Fruit

Fruit trees, soft fruit, and berry growing guides for UK gardens.

Cape gooseberry branch heavy with papery golden husks, one peeled to show the orange berry, in a UK garden

Growing 11 June 2026 12 min read

Cape Gooseberry Growing: Husk to Harvest

How to grow cape gooseberry in the UK: sow February-March at 18-21C, plant out after frosts and pick when the husk turns papery straw-brown.

An apple tree branch heavily laden with fruit in an on year beside a bare off-year branch

Growing 10 June 2026 12 min read

Biennial Bearing: Why Fruit Trees Skip a Year

Apple or pear tree cropping heavily one year, barely the next? Biennial bearing is the cause. How to break the cycle with thinning in UK gardens.

Young apple tree showing the graft union swelling above the soil in a UK garden, rootstock label attached

Growing 8 June 2026 13 min read

Fruit Tree Rootstocks Explained

Fruit tree rootstocks decide final size, vigour and time to fruit. Apple, pear, plum and cherry rootstocks compared, with UK heights and spacing.

Heavy-cropping autumn fruiting raspberry row laden with red fruit on a UK allotment in October

Growing 4 June 2026 13 min read

Autumn Raspberries: Grow and Harvest Guide

How to grow autumn fruiting raspberries in the UK: cut all canes to ground in February, harvest August to October, no support. Best varieties ranked.

UK damson tree heavy with ripe dark-blue Shropshire Prune fruit and pale bloom, golden September light in a traditional cottage orchard

Growing 14 May 2026 20 min read

How to Grow Damsons in the UK

Grow damsons in the UK: best varieties, planting, summer pruning, pest control, yields and cooking uses from an orchardist with 6 seasons of trial records.

Fan-trained Cambridge Gage greengage tree heavy with ripe golden-green fruit against a warm south-facing UK brick wall in late August

Growing 14 May 2026 17 min read

How to Grow Greengages in the UK

Grow greengages in the UK: pick the right variety, train against a warm wall, prune safely, and harvest the sweetest plum you cannot buy in a shop.

Established lingonberry plants in terracotta pots on a UK patio, clusters of scarlet berries hanging on glossy evergreen foliage in late summer light

Growing 14 May 2026 14 min read

How to Grow Lingonberries in the UK

UK guide to growing lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) in pots. Acid soil, top cultivars, watering and yields from 5 years of trials in Staffordshire.

UK tayberry plant trained on horizontal wires with deep purple-red elongated fruit in late July sunlight

Growing 14 May 2026 18 min read

How to Grow Tayberries in the UK

Grow tayberries the right way: site, training on wires, pruning the spent floricanes, and Buckingham thornless vs the original spiny cultivar compared.

A mature UK garden cherry tree heavy with glossy ripe deep-red sweet cherries against a blue July sky

Growing 11 May 2026 13 min read

Best Cherry Tree Varieties UK: 12 Tested Picks

Twelve UK cherry tree varieties tested for taste, hardiness, and crop. Sweet vs sour, self-fertile picks, dwarf rootstocks, and bird-proofing.

Pink almond blossom on a young UK garden tree in early March against blue sky showing the very early flowering that limits UK cropping

Growing 11 May 2026 11 min read

Almonds in UK Gardens: 3 Cultivars Crop

Growing almonds in UK gardens. Climate, pollination, three cultivars (Robijn, Ingrid, Mandaline) that crop in southern England with the right siting.

Mature sweet chestnut tree in a UK garden in late October with spiky green burrs splitting to reveal brown nuts on lower branches and golden autumn leaves

Growing 11 May 2026 12 min read

Sweet Chestnuts: A 50-Year UK Tree Bet

Growing sweet chestnuts in UK gardens. Spacing, pollination pairs, harvest, 8-12 year wait to first nuts, and 50-year productive life.

Mature walnut tree in a UK garden in September with green husked walnuts visible on lower branches and dappled afternoon sunlight on the foliage

Growing 11 May 2026 12 min read

Walnuts in UK Gardens: Trees Worth Waiting

Growing walnuts in UK gardens. Juglans regia for British plots, Broadview and Buccaneer varieties, 6-10 year wait to first nuts, walnut blight prevention.

