The consumption of exotic and tropical fruits is growing all around the world and something else that is changing is the way they are grown which means where they are grown can also be a surprise. And that is what we bring you today, these ten tropical fruits that you might expect to only grow in a specific, warmer country have actually been growing right here in the UK, with some of them growing in the wild as that any of us can grow in our own gardens!
Kumquats (Citrus japonica)
INFO: Citrus trees are surprisingly hardy, tolerating temperatures down to -5°C and will thrive in most gardens given a warm sunny position. In the UK they are probably best grown in a large pot or other suitable container as this will allow them to be moved as conditions dictate.
Dragon Fruit (Selenicereus)
INFO: Dragon fruit is actually a fruiting cactus, which is already sending alarm bells ringing about its ability to be grown in the UK.
Custard Apple (Annona reticulata)
Annona cherimola, Cherimoya or Custard Apple is relatively well-known for its fruits but rarely seen in the UK, but are known to grow wild in some small areas.
Longan (Dimocarpus longan)
INFO: Devon-based gardener Mark Diacono of Otter Farm shares his tips for growing exotic fruit trees such as almonds, peaches and logan fruits here in the UK.
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)
The mangosteen is a sweet, tropical fruit that grows on trees that can reach 80 feet tall in the wild. No matter where you live can grow a tree in a container as long as you can provide for the mangosteen’s climate and other needs.
Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum)
INFO: The berries are an incredible orange/red-coloured berry, sweet and juicy right up to the first frost. This popular plant can now be grown in the UK and produce oodles of fresh Goji Berries throughout the summer months from just one small bush!
Salak Snake Fruit (Salacca zalacca)
Snake fruit, more technically known as salak or salacca zalacca, is native to Indonesia but is now grown and produced in the South East of England.
Star Fruit (Averrhoa carambola)
INFO: It is classified as an endangered species with only three recorded growing sites in England. However, recent conservation work at Heath House Pond on Headley Heath has resulted in the starfruit being discovered thriving here.
Guava (Psidium guajava)
While this plant does prefer warmer countries with a little bit of effort most people can grow then in their gardens here in the UK, especially in the summer months.
Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)
To grow rambutan from a seed, plant the seed flat in a small pot with drainage holes and filled with organic soil amended with sand and organic. They thrive in temps from 71 to 86 degrees F. (21-30 C.) so does need to be kept warm, but are grown in an indoor factory farm here in the UK in Manchester.
Do you know of any other tropical fruit that you can grow here in the UK? If you do why not tel us know in the comments below.
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