous, with shiny green leaves.  Morus alba ‘Pendula’ is ideal for small gardens, and requires little maintenance. Its weeping habit growth will reach the ground.  The tree produces green flowers in the summer, which are followed by berries in the autumn.  These emerge white, gradually turning dark pink\red or black.