Espaliers et cordons

[Jon P]

I've got about 9ft of fencing free down one side, I thought I could plant one of those apple trees that you train to run along a fence, as above.  I've looked online but can't find any specialist info about them - are they just a normal apple tree from any garden centre?  Are they worth the effort - you can also get ones that grow vertically like a flagpole, which are also recommended for small spaces.  And can you plant them at this time of year, or wait until next Spring?

[mike]

we're planning some too, they're normal apple trees which have been pruned to be 'flat' - most good garden centres will sell them.  I think it's best to plant them in the spring, before they blossom (but I could be completely wrong).

[Jon P]

I'm tempted to order from here - our Web team just set this up a couple of weeks ago.  I found some info in a gardening book - the secret is in the pruning as you say, so I might plant 2 or 3 and get them to cover different parts of the fence.  These are dwarfing ones too so just the right height.

[andygates]

I've got an espalier Cox on my one bit of sunny wall.  I bought it trained that way, for about £25, so it's a bit more than the £18 or so I'd expect for a standard Cox the same size. 

Put up trellis or wire and restrain the horizontals.  Prune (apparently) in JULY not winter, it's different for these fellows.  It's a good way to green up an ugly wall too.  No idea on productivity yet as this is its first year.

Previous places I've been at have had those compact vertical "Ballerina" apples.  They're really rather good - they'll grow in a (big) pot too.  They really do fruit heavily for their size.  One tip, when pruning try to thin 'em out as the interior can get cramped and stifled, which leads to poor air-flow and mildew, etc, unless you keep on top of it.  Great producers for a small garden.