Research recently completed by the Medical University of Vienna shows that most people who use their private gardens consider them to be “very restorative” and that the “restoration factor increases in proportion to the number of natural elements present in the garden.”
Therefore, more plants = more benefits. Gardeners have always known how multi-beneficial their little slice of paradise is. Fruit trees are excellent, but they have traditionally required a decent amount of space. Here are a couple of suggestions for varieties which work well in a more compact garden.
The Fingered Citron (or Buddha’s Hand) looks a little bit extra terrestrial, but it is actually a member of the citrus family. In Asia, the fruit symbolises long life, good fortune and happiness and is often used in religious ceremonies.
The rind of the Fingered Citrus is the star (rather than the flesh), it can be used to make candied citrus peel and syrups and the zest used in salad, dressings and roasts.
The fruit, ripens in late autumn or early winter and an intense aroma, combining the fresh scent of tangerines, osmanthus, cumquats and lemons. Use a bowl of the fruit to create a fresh smell in your home – it’ll be quite a talking point too!
The tree grows to about three metres high and prefer a warm spot, away from frost.
When you think apple trees, most think of a large, spreading tree. However, if you’d like to try growing apples in a pot – ask your garden centre about the Ballerina range, which grows in a column, rather than into a tree shape, and is idea for pots.
The produces medium sized, round fruit – which are mostly green, but some areas will turn red in the sun. The apples are crisp and juicy and are delicious when eaten straight from the tree, but can also be used for cooking and drying.
A mature Ballerina® apple tree grows to around 3.5m tall and 60cm wide, but if you grow it in a pot, it will likely be smaller.
In terms of garden beauty, during the spring the tree is smothered in very pretty white and pink flowers, which bees adore, and produces fruit on spurs close to the main trunk.
When planting apples in containers, choose a good quality potting mix like Yates® Premium Potting Mix and a large pot with good drainage. By keeping them in a pot, you will create a mobile orchard if you have to move!