Size Isn't Everything!

01/02/2010

GROWN FOR YOU REVEAL THEIR TOP FIVE FRUIT PLANTS FOR A SMALLER GARDEN

Grown For You, leading online fruit and vegetable supplier, is looking to encourage gardeners to grow more of their own fruit even if they have a smaller garden.

Says Nick Coumbe, general manager, Grown For You: A

recent survey by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) showed that 39 per cent of people were put off growing fruit because they didnt think they had enough space. But space doesnt have to be a problem if you choose the right plants. To help weve come up with five fruit plants which we think every gardener even if they only have a window box or a small patio should think about trying.

The Top Five choice includes the following:
Strawberry
Home grown fresh strawberries are something everyone can achieve. You can grow them in pots or even

window boxes. We feel there is no garden in the land that cant grow strawberries.
Blueberry
The rounded blueberry bush rarely gets above six feet in a garden and can be kept pruned to considerable less. Juicy fruits, loves acidic soils, and is full of colour even in the autumn, so gives a lot back for the small space it takes up.
Cooking Apple Grenadier
A super cooker, and for the smaller gardener has the advantage of being less rigorous than the Bramley. Most orchards stop their trees at seven feet, so no reason why you cant keep this delightful apple tree small and compact and yet still have a great crop.


Cherry Stella
Wonderful blossom in the spring, fine colour in the autumn and in between tasty dark red cherries which are produced reliably year after year. With pruning can be kept to a height of six to eight feet.
Black Currant Big Ben
All bush fruits are good for smaller spaces, but these are thorn free, and give good yields of delicious fruit which is high in vitamin C.

The HTA survey showed a massive increase in the number of people choosing to grow their own up from 22 per cent to 54 per cent in two years; however, only two fifths were growing fruit.

Says Nick Coumbe: Just as there has been an exponential rise in people growing their own veg, we think there is a huge potential for more fruit growing in the UK. Its just a question of picking the right fruit plants for your plot. Once people realise that size isnt an issue, and that there is plenty you can do even in a smaller space, we think that fruit growing could easily show the same growth potential as vegetables.

Grown For You was founded in 2008 by Rupert White, owner of Griffin Nurseries, which enjoys a reputation as one of the UKs best specimen plant producers. Nick Coumbe has very recently been appointed as general manager for the online business.



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