Strawberries

One of the most iconic fruits in the world, strawberries have a fruity, tart flavor that reminds everyone of summer and happy times. It is the 3rd most popular flavor after vanilla and chocolate. Strawberries taste good fresh or chilled, and can be made into cakes, jam and even pies. Strawberries can grow from seeds, but the chances of it actually growing are pretty low which is why most growers usually buy their starter plants from the nursery as opposed to planting them from the seed.

Strawberries need lots of sunlight and loose soil to grow properly. They also need well-drained soil, as they tend to rot when there is too much water. They do very well in raised beds as the raised beds give them enough moisture but prevent too much water from accumulating. Prepare the soil by adding in compost, removing the weeds and loosening the soil. They should be planted at around 18 inches apart from one another. Water the plants once a week near the roots as water may cause the leaves to rot. Strawberries take a year or so before they mature and bear fruit. The berries can be picked as soon as they turn bright red and should be picked before they rot on the plant.

Avocado

Creamy and buttery, avocado adds an interesting dimension to salads. It has a distinct, almost butter-like taste and is savory and not sweet. Avocados are famous for their high nutritional value. They are also very filling as well. Usually one fruit would be more than enough to satisfy a person’s appetite. Avocados grow from its seed, which grows into a tree before it can bear fruit. However, trees grown from the seed may not bear fruits. Grafted saplings bought from nurseries are more likely to produce fruit when they mature.

Avocado trees require a lot of sunlight as well as soil with proper drainage. As it grows into a tree, it is important to make sure that there is adequate space for that. De-weed the soil and mix in compost to prepare the soil for planting. Plant either the seed or sapling deep into the soil. When planting from seed, soak the seed for 30 minutes in hot water to disinfect it and cut a thin slice from the top. This will speed up germination, which will take around a month. Avocado trees do not like to be too wet so allow the soil to dry between watering sessions. Only light feeding is needed for the avocado tree, so only feed twice – once every 6 months. Avocado trees only bear fruit after 5-7 years.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes add color and flavor to the dining table. They are juicy and succulent, often giving a savory flavor as well as a bright color to most dishes. It is also loaded with vitamins as well as a compound called lycopene, which is a powerful anti oxidant.

Tomato plants usually grow from saplings or seedlings and rarely from the seed itself. Even when grown from the seed, it has to be nurtured properly as a seedling in a nursery before it is actually transferred to the ground, as they are very fragile plants. Plant the seeds into pots and give them adequate sunlight. Cover the seeds with soil until they sprout their first leaves, after which they should be transplanted to a bigger pot. When these seedlings strengthen over the course of 6 weeks, they will be strong enough to be planted to the ground.

The soil in which they are planted on should be weeded and prepared with aged manure or lots of compost as tomatoes require organic material to grow well. Plant the seedlings deep into the ground, about 50% -75% of the plant should be buried. Water the plants thoroughly and space them to be at 18 inches apart from each other. They should be watered everyday for the first 10 days or so, but care must be taken that the soil does not end up soggy so that the plant will not rot. After this period, water the plants once a week. Plant stakes or cages to allow the seedlings to climb after around 2 weeks, as they are creeper plants.

The tomato plant will take around 60 days before it starts producing fruit. The fruit can be harvested before they are ripe to allow them to ripen indoors.