If you have been thinking about getting a fruit tree, your next question is probably what type you should get. Soft fruit trees are some of the most popular variations available for sale in the UK, and with good reason.
For one thing, soft fruit trees feature fruits and berries which boast bright, vivid colours. There is a reason why painters as different as the Italian Renaissance Masters and Post-Impressionists featured blackberries, blueberries, figs, and other soft fruits in their paintings. For another, the fruit they bear is especially sweet.
Let’s take a look at some of the varieties of fruit trees in the UK on www.chrisbowers.co.uk, and what you should look for in the fruit trees on which they grow.
Blackberry Trees
The types of blackberry trees grown in the UK are typically ready for harvest between July to September. The trees themselves grow quite well in domestic areas, with the fruit and branches adapting and growing well against walls and fences, making them ideal for your front or backyard. You will want to take care to ensure that there is enough space between different blackberry trees, and that will vary based on the variant – 8’ for an average or thornless blackberry plant, 10’ for thorned varieties, and 15’ for Himalayan Giant options.
Blueberry Trees
As with blackberries, blueberries tend to be in season from late July through September. Most blueberry trees can last for upwards of 10 years or more. Popular varieties found in the British Isles include Berkeley, Amm Blue, Bluetta, Chandler, Dixi, and Darrow blueberries. Sites such as Chris Bowers & Sons offer fantastic blueberry varieties from around the UK and Ireland and can help match you to the perfect variant for your garden.
Fig Trees
Compared to blackberry and blueberry trees, fig-trees bear fruit a bit later in the year, typically being ready for harvest from August to September. They are relatively hardy plants and can grow in a variety of environments, from sun-drenched walls to cool greenhouses. If you are looking to grow new fig trees, you’ll want to opt for soil that features added rubble. The plants themselves tend to grow well when placed in containers, and that growing is facilitated by the fact that they are self-fertile.
Brown, Brunswick, and White Marseilles figs are among the most in-demand in the UK.
Soft fruit trees can be a great choice if you’re looking for fruit-bearing trees ready for harvest in late summer and can grow a variety of fruits.