One of the problems of growing fruit with children is that it can take a while for new plants to become established and produce a crop of fruit.
The season is also long and this can cause young children to lose interest. The key here is to focus on the changing seasons. The children can look out for new leaf buds, buds coming into leaf and the shapes of the leaves, flower buds, opening flowers and the structure of a flower, pollination by the insects, the types of insects visiting the fruit trees/bushes, immature fruits forming, fruit maturing, harvesting, leaves changing colour and eventually falling from the tree. Some fruit bushes such as blackcurrants and gooseberries do not have obvious flowers which in itself is interesting.
Strawberries are probably the easiest of the fruits to grow. They mature in a much shorter time and can be grown in containers as well as in open ground. Alpine strawberries are a cultivated form of wild strawberries and are grown from seed.
Most fruits can be grown in containers if this is preferred but will need far more attention than those grown in open ground. Watering is especially crucial and could be problematic during school holidays. If you wish to grow fruit in containers check that the variety and rootstock is suitable for this type of cultivation.
Varieties should be carefully considered, however you wish to grow your fruit. Choose varieties or rootstock that are the right size for your plot, that don’t grow into trees too high for the children to appreciate them and also that don’t produce most of their fruit during the August holiday.
All fruit performs best if situated in a sheltered, sunny position in fertile soil. Soil preparation is important as the plants will remain in position for a long time.
Additional Information:
There are many varieties of fruit, those selected below are only suggestions and have been chosen for various reasons e.g:
they are early/late fruiting in an attempt to avoid August harvest,
they are said to be easy or reliable to grow,
they provide interest or seem to be particularly suited to growing with children.
NB: Suggestions are based on catalogue descriptions rather than personal experience. The links will take you to reputable companies who offer the products but these are not exclusive. Many fruit trees, bushes and plants can be purchased from local garden centres. The links will hopefully cut down on the time that you need to spend finding information on or searching for sources of products that interest you. Where products are available from more than one of the online catalogues used, I have linked to the lowest costing packet.
Harvesting time can vary considerably depending on the location, prevailing weather conditions and variety being grown so the following is only intended to offer some guidance to help with planning. Always refer to the planting and after care instructions given when making purchases.
 | Victoriana Nursery Gardens are a very competitive supplier - not only are their prices generally lower than their competitors but on top of this they offer 10% discount when ordering though this website this is automatically generated (20% discount if ordering plants or seeds for a school. To claim, simply enter SCHOOLD20 on the discount code page |
Alpine/Wild Strawberries  Cultivated form of the wild strawberry. Most commonly grown from seed. Fruits in first year and will continue for up to three years before it loses vigour. Produces lots of small fruit from July up to first frosts.
To produce a worthwhile crop, grow at least 30 plants. They are small and so will not take up too much room. Unlike for other strawberries these will not need netting or mulching with straw. Possible variety - Mignonette | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | | Sow seed | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Plant out | | | Harvest | | |
Click here for more information |
Apples 
One of the easiest fruit trees to grow.
Apples require pollen from another type of apple tree (or crab apple tree) in order for pollination to take place. Both varieties of apple need to flower at the same time. Apples are divided into pollination groups and so varieties must be chosen from the same group.
Apples can be grown as free standing trees or can be trained. Trained apples take more time to care for and require that you have some pruning expertise.
Apples trees are grafted onto different rootstocks so choice of rootstock is dependent on how large you wish your tree to grow. This will not only depend on the space available but you also need to consider ease of harvesting. Grafted fruit trees will fruit earlier than trees grown on their own roots would. Rootstocks are:
M27 producing trees from 1.5m to 1.8m M9 and M26 producing trees from 1.8m to 4m M106, producing trees from 3.6m to 5.4m
M27 and M9 rootstocks come to harvest quicker. It would be advisable to plant with the younger children so that they can literally see the fruits of their planting.
