Cordon (Columnar) Fruit Trees

Are you passionate about growing your own fruit but worried about limited space? Cordon fruit trees might be the perfect solution for you. These slender, columnar trees are ideal for small gardens, patios, or even balconies, allowing you to enjoy a bountiful harvest without sacrificing precious space.

The modern way to grow fruit trees is to train them as vertical cordons. These space-saving columnar trees are attractive as well as fruitful and are perfect for smaller gardens. They can be spaced as close as 60-90cm (2-3ft) apart and are also ideal planted in containers on a sunny patio or balcony.

Cordons should have their ultimate height restricted to 1.8-2.4m (6-8ft) and their fruiting laterals pruned during the summer months in order to retain their compact columnar shape. To ensure rapid establishment, cordon fruit trees are supplied bare-rooted and are approximately 1-1.2m (3-4ft) tall on despatch (including the roots).

What are cordon fruit trees?

Cordon fruit trees, often referred to as columnar fruit trees, are specially trained to grow vertically with short lateral branches. This growing method results in a narrow, upright tree that is typically restricted to 1.8-2.4m (6-8ft) in height while maintaining a width of less than 60-90cm (2-3ft). The compact nature of these trees makes them an excellent choice for those with limited gardening space or those looking to maximise their fruit production in a confined area.

Benefits of choosing cordon fruit trees

• Space-saving: Perfect for small gardens or urban environments.
• Easy maintenance: Pruning and harvesting are simplified due to the tree’s compact form.
• Large choice of varieties: Choose from a wide range of apple, pear, cherry, plum, gage and damson.
• Aesthetic appeal: Create an attractive, orderly look in your garden.

Popular cordon fruit tree varieties

At Pomona Fruits, we offer a diverse selection of cordon fruit trees for sale, including:

• Apple ‘Braeburn Hillwell’: A sport of Braeburn apple with enhanced flavour and colour, better suited to the British climate. Its crisp, aromatic fruits have excellent storage properties.
• Pear ‘Concorde’: A versatile pear variety suitable for both dessert and culinary use, with medium-large pale green fruits and smooth, juicy, sweet flesh. It’s a reliable and heavy cropper from an early age, inheriting desirable traits from its Doyenné du Comice and Conference parents.
• Plum ‘Victoria’: The UK’s most renowned plum variety, introduced in 1840, with pinkish-red fruits and sweet, yellow, juicy flesh. Excellent for both fresh eating and cooking, it produces a distinctive pink syrup and almond aroma when cooked. Its frost-resistant blossom make it suitable for northern climates.
• Cherry ‘Stella’: A popular dessert cherry known for its resistance to bacterial canker and reliable, heavy cropping. It produces large, dark red fruits that are sweet and juicy, making it a favourite among cherry growers.

Pollination

Many of our fruit trees are self-fertile and will pollinate themselves satisfactorily. However, some varieties of apple, pear, plum and cherry are not self-fertile and will require a pollinator from the same species. To ensure adequate pollination choose two varieties from the same species that are in the same flowering group or one group apart.

Planting and caring for your cordon fruit trees

To ensure the best results from your cordon fruit trees, follow these essential tips:

• Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil.
• Grow your trees vertically (using a stake to support each tree) or against a wall or fence using wires.
• Water regularly during dry spells.
• Prune regularly to maintain the tree’s shape and encourage fruit production.
• Feed in the spring with a balanced fertiliser to promote healthy growth.

Why choose Pomona Fruits for your cordon fruit trees?

When you’re looking to buy cordon fruit trees in the UK, Pomona Fruits is your trusted source. We offer:

• Trees grown in the UK.
• High-quality, disease-resistant varieties.
• Expert advice on selection and care.
• Trees suitable for our UK climate, including northern and wet regions.
• Competitive pricing and excellent customer service.

Don’t let limited space hold you back from enjoying home-grown fruit. Explore our range of cordon fruit trees today and transform your garden into a productive and beautiful oasis.

Browse our selection of cordon fruit trees and start your journey towards a bountiful harvest, no matter the size of your garden.

Don’t forget to include tree stakes and ties on your order. All young fruit trees require staking and for better establishment we strongly advise using Rootgrow when planting (as recommended in RHS planting guidelines).