Believe it or not ,this spindly , pruned apple is the start of a new food orchard of heirloom types like Staymans Winesap ,Court Pendu Plat and Pomme de Neige apples

After years of battling bugs ,birds ,drought ,leaf curl and other diseases ,I've built a trellis system to espalier fruit trees onto , and this is the start .With the trees on trellis I can net them ,water them with drippers from the polypipe in the picture ,spray them easily with Bordeaux ,prune to increased fruiting spurs and feed and fertlise easily .So far some apple trees and a few table grape varieties are on the trellis wit more planned for next year --too late this season now ,with most fruit trees in full growth mode .My nectarines ,cherries and plums which aren't on the trellis but in raised beds ,are all putting on the growth spurt .Plenty of fruit in the future !

The old tractor in the picture is my old Fordson , a bit cannibalised for parts now to keep the neighbours' machine running --which I get to borrow as needed -so we all benefit .I'll have to borrow it to tow the old girl away to the shed ,she's in the way now ,next to the raised part of the garden where the trellis best fitted .