Fun soft fruit for kids

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As always the slugs blitzed much of my veg patch this year, and I'm planning to grow more soft fruit next year as my DC love it and (apart from the strawberries) it doesn't tend to get slug'd.

We have quite a bit already - currants (black, white, red), two types of gooseberry, raspberries, strawberries, jostaberries and tayberries - but I'd like to try some new and fun things with my DC.

I was wondering about kiwiberries and maybe cucamelons- has anyone tried growing these and would you recommend? Will the slugs go mad for them? Any other suggestions for different fruit which I can have a go at growing?

Thanks!

We have a grapevine (sw), and mine love sneaking the grapes before they’re ripe. When they’re unripe they are sooo sour and they love it. Once they’re ripe, they’re almost too sweet.

Pine berries, or those ones that supposedly taste of bubblegum?
Thornless blackberries?

I failed with kiwiberries. Cucamelons I've grown but they're really an acquired taste.
I've got wine berries but they're really prickly, and tiny. I'd not recommend.

I've been tempted by Chilean guava, bit they're not super hardy. If you're very south, or in sunny Wales they could be good?

Fruit tree?

Oh, blueberries? I've had a number year this year. Needs ericaceous compost, best to get a couple of different varieties of blueberry. Slow to fruit at first.

number year bumper year

Oh thanks all! We are SW and pretty mild so a grapevine might be a good plan stillgardening - they love sour fruit and regularly eat gooseberries like sweets straight off the plant!

SpottedZebra thanks for all your suggestions! What went wrong with the kiwiberries? We are super alkaline round here and I'm a bit too lazy to take proper care of plants needing ericaceous compost (don't really want to grow in pots as want them in the fruit cage) so have failed with blueberries and camellias etc before. Chilean guava sounds very interesting though! Will also look up pine berries. What was would you say the cucamelons tasted like?

We have tons of fruit trees which are wonderful, although I'm wondering if I can squeeze in an apricot tree somewhere as DC and I both love them. Although might need two as not sure anyone will have one nearby!

The kiwiberries just failed to thrive! It wasrughtbatbthe beginning of 'my gardening journey' so it was probably my fault. Or it could have been a crap plant.i ought try again really.

Cucamelons were bountiful though. Tasted like a cross between a very strong tasting home grown cucumber and lime. Quite tough skins. People either loved them or hated them. They seemed to fruit quite late - seem to do nothing for a while, and then.... ta daaa!

What about incaberries/physalis? Ok for me in the middle of the country outside in a hot year, but don't fruit if it's not sunny enough. An annual.

Loganberries or similar hybrids? Not that different to tayberries though.

But how lucky that you could grow apricots. So you'll have to for those us who can't!

We have tons of fruit trees which are wonderful, although I'm wondering if I can squeeze in an apricot tree somewhere as DC and I both love them. Although might need two as not sure anyone will have one nearby!

I've never grown apricots because it doesn't seem worth it - I'm currently eating two punnets a week from the supermarket and would happily eat more. I don't think one tree is going to match that.

They're self fertile so you only need one tree. But hand pollination increases yields. I'm not sure how long you could keep the children's interest in that job.

Cape gooseberries are easy, and fun with their lanterns. But you'd have to stress the differences between them and "Chinese lanterns" which are not edible. There's an edible bush honeysuckle - again, most of the relatives are poisonous. And try googling huckleberry. Passion fruit are worth it for the flowers, but need warmth. Fuchsia have edible berries, as do many cacti.

Alpine-type strawberries don't have so much problem with slugs, and a much longer fruiting season (I'm still getting the odd berry now).

In terms of interesting trees, are you growing quince, medlar and mulberry? And service tree?

I really want nut trees. Friend has a huge walnut and it’s a battle with the squirrels , but it’s a lovely tree.

Zebra not sure if I could grow apricots but might try! We have greengages which are delicious but basically make for a week of eating ourselves silly then go over and are just wasp food. I think MereDint might be right about it not being worth it!

I don't think we can fit in many more trees sadly - we have several apple trees, two plum trees, greengages and pears too - as well as mature shrubs and some larger non-fruit trees. It's a decent sized garden but not big enough for a full orchard unfortunately! Cape gooseberries might be a nice idea though, and will look up huckleberry.

StillGardening nuts are lovely but the squirrels do take loads! We rarely get any hazelnuts from our bushes as they get pinched. We're lucky to have a few mature walnut trees in the park over the road so can enjoy them without the responsibility.