Alan wrote:

Grateful for any advice.

I'm planning over the next couple of months to plant a reasonable
number of fruit trees along the wall of my garden.

The main wall is about 5-6ft high,almost 100ft long and faces west.

There is a second section - approx same height and around 30ft long
facing north.

Not exactly a Victorian walled garden - if only! - but I think could
work well nonetheless.

I live in central London so extreme low temperatures in winter are
fairly unusual (although clearly nothing is guaranteed).

I would like to grow a good variety of fruit trees - apples, pears,
peaches, apricots, plums, figs, grapes + possibly some soft fruit -
raspberries, blackberries, etc.

Some questions:
* is now-ish a good time to get digging & planting?
* how easy is it to train a fig tree along a wall? I've had a free
standing one before but it was quite in an exposed spot 400ft ASL and
although it survived it didn't really prosper
* what sort of rootstock to go for? Will I be best with the really
dwarfing types & am I also right in thinking that they'll give me a
crop sooner?
* how to choose the right "shape" of tree - fans, espaliers, etc.?
(this is a real mystery to me)
* how will the more delicate trees (peaches, figs, grapes) fare on a
west facing wall in a wet & windy winter??
* I've not grown olives before but I've heard rumours that it can be
done and that with a great deal of TLC & a bit of luck with the weather
they can even be persuaded to crop - is this true or just wishful
thinking?
* what's the best way to support the trees? Hoops & wires along the
wall?
* Will the north facing wall be a dead loss for fruit trees? Or is
there something that will thrive there?
* How close to plant the trees together?

Lots of questions I know...

Alternatively, if I wanted to enlist the help of a professional in
laying the thing out & generally holding my hand, how would I go about
it & what might it cost (design work only - I can do the digging &
planting myself)? Any recommendations (of individuals)? Ironically,
Tommy Walsh only lives a couple of streets away from me, but
unfortunately I don't have room for decking & a pergola!

Thanks v much,

KF
Three years ago I planted pears, plum, sweet cherry and peach along a
SSE facing wall, being trained as espalier in the case of the pears and
the rest fan. I have a very good book The Royal Hort. Soc. Pruning and
Training. However the trees don't always grow the way they should! :-(
I bought mine from Ken Muir, pre-trained, he throws quite a good book in
with the order, or did. However if I did it again I would by 1 year
maidens, if there is somewhere near it would be ideal to go and choose.
They just started fruiting this year in earnest, if the wasps had not
eaten 60% of the peaches and 100% of the plums I would have done well.
The peaches were the biggest success, though peach leaf curl is a
problem. This is in the low area of North Staffordshire.
Best train them along horizontal wires stood off a few inches from the
walls. The espalier wires need tightening with strainers, but the fans
are fine with hand tightened wires.