Buying Fruit Trees
It is generally best to buy fruit trees when they are young, as they will become established quickly and may be shaped and trained to whatever form you require. Although it may be tempting to select plants that have already been trained, do bear in mind that fruit trees become increasingly difficult to transplant after their third year.
'Maidens' are untrained one year old trees. Feathered maidens naturally produce branches in their first year, whilst maiden whips have little or no branching.
Specialist fruit nurseries are often the best and most reliable source of supply. Most will have a large selection of maidens, which will have little or no formative pruning. There will often also be a smaller selection of two or three year old trees; these should have a well developed branch structure and may either have had some formative pruning towards a form appropriate to their respective rootstock or be fully trained into a specialised form such as a fan, espalier or cordon.
Make sure that any tree is healthy with sturdy growth, and that any more mature plants have well-spaced laterals. There should be no sign of damage, disease or pest infestation. Wherever possible, buy fruits that are certified free from disease.
Typical maiden apple, pear and cherry trees are usually 4-6 ft high, whilst maiden plums are often taller at 6-8 ft.
Although bare-root trees are often considered to be the best form to plant fruit trees, you may also find examples that have been container-grown. Bare-rooted trees will only be available in late autumn and winter when the plants are dormant, whilst container-grown plants are available all year round. When selecting a bare-root plant, look for one with a well-balanced root system, making sure that it hasn't dried out. Avoid any container-grown trees that are pot-bound as they rarely establish well.