Old fashioned or heritage fruit trees including apple, quince and pear trees are increasingly popular due to the extra flavour and keeping qualities of many of these varieties. Heritage vegetables especially tomatoes are in demand for similar reasons.
Heritage Fruit Trees or old fashioned fruit trees and non hybrid fruit trees are increasingly popular, with a search for taste and home grown fruit being popular many gardeners are turning to older proven varieties commonly called ‘Heritage Fruit Trees’.
So why are these old fashioned fruit trees so popular? Many modern cultivars (hybrids) are bred for fruit that will last well in storage and on the supermarket shelf. Cooking Apples is one example with Granny Smith being the most common variety found in shops, yet Bramley’s Seedling is widely regarded as a better cooking apple. Heritage Fruit trees produce fruit with different characteristics to modern cultivars.
What about Heritage Dwarf Fruit Trees?
Yes some Heritage fruit trees are available grafted onto Dwarf Root Stock. Ask your supplier. However not all dwarf root stock will perform as well as non dwarfing varieties, if you have the room, grow a full sized tree.
GrowingHeritage or Old Fashioned Fruit Trees in Pots
If you are considering growing your fruit trees in pots or containers you will need to take a number of things into consideration.
Eventual size of tree. Look for trees that are naturally small growing or are grafted onto dwarf or semi dwarf root stock.
Size of pot. Pots that are to small will not allow adeqaute root growth and may in fact allow the tree to become ‘top heavy’. so be prepares to ‘pot up’ after a year or two. Remember that all plnats like a cool root run, small black plastic pots do not provide this in sunny positions (where fruit trees like to grow) look for a larger pot with good insulation and try locating the pot in a shaded spot with the tree growing into the sun.
Heritage Fruit Trees and Vegetables are available form the following suppliers
Mail order fruit tree nursery with over 200 temperate climate fruit trees.
Heritage varieties and dwarf fruit trees. Apple Trees, Stone Fruit, Nut Trees and Berry Fruit.
www.yalcafruittrees.com.au
FROG HOLLOW NURSERY – phone: (03) 6250 3743 C/- Nubeena PO Nubeena Tasmania 7184 Heirloom & unusual edible plants, perennials, soft fruits, heritage apples, unusual tubers, vegetables & herbs.
THISTLEBROOK GARDEN SCHOOL and NURSERY – phone: 0746979371 237 Hampton Road Hampton QLD 4352 Heritage fruit trees including pome fruit (apples, pears, quinces) and stonefruit (peaches, cherries, plums).
STREZLECKIE HERITAGE APPLES – phone: 03 5659 5242 1699 Warragul Rd Strezlecki Victoria 3950 Heritage Apple Trees (Not to WA or TAS)
NEWLYN COTTAGE GARDEN NURSERY – phone 03 5345 7458 2851 Midland Highway, Newlyn 3364 Olives, Heritage Pears, Perry Pears, Quince, Apples – bare rooted and potted