Fruits are not only natures candy, they are superfoods. Each fruit is packed with amazing vitamins that allow you to enjoy mostly guilt free snacking. Most have varying amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and a variety of trace minerals. More than that, fruit trees are beautiful. Most of them have a pleasing shape, produce clouds of beautiful blossoms, and are excellent bee food. You might be surprised at some of the things that arrive on your table that are actually fruit, even though you might normally eat them as a vegetable. Even if you do not have the land available to grow some of these plants, you can grow them if you have room for a large GRC pot.
Why GRC pots?
GRC stands for Glass Reinforced Concrete, which would be quite a mouthful to say anytime you wanted to describe these amazing pots. GRC is shorter and easier to say.
There are three things that makes these pots amazing. First, they are extremely strong and durable. Second, they are light. Maybe not light as a feather, but definitely lighter than a similarly sized concrete pot, or even one made from terracotta. Third, they can be molded to simulate almost any style garden pot you wish to use in your garden, on your terrace or patio, or in your sunroom. With GRC pots you can have the appearance of ancient pottery without the fragility.
One nifty idea is to purchase a set of graduated pots so you can use the color and design of the set to pull together the look of a lot of different kinds of plants.
Fruit Trees for Your GRC Pots
Avocadoes (Persea Americana) Sometimes called an alligator pear because of the shape of the fruit and because of its green, bumpy skin, it is hard to deny that an avocado is a super fruit. Not at all sweet in flavor, but excellent in salads, dipping sauce, on sandwiches, or just spooned up out of its rind, avocados truly pack a nutritional punch. They are not difficult to grow in a large pot, which is fortunate because they are a warm weather tree that likes quite a bit of humidity. They grow naturally in Florida and Louisiana where heat and humidity for sure go together.
Australian finger Limes (Citrus Australasica) These pungent fruits are about as long and big around and your pinky finger. Cut them in the middle and squeeze to pop out tart little pearls of citrusy goodness. They are a thorny little bush, essentially an understory plant, that is native to Australia. Highly seasonal, they are nonetheless an attract plant that will make an appealing background for smaller plants. It will produce clouds of white aromatic blossoms in season. The fruits range in color from dark green through pink and dark red.
Mangos (Mangifera Indica) Just about every part of the mango tree is used in Ayurvedic medicine. But even if you are not interested in its medicinal properties, a mango is a beautiful plant. The trees have dense green foliage that grows in a classic rounded tree shape. The blooms are dense spikes of blossoms that have a pinkish hue. The fruit, green at first, then yellow then a blushing rosy color. When they are growing on the tree, they look like decorations. There are no words to describe just how delicious are mango fruit.
Olives (Olea europaea). For centuries, olive oil, pickled olives, stuffed olives, black olives have been a staple for many people around the world. Originating near the Mediterranean, they will grow nearly anywhere that the winters are chill but somewhat mild and the summers are hot and dry. The fruit is packed with nutrients, and it is hard to imagine a kitchen that does not include olive oil in its pantry.
Pomegranates (Punica granatum). Truly a plant of legend, pomegranates figure in mythology, legend, and story of many people around the Mediterranean. In truth, they are more of a berry than a fruit. Inside the ruby red hard outside skin, pomegranates are filled with tiny seeds covered with the most delicious pulp ever. They deserve to be eaten slowly, savoring each ruby drop.
Tahitian Limes (Citrus x latifolia) This is a fruit that is uniquely suited to growing indoors in a pot. In fact, Tahitian limes are a cross between several different citrus fruits, and would not exist at all without human intervention. They are best grown as grafted starts because the seeds are unlikely to breed true. They are a good substitute for the more flavorful key limes.
Now imagine a matched set of GRC planter pots, each with one or perhaps two of these unique plants. Imagine a beautiful conservatory with these, and other plants growing in it, while outside winter winds bluster. Or think of a city balcony or patio with a row of little trees bringing the nature world into the artificial jungle.
Or, think about a formal garden where plants need to be carefully encouraged or controlled. Then imagine sitting down to a luncheon where every fruit and vegetable might have been grown in lovely pots sitting around in graduated sizes.
That might not be paradise, but it would surely be any gardeners delight.