Top p 5... reliable stone fruit
These self-fertile varieties will give good crops in most gardens across the country
1 Apricot ‘Goldcot’
Cold-hardy, mid-season variety consistently yielding good crops of fruit in late July. Good flavour and ideal for using in cookery. Any moist, well-drained soil in full sun and a sheltered position. H/S: 3m (10ft).
Tip Grow and train against a wall in colder districts.
From www.orangepippintrees.co.uk; tel: 01759 392007.
2 Cherry ‘Stella’
Easy to grow and very reliable. Juicy, sweet, dark red fruit with excellent flavour. Good pollinator for other cherry varieties. Any moist, welldrained soil in sun. H/S: 3m(10ft).
Tip For smaller trees choose plants grafted on Gisela 5 rather than Colt rootstock.
From www.orangepippintrees.co.uk; tel: 01759 392007.
3 Gage ‘Denniston’s Superb’
Reliable crops of small, pale yellowgreen, rounded fruits in late August. Yellow-green when ripe in late August. Upright habit. Ideal for more northerly climates. Good displays of blossom and a good pollinator for other gage and plum varieties. Sometimes known as ‘Imperial Gage’. Moist, well-drained soil in full sun. H:/S: 3m (10ft).
Tip Flowers early so avoid planting in frost pockets.
From www.chrisbowers.co.uk; tel: 01366 386858.
4 Peach ‘Redwing’
Good, all-round variety stated to have some resistance to peach leaf curl. Good yields of dark red fruits from mid-August. Juicy white flesh of excellent flavour. Any moist, well-drained soil in sun. Best given a sheltered position. H/S: 3m (10ft).
Tip It’s late flowering so is better for colder locations.
From www.rvroger.co.uk; tel: 01751 472226.
5 Plum ‘Jubilee’
Excellent culinary and dessert variety. Fruit, which crop in mid-August, are larger and redder than ‘Victoria’, with yellow flesh. Hardy and disease resistant. Any moist, welldrained soil in sun. H/S: 3m (10ft).
Tip Choose plants grafted on Pixy rootstock if a smaller tree is required.
From www.chrisbowers.co.uk; tel: 01366 386858.