Growing your own fruit will not only save you money, but will help to save the environment as well. The more trees we plant, the healthier our local natural environmental will become. But, how do you start a fruit garden? Carry on reading when you want to know how to start a fruit garden anywhere.
How To Start A Fruit Garden Anywhere
It surprises many people, but you can start a fruit garden almost anywhere. Even if you just have a terrace or small garden, you can grow fruit trees.
Starting your own fruit garden, is all in the planning. There are a few things that you need to take into consideration before you go ahead and invest in fruit trees.
- Space – how much space do you have available
- The local climate – is it hot or cold?
- Access to water – fruit trees love water. If they can’t have access to water, they will not produce enough fruit.
- Tools – Having the right ones make your job much easier.
The Right Fruit Trees For Your Space
Apples is one of the easiest fruits to grow. The good thing about apple trees, is that they are a bit like people. They come in all shapes and sizes. You can grow apples in a pot on a terrace. In France, this is a popular way of cultivating smaller more delicately flavored apples.
Talk to your local garden centre or check online specialist growers. One thing is for certain, apple trees love terracotta pots. The best place to buy terracotta pots, is on Amazon. Your terracotta pot needs to be large to allow the apple tree to spread it roots out.
Needless to say, there are other tools that you will need. A good quality watering can, plant food, and a support. It is important to add the support at the same time you plant your apple tree.
Remember that the local climate plays a role. That is why you need to do your research before you buy your first apple tree.
Other small fruit trees for limited spaces include cherry and apricot trees. Surprisingly, apricot trees are very tolerant. When you live in a cooler part of the country, you can easily move them inside during cooler periods.
Can I Grow Fruit Trees Indoors?
Yes, you can. When you want to grow fruit trees indoors, you need to learn about pollination. If you can’t get friendly insects to pollinate your tree, you will have to learn how to do it yourself. Kim Eierman’s book The Pollinator Victory Garden gives you a fantastic insight into pollination.
Growing fruit trees indoors, is not something new. The Victorians were the masters of growing fruit trees in anything from living rooms to Orangeries. This is really a great way to start a fruit garden. The entire family can get involved and learn how fruit trees grow.
Fast growing indoor fruit trees include lemon, oranges, and mandarins. Kumquats are another fruit you should consider growing in your indoor fruit garden. They love to produce delicious fruits that taste great eaten on their own or turned into jams.
How To Start A Fruit Garden In A Small Urban Space
Can I grow fruit trees in a small urban garden? If you only have a couple of square foot to offer your fruit trees, there is no reason why you should not grow them.
However, this is where planning comes in. A year or so before you plant your fruit trees, it is a good idea to start growing pollinator plants. What are they? They simply are plants that attract pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies.
Don’t worry, you are not going to be wasting space. Most pollinator plants are useful plants that you can use in your kitchen. The best pollinator plants are herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and nasturtiums. The herb chives with its pretty pink flowers is often overlooked. It is a shame as its pretty pink flowers attracts friendly pollinators.
Flowering vegetables also help to attract pollinators to your plot. The best ones include, cucumber, bell peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini plants.
Planning ahead allows you to enjoy the best of everything. Before you know it, your plot will be producing vegetables, herbs, and fruit.
What Are The Benefits Of Having Your Own Fruit Garden?
Is starting your own fruit garden worth your while? Not only will a fruit garden give you fruit, but it is a fantastic hobby that will continue to grow. Once you have found out what fruits grow well in your garden or home, you can continue to expand your home grown range.
Feeding with organic feeds will help to keep your plants healthy and organic. The fruits that you grow will be healthier than fruits bought in the supermarket.
As you progress, your fruit garden will become more and more self-sustainable. It is important to remember that leaves produce compost. A good quality compost is something that you will need to keep the soil in your garden healthy. Invest in a composter right from the start and produce your own compost.
Gardening in a small place will also keep you fit. You be surprised how much aerobic activity gardeners do.
Environmental Benefits Of Fruit Gardening
There are also environmental benefits that you should take into consideration. All of those lovely herbs, fruit trees, and vegetables will convert harmful airborne compounds into oxygen. It is said that if we all planted a tree or a window box. the air quality in our cities would improve. So keep the right pruning tools for good tree health.
You will also be doing the soil in your small garden a favor. Critters such as worms and soil insects love a fruit garden. And yes, you may find some of them in your pot as well.
Finding out how to start a fruit garden is not complicated. It is a learning experience that has so much too offer all of us. Before you know it, you will be swapping fruits with other fruit gardeners and making your own fruit based produce. There is nothing like eating your own home-produced fruit. It tastes much better, and of course, you can grow the varieties of fruits that you and your family like.