Fruit tree growing

How to grow fruit in the UK

This website provides extensive information on how to grow fruit in the UK, including pruning fruit trees, thinning, fruit tree pest control, planting fruit trees, training fruit trees as espalier, fan, cordon or stepover, and much more.

Fruit trees – essential activities in September 2020

Fruit trees are now reaching the stage of preparation for the coming winter months. From now on, fruit trees will not produce lots of new shoot growth. Fruit will have been harvested from various types of fruit trees. Others, such as apples and pears, are in the final stages of ripening. Harvesting and storage issues need to be considered and action needs to be taken.

Do not pick apples and pears too early, as the fruit will shrivel. Do not pick fruit too late, as it risks losing its flavour and storage qualities. Generally speaking, the earliest-ripening varieties are not so good for storage, and so it is best to use that fruit for immediate consumption. The varieties that ripen last usually have excellent keeping qualities. This will be the case as long as the fruits are not over-ripe when picked. Store those varieties in a cool well-ventilated area, free from rats and mice. Keep an eye on the fruit weekly and remove any rots which may be occurring, while in storage.

This is also a good time to evaluate tree health. The quality of the foliage will tell you a lot about the tree’s health status. Do not wait until the leaves have dropped. This is also the right time to make sure that tree ties are not too tight, and check that stakes have not broken during the recent period of gales and wet weather. Also ensure that the tree guard is still in good condition.

Lastly, trees react very positively to the application of organic manures. Worms will be active during the winter months to take the content into the soil, enabling the trees to take up the various nutritional elements. In addition, organic manures have a wonderful effect in improving soil structure.

Click here to discover all our fruit growing tips for September.

Contact us if you need personalized advice.

Watch a video tutorial about how to determine if fruit is ready to pick.

Dan featured in Suffolk Magazine

Dan and Henrietta Neuteboom have been featured in an article in Suffolk Magazine (October 2020) titled “Dan’s wonderful world of apples“. The article by Marion Welham conveys Dan’s lifelong passion for apples, from the age of 4 when apples were an important part of nutrition in occupied Holland, right up until today and his ambition to help anyone grow quality fruit in their garden. To read the article, click on the link below. Article and pdf courtesy of Archant/Suffolk Magazine.

Suffolk Magazine article

Trees in trouble

Sometimes, you may run into fruit tree problems. Perhaps you want to know how to prune an apple tree. Or a tree may have stopped growing, its leaves may have discoloured or curled up, or perhaps it simply doesn’t produce much fruit. Just contact Dan Neuteboom by email (enquiries@realenglishfruit.co.uk) or by using this web form, describing the fruit tree problem. Specify your location (fruit trees are site specific, and site visits are possible depending on your location), and include some photos if possible.

Video channel

The videos published on this website illustrate the critical stages of fruit development, from the period from blossom to fruit formation, in a chronological sequence throughout the year. Click here to see the videos currently available.

Watch a video tutorial on how to prune pears in August/September, narration by Dan Neuteboom, camera by John Paddy.

The healing power of nature

The healing force of nature, how to learn from the healing force of the universe and discover the beauty of life. Read Dan Neuteboom’s article about nature and healing.