Because the tangelo is a type of citrus tree, they need to live in climates that typically do not get frost, such as Florida and the southern half of California. Some varieties can be grown indoors, but it depends on the breed of tangelo and if the conditions for growing it can be met.

They like well-drained soil and prefer a more neutral pH. They do like the limestone composition that is naturally occurring in the soil of Florida. They also like direct sunlight, but they can be grown on the northern slopes of home gardens.

Like other fruit trees, they need plenty of space to establish their roots. Plant them well away from homes and any pipes, as their roots can cause problems.

They are susceptible to many of the diseases that a typical citrus tree is prone to, such as aphids, rot, and scabs. You will need to watch the health of your tangelos just like any other citrus fruit tree and treat the problem as soon as possible.

Tangelos take about five years to produce fruit from a seed. They can be grown from seeds if you are willing to wait. Otherwise, you can obtain more mature trees from a nursery. Just check your tangelo trees prior to purchase to ensure that they are disease free and able to bear fruit.

Tangelos are a sweet fruit that can appear very similar to oranges. The way to tell them apart is to look at the top for a nipple. Even though they are technically a hybrid, their care is very similar to other citrus fruits. For the home gardener, they are a unique fruit to have in the garden.

The pomegranate likes soil that is well-drained. It has no real preference on the type of soil, so it can handle many different types. It is also considered a drought tolerant shrub.

It likes to be planted in areas that get lots of sunshine. It can also handle some frost conditions. The type of pomegranate will determine how cold of temperatures it can withstand; however, it will not withstand the winters of the northern states very well.

The pomegranate shrub can be turned into a tree with some selective pruning. On a side note, the pomegranate is the shrub of choice for bonsai trees.

There are four very popular types of pomegranates available for the home garden. You should check to see which type would best suit your particular area.The first, and most popular type, is called the Wonderful. It is also the type of pomegranate that is used most in the making of juice. It is a deep red and is usually harvested around September.The second most common is called the Grenada. It is smaller in size but still has the deep red color. The harvest season for this one is a little earlier than the Wonderful.The third most common type is the Sweet. While it is a relatively larger pomegranate, it is also lighter in color tending more toward pink than red; however, it is also considered the sweetest of the varieties and harvest time is also around September. Finally, is the Angel Red. Its harvest season is about the same time, in September; however, its seeds are softer, and it does produce more juice than the others.

The pomegranate fruit is touted for its health benefits. While it is seen as an exotic fruit, it is not quite out of reach of the home garden.

You can find elderberries in the spring, either at nurseries or in the wild. Those found in the wild should be of a manageable size and packed in mulch to transplant.

When growing elderberries, you will want to ensure cross-pollination happens so your plants will bear fruit; therefore, you’ll need two or more cultivars planted within 60 feet of each other.

Plant your elderberries with a spacing of at least 6 to 10 feet apart as soon as you bring them home. Plants left unplanted too long will likely dry out.

These plants grow best in damp habitats and may spread quite a bit if not cut back regularly. Although they love moisture and should be well-watered, ample drainage is necessary. Almost any type of soil can be tolerated by these hardy growers, but they do best in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

Incorporate fertilizing with your planting. Compost works well, but additional fertilizer with ammonium nitrate should be added as well each spring.

Be careful when weeding around elderberry plants, as they have shallow roots that are easily damaged. All weeds should be pulled by hand before they grow very much. Mulch should also be used to keep weeds from growing in the first place.

Other than weeding and watering, these plants require little care. Pruning may be necessary in early spring to remove any dead or weak canes, and canes more than three years old.

Elderberries have few pests or diseases to worry about; however, over 40 varieties of birds love eating them, so proper netting may be necessary to protect the fruit while it is ripening around August and September.

There are a number of states where the common fig can be grown. Those states have about the same climate as Turkey and north India. States such as Georgia, California, Louisiana, and Texas offer the right climate. Zones 7b – 11 are the best zones to grow fig trees, but they can be grown in places with colder weather if they are winterized.

Technically, they can grow from seeds, but it will take awhile before they reach fruit bearing age. Cuttings at about two to three years old can be used, but they must be put in the ground the day after they are harvested. Otherwise, they might not take to your garden.

