What Fruit Can I Grow?

Apples Fruit trees, fruit canes and bushes are best grown in garden soil, although there are varieties of apples and pears that are grafted onto dwarf root stock that can be grown successfully in large tubs. Most are hardy enough for British gardens although apricot, peach, fig and grape need shelter from extreme weather to thrive. If you have the room then choose your favourites from the list below.

There are usually many different varieties to choose from each with distinctive flavours. Your local garden centre will be able to advise you on varieties that do well in your area and whether they need a partner for good pollination. Popular varieties will also be available growing on different root stocks so you can choose plants that will keep to a reasonable and pickable height, already trained into the shape you need for your space.

Tree fruits	Soft fruits
Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Quince, Sloe	Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Gooseberry, Blackcurrant, Red Currants, White Currants

Getting the best results

Plant carefully, enriching soil with organic matter. Follow the details on the ‘Where to grow fruit and vegetables’ section of this web site.
Trees must be staked for at least the first two years while the plant roots become established.
A starved plant cannot support a large crop so feed every year with a controlled release plant food applied in early Spring. If your strawberries are growing in pots you can feed and water with a soluble plant food every couple of weeks to encourage strong growth and large fruits.
Take the appropriate action to control pests and diseases of fruit. Watch out for greenfly on apples, pears and plums. Protection against maggots on apples is sensible if this is a local problem.