Simple ways to grow fruit in your home garden

YOU do not have to own a large estate to grow a wide variety of fruit at home. If you do not have space for full-sized trees, you can plant dwarf forms of apples, pears and other fruits.

This is according to Sean Granger, general manager at the local Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, which is well-known for its distinctive and beautiful garden setting. He disclosed that many guests tell them that, upon returning home, they feel inspired to begin transforming their own gardens after seeing the facility’s garden.

Also read: 5 Fruit and vegetables for children to grow

Granger added, “If you don’t have a garden, you only have a small garden or you have a nice garden but tend to move a lot, you might have always avoided growing fruit. Well, if you think outside the box, you can grow fruit in most gardens.”

He shares some great container-gardening ideas that do not require a huge outlay or space and which will greatly enhance your exterior and tickle your taste buds:

Cherry Trees: With beautiful blossoms and delicate fruit, the cherry tree makes a good argument for itself. It is a fruit tree that can do exceptionally well in a container, provided that you deliver on certain criteria. Because it is a tree, you will need a large container, so get the biggest one you can afford in terms of both money and space, but make sure it is at least 60cm deep and 45cm wide. Cherries prefer a sandier soil medium, so keep that in mind when planting. The tree also has a shallow root system, so it will need to be watered often. Mulching the surface of the soil will also help to keep it happy and healthy. Feed cherry trees in pots regularly with a fruit-specific fertiliser.

Also read: How to encourage your child to eat more fruit

Orange trees: Citrus trees do well in containers, and in SA, you do not need to go to great lengths. A nice big pot with a well-draining potting mix is a good start. Add a slow-release fertiliser for flowers and fruit, and you are good to go. Feed orange trees every four months or so after planting, and water well twice a week. Position in full sun, and protect from frost in winter by covering with a frost guard or moving the container into a sheltered position.

Plum trees: When potting a plum tree, add some sand or perlite to the potting medium for better drainage. Full sun, regular watering, good-quality potting soil and regular fertilising with a slow-release fertiliser will make for a happy plum tree. Protect the early spring blossoms by either sheltering the tree with frost-guard fabric or moving the container into a warmer place on really cold
days.

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