Fruit for amatures
ApprenticeSam
Posts: 1
in Fruit & veg
I've been interested in horticulture since an early age but now at the age of 19 i'm thinking of growing some fruit.
Before i do so i wouldn't mind getting the opinions of others to see their views on a good fruit to start off on and how i would preserve it.
Thanks.
0
Posts
Raspberries and other cane fruit are relatively easy just plant- prune out fruited canes once a year-tie into a support and away you go
Blueberries need little maintenance -do better in a container
Strawberries-once the plants are bought self -propagating-again relatively easy protect from slugs
All may need protection from birds
Tree fruit is more of a waiting game and the pruning can be tricky
Just my immediate thoughts
Autumn fruiting Raspberries are very good, expensive to buy in the shops but easy to grow. Just cut them down to the ground in February every year and that's it. You don't even need supports for them.
Another good choice are blackcurrants. Again fairly easy to grow and maintain. Pruning is relatively easy and can be done when you're harvesting the fruits in summer.
As sotongeoff suggests, strawberries are fantastic, but be warned blackbirds love them too!!
I have redcurrants, but net them or else the birds will get there before you early morning. I also have blackcurrants which do well, strawberries which do well and they have plenty of runners each year, so you can replace old plants. The best ever are thornless blackberries if you like them, normally get about 10 pounds from mine most years, except last year weather too wet and not enough sun, the fruit was bad.
The original question asks about preserving fruit.
I know nothing about preserving, except that jam has something to do with it. And that some specific varieties of apple keep well, and many don't.
i have an allotment with all the above fruuits you can pick and freeze them make jams and chutneys all easy recipis on the net good luck
Most fruits you can freeze, especially raspberries, autumn ones are good, and you can with blackcurrants. Jam is also a good way of preserving fruit - and scrummy and easier to make than what folk think
When making jam, don't guess the temperature, get yourself a sugar thermometer, and you'll know when the temperature is correct. You can also make fudge, which is FAR nicer than anything that goes by the same name in the shops. Every time I make a batch (usually around a pound), it goes in a couple of days, or a single day if OH is daft enough to take it into work.
The Fruit Expert by Dr.D.G. Hessayon (second hand ones can usually found on Ebay for a song) will tell you anything you will ever need to know apart from recipes. Then you can come on here and teach us. Like all Hessayon books, it is brilliant. The new ones aren't too expensive either. About £7.
dont forget the good old gooseberry just plant and leave easy peezie.