Best Fruits for Beginner Gardeners to Grow

Growing your own fruit can be a clever way to cut down on grocery bills while improving your diet. Because you know exactly what goes into the growing process, you can be sure you’re getting the best that nature has to offer, and you’ll be able to pick fruit at the peak of ripeness without worrying about whether it was frozen before reaching your front door. 

However, some fruits are notoriously picky about when and where they should be grown, making them challenging for beginners to succeed. Whether you have a green thumb or have faced significant growing challenges in the past, these plants will happily thrive in almost any environment you provide, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the fruits of your labor. 

Apples

Apples emerged 750,000 years ago in Central Asia from their ancestors, the sour crab apple. Through countless generations, humans cultivated apples from small, bitter fruit into what we know today, including thousands of different breeds with all sorts of colors. This long-lasting fruit has flourished across the world, from Kazakhstan to Washington State, and is renowned for its hardiness. 

Even better, you can graft different apple varietals onto one tree and develop hybrids with unique colors, flavors, and textures. Apples are ripe for experimentation, and you may just discover the next award-winning apple variety!  

Strawberries

Strawberries are a very hardy herb that grows close to the ground from a crown. The strawberries we know today are actually a hybrid between North American and South American varietals, which produced plumper berries and more aromatic fruit. 

Like many hybrids, modern strawberries are more disease-resistant and drought-tolerant than the parent species, making them an excellent choice for beginner gardeners. They will grow vigorously in the ground, in container gardens, or even in hanging baskets. Be sure to provide well-draining soil with plenty of direct sunlight. 

Mangoes

Delicious and nutritious, mangoes grow readily as long as they have ample sunlight and warm temperatures. These sweet, delicious fruits come in several different varietals, so it's important to choose the right one for your specific needs. If you like creamier mangoes, look for an Alphonso Mango Tree for sale, while those who want a honey sweetness may want to try a Nam Doc Mai mango instead. For the fastest propagation, use a grafted plant, which will bear fruit in 1 to 2 years. 

Blackberries 

Blackberries and raspberries grow wild across much of North America and are one of the continent’s most delicious native fruits. Strong and hardy, they can withstand the harsh weather in the northeastern United States without a problem and continue to flourish year after year. Another reason that blackberries are so popular is that they prevent soil erosion thanks to their strong, deep roots. In fact, blackberries are such good growers that they can become invasive if not cared for correctly. Be sure to check that the blackberries you plant are native to the area and will not become a nuisance.

Honeyberries

This little-known fruit has an unusual rectangular shape, a sweet smell, and a taste similar to blueberries. It is very hardy and high in nutrients, thriving where other plants fail to take root. In northern climates, they will prefer full sun, but give them more shade if you are in a hotter climate so that they do not burn. Some varietals can be up to seven feet in diameter, so space them appropriately if you are planting them outside. They only need to be fertilized once a year and will thrive with just minimum watering. 

Gooseberries

Gooseberries are bursting with antioxidants and cook well, making them perfect companions in jellies, jams, cordials, and pies. They will easily take to a shady part of your lawn and only need occasional watering to thrive. However, they must be kept moist and protected from wind, as harsh weather can pull out their roots. 

When harvesting, be aware of the gooseberry’s sharp thorns. If you can avoid getting pricked by these unpleasant stingers, you’ll find yourself with plump, tart fruits that make amazing pies and crumbles

Currants

Currants have a long and storied history worldwide. Originally from Europe, they were brought to North America at the Massachusetts Bay Colony and were an important staple crop for generations until they were banned from cultivation in the 1900s due to fungal disease. While this ban was lifted in the 1960s, currants are still a niche crop in the United States despite their sumptuous taste and many uses.

Currants grow readily in full sun and are cold tolerant, making them a great option for those in more northern climates. They are more flavorful than raisins, with a nice acidity that makes your mouth pucker. Be sure to remove any flowers that grow during the first year, as this can help encourage stronger root growth and keep the plant healthier for years to come. 

Hone Your Green Thumb With These Beginner-Friendly Plants

Gardening is an incredibly rewarding activity, especially because you can create delicious meals using what you have grown yourself. While some plants are known to be challenging for beginners, the hardy plants mentioned above are forgiving and resilient, making it easier to enjoy the joys of gardening. Be sure to source your plants from an ethical nursery and choose grafts over seedlings, as these are more likely to have a good chance of success.