Fruit Trees for Small Spaces

We are continually being told, in the media and by our doctors, that we should all lead healthier lifestyles, eating more fresh fruit and taking more regular exercise. One of the best ways to do this is to grow our own produce but it is often difficult to grow fruit and vegetables in small spaces. This article takes a look at growing fruit trees in small spaces.

Fruit trees can look spectacular in any garden, as well as the incredible blooms of blossom you, of course, benefit from the annual production of fruit. By growing your own fruit it is possible to grow it organically (by not using artificial chemicals and fertilizers) which could save you a large amount of cash. Furthermore the fruit can be picked at the exact moment you wish to eat it. Fruit this fresh is far better for you as stored fruit tends to lose it's flavor and the vitamins and minerals can degrade over time.

For the health conscious amongst us you should be aware that gardening is one of the best ways to make sure that you get some regular exercise and the garden can be the perfect place to enjoy other energetic pastimes. Unfortunately most modern, urban backyards are only small spaces. Sometimes the backyard has barely enough space to have a small patio and a tiny lawn with a few flower borders. However, with a little time and effort, it is possible to create a fantastic garden design for the very smallest of backyards.

Unfortunately trees are not always the most suitable plants to grow in small spaces. In general trees tend to grow extremely large and the spreading branches and roots can end up causing some serious damage to nearby buildings and pools. Having a large mature tree in a small space can become a nightmare as the restricted space can cause problems when attempting to remove such a tree. Obviously it is far better to plant only suitable trees and shrubs in the first place.

Happily the increasing demand for smaller species of trees and shrubs has led to the development of some very interesting varieties and a fantastic selection of dwarf or compact fruit tree varieties have been created. Usually the fruit tree has its growth restricted by grafting it onto specially grown dwarfing root stock such as M9. Although the dwarf M27 root stock was once very popular the M9 stock has proved far more reliable and it has the bonus of increased yields of fruit.

You will be able to find a dwarf or compact fruit tree which grows as small as 1m but unusually they grow from between 1.5m to 1.8m. If you find that this size is still a little too large for your small backyard then you can further restrict growth by planting the fruit trees in containers. Such trees can be places on patios or sunny balconies and size can be even further reduced by careful annual pruning.

For those of us with really tiny backyards one of the most exciting developments in the horticultural world is the development of dual fruit trees. A dual fruit tree is really two different species which have been grafted onto a single dwarfing root stock. Another thrilling variety of compact fruit tree is the "midget fruit tree" which is so called because the tree has an extremely upright and non-spreading habit. The finest examples are those types are the Spur Apples which have an extreme upright habit which appears to be covered in fruit. Some types of tree can be trained to grow right up against walls and other surfaces saving even more space.

As well as compact apple trees it is possible to find dwarf compact varieties of many other types of fruit tree such as plums, pears and cherries. Other fruits include peaches and nectarines and even hazelnuts, Kiwi fruit and figs can be purchased in dwarf varieties. Even in a really small backyard it is possible to grow a large selection of fruit which not only tastes great but looks fantastic too.

If you are looking to discover more about fruit trees for small spaces visit http://www.landscapinginfo4u.com/trees/compact-fruit-trees-for-small-spaces.php

http://www.landscapinginfo4u.com/ is dedicated to providing quality information about all aspects of landscape gardening. The author, Andrew Kelly, has been a keen gardener since his childhood and, now retired, he spends most of his spare time enjoying the hobby and writing about it.

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Introducing Fruits To Small Children

When is the best time to start giving fruits to babies?

Most baby books recommend starting from 4-6 months. In my article on weaning baby onto solids, I recommend giving vegetables from 6 months. I like to introduce fruits from about 8 - 10 months which gives me time to check on the baby's ability to digest the vegetables. You can check this out by looking at your baby's stools. If the stools contain undigested vegetables this means that his system is not ready to take fruits, which is why I recommend starting fruits later.

