Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden

Planting and Tending Small Fruit Trees and Berries in Gardens and Containers

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Pub Date 20 Apr 2021 | Archive Date 16 Mar 2021

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Description

Forget the farmer’s market. Grow your own delicious, organic apples, figs, peaches, plums, strawberries, blackberries, citrus fruits, and more with Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden. No green thumb required.

Even beginners become successful fruit "farmers" with the techniques and advice offered by author Christy Wilhelmi, the force behind the popular gardening website, Gardenerd. Selecting the best small-scale fruit trees, bushes, vines, and plants for your climate, siting them properly, and pruning your compact trees for health and productivity are some of the many topics covered in the pages of this bible of small-space fruit growing.

You’ll also discover how to: Turn your urban, suburban, or rural garden into a fruit factory, no matter its sizeMaximize production from edible container fruit gardensGrow more food in less spaceLimit your family’s synthetic pesticide consumptionChoose varieties with increased disease resistanceSelect plants that grow well in your climateMaintain your fruiting plants correctly to encourage years of prolific harvests With modern, dwarf varieties, and help from Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden, a healthy, high-yielding garden filled with fruit-producing plants is possible—even in the smallest of yards.
Forget the farmer’s market. Grow your own delicious, organic apples, figs, peaches, plums, strawberries, blackberries, citrus fruits, and more with Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden. No green thumb...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780760370261
PRICE $27.99 (USD)
PAGES 192

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)

Average rating from 38 members


Featured Reviews

Its a very helpfull book when you want to start a fruit garden. Everything is explained very well and its easy to follow all the steps. Cant wait to try them out!

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From mouthwatering photographs to detailed instructions to fun fruits, this inspiring makes me itch to plunge my hands into gorgeous earthy soil (currently -36C where I am). You will discover a vast array of instructions from the very beginning including choosing where your plants will go (and there are options, even for balconies), materials of containers if applicable (terra cotta, plastic, ceramic...) and soil preparation. Thankfully there are container and in-ground options. The point is, there is something for every gardening zone here, every ability, from vertical vines on a fence to shrubs and trees in the ground.

Learn how to plant, water, prune and harvest a plethora of fruits including stone fruits (passion fruit, dragon fruit, pears...) and berries (blackberries, blueberries. strawberries...). Grafting is a focus as well as the two kinds of cutting, safe and organic pest and disease control, chill hours, tools and pH. There are also charts on fruit susceptibility and chill hours. Of course climate is one of the biggest considerations of all. My zone in Canada is a pitiful 2a which means few fruits can be grown successfully, though blueberries, strawberries and apples usually do well. However, my zone at our Europe house is a 9b which makes the world of a difference and which is what drew me to this book. Though we grow vast numbers of fruits I wanted to learn more about others and found some in this book.

The author reminds us that EVERY gardener has failures. This is so very true. It can be easy to get discouraged but often it is down to climate and pests. We can always, always learn more. As a master gardener I learn constantly! And the more one learns the more you realize there is to learn. I like that the author encourages.

So, if you are in the least bit interested in growing fruit trees (it can be daunting!), turn to this useful book. At the very least allow it to inspire you to learn more about what you are already growing!

My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Cool Springs Press and NetGalley!

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Feels like a great introduction to fruit trees and berry gardening that offers an overall idea of the process. Topics covered include choosing rootstock, grafting, pruning, and maintenance of espaliered fruit. Might not be a definitive guide but it is certainly a book that will guide your first year well.

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Last year, lockdown inspired me to grow my own food, as a way of avoiding supermarkets. I struggled through using various websites and succeeded in growing three strawberries, which I was so excited about that I left them on the plant so long they became inedible!

This book would have been handy then…

If you're interested in growing your own fruit, it's a thorough and encouraging guide, well -researched and easy to follow. It takes you through each stage of the process and covers: planning, climate considerations, what to ask for when purchasing, planting in both the ground and pots, specific fruit trees and bushes, pruning and caring.

