European pears provide some of the best fruit in the world. They generally require less care than apples and are an excellent choice for the home garden and orchard. Pear trees are one of the easiest and most traditional fruits for training into espalier forms. As most pears need cross pollination, the planting of more than one variety is recommended or the growing of a double grafted tree. Expect fruit once tree is 4-6 years old.

The Fruit of the Gods. Deserving of widespread planting for their value as an attractive small tree with large glossy leaves, stunning autumn foliage colours and delicious fruit that holds on the tree into winter. There are two different types of persimmons – astringent and non-astringent varieties. Astringent varieties are more heart-shaped, and can be harvested once the fruit has turned fully orange but is still firm. Leave the fruit at room temperature for a few days for the tannin levels to reduce, and they will soften slightly. The more common squat tomato-shaped non-astringent varieties (like the main type ‘Fuyu’) can be harvested firm or left to ripen on the tree (bird risk). If picked firm, the fruit will ripen if stored with other fruit like bananas, apples or pears - the ethylene the other ripe fruits emit will ripen the firm persimmons. 

Plums are one of the best stonefruit types to grow in a home garden, as prolific crops of very good quality fruit can be produced with very little work. Only a few diseases affect plum trees, so a very basic organic spray programme will keep the tree healthy and productive. Make sure you only prune in summer months to prevent fungal disease getting into your tree. Mid to late varieties do best in southland areas. Expect fruit once tree is 4-6 years old.

Prunes are plums with high sugar levels that are typically oval in shape and are either freestone or can be dried without the need to remove the pit. As these are European plums they flower later than Japanese plums and so avoid problematic spring frosts. They are later fruiting and can be eaten fresh, dried or bottled. Trees are hardy, resistant to most bacterial diseases and are relatively easy to manage. While most are self fertile they set heavier crops when cross pollinated.

The Quince has been under cultivation since ancient times. It was considered an emblem of happiness, love and fruitfulness. Over the years it has been used in marmalades, jellies and candies and is now also sought after for pastes and other culinary uses. Superb in flower in late spring, and in fruit in autumn. Quince trees are cold hardy. All varieties are self fertile, and pollinated by Honey Bees.  Quinces should produce fruit once the tree reaches 4-6 years old.

Blueberries can be grown in home gardens anywhere in New Zealand.  As well as culinary uses for the fruit, the plants have many landscape uses including hedging and use in mixed plantings. Blueberries vary in height between 1-3 metres and should be planted around one metre apart. The bushes have delicate white or pink spring flowers, the summer fruit has an attractive sky blue colour, and the autumn foliage adds great red and yellow colours to the landscape. 

All currants are deciduous shrubs, fast growing to form a multiple-stemmed clump. Currant flowers are borne toward the bases of one-year old stems and on spurs on older stems - which appear in early spring with new growth. Currants are mainly self-fertile but can set more fruits with cross-pollination of another variety.
Currants grow best in temperate regions with some winter chill and coolish summers, with sun protection in very hot summers. Currants like morning sun and afternoon shade. Currants prefer heavier soils, with a thick mulch of organic material to keep the soil cool in summer (this later adding humus as it rots down). Plant in a hedge row as close as 40cm apart. Plant size: 1.5m x 1.5m