BCO Tree Information

Site Details

The What3Words location of the centre of the site is ///think.firework.imported. It shows the site and the location of over 45m of hedging and the initial 22 trees.

Orchard Tree Details

The trees we have ordered for the initial phase of the orchard are:

Apple Varieties

1. Falstaff (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Falstaff is self-fertile and also serves as a good pollinator for other apple trees. It produces crisp, juicy apples with a sweet flavour.
2. Katy (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Partially self-fertile; yields improve with a pollination partner. Katy apples are bright red, with a refreshing taste, perfect for eating fresh or making cider.
3. Cox’s Orange Pippin (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Requires a pollination partner. It’s renowned for its rich, complex flavour—an all-time favourite among apple enthusiasts.
4. Bramley (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Culinary (Cooking) Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3 / 4
   • Notes: Bramley is a triploid variety, meaning it needs two different pollination partners. It’s the quintessential cooking apple, known for its sharp taste that mellows when cooked.
5. Grenadier (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Culinary (Cooking) Apple
   • Pollination Group: 2
   • Notes: Not self-fertile; requires a pollination partner. Grenadier is one of the earliest cooking apples, great for making sauces and pies.
6. James Grieve (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dual-purpose Apple (Dessert and Culinary)
   • Pollination Group: 2
   • Notes: Partially self-fertile; better crops with cross-pollination. It’s versatile—tart when picked early, sweetening as it matures.
7. Discovery (Rootstock: MM106)
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Partially self-fertile; benefits from a pollination partner. Discovery is early-ripening, with a sweet flavour and a hint of strawberry.
8. Jelly King Crab Apple
   • Type: Crab Apple
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: An excellent pollinator for the orchard. Produces large, bright pink fruits ideal for jellies and attract pollinators like bees.
9. Braeburn Clone Hillwell (Rootstock: MM106) 4 off
   • Type: Dessert Apple
   • Pollination Group: 4
   • Notes: Vigorous and productive, but low maintenance.  Crisp, red-skinned fruit with balanced flavour, good for eating or suitable for baking and salads.

Pear Varieties

1. Conference (Rootstock: Quince A) 4 off
   • Type: Dessert Pear
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Partially self-fertile but yields improve with a pollination partner. Conference pears are sweet, juicy, and reliable performers.
2. Williams’ Bon Chrétien (Green William) (Rootstock: Quince A)
   • Type: Dessert Pear
   • Pollination Group: 3
   • Notes: Not self-fertile; requires a pollination partner. Known for its aromatic, buttery flesh—delicious fresh or in desserts.

Plum Variety

1. Victoria (Rootstock: St. Julien A) 4 off
   • Type: Dual-purpose Plum (Dessert and Culinary)
   • Pollination: Self-fertile
   • Notes: No pollination partner needed. Victoria is a classic plum with sweet, juicy fruits—great eaten fresh or used in jams.

Damson Variety

1. Shropshire Prune (Rootstock: St. Julien A)
   • Type: Damson (Culinary)
   • Pollination: Partially Self-fertile
   • Notes: Will fruit on its own, but a nearby plum or damson can boost yields. It produces small, rich-flavoured fruits perfect for preserves and baking.

Tree Location Details

Additional Information

• Pollination Groups: Fruit trees are grouped based on their flowering time. Trees in the same or adjacent groups can cross-pollinate.
  • Group 2: Early flowering
  • Group 3: Mid-season flowering
  • Group 4: Late flowering
• Rootstocks:
  • MM106 (Apples): Semi-vigorous; ideal for medium-sized trees. Good balance between size and fruiting.
  • Quince A (Pears): Semi-vigorous; produces a moderate-sized tree with good fruit production.
  • St. Julien A (Plums/Damsons): Semi-vigorous; suitable for a range of soil conditions and produces reliable crops.

Cross-Pollination Tips

Shropshire Prune benefits from nearby plum trees for increased yield.

Apples:

Since many of the apple varieties are in Group 3, they can effectively pollinate each other. Braeburn apples are self-fertile, which means they do not necessarily need another apple variety to pollinate and produce fruit. However, having a compatible pollination partner can improve fruit yield and quality. Some good pollination partners for Braeburn include Cox’s Orange Pippin, Discovery, and Golden Delicious.

Bramley is a triploid; it cannot pollinate other trees but needs two other different varieties nearby for good fruit set.

Jelly King Crab Apple is a fantastic pollinator for all the apples, extending the pollination period due to its abundant blossoms.

Pears:

Both Conference and Williams’ Bon Chrétien are in Group 3 and can cross-pollinate.

Conference being partially self-fertile means it will produce fruit alone but will yield more with a partner.

Plums and Damsons:

Victoria is self-fertile but will produce heavier crops with a pollination partner.