Best fruit tree to plant?

scrimshanker

I'm thinking of planting a fruit tree in my parents' front garden. It's south facing and has sun all day. I'd be planting it in the lawn, which is currently a bit mossy. Drainage isn't exactly fantastic. Was thinking of a conference pear tree? Ideally want something full size, there's plenty of space all around where I'm thinking of putting it. I'm not a big fan of apples

macraignil

Conference pear seems like a good choice. Mine are starting to flower now and the older one I planted in my parent's garden had about fifty nice tasting pears on it last year.

johnb25

macraignil wrote: »

Conference pear seems like a good choice. Mine are starting to flower now and the older one I planted in my parent's garden had about fifty nice tasting pears on it last year.

Have you planted another pear with them for pollination?
I always thought there were certain 'pairings' required to pollinate pears.

macraignil

johnb25 wrote: »

Have you planted another pear with them for pollination?
I always thought there were certain 'pairings' required to pollinate pears.

I have a beurre hardy pear variety growing close to the conference pear in my parents garden which might help with pollination. I have read that conference is one of the few types of pear that is self fertile. Maybe there are more pears if there is some cross pollination.

Supercell

Victoria plum would be nice too, self fertile also.

scrimshanker

Thanks for the suggestions. Might go with both

worded

Mouth water here at the thoughts of picking ....

If I may jump in on this I'm looking for similar suggestions

Fruit tree that will peep over a 6 ft high wall, so first 6 ft gets 0 sun and some light ( get plenty of sun after 6ft ) and grow to a max of say 12 ft so I can harvest fruit.

Any ideas appreciated

worded

Out of interest, do plum trees attract loads of wasps ?

JIdontknow

worded wrote: »

Out of interest, do plum trees attract loads of wasps ?

We had a plum tree here (think it was a Victoria plum tree) and they were delicious tasting but yes there was lots of wasps around and in the fruit when they fell or ripened. The plums were really tasty though I have to say. Made jams, etc with them too.

josip

johnb25 wrote: »

Have you planted another pear with them for pollination?
I always thought there were certain 'pairings' required to pollinate pears.

Conference Pears are self pollinating.
We have one and got fruit from it last year.
Perhaps a nearby neighbour has a pollinator but I don't think so.