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How Do I... Grow Fruit at Home?
An expert reveals the easiest low-maintenance fruits that even a novice gardener can grow at home
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning design, decorating and gardening questions. Here, horticulturist and Yates horticultural consultant Angie Thomas reveals the easiest fruiting plants for you to grow at home.
Strawberries
Strawberries are easy to grow in a sunny spot on the deck or patio. They also take up hardly any room – you can grow them in a container or a hanging basket. Strawberries have pretty white flowers and the red fruit is very decorative (if you can stop yourself from eating them). You can harvest strawberries within six months of planting new plants.
When to plant: Strawberries can be planted at any time of year, but do best when planted between late autumn and winter.
Strawberries are easy to grow in a sunny spot on the deck or patio. They also take up hardly any room – you can grow them in a container or a hanging basket. Strawberries have pretty white flowers and the red fruit is very decorative (if you can stop yourself from eating them). You can harvest strawberries within six months of planting new plants.
When to plant: Strawberries can be planted at any time of year, but do best when planted between late autumn and winter.
Dwarf citrus trees
Dwarf citrus trees such as lemons, limes, oranges and mandarins can be grown in the garden or in pots on a sunny balcony. These trees are compact, only growing to around two metres tall, but still produce delicious regular-sized fruit. They have gorgeous white fragrant flowers in spring, glossy green leaves and then colourful fruit, so they’re both attractive and productive.
A dwarf citrus will start bearing small crops of fruit within two years.
When to plant: Dwarf citrus trees can be planted in any season, but do best when planted in early to mid spring, or early to mid autumn. This gives them time to establish before the hottest and coolest weather arrives.
Dwarf citrus trees such as lemons, limes, oranges and mandarins can be grown in the garden or in pots on a sunny balcony. These trees are compact, only growing to around two metres tall, but still produce delicious regular-sized fruit. They have gorgeous white fragrant flowers in spring, glossy green leaves and then colourful fruit, so they’re both attractive and productive.
A dwarf citrus will start bearing small crops of fruit within two years.
When to plant: Dwarf citrus trees can be planted in any season, but do best when planted in early to mid spring, or early to mid autumn. This gives them time to establish before the hottest and coolest weather arrives.
Blueberries
These can fruit for weeks between late spring and summer, and are easy to grow in a good-sized container or a spot out in the garden with well-drained soil. You’ll be able to harvest a few blueberries in the first year, with increasing harvests each year after that. A potted blueberry plant will grow to around 1.5 metres tall.
Strawberries and blueberries are great for kids to care for and harvest. They’re so sweet and tasty that kids won’t realise they’re healthy!
When to plant: Any time of year will work, but blueberries will perform best when planted between late autumn and winter.
Image: Angie Thomas
These can fruit for weeks between late spring and summer, and are easy to grow in a good-sized container or a spot out in the garden with well-drained soil. You’ll be able to harvest a few blueberries in the first year, with increasing harvests each year after that. A potted blueberry plant will grow to around 1.5 metres tall.
Strawberries and blueberries are great for kids to care for and harvest. They’re so sweet and tasty that kids won’t realise they’re healthy!
When to plant: Any time of year will work, but blueberries will perform best when planted between late autumn and winter.
Image: Angie Thomas
Passionfruit vines
These can grow quite large and are best suited to bigger pots, or to being planted out in the garden. There they’ll do a wonderful job of covering a fence or growing up and over a pergola to create a shady haven. You’ll get some fruit in the first year, with more coming in subsequent years as the vine grows.
When to plant: All year round, but like citrus they establish best when planted in early to mid spring, or early to mid autumn.
These can grow quite large and are best suited to bigger pots, or to being planted out in the garden. There they’ll do a wonderful job of covering a fence or growing up and over a pergola to create a shady haven. You’ll get some fruit in the first year, with more coming in subsequent years as the vine grows.
When to plant: All year round, but like citrus they establish best when planted in early to mid spring, or early to mid autumn.
Dwarf or columnar apples
The perfect choices for pots and tight spaces. Dwarf and columnar apple trees grow to just a few metres tall and require little or no pruning. They will start bearing small crops of fruit within two years.
To improve pollination and fruit set, grow at least two compatible apple trees. It’s the perfect excuse to have your own mini orchard.
When to plant: In winter while they are dormant.
The perfect choices for pots and tight spaces. Dwarf and columnar apple trees grow to just a few metres tall and require little or no pruning. They will start bearing small crops of fruit within two years.
To improve pollination and fruit set, grow at least two compatible apple trees. It’s the perfect excuse to have your own mini orchard.
When to plant: In winter while they are dormant.
Pineapple guava
This exotic-looking plant produces delicious pineapple-flavoured fruit in autumn that you can use in jams, cakes and fruit salads. Pineapple guavas can start yielding fruit around two years after planting.
When to plant: Any time of year, but like citrus and passionfruit they establish best when planted in the milder temperatures of early to mid spring, or early to mid autumn.
This exotic-looking plant produces delicious pineapple-flavoured fruit in autumn that you can use in jams, cakes and fruit salads. Pineapple guavas can start yielding fruit around two years after planting.
When to plant: Any time of year, but like citrus and passionfruit they establish best when planted in the milder temperatures of early to mid spring, or early to mid autumn.
Tips for success
- Fruiting plants can be quite hungry, so it’s best to give each plant its own space so it has room to grow and doesn’t have to compete with other plants for nutrients and moisture.
- To keep fruiting plants productive, keep the soil or potting mix moist and feed them regularly with a potassium- enriched plant food (I’d recommend Thrive Soluble Flower & Fruit Plant Food) that encourages lots of flowers and fruit.
- Most fruiting plants prefer protection from strong winds, as this can damage flowers and fruit and reduce the harvest. Choose a sunny spot that receives at least six hours of sunshine a day, and is protected from harsh winds.
Tell us
Do you grow your own fruit? Tell us your tips for success in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.
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Do you grow your own fruit? Tell us your tips for success in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.
More
Read more ‘How Do I…’ stories
Whether you’ve got a large backyard or a small deck or patio, there are lots of different varieties of fruit you can grow that will provide you with a healthy and convenient source of sweet produce throughout the year. And once your fruiting plants or trees are established, you’ll start saving money at the supermarket too.