Why We Don't Grow Fruit Trees
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342110)
Rockingham, Australia
November 19, 2015 3:07am CST
I was 'talking' with Val from New Zealand whose strawberry plants succumbed to the cold. In the meantime she had bought some very tasty ones in her local shop. I mentioned that we live in an orchard district and are often asked if we have any fruit trees.
There are several reasons why we don't. As background there were around 600 apples on our property before we bought it but most had died from nematodes attacking the roots. Growing fruit trees is a lot of work. If the trees are to grow well and bear good crops, they need regular attention and periodic spraying with pesticides. This costs money. If you don't keep control of the bugs and diseases, your crop will suffer. Not only that but the professional orchardists around won't thank you for allowing diseases to flourish so close to their own orchards. Our orchardists also have a battle trying to prevent parrots and cockatoos from spoiling their crops.
We buy beautiful local fruit at reasonable prices. We are not tied to the property by the demands of fruit trees. Although we might pay for fruit, we believe we are well in front financially by not having our own trees. But I should really grow more of my own vegetables and herbs. Nothing is quite as satisfying as going out and picking your own fruit or vegetables.
Do you grow vegetables? Or perhaps you have herbs growing in pots in the kitchen.
31 people like this
30 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
19 Nov 15
You explained very well why I no longer grow any of my own food. Once it becomes a chore and not cost effective, giving up being a gardener is best.
4 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
20 Nov 15
@JudyEv What about water? Does that show up without effort or money on your part?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace Our part of West Oz is well off for water. We draw from a deep well and collect rainwater for the house. Orchardists irrigate so luckily for us water is not a problem.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 15
I still get tempted with vegies but ten minutes with a spade and my back starts screaming. And I wouldn't be saving anything moneywise. I've planted butternut pumpkin (squash) and watermelons but they'll look after themselves. All I'll have to do is pick them!
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
19 Nov 15
The way you describe growing trees in your place, I agree it is really a lot of work. I do grow lots of fruit growing trees in my yard but I don't pay that much attention to them. I do just water them when needed. Pests are not my problem so far. I think growing tropical fruits is easier. I also have herbs and vegetables. I tried growing lemons this year and they were infested by ants but I was able to control immediately with the help of tips given by fellow mylotters.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
20 Nov 15
@JudyEv Is this photo.... mulberries? A friend of mine has lots of this in her farm but she calls them wild berry. I have not eaten or even seen a loquat tree in person, But I saw in photo and it looks like a lovely shrub and the fruits resembles that of lanzones fruits. Here we can buy fruits in the market but I find the fruits of my labor much sweeter. But I would so appreciate receiving a crate of apples just as your Mum. But indeed times have changed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Nov 15
Almost everyone around here (except us ) has a lemon tree and we can have as many as we'd like when they're in season so there seems little point in planting a lemon tree. We do have a mulberry tree and I'd love a loquat tree. You can't buy loquats in the shop. I think it is wonderful that you have lots of fruit trees. My mother loved her orchard but that was years ago and out on a farm. If you didn't grow your own there wasn't much opportunity to buy fruit. Mum would write a letter to an orchardist who would send a crate of apples or oranges by rail to our nearest railway station. Times have changed, haven't they?
) has a lemon tree and we can have as many as we'd like when they're in season so there seems little point in planting a lemon tree. We do have a mulberry tree and I'd love a loquat tree. You can't buy loquats in the shop. I think it is wonderful that you have lots of fruit trees. My mother loved her orchard but that was years ago and out on a farm. If you didn't grow your own there wasn't much opportunity to buy fruit. Mum would write a letter to an orchardist who would send a crate of apples or oranges by rail to our nearest railway station. Times have changed, haven't they? 1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
19 Nov 15
I grow as many herbs as i can and veggies too. We have recently moved into our new home so I am still trying to establish a veggie garden on my terrace. In the city we hardly have space for gardens. I have had load of tomatoes growing there,.. beans and spinach all through the year.. I also have some gourds growing now.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Nov 15
That's great that you're growing so much. Some vegies are better suited to home gardens than others I think.
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Nov 15
Unless your garden is large, I don't think the workload is too bad. You need to prepare the soil of course and keep the weeds down. If they get bugs in them they might need to be dusted with something to kill the bugs. But it is very satisfying and good fun.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40321)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Nov 15
We have one small orange tree and one lemon tree at our home in Southern California, but that is all. Most of our fruit, we buy at the Farmers Market.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 15
Everyone has lemon trees here. People are happy to get rid of a few to us whenever we want them. The Farmers Markets are good value too.
@allknowing (137764)
• India
20 Nov 15
The only reason why we shifted from a city to this semi rural town was to give vent to my passion for gardening. I went about collecting saplings of several fruit trees, flowering plants the works.
We have several yielding fruit trees and sometimes there are no takers.
