- Fruit trees have been part of man's life since the Garden of Eden. In many civilizations, a large garden full of exotic fruit was a sign of wealth. Now, many home gardeners want to grow their own fruit to provide organic, healthy food for themselves and their families.
- There are several types of fruit trees that can be grown successfully at home. Even beginning gardeners can grow apples, oranges, lemons, peaches, plums or pears.
- Plant nurseries are now offering more dwarf and container-sized fruit trees, perfect for small space gardening. Not every gardener has several acres for a fruit orchard, but most can find space for a large container to grow a miniature orange or apple tree. Check out specialty plant suppliers like Miller Nurseries.
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All fruit trees need plenty of sunshine and water. For the best fruit production the proper amount of fertilization and pest control will be needed as well. If a gardener wants to produce organically grown fruit they will need to avoid chemical pesticides and use natural methods instead.
Some fruit trees, like apples, need a period of cold weather for the fruit to mature and ripen properly. Other fruit trees, like most citrus fruits, need warmer climates and will not tolerate a harsh winter. Gardeners should check their hardiness zones and contact the local county extension office for information on what fruit trees grow best in their area. -
Fruit trees can be accent plantings in the landscape if gardeners choose to feature them prominently. Grown as an espalier along fence or wall, many fruit trees can take on a decorative appearance. Large planters or attractive containers are another great way to feature your fruit trees.
A fruit tree is an investment into the future. Most will not produce fruit for at least 4 or 5 years but are able to provide a harvest for decades. Wise gardeners will take the tree's full size into account when selecting a planting place. - There are a host of ways to benefit from the fruit produced by a fruit tree. Most obviously, fruit can be eaten raw and fresh. Fruit can also be juiced, often frozen, cooked in pies and cobblers, or made into jelly.
- Sometimes fruit trees will set too much fruit, which will make the fruit smaller and can cause tree branches to break from the excess weight. Expert fruit growers will prune fruit off the tree leaving just one fruit per flower cluster.