Harvest September and October. Recommendations from Victoriana Nursery Gardens Root stock MM106 or M26 which would give enough vigour to actually produce a decent crop but similarly controllable with the minimum of pruning. This rootstock would enable trees to be kept at 1.8m - 2.4m or trained. Some varieties claim to be self fertile but in order to try to ensure pollination it is better to grow trees that will pollinate one another. According to Victoriana all of the varieties listed below will pollinate one another. Grow at least two varieties. Possible varieties - Discovery (September), Ellisons Orange (September/October), James Grieve (September/October), Sunset (September/October), Winter Banana All available from Victoriana Nursery Gardens. NB: 10% discount when ordering from this link this is automatically generated (20% discount if ordering plants or seeds for a school to claim, simply enter SCHOOLD20 on the discount code page) | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | Plant bare rooted | | | | | | | | Plant bare rooted | | Plant container grown plants | | Prune | | | | Prune | | | | | | | | | | | | Harvest | | | | Winter wash | | | | | | | | | | Winter wash |
NB: Only use winter wash when everything is completely dormant – don’t use after February. Click here for more information on reducing pest damage. |
Blackberries 
Some varieties of blackberry produce vicious thorns and are not suitable for growing with children. However varieties have been produced that are thornless and therefore much safer .
Blackberries need to be trained along a very sturdy support framework – a fully laden plant is very heavy. You could train over an arch but this would mean that many fruits were out of reach of the children.
A blackberry is very vigorous and plants will need to be about 3m apart. Harvest from July.
Click here for more information on pruning Possible varieties - Black Satin, (from mid July) Loch Ness, (from mid August 'til first frosts), Apache, (from mid August) Ouachita, (from August), Navaho (late season) Approximate harvesting time in brackets. Choose an early variety to harvest from July or a later variety to harvest from August - either way some fruit will be ready to harvest during August | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | | | | | | | | | | | Plant bare rooted | | Plant container grown plants | | | | | | | | | | | Prune | | | | | | | | | Harvest | | | |
Similar cultivated berries Tayberry - treat as for blackberry - variety Buckingham thornless (from July) |
Blackcurrants 
Plants can take a year or two to become productive. Buy two year old plants. Ripen from July. The plant needs to be planted deeply to encourage new shoots. Pruning is a case of pruning out some old wood each year and encouraging new young shoots. Possible varieties - Ben Lomond, (early July) Ben Connan, (mid July) Ben Sarek (July onwards) Approximate harvesting time in brackets. | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | | Plant bare rooted | | | | | | | | | | | Plant container grown plants | | Prune | | | | | | | | Prune | | | | | | | | Harvest | | | | | |
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Special Currant Offer on Currant Collection Supplied as 2 Black Currant 'Ben Lomond', 2 Red Currant 'Rondom' and 2 White Currant 'White Pearl' - all as bare root bushes approximately 2-3 feet tall (including roots). All are self fertile. 10% discount when ordering from this link this is automatically generated (20% discount if ordering plants or seeds for a school to claim, simply enter SCHOOLD20 on the discount code page) White currants should be treated the same as whitecurrants - White Pearl will fruit in late July Rondom also will fruit late July, Ben Lomond fruits in early July |
Redcurrants 
Although not as well known as blackcurrants the advantage of growing redcurrants is that they are ready to harvest earlier from June onwards. The berries are not fully ripe as soon as they turn red – taste to check the ripeness. To harvest cut the strings with scissors. Birds love them so they will need netting. Harvest from June Junifer, (late June) | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | | Plant bare rooted | | | | | | | Plant bare rooted | | | Plant container grown plants | | Prune | | | | | | | Prune | | | | | | | | Harvest | | | | |
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Gooseberries 
Choose a thornless gooseberry. Thorny varieties are vicious when harvesting. Also try to find one that is resistant to mildew which can be a problem with gooseberries. There are red, yellow and green varieties. Also varieties are either for dessert or cooking, dessert varieties being sweeter. Harvest from June. Possible varieties which all claim to be spineless. All spineless varieties seem to be red berried. Captivator, (June onwards red variety), Pax, (June onwards red variety), Xenia (end of June red variety) Approximate harvesting time in brackets. If you can put up with thorns also Hinnonmaki Yellow (June/July - yellow variety) Invicta (May/June - green variety but very spiny) | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | | Plant bare rooted | | | | | | | Plant bare rooted | | | Plant container grown plants | | Prune | | | | | | | | | Prune | | | | | | | | Harvest | | | | |
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Pears 
Along with apples one of the easiest fruit trees to grow although they generally need more sunshine and shelter from cold winds. Pears are more sensitive to frost as their blossom opens earlier than that of apples.
Most pears also require pollen from another type of pear tree in order for pollination to take place. The variety Conference is the exception. Both varieties of pear need to flower at the same time. Pears are divided into pollination groups and so varieties must be chosen from the same group.
Pears can be grown as free standing trees or can be trained. Trained pears take more time to care for and require that you have some pruning expertise.
