This Morning | Home and garden | Grow your own fruits

Grow your own fruits

Published: Monday, 3 March 2008, 1:03PM

There's nothing better than picking fresh fruit straight from your own garden and now is the right time of year to get planting.

Resident gardener David Domoney suggests some great gadgets to help you on your way to a successful summer fruit crop.

Fruit Picking Basket £5.49
Galvanised 'fingers' are gently eased over the fruit, around the stem, and with a little tug, the fruit drops into the soft bag, avoiding bruising and damage to the fruit. Suitable for apples, pears, most plums and other fruits.
Available from www.darlac.com or call 01753 547790

Lightweight Aluminium Pole £16.00
With quick-connect socket. Positive twist-lock adjustment, can be used at any length between the maximum and minimum sizes.
Available from www.darlac.com or call 01753 547790

Bee house £24.99
This wooden beehive is designed to attract non-swarming bees such as the red mason bee, who is active from March to July and is responsible for pollinating top fruit and soft fruit.
Available from www.greengardener.co.uk or call 01603 715096

Burgon and Ball - Fruit and flower snip £9.99
Fine nosed blades for precise harvesting of fruits.
Available from Wyevale or call 0844 800 8082

Chempak - Citrus fertiliser Summer £4.49
A high nitrogen formula to boost growth. Helps prevent fruit drop and premature ripening of immature fruits, also leaf discoloration.
Available from Wyevale or call 0844 800 8082

Strawberry Mulch Mat £3.45 for 10
These organic fyba mats are placed around the base of strawberry plants to help the soil retain both moisture and warmth.
Available from www.harrodhorticultural.com or call 0845 402 5300

Insulating Fleece from 20p
This permeable white UV stabilised spun-bonded 2mm square mesh cover protects against frost, wind, hail, birds and insects whilst helping to warm up the soil so that earlier harvesting of healthy crops can be achieved.
Available from www.harrodhorticultural.com or call 0845 402 5300

Insect Mesh Protection Netting from £2.50
Insect Mesh Protection Netting is a fine mesh, heavy-duty, UV stabilised, long-lasting netting that effectively keeps out pests such as carrot fly, cabbage root fly, caterpillars and birds.
Available from www.harrodhorticultural.com or call 0845 402 5300

Strulch Garden Mulch From £6.00 per 100 litre bag
Strulch is a light and easy to use garden mulch made from wheat straw for organic gardening. Strulch is suitable around flowers, shrubs, fruit and vegetables.
Available from www.strulch.co.uk or call 01943 863610

Large Topiary Cat Frame with Plant £36.99
A large 46cm topiary cat frame, made with strong wire, comes supplied in a 14cm pot with a 2-3 year-old buxus plant, ready for growing and shaping.
Available from www.toptopiary.co.uk or call 01252 626695

Large Squirrel Topiary Frame £24.99
Large 49cm topiary frame in the shape of a 3D squirrel is made from strong wire, coated in green plastic to prevent rusting.
Available from www.toptopiary.co.uk or call 01252 626695