It is unlikely that we will ever grow mangos in the UK but, I have just had my first taste of exotic fruit gardening - Ruth presented me with 3 melon plants that she has grown from seed.

The plan is to plant them outside as, according to the RHS, rising average night temperatures in March and April and more growing days a year are allowing gardeners to produce a number of varities such as kiwis, peaches, nectarines and lemons without the protection of glasshouses. This conjures up thoughts of my trip to Calabria earlier this year when I saw wonderful lemon trees laden with fruit.

We may not manage to achieve the same size of crop in the UK’s unpredicatable climate, but, it is great to think about growing some of the following trees outside in the future:

OLD APRICOT (Prunus armeniaca) cultivars such as ‘Moorpark’ and ‘Isabella’ and Flavorcot (‘Bayoto’) and ‘Tomcot’ - the last two selected to suit more northern climes - will become more common.

PEACHES (Prunus persica cultivars such as ‘Peregrine’, ‘Rochester’ and ‘Red Haven’) and smooth-skinned nectarines (P. persica var. nectarina) such as ‘Lord Napier’ and ‘Early Rivers’ could crop well out of doors without the protection of glasshouses.

There are also certain nuts from the Mediterranean that should adapt well to a warming UK climate:

ALMONDS(Prunus dulcis)

WALNUTS(Juglans regia, now available grafted onto dwarfing rootstocks),

PISTACHIO(Pistacia vera). The predicted warmer, longer summers should give them a chance to ripen fully.

FIGS (Ficus carica)

OLIVES (Olea europaea),

CITRUS Meyer’s lemon (Citrus x meyeri ‘Meyer’) and calamondin orange (x Citrofortunella microcarpa) may grow outside in certain areas.

It is always wise to seek advice when buying exotic fruit trees from a specialist nursery - here are a few suggestions:

http://www.readsnursery.co.uk - Norfolk

Reads Nursery are the National Collection Holders of Citrus, Figs and Grapevines for the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens NCCPG.

http://www.crosscommonnursery.co.uk - Cornwall

http://www.globalorangegroves.co.uk -Dorset

http://www.davids-exoticplants.co.uk - Kent

http://www.seagravenurseries.co.uk -Leicestershire

http://www.treesdirect.co.uk - Shropshire


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