Botanica Atlanta - Landscape Design, Construction & Maintenance

After the scares of the past few years with contaminated supermarket food, many families are looking to grow at least some of their food at home. Alas, when considering fruit, most people think of peaches and apples, but there are many more, troublefree fruit that you can grow in the garden.

Figs are one of the old fashioned shrubs that went out of style many years ago, but is making a welcome comeback.  The common fig (Ficus carica) is a terrific looking shrub for any garden, but does get quite large over the years, so give it plenty of room.  The fruit is like a small brown pear, with a soft light brown pulp which ripens in late summer. Fortunately you do not need a pollinator for this fruit, so a single shrub will yield plenty for your family.

Mulberries are another tree that is from the past and many of us know it from the nursery rhyme.  Mulberries though form quite a good size tree that makes a good shade tree in the garden as well as producing fruit.  A brilliant yellow fall foliage is an additional attribute to this easy to grow tree.

The Bright Yellow Fall Colors on a Mulberry Tree

Other fruits that can be grown include both the fuzzy and smooth skinned Kiwi (Actindia chinensis), Pomegranate (Punica granatum), and Paw Paw (Asimia triloba).

For more about growing uncommon fruits, see the UGA publication entitled "Minor Fruits and Nuts in Georgia."