Hi everyone, welcome back to my garden. Today's video is going to be on how to select a
fruit tree for your garden. I am looking to add another fruit tree to my fruit
tree family, and I thought I would share some tips on how i'm going to go about that,
and the process i am doing, to help you select the best fruit tree for your garden. So i've
already got quite a few fruit trees in my garden, I have around 15 to 16 maybe, even a few more,
i've lost count, but, a lot of those are citrus. And that is because citrus is something that
grows really well in our climate here in Perth. Citrus are a great one to start with because
they are quite easy to look after, they're really hardy, they can handle a lot of drought and dry
weather, which we have here in Perth. So I do have quite a few citrus trees, and now I want to branch
off and get some something a little bit different, something a little bit strange, so, i'm going to
be trying and taste testing some fruit. I think that it's really important that when you want
to pick a fruit tree, that you know if you like that fruit or not. Which sounds obvious, but it
has happened before, i've bought a fruit tree and then decided that i didn't actually love the fruit
as much as i thought i would. So i'm gonna try a few today, some that i've never tried before,
and i've just picked these up at my local growers market. And a lot of these fruits are hard to find
because they are things that don't travel well. So a lot of them you won't find in the shops,
because they'll bruise easily, they ripen too much off the tree, and then they taste overripe.
So, I think a few of these may taste a little bit overripe, because i have had them sitting,
while i was trying to wait for a clear, sunny day to film. But, we're going to try them anyway and
just know that if i do grow them on the tree, they are definitely going to taste a whole lot better,
so, if i like them then i will love them fresh off the tree. So i'm really lucky here in Perth,
we have a really warm climate, so i can grow some subtropical and tropical plants,
depending on where i place them in my garden. So some tips i have for choosing a fruit tree for
your garden is, if you have a specific place that you want to plant that fruit tree, say,
you have a gap in your garden where you want to specifically put a fruit tree, then take a look at
that climate. Take a look at how much sun it gets, how much shade it gets, how much wind it gets,
and just take note of that, so, when you are looking for a fruit tree and pick something that's
going to really thrive with those conditions. This happened to me when we first moved in here,
i got so excited to plant fruit trees, that i went ahead and planted some fruit trees along this back
fence. And where i am right now, is under a big tree, so that didn't get a lot of sun during the
winter and autumn months. It gets pretty good sun during the summer, when the sun is tracking high
in the sky, then during autumn and winter, the sun tracks a little bit lower, and so a lot more
shade is cast over my garden from the trees, from sheds, and from other things surrounding it. So,
that is really important to stop, and observe where you want to put your fruit tree, and what
kind of conditions that fruit tree is going to get. So, i planted a lime tree, which is a citrus,
they like full sun, and i did plant it in a sunny location but, that was only sunny during summer.
So, during autumn and winter, it got a lot more shade here on the back fence, and i was always
fighting to keep it alive. It would do really well and sprout new leaves, and i would get so excited,
during summer, and think yes! I've got it, we're on the right track! and then come winter and
autumn, it wouldn't get enough sun and its leaves would drop off. It would get too waterlogged and
it would fight to stay alive. So i did that for a couple years and then i just thought, what am i
doing? I need to put this poor tree in a location that it's gonna love. So i moved it out the front,
to a full sun location, and it has absolutely taken off. It is like four times the size, it's
covered in limes, it's got flowers, i barely have to care for it, because, it is just in the right
location and it's getting the right amount of sun. So, citrus like at least six hours plus,
sunlight a day. That is something to consider when you're planting a citrus tree. Just take note of
how much shade, how much sun, and think about how that is going to affect it during the year. If you
have got a big tree or some sheds nearby, fence, even, that's going to create a lot more shade, and
just note that down. Another thing to consider, is root systems. So, some fruit trees have a much
bigger and vast root system than others. So is there anything that is going to be affected by
this tree, if you do plant it in that location. So, is there concrete that the roots may disturb
and crack? Is there pools, pavers, anything like that nearby that could be affected by a big
strong root system? So that is something else to consider. Another one that is good to consider,
