You don’t need an orchard to grow delicious fruit at home. Many Fruit Trees and plants, such as apple trees, strawberries, blueberries and figs can thrive in your garden or even on a yard or veranda. If you’re limited on space, don’t worry – you can still enjoy fresh fruit by planting in containers. I bet you know that strawberries can even grow in hanging baskets! Here’s a list of our seven favorite fruits that are perfect for beginners;
1. Strawberry
2. Fig Fruit
3. Blueberry
4. Blackberry
5. Raspberry
6. Gooseberry
7. Apple
1. Strawberries
Strawberries
are one of the most rewarding fruits to grow. Nothing beats the taste of
sun-ripened strawberries picked fresh from your own garden. These fruits are
incredibly versatile – they grow well in containers, hanging baskets, window
boxes, or directly in the ground. They need plenty of sunlight and well-drained
soil, so make sure to plant them in a sunny spot. Strawberries don’t require
much space, so even if you have a small garden or yard you can grow them
successfully.
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| Strawberry |
If
you're planting strawberries, be sure to choose the right varieties for your climate
and growing conditions. There are a few excellent options for beginners.
Varieties to Try: For a long harvest season, try our ‘Chandler” strawberry;
this is to ensure you have strawberries to harvest.
2. Figs
Fig
trees love warmth and sunshine, so they’re perfect for planting against a sunny
south or west-facing wall. Figs produce the best fruit when their roots are
somewhat restricted, making them an excellent choice for container gardening.
Since they’re susceptible to frost, it’s important to protect your fig trees
from deep winter freezes by moving containers to a sheltered area or using protective
covers. But, once the weather warms up, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh,
sun-warmed figs that taste incredibly sweet.
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| Fig Fruit |
Varieties
to Try: A classic fig variety that’s perfect for the Kenyan
climate is Brown Turkey (currently in stock), Pastiliere, Ronde de Bordeaux,
Celeste and Florea also known as Michurinska 10, although we have over 30
indigenous varieties. It’s self-fertile
and will thrive in both containers and the ground. There are smaller fig tree varieties
for containers that matures to around 1.8m tall and can even produce two crops
per year.
3. Blueberries
If
you have tasted them you understand they are not only delicious but also
incredibly ornamental, with their fragrant spring flowers and vibrant autumn
foliage. These plants thrive in containers, which makes them ideal for smaller
gardens, patios, or balconies. Blueberries prefer acidic, well-drained soil, so
be sure to use ericaceous compost for your containers and water them with
rainwater (tap water can reduce the acidity of the soil). As long as you meet
their soil requirements, blueberries are relatively easy to grow, and they’re
also known for their health benefits, so you’ll enjoy them even more knowing
they’re packed with nutrients.
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| Blueberries |
Varieties
to Try: If you're only planting one blueberry bush, consider a
self-fertile variety which will produce plenty of fruit without needing a
second plant for pollination. For a more compact option, try ‘Top Hat,’ a
self-fertile variety that matures to just 60cm tall. For something a little
different, ‘Pink Sapphire’ is a unique blueberry variety that produces clusters
of bright pink, super-sweet berries, adding a pop of color to your garden.
4. Blackberries
Blackberries
are not only delicious but also incredibly easy to grow, making them an ideal
choice for beginners. These plants are adaptable, growing well in both sun and
shade, and they don’t require much care to produce a bountiful crop of dark,
glossy fruits. Blackberries are perfect for anyone looking to enjoy fresh fruit
during the summer months, and they’re especially tasty when eaten straight from
the bush or baked into pies, tarts, and jams.
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| Blackberry |
Varieties
to Try: For smaller gardens or container gardening try Navaho,
Ouachita, and Chester. ‘Black Cascade,’ a compact blackberry variety that grows
to just 45cm tall. It’s perfect for hanging baskets, adding both beauty and
function to your outdoor space. For a child-friendly, thornless option, ‘Apache’
is an excellent choice. This variety produces sweet, juicy blackberries and is
easy to harvest, making it a great choice for families with kids.
5. Raspberries
Raspberries
are another fantastic fruit to grow at home, as they’re hardy and easy to
maintain. Raspberry plants are vigorous growers, so they’ll do well in raised
beds, containers or the ground, as long as the soil has good drainage and the
plants receive plenty of sunlight. You can choose between summer and autumn-fruiting
varieties, or even plant both to extend your harvest season. While raspberries
require a little bit of maintenance such as pruning the canes at the right time
each year, they are relatively low-maintenance overall.
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| Raspberry |
Varieties
to Try: Locally we have the red and black raspberry cultivars
although there are over 100 varieties. There are autumn-fruiting variety that
produce juicy raspberries from July to October. If you prefer summer-fruiting
raspberries, ‘Glen Coe’ is an excellent choice. It’s thornless and produces
sweet, purple raspberries that are perfect for fresh eating or baking. For
smaller spaces or container gardening, a dwarf raspberry variety that grows to
just 45cm tall is perfect for small yards or even balconies and verandas.
6. Gooseberries
Gooseberries
known as ‘Nathi’ in my local language are often overlooked but are among the
easiest berries to grow. They need very little attention and are low
maintenance beyond the occasional watering during the fruiting season.
Gooseberries can be planted in a variety of conditions, from sunny to slightly
shaded areas, and they’re particularly well-suited for shady corners of the
garden that aren’t used for much else. The fruits are delicious in desserts,
such as cakes, crumbles, and jams, but they’re also tasty on their own. Some
people even enjoy eating them straight from the bush when they’re fully ripe.
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| Cape Gooseberry |
Varieties
to Try: For a golden, sweet variety, try the Cape gooseberry. The
berries are yellow-orange, resemble small tomatoes, do not contain much juice
and have a slightly acidic taste reminiscent of tomato and raspberry but also
of citrus fruits. From the berries you can get an excellent jam and a real
delicacy if covered with chocolate. They can be eaten alone or added to salads.
If dried slightly they can be pickled. These gooseberry bushes are heavy
croppers, ensuring you'll have plenty of fruit to harvest each year.
7. Apples
Apple
trees are a classic choice for home gardeners, and they’re especially great for
beginners because they’re relatively easy to grow. Apple trees can bear fruit
from mid-summer to late autumn, depending on the variety. They thrive in
fertile, well-drained soil that gets plenty of sunlight. To ensure a healthy crop,
it’s also a good idea to prune your apple trees in the winter. Apples are
versatile fruits – some varieties are sweet enough to eat fresh, while others
are perfect for baking into pies, crumbles, or sauces. Even if you have limited
space, you can grow compact dwarf apple varieties in containers.
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| Pink Lady Apple |
Varieties
to Try: For small gardens, the ‘Granny Smith’ (green) apple tree
is a great option. This compact tree has two different apple varieties grafted
onto its main stem, allowing the two varieties to pollinate each other. You can also try the ‘Pink Lady’ (redish) and ‘Golden
Corset’ apple varieties.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the easiest fruit tree to grow?
An apple tree is easy to grow as it requires less maintenance; it is long-lived and has a high production.
2.What are quickest fruits to grow?
Berries like the strawberries, blackberries, raspberries are among the quickest fruits to grow. They also produce fruits in the first year or less after transplanting.
3. What are the easiest fruits to grow in pots?
The strawberries and the blueberries are easiest to grow in pots. Blueberries need acidic soils, which is very easy to provide in pots. And strawberries are tightly-packed naturally and do well in pots.
4. What are some easy fruits to grow for beginners?
Strawberries are fairly easy to grow and can get fruit in the first year. Raspberries need less attention and yield can be increased by pruning yearly.
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