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!
It was a warm Saturday afternoon, and my best friend Greg and I found ourselves lounging on the back patio of his house, the sun casting a golden hue across the suburban landscape. Greg’s house had always been the go-to spot for our weekend adventures, and on this particular day, we were in the mood […]
Today is a sad day. The peach tree that we so lovingly planted the first Spring after buying our home is declining. All of the love and attention that we are showering on it, does not seem to be helping. How do we know when it is time to say goodbye? Penelope the peach tree […]
Ah, the memories of growing up in the land of abundant fruits and vegetables. It was like living in a produce paradise, with a dash of suburban wisdom from dear old dad. My father’s economic mantras echoed in my ears daily. “I don’t own stock in the electric company,” he’d say, as if it were […]
For the past 5 years, my mother and I have been driving my grandmother to Florida each November. We stay for a week or so to get her all settled in and then fly back home. She is happy to spend the winter in the warmth, and we are happy knowing that she made it […]
Ah, the tooth fairy, that mystical creature who turns lost baby teeth into a currency exchange game. Most of my childhood friends would excitedly find a nickel or a shiny quarter under their pillows after losing a tooth, but at my house, well, things were a little different. You see, in my world, the tooth […]
The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the biggest debate of them all…cranberry sauce. Some love the whole cranberry sauce, some say jelly is the way to go, and others just say “no thanks!” altogether. Everyone seems to have their preferences and is not willing to budge. In fact, in my experience, […]
I remember that bright blue Sunday morning like it was yesterday. Paul and I were on the USS Enterprise, cruising from the Philippines to Australia. We had been at sea for what felt like an eternity, nearly 60 days, and our taste buds were longing for something other than the usual powdered and canned rations […]
When I was ten years old, my father came up with a brilliant idea that would forever change our backyard and our taste buds: we were going to convert an old pickle barrel into a thriving strawberry patch. Now, you might be wondering how on earth my dad and I, two self-proclaimed novice gardeners, managed […]
My absolute favorite thing to do every fall is to make an apple pie, or really just about anything with apples. After having fun apple picking, I get to put the fruits of my labor (pun intended) to good use. Over the years, I have perfected my apple pie recipe to the point where I […]
I woke up the other day to a temperature of 55 degrees with a high for the day of 70. I have been trying to be in denial but it looks like fall is creeping in. I look to the calendar and see that summer is just ticking away. Pretty soon I will be seeing kids at the bus stop, leaves changing colors and the need to throw on a sweatshirt before stepping outside.