It is best to hold off on introducing citrus fruits until your baby is at least 2 years old. Citrus fruits commonly cause allergies or food-sensitivity reactions, such as a diaper rash or eczema. If you have a family history of allergies or asthma, it is best to avoid all citrus fruits including tomatoes and strawberries. When you do introduce citrus fruits, monitor your child for symptoms such as hives, rashes or wheezing. Sometimes milk may cause an allergic reaction if combined with fruits especially orange. If you have a family history of allergies, eczema and asthma, it might be useful to refer to the chart on blood group diet and check out the most suitable fruit to give and which one to avoid.

Some people advocate giving pureed fruits to small children. I personally do not like to do this because, firstly I am too lazy to do this and secondly but most importantly, processing fruits will reduce the nutritional contents of the fruits.

Another question that many mothers ask is: "Should I extract the juice from the fruits for my baby?" My answer is "No". Your baby needs to eat the fibre from the fruit as well as the juice. The fibre is necessary to prevent constipation and some of the vital nutrients are in the fibre so by just giving the juice alone your baby will not have all the nutrients of the fruit.

Drinking too much fruit juice tends to increase restlessness in healthy infants and the children tend to become shorter and fatter. If you really must give fruit juice to your baby, make sure that the juices that you purchase are pasteurized. Limit your baby's intake of juice to 4-6oz per day, this is equivalent to one serving of fruit and is sufficient for a baby's dietary needs. If you use commercial fruit juices always dilute it before giving to your baby. The formula is one part juice to 3 parts water.

Some taboos with regards to giving fruit juice to baby

o Never give fruit juice to baby below 6 months of age

o Do not give sweet juices from a feeding bottle as this leads to early tooth decay

o Do not allow your baby to endlessly sip juice throughout the day

So far all the children that I have looked after do not have any problems eating their vegetables and fruits. In fact, they love eating so much I sometimes wonder where they put the food. I guess they must have hollow legs!

Instead of making fruits into purees for babies I prefer to scrape the fruit and give it fresh to the baby. I like to use this method until the baby is 1 year old.

o Cut the fruit into 4 big slices. It is best to start with one big slice per day and you can give more as your baby gets used to the fruit.

o Using a teaspoon, scrape the fruit until you get some pulp and juice onto the tip of the spoon.

o Offer it to the baby.

o Continue scraping and feeding it to the baby until the slice is finished.

Fruits which are suitable for 'scraping'

o Apples contain both insoluble and soluble fiber and are an excellent source of antioxidants especially the peels. Apples' protective effects against free radical damage to cholesterol reach their peak at three hours following apple consumption and drop off after 24 hours, providing yet another good reason to eat a whole fresh apple a day.

o Avocados are a surprisingly complete food, with fourteen minerals to stimulate growth, including iron and copper. The sodium and potassium in avocados keeps the body chemically balanced, and their low sugar content and absence of starch make them an ideal fruit for diabetics. Vitamins in avocados include A, several B-complex, C, and E, as well as phosphorus and magnesium. They're also a great source of antioxidants like vitamins E and C, fruit oil and digestible fats. Because of their density, avocados filling. When blended with other fruits, they make particularly nutritious baby food.

o Pears are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber, which helps the body to eliminate cholesterol and also protects against environmental toxins. Pears are also a good source of potassium, protein, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K. It is an ideal weight loss food therefore should not give too much to small children.

If the fruit is soft you can give it slice by slice instead of mashing it up. This will teach your baby to enjoy the real texture of the fruit and it is less messy.

o I like to use the local 'pisang emas' because the texture is smoother and one banana is just nice for small children.

o Peel the banana and using a teaspoon, slice off a small piece at a time.

o Feed your baby one slice at a time Fruits that is suitable for 'slicing' with a spoon.

o Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of prebiotic which nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. Probiotics produce vitamins and digestive enzymes that improve our ability to absorb nutrients and compounds to protect us against unfriendly microorganisms and the body's ability to absorb calcium. In addition, gastrointestinal transit time is lessened, decreasing the risk of colon cancer. Bananas have antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. In addition, bananas contain pectin, a soluble fiber that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract and ease constipation.

o Kiwifruit is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of dietary fiber. It is also a good source of the minerals potassium, magnesium and copper. In addition, kiwi fruit is a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.

o Papayas are an excellent source of three very powerful antioxidants, vitamin C, E and A. Vitamin C and vitamin A, which is made in the body from the beta-carotene in papaya, are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system. Papaya therefore may be a healthy fruit choice for preventing such illnesses as recurrent ear infections, colds and flu.