They should be planted well away from your garden areas. The roots could pose a potential problem due to the fact they spread.

Their common problems are leaf rust and attacks by nematodes. Both problems can be controlled; however, the virus disease of fig mosaic cannot be cured. Fig trees that have acquired this disease must be cut down and destroyed.

While figs are typically associated with Christmas, their harvest season is actually in July and August. Although, they can be harvested later in the season in cold weather states.

Figs are abundant in fiber. Even the dried variety has a lot of fiber. As a result, figs are a natural laxative when eaten.

The only real way to find fresh figs is to grow them. The fresh figs are very sensitive to transport and aren’t commercially transported. Instead, the dried variety is the most common type found in stores.

Late fall or early winter is often a time that you’ll find these trees in nurseries or garden stores, but they will need to be kept inside in pots until around March. Once the danger of freezing is over in the spring, blood orange trees can be planted outside in areas that get at least a half day of sun and some protection from cold winds. Unlike many other fruit trees, citrus trees do not necessarily need full sun light, but more sunlight will produce more fruit. Water your newly planted tree every day for several days, then change the watering routine to about once a week.

Fertilization is not necessary during planting, but organic fertilizers can be added in the summer and the following years. Blood orange trees do not require pruning to produce, making them fairly low-maintenance.

For regions that can potentially freeze during the winter, special care is necessary to keep the trees from damage. Mulch is one way to add some protection to a tree. As these trees get older, they will be able to tolerate freezes better.

Depending on the variety of the blood orange, fruit will ripen and be ready for harvest at different times. Some varieties produce at various times throughout the year. Others are ready in August, while many produce the most from November through January. Tasting at different times allows growers to get a good idea of the best time to harvest.

While most of the cranberries people see are on store shelves, they can be added to gardens if you live in zones 2 through 6. Cranberries are not happy in really hot weather, and they will not do well in the southern states.

If you do intend to grow them in your garden, there are a few things you should know about the cranberry plant.

You want to buy them when they are about three years old. Any younger, and you will be waiting for quite some time before you get a crop. It takes about three years for them to produce a cranberry harvest.

The soil is important to the cranberry. They like having an acidic soil mix. Unlike the pictures of cranberry in water, the water is only used for harvesting and some cold weather protection. Normal irrigation is fine for the cranberry. In addition, they require a layer of sand every few years to keep them producing.

Cranberries acquire their color while on the vine, but it is important that they get protected from very cold weather if they haven’t quite achieved that color. If you anticipate a severe dip in temperatures before harvest time, cover them up.

They usually are harvested at the end of October. You can simply pick the fruit off the vine when they are deep red. The water is mainly used for commercial harvests.

Cranberries have fiber and Vitamin C with lots of antioxidants. Additionally, they are thought to help with treating urinary tract infections.

Mostly, they are consumed as juice; however, Thanksgiving means that you can become very creative with them. Cranberry sauce does not have to come from a can. They can be used in pastries, cookies, pies, and other holiday treats.

For a short time, the cranberry is at its peak. This fruit should be taken full advantage of during the fall season.

If you think you’d like to add pears to your harvest in the future, here are some tips to take into consideration:

Give your trees plenty of room. If you’d like to plant pear trees, make sure you have a yard that is large enough. Plan to have 20-30 feet of space between each tree. These trees don’t like to share their root zone, so an empty lawn of only grass is the best thing.

Find a sunny spot. Your pear trees will need areas in your yard that have full sunlight for most of the year. Otherwise, your trees may grow misshapen or fail to thrive.

Plant in pairs. Pear trees are cross-pollinators. Unless you just want blooms, you’ll need to plant at least two pear trees of different varieties in your yard. Make sure the two varieties are no more than 40 feet apart.

Expect a wait. Like apple trees, pear trees usually require about four or five years to reach maturity and bear fruit. After your wait, however, your pear tree will likely produce fruit longer than you’ll be around — many live around 100 years or longer.

