Your fruit garden

First of all, it is of course useful to make a choice what kind of plants you want and how quickly you want fruit. Our wide range offers many possibilities: From small fruit to old trees. So first do your research on what you want.

Possibilities are for example:
High-stems: High-stems are very nice, but generally take a little longer before they start to bear fruit. Most varieties take five to eight years before they can be harvested for the first time.

Dwarf fruit: Would you like to pick fruit earlier? Then think of dwarf varieties on a weak rootstock, these bear fruit much faster. Dwarf trees are also ideal if you have limited space, so they are also very suitable for the balcony or terrace.

: If you want the experience of a fruit tree but do not want edible fruit, you can opt for the ornamental apple. They bloom throughout May, form a compact tree and bear a wealth of fruit in the autumn from September to sometimes December. The trees are so strong that they grow almost anywhere, provided they get enough light, air and sun. For example, you can opt for Red Sentinel , also known as a red Christmas apple. This tree is very decorative.

Small fruit: You can also choose small fruit, very nice in combination with a fruit tree. For example, you can think of Cranberry or Miss Cherry (a lingonberry). These plants do very well as ground cover. You can also put small fruit in a pot. Think of blueberries, currants, raspberries and gooseberries. In addition to the tasty fruits, it is also very beautiful in the garden. As the blackberries and raspberries grow, it is an idea to tie them to your fence, for example, or to make a nice scaffolding to tie up the plants. As a result, the fruits do not become moist quickly and you can reap many fruits from these plants. Kiwis and grapes are real climbers and are therefore also a nice addition to your garden. For example, plant them against your pergola, this gives a nice effect because of the climbing plants with delicious fruit.

Gardening mainly comes down to finding plants that suit the soil type of the area where you live.
It is no different for fruit trees. Many eating apples and eating pears do well in well-drained soil. Collected fruits or nuts such as sweet chestnut, walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds usually require no maintenance and are very easy to harvest. Small, warm urban gardens are ideal for unusual fruits such as fig, nectarine and peach. There is a microclimate there so that these fruits grow well there. Moist, acidic, peaty soils are particularly suitable for bilberries. Normally moist and dry soils are suitable for cranberries and blackberries. Click here to view the type of soil you can expect in your place of residence on the LNV-Loket website.

Pollination is necessary to get fruits. Some apple, pear, plum and cherry varieties are self-pollinating. Other varieties need a pollinator. They need pollen from a different but similar variety to form fruit. This is called cross-pollination. See our pollination table for more information. Ornamental apples are good pollinators for apple varieties. So if you only have room for one apple tree and there is an ornamental apple nearby, the tree is already well pollinated (see step 1). The patio trees are also particularly suitable for growing in a pot, as they are self-pollinating.

Choosing the right location is also important. A good site is a place with sufficient sun, fertile soil and good drainage. If you live in a place with a lot of wind, you can plant the tree in a place sheltered from the wind. Do not leave apple trees too sheltered. If they don't blow dry well, they are more likely to get infections. Shelter on the west side is often sufficient.

Trees: Young trees should receive sufficient water. Newly planted trees should be well watered once every two weeks. For dwarf trees, the soil should be moist to at least 60 cm deep and for large trees to 90 to 120 cm. deep. For example, use compost or straw to keep the soil moist. Add organic fertilizer, such as compost or composted manure if the tree is growing poorly. Do not give too much fertilizer. The fruit then becomes bland, soft and prone to rot.

Soft fruit: It is often good to feel when a plant in a pot needs water. Feel with your finger in the soil to see if the soil feels dry. If that is the case, it is necessary to give some water. Leaf will also fall off the plant or turn dark if the plant has too little water. Yellow leaves often indicate that the plant has too much water. Then pay close attention to whether the water can also drain into the soil or, if the plant is in a pot, whether the pot has sufficient drainage. It is best to choose a pot with holes at the bottom. This allows the excess water to drain through the holes.

Summer: In the summer you will have to water more because the soil dries out earlier.

Autumn-Winter: In the autumn and winter the leaves will fall from the tree or shrub. It usually regent enough during this period, but keep in mind that you have to give some extra water in drier weeks.

Why do you fertilize fruit trees and plants?

• Fertilization ensures a more beautiful flowering
• Fertilization ensures more fruit
• Extra nutrition ensures that your fruit trees and plants remain healthy, even in nutrient-poor soil

When do you fertilize fruit trees and plants?

Fertilizer is best administered in the period between March and April, if the tree is on a sand substrate, fertilize again in July. It is best not to fertilize in the fall.

How do you fertilize fruit trees and plants?

Sprinkle the indicated dose as indicated on the packaging around the tree or plant. Then water the tree abundantly, so that the granules can be absorbed properly.

Fruithof fertilizers

Fruithof has developed a fertilizer especially for fruit trees and plants. The fertilizer is for sale in plastic buckets, with these handy buckets you can use it for several years. The dosage is 2 to 3 tablespoons of fertilizer twice a year.

Ask your local garden center about the availability of Fruithof fertilizers.

In the first years it is important to prune a fruit tree to get a good tree shape. Later pruning is important to make the harvest as large and easy as possible. Read more detailed information about pruning on the pruning page .