Exotic fruits also thrive in your own garden

Everyone knows that fruit is healthy. If you base your diet on this knowledge, it’s primarily because so much of it tastes so good. This isn’t only true for native varieties like apples and cherries, but also for delicious southern fruits. In some gardens, you can already find plants that provide these exotic, vitamin-rich treats. But what is actually possible, and where are the limits?

Exotic plants don’t naturally grow in our harsher climate. That’s why they are imported. For some people, this isn’t a big deal because they continue to ripen after being harvested, like bananas. Others, however, do not ripen further and would lose much of their flavor if they weren’t artificially treated and sprayed. This alone is motivation for many gardening enthusiasts to harvest these healthy treats in their own green spaces. Helpful in this effort are the many professionals who, through careful selection and targeted breeding, help some fruits find a second home in our latitudes.

The Central American guava and the Brazilian pineapple guava are already some examples. They can withstand windy weather and even cold nights. During harsh winters, they should be protected with a layer of brushwood. Both boast charming flowers and reveal their fruits only when it’s almost winter. Ripe guavas release an intense aroma. They are extremely flavorful and enrich raw food dishes as well as jam variations.

The pineapple cherry, more commonly known as Physalis, also feels at home with us now. It is perfect for beginners when it comes to growing edible garden residents. It doesn't even require particularly fertile soil. Sunlight from above and wind protection from the sides are enough, and then it willingly reveals its carefully wrapped, sweet berries, even dropping them. For those who don’t have time to pick them, they can simply be collected from the ground in midsummer.

The strawberry tree is wonderfully decorative in its own garden. This evergreen plant prefers protection from strong air currents but will adapt to partial shade if the sunny spot is occupied. It showcases its bell-shaped flowers at the same time as its coveted heavenly fruits in bright red. The edible ornament looks like the more aromatic strawberry but isn’t one. Still, it always serves as a delicious base for jams and other treats.

The fig is also a great addition as a new garden member of southern origin. Although still somewhat rare, this tree tolerates our temperatures well and can even handle subzero temperatures. It craves sunlight, protection, nutrient supply, and quenching its great thirst. In return, it doesn't hold back its sweet temptation in midsummer.

The Chinese jujube, also known as Chinese date or red date, has also adapted to our climatic conditions. You can enjoy its fresh flesh, preserve it, or dry the small fruits with the brown skin to make a healthy jujube tea. The blooming period from May to midsummer is almost seamlessly followed by the harvest, lasting into the fall.

The exotic almond tree promises spectacular blossoms and a plentiful harvest with a hard shell and soft kernel. It is hard to surpass in terms of Far Eastern beauty, but spring frosts can damage its delicate flowers and may spoil the harvest in the kernel. While it survives the winter unscathed, it becomes highly sensitive during the blooming period.

Kumquat and kiwi are additional candidates for a place in the home garden. The climbing kiwi plant is perfect for decorating a backdrop with lush greenery. There are hardy varieties that serve as both climbers and sources of vitamin-rich fruits. The oval fruits of this thirsty plant are botanically classified as berries and can ripen on a sunlit windowsill after the autumn harvest. Kumquat plants bloom in midsummer, developing their delicious fruits, which resemble mini oranges in egg shape. They are eaten with their skin and flesh, and this plant is generally winter-hardy as well.

For those who don’t want to grow southern fruits in bulk right away, starting with them in containers on the terrace is a great first step. This way, experimenting is fun, and what grows well can still be planted in the ground later.

Want to take it a step further? Juicy peaches are calling! While they do grow in our gardens, they require a lot of care and attention. Full sun and wind protection are essential. Are you dreaming of thick pomegranates with leather-like skin or the soft-fleshed, orange-colored khakis? In that case, it’s best to have property in a wine-growing region. These fruits are avid sun lovers and don’t appreciate our cold winters. They would prefer to be placed in a cozy environment, like a conservatory or a warm greenhouse.

It doesn’t have to be something complicated or an entire collection of exotic fruits to start with. But starting is promising and brings lots of joy!