Easy fruit?

[Wheelie]

As I’m a new gardener, I don’t want to tackle anything too difficult. I intend to give strawberries and melon a go This first year. Are there any other fruits I could try that would be suitable? I eventually want to espalier some fruit trees along a fence but I think I should wait until I’m more experienced to do that.

[Baldy]

Raspberries ? though you might have issues if you are growing them in containers https://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/articl...ontainers-etc/
and if you aren't growing them in containers then they have a tendency t spread...

perhaps not raspberries then...

[Wheelie]

Lol..maybe not baldy. I don’t Really like raspberries.

[Scarlet]

What space/ground do you have?
What fruit do you like?

# just checked....raised bed 5ft x13.

I think you need to plan your space, I've seen your list of veg so maybe look at how you can fit those in before you move onto fruit that maybe need to be permanent.

I love cape. Goosberries but the plants can be huge - there is a smaller variety.
I don't grow strawberries because I find the slugs get them first so I prefer raspberries.
I also cook lots so rhubarb, gooseberries and blackcurrants are a must for me but may take up too much space.

Get your pen and paper out and work out how much space your veg choices will take and let us know how much room you have left for fruit.

[Wheelie]

Hello scarlet. I will have the raised bed 5ft x 13ft but I want to mainly use that for veg. I’m hoping to use a large grass patch approx 10ftx 10ft to grow stuff in containers stacked up on bricks so I can reach from my wheelchair. It’s that space I want to do some fruit in.
I love cherries, peaches, pears. I would love to do espalier against the fence, but someone told me it’s too difficult for a new gardener

[Scarlet]

Hmm, cherries ideally need to be netted some how, birds steal all the fruit. Peaches suffer with peach leaf curl, so the tree needs to be kept dry early Spring, a rain cover may be required........so probably not the easiest choices?
Black currants can grow pretty big, so would be easy to pick from a wheel chair. I don't grow in pots, but I'm sure they would be fine. Rhubarb would need to go in the ground.
Besides the trees what fruit would you eat?

[veggiechicken]

Melons aren't easy to grow, they need heat. Strawberries are lovely though and you can get all different varieties so that you can pick them over a longer period.

[Scarlet]

I do think fruit bushes are a good option though. My Dad is a double amputee and picking fruit from a bush is easy for him.

[Baldy]

If you do your research then espalluer fruit trees may be an option. Takes a bit more thought but not unachievable I would think. There are more knowledgeable people around who might be able to comment...

[Guest]

Trees take a few years to establish so I would bung them in and learn as you go. Yes there is a bit more to training, pruning, pollination groups, etc. but they are a long term investment so are worth the effort. You can also get dwarf rootstocks so pot grown trees may be an option. There is some one on here that essentially treat their trees as bonsai. So there are options.

I sprayed my peach and necterines last year on a weekly basis with a herby garlic oil in water, as well as picking off the worst leaves and it worked really well.

It depends how much you are up for.

[nickdub]

You could try fan training a plum against your fence - not as easy as growing as a full size tree, but simpler than doing an espalier - try to get one on a dwarfing root-stock.

As for the easiest fruit to grow I'd say gooseberries, blackcurrants and loganberries. I'm not a big fan of growing fruit in containers, but if that's what you have I'd recommend trying gooseberries first.

[Wheelie]

Thank you so much everyone for your advice.
After chatting to my husband and Carer, we’ve decided to give fan cherry and nectarine. I know it’s a long term project, but we all have to start somewhere. The fence is quite long with plenty of growing space. Anything I can’t cope with from my chair hubby and Carer said they will help. Luckily for me, the fence is vertical wood planking and south facing so perfect for fruit i think.

Does anyone know where I could buy dwarf but fairly mature plants? I don’t want a tiny little twig lol

[TrixC]

If you want to fan train or espalier the fruit you either need to start with maidens (one year old trees), or buy trees that have been pre-trained. Pre-trained is easier but can be expensive, and you’ll have a limited choice of varieties. The specialist fruit nurseries, like Keepers and Blackmoor, are the best place to get pre-trained trees. If you want to start with maidens and train them yourself, I’d really recommend the supplier ‘Mail order trees’. All the young trees I’ve bought from them have been healthy and a really good size.

[Wheelie]

If you want to fan train or espalier the fruit you either need to start with maidens (one year old trees), or buy trees that have been pre-trained. Pre-trained is easier but can be expensive, and you’ll have a limited choice of varieties. The specialist fruit nurseries, like Keepers and Blackmoor, are the best place to get pre-trained trees. If you want to start with maidens and train them yourself, I’d really recommend the supplier ‘Mail order trees’. All the young trees I’ve bought from them have been healthy and a really good size.

Thanks trix I shall go investigate