I enjoyed the lovely flickers in tone- at times branching out from a traditional informative narrative into a more conversational and quippy style. Whilst the book can't include everything, it always directs you clearly to where you can find further advice- no detail is too small. I now know the answers to questions I didn't know to ask. For example, how can you grow 3 fruits from one tree? (I didn't even know this was possible!)

If you're an expert gardener, you may find some of the details frustrating or obvious, but it was perfect for me and will be easy to dip in and out of as I make attempt number 2 this year!

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Mini fruit garden seems an adequate idea but it’s daunting to know what goes where, with what soil, and how will it fit. This book gives you an idea of what to do with all those questions and then some.

What did I like? While this book gives coverage on pretty much every plant and tree in my fruit garden it also delves a bit more on planting, pruning, and pest control also. So a wealth of information for anyone thinking about starting their own garden and then also some help with dwarf trees I found helpful.

Would I recommend or buy? I recommend buying the paper copy and it’s going on my wish list. I found a ton of ideas, like vertical planters and I loved the pruning section. Lots of suggestions and diagrams there to help with the task of pruning. Five stars... I’d love a copy of this book!

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Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden by Christy Wilhelmi is a great read if you are into gardening or learning about growing fruits. Ms. Wilhelmi takes you through basically everything you need to know from planning, to working with your soil, to pruning. One thing I truly admire about this book is that she takes you through growing organically and encourages you to do everything in your power to avoid chemical use. This is a quality I wish more authors and gardeners/farmers would adopt.

The book was written in a manner such that I was interested enough to read it cover to cover. I found I enjoyed poring over the pages to learn all I could about growing the different fruits. This would also be a great reference book to have on hand because she takes you through fruit diseases and how to treat them in an easily approachable manner. It would be a small thing to go back and find the disease of a certain plant and how to treat it.

Finally, a few words about pruning. Even as an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer who has had training in the area, pruning still scares the dickens out of me; however, this book takes the fear and the unknown out of every part of controlling your plants through pruning.

Bottom line, this book is fun, informative, and it takes the guess work out of growing your own fruits. There is no doubt in my mind that you will learn something new by reading Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden. I would absolutely recommend this book to my friends and family.

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Whenever I pick up a gardening book, I feel trepidation, as I wonder if the gardening tips within will be appropriate for my Northern climate. Okay, maybe Northern is a strong word, but as a Canadian living in zone 4, I am not the intended reader of many a garden book. I am happy to report that the tips contained in "Grow You Own Mini Fruit Garden" are not only applicable to colder climates, but actually really helpful! Since it includes tips for both in-ground and container planting, many of the more tropical plants can be planted in a cold region, as long as the container planting recommendations are followed. It even has the Celsius to Fahrenheit conversions of all temperatures, which is always thoughtful and appreciated!

From how to prep your soil and choose better cultivars for you to reaping the rewards, this book offers a plethora of tips on how to adapt fruit cultivation to smaller urban or suburban spaces. There's even a whole section on basic pruning tips, which, considering how complex that subject is, was a nice surprise. The images also have a good balance of both useful and pretty, which is great! Nestled between aesthetic photographs of strawberries dangling off the plant are less pretty pictures of roots, crowns, and dead stems, as well as diagrams, which is infinitely more helpful than a description alone.

I've been doing a truly ungodly amount of research in planning for my own garden this summer, and this book has been a huge help. My favorite thing about this book is that it answers a few questions even my thickest, most in-depth textbooks didn't cover! It provides a good range of knowledge, from explaining basic terms, to step-by-step instructions for techniques, to more in-depth theory. It may be a bit basic for the more adept gardeners, but the explanations are so good that even the most knowledgeable fruit cultivator might learn a thing or two.

My only criticism would be that it is missing a few points on overwintering more fragile plants in colder climates. That is something very specific that I don't necessarily expect to read about in an average gardening book, but it would have been nice to expand on the subject a little.

