01/19/2021
If you’re interested in growing some of your own fruit, here are some of the best fruits plants to consider for beginners:
Raspberries and blackberries. Called “brambles,” these fruits are hardy and require not much more than the occasional prune to keep them fruitful. While these bushes are well-known for being thorny, there are now new varieties that are thorn-free.
Strawberries. Strawberries are one of the lowest-maintenance fruits, requiring only a small space and a little water. Simply plant them right in your vegetable garden or in pots in sunny areas. While they can survive cold winters, you may need to refresh the beds every couple of summers with new strawberry plants to keep the crop going.
Plums. Plum trees are hardy and most will produce large crops every other year. There are only a select few varieties that are self-pollinating, so be aware that if you want a plum harvest, you may need to buy two trees.
Cherries. Both sweet cherries and sour cherries are low-maintenance small-fruit trees that require minimal to no pruning and are very pest- and disease-resistant.
Apples. Apples are one of the hardiest fruit trees, grown widely throughout the United States. Many varieties can withstand cold winters. However, be wary of pests and disease—apples are often more susceptible than other fruits.
Peaches. Peach trees are naturally small trees, so they’re a great choice if you don’t have a ton of space. They do require a little pruning and thinning in order to get the best harvests.
Apricots. Apricot trees are great low-maintenance, full-sun fruit trees. However, they don’t produce fruit their first year after planting, so don’t feel disheartened if they take a while to settle in.
Pears. Pear trees are a great cold-hardy fruit, and if you’re worried about space, it’s easy to find dwarf varieties of the tree.
Grapes. Grapes are a vine fruit, meaning grapevines can be trained to grow on a trellis or wire support. Just be vigilant during harvest season—grapes are a common target for birds.
Figs. Figs are a very low-maintenance, everbearing tree. While standard varieties are frost-tender, there are newer varieties that are much more cold hardy—and can even be grown in pots so that you can move them indoors for the winter.