Is it just me, or are fruits sweeter and juicier when they come from your own garden, where you’re able to pick them off a tree yourself? If you feel the same way but think you don’t have enough expertise to grow your own, we’re here to prove you wrong. Fruit trees are considered tricky due to countless tricky pests, complicated pruning, and pollination groups, but there is a way around all that to a delicious harvest. All these scary aspects of fruit cultivation can be evaded by a considered choice of variety.
If you’re worried about the size of your backyard, you should know that there are trees that can be kept quite small and therefore adapt to any garden size. If the aspect of pollination is what’s bothering you, you can simply stick to self-pollinating trees but you should know that those that require pollinators don’t actually require a lot of additional work – it all comes down to ʽstrength in the numbersʼ game.
The fruit trees listed below are perfect for beginners who are looking for a delicious year-after-year harvest with an approach that requires minimum effort.
LEMONS FOR WINTER MONTHS
If you’re looking for a Vitamin C boost this winter, lemon trees are ideal as they will bear fruit even during the colder periods. If you supply them with morning shade their leaves will slowly warm up and prevent any frost damage. And once they’re established, you can cross the frost from your list of concerns entirely. They should be planted in spring in colder environments, but if you live in a warmer or tropical climate, they can be planted year-round. This invaluable source of vitamins during the cold and flu season will stay on the trees to be equally enjoyed as a refreshing cold drink, come the summer heat.
PLUMS FOR LOW MAINTENANCE
If you’re aiming at extreme low-maintenance, you should know that plums are a stone fruit that requires less care than any other fruit. They require little to no work due to the fact they can easily adapt to a wide variety of conditions. They’re also denser than other fruit trees so they don’t require large spaces. They’re not self-pollinating, but planting two trees is enough to bear fruit. Just establish the trees in the middle of summer and provide them with enough sun exposure. Pick the highest point in your garden to prevent the frost from settling around the base, and make sure that the area is fairly sheltered from wind exposure.
PEACHES FOR SIZE VARIETY
If you can’t imagine the summer without juicy cobblers, muffins, pies, and there’s not much room in your backyard, peaches are the perfect solution. While these trees can be quite large, they also come in a smaller dwarf size, which is perfect for a variety of garden sizes. These dwarf varieties need to be planted at least 10 feet apart, and they love the sun and well-drained soil. There are some self-pollinating varieties but always check the tags carefully to see if you need to purchase more than one.
PEARS FOR NO DISEASE OR INSECT ISSUES
If you’re among those who stay away from fruit trees due to disease or insect issues, pears will work perfectly since they have little to no such issues. In some areas, fire blight is a common pear disease, but you can easily overcome this by choosing the resistant varieties available. Pear trees are not self-pollinating, but again – two will be enough. They love the sun and well-drained soil, but they absolutely adore good air circulation. What could be considered as a drawback is a fact that these trees are pretty low starters that need at least 3 years after planting to produce any fruit, but once established they’ll certainly bear quality fruit for many years to come.
CHERRIES FOR THE FLOWERING BONUS
Cherries are one of those low-maintenance fruits that will reward you with both its juicy edibles and beautiful flowers that will boost the aesthetic appeal of your backyard. You can opt for sweet or sour ones since both are easy to grow. Sour ones have much smaller trees than sweet ones that also require at least 3 trees for pollination, although there are new self-pollinating dwarf sweet cherry trees on the market. Cherry trees also require good air circulation and a lot of sun and should be planted in early spring or late fall. You could wait up to 4 years until they start producing fruits, but they’ll reward your efforts with beautiful flower blossoms in the meantime.
As you can see, there are plenty of choices to start with. Some will fit in the smallest backyard, some will quickly provide plenty of fruit and shade, while some will produce additional beauty in the process. But they all have one thing in common – they afford you the opportunity to embark on your orchard adventure with ease and confidence.