Once your baby is over 1 year old, start offering cut pieces of fruits. To prevent oxidation of vitamin C, I always cut the fruit immediately before serving. If you really have to cut the fruit in advance, then it is best to keep the fruit in an air tight container to prevent oxidation.

Other fruits that is suitable for 'cutting'

o Mangoes are packed with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. They are perfect to replenish salts, vitamins and energy after physical exercise. Mango strengthens and invigorates the nerve tissues in muscles, heart, brain and other parts of the body. The enzymes of mango cleanse the bowel of the "filth" within and are an ideal antidote for all toxic effects inside the body. The vitamin C in mango enhances the absorption of iron and so prevents anemia in vegetarians.

o Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Watermelon is a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1, magnesium and potassium. It is a very good thirst quencher.

Examples of some fruits that is not suitable for children below 2 years of age.

o Oranges can cause over production of phlegm and may be allergenic.

o Very acidic fruits such as pineapple and pomelo.

o Very 'heaty' fruits such as durian, mandarin oranges and guava

o Very 'cooling' fruits such as mangosteen, Chinese pear

Always remember to try one fruit at a time so that you can assess whether that fruit is suitable. Normally by the end of 6 months your baby should be able to take a large variety of fruits.

Cecilia Koh is a British trained nurse/midwife with over 30 years working experience. If you want to know more baby care topics go to http://www.Babiesconsult.com

Copyright (c) 2007 Cecilia Koh

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How to Prevent Small Fruit on Your Fruit Trees

When most people think of fruit trees, what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to fruit trees than just the basics.

The one thing that usually shocks new tree growers is the fact that the fruits produced by their tree are much smaller than the ones they're used to seeing at the grocery store. "What is wrong with my tree?!", "My God! What have I done!?" are some cried you may hear from the disgruntled tree grower. However, small fruits are a natural occurrence. But while smaller fruits might be what nature originally intended, it is possible to attain larger fruits without any genetic altering or added chemicals. It is only through advanced techniques that the professionals reach such large sizes with their fruits.

Usually in the early stages of a fruit trees growing, veterans do something called "fruit thinning". The theory behind this process is that with less fruits to pay attention to, the tree will be able to more efficiently send cells to the leftover fruits. When there are hundreds of little fruits on one tree, competing for the available materials necessary for growth, you will most likely just end up with a bunch of stunted fruits. To take care of this problem, simply pluck a third of the fruits extremely early on in the process. You should notice larger fruits that season.

The information about fruit trees presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about fruit trees or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

On almost any tree, the success of each individual fruit depends on the spacing. Usually there should not be any fruits within six to eight inches of each other. During the fruit thinning process, this is the distance you should generally aim for to optimize the amount of nutrition that each fruit gets. Any closer and you'll find they are crowding each other out. Usually this is the first mistake that a new tree grower makes. Having tons of fruit starting to grow is not always a good thing!

Sometimes small fruits are caused by conditions out of the gardener's control. During the process of cell division that all new fruits go through, cool weather can be fatal to the largeness of your fruits. Likewise, if the weather is particularly cloudy very early in the season, then fewer carbohydrates will be available to your plants. Occasionally, if the factors are all against the well being of your fruit tree, then the fruits will drop to the ground before they are even ripe. A lack of water or certain nutrients, or excessive pests and diseases can also damage the growth of fruits. If you notice these things going on early in the season, you should do more fruit thinning than normal. Sometimes as much as three fourths of the fruits should come off, to allow full nutrition to those who remain.

The best way to find out how to gain larger fruit sizes is to experiment. If your tree has been around for a while, there is almost nothing you can do to it to cause it to die or stop producing fruit. Just test different thinning techniques or anything you can think of to make the fruits larger. You might even head down to your local nursery and enquire about what they would suggest. They will be able to give you advice based on your region and specific tree, which is better than anything I could tell you. So don't settle with small fruits. Go out there and find out what exactly you need to do to improve the size.

Don't limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about fruit trees. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what's important.

Michael Gatt is an avid gardener whose passion for growing has evolved into publishing informative articles on his web site for Heelys.

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