Growing Fruit
The ultimate reward for a gardener is being able to provide the family with the freshest and tastiest crops they deserve. It’s something everybody should try. What could be better than eating a handful of freshly picked berries right from the bush, or eating a crisp juicy apple from your own tree? The better taste is so obvious compared to the ones you can buy from the supermarket, which could have been in storage for months, during which time they lose both taste and nutritional quality.
Fruit Trees
Apples, pears, cherry and plum are best purchased as dormant, bare rooted stock. Try and select disease resistant varieties and you will find that young trees will become established more quickly. They tend to have a long life and will provide a spectacular flowering show in the springtime. The large trees of days gone by are too big for the average garden these days so dwarf or semi dwarf stocks are now very popular. To enable pollination which is carried out by bees, some species need a different variety planted close by. It is also thought that those that are self pollinating will bear larger crops if another variety is planted close by.
Prune to remove dead or diseased branches or any that are crossing over in the spring while the tree is still dormant so you are able to see clearly what you are doing, the aim is to open up the tree to allow sunlight in. Regular spraying will help stop any insects before they do any harm and you may need to protect against deer or the like, If you find that you have an excessive crop and the branches are being weighed down then you may need to thin out; this will avoid damage and preserve the trees strength for the following year.
Citrus varieties including orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and tangerine have evergreen foliage and aromatic flowers. They prefer a hot sunny spot with a good draining sandy soil a neutral pH level. There are lots of dwarf varieties available which are suitable for growing on the balcony or even inside which means that they can still be grown by gardeners in the cooler northern zones.
Small Bushes
Strawberries, currants, blueberries and gooseberries are easy small bushes to grow and require little ongoing maintenance. Provide plenty of sunlight and well draining soil with lots of organic matter dug in. Most berries do best with a slightly acidic soil with a pH in the range of 5.5-6.5.
Vines
Melons, grapes and cranberries all grow on vines. Melons are warm season plants which prefer light sandy soil and are replaced every year. Grapes and cranberries on the other hand take about 3 years to become established. Grapes like a sandy soil with average fertility and good drainage and there are some cold tolerant varieties available. The cranberry is suited to a moderate climate so can be grown in zones 2-5 and prefers a very fertile, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5-5.5.
Fruit gardening will complement the vegetables you grow and you will harvest superior tasting nutritious crops which all your family (and friends) will love.
Hints and tips on growing common fruits:
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