The flavor of home-grown fruit is so much better than commercially grown crops that anyone who tastes it will be amazed. Fruit can be eaten fresh, made into conserves, preserved for later use, or cooked into delicious deserts.
Where to Grow Your Fruit Trees
Nearly all fruit trees prefer a sunny site. Poor crops will result if frost or insects damage the blossom on apple and pear trees. Pears are particularly vulnerable to frost because they tend to flower earlier than apple trees. Citrus fruits are the most hardy, but the roots do run a long way to find water, so unless there is plenty of it, keep them away from the vegetable garden.
In the Vegetable Garden
Should fruit trees be planted in the vegetable garden? There is no doubt that a fruit tree will do extremely well if planted in with the vegetables; but the vegetables will certainly suffer. This is because most fruit trees are gross feeders and need quite a lot of water when fruiting, so the vegetables will likely be starved of nutrients and not crop well.
Another problem could be root disturbance. If fruit trees are planted near root crops their roots will be disturbed when at harvest. The garden may also need to be thoroughly dug up at certain times, or sprayed with something that does not suit the fruit tree. However, if the garden is not a raised bed, it is possible to grow a small fruit tree in one corner where it can be left undisturbed.
Against a Wall
If space is limited, planting trained fruit trees such as espaliers, cordons and fans against a fence or wall may be an option. They can look very decorative and take up little room. Those fruit trees that prefer warmer conditions will thrive near to a wall that creates a micro-climate by reflecting heat.
A fence that is an eyesore can be disguised and beautified with espaliered fruit trees. It is not difficult to do this. Simply cut off any branches that grow on the front or back of the trunk. Only keep those that grow from the side. This should be done as the trees is growing of course; not left until it is mature.
In the Lawn
How about growing a fruit tree in the lawn? Fruit trees have glorious blossoms, pretty foliage and the ripening fruit is attractive too. Many fruit trees even have decorative foliage in the fall, so if planted in the middle of the lawn will be as attractive as any other feature tree. It will also provide shade for a seat and for the children and pets to play in. However, the grass should be kept back from the roots while it is becoming established. Fruit trees don’t like to compete with grass for their nutrients especially while they are small.
Small apple tree varieties like ‘Ballerina’ can be grown in pots on the patio. Other smaller fruiting trees can also be grown in large pots in a sheltered, sunny place. But fruit doesn’t always come on trees.
Fruiting Vines
What about growing berries? They are tasty and nutritious and make tasty jams or desserts – if the children don’t get to them first. Many berries grow on vines don’t take up much room on a trellis or fence. Some berry vines are thorny, so take this into account when planting them. A thorny vine dangling over a pathway can cause unpleasant scratches. Some berry vines may be ramblers rather than climbers so unless there is plenty of space, they will need to be kept pruned and trained along that fence.
Fruiting Bushes
Other berries grow on small bushes that will settle happily in the vegetable garden, or anywhere else they are planted. Blueberries grow on shrubs of various sizes, making them easy to pick as far as bending over is concerned.
Strawberries can be either grown in pots, in with the other flowers or vegetables, or in a garden dedicated to them. A small patch of garden covered with a sheet of black plastic with the strawberries planted through slits will give lots of good heat that strawberries love. It keeps the berries from getting dirty too.
With a modicum of planning, thought and imagination there really is no reason at all why fresh fruit cannot be grown, no matter how small the plot of ground.
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