Grow exotic Fruit in the UK

Would you expect to find melons, olives, chillis or even tea plants being grown and harvested here in the UK? In a report commissioned by the Good Food TV Channel some surprising exotic plants have found to be thriving here in the UK.

These plants are of the food and fruit variety and not the ornamental type that sometimes grace our gardens. If you would like to see details of exotic fruit trees specially reared to flourish in the UK please see the end of this post.

From Cornwall to Scotland exotic crops can be found growing and the speculation is that this could be due in part to rising temperatures within the British Isles. In the fields of Southern England it is now a common sight to find sweetcorn being grown and flourishing.

Within the report, the research of which was led by horticulturist Christopher Collins, the 15 most common exotic crops to be found in the UK are identified. Christopher Collins cited a number of reasons for the rise in home grown exotic plants including a more varied food diet of the average Briton and the cost of imports, not to mention rising temperatures.

Within the fruit variety of exotic plants it was found that grapes are the most common to be found growing within the English landscape, with commercial grapevines having been first introduced into this country as long ago as 1984. The report cites that there are presently more than 300 grape producing vineyards covering a geographical area from the south of England to Pembrokeshire in Wales.

Melons were also identified as a flourishing crop in  south eastern and the south-west of England with as many as 61 businesses producing this crop on a commercial scale.

There are other surprising finds detailed including artichokes which boast 45 British plantations. Until relatively recently artichokes were the preserve of hot countries such as Greece and Turkey within Europe. Even two olive groves can now be found on the British mainland, one in London and one in Wales.

Perhaps the most surprising is the identification of a tea plantation in Cornwall and the expectation is that others will follow. Other exotic plant crops identified as being in commercial production include soya beans, okra and chillis.

If you are interested in growing your own exotic fruit here in the UK have a look at my previous post

Grow An Exotic Fruit Tree in the UK

This post features lemon orange and lime trees that have been specially grown to flourish in the UK.

You may also be interested in Growing Blueberries on your patio or in containers.

Image by Allentchang