Fast benefits from fruit trees/shrubs & vegies!

[puck2106]

Hi all,
I've just moved into a new property in London which has a lovely garden - I'm a keen novice gardener and am excitedly building and planting up some raised beds to grow veggies. I'd also like to grow some fruit - I've bought a blueberry already & would love to have more varieties of fruit. The only thing is, that we're only renting the property and our lease is only for a year. While we might have it longer, I'd really like plants that will show benefit in a quick time - bearing fruit the year it is planted. Do you have any recommendations please? It is not a large garden, but would have room for large pots and climbers. It gets late morning and afternoon sun in most of the garden, about 1/3 of the garden heads into shade in the as the afternoon progresses.
Thanks!!

[smallblueplanet]

Last spring we bought 5 canes of Joan J autumn fruiting raspberries. They gave us a reasonable amount of fruit and really only stopped when the frosts came. Oh and they don't mind a bit of shade. Hi, btw.

[southlondongardener]

Blueberries need acidic soil so put it an container and get compost for rhodendrons.

I am a novice gardener as well. The best return I got last year was for Tayberries and I would not be surprised if you can take them with when you move.

The fastest returning fruit and one you can grow in a container is strawberries.


See if you can get something from freecycle eg an old water butt and use that.


Some people say you can grow gooseberries in containers, I have not tried yet but there are some experts on the forum.

[puck2106]

Thanks for your ideas!

Thanks to both of you! I will try your suggestions - I really quite like the idea of Raspberries, actually.

I was hoping to be able to get some fruits other than berries - or nuts even - does anyone know if apples, citrus fruits or stone fruits can bear in their first year of planting - or perhaps if I need to buy a plant of a certain age??

Cheers!!!

[southlondongardener]

Sadly apples need at least one year and old trees can not be planted again.

The only way you can get fruits straight away from apples would be to buy a mature tree in a pot - which I do not think is sold by anyone (no idea why, I guess not enough demand).

BTW tayberries are similar in taste to raspberries.

[jeannine]

I really recommend cape gooseberries, you can grow them from seed if you plant them now (they like warmth to germinate). I've been growing them for a couple of years, you just bung 'em in a grow bag like tomatoes and if you give them a sheltered spot you easily get enough to make jam from one packet of seeds.

I've never bought them from a supermarket but I think they are about £2 for a small packet, so it really makes sense to grow your own.

Chilterns seeds have an extra large berry that I'm trying this year.

[kirsty b]

Sadly apples need at least one year and old trees can not be planted again.

The only way you can get fruits straight away from apples would be to buy a mature tree in a pot - which I do not think is sold by anyone (no idea why, I guess not enough demand).

BTW tayberries are similar in taste to raspberries.

Ken Muir does all sorts of fruit. I like the look of his minaret fruit trees. I think they can be grown in big pots.
I'm sure you can find him on line if you google his name.
.: Ken Muir :.

[puck2106]

Thanks again!

Great thanks all! Have had a look at the Ken Muir site - its very informative, such a shame though that it doesnt say for all fruits whether they will bear in the first year of planting, but I think I will post a qu. to Ken direct to see which of his plants he recommends. Will keep you posted if I get an answer - for all the newbie gardeners out there like me!!