Best UK plum tree varieties showing Victoria, Marjorie's Seedling and Czar plums ripening on mature trees in a Staffordshire orchard

Growing 5 May 2026 15 min read

Best UK Plum Tree Varieties: 12 Cultivars Tested

Best UK plum tree varieties compared from a 6-year trial of 12 cultivars. Self-fertile flags, pollination groups, harvest dates, dessert vs cooker.

Best UK pear trees varieties heavy with fruit in domestic garden in autumn

Growing 30 April 2026 14 min read

Best UK Pear Trees: 12 Varieties Worth Growing

12 UK pear cultivars compared on pollination groups, ripening dates, eating versus cooking, disease resistance and how they cropped on a clay garden plot.

Best blackcurrant varieties UK gardeners can plant, mature bushes laden with ripe fruit in an English kitchen garden

Growing 28 April 2026 14 min read

Best Blackcurrant Varieties UK: 8 Bens Tested

Best blackcurrant varieties UK gardeners can grow, ranked by yield, flavour, and gall mite resistance from a 5-year Staffordshire trial of 6 cultivars.

Perennial vegetable bed in a UK allotment with asparagus ferns, globe artichokes, rhubarb and sorrel growing together

Growing 9 April 2026 18 min read

Perennial Veg: Plant Once, Pick for Years

Grow 14 perennial vegetables in UK gardens. Asparagus, rhubarb, sea kale, sorrel and more that crop year after year with less work than annuals.

Ripe golden apricots on a fan-trained tree against a warm stone wall in a UK walled garden

Growing 8 April 2026 12 min read

How to Grow Apricot Trees in the UK

Grow apricot trees in the UK with fan training on south-facing walls. Covers Moorpark, Tomcot, frost protection, pruning, and container growing.

Ripe peaches on a fan-trained peach tree against a south-facing brick wall in a UK garden

Growing 8 April 2026 13 min read

How to Grow Peach Trees in the UK

Grow peach trees successfully in the UK. Covers fan training, peach leaf curl prevention, hand pollination, UK-hardy varieties, and container growing.

Translucent white currant berries hanging in ripe clusters on a bush in a UK kitchen garden

Growing 7 April 2026 11 min read

How to Grow White Currants in the UK

Grow white currants in the UK with this planting and pruning guide. Covers White Versailles, Blanka, yield of 3-5kg per bush, and pest control.

Forcing crops in a UK kitchen garden with terracotta forcing pots and glass cloches on vegetable beds in early spring

Growing 3 April 2026 12 min read

Forcing Crops for Earlier Harvests

UK guide to forcing crops for earlier harvests. Covers rhubarb, chicory, seakale, and early potatoes with timing, methods, and field-tested results.

Mature nut trees growing in a traditional English orchard with dappled sunlight and autumn leaves

Growing 3 April 2026 12 min read

Growing Nut Trees in the UK

UK guide to growing nut trees. Covers hazels, walnuts, and sweet chestnuts with planting advice, variety picks, and a harvest timeline from expert growers.

Ripe cantaloupe melons growing on supports inside a greenhouse with green foliage and netting

Growing 1 April 2026 15 min read

Grow Melons in a Greenhouse UK Guide

Learn how to grow melons in a greenhouse in the UK. Covers best varieties, sowing, hand pollination, and harvesting sweet melons from expert growers.

Growing 31 March 2026 15 min read

Best Apple Varieties for UK Gardens

Expert guide to the best apple varieties for UK gardens with pollination groups, rootstock picks and a 15-year growing trial from West Midlands clay soil.

Goji berry plant with bright red berries on arching branches in a UK cottage garden

Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read

How to Grow Goji Berry in the UK

Grow goji berries in UK gardens with this tested guide. Covers best varieties, planting, pruning, container growing, harvesting and drying methods.

