Easy gardening with fruit trees
 
Don�t have the time or energy to be a vegetable gardener? You are in a very large club. However you can still be a first class gardener by planting and tending fruit trees. The good part about fruit trees is that they take very little care and produce huge amounts of fruit for years and years. Pound for pound, fruit trees are economically great investments to go along with providing much needed nutrition by just walking outside, pulling a few fruit off the tree, and eating them right then and there.

Okay, so how easy is fruit tree gardening? Purchase a fruit tree variety that is well suited for metro Houston, dig a hole in a sunny well drained area, plant the tree in the hole, mulch around the tree with leaves or store bought mulch, water once a week or less often if it rains. Then wait for the tree to grow and start producing. Yes indeed, some fruit trees require a little more care. For instance, some citrus trees need some winter protection if there is going to be a hard freeze, so wrap with a blanket, or pile leaves up the trunk as high as you can get them. And some trees need a few minutes of pruning in the winter. All fruit trees will benefit from fertilizing once or twice a year. That�s it. The only thing easier is reading a book or watching TV.
And growing fruit trees can be great for young families who can enjoy the growth of both children and fruit trees at the same time, which the children learn about good nutrition, by first hand experience by harvesting and eating.

The most important issue with fruit tree gardening is purchasing varieties that work well in our climate. Often, commercial stores carry fruit trees that need more cold in the winter than we ever get, or that are grafted on rootstocks that do not like our climate. To be sure you get fruit trees that will be successful, purchase the trees at the Urban Harvest fruit tree sale on January 19th. Local fruit tree experts have selected trees that will thrive and produce very well in our climate. Most of these trees are grown by local wholesale growers, with input from local fruit tree experts.
At the Urban Harvest sale, there will be a huge selection from which to choose. Go to the Urban Harvest website and read up on those trees that will be available, then select the ones you want, arrive early at the sale and scarf up those you want. Aside from the sale being a once a year exciting happening, you will leave with trees that you bring you pleasure for years and years.
Information on location, date, time, varieties, prices is on the website. Presale talks, along with handouts, are offered prior to the sale to help you decide what to purchase. And many local fruit tree experts will be working the sale to help with any questions.

This article is provided by Urban Harvest, Inc. To learn about gardening classes, farmers markets, school and community gardens and more go to www.urbanharvest.org or call 713-880-5540 for more information. This article was written by Ray Sher, who a vegetable and fruit gardener, and teacher of many fruit and vegetable classes.