The first greenhouses were built to protect Orange, Lemon and Fig trees during the winter. These Victorian structures were heated to at least 65°F (18°C). That is when a term tropical greenhouse emerged because people started growing Bananas, Pineapples and other exotic fruit.
Today growers prefer to use cold frames and unheated greenhouses mostly for vegetables and ornamental plants. It can be quite expensive to run heater all year round for a few exotic plants and temperatures are quite high for other plants.
Nevertheless, even in a 8 ft by 6 ft greenhouse you can find place to grow some fruits. The best fruit to grow in a greenhouse are pots of Strawberries and grow bags with Melons. Generally, the temperature and the size of the greenhouse are considered when deciding what fruit to grow.
For example, Figs and Apricots like cool conditions while Oranges thrive in a heated structure. Most growers prefer to keep fruit trees in pots because it is easy to move them around. However, Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines are best grown in the ground.
Easiest fruit to grow in a greenhouse:
- Apricot
- Golden berry
- Orange
- Lemon
- Fig
- Grape
- Apple
- Melon
- Nectarine
- Peach
- Strawberry
Can you grow apricots in a greenhouse?
Apricot tree is one of the best fruits to grow in a greenhouse as it doesn’t require high temperatures and during winter plant needs fresh air and temperature can go down to 35°F (2°C) or even less. They are not suitable for outdoor growing in cold regions and challenging to maintain in South.
Although it is possible to grow Apricots in pots or large containers, these will soon become too small after a few years. To prevent the slow growth and yield, grow Apricot trees in the ground. Once you plant Apricots in a greenhouse, the tree will stay for many years producing fruits in summer.
Can you grow golden berries in a greenhouse?
Golden berries are easy to grow in a greenhouse. Moreover, the growing conditions are the same as for growing Tomato plants. You need to grow Physalis peruviana also known as Cape Gooseberries or Golden berries as half hardy annual plants.
The plant is vigorous and leafy, so might not be suitable for a small greenhouse. The fruits ripe on the plants in late summer, the appearance is of golden shiny balls covered with brown and papery husks.
Can you grow citrus in a greenhouse?
It is fascinating to have Orange and Lemon trees in a greenhouse, however, to harvest fruits from citrus trees in a greenhouse, you will have to select a variety for greenhouse growing. Citrus trees grown from seeds will fruit only when they grow very tall in height, so it is not suitable for a hobby greenhouse.
Can you grow orange trees in a greenhouse?
The best orange tree to grow in a greenhouse is the Mandarin as it is the hardiest Orange. Satsuma is the most popular variety of Mandarin Oranges. Other varieties that you can grow in a greenhouse are Clementine, Sweet Orange and Bitter Orange.
Can you grow a lemon tree in a greenhouse?
You can grow a lemon tree indoors but you need to choose an appropriate variety. The best lemon tree variety to grow in a greenhouse is C. limon ‘Meyer’ which grows to form a 4 ft x 4 ft tree. Also, you can try to grow Lime and Kumquat.
Can you grow a fig tree in a greenhouse?
You can grow a fig tree in a greenhouse in a pot, that way it will produce fruit better rather than growing them directly in the ground. Plant trained fig trees in a fan shape against the wall, that way you can maximize space in a small greenhouse.
The most popular varieties for greenhouse growing are Bourjasotte Grise and White Marseilles. Fig is a demanding tree, so you would need to water it daily in summer. You also need to feed it when fruits have formed. In winter you should stop watering and keep the compost dry.
Can you grow grapes indoors?
You can grow grapes indoors and in a greenhouse, just need to choose an appropriate variety. For example, Black Hamburgh is the most popular choice for indoor growing because it is easy to grow and produces delicious fruit early.
If you are a fan of pale golden and sweet fruit, you can try growing Buckland Sweetwater. This variety also bears fruit early. Foster’s Seedling variety is very similar in characteristics to Buckland Sweetwater. To harvest fruit later on, you can grow Golden Queen and the dark purple West’s St Peter’s.
Growing apple trees in a greenhouse?
Apple trees are not self-fertile. So they need another different flowering apple tree nearby to pollinate the flowers which will then bear fruit. So, to make sure that you cultivate the apple tree of the same variety, the most reliable method is grafting.
Dwarf fruit trees are results of grafting. They grow from 8 to 10 feet tall and wide making them perfect for greenhouse growing. You can plant dwarf apple trees in pots and keep them in a greenhouse during winter. Also, you can speed up blossoming by moving apple trees from outdoors into greenhouse.
Are kiwi fruit easy to grow?
Even though you can sometimes see kiwi fruit in recommendations to grow in a greenhouse, it is not a good idea. Although it is possible to grow kiwi fruit in large containers, that is not an easy task. Kiwi fruit is a vigorous climber with very large leaves.
So it is not suitable for greenhouse growing as it will create shade for other plants. However, you can potentially keep the growth under control, but it means very careful and daily pruning. I would stay away from growing kiwi in a greenhouse especially in a small structure where you don’t have much space.
Best Fruit to Grow In A Greenhouse:
Melon
If you are growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, then you should go ahead with growing melons. There are four varieties that are widely available for greenhouse growing – Sweetheart, Blenheim Orange, Charantais and Ogen. Greenhouse protects fruit from rains and winds, also, you can start sowing seeds earlier.
The best variety of melons to grow in a greenhouse is Sweetheart because it is a hardier plant that the others and blooms earlier. Flesh of this variety is orange. Blenheim Orange grows only in a heated greenhouse and has a deeper orange flesh. Charantais is similar to Sweetheart but the flavor is different. Ogen has sweet, pale green flesh but grows later than Sweetheart.
Nectarine
Nectarine is a sport of Peach. In biology sport is a plant showing abnormal or striking variation from the parent type in terms of form or color. It is a result of spontaneous mutation. For example, nectarine’s smooth skin as fuzziness is a dominant trait of peaches.
Nectarines grow in the same conditions as peaches, so both nectarines and peaches can sometimes appear on the same tree. The most common varieties of nectarines for greenhouse growing are Elruge, Humboldt and Pine Apple.
Peach
Growing peaches in a greenhouse means that you are protecting fruit tree from pests and hot weather during flowering and fruit-ripening stages. If you have a lean-to structure, grow peach tree in ground next to south-facing wall. However, in a freestanding greenhouse you can grow peach trees in 12 inches pots for several years.
The most common peach varieties for greenhouse growing are Peregrine, Duke of York, Rochester or Bellegarde. However, you should be aware of greenhouse pests. For example, aphids and red spider mite who can leave holes in plant leaves. Moreover, it is very common that peaches on tree don’t ripen.
Strawberry
Strawberries are fruits that do very well in a greenhouse and that every gardener can grow. You can plant strawberries with good roots in 6 inches pots in August or September. The most popular choice for greenhouse growing for many years has been Cambridge Favorite.
Another varieties include Royal Sovereign, Elvira which crop heavily and Tamella. During winter months you can keep potted strawberries in a cool greenhouse and in April fruits will be ready for picking. If you are after growing unusual plants in a greenhouse, consider growing coffee plant. Also, for someone who wants to have unusual plants, having a cacti or fern greenhouse is a perfect option.
