"Spider" wrote in message
...

Duncan Heenan wrote in message
...
I am about to start planting phase 2 of my orchard (non-commercial) which
I
am developing, having just finished terracing it with retaining walls. I
would appreciate any suggestions on what to plant. I am looking for
something a little 'different', but low maintenance (so no soft fruit).
Phase 1 has : Black Mulberry, Cherry, Pears (conference & Williams),
Apples( Cox Orange Pippin, Bramley, Granny Smith, George Cave, Deacons
Millennium), Plums (Victoria, Purple Pershore, Damson), Greengages
(Cambridge Gage, Laxton's superb), a peach & a nectarine. On another wall
I
have 7 grape vines.
My woods already have walnut, hazel & Kent cob in among a mixture of
native
tress dominated by sycamore, beech and oak. There is a badger set in the
woods (they regularly vandalise my lawn), red squirrels and a large
variety
of birds, including a number of resident woodpeckers. Moles thrive also.
Phase 2 is smaller, about 30metres by 7 metres, but a sun trap - very
sheltered with a south facing back wall. It is on the south of the Isle
of
Wight, about 1/2 mile from the sea with a mild climate and frosts are
rare
and moderate. The soil is reasonably moist but well drained, not rich,
and
is a mixture of clay and sandstone, and I shall have little chance of
improving it much.
I have already decided to have some apricot fans on the back wall, and a
couple of olive trees, but now I've run out of ideas. Ideas please! Over
to
you.
Duncan


You could give bananas a try - it would be a real coup if you could pick
your own fruit. I'm tempted to say dates, but perhaps that's beyond Sth
IOW
weather!

Someone else suggested Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). It's a
terrific-looking tree and it would definitely fruit for you there. I grow
one on heavy London clay and often have fruiting success - and they're so
delicious.

How about hops - you could make your own beer. Or sloes, indeed, if
you're
a gin drinker.

I'm really, really envious of you. Hubby and I requently visit the Isle of
Wight and can entirely appreciate your climate. You may even get some
advice from the Ventnor Botanic Garden, esp. if you join their Friends'
Society.

Enjoy your orchard,
Spider

Thanks. We're only about 3 miles from Ventnor Botanic Gardens, and have the
same micro climate.