is how much time and effort you want to put into this fruit tree. Some fruit trees are a lot easier
and have a lot less care involved. You can sort of set and forget as long as you feed
them every now and then, keep them mulched, keep them watered, they are good to go. And then, you
have other fruit trees, that take a lot more care and maintenance. They need to be pruned correctly,
they might attract a lot of birds when they are fruiting, they might need to be netted for fruit
flies, for bats, for cockatoos. There could be a lot more maintenance involved with actually
getting fruit off that tree. So, that's another thing to consider, is how low maintenance you want
your fruit trees to be. So, most of mine in my garden, are very low maintenance. I don't have
to net them. There are some that i may need to net in the future, but, i've mainly stuck with ones
that i didn't have to net. And that is like, a lot of the stone fruit, you do need to net, because,
of the fruit flies, or, because of birds love stone fruit. So, I haven't got any in my garden,
just because of that fact, that i haven't wanted to use nets and netting in my garden. So, that is
something else to consider, strong winds. Here, in my garden, we do get really strong winds. So,
there are some trees that i have avoided for now, until my garden is a bit more established,
and i have some more wind breaks in place. So, some trees, like one that i'm considering today,
is the Tamarillo or, the tree tomato, doesn't love a lot of strong winds. Bananas again,
aren't the best with strong winds, so my bananas have always struggled quite a bit here,
as well as Pawpaws or Papaya, while they are starting off, they're a lot more delicate. So,
it is good to consider how much wind you get, and where the direction of the wind is going, and can
you plant anything in that space that can provide a wind block or some shelter for that tree.
Temperature, that's also something else to consider. Does that fruit tree need a certain
amount of chill hours, to actually produce fruit. There are some trees here in Perth, that we just
can't really grow, because they need a certain amount of chill hours. I know with the Feijoas,
that i've got, they are borderline here. We can grow them, we are getting fruit off them,
but the fruit taste is very different because we don't have the right amount of chill hours
for the Feijoas. That's not to say that i can't grow them, it's just that they aren't going to
perform at their best. But, there are some trees that just really won't grow well, without having
those colder temperatures. And again, same with with the hot temperatures, there are some trees
that just won't handle the heat. So, have a look at what is your sort of maximum temperatures, and
in low temperatures, and note that down as well. So when you are choosing a fruit tree, you can
just make sure that those trees are going to fruit well in that area. And this can seem all hugely
overwhelming if you are a beginner but, something that is going to make it so much easier is,
just to note down the shade, and the sun in your backyard, and then go to your local fruit tree
nursery. They will have a wealth of knowledge and what fruit trees go well in your area, with your
climate. They will be able to help you and guide you in a direction of some fruit trees that are
low maintenance, or easy to grow in your area, and that way you can pick from those to get started.
Alright, so let's try some fruit! I'm really excited to try these. Some of
these i've been wanting to try for a long time, so let's do it. Okay, so,
i've got this little fruit platter here, and here, i have got this is a Star Apple. And i've
got two varieties of the Star Apple. A green one and a purple one. I've got the Star Fruit,
which is something that i've been wanting to grow but i haven't purchased the tree, because
i've actually never tried the fruit. So, that is something that i really wanted to do first.
And thats probably a really high contender on what fruit tree i'm going to buy, depending on
how this taste test goes. I've also got, i've got some Lychees, some Longan, these are the
Tamarillo or the tree tomato, and this one here, is the Mangosteen. So, let's try the Star Fruit.
It looks super juicy, this one will be quite, quite ripe,
and it's got the beautiful star shape obviously, just cool.
It's so juicy. It is a little bit sweet, not too sweet, and a little bit sour. So, it's a little
bit sweet and sour, it's so juicy, i don't know what it tastes like, it's so strange. It doesn't,
i can't think of anything that it tastes like, but, um it is delicious. It's nice, it's
refreshing. It's not too sweet, it's not too sour, it's just somewhere in the middle. Alright, so
let's try the Star Apple. So, that's what it looks like inside. That's got some seeds in this one,
which, i have kind of cut through, and that's the other side of it.
Kind of smells a bit Apple ish. Kind of smells like the Star Fruit. Let's try this.
