Small and productive . . . Gillian Vine suggests some fruit trees for smaller gardens.
A small section need not mean missing the pleasure of picking your own sun-warmed apples or peaches.
The development of the Ballerina series of compact, columnar apples goes back to the 1950s, when an upright sport (a natural variation) was found in Canada and subsequently used to breed new varieties. Fully grown, the trees will reach about 4m tall but only 30cm to 50cm in width. Waltz is a cooking and eating Ballerina type; Polka and Bolero are primarily grown as eating apples, while Maypole and Samba are Ballerina crab apples whose fruit can be used to make jelly.
Three newer apples, Blush Babe, Adore and Autento, are even shorter, reaching 3m on maturity, but are broader than the Ballerinas.
Left to their own devices, pears grow into large trees, so the introduction of Garden Belle - which grows to 3m - will be welcomed by those with small gardens. The drawback is that it needs a pollinator to fruit, so if your neighbour has a pear that flowers at the same time, that will work a treat. Alternatively, grow a nashi pear which will grow to about 4m, but can be pruned to keep it more compact.
Dwarf peaches have been available for years and one of the best is Bonanza, although its susceptibility to leaf curl disease makes spraying a necessity, not an option. Peaches are self-fertile, as are apricots and nectarines, so these stone fruits can be grown singly and still fruit. The bonus is the flush of spring blossom.
Dwarf peaches and apricots grow well in pots, as does the fig Ventura, which grows to 1.5m, and citruses such as Meyer lemons and kaffir limes. The advantage of pots is that - as is done with citrus in Italy - they can be moved around to give the plants the best conditions or taken indoors for winter.
If pots aren't your thing and you have a brick or block wall facing the sun, a fruit tree can be grown on it, espalier-style. As well as making the most of limited space, the tree can cover an otherwise boring area and the warmth from the wall will speed ripening.
Quinces are fast-growing, self-fertile, small trees (about 2.5m at maturity) that are increasing in popularity, not only for their unique fruit but their delicate pink spring flowers. They espalier well, too.
For something different, take a leaf out of Shakespeare's book with a medlar (Mespilus germanica).
Although Lucio in Measure for Measure complains about "rotten medlar", presumably a reference to the need to blett (over-ripen until very soft) the fruit, the medlar is an attractive small tree with bright autumn foliage and dark furrowed bark as it ages. There is a mature specimen in the Dunedin Botanic Garden's Shakespeare Garden.
With a bit of planning, every garden can find space for at least one fruit tree and, as winter is the time to plant trees and shrubs, now is the time for decision-making and ordering your choice.
