Apple Orchards

[ollymuk]

Hi all

I'm approaching retirement over the next decade and, before I die, I always wanted to have a field and grow stuff, for reasons I can't really articulate. Am I mad?

My thought is to rent a handful of acres on a long term lease, and grow some apple trees. I figure that I should get a basic crop before I retire, and probably a decent crop by retirement. In my mind it's not meant to be a business, but of course it would be a waste to waste such a crop so I will probably make some cider to sell at the local cider shop (I do like a pint, purely on hotter days you understand), and perhaps any other apple related things.

Really I just wanted to put down my thoughts and ask am I nuts? Am I alone in getting to a certain age and thinking, you know what, I'd rather be outside than in front of a spreadsheet?

Olly

 

[Kidds]

Finding someone to rent a field for you to plant apple trees in will be the first and biggest hurdle. The rest is fairly easy.
I sort of retired about 5 years ago and planted an apple orchard but it was what I did before I retired too so not much of a change.
You should expect some sort of harvest in year 3 and a pretty much full harvest by year 5. Lots of things can alter that but a rough guideline.

 

[Wooly]

You are retired and want to grow tress !?!

I like a person who is optimistic and believe you will live long enough to see many harvests........ but have you ever thought about growing veg. At least they are harvested in a shorter space of time !

I'm only kidding. Good luck to you.

What is your location ? Plenty of run down orchards in this location that perhaps would be willing to let you take them on................and you will get a harvest from year one !

 

[ladycrofter]

You'll soon be addicted to them! Have a go just now at doing your own grafts. It's fun and very rewarding when you see the first signs of life. And there's so many weird and wonderful varieties. Do get proper grafting pliers, makes the job easier.
They need a few years to get going and should be ready to plant when you retire. I've had some in buckets for 6 years, mind not producing but it does them no harm to wait.
I get rootstock and scions from gb-online, I'm sure there are others. @Kidds is the expert but I've had best luck with M26 rootstock. Late winter is the usual grafting season.
And pruning! Nothing like pruning your own apple trees
From my 3 trees years ago, heading for the neighbours cider press! Mostly Red Devil and Scrumptious.

 

[Bogweevil]

Great idea - https://www.orchardnetwork.org.uk/

 

[delilah]

Great idea - https://www.orchardnetwork.org.uk/

Was going to share the below 'common ground' link, but maybe the 'orchard network' is its successor ?

http://www.englandinparticular.info/orchards/o-counties.html

 

[britt]

You need specific varieties for cider which aren't great for other uses.
If you grow desert varieties you may find a good market from local farm shops but grow enough of each to give continuation of supply ie don't grow 1 tree of many different types.
Bramleys will always sell as people know them and they yield and store well.

 

[Kidds]

Probably the main reason I do what I do. Photos never do them justice.

 

[Bongodog]

What part of the UK are you in ? are there any local apple growers who could give you the experience you will need to look after trees, pruning in the middle of the winter is not for everyone. As to renting land to plant trees, I can't see anyone wanting to rent you land for 10 years for this purpose as they would end up with the potential for a big clearance expenditure at the end. Really you need to be buying.