Fruit bush in greenhouse - recommendations sought

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Fruit bush in greenhouse - recommendations sought

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Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 12 5:13 pm Post subject: Fruit bush in greenhouse - recommendations sought

We have an unheated twin wall polycarbonate lean-to greenhouse. Might get a touch of frost in mid-winter.
One end is shaded for part of the day by an evergreen tree. Can grow achocha down there reasonably well.
Outdoors at our place is a bit windswept and fruit bushes do need sheltered niche. Only just starting to plant fruitbushes.

Anyway, was wondering about putting a couple of fruitbushes in the partially shaded end of the greenhouse. What likes it warm and doesn't mind partial shade?

Was thinking of gooseberry - they are OK for partial shade as have grown them in lea of apple trees - but the write up says they are well hardy, so might as well have them out of doors.

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8980
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 12 6:12 pm Post subject:
you might just avoid the sawfly, but I'm sure you'd get mildew and aphids! Goosegogs are fine outdoors.

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 12 6:52 pm Post subject:

Whilst out walking the other afternoon we noticed a lot of gooseberries growing away happily in the verge under a tree, all fruiting. They are untended and out to the elements. We're over 1000' above sea level and the place was exposed to the brunt of the North wind in the winter. I would imagine the tree and low wall offer some shelter but that is to the East of the plants, they still get buffeted by the winds.

If that helps at all

We grow red and black currents out in the garden with no extra support or shelter and a cherry tree. Apples, pears and rhubarb also grow outside without any support, as do the hazel and walnut tree. The fig is inside, tay berries used to grow well as do blackberries and raspberries. Though we don't have them atm. I know where wild raspberry canes grow which is about 500 yards away, again these are exposed to the elements, though they have a natural rock shelter to one side they face the onslaught of wind and weather.

Mustang

Joined: 15 Jul 2005
Posts: 768
Location: Sunny Suffolk

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 12 7:51 pm Post subject:
What about a fig? Most varieties prefer hot weather and need a greenhouse to produce their fruit. You can keep it in a pot, and as a standard. .

Marches

Joined: 13 Dec 2011
Posts: 171
Location: Nr Peak District, England

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 12 10:36 pm Post subject:

I'd have a fig plant grown as a bush in there, a grape vine along part of the roof, peach and apricot trees on dwarf roots and cantaloup melons growing in full sun.

The best varieties of those for the UK are:

Fig - Brown Turkey (Figs 4 fun say there are a few varieties which are called 'Brown Turkey' with one called by them 'English Brown Turkey' being the common and best one for England)

Grapes - Phoenix (German hybrid), Seyval Blanc (French hybrid) or Muller Thurgau (German pure variety) are recommended for the UK. Hybrids suffer from disease less and are a bit hardier and easier to ripen.

Peach - Peregrine or Rochester. Both two English varieties bred for our climate.

Apricot - Moorpark. Another one bred for the English climate.

Cantaloup - Charentais is a French variety which is the best one for our climate. Other types of melons will probably be fine in a greenhouse.

In a greenhouse you don't have to restrict yourself to certain varieties though, you could try ones that aren't suited to our climate.

Marches

Joined: 13 Dec 2011
Posts: 171
Location: Nr Peak District, England

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 12 10:40 pm Post subject:
I have a Brown Turkey fig and Muller Thurgau grape vine. Next year I'm planning to grow Charentais cantaloups and buy a greenhouse. If we have another summer like we have here this year then they'll be in it. You could also try Kiwis too.

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 12 9:52 am Post subject:
Thanks folks. But don't things like apricots and figs need full sunshine? I'm only after something for the partial shade end of the greenhouse. The rest of the greenhouse is for tomato and cucumber. Just wondered if there was a partial shade tolerating warmth loving fruit bush.

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8980
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 12 9:55 am Post subject:
strawberries

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 12 10:06 am Post subject:
Yummy.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 12 10:08 am Post subject:

I would be careful about air circulation as some things are susceptible to mildew and a greenhouse might make it worse. Also, remember some plants like blackcurrants need a cold winter to trigger fruiting, so they wouldn't be much use.

PFAF should give you some ideas, their search at the bottom of this page: https://www.pfaf.org/user/plantsearch.aspx#USE allows you to search on shade tolerance, hardiness, edibility rating etc

sarahp1

Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Posts: 68
Location: Warwickshire

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 12 11:31 am Post subject:
I have a similar patch in my polytunnel and had never thought of putting fruit there, however, I did plant a sweet potato slip in that corner and it seems as happy as larry. Fingers crossed for a decent crop again this year.

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