Of course we have all known for a long time already, just how tasty home grown fruit is, and we also know you needn’t have a garden for it! But did you know just how easy it is to grow your own fruit on the patio? It’s true, you really can!
Fruit
Fortunately, there are enough varieties of fruit for you to grow your own and they’re decorative too. Try a small apple tree, for instance, or perhaps a currant bush or a thornless, rambling blackberry in a pretty planter. Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits, especially amongst children. This perennial will thrive in large planters and is also perfectly suitable for the patio or decking.
The right spot for growing fruit
Fruit will ripen best in full sun in a sheltered spot. Apricots, nectarines and peaches especially like it warm and sunny. Apples, pears and blueberries almost always require cross pollination so you should try and plant two or three apple trees near one another. Bakker.com has a duo-fruit in its collection that is self-pollinating.
Blueberries like an acidic, humus rich soil that is not too dry. They need a good thick mulch of well-rotted manure mixed with garden compost in the spring. Blackberries, raspberries and grapes can be trained across a trellis on the wall or over a pergola. Dwarf trees will thrive in large planters. All fruiters will grow better when using fruiting fertiliser. Feed apple trees and grape vines every other year with 50 g of lime per m2 (although this is not necessary in clay soil).
Fruit for on your patio
Red-currants to raspberries and nectarines to strawberries – Bakker.com has compiled a small selection here below, of all the very best varieties of fruit for your patio or decking. Enjoy a generous, fresh fruit harvest, even when you don’t have a (big) garden.
(Red)-currant
Apricot
Blueberry
Lemon
Grape
Cherry
Gooseberry
Pear
Plum
Strawberry
Apple
Blackberry
Cranberry
Raspberry
Kiwi
Nectarine
Peach
Sharon-fruit
Planting fruit trees and bushes
There are fruit trees and fruit bushes that will thrive in a large planter on your patio. Improve the soil you use for apricots, nectarines and peaches with 200 g of lime per m2, and add a big dollop of well-rotted manure.
Potted Fruit trees
A static fruit tree with a tall stem will look lovely but not everyone has the room for that. A large planter gives the possibility of growing one in pillar fashion, or as a standard dwarf tree. If you prune it consistently and tie it in sufficiently, this type of fruit tree will stay low. Bakker.com has developed a special duo fruit – two varieties of fruit growing on the one tree. Just perfect for on your patio or decking! But beware, potted trees and plants dry out very quickly so you need to water them regularly.
Storing fruit
Ripe fruit is best stored immediately in a cool, dry place. Apples and pears can be stored fairly long-term. Soft fruit is best eaten fresh or, at least, as soon as possible after picking – make it into jams and sweets when you have surplus. Freezing is also an option.
