Tips for growing your own summer fruits
\nFruit and summer go hand-in-hand. There\u2019s nothing better than a fruit salad or a delicious smoothie on a hot day. You could attend your local market or grocery store and find a wide selection, but nothing compares to the satisfaction of harvesting your own crop.
\nMake the most of great weather and long summers with our tips for planting and enjoying the benefits of your fresh summer fruits, while also reaping the rewards long after summer has gone, with options such as freezing, preserving and making jams and condiments.
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\nChoosing the right fruit
\nDo you often find yourself craving a particular fruit that\u2019s hard to find at the supermarket? Growing your own fruit is a simple way to keep costs down and ensure there\u2019s always enough for you and your family.
\nDeciding what fruit to plant in your garden can be subject to several factors, including taste, space, weather conditions and adequate lighting.
\nMany citrus and stone fruit trees require at least 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight throughout the day, whereas raspberries, bananas, mandarins, and oranges are more adequately suited to partial shade.
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\nInvesting in fruit trees
\nFruit trees provide flowers, fruit, and beneficial shade during the hot, Australian summer. Almost all fruit trees benefit from full sun, good soil drainage, and enough room to thrive.
\nPlant your trees with enough space in between, keeping them away from other plants, fences, and infrastructure. Plan your garden according to the size of the mature plant. Maintain adequate drainage by adding organic matter, including kitchen compost, garden compost, and well-rotted manure to your soil.
\nSave on citrus and stone fruit trees by purchasing bare-rooted varieties during winter. Soak the tree in a large container of water before planting it in a hole large enough for the tree roots and any organic soil. Water your tree well.
\nCitrus and stone fruit trees are self-fertile, which means they will produce fruit even if they are grown in solitary conditions (away from other trees).
\nApple, pear, cherry, and plum trees require a cross-pollinator to bear fruit. Cross-pollinating includes transferring pollen from the flowers of one plant to another. These trees are best suited when planted among other flowering fruit trees, as the proximity is ideal for the wind and other cross-pollinating sources. Bees are expert cross-pollinators. Invite bees into your garden by planting plenty of native Australian flowers and abstaining from insecticides.
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\nA berry good choice
\nSummer berries include blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. All summer berries thrive whether they are planted in the garden or plant pots. Ensure your berries are planted in direct sunlight. Raspberries are the only berries that require partial shade. To ensure healthy, fruiting plants, maintain nutrient-dense, freely draining soil.
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\nGrowing olives
\nDid you know olives are regarded as fruit? These European diet staples are packed full of Vitamin E and antioxidants beneficial for heart health. Olives thrive in long, hot climates just like their native Mediterranean conditions. Plant your olive trees in full sun, where the fruits find at least 6 hours of light. Keep protected from strong winds with a stake as support or by planting among other tall plants.
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\nCaring for your trees
\nLightly prune your fruit trees right after you\u2019ve collected your summer crop. Only prune where necessary though, as severe pruning during summer may weaken the trees.
\nKeep significant pruning to winter to fix any issues, including dead wood and broken or tangled branches.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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