2 people like this
@allisonwish (464)
• Shenzhen, China
20 Nov 15
I would like to plant some fruit trees but we do not have enough places to plant it~
1 person likes this
@allisonwish (464)
• Shenzhen, China
20 Nov 15
@JudyEv I have a small balcony, so I just have two small potted plants on my balcony
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 15
Fruit trees take quite a bit of room. Do you have room for some pots of herbs perhaps?
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Nov 15
@allisonwish There is a way of growing herbs in 'pockets' on a wall. That way you can grow quite a few plants as you can have these pockets side by side and placed at various heights up the wall.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
20 Nov 15
i'd be relieved to not've the need fer those toxic sprays. lost all but 2 apple trees here due to years 'f drought. the stress 'f such weakened 'em 'n made 'em easy targets fer all sorts 'f undesirable insect attacks. with no water to tend 'em regular, we jest took 'em out. the 2 apple trees that survived 're off the leach line fer the septic tank. had a bumper crop 'f apples this year, far more 'n i could put up (no room fer 'em), so gave several bushels 'way.
i used to've a large garden, but in recent years jest a wee patch 'f those that grow well in pots. i'm a confirmed herb addict 'n got 'em in pots all o'er the place. love puttin' 'em where they're brushed 'gainst by folks/'r critters walkin' by to release their scents to perfume the air.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
20 Nov 15
@JudyEv kinda funny how some schtuff jest produces like that aint it? i adore the rosemary i've got here. schtuff won't grow outdoors in the cold weather, so all's in pots (i've always 't least 3 'f 'em growin', they're purty easy to propagate - thank the stars) 'n gets hauled in/out. the gal 'cross the road loves to come o'er 'n rub 'em - indoors 'r out. fer some reason, she's ne'er had luck growin' any herself. i make a tea 'f sorts 'n add vinegar to it 's a hair conditioner. 'tis good fer the scalp, though darkens the hair some.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 15
@crazyhorseladycx Maybe it would take the grey out of my hair
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
19 Nov 15
I would love to grow fruit trees that would just the thing to be doing.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
21 Nov 15
@JudyEv What would you pay do you think for a tree like that?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Nov 15
@softbabe44 I really don't have any idea. I think small fruit trees might cost $30 upwards here.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 15
My mother grew a banana tree once although they are not supposed to grow in our climate. She put tin foil on the wall behind it to try to get the temperature around the plant hot enough to ripen the fruit. You have some nice fruit trees.
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 15
I was secretary to the fruit-growers association once and they were always trying to get farmers to rid of neglected orchards. Disease is a big issue certainly. We don't allow the import of many fruits either or there are strict regulations in place to try to keep disease out of the state. We are quite isolated from the other states so don't have some of the pests the rest of the country has.
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
20 Nov 15
I just grow a few vegetables and herbs on my balcony garden for the joy and pleasure of seeing things grow.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
20 Nov 15
We/I did when I was in California, bought a fruit tree, but now back in the UK I've just moved, so the answer would be no.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 16
We probably would if we weren't so close to wonderful orchards.
@Ishani08 (563)
• India
27 Nov 15
I have several flowering plants at home.. and one fruit tree.. namely "Indian Gooseberry" or "Amla" as we say here in India.. Its a very beneficial and versatile fruit having many qualities.. Here, it has religious value and medicinal too.. It is used in the manufacturing of various medicines, reduction in blood cholesterol level, better immunity, etc.
Also, it looks very beautiful.. and it feels very pleasant to sit beneath it..
Now, I am planning to grow vegetables at my place..
Yes, it does feel very nice to grow our own vegetables and fruits rather than purchasing it from the market.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 15
That sounds a very nice tree. It is always nice to sit under a shady tree.
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
20 Nov 15
i've always wanted to grow some fruit, either peaches (which grow well in my area) or blueberries (which do pretty well too), but i've never taken it on. i don't have tons of space. so it may wait until he kids are gone.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 15
My Mum's peach tree was loaded most years and we used to bottle them. I think you call it 'canning'.
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
29 Dec 15
When we downsized we bought a house we love with woods and a ravine. The house is surrounded with trees. It was the woods and ravine that sold the house, the privacy while in a small town is priceless. My front gardens are for flowers, shade loving flowers. Our raised garden in the back is for our herbs and veggies. There are herbs in the front too with the flowers and shrubs. We live in an area that has hundreds of fruit and vegetable stands so we do take advantage of that fresh food, we grow a few tomatoes, lettuce an and zucchini in our garden. Our herbs are outstanding and the bay leaf and Rosemary are put in pots every winter and they spend the winter in my front window for morning light.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
29 Dec 15
@JudyEv I have neighbors around me that are good neighbors but the privacy and the country feel in the back is nice.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Dec 15
This sounds the best of both worlds. We have watermelon and butternut pumpkin (squash to you I think) and some tomato plants. Also basil and parsley. Your property sounds lovely. We love the fact that we can't be seen from anywhere.
1 person likes this
