Grow Your Own Magazine

I am clearing an area of my garden about 8' x 6'. It is in partial shade against a fence but the soil is good. There is already an apple tree on one side and a blackcurrant bush on the other side of the patch.

I would like to plant it up with fruit that will give me some returns next year. I already have some strawberrys, but would be value your advice on what to plant, and when to plant it to get maximum returns from a small space.

I planted up a mini fruit garden in Feb 06 in an area 13ft by 8 ft, again in partial shade, I put in Autumn fruiting Raps the Tompson and Morgan Autumn collection, (9 canes Autumn Bliss, 3 of All gold) they have been fantstic from year one. Also trained gooseberries as cordons up the side of the shed. Most of the berries and currents are descended from woodland plants so will tollerate some shade.
I have cordoned apples, Rasps, Gooseberries and Strawbs plus a clump of Rhubard and alpine strawbs as ground cover. It has been very productive from the first season.
Good luck with it, the great thing about fruit gardens is that you do n't have to dig and re sow every year, once the intial work has been put into establishing it. It's mostly just pruning and mulching.

Thanks for that Mugsy; most inspiring. Now I just have to clear my new mini plot...hmmm

lidl have a load of different fruit bushes coming in on thursday at £1.29 each, theres a post on here somewhere, might be worth a visit if you have one?

__________________
http://teachy.myminicity.com please visit my town and make it better

http://quiz.ravenblack.net/blood.pl?biter=teach_me please sign up to be a vampire, i get 10 pints of blood if you do, and it's fun as well ....... i have an interactive map if anyone wants it.

Ooh excellent tip, thanks; I do have a Lidl near me!

Hi, I'm looking to purchase some fruit bushes too and was just wondering? are the cheap supermarket raspberry, blackberry plants etc etc on par with those offered by Morgan and Thompson.
Are Morgan and Thompson plants top quality or are there better companies if so who?

thanks
Andrew

Hi Andrew and WELCOME!
Personally I would be very wary of buying any outdoor plant from the supermarket if it had been kept on their shelf for a while. It would not have been in the right conditions - ie too warm this time of year - and may be more susceptible to frosts, disease etc. I suppose if they had just come into the shop or if they were put outside during the day they might be ok. But I know lots of people on here do get plants from Lidl etc and they are fine. Just don't spend too much on them in case they don't make it!
I have used mail order specialist fruit growers eg Ken Muir, Deacons and have been very happy with what they sent

there are some more fruit bushes coming in lidl this thursday, £2.49 for 3 bushes..... at that price, even if they aren't great as fresh fruit, they will still make good jam/smoothies etc..... and if you think of some of the bland fruit you get from supermarkets, they have to be as good if not better than them.

__________________
http://teachy.myminicity.com please visit my town and make it better

http://quiz.ravenblack.net/blood.pl?biter=teach_me please sign up to be a vampire, i get 10 pints of blood if you do, and it's fun as well ....... i have an interactive map if anyone wants it.