Are you interested in growing fruits in your yard but unclear about where to start? If you’re a beginner, you should choose easy-to-grow fruits, for instance, those that grow on a vine. Perennial trees and shrubs are difficult to grow because they require more maintenance and extra pruning and mulching. When you’re about to choose fruits for your garden, go for the ones that are your personal favorites. You can enjoy the nutritional benefits of freshly picked fruit and the excitement of gardening by eating fruits you have produced yourself.
Whether you want fast-growing fruits or trees that produce a robust fruit harvest, we’ve compiled a list of 15 fruits to grow in your garden. A little effort, planning, and maintenance will help you make a colorful and vibrant fruit garden in your backyard. Following are the 15 fruits that can help you nurture your homegrown organic orchard:
1. Strawberries
Nothing beats the joy of freshly picked sun-warmed strawberries from your backyard. These versatile fruits require minimal effort to thrive anywhere in your garden. You can grow them in hanging baskets, window boxes, vases, or patio containers. The only thing you have to make sure of is that they are in a well-drained container and are in a sunny position.
You can choose from many types of strawberries: day-neutral, June-bearing, and ever-bearing. The day-neutral strawberries produce small yields throughout the season, while the ever-bearing strawberries produce two to three yields per season. The June-bearing strawberries produce one large yield in June and are perfect for freezing for later use.
2. Grapes
Not only are grapes perfect for eating and juicing, but they also serve as gorgeous decorative plants. Grapes must be planted in the early spring in order to be ready for harvest by the end of the summer or the beginning of the next season. Grapes don’t have a good reputation among the easy-to-grow fruits, but they are not that tough to grow. The only difficulty you face is the wildlife and birds that will attack the harvest. Besides that, grapes need some support, like a trellis, to thrive.
Before growing grapes in your garden, consider the variety and learn whether it’s good for eating or juicing. Most grapes will need a sunny location and rich soil, and the container should have excellent drainage to prevent disease.
3. Apple
Apple is one of the most versatile and convenient options for growing fruits in your garden. The two main categories of apples you can grow in your garden are dessert apples and cookers. To start with, you can grow an apple tree in a container too, but it grows best on the ground. You can choose from various apple kinds and plant them in containers with a good drainage system and fully in the sun.
Apple trees are prone to insects; thus, you must take great care to avoid tree disease. These are high-maintenance fruits that you can grow in summer, but the sweet and juicy fruits are worth all the effort. You can protect the apple trees by covering them properly, pruning regularly, and spraying. During summer, you must ensure that your trees receive good sunlight, and during winters, you must keep pruning them. If space is an issue, you can try planting dwarf apple trees in patio containers.
4. Blueberries
Homegrown blueberries are a blessing! Besides the taste and nutrition, these fruits have three-season varieties. Blueberries are ideal for container gardening, but you can also grow them in the ground. However, you must consider the varieties of blueberries according to your climate. These fruits need acidic and moist soil for growing, and then they are good for producing yields throughout the year. For good results, choose the self-pollinating variety and plant them in October, then wait for the results. High bush blueberries are good for growing in cold climates, and rabbiteye or southern high bush kinds are good for growing in mild climates.
5. Peach
Peach trees are small-sized ones and can get in your garden easily. These are low-maintenance trees that yield a lot of fruits with less care. Besides that, they produce a yield within a year; thus, you can call them quick crops. Once they are fully grown, you’ll have large yields and plenty of peaches for a big family to enjoy all the time. Peaches are easy to grow, and there’s not much to consider about the soil; you just have to ensure that the soil is well-drained and the plants are sunny. Make sure to water them properly during the warm months because this is their growing season.
6. Plum
If you’re looking for generous yields of fruits from your garden, consider growing plums. The cooking varieties of plums make the best jams and desserts too. The dwarf rootstock is perfect for growing in the garden as they don’t take up much space. These trees are small and short-heighted, but they produce large yields. Some varieties are self-fertile, too, for instance, the Majorie’s seedling and the Victoria, but others require a partner tree to grow. Additionally, the plum trees require a sheltered and warm location along with moisture-retaining soil for growing.
7. Cherries
Cherries are among the simplest fruits to grow in a garden. The best thing about growing them is that they require much less pruning and aren’t affected by any diseases or insect attacks. They need full exposure to grow with well-draining, rich, and moist soil. The humble cherry tree is easy to plant and grow, but you’ll need to cross-pollinate to grow two to three trees. If you want to grow just one cherry tree, go for the sour baking cherries. The cherry trees need a lot of water and aren’t drought tolerant; thus, you must water them frequently, especially if the climate is hot. In addition, prune your cherry tree in winter and fertilize it in early spring.
