Growing fruits at home is not just rewarding, it is a way to enjoy nutritious, flavourful fruits right from your backyard. Let’s explore 12 fruits you can easily grow at home with expert advice from gardeners Ashwini Gajendran and Deepti Patel.

1. Strawberry Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): Use plant suckers from friends or family instead of nursery plants. They tend to perform better. How to grow: Grow on a terrace or balcony with plenty of sunlight. Ensure the soil is rich in compost. Ashwini suggests, “More compost, less soil!”

2.  Cucumber Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): Ensure proper pollination by attracting bees. How to grow: Increase greenery around your terrace or garden to draw pollinators. Plant in well-drained soil with organic compost. Keep the plants well-watered. Prune vines regularly to promote healthy growth.

3. Guava Expert tip (Deepti Patel): Plant hybrid guavas for early fruiting. How to grow: Prepare the potting mix by drying the soil in the sun. Plant guava seeds or fruit parts 2-3 inches deep. Add compost to enrich the soil. Water sparingly during the rainy season and use natural insecticides after 2-3 months.

4 Apple bear (Jujube) Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): Grow in a small bucket or container for better management. How to grow: Grafted plants are ideal for home gardens. Initially, plant in a small container, then transfer to a larger drum for better yield. Space management is key to getting a good harvest.

5. Grapes Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): “The more you cut, the more they flourish.” How to grow: Prune the vines after each fruiting cycle to encourage new growth. Grapevines need full sun and well-drained soil. Use trellises or arbours for support and to help the vines grow upward.

6.  Dragon fruit Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): Plant dragon fruit along the edge of your terrace to avoid thorns. How to grow: Dragon fruit is a climbing cactus, so it needs a sturdy support structure. Water moderately and ensure it gets plenty of sunlight. The plant can take 2-3 years to fruit, but it’s well worth the wait.

7.  Banana Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): Be patient; it takes about a year and a half to yield fruit. How to grow: Use large containers or grow bags for planting. Keep the plant in a sunny spot and water it regularly. Once mature, cut off the top to allow the plant to regenerate for future harvests.

8. Mulberry Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran):  “Mulberries need sun and proper trimming to thrive.” How to grow: Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Trim the plant regularly to promote better fruiting. Mulberries are drought-resistant, so they require minimal watering.

9. Apple Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): Provide shade to protect apple trees from the harsh afternoon sun. How to grow: Plant in well-drained soil with good air circulation. Water regularly but avoid over-watering. Prune the tree to remove dead branches and encourage better fruit production.

10. Papaya Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): Poke the stem with a nail or knife to ‘shock’ the plant into fruiting. How to grow: Papayas need abundant sunlight and rich, well-drained soil. Water the plants regularly, but don’t let the soil stay soggy. The plant usually fruits 6-12 months after planting.

11.  Cherry Expert tip (Deepti Patel): Soak cherry seeds for 24 hours before planting for better germination. How to grow: Plant the soaked cherry seeds in a mix of vermicompost and cocopeat. Cherries need a cool climate and well-drained soil to thrive. The plant will fruit in 2-3 years from seeds or within a year if grafted.

12.  Sweet lime & citrus fruits Expert tip (Ashwini Gajendran): Citrus fruits like sweet lime are drought-resistant and require minimal watering. How to grow: Plant citrus trees in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Their glossy leaves help conserve moisture, making them ideal for dry gardens. Prune the trees regularly to maintain their shape and promote better fruiting.

Whether you have a small terrace or a spacious backyard, these fruits are perfect for home gardening. With the right care, your homegrown fruits will soon be ready to enjoy, offering you fresh, nutritious produce all year round!