Planting two apple trees in the garden I’ve taken over here in Keswick. This garden hasn’t had any fruit trees but it’s clear that apple trees do produce fruit in Cumbria, a bit to my surprise considering the climate. Acorn Bank has a renowned orchard not that far from here, the other side of Penrith. I’ve chosen varieties of the Pippins said to be tolerant of frost: one Fiesta and one Ellison’s Orange. M26 rootstock so they will grow as bushes for cropping without a ladder .
The garden at my parent’s house in Long Ashton, Bristol, had been an orchard and kitchen garden before it was developed for housing. We had several King of the Pippin trees which produced tasty apples which me and my Father I enjoyed on the journey to school for the autumn terms. I planted the same variety in my patio garden in West London and they’ve produced good crops as well.
The glacier - and the builders more recently - left a lot of stones and rocks so it was not the easiest digging. The hi-viz jacket is because it was raining and it’s my get-dirty jacket. Good planting weather!