Summer Fruit Alternatives for the Garden

Exciting New Fruiting Treats to Plant in the Backyard

Jun 17, 2009

There are a number of lesser known fruit that can enhance a small garden, and fill the dinner table with tasty treats.

It just takes a perusal through a garden catalogue or specialty plant nursery, to realize there are some new faces on the garden fruit scene. Sure there are still the old stand-bys such as strawberries, raspberries and rhubarb, but exotics are finding their way into the garden as well. Although these plants have been around a long time, they are new to western culture. Others are from the “old country” and never made the transition into the modern garden.

The interesting thing about many of these up and coming plants is that they are easy to grow, often very hardy, and provide decent yields. Gardeners just need to discover these little fruiting gems.

Tasty and Exotic Garden Fruit

Honeyberry – (Lonicera edulis) - Also called an edible honeysuckle or Haskaps; this shrub bears blue oblong fruit resembling blueberries in flavour. Not only is it hardy to -40, due to its Siberian origins, but also fruits before even the strawberries are ready. Two varieties are generally needed for pollination. Due to the demand by new U-Pick farms, this plant is often sold out at nurseries. As propagation continues it should be more readily available.

Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa) -With a fruit described as tasting like a mix of pineapple, citrus, and strawberry, this cousin to the tomatillo is an unusual plant. Bearing fruit inside little paper lanterns; the low growing plant produces an abundant harvest. Hardy to around zone 8 this plant should handle a few good frosts and still make it through. Easily grown from seed and it will self seed.

Strawberry Spinach – (Chenopodium capitatum) – It is neither a strawberry nor is it spinach, but it gives edible and nutritious leaves and an edible red berry. This old European variety is easy to grow and should self seed if given the chance.

Pepino “Melon Pear” – (Solanum muricatum) – This tropical plant doesn’t mind being container grown and rewards the gardener with an interesting fruit.

Apricot Tree Tomato – (Solanum quitoense) – This is definitely an unusual plant that once again defies its own name. Of tropical origins, this plant either needs to be green housed in the winter or treated like an annual. It produces unusual apricot colored fruit on its prehistoric looking branches. Although it likes hot temperatures, it requires diffused light as the leaves will sunburn.

Pineapple Guava – (Feijoa sellowiana) – A favorite fruit among those that have eaten it. Although it will need protection from frost, it makes a beautiful container plant.

Dwarf and Miniature Bananas – (Musa) – While many people are familiar with the Chinese fiber bananas sold in plant nurseries, few are aware that with a little care dwarf edible bananas are possible. A number of varieties exist that can be grown on the warmer coasts or wintered indoors in harsher climates. Look for the variety Truly Tiny which only grows to 2 feet tall!

Fig Tree – (Ficus carica) – For those gardeners with a mild climate, consider planting a fig tree. Most fig will even tolerate being container grown and are relatively easy to care for. Varieties such as Hardy Chicago are well known producers.

Where to Find Fruit Plants

Most of these plants are not that common in the average plant nursery. This is where specialty plant nurseries and online catalogue nurseries come into play. An internet search will often yield a name of a nursery or catalogue to find these plants. A few good ones to try are:

It only takes a little bit of imagination and sense of adventure to introduce some different plants to the garden, and a world of new wonders to the kitchen table.

The copyright of the article Summer Fruit Alternatives for the Garden in Orchards/Fruit Gardening is owned by Robert Oakes. Permission to republish Summer Fruit Alternatives for the Garden in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.