Honeyberry bush laden with ripe elongated blue berries in a UK garden

Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read

How to Grow Honeyberry in the UK

Learn how to grow honeyberry in the UK. Covers best varieties, cross-pollination, planting, soil needs and harvesting the earliest fruit crop.

Kiwi fruit vine growing on a wooden pergola in a UK cottage garden with ripe fuzzy brown fruits in autumn

Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read

How to Grow Kiwi Fruit in the UK

UK guide to growing kiwi fruit outdoors. Covers fuzzy kiwi and hardy kiwi berry varieties, pollination, wall training, and harvesting.

Mature medlar tree with fruit and golden autumn foliage in a traditional UK cottage garden

Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read

How to Grow Medlar Trees in the UK

Expert UK guide to growing medlar trees. Covers varieties, planting, bletting, pruning, and making medlar jelly from 15 years of hands-on growing.

Citrus trees UK growing in conservatory with ripe lemons

Growing 30 March 2026 14 min read

Growing Citrus Trees in the UK

A practical guide to growing citrus trees in the UK. Covers the best varieties for pots, seasonal indoor-outdoor care, feeding, and common problems.

Unusual crops growing on a UK allotment including oca, yacon, kiwi berries on a frame, and lemongrass in pots

Growing 27 March 2026 14 min read

Unusual Crops to Grow in the UK

20 unusual crops that thrive in UK gardens. From oca and yacon to cape gooseberries and shiso, tested growing advice from a Staffordshire grower.

Crab apple tree in full spring blossom with pink and white flowers in a UK garden

Growing 25 February 2026 14 min read

How to Grow Crab Apple Trees UK

UK guide to growing crab apple trees. Covers best varieties, pollination groups, jelly making, planting, pruning, and pests. From a Staffordshire grower.

Ripe blueberries growing on a bush in a container in a UK cottage garden

Growing 21 February 2026 14 min read

How to Grow Blueberries in the UK

Learn how to grow blueberries in the UK. Covers best varieties, ericaceous compost, container growing, pruning, feeding and harvesting July to September.

Blanched garden peas and runner beans spread on a tray for open-freezing before bagging

Growing 14 February 2026 14 min read

How to Freeze Garden Produce

Complete UK guide to freezing garden fruit and vegetables. Blanching times, open-tray method, syrup packs, storage times, and defrosting safely.

Ripe dark red sweet cherries hanging on a branch in a Kent orchard

Growing 10 February 2026 15 min read

How to Grow Cherry Trees in the UK

UK guide to growing cherry trees. Covers sweet and acid varieties, rootstocks, planting, pruning in summer to avoid silver leaf, and bird protection.

Redcurrant and blackcurrant bushes side by side in a UK kitchen garden

Growing 26 January 2026 14 min read

Grow Redcurrants and Blackcurrants

UK guide to growing redcurrants and blackcurrants. Covers varieties, planting, pruning differences, cordons, pest control, and harvesting 4-5kg per bush.

Collection of fruit plants growing in containers on an English balcony

Growing 23 January 2026 14 min read

Grow Fruit in Pots and Containers

How to grow fruit in pots and containers in the UK. Covers best varieties, pot sizes, compost types, feeding, winter care, and a monthly calendar.

Ripe dark grapes on a vine trained along horizontal wires in an English garden

Growing 17 January 2026 16 min read

How to Grow Grape Vines in the UK

UK guide to growing grape vines outdoors and under glass. Covers best varieties, planting, pruning, training wires, and harvesting grapes in UK gardens.

Thick red rhubarb stalks with large green leaves growing in a garden

Growing 13 January 2026 14 min read

How to Grow Rhubarb in the UK

Complete guide to growing rhubarb in UK gardens. Covers varieties, planting crowns, forcing for early stems, harvesting, dividing, and common mistakes.

Mature apple tree laden with ripe red and green apples in an English orchard

Growing 8 January 2026 16 min read

How to Grow Apple Trees in the UK

Complete UK guide to growing apple trees. Covers rootstocks, pollination groups, best dessert and cooking varieties, planting, pruning, and pest control.

