ABOUT US |  |
|
Our fruit nursery lies at an altitude of above 1000', amongst the Radnorshire hills of east Wales. It has unsurpassed isolation from other fruit growing areas and the very healthy conditions allow us to grow many of our stocks organically. In the past this has been a traditional livestock rearing farm and so is in excellent heart. We still have sheep and cattle and this allows us to naturally maintain fertility, to use long rotations and to utilise our permanent pastures and hill grazing. The photo above shows Grug farm with fruit fields and grazing sheep.
Our family started growing nursery fruit bushes 45 years ago and when we found that the other types of fruit grew so well here, we increased the range to include all the major types. We buy in the parent stocks at the highest health status available, to ensure that our plants are the healthiest possible. The stocks are grown at altitude and our customers tell us that the plants respond rapidly to softer environments and establish quickly. We have a wide range of strawberry plants (now all organically grown), raspberry canes and fruit bushes.
|
|
| |
Our customers too have been impressed by the vigour of the plants and the quality of their root systems. We believe that by reducing any stresses on the plants (and animals) a lot of the common problems can be reduced. Our organic plants are grown on our registered land and certified by Organic Farmers and Growers. We are pleased that we can produce the quality plants in such a sustainable way.
Being on the edge of several different habitats (heather moorland, ancient woodland, traditional grassland and small areas of wetland) the biodiversity is unique. It is good to be able to encourage the wildlife on the farm. We have recorded over 60 species of birds seen here, from redstarts to red kites. This year we welcomed some reed buntings during the spring, and we have also had a resident robin (shown below) in the fruit shed who took advantage of the biscuit crumbs at coffee time throughout the winter!
|
|
| |
Our conventionally grown plants are grown on a similar system to those organically grown, but they tend to be varieties that have less disease resistance or are very vigorous and we thus feel will be too 'high flying' for organic conditions. We need the option to be able to treat them in order to maintain the health status of the stocks.
We take great care of our plants throughout the seasons. We multiply our own parent stock wherever possible to give us control from the earliest stage. The raspberries, strawberries and parent bushes are entered into the Plant Health Propagation Scheme (PHPS) and are health inspected at intervals throughout the growing season.
Being members of several fruit breeding programmes we have access to many of the new improved varieties, but we also continue to grow some of the old favourites that rightly maintain their popularity. We hold one of the largest ranges of blackcurrant varieties including many of the new, more disease resistant 'Ben' varieties.
|
|
| |
We are fortunate to have our local, skilled staff who work with the plants all year round. It is their dedication, in all weathers, together with careful day-to-day management that ensures the high quality of our plants.Throughout the growing season we rely on hand hoeing, weeding and cultivation to keep the crops clean and to reduce the stress on the plants. Through the autumn, winter and spring, the plants are lifted, hand selected and carefully packed ready for despatch. We use a 24-hour delivery service or Royal Mail First Class post to ensure the plants reach you in prime condition.
Welsh Fruit Stocks is a small family business and our customers can be assured of a caring, personal service. We have been supplying gardeners with top quality plants since 1990 and have many very satisfied customers all over the country. There are very few opportunities in the UK where gardeners can buy direct from the propagators. This means the plants can be lifted from their beds and be in your garden within days, which is the ideal way to establish your soft fruit plants.
There is a strong demand for our plants so to avoid disappointment please order early.
Click here to see our plants |
|
