Garden: Fruit Gardening
By Tessa Holm
What better way to welcome spring than with fresh, home-grown fruit? Fruit, often loved for their sweet, juicy flavors, can be thought of as “nature's candy.” Fruits are a delectable treat, perfect for any warm, spring day. Here, at the Gauchos Go Green Garden, our fruit plants are thriving under the warm Santa Barbara sun. Currently, the garden is growing fresh, organic, strawberries, lemons, and tomatoes (and yes we consider tomatoes fruit). Because our love of fruit is so strong, we thought we’d share some tips on how to start a fruit garden of your own. This way you can guarantee a free supply of “candy” in your backyard all year round.
For at-home gardeners, strawberries are one of the best fruits to start out with. They require little square footage and are perfect for cultivating in the spring. Strawberries start with a “mother” plant, which is the original crop. From the mother plant, you can expect anywhere from three to six offshoots, which are called “daughter” plants. Though smaller in size, the daughter plants can still produce an abundance of delicious fruit. Strawberry’s peak season is anywhere between June through August, but some plants continue to produce well after that period, depending on the type of strawberry plant. Strawberries love sunlight, so make sure to set up your garden in an area that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Equally important to sunlight is hydration. The key is to keep the soil moist, without overwatering. As long as you love and care for your strawberries, your strawberries should love you back by producing delicious, sweet fruit in return.
The GGG Garden’s strawberry plant’s first fruits!
If free fruit wasn’t enough of an incentive to start your own garden, then maybe the health benefits will be. For example, consuming strawberries can support your immune system, increase vitamin C, and boost cognitive function. Strawberries pair nicely as a topping to your favorite yogurt bowl or cake, giving you that extra boost of immune protection. Additionally, consuming tomatoes can help improve brain health. The component “lycopene” which protects tomatoes from the sun, and gives them their beautiful red color, can also protect your brain cells from damage. On the topic of brain health, blueberries are another brain-powering super-fruit. Blueberries are high in antioxidants and can improve heart and brain functioning. Incorporating fresh fruits into your diet not only tastes good but contributes to overall health and well-being.
Growing fresh fruit is not only better for your health, but it is better for the environment. Growing your own fruits and vegetables drastically reduces carbon emissions. Commercial farming, which requires heavy machinery, and high amounts of fossil fuel for cultivation, and transportation, is very costly to the environment. So even if you don’t have the space or can’t afford to grow your own fruits at home, shopping locally is always another option. In addition to lowering carbon emissions, growing your own fruit reduces the use of pesticides and other chemical fertilizers. Many studies show the long-term consequences of consuming pesticide-grown fruit, and none of them are positive. Lastly, at-home gardening helps foster a sense of connection to the food you consume. Not only is growing your own fruit visually pleasing, but it tastes good too!
So, if you have extra space in your yard or even just a sunny windowsill available, do yourself a favor and plant something new for spring. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, just make sure you plant a fruit you enjoy. Place your fruit plant in an area with enough sunlight, and water, and come summer, your nature’s candy will be ready to consume!
