12 Fruits You Can Grow Year Round

We live in a day and age where organic, sustainable and locally sourced foods are the norm. The only thing that could be any better is picking food from your own backyard, right? It's totally possible if you follow the tips from this nifty infographic from Happy to Survive which shows you how to grow fruit like a pro.

The infographic highlights 12 fruit trees and fruit plants that grow year round so you can pick and choose which ones will grow better in your climate.

Whether you have an awesome green thumb or simply wish everything you planted didn't die, you'll appreciate this gardening advice. Perhaps you'll be inspired to plant something new or make a tweak to how you care for your existing trees and plants.

So what fruits can you grow at home? Let's take a look:

Banana plant

It's not surprising banana plants do well in warm climate. If you live in Florida, southern Texas and California then growing them will be a breeze. This tropical plant needs full sun and performs best in well drained, acidic yet nutritious soil.

Banana plants take two to three years to bear fruit but you'll enjoy its beautiful foliage long before. After harvesting your sweet bananas there are countless recipes you can make including this rich and creamy banoffee pie.

Don't forget you can also cook banana blossom.

Cactus pear

This unique fruit plant grows well in a range of climates - from the plains of Illinois to the rolling hills of Tennessee and beyond. It likes full sun, requires sandy soil and yields fruit in about three to four years.

Persimmon

If you have the luxury of a backyard then you'll have enough space to grow a persimmon tree. These trees bear fruit in just three to four years and love full sun. This is an easy tree to tend to as long as it is watered frequently and is planted in well drained soil.

After you harvest your delicious persimmons you can use them to whip up a fabulous smoothie like this one.

Avocado

Not a vegetable, definitely a fruit! Avocado trees won’t bear fruit for up to 15 years, so patience is key. Given they love hot countries, it’s not surprising that they need to be in full sun and have a preference for well-drained soil. What could be better than home-grown and home-made guacamole?

Apples

Easy to grow year round apart from in the depths of winter. Some years your harvest will be better than others, as part of the natural cycle. The best way to up your yield is to prune your tree every year. Your apples can be stored for up to 12 months in the freezer.

Peach

Abundant in the summer, peach trees need full sun to be at their best. They also prefer acidic and sandy soil. Removing poorly placed fruits when small promotes health in the tree and will lead to a better harvest. Anyone for peach cobbler?

Elderberry

Perfect during the summer months for making jellies and cordials. Elderberry trees appreciate a combination of full sun and shade and need to be planted early in the spring. They won’t keep for long once picked, so use as soon as possible.

Grapefruit

Nothing beats the tang of freshly squeezed grapefruit. Grapefruit trees will bear fruit after one to two years, but do need full sun to be at their best. Slightly acidic soil and weekly deep watering of the root will keep them happy.

Blueberries

Blueberry plants grow low to the ground and like full sun or partial shade. They prefer moist acidic soil in order to prosper. The addition of acidic organic matter such as pine needles to the soil will make sure they have exactly what they need.

Cranberries

Tangy cranberries prefer full sun or partial shade and are big fans of boggy, acidic soil to keep the plants moist. Fruit bearing in two to three years, they are happiest on the edge of a river or pond.

Blackberries

Spotted dotting the hedgerows in autumn and winter, blackberries often flourish in full sun or partial shade. Again, they prefer boggy, acidic soil that drains well, but are not always so fussy. Once picked, the blackberries can be stored in the freezer for up to a year – perfect added to an apple crumble for bite and colour.

Raspberries

Raspberries tend to be relatively hardy and will bear fruit within a couple of years, usually in the late spring and summer. The addition of fertiliser twice a year will help them to be at their best. Turn your bounty into jams, cakes, sorbets, ice creams… the list is endless.

Don't have enough space at home? No worries. You'll find tips for growing fruit in small spaces by doing things like planting vertically and using containers.