Plant in cool weather. Depending on your region, you’ll need to plant your pear trees during fall or in the spring. Check with local nurseries to find the best time in your area to avoid killing your plant.

Prune annually for the best fruit production. The best time to prune your pear trees is early spring before they begin growing again. Remove any unhealthy or dead branches, and focus on lightly pruning the rest of the tree to create a nice shape with branches strong enough to hold lots of fruit.

There are many varieties of apple that range from deep red to a bright yellow.  With names like Golden Delicious and Red Delicious, it is no wonder that there is an apple to fit every taste bud. Not all apples are sweet, some such as the Granny Smith, can be tart and are better used in pies than eaten plain.

October is the peak month of the season in the south, and the time to go apple-picking. Towns will often host festivals in celebration of the apple, but the actual harvest runs from about August to December in southern states.

Oddly enough, October is also the time of planting the apple tree. Avoid planting your apple trees in low lying areas that are susceptible to flooding and prone to freezing temperatures. They do like the full sun, and they need to be planted far apart from each other. They also can’t handle extreme soil conditions.

Apple trees do have some diseases you have to watch out for. They are a favorite for aphids to attach themselves to. They can also develop mildew and scabs. Young trees are also a favorite food of deer, which feast on the  bark. You have to be careful in treating the trees, because some of the chemicals can be absorbed by the fruit. There are organic means to control the various diseases that the apples are susceptible to.

The apple is a healthy snack and one of the rare fruits that kids don’t readily object to eating. They contain fiber and Vitamin C, along with other beneficial nutrients.

Its versatility in cooking, abundant varieties, healthy attributes, and appeal to children make this fruit the star of the month.

Winter mulching is necessary to protect the bulbs of strawberries. Temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit will likely damage these bulbs and possibly kill them. Another problem is called heaving. This happens when the temperatures dip down to freezing and then back up, freezing and unfreezing the soil repeatedly. The result is plant roots that are heaved out of the unmulched soil, which will leave you with dead plants and no strawberries.

Mulching often solves these two problems. The extra cover will keep plants from reaching extremely low temperatures and insulate the soil so temperatures stay resonable throughout the winter.

The best time for mulching strawberries usually falls around Thanksgiving. You’ll need to wait until the plants have stopped growing, and they have had a little bit of time to harden or become used to the colder weather. You’ll want to make sure you’ve laid the mulch before temperatures have dropped down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Straw is often the best bet for mulching strawberries, although a wide variety of mulches will work, including bark chips and hay. Leaves or grass clipping are often discouraged for strawberry mulching, as they can smother the plants.

You’ll need to spread the mulches lightly over the beds at a depth of about 3 to 5 inches. Once spring approaches again, remove the mulch from the strawberry beds. Straw makes this a fairly easy task, as you can just rake it off the beds then leave it between the rows to be used as a way to control weed growth and to reduce the soil’s moisture loss during the growing season.

It is nearly impossible to resist a hot apple pie or just a crisp, ripe apple. Luckily, this is the time of year that their harvest season begins. The Granny Smith, the Red Delicious, the Golden Delicious, and many other varieties are being harvested out of orchards. Soon, they will bring with them the taste of the season.

Several types of berries are now hitting their peak. The sweet offerings of blueberries and raspberries  are ripe for the picking. The berry harvest season doesn’t last too long, so grab these before prices began climbing. Keep them around longer by freezing them.

Pears are a highlight in the fall. Their taste can remind one of summer. Pick up some for a healthy snack or try out a new recipe. Either way, this is the time to find the fruit in top form.

Figs are an under-utilized fruit, but, in fact, their sweetness is a great compliment to green salads and deserts. They also contain protein, calcium, and iron. Check these fruits out for an alternative snack.

Most of the time grapes can be seen on grocery store shelves, but, it is in the fall when they hit their peak of flavor. You can mix and match the red and the green for a festive look. Grab a bunch or two for a quick and easy snack idea.

While certainly not last, it is the season for the pear’s natural compliment, the plum. Plums are hitting their stride this fall season. Use them in a variety of recipes or as a raw snack.

The fall season is the time to enjoy these different fruits. This is the time of year when they are at their absolute best.