All in all, an excellent book that I highly recommend to anyone interested in growing their own fruit in an urban context!

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This is an excellent book in preparing, choosing, growing, tending and much more to having a fruit garden. In fact the only book one needs to grow fruit, especially a mini fruit garden.
There is so much easy to understand information, that having a fruit garden will become easy. From berries, climbers and trees there is something for everyone, if not everything for everyone.
Really great book
Two years ago we sold our farm, including 2 acres of orchards, mainly heritage apples and pears, with berries as an understorey. We now have a citrus garden in pots and espaliered trees,. This book is perfect for us in every way.

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For some reason, this book will not download for me. Not on my Kindle, nor any of my other programs. It's too bad, because this is a subject that I am very interested in. Therefore, I cannot leave a review.

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This book is amazing. It is chuck full of really good information. There is something in here for everyone. Bonus: it touches upon permaculture principals. The Author comes across very clearly and I believe all of the information presented in this book can be learned easily. I will be purchasing this book for future reference for myself.

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Nice and informative book. I was very excited to learn about strawberries and I can't wait to start planting them in my backyard. This book teaches you how to choose the right fruit based on where you live, managing pests and diseases and other tips. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

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I didn't realize what all went into having fruit trees! I am glad that I read this book before I started this kind of project. I believe that this book would be an asset to anyone who is wanting to have fruit trees but there are a lot of things that you need to be aware of before you even start and this book is a great resource.

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This is the best book for a beginner that wants to grow their own mini fruit garden. The real pictures allow you to see all of the things that the author is talking about. You find out what you need, what it will look like, and much more. It gives you the exact utensils that you need for each part of making it. The best part is that it shows you what the fruit will look like at the correct time to pick them to eat. Again, this is the book to read when you want to know all about growing your own mini fruit garden.

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Great read on fruit gardening with pictures and detailed how tos on grafting, pruning, and other vital aspects of gardening. There are many tips and tricks for the beginner. I especially enjoyed the chapter on pests and various susceptibilities of different fruits.

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A good informative book with illustrations to help explain everything about growing fruit trees. I would recommend this book.

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This is a beautiful book. colorful and expertly photographed. Great book to learn how to establish your very own mini fruit garden. I found it very helpful and informative. Easy to understand details on how to choose, plan out, plant, maintain, and harvest your own fruit. Fun - I can't wait to get started.

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I have been interested in growing some fruit trees for quite awhile, but have been leery because we live in a very hot climate. I was impressed with the quality of the writing and how in depth the book went into each topic. I am so excited that I can grow some fruit trees not only in containers, but also in the ground.

I already am awaiting the book to be shipped directly to my home, but I know that others will be thrilled with kindle version just as much.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

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3 1/2 stars. This book was a little too advanced for me. I have one lemon tree and am hoping to plant a cherry tree this spring. A great read for those really looking to dive into the subject manner and create a mini-fruit oasis, but a little too much information for a beginner like me. Beautiful photography.

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I've thought about doing this, but never had the foggiest idea how to go about it. This book clearly lays out how to do it, including pests to watch out for and how to prune. I might take the leap and do it now....

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Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden is a general guide to cultivating fruit written by Christy Wilhelmi. Due out 20th April 2021 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a well written general book aimed at gardeners who would like to implement fruits into their garden routines with special emphasis in smaller spaces or using the available space in the most efficient ways. The information is presented in a logical and accessible way and there are good takeaways for readers no matter what their level of experience. The author's introductory chapters cover siting, containers, planning, variety selection, and culture. The chapter on grafting is clearly written and very well illustrated. There is an entire chapter devoted to soft/caning fruits and berries. The rest of the book is rounded out with info on maintenance, trimming & pruning, and pest & disease control.

It's very well illustrated and beautifully and clearly photographed throughout. Appendices include a serviceable overview of rootstock varieties for grafting, along with stockists and online resources, followed by a cross-referenced index.

