Many people believe that growing fruit trees is hard. All that knowledge of pollination, pruning and pest control could well put you off. However, if you choose the tree type carefully, it’s not as complicated a process and you might imagine. A low-maintenance fruit type and crucially, one that’s self-pollinating will remove a lot of the stress from growing your own fruit trees.
- Apricot
Apricots do better when they are not pruned, which reduces the risk of both canker and silver leaf disease, which enter the tree through pruning too much. If any pruning is required, remember to do it at the peak of summer. The great thing about apricots is that they are self-fertile and are quite capable of producing a bountiful crop. Any variety ending in -cot will produce large fruit. The only weakness is their susceptibility to frost, so you do need to get lucky with the weather. Have your trees health regularly checked over by a tree care professional, such as a Tree Surgeon Bournemouth. Visit Tree Surgeon Bournemouth Kieran Boyland for more information on services available.
- Victoria Plum
Another self-fertile variety that yields large crops of delicious fruit. They taste great and also cook really well, with a juicy yellow flesh on the inside. Standing the test of time, this variety of plum was first found in a garden in Sussex in the 1800s. The fruit received a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit and is now one of the most commonly grown plum among commercial growers.
- Nashi Pear or ‘Kumoi’
Hailing from Asia, this variety should be enjoying much greater popularity as they experience none of the common problems that traditional pear varieties do, such as midges or pear rust which disfigure the leaves. The fruit has been compared to the cross between a pear and an apple, with a crisper white flesh and lovely crunchy strawberry-esque flavour. The trees also have pretty foliage that make them an ornamental delight in their own right.
- Falstaff Apple
Apples can be traditionally awkward as they need the right trees nearby for pollination. This variety is however, self-fertilising. The crops might be a little smaller, but you’ll still have a tree that bears good fruit. The fruit is really tasty, with an interesting red-stripe and incredibly refreshing. It is ideally suited to smaller gardens as it’s compact in size, simple to grow and produces a lot of fruit.
- Chelsea Mulberry
This might not be one you’d think would make the list, but these trees are super easy to grow in a spacious garden. They do require space as the branches spread out quite wide. A warm environment is also necessary, and they therefore fare better in the couth of the country. They need very little pruning or maintenance and the fruit is delicious. It should be picked quickly on ripening and eaten straight away. Beware of the berries ability to stain white clothing though!
