‘Grow your own’ is becoming more and more popular – what could be better than to walk down the garden and pick the freshest fruit from your own trees and bushes!
You don’t need to plant a whole orchard, one or two specimen trees and some soft fruit plants around the garden will fill your fruit bowl with plenty to spare! If space is an issue there are many types of fruit which can be successfully grown in patio containers or even in hanging baskets.
When deciding which types of fruit to grow, be aware that you may need a greenhouse for the more exotic fruit so a good rule is to select fruit which is native to this country – and of course your own preference for eating!
With fruit trees or bushes, spend time choosing your particular variety as they will be a permanent feature in your garden and you need to make certain of a good harvest year after year.
Site and Soil
Fruit trees and shrubs need to grow in a sunny position in order for the fruit to ripen so choose your site carefully.
Well drained soil is most important as waterlogged roots can kill fruit trees and bushes. If you have clay soil you will need to dig it over and add organic compost to improve drainage.
Another option would be to plant the tree or shrub on a raised area; then create a slope with the soil away from the base to allow water to drain away.
Container grown fruit
There are many dwarf varieties of fruit trees which can be grown in containers, as well as strawberries, gooseberries and raspberries. Container grown fruit will need a little more attention than fruit grown in open ground, such as regular feeding and watering to prevent the roots drying out.
Dwarf trees will need re-potting every couple of years to avoid them becoming pot bound.
Pests and Diseases
Vigilance is required to minimise the pests which can attack your fruit growing efforts. There are many environmentally friendly ways of dealing with pests by attracting beneficial insects and wildlife to your garden.
Aphids can be kept at bay by providing habitats for ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies to breed, such as a stack of twigs or hollow logs. Nettles, yarrow and clover will also help to attract these valuable insects.
Netting placed over ripening fruit or old CD’s hung on string in trees act as a bird deterrent and hedgehogs and frogs should be encouraged to prey on slugs and snails.
To minimise disease taking hold of your fruit trees and shrubs it is important to maintain hygiene by removing any fallen fruit and leaves, cut out any damaged or diseased areas and prune according to the individual requirements of your tree or bush.
But don’t be deterred by a few potential problems – there is always a solution to be found to ensure your fruit crops are productive year after year.
