I Would Like Some Advise Please.? From Gardeners Who Have Planted Fruit

[lilacben]

trees in there garden. I have four to put into a garden which are at the moment in containers.... however when I read online how to plant them I keep getting ..plant before end of feb...or in the spring.. Then it goes on to say do not plant if the ground is frosty.? Now it has been very cold and frosty here and I do not know what to do.? Should they be planted now or wait.?
Also another question .. if I may.... when the hole is dug ready....I have read also to put compost in the hole before the tree is put in ...Should anything be added to it.?
Many thanks

[woofgang]

How long have they been in the containers and where are they? (garage? shed? sheltered area of garden?)

[lilacben]

Not sure how long in the containers as I bought them from Homebase.... but bought them home and have them under our car port so they are protected from the weather...but they are still outside..if you know what I mean....

[Tilly2]

What are they?

[lilacben]

Cherry ..Plum and Pear. x

[lilacben]

Plus I have to get an apple as well.

[Tilly2]

I would say leave them where they are until the ground warms up a bit. It's too cold to plant them out at the moment.

[ladybirder]

I'd leave them a bit and see what the weather's like beginning March. And just remember to keep them watered during the first two years especially.

Be warned though. I have had a 5-year-old plum and a cherry for about 3 years which have been loaded with fruit but I've never eaten one yet. The blackbirds have got there first and stripped every last one. This year we have put a fruit cage over so we'll see if I have any luck. i don't know whether this is the norm or I'm particularly unlucky.

[Tilly2]

I have blueberries, apples, plums and raspberries.....all grown for the birds!

[woofgang]

I agree. leave them where they are now until spring proper. If you think they need a bit more shelter then you can wrap them in old net curtains or buy a roll of frost fleece. What you put in the hole when you plant out depends on the quality and type of your soil. In good deep well cultivated soil, then nothing needed except maybe some slow release fertiliser. If your drainage is poor, add gravel. if you soil is sandy then plenty of compost, either home made or tree and shrub compost bought by the sack.
I give mine the rolls royce treatment and, as well as compost, put a mycorrhyzal fungus preparation and water retention gel crystals in the hole as well to give the plant the best chance to get away and also a water reservoir at the roots because my clay soil dries out rock hard in summer and I am on a meter and can't go around watering like a mad thing.

[ladybirder]

Thanks Tilly, now you've made me feel really rotten:-(

[Chipchopper]

I agree strongly with others, hold back on planting them out until the weather improves and all signs of frost have gone, planting in frozen ground is a no no in my book.
Some garden compost from where you bought the trees, should help with root development, just mix some in with the top soil.O' and keep them well watered until established.