Losing the Plot...

[Effigy]

The veggie plot, that is

I normally grow veggies. Currently I have a small raised bed where I grow a small selection of our favourites. However, I have been a bit down-hearted over the last few years with our veg production - the old 'everything-comes-at-once' scenario and at a time when we are mainly eating salads. I have never been too good at growing salad crops - too many slugs and caterpillars for my liking.

However, I'm due to move house within the next couple of weeks and will have a much bigger garden. So for the new house, I'm going to try something different (for me) and lose the (veg) plot but gain a fruitarium (my new word)

I plan on growing small 'ballerina' type fruit trees - apple, pear, plum and cherry.
Rasperberry canes, blackcurrents, redcurrents.
Rhubarb and gooseberries
Blueberries (I like a challenge)
Strawberries (naturally)
Grapes
Fig
And for a bit of variety - hazels and an almond.

Has anyone else a similar set up?

[Janco]

In recent years I have grown more and more fruit (still grow lots of veg) and really wish I had grown more many years ago.
I now have a fruit cage with raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrant, gooseberry, blueberries and strawberries. Last year even with the poor summer I still had lots of fruit and am still eating the jam I made.
Now have an orchard with 25 fruit trees all except 2, purchased in the last 3 years. All are showing promise of fruit in years to come. Hazels and walnut planted this year (apart from orchard).
Go for it. You will be really pleased with your efforts I'm sure.

[yoanbob]

mmmmm fruit.
we have apples pears blue berrys raspberrys cranberries blackberrys elderflower gooseberry tayberry all the currants, well you get the idea.
we love fruit, make lots of fruit pies and freeze them as you still have a bit of everything coming at once

[bluemoon]

I took on a very exposed, windy plot and decided that if I was going to have windbreaks they might as well be useful, so we planted lots of soft fruit more as a way of protecting the veg, but the huge returns you get for minimum effort are fantastic. We've just taken over the neighbouring plot too, and I'll definitely be planting loads more.

By the by, blueberries aren't hard at all.

[southlondongardener]

Definetly we recommend tayberries.
Last year I planted white currants, strawberries, raspberries, tayberry, jostaberry, japanese wineberry, silver stemmed bramble.
The tayberry had the best return on effort of them all, although I think long term it might be the silver stemmed bramble as it is getting very big.