Preferred edible mulberry from Monty Don
In a verdant backyard paradise, there's gold to be found - edible fruit trees that bring an all-year-round spectacle, summer's bounty, and a haven for our feathered friends. We managed to grab a word with Monty Don to discover his top picks for drool-worthy edible fruit crops, all suited for even the tiniest of gardens:
Blackcurrant 'Boskoop Giant'
Standing tall at 1.8m, Boskoop Giant bears sweet berries from July in a well-sheltered, expansive plot.
Gooseberry 'Whinham's Industry'
Thriving in shade and on heavy soil, this beauty forms red berries ripe for the picking in late-July.
Raspberry 'Malling Jewel'
This variety starts fruiting from July and bears firm, luscious, dark-red berries in small clusters. beyond that, it boasts a decent tolerance to virus infections.
Redcurrant 'Laxton's Number One'
This powerhouse of a plant is strong growing, boasts a great flavor, and churns out a high yield of glossy red currants, ripening in mid-July.
Strawberry 'Mara des Bois'
A hybrid between modern and wild strawberries, Mara des Bois delights gardeners with a long fruit-bearing season, from July to October, offering suitably sizeable, tasty berries.
Whitecurrant 'Versailles Blanche'
Sporting pleasantly sweet, clear juice, this dependable white version is a heavy-hitting, upright bush that lures pollinators and harvests large crops.
Cherry 'Morello'
Morello cherries, oh-so-sour or acidic, are a kitchen staple, used for cooking and making jam.
Crab apple Malus x zumi var. calocarpa 'Golden Hornet'
With decorative yellow fruits, 'Golden Hornet' pairs well cooked with other fruits to make jellies and jams.
Peach 'Peregrine'
A reliable pick, Peregrine yields a plenty of white-fleshed, juicy, crimson-skinned fruit.
Pear 'Doyenne du Comice'
Known as the best tasting dessert pear, 'Doyenne du Comice' loves to mingle with 'Beth' or 'Concorde' for proper pollination and fruit survival.
Plum 'Victoria'
Ripening its large pink and yellow fruit in late August, 'Victoria' is self-fertile and growing on its own is perfectly acceptable.
Fig 'Brown Turkey'
Robust and heavy-cropping, 'Brown Turkey' is the dream variety of fig tree for northern Europe, providing an abundance of figs to savor.
Quince 'Leskovac'
With a unique, enchanting fragrance and the ability to make tantalizing jellies or partner with apples for delicious pies, 'Leskovac' is a must-have for any garden-worth-its-salt.
For a small garden, these are the fruit crops that will steal the show with their compact stature, ease of growth, and yield. Make space, open your heart, and welcome these delightful plants to your backyard oasis.
Also, for those with limited space, don't overlook the potential of miniature fruit trees, like dwarf varieties of apples, peaches, cherries, and citrus that can thrive in containers. Fig trees, date palms, and jujube trees are additional options that require little gardening know-how but still yield mouthwatering harvests. For more modest spaces, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries shine in raised beds, hanging baskets, or even planters.
Unleash your inner master gardener, and watch your little piece of earth transform into a smorgasbord of sweet sensations, year after year.
In this smallest of gardens, enjoy the spotlight with compact fruit crops such as the Blackcurrant 'Boskoop Giant', Raspberry 'Malling Jewel', Redcurrant 'Laxton's Number One', and Strawberry 'Mara des Bois'. For those gardening in pots, consider dwarf varieties of cherries, peaches, or citrus fruits for your home-and-garden haven. And don't forget about the lifestyle benefits of gardening - even in the tiniest spaces, the reward of a bountiful harvest can bring immense joy.
