Brighten the garden with a rainbow of fruits that offer many health benefits! Fruits are a highly nutritious and delicious part of an ideal daily diet. Regardless of the size, these juicy, vibrant treats are brimming with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. These incredible nutrients keep your internal system in top shape, boosting overall health and reducing the risk of diseases. 

Growing the most nutritious fruits at home increases your probability of consuming them, and the assortment of colors adds a vibrant touch to your backyard. So, here are the top fruits that are easy to grow, beneficial, and flavorful to add to your home garden.

1. Blueberries

Blueberry bush

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Blueberries are among the most nutrient-rich foods capable of improving heart health, helping your body fight cancer, and reducing age-related memory impairment. These tiny berries are packed with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, and vitamins C and K.

To grow blueberries in your garden, ensure that your soil is sandy, well-draining, and acidic, with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Choose a spot with a minimum of six to eight hours of daily sunlight and fertilize using an organic acid fertilizer. 

Blueberries also require 1 to 2 inches of water per week, ideally from rainfall or collected rainwater, and mulching using organic mulch to keep the roots cool and the soil moist. Harvest your blueberries when they are completely blue and falling off the branches.

2. Raspberries

raspberry plant

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Another berry that is chockfull of healthy goodness is the raspberry. They are a great source of vitamin C, manganese, and potassium and are high in fiber. The antioxidant-rich fruit is also low in sugar and helps in weight loss, digestion, and blood glucose control.

Fun fact: One cup of sweet-tasting raspberries only contain 64 calories and 5.4 grams of natural sugar.

You can grow raspberries in your garden using well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Plant your bush in an area sheltered from the wind and exposed to at least six hours of sunlight per day, as more light means a higher yield of these delicious berries. 

To care for your plant, provide it with 1 inch of weekly watering and feed it with a general fertilizer high in potassium in early spring. Mulching with garden compost will keep the weeds at bay and help the soil retain moisture. 

3. Tomatoes

Tomato companion planting with basil

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Tomatoes are a staple in many cuisines, forming the base for a delectable meal. These juicy, red fruits are predominantly rich in vitamins A and C and lycopene, an antioxidant. They also contain anti-inflammatory flavonoids and potassium.

Tomatoes can grow in pots and outdoors in loamy, well-draining soil with a slight acidity between pH 6.5 and 6.8. They thrive in full sun, so opt for a planting site with at least six to eight hours of direct daily sunlight. 

The plant also needs regular watering, with around 1 to 1.5 inches per week. The heavy feeders do best with fortnightly feeding with fertilizers specially designed for tomatoes, or you can use compost to enrich the soil. Harvest your tomatoes soon after they turn red.

4. Apples 

Farmer picking red apple from tree. Woman harvesting fruit from branch at autumn season

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Apples are a fruit basket staple with numerous health benefits. The common yet beloved fruit is rich in quercetin and pectin. Quercetin is a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, while pectin is a soluble fiber that helps maintain digestive health and lowers cholesterol.

Apple trees can grow up to 8 to 10 feet tall, requiring a vast space with well-draining soil at a pH between 6 and 7. Plant your apple seeds in full sun, in an area with a minimum of 8 hours of daily sun. 

Pay special attention to watering during the growing season between May through October. The fruits require 1 inch of water per week from rainfall or irrigation to flourish, but it can do with minimal fertilization. The only nutrient that the tree needs is nitrogen, which you can add annually mixed in compost. 

5. Melons

mouse watermelon

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These sweet summer favorites are packed with nutritional value. Regardless of the variety you prefer, the fruit is packed with vitamins A and C and is a great source of potassium and folate. It is also incredibly low in calories so you can satiate your sweet tooth without adverse effects. 

To grow melons, enrich your loose soil with compost or well-rotted manure and keep the pH between 6 to 6.5. Melons also need a hot, sunny location, plenty of watering, and additional support to keep the fruit off the ground. 

Irrigate the roots with 1 to 2 inches of water per week and reduce watering as your fruits ripen to enhance flavor. Use mulch around the plant to control weeds, mulching only after the soil has warmed to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t forget to add a trellis to keep the melon above the ground and away from pests.      

Sweet and Healthy

Fruits are a source of multiple essential nutrients you may not find in other food groups. Moreover, the sweeter, richer, and more refreshing taste of these fibrous fruits make it easier to consume them raw and on the go!

Which nutritious fruits are you interested in growing? Share in the comments below!