Bare root fruit trees from Blackmoor Nurseries

If you’re thinking of putting in a fruit tree, now’s the time to be doing something about it. Blackmoor Nurseries in Hampshire have an excellent, easy-to-navigate website offering about seventy varieties of apple, as well as stone fruit, cob trees and soft fruit.

The apple section is particularly helpful, with each variety listed with its pollination group, history and notes on taste.

Although not organic, Blackmoor say they use natural predators and keep spraying to a minimum. There’s lots of information and plenty of photos of cultivars, with detailed advice on planting and caring for your purchases.

I bought a Bramley from them a couple of years ago. They were very patient with my questions and the tree arrived promptly, looking very healthy. I’m glad to say that it’s still healthy despite suffering flooded roots in some very heavy rain last year, and this year was allowed its first harvest of three big apples.

You can’t beat Bramleys in a crumble.