Fruit - Apricots

Apricots are at their best when picked ripe and eaten soon after, and that means that ideally you have your own apricot tree. Add to that the fact that most shop-bought apricots are grown to look appetising when displayed rather than taste well, and you have two very good reasons why every food garden should have an apricot tree!

photo 1: Moorpark apricots

Online food garden chat July 2020

On Sunday 19 July 2020 the Food Garden Group's third online food garden chat took place. We talked about compost heaps, hay and straw, pruning an espaliered fruit tree, pruning raspberries and blueberries, and how to use seaweed and sea grass. See below for a summary of the discussions.

Fruit - Peaches and Nectarines

Introduction

Anyone who has tasted a peach or nectarine from a home garden will know that there is no comparison between home-grown peaches and nectarines and what is for sale in the super markets. Add to that the fact that there are many dwarf peaches and nectarine varieties for sale that can be grown in small spaces or pots, and you have a very compelling case for a peach or nectarine tree in every garden.

This is a blog post in the Fruit-series by Max and Max. It covers buying, planting, pruning, grafting and pest control of peach and nectarine trees, and harvesting and storing of their fruit. Thank you, Max, for your expert-feedback and valuable contributions to this blog post! 

Fruit - Apples and Pears

Introduction

Apples and pears are available at supermarkets throughout the year at reasonable prices, so why grow your own? Well, commercial fruit farmers focus on varieties with middle-of-the-road tastes, that will appeal to a wide audience. A variety that has great taste, but looks unattractive, or does not store well, will simply not be grown commercially. Growing your own apples and pears gives you access to varieties that are seldom or never available in shops.

This is a blog post by ‘Max and Max’. Together they tapped into Max’s decades of professional fruit tree experience and documented what might be helpful to home gardeners who grow apples and pears. One Max learnt a lot. The other Max is thanked very much for his time and sharing his knowledge.