It's so strange, this one kind of reminds me of like, a melon, like a rock melon. Pretty good.
Again, it's not, it's quite sweet but it's not like, overpoweringly sweet,
and that's the purple one. There's also a green one. The green one is a little bit overripe. You
can see it's a bit bruised, but, again, it's got that star pattern. It has like, really big
seeds in it, so i'm definitely going to try and grow some of these. Let's try this one.
Yeah, this one is really sweet. I think this one is quite over ripe,
it does kind of remind me of like a Custard Apple or a Cherimoya. Very similar texture,
very soft, and kind of vanillary. I think i like this one more than the purple one. Alright,
so we have got a Lychee. Which, i have tried before, but, it comes in this little shell,
here. And i just cut that open and then this is the Lychee and then inside is also some seeds.
And i do love Lychee and it reminds me of lemonade. So there is one that i would like to
grow and we have the Tree Tomato or the Tamarillo. Which has a pretty cool pattern inside as well.
And these have a lot of pigment, like they stain things very easily. I ate a lot of these growing
up, we always had a tree in the backyard. So, i am well used to the flavour of these.
They're quite different, they do kind of taste like tomato, which is weird for a fruit. And
normally i just scoop them out with a spoon and eat them. And i love eating them with yogurt.
They're like a little bit sour and a little bit sweet. They've got so much flavour,
but they definitely have a tomatoey taste, so i can imagine that that some people would not
like these. But i love them. And this one is like the Longan, which is a is similar to the Lychee.
It's got the little outer shell which i like, it like protects the fruit inside and i do like
that about the Lychee and the Longan. um yeah so good. It's very, it's a very weird texture.
It has a really big seed inside but it reminds me of yeah like a type of lemonade. Not like the
lemonade fruit at all, more like soda. Really delicious. And that is the big
seed inside. So i'm going to try and grow all of these seeds of course.
There definitely was some ones that i haven't tried before, which is the Star Apple and the
Star Fruit and i am really surprised with those flavours. I thought the purple one was going to be
delicious because it looks the best, but it was a little bit strange. But i did like the green one,
and the Star Fruit as well, it was also a pretty good flavour. So i am thinking about getting that,
but i'm also really liking the idea of a Lychee or a Longan tree because of these little hard outer
shells. I feel like they'll be a bit more pest resistant, and they are delicious. So i might
look into buying one of these, but i also do want to Star Fruit a tree, so i will just see
what is available. What i can find and see if i can add one of those to the fruit tree family.
And if you are looking for some unusual fruits or something that you haven't seen around,
try go to some of your local fruit nurseries and ask them they may be able to order some in, or,
reach out onto your local growers. There's a lot of rare or unusual fruit tree growers around and
groups on facebook. So, i've learned a lot from there and yeah, try something different. But, i do
highly suggest trying out the fruit first, before you buy the fruit tree. To make sure that it is
something that you love and something that you're going to want to utilize, because, it can take a
long time to get fruit off some of these fruit trees. Especially when you buy a smaller tree,
it can take, you know, three or four years to get fruit off that tree. So you don't want to
be pouring in all this love, this attention, to get these fruits and then find out that you
actually don't like them or your family don't like them. So i highly suggest giving it a go,
finding some at your local growers markets and trying them before you buy the fruit tree.
It is super easy to grow trees, you can grow them in pots, you can grow
them along the fence line, there are so many places that you can grow fruit trees
in your home garden. And there are fruit trees that will suit your specific climate and grow so
much easier and without feeling like it's forced, and that you're trying to keep this thing alive,
by taking note of your surroundings. Taking note of your climate and where you want to plant that
fruit tree. It will make such a difference. It will grow so much quicker, so much faster,
and so much easier. I highly suggest taking a look around, seeing sun, and shade, when taking note of
any of your larger trees or barriers, that might cause shade, or restrict growth. And yeah, take it
from there, visit your local nursery and get some advice on what grows really well in your area.
I hope you like this video, i hope you are inspired to plant
more fruit trees in your home garden. Thank you for watching, make sure you hit the like button
and subscribe, if you haven't already, i will see you back here next time for another video.
you