Fruit Trenches: Cultivating Subtropical Plants in Freezing Temperatures
I grow a few things in a (relatively small) suburban garden in London. My experience so far with fruit normally associated with warmer climates:Grapes - grow very well outside, lots of tasty fruit, sensitive to mildewFigs - grow well outside, fast, but not much fruit yetCitrus (lemon, lime and kafir lime) - Any frost is damaging, can only grow in pots and bring in during winter. Grows slowly and doesn't produce much fruitOlives - grow very well outside, don't produce much fruitStauntonia - grow very well outside, no fruit so farHardy kiwi - grows well outside, produces some fruitNormal kiwi - grow very slowly, no fruit, sensitive to frostI would like to try pomegranates, I've seen some people grow them in LondonThe best croppers in my garden by far are non-tropical fruit - cherry and apple trees.I think polytunnels (maybe with some kind of light transmitting insulation) and geothermal heating would be the way to go these days in northern climates if trying to grow cold sensitive fruit in larger amounts.