A Guide to Planting and Maintenance
Adding fruit to your allotment provides a rewarding and long-term harvest. With the right planning, fruit bushes and trees can thrive with minimal maintenance. Here’s what you need to know about growing fruit successfully.
Choosing the Right Fruit
The best fruit for your allotment depends on climate, soil type, and available space. Some of the easiest and most productive options include:
Soft Fruits (Quick to establish and highly productive)
- Strawberries – Plant runners in autumn or early spring for summer harvests.
- Raspberries – Choose summer-fruiting or autumn-fruiting varieties.
- Blackberries & Hybrid Berries – Thornless varieties make harvesting easier.
- Currants (Red, Black, White) – Ideal for jams and cordials.
- Gooseberries – Hardy and reliable with a sweet-tart flavour.
Tree Fruits (Longer-term investment but productive for years)
- Apples – Choose a variety suited to your region. Some require a pollination partner.
- Pears – Prefer a sheltered spot and well-drained soil.
- Plums & Damsons – Self-fertile varieties like ‘Victoria’ are easy to grow.
- Cherries – Require protection from birds and often do best in netted areas.
Planting Fruit Bushes and Trees
- Site Selection – Choose a sunny, sheltered location with good drainage.
- Soil Preparation – Dig in compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
- Spacing – Allow enough room for air circulation to prevent disease.
- Mulching – Apply organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Caring for Your Fruit Plants
Watering
- Soft fruits need regular watering, especially in dry spells.
- Trees establish better if watered deeply in their first two years.
Feeding
- Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring.
- Potash-rich feeds encourage flowering and fruiting.
Pruning
- Apples & Pears – Prune in winter to shape and encourage fruiting spurs.
- Raspberries – Cut summer-fruiting canes after harvest; autumn-fruiting varieties should be cut to the ground in winter.
- Blackberries & Gooseberries – Prune in late winter to remove old growth and encourage new shoots.
Protection from Pests & Birds
- Use netting to protect soft fruits from birds.
- Check for aphids, caterpillars, and mildew, and treat naturally if needed.
Harvesting and Using Your Fruit
- Pick fruit when fully ripe for the best flavour.
- Freeze surplus fruit or make jams, chutneys, and preserves.
With careful planning, fruit bushes and trees can provide years of delicious harvests, making them a great addition to any allotment.