8. Figs
Figs can be planted in pots or directly on the ground; they can also grow on trees. If you choose a container for growing fig trees, always go for a small container because their roots grow well when confined. These trees are pest-free and don’t require much pruning; thus, you can consider them low-maintenance fruits. Fig trees need a lot of sunshine and warmth; thus, you must plant them with a sun-facing wall. Fig Brown Turkey is good for mild climates and is self-fertile. If you are considering small plants with good fruit yields, choose ‘Little Miss Figgy,’ which is only 1.8m high and yields fruits twice a year.
9. Raspberries
Raspberry plants produce harvests throughout the summer and the fall and are the easiest to grow berry bushes. These plants can grow in containers too, but they grow more easily in raised beds. They need well-draining soil to grow along with good sunshine. Choose from autumn or summer varieties, but plant a mix of both if you need a long harvest season. The raspberry ‘Polka’ variety produces yield from July to October and produces a juicy and tasty harvest. If you are looking for a small-sized plant, go for the raspberry ‘Yummy’ variety.
10. Melons
Melons grow on vines that can spread and reach around 20 feet in length. These vines can be grown on a trellis, but you’ll need the types with small fruits. Besides, the large melons are good to grow in containers and require a huge space to grow properly. These big juicy fruits don’t need a lot of maintenance but warmth and sunlight. They are annual plants and produce yields for one season only. Space is the only thing you need to consider for growing melons in your garden. If you have space issues, you must go for the small kinds of melons that easily grow on a trellis.
11. Apricots
Apricots are the favorite garden-growing fruits of many because they are one of the sweetest fruits to grow. They need slightly alkaline soil to grow and don’t need much pruning; plus, they are self-fertile, and thus they don’t need a partner tree to grow. Heavy pruning can damage the apricot trees, thus you must slightly prune them to prevent harm to the plant. Since these fruits harvest early in the season, there are not many pollinating insects to help them pollinate; thus, you need to provide a helping hand for a generous yield. Additionally, keep them in a sunny location with good space so that the tree has enough room for growth. Plus, keep the soil well-drained and loamy to produce a strong root system for the tree.
12. Pineapple
You might be surprised at this suggestion, but trust us, you can grow pineapples in your garden too, especially if you like this fruit. If you are growing a pineapple, soak its crown for 24 hours in water before planting it. Then plant it in a deep container and keep it in full sun. Additionally, change the water every few days, and you’ll notice small sprouts coming out of it after a week or two. Always remember to take a ripe pineapple with bright yellow skin to ensure proper growth of the plant. Besides that, pineapples are good for growing in warm and mild climates. If you live somewhere chilly, you might want to grow them indoors.
13. Dwarf Banana
Bananas are tricky to grow, especially if you live in a cold climate. To grow dwarf bananas, you must plant them where they’re exposed to direct sunlight. A banana tree grows even with the partial sun but grows fast when full sunshine is available. Besides that, it needs well-drained loamy soil that is slightly acidic. Regular watering is necessary to keep the plant wet, but take care not to overwater or make it muddy. Though maintenance is low for these fruits, they require watering and fertilization every few months.
14. Currants
You can grow various currants in your garden, including red, white, and black currants. These fruits need minimal maintenance and produce a flavorsome and juicy yield. Currants love to grow in full sun, but you must keep them covered with a net or light cloth to prevent birds from attacking the plants. To grow bananas in containers, use the miniature varieties. Also, consider the size of the pot; your pot should be as large as the size of the plant.
Besides their delicious taste, these fruits also prove to be perfect for decoration and are good for making jams and jellies. Though these are summer plants, you can freeze them to enjoy later during the winter. The easiest currant varieties to try are redcurrant ‘Rovada,’ whitecurrant ‘Versatile,’ and blackcurrant ‘Ben Connan.’
15. Pears
Pears are available in various flavors: sweet, sour, mellow, and subtly spiced. These are one of the most attractive garden fruits to grow, plus you can eat them uncooked and use them for making delicious desserts. Pear trees need full sun, and most will need a partner tree to grow as they aren’t self-fertile. If you need to grow a single pear tree, go for the dessert pears, which include ‘Conference’ and ‘Concorde.’ In addition, these trees require well-drained soils and protection from wind. Watering, mulching, feeding, and weeding will keep your pear trees healthy and fresh for many years. Though the insect problems are not severe for gardening these plants, these trees can be susceptible to some insect problems, which you must watch out for.
Wrap Up!
Homegrown fruits taste the best, particularly because you know that you’ve grown them organically and with your own hands. These fruits are full of nutrition and are free of contamination too. It is always a good idea to grow fruits in your garden since they provide a source of tasty and nutritious organic foods. Besides the flavors and nutritional value, growing fruits in your garden also helps save a lot of money, as homegrown fruits produce bigger yields at a very low cost. The main advantage of growing fruits in your garden is easy access to your favorite fruits that taste much better than those available at the market.
