Growing Fruit Trees and Soft Fruits for Bumper Home Harvests

Growing fruit trees and soft fruits at home is quite do-able for most people

Picture above: growing fruit trees and vines in your garden can produce delicious crops such as these

There's really nothing quite like growing your own fruit trees.

Orchard charms

An orchard is one of the finest places to pass time. Whether you are working on your trees or soaking up the sun in an orchard glade, there is a quiet satisfaction to be enjoyed.

An orchard is also one of the pleasantest places to be when the temperature soars. There is nearly always some shade and a whisper of a breeze to be enjoyed on even the hottest summer days.

There can also be shelter and enjoyment of the elements at colder, rougher and damper times of the year in a well planned fruit orchard.

An orchard makes a wonderful playground for young kids. One of my favourite childhood memories is of the tree-climbing and swings that our orchard provided. Being chased by wasps at outdoor picnics is a less agreeable one!

The other benefit: the fruit

Of course, the fruit itself is the natural bonus of growing fruit trees in your own back yard. Orchard fruits are often very easy to grow and any super-abundance is easily disposed of to friends and extended family members.

Soft fruits, too have their charms. Everyone should experience the thrill of harvesting their first strawberry of the season. Succulent raspberries are a wonderful addition to the garden, if you have enough room. Soft fruits are always in demand for puddings, cold desserts and pies and there is nothing nicer to take for friends when visiting than fresh ripe fruit from your own garden or backyard.

Supermarket jams and bottled fruits cannot generally compare with home produced preserves. You can, with a little practice, make homemade chutneys, jams and conserves which are at the gourmet end of eating. Any excess is usually easy to freeze or give away.

Many soft fruits are not that difficult to grow and there's a lot of satisfaction in seeing your nursling plants develop into strong mature ones laden with delicious fruits.

This section of Greenfootsteps is devoted to the pleasures and skills of fruit culture, starting with growing fruit trees and some nut trees, through to pages on soft fruits.

Please use the links below to explore aspects of this fascinating hobby.

Fruit Tree Orchards for the Community - a look at the growing community orchard movement in the UK and Community Supported Agriculture in the USA.

Growing Apples for a Bountiful Home Harvest - an introduction to growing apples and selecting the right trees for your garden.

Growing Apple Trees for a Great Home Harvest Read all about pollination and what tree age to go for when buying

Pruning Apple Trees for Health and a Bumper Crops Here's an introduction to pruning apple trees - simple directions for getting the best from your fruit trees.

Growing Red Currants for a Luscious and Easy Home Crop Here are some cultivation notes for growing red currants - all you need to get started.

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