The author is knowledgeable and writes well on the subject. Not all of the concrete advice presented in any given book will be 100% applicable or desirable for every reader. It's the same with this one. I disagree with the advocacy for kill traps for rodent pests, but in general this is a solidly information dense and well presented book on fruit gardening in limited spaces. I don't fuss much about my own fruit trees and cane fruits and subsequently share the bigger portion with my feathered and furred "neighbors" and I'm glad to pay them for the wonder and joy they bring me. Other readers will have different needs and expectations.

Five stars. Very well done book. This would make a good selection for library acquisition, gardening groups, community garden libraries, smallholders, and the like.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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Very well organized and beautiful for the beginner gardener! If you've ever wanted to start your own fruit garden, this is the book I would recommend to start.

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Great Reference book easy to use, im now getting excited about starting my own mini fruit garden! great book to keep and would recommend it to anyone with a interest to gardening has everything you need to start, ! this would be a lovely present too

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I've always wanted to grow fruit trees, but didn't like the extensive work that goes into maintenance, pollination, and pest control.

The first few chapters are mostly a primer on basic garden design and gardening techniques. They could be appropriate for growing just about anything, not just fruits. The next chapter focuses on selecting the right plant for your environment. This chapter is well-suited to growing fruit trees and provides excellent advice about size, disease resistance, pollination, and temperature sensitivity. This is followed by a well-written chapter on grafting and its importance for fruit plants. The remaining chapters focus on planting techniques, growing berries and other non-tree fruits, and maintenance.

This book seems to be a good guide to growing fruits, but I found that there wasn't as much focus on the container-type tree fruits that I'd hoped to see. It's covered, but not in as great a detail as for other types of fruits. The book is lavishly illustrated with appropriate photos and diagrams. It would be a good reference for someone who wants to grow several different types of fruit, not just dwarf tree varieties.

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Gardening at home is popular now and what better way for many people with limited garden space than to grow your fruit in containers on your patio? Yes, you can grow fruit trees in containers! This book is rich with beautiful photographs showing the possibilities of growing your own food right in your backyard. The author talks about adapting the correct fruit for your climate, which is always a concern for gardeners across the country. Design plans are featured for all types of spaces and fruit choices. Pruning fruit trees to adapt to your backyard garden is covered along with pest management and harvesting your fruit. This comprehensive guide will add information to the experienced gardener and also aid the beginning gardener who would like to try out their own mini fruit garden.

My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a helpful book for when you want a fruit garden in a small space or even in containers. I found the information on compost, pruning and managing pest and disease most helpful. I used to have blackberries, strawberries, and currants, but I’ve moved to a different climate with different soil, and I’ve struggled a bit growing the fruits and vegetables I enjoy. I’m looking forward to having berry bushes again with the help of the tips found in this book.

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I love fruits and always dreamed of having a fruit garden in my backyard. Rather a house amongst all my fruit trees. That's the ultimate dream.
This book was very informative. It starts out how you should plan and picture your garden. Where each type of tree should be placed based on sun exposure. I appreciated that so much! It also talks about which type of tree you should have in your region. I'm sometimes too ambitious and dream of having a mango tree in the mid west (is it possible? not confident).
There's mention about choosing dwarf trees if you don't have the space for a 30 foot tree and how to plant them in a pot. Also, some hard decisions to make in order to yield better fruits,,, IN THE FUTURE. Not an instant gratification, this step is probably going to be the hardest!!
There's also a section about berries. YES!!
Also, there's a method called espalier that is super interesting. A FRUIT TREE THAT GROWS AGAINST THE WALL??
So excited to make my own Mini fruit garden!

Thank you #Negalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup – Cool Springs Press for the E-Arc! I specifically went looking for this kind of book.

Also, The pictures were GORGEOUS!!

I feel like my fruit garden dreams can come true!

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