Apples
What can be nicer than eating the fruits grown in your garden fresh from the tree. Many new and old traditional varieties available, where the fruit cannot be purchased in the supermarkets.

Apricot
Alongside the many similarities there are several important differences between Apricots and Peaches. Bacterial canker and silver leaf are not serious threats, so pruning is safe in late Winter or early Spring. The blossom is self fertile so a partner is not required, although the earliness of the flowering season means that hand pollination is recommended.

Cherries
Until quite recently there was no point in trying to grow a sweet cherry in an average-sized garden. The introduction of colt rootstock in the late 70's enables trees to be maintained at 15-18ft.

Nectarine
Best grown against a south-facing wall or inside a greenhouse. Hand pollination is recommended because of the early flowering season. Recommended varieties: Lord Napier - Early Rivers or Pineapple.

Peach
Best grown against a south-facing wall or against a greenhouse. Control of peach leaf curl is essential. Fruit ripens in August-September.

Pears
Pears are closely related to apples. They are trained into the same range of tree types and the basic rules for pruning are just the same.

Plums
Plums are the most popular of the stone fruit and they are also the easiest to grow.