Money CAN grow on trees!! 

Anna apple

As well as on bushes, vines and in pots! While it may not be the kind of money you wish grew on trees, growing your own fruit and vegetables is a way to save money and get a healthier lifestyle going. They not only provide food but they add beauty when they flower! You can incorporate them into your landscape to add texture, variety and drama. Even using fruiting shrubs as a hedge can have a dramatic impact. But be careful! Some fruiting plants may drop their leaves in winter so make sure you aren't using the plant for privacy!

Peach 

Even now, in late winter / early spring, you can plant for the future.  I’m talking fruit trees, fruit bushes and vines. Right now you can plant apple, peach, apricot, plum, citrus and a variety of other fruit trees. The first crop may be a bit less than what you’d like, but you are on the way to not purchasing your favorite fruits again, unless you want it out of season. If you live in an area where you have early frost and snow, you will have to wait to place them in the ground. Check with your local nursery (not a "box" store) and see what is available for planting now. Depending on the area you are in, you can start in late summer, early fall. Much of it depends on what you want to grow and what your frost times are.

Blueberry shrub

There are shrub berries that you can grow, blueberries, raspberry & blackberry (bramble variety), cranberries, currants (black, white & red) and gooseberries. All of these are easy care, but you may need more than one to help feed your family. You might also get some bird netting (or even tulle) to help prevent the birds from harvesting your crop before you do!  While bird netting is good, I feel that they aren’t large enough and the birds get underneath, or the openings are still large enough for some of the smaller birds in the neighborhood. Tulle is the material they use for tutus and bridal veils. It comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses and is fairly inexpensive.

Kiwis on the vine

Some of the vining types of fruit you can grow are grapes, kiwi, melons, some strawberries as well as raspberries, blackberries, Loganberries and passion fruit. These types of fruits will need more area to grow, most will need staking, and the canes on some of these will need to be pruned every year for optimum growth and production. I grow a variety of thornless berry called a Youngberry. It is kind of a cross between boysenberry and a light fruity perfume. It is a good producer and can be made into a sauce for ice cream or incorporated into vinaigrette. I usually just eat if right off the vine!

Orange in a pot

Of course, you know all the veggies & herbs you can grow to supplement or even eliminate the supermarket produce. There are a variety of vegetables that you can plant, especially here in So Cal. We have great growing conditions year round for many seasonal favorites. You can grow indoors as well, just about anywhere. The only caution I have is that it may take a couple of tries before you get the hang of where your plants like it best. Over watering is the major killer of indoor plants (whether herbs, fruiting or decorative) and can cause an irritating cloud of soil gnats that will get into ALL your plants. The best way to avoid that problem is to monitor how much water your plant needs. Indoors plants don’t take up as much water since they usually aren’t fighting the elements as much. You may only need to water every few days or just once a week. This is definitely something that takes practice and a watchful eye! Make sure they aren’t in line with a draft from the a/c or heater, since this can speed up moisture loss and cause leaf burn. Don’t water with water straight out of the tap; it has chlorine which can cause root burn. Instead fill a container, allow the water to sit, uncovered, several hours to allow chemicals to “burn” off

So… still think money doesn’t grow on trees..... bushes or vines?  Our forefathers knew the value of planting a garden, even if it is just a small one. You don’t need a home orchard to enjoy the fruits you love. Check out your local nursery (NOT home improvement or "box" stores) and ask questions. That’s part of their job and if they are like me, their passion. Helping someone find the joy of gardening, whether it is edible or not is as much fun as teaching someone to read. You open a whole new world to them that they can use the rest of their life!

Enjoy and eat well!                              

Mary