Did you know there are around 2,500 varieties of apples that grow in the U.S.? You certainly wouldn’t if you’ve only gone to the grocery store. There are varieties of apples that are coveted by chefs, like the heirloom Esopus Spitzenburg, but good luck finding that at the supermarket. So, why not grow apples and other fruits and berries yourself?
No doubt, fresh fruit, plucked from a tree, is magical. Picking that sun-ripened, juicy peach right off the branch and biting into the soft, fuzzy fruit is the essence of a hot summer day. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do that? But trees take years to grow, right? Not necessarily! There are fast-growing fruit trees that bear fruit in as little as two years, and that’s why fertilizer exists!
If you want to start growing fruits and berries at home, keep in mind that critters may find their way into your yard too. Just about every animal loves fresh fruit and they will come knocking when you look like you’re serving a buffet. But don’t worry, there are many ways to protect your fruit trees from deer and other animals.
In the articles below, we share everything you need to know about growing fruits and berries. You can learn more about the delicious art of fruit and berry gardening in our How to Grow a Vegetable Garden: 10 Things Every Gardener Needs to Know Before Starting a Food Garden freebie. Enjoy!
When I hear the word “clone” I either think of Dolly the sheep or binge-watching Battlestar Gallactica. But cloning fruit trees is neither of those things and it shouldn’t be feared. In fact, farmers and gardeners have been cloning fruit trees for centuries as an easy way to jumpstart a fruit tree’s life. Sure, you can try to grow a fruit tree from seed, but after they germinate, the seedling will likely be disappointing in comparison to the parent tree.
Fruit trees are the high-school overachiever of the garden. They’re the “4.0 GPA, flawless skin, all AP classes, volunteers at a nursing home” type. Flowering fruit trees are the darling of any garden because they do so much! They produce delicious fruit to be snacked on, baked, frozen, or canned. They also provide shade for you and your shade-loving vegetables. Not to mention that flowering fruit trees provide gorgeous and often delicious smelling blossoms ahead of their fruiting period.
What’s that? Growing cantaloupe vertically? I get it. Vertical gardening is a super way to get more out of your space, and it’s a fantastic idea for fruits and vegetables like peas or beans. Cantaloupe, though? Seems like they would be too big and heavy to grow vertically. Spoiler alert: Growing cantaloupe vertically is very much doable.
When we were buying our first house, we shopped a lot. Our realtor must have been exhausted by us. On one occasion, we saw a home that opened up to a lower level that had a fully grown lemon tree right in the middle of it, growing from a large pot. I’d never seen anything like it, and I immediately bought myself a 3-foot Meyer lemon tree online to see if I could grow one myself.
One of the things I love about gardening is that anyone who wants to can have at least a small garden. A few pots by the window or several containers on the balcony can be just as productive as a small raised bed in the backyard. You want to grow some fruits and veggies, but […]
I don’t know about you, but when I think about tropical fruit plants, my home in western Massachusetts isn’t the place that comes to mind. Not even close. I bet it’s not what you picture either. For me, the imagination goes to a lush, warm paradise with gorgeous trees abundant with mangoes, figs, and pineapples. Or maybe papayas, kumquats, and bananas.
I’ve always loved the idea of walking into my backyard and picking an apple or some cherries right off the tree. It seems so idyllic, like a ray of sunshine will illuminate the tree and the birds will sing and it will be the most wonderful fruit I’ve ever had. I think we all know that’s not quite how it works. One thing I didn’t count on, however, was protecting fruit trees from deer.
Whether spring or fall, both are great times to start your backyard orchard! If you’ve been following along for some time, you know that when we bought our house, it had the most beautiful flower gardens, but I had a hard time loving them. In fact, I sort of hated them, because I didn’t know […]
Fresh fruit, plucked from a tree, is magical. Picking that sun-ripened, juicy peach right off the branch and biting into the soft, fuzzy fruit is the essence of a hot summer day. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do that? But trees take years to grow, right? Not necessarily! These fast-growing fruit trees could bear tasty gifts for you in as little as two years.
While we often think of berries as outdoor plants, you can grow some berries indoors as long as you have the best lights for growing them. And what’s not to love about berries? I love how homemade strawberry jam tastes on a piece of toast in the morning. Fresh blueberries are perfect in a bowl […]