Row of Kilner jars filled with bottled tomatoes, pickled beetroot, and preserved plums on a shelf

Growing 4 January 2026 14 min read

How to Preserve Fruit and Vegetables

UK guide to preserving fruit and vegetables at home. Covers bottling, dehydrating, salting, oil preserving, vacuum packing, and safety rules.

Fig tree trained against a south-facing brick wall with ripe purple figs

Growing 25 December 2025 15 min read

How to Grow Fig Trees in the UK

Learn how to grow fig trees in UK gardens. Covers the best varieties, root restriction, fan training, pruning, container growing, and harvesting.

Victoria plum tree with branches laden with ripe purple-red plums

Growing 25 December 2025 16 min read

How to Grow Plum Trees in the UK

UK guide to growing plum trees, damsons, gages, and mirabelles. Covers rootstocks, best varieties, planting, summer pruning, pest control, and harvesting.

Mixed fruit trees in a productive English garden with ripe apples and pears

Growing 9 December 2025 18 min read

How to Grow Fruit Trees in the UK

UK guide to growing fruit trees from apple and pear to plum, cherry, and fig. Rootstock choices, pruning, and the best varieties for British gardens.

Ripe blackberries growing on a fan-trained bush against a garden fence

Growing 4 December 2025 14 min read

How to Grow Blackberries in the UK

Learn how to grow blackberries in UK gardens. Covers thornless and thorned varieties, fan training, pruning fruited canes, and harvesting 5-10kg per plant.

Bramley apples wrapped individually in newspaper and arranged on a slatted wooden storage rack

Growing 30 November 2025 14 min read

How to Store Apples and Pears at Home

UK guide to storing apples and pears long-term. Covers picking, wrapping, storage conditions, variety shelf life, rot prevention and ripening pears.

Freshly harvested selection of UK-grown vegetables and fruit in a wooden trug on a garden bench

Growing 29 November 2025 15 min read

What to Harvest This Month UK

Month-by-month UK harvest calendar covering vegetables, fruit, and herbs. Know exactly when to pick each crop for the best flavour and yield.

Ripe red strawberries growing in a garden bed with straw mulch beneath the fruit in warm sunlight

Growing 20 November 2025 13 min read

How to Grow Strawberries in the UK

Guide to growing strawberries in UK gardens. Covers varieties, planting times, containers, feeding, runner propagation, and pest protection.

Ripe green gooseberries on a bush in a traditional English allotment

Growing 13 November 2025 14 min read

How to Grow Gooseberries in the UK

Complete guide to growing gooseberries in UK gardens. Covers the best varieties, planting, pruning, training as cordons, pest control, and harvesting tips.

Bubbling deep red strawberry jam in a preserving pan with sterilised jam jars waiting to be filled

Growing 13 November 2025 14 min read

How to Make Jam from Garden Fruit

Complete UK guide to making jam from garden fruit. Covers pectin levels, sugar ratios, setting point tests, sterilising jars, and recipes for 6 fruits.

Dwarf fruit tree apple in a terracotta pot on a sunny English patio

Growing 31 October 2025 14 min read

Dwarf Fruit Trees for Small Gardens

Grow fruit trees in small UK gardens using dwarf rootstocks. Apple, pear, cherry, and plum varieties that suit patios, pots, and tiny plots.

Ripe Conference pears on an espalier-trained tree against a warm brick wall

Growing 17 October 2025 15 min read

How to Grow Pear Trees in the UK

Complete guide to growing pear trees in UK gardens. Covers rootstocks, varieties, planting, pruning, pollination groups, and harvesting tips.

Espalier apple tree trained against a brick wall in an English walled garden

Growing 16 October 2025 16 min read

How to Train Fruit Trees: Espalier

Learn how to train fruit trees using espalier, fan, cordon, and step-over forms. UK pruning guide with rootstock advice, wire setup, and seasonal calendar.

Ripe red raspberries on canes with a post-and-wire support in a UK allotment

Growing 13 October 2025 14 min read

How to Grow Raspberries in the UK

Grow raspberries in UK gardens with this guide to summer and autumn varieties, planting, pruning, support systems, and pest control for reliable crops.