The Fruit Garden

A continuous supply of fresh, juicy fruit throughout the summer is a bonus to any garden. The convenience of just popping outside to pick a few strawberries or apples for dessert far outweighs the tedious trip to the supermarket. The good news is fruit growing isn’t difficult – it just takes some care and attention.

Basic Care

Pruning fruit trees at the right time and using the right method is important to help encourage a crop bursting with fruit. There are different methods of pruning different fruits and if you’re a beginner it’s advisable to either use a good book to show you what to do, or book yourself onto a short pruning course if there’s one run locally. Newspapers, garden centres and colleges are good places to look for advertised courses. Remember, you’ll only need to learn once and then you’ll be an expert!

A general rule is not to prune until the leaves have fallen naturally in autumn. Then, as long as pruning is complete by the end of February the new growth should be strong and healthy.

A problem for the fruit gardener are the birds that love our fruit as much as we do. Whilst it’s good to encourage wild birds to the garden we don’t want them to digest all our hard-earned efforts. Protection is the key, with nets or specially designed fruit cages. Timing is crucial – if you know you’re likely to have a problem with unwanted dinner guests cover up as soon as the fruits start to appear.

Which Fruit?

There are no rules in the fruit garden. Whatever you enjoy you should attempt to grow: strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, apples, pears, redcurrants, blackcurrants, rhubarb, cherries, plums, blueberries ………..

It’s also possible to grow Mediterranean fruits in the UK climate, such as citrus, figs, grapes and melons. All these love sun, warmth and shelter and need to be protected from frost or damp conditions.

Oranges, lemons, limes and mandarins are perfect for growing in containers on the patio. The dwarf varieties available can produce an abundance of fruit.
Don’t forget to move them inside when the temperature drops.

Fancy making your own wine from your own grapes? Grape growing is fairly easy. The vines will need shelter and the support of a pergola or protected wall.

Fruit Ideas

Stuck for a birthday or anniversary gift? Fruit trees can be the perfect choice, either for yourself or someone else. Give a fruit tree as a gift and the recipient has a constant memory of you.

You’ll have plenty of friends when you give away your fruit in summer because you’ve had such a bumper harvest! You could try baskets containing your own fruit as gifts for family and friends.

And of course let’s not forget jam making! The abundance of fruit you’re likely to get shouldn’t be wasted. Apples can be stored but many other fruits need to be used straight away. Spend an afternoon making preserves and when you reach for your pot of jam to spread on your toast in the morning in the winter, you’ll be reminded of those warm sunny days!