Table of Contents

Introduction

PART ONE: Preparation, planning and planting

The site of your orchard
Rootstocks
Pollination, flowering and fruit development
Choosing fruit trees
Planning your orchard
Buying and planting trees

PART TWO: Fruit tree management

Caring for your trees
Pruning fruit trees
Problems of fruit trees

PART THREE: The fruits

Apples
Pears
Plums
Cherries
Peaches and nectarines
Apricots
Other fruits

PART FOUR: Traditional orchards

Restoring a neglected orchard
Community orchards

Glossary
Appendices
Resources

Introduction PART ONE: Preparation, planning and planting 1 The site of your orchard 2 Rootstocks 3 Pollination, flowering and fruit development 4 Choosing fruit trees 5 Planning your orchard 6 Buying and planting trees PART TWO: Fruit tree management 7 Caring for your trees 8 Pruning fruit trees 9 Problems of fruit trees PART THREE: The fruits 10 Apples 11 Pears 12 Plums 13 Cherries 14 Peaches and nectarines 15 Apricots 16 Other fruits PART FOUR: Traditional orchards 17 Restoring a neglected orchard 18 Community orchards Glossary Appendices Resources

Promotional Information

A clear, practical guide for both amateur and expert, explaining all you need to know to grow delicious fruit - from designing your orchard and planting your trees to harvesting.

About the Author

Ben Pike is an orchard consultant and writer. Before his retirement, Ben ran an orchard business and was head gardener on the Sharpham Estate in Devon, where he looked after the walled fruit and vegetable garden as well as two orchards. In his spare time he helped to run Orchard Link, an organisation that supports orchard owners and the preservation of old orchards. He now lives in Canada, where he works with both indoor plants and fruit trees.

Reviews

A comprehensive, practical book... [to] help you choose your fruit trees and rootstocks, situate your orchard, prune your trees and keep them healthy. It is bursting with well-illustrated guidance, generously given from someone who knows orchards and cares about the wildlife that they can support.
*Sue Clifford & Angela King - Common Ground*

A really well-organised, approachable yet thorough guide to sourcing, planting and caring for fruit trees. It's a must for anyone considering anything from a couple of trees to an orchard.
*Mark Diacono - River Cottage Head Gardener*

If you’ve ever thought about turning an unproductive grassy area into an orchard and then quietly filed it away under 'wouldn't know where to start', it may be time for a rethink... a well-written specialist book like this one is a welcome addition to my bookshelf.
*The Ecologist - October 2011*

No matter how small your garden, if you want to grow fruit, this guide will help you on your way with excellent photos and clear diagrams.
*Dobies of Devon*

Whether you are planting a few trees in your garden or 50 trees in a field, you will find all you need to know to design and manage your own orchard.
*Devon Country Gardener*

At last! A book about growing fruit with an organic approach, written for British conditions and with home fruit growers rather than professionals in mind.
*Patrick Whitefield - Permaculture Magazine*

An excellent book. Full of all sorts of useful information for lovers of fruit trees, from, lovely pictures and clear illustrations. It is beautifully laid out, simple to follow and good and accurate to read.
*Dorset Cider Blog*

Brilliant work, beautifully presented.
*Allotment Blog*