Soil Conditions
The soil plays an important part in the type of fruit that you select. For example, raspberries, peaches and pears are particularly prone to lime-induced chlorosis caused by the managanese and iron deficiencies often found in chalky soils. whilst these soils may be treated with sequestered iron, this must be carried out regularly and may become expensive. If you have chalky soils, it may therefore be better to grow fruit such as figs that can tolerate these conditions.
The table below shows the characteristics of various soils and how they may affect the growth of fruit plants.
| Soil | Characteristics for Fruit Growth |
|---|---|
| Chalk | * Often deficient in minerals such as manganese and iron. * This may induce lime-induced chlorosis, reducing fruit quality and yield. * Regular treatment with chelated iron and manganese may be needed. * Trace elements may need to be replaced with a bulky organic mulch. |
| Clay | * If drainage sufficient, then will produce good crops. * Slow to warm up in spring; cropping may be delayed. |
| Loam | * Ideal, will produce high yields of good quality fruits. |
| Sand | * Not very fertile; quality and flavour of fruits may be poor. * Soil heat easily lost and gained. * Quick to warm up in spring for early cropping, but prone to frost. * Very free-draining and vulnerable to drought. |
