PICK YOUR OWN

Even a small country garden can contain an 'orchard' of trees and shrubs, so you can fill your fruit bowl with home-grown apples, pears, plums and more

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You can add fruit trees, shrubs and vines to your garden in a dedicated orchard, espaliered on fences, fanned across walls, grown in containers or planted among ornamentals - and this is the ideal time to plan your productive plot.

Bare-root trees should be planted from November to early spring, while container-grown plants can be planted any time of the year, but it is best done in winter. Apples and pears are undoubtedly the easiest to grow but whichever fruit you choose, select early and late varieties to extend your harvesting season. Consider, too, whether you want to eat your fruit straight from the tree or want varieties that hold up to cooking in jams and desserts.