Pear trees are also grafted onto different rootstocks.
Rootstocks are: It would be advisable to plant with the younger children so that they can literally see the fruits of their planting. Pears are harvested before they are fully ripe and stored until they begin to soften. They are then ready for eating. They do quickly rot so should be checked regularly. Harvest September and October. Recommendations from Victoriana Nursery Gardens Root stock Quince A or Quince C which would give enough vigour to actually produce a decent crop but similarly controllable with the minimum of pruning. This rootstock would enable trees to be kept at 1.8m - 2.4m or trained. It is best to grow at least two varieties to ensure effective pollination. Possible varieties Conference (use Ovtober/November), Doyenne du Comice (use November/December), Williams Bon Chretien (use September onwards) Possible varieties Conference (use Ovtober/November), Doyenne du Comice (use November/December), Williams Bon Chretien (use September onwards) All available from Victoriana Nursery Gardens. NB: 10% discount when ordering from this link this is automatically generated (20% discount if ordering plants or seeds for a school to claim, simply enter SCHOOLD20 on the discount code page) | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | Plant bare rooted | | | | | | | | Plant bare rooted | | Plant container grown plants | | Prune | | | | Prune | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Harvest | | | | Winter wash | | | | | | | | | | Winter wash |
NB: Only use winter wash when everything is completely dormant – don’t use after February. Click here for more information on reducing pest damage. |
Raspberries 
Varieties of raspberries fruit at different times so choose an early fruiting variety to avoid having fruit ripen during the August holidays. (Don’t chose later summer/autumn fruiting types). Although not as vicious as blackberries and gooseberries many raspberries are prickly. If this is an issue with young children then choose a spineless variety. Technically each raspberry is really a cluster of tiny fruits. Raspberries will need a support frame and room should be left at either side to allow access for fruit picking. Pick when the berries are fully ripe but still firm. Wet fruit will soon go mouldy. Plant about 45 cm apart. Raspberries will spread by sending out suckers which should be removed to keep the plants under control. More information click here Possible varieties which all claim to be spineless. Malling Minerva, (June/July) Glen Moy, (June/July) Glen Fyne (June/July) Glen Ample (mid July onwards) Not spineless but raspberry spines aren't really problematic Glen Clova (July) | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | | | Plant bare rooted | | | | | | | | Plant bare rooted | | Plant container grown plants | | | | | | | | | | Prune | | | | | | | | | | | Harvest | | | | |
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Rhubarb 
Technically not a fruit at all. It’s a vegetable but usually referred to and treated as a fruit. It will flourish with little attention if the soil is prepared well before planting. Originating from Siberia, rhubarb is very hardy and is said to produce the best stalks after being subjected to frost. Easy to grow and care for. Allow plenty of space as it will develop into a large plant with enormous leaves. Stalks shouldn’t be picked the first year after planting as this can weaken the plant. The leaves are poisonous.
Rhubarb can be grown from seed but will take a few years to develop any stalks worth harvesting. Rhubarb is usually bought as a crown which should be planted so that the top of the crown sits just above the surface of the soil. Choose from varieties available from Victoriana, Dobies, Suttons or Thompson and Morgan | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | | | Plant | | | | | | | | Plant | | | | | | Harvest (not forced) | | | | | Remove any flower heads |
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Strawberries 
Probably the easiest fruit for growing with young children as the plants produce fruit in a relatively short time.
Strawberries grown in open ground need to be mulched with straw so that the berries remain clean and drier. They will also require netting as birds find them irresistible as do slugs so slug deterrents will need to be considered. Strawberries are also ideally suited to container cultivation. They can also be grown under cloches. Not only delicious and popular with children but interesting in that seeds develop on the outside of the fruit! Once you have bought young plants you can increase your strawberry bed by taking runners. Click here for more information. Plant about 40 cm apart Varieties of strawberry fruit at different times of the year (from May to October) so choose a variety that ripens in June or July to avoid the August holiday. Don’t choose too early a variety if you live in an area prone to late frosts. If the flowers are frosted they will not develop fruits. Florence
(June/July), Cambridge Favourite (June/July), Sonata (June/July) Lucy (June/July)
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | | | | Plant bare rooted | | | Plant bare rooted | | | | | Plant container grown plants | | | | | | Mulch with straw | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Harvest | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Remove runners and cut back old leaves to allow new growth | | |
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