When Should I Harvest My Fruit?

Now the summer has come along it’s time for British fruits to come back on to supermarket shelves and in to our kitchen. But better still it is time for us to really see the fruits of our labour (metaphorically as well as figuratively) as the crops from our different fruit trees begin to ripen.

With most fruits it is possible to tell that they are ready to be picked. As you gently squeeze them you can feel that they are no longer hard and have a light softness to their texture, or they, like apples, they start to fall from the tree. Depending on the fruit, some need to be picked before they mature as they are best ripened in the fruit bowl – this is the case with pears – whereas other fruits, such as cherries are best left to ripen on the tree. There is no steadfast rule on fruit ripening but a little common sense goes a long way.

One thing you need to be careful of is that you don’t allow the fruits to ripen for too long on the tree as this can attract wasps and bees. A good way to know when the fruit is ready is when you see the birds starting to take an interest.  Be careful though, if you aren’t quick enough at this point you may end up losing your crop to them before you have had chance to pick it!

To give you a good idea as to which fruits come in to season when here is a list that acts as a good guide – although you should bear in mind that things can change slightly depending on the season

• June & July – blackcurrants, cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, whit currants
• August & September – early-season apples, blackberries, plums, raspberries, blackcurrants
• October & November – mid/late-season apples, pears, plums

Overall the most important thing to do when your fruit is coming in to season is to check it regularly (often daily) as slight weather changes can make a big difference as to how quickly it will ripen. Once ready you can also look to store your fruits in a cold area, like a cellar or larder, so that you can enjoy them for longer. There is nothing better than seeing and tasting fruits from your own harvest!

How to Care for Containerised Fruit Trees

For many people growing fruit trees in a container is an easy way to keep them neat and tidy.  It is also an ideal option for those of us who have smaller gardens, patios or balconies with a limited amount of open space in which to grow larger trees.

However, although restricting huge growth is easier in containers, trying to care for the plants is not always simple.

The best time to plant fruit trees in a container is in early spring whilst they are coming out of their winter dormancy. That way the roots can become established during the growing season. Regular watering from then on is essential.  Too little water means the plants will dehydrate and may die, but too much water can be just as damaging. If the tree is sat in water the roots can become saturated and they are unable to take in nutrients from the soil of from any additional feed you may add.  It is important to consider drainage with containers to allow for excess water to escape if the plant is to be kept outside, particularly as the UK weather does tend to be quite wet at times! Make sure you regularly check the drainage holes in the container to check that they are not blocked.

Handy Hint – Lining pots with waterproof materials is a good way to decrease the frequency of watering as most of the water will be lost through the leaves of the tree rather than through the drainage holes

As your tree grows you may want to re-pot it in order to allow it to continue to grow. Alternatively you can limit the growth of your tree by leaving it in a smaller container. Whichever way you will have to re-pot the tree eventually either to a larger container or within the same one, as the soil will lose its structure over time.

Re-potting should be done in early spring, once the tree starts to waken from dormancy. When removing the tree take a small amount of the old compost with the tree as you slide it out of the pot. IF the roots will not come out them you may need to cut them at the edges. Then re-pot the tree with new compost and give it a light watering to help the roots re-establish.

As and when the tree becomes too large to re-pot you can just replace some of the existing soil in the original pot, being careful not to damage the roots as you do so. We would recommend you remove around a third of the old compost each time if you are looking to do this, to ensure enough fresh compost is made available for the tree.

Although summer is often the most stressful season for fruit trees in containers in terms of watering requirements, the winter can also cause problems if the plants are not properly cared for. 

To protect your fruit trees from the cold, particularly in frost-prone areas it may be worth cover them in a light fleece or bubble plastic as a temporary measure. In very wet weather where puddles are created, make sure that the pot is not left in standing water as this may saturate the roots of the plant and will prevent drainage from the pot.

Handy Hint – If you have a raised platform to stand the container on in very wet weather this can help

To purchase some fruit trees to grow in your garden visit our site at www.fruittreesdirect.co.uk