3 Fruits Every Beginner Gardener NEEDS To Plant IMMEDIATELY That Will Feed You For Life

Summary

In this video, James Prigioni shares essential tips for beginner gardeners, highlighting three fruits that are easy to grow and rewarding: strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. He explains why these fruits are perfect for starters due to their quick harvest time, affordability, and minimal maintenance. James provides insights on how to grow each, emphasizing the importance of starting with simple, productive crops to build momentum before tackling more challenging fruits like apples. With his dog Tucker by his side, he encourages viewers to grow their own food and enjoy the rewards of home gardening.

Takeaways

• 🍓 Strawberries are the top recommended fruit for beginner gardeners due to their quick growth, ease of care, and delicious taste.
• 😊 Homegrown strawberries offer superior flavor compared to store-bought ones, being more flavorful and juicy.
• 💰 Strawberries are inexpensive to start with, as you can either get them free from friends or cheaply from nurseries.
• 🌱 Raspberries are another great beginner fruit because they grow easily, even in poor soil, and provide abundant harvests.
• 🍇 There are various raspberry varieties, such as yellow and black cap, each offering unique flavors and benefits like attracting fewer birds.
• 🌳 Both strawberries and raspberries are self-fertile, making them easier to grow compared to fruits like apples, which need multiple trees to pollinate.
• 🌿 Raspberries spread easily and might even require more management to contain their growth, but they are incredibly rewarding.
• 🫐 Blueberries are also an excellent choice, although they take a bit longer to produce fruit but are low-maintenance and pest-resistant.
• 🌞 Blueberries can last up to 50 years, providing fresh, flavorful berries for decades if cared for properly.
• 💡 The key message is to start with simple, easy-to-grow fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries to build confidence before taking on more challenging crops like fruit trees.

Q & A

What are the three fruits that James Prigioni recommends beginner gardeners plant immediately?

James recommends strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries as the three fruits every beginner gardener should plant immediately.

Why does James believe strawberries are a great fruit for beginners to start with?

James believes strawberries are a great choice because they are easy to grow, produce fruit quickly (within a year), and are delicious, which encourages new gardeners to keep working on them.

What advantages do strawberries have over fruit trees like apples for beginner gardeners?

Strawberries bear fruit in just one year compared to at least four years for apples. They are also cheaper to start with (often free or around $20 for 25 plants), self-fertile, and don’t require specialized soil.

How can beginner gardeners start a raspberry patch for little to no cost?

Gardeners can start a raspberry patch by taking suckers (new shoots) from an existing patch, which will grow into their own plants. If they don’t know anyone with raspberries, they can buy plants for about $7-10.

What makes raspberries an ideal fruit for beginner gardeners, according to James?

Raspberries are easy to grow, can thrive in poor soil, fruit within two years, and spread quickly. They also come in various types, like summer and fall-bearing, offering extended harvest periods.

What pruning advice does James give regarding raspberries?

James suggests that raspberries are a great fruit for learning how to prune, as they are forgiving if you make mistakes. Proper pruning helps ensure consistent fruit production.

Why are blueberries considered easy to grow, and what is their main drawback?

Blueberries are easy to grow because they are native to North America and pest-resistant. However, they take longer to reach full production (6-8 years) and are not self-fertile, requiring at least two varieties for pollination.

What is the benefit of growing blueberries compared to store-bought blueberries?

Homegrown blueberries have a richer, more concentrated flavor than store-bought ones, which tend to be sour or less flavorful.

Why does James emphasize starting with simpler fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries?

James emphasizes starting with simpler fruits because they are easier to grow and bear fruit more quickly, which keeps beginner gardeners motivated. He believes this success can build momentum for growing more challenging fruits like apples later.

What does James mean by 'walk before you run' in the context of gardening?

By 'walk before you run,' James advises beginner gardeners to start with easy-to-grow fruits like strawberries and raspberries before moving on to more complex, expensive, and time-consuming plants like apple trees.