Think about fruit and nut

Our Gourmet Gardener, Tara Kate Linnane is going nuts this week...

Picking fresh fruit and vegetables for your meals is paired with such a rewarding feeling. In recent times the community has taken a much greater interest and appreciation for health, wellbeing and sustainable living.

This transition is exciting to see and is something that I love to support and encourage.

For some, the idea of having green fingers feels somewhat out of reach, but this can be amended as confidence grows along with your experience each season. One of my top tips for getting started is to look around to see what space you have available to grow in.

If you are lucky enough to have a garden, I would highly recommend starting off with some fruit trees such as apples, pears, plums or cherries.

Trees do not require the same attention as vegetables and provide seasonal interest, so are a perfect addition to the garden.

There is a simple process to follow when it comes to finding the right location for planting, regardless of the type of fruit tree you plan to grow.

You should try to strike a balance between having your location open enough for the tree to receive sufficient sunlight, but not so open that your fruit will be vulnerable to strong winds.

It is important to note that some varieties of fruit trees require at least two others to allow for cross pollination, which ultimately leads to the fruit setting.

The challenge of a smaller garden can be overcome by planting dwarf varieties, as these would take up less space. They can also be grown in pots on patios.

Special grafted apple trees can also be acquired which have multiple varieties grafted on the same root stock – however, these can come at a higher price.

When it comes to growing food sources in the garden, the humble nut tree is all but forgotten. If you have a larger garden, incorporating nut trees into your design can bring an interesting edible element.

The common hazel (Corylus avellana), the common walnut (Juglans regia), and Spanish or sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) can all be successfully grown in Ireland.

Providing structure, shelter for wildlife and kitchen produce, fruit and nut trees are a staple in my edible garden designs.

Although you can plant fruit or nut trees into your landscape at any point of the growing season, autumn, once the leaves have dropped is a good time to plant bare-root trees as this is when the tree is in its dormant stage.

Using edible plants such as fruit and nut trees is beneficial for the environment and gives joy each harvest. There are so many things you can do with the crop.

In my garden designs I always try to use as many ‘multi-functional’ plants as possible, whether they attract pollinators or provide food, I think having an edible landscape provides such interest. If you have any questions on growing or garden design please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Happy gardening!

• Tara Kate Linnane is from Kilnaleck in County Cavan. She is a horticulturalist with a passion for growing vegetables at home. She has an Instagram page with her husband Barry @two peas in a polytunnel.