Starting A New Fruity Garden

[ardandy]

Few details first:

1 x 5.0m long border (nearly metre wide) against raised decking
1 x 3.5m long border (nearly metre wide) against a fence
1 x 3.0m square (roughly) area in the centre of my garden.

Soil is neutral. Garden is slightly sloping and well drained. Sections above will get 6 hours minimum to full day sun.

Thats what I have. What I want is a berry/fruity garden, mainly for the little one to see grow/pick etc. She's currently only 6 months so trying to plan ahead as much as poss! Blackberrys, Raspberrys, Blueberries, Gooseberrys, maybe a dwarf cherry tree, cranberries etc.

I already have several strawberry planters from previous years so don't need any of those.

Out of what I've mentioned I already know that blueberries need acidic soil???? so can I assume neutral is a total no no and stick them in some pots? Anything else you'd recommend I get/stay away from? If it helps I was planning on getting them from Fruit and Veg Plants - J Parker Dutch Bulbs

[fruitylou]

Blueberries and cranberries need acidic soil so best in pots or put in pots then sunk in the ground, my sons one and loves blueberries so I have 11 bushes lol so I would recommend them for little ones (plus there super healthy, people are always inpressed to see Seth shovelling them in by the handful!). I am trying to do the same in the sense of making it really child friendly and appealing, I am including a good mix of colours eg black, red and white currants, gold and pink rasperries etc, if you look you can find lots of thornless versions of berries which is good when they are younger. Another idea I want to do which you may like is planting a fruit tree for your baby and taking pics of them next to it each summer as they grow. And not plant related but how about bunging a load of those colourful windmills in, my little one loves them.

[Loudbarker1]

My 3 year old loves redcurrents picked off the bush - and so easy to grow and not too sweet either.

Great idea on colours FL

[solway cropper]

You don't mention blackcurrants. They are very easy to grow and propagate and can give high yields of healthy fruit. Last year I picked 11lbs of fruit from one bush. Rhubarb is also an easy crop and the children can have great fun making floppy hats from the huge leaves. Just don't let the young uns eat them.

[Jono]

Agree on the blackcurrants. I've got four bushes and get a big crop. If you've got little 'uns I reckon they'd love making their own Ribena.

Have you thought about late raspberries too? My Autumn Bliss canes carry on fruiting well into Autumn.

[gojiberry]

You could always go for saskatoon instead of blueberries as they can be grown in normal soil and will give, in time, a bigger crop per plant. Also think about honey berry in the border up against the fence as they are more favoured by the younger pallet than things like tayberry/blackberry.

Ian

[Two_Sheds]

Redcurrants are a big hit here, and I know they aren't a berry, but I haven't yet met the child who hates peas fresh from the pod