There is nothing more satisfying than picking a juicy apple from your own fruit tree. Fresh fruit is one of the most delicious gifts of nature. It is highly versatile, adding taste to chutneys, smoothies, jams, jellies and desserts.

Here are some tips for growing fruit trees whether you want to enjoy fruits or like the look of fruit trees flowering in your garden:

• Figure out pollination: First thing you need to ascertain is whether the tree is a cross pollinator or a self-pollinator. A self pollinator is one tree, which has both male and female flowers on it and requires only one tree for pollination. Cross pollinators have male and female flowers on different tress, so they require at least two trees for pollination. Citrus trees, nectarines and peaches are self pollinators while apples, plums and pears are cross pollinators. As for oranges and lemons, different varieties have different types of pollination, so take care to enquire from nurseries.
• Climate: Different fruit trees have different climates in which they thrive. Apples thrive in rainy and snowy winters. Peach trees bear fruit in mild temperatures. Lime and other citrus fruit trees thrive best in warm climates but produce fruit all year. From semi-tropical citrus fruits to cold and hardy cherries and apples, fruits trees grow in a variety of climates.
• Types of fruit trees: Apples are a favourite as they are universal palate pleasers, easily adaptable and easy to grow. The best soil for apples has pH of 6.5, but apples can thrive in all soil that is well drained. Begin cultivation with two trees for cross pollination. Cherries are found in colours ranging from black to yellow and found in two flavours: sweet and sour. They need fertile soil and much air circulation. Citrus fruits are the easiest to grow organically. Cold tolerance is limited but fragrant oil content helps prevent pest damage. Peaches and nectarines are also simple to grow but require high pest management. Plums produce fruits erratically as they lose fruit to weather or pests. Pears are less hardy than apples but easier to grow in a variety of climates.
• When to plant: For fruits classified in zones 3 to 7, best time to plant trees is early spring after thawing of soil. In zones 8 to 10, plant new trees in February. Choose a site with lots of sun and well drained soil. Dig a hole, which is twice the size of the tree’s root ball and plant tree at same level as in nursery condition, taking care not to bury grafted portion. Water well and install a trunk guard. Add a stake to help the tree stay steady. Put some mulch over the roots using saw dust, wood chips and other mulch that is slow rotting. Water well during dry seasons the first two years.
• Pruning: This is an essential aspect of growing fruit trees. The main aim is to provide air and light to fruits and leaves.  Many fruit trees produce excessive fruits, which need to be thinned. For instance, Asian pear trees need 70% of their fruit snipped away when they are the size of a dime. Pruning helps raise fruit size, lower breakage of limb and avoid alternative bearing.
• Harvesting and storage: Most fruits must be harvested when they are approaching ripeness. Thereafter, they must be refrigerated to prevent spoilage. Flavour may even improve after storage.

After growing fruit trees in your home garden harvest and collect them in fruit baskets. Home grown fruits make for excellent fruit gifts to present to a loved one, who is sick and hospitalized or who is far away from you.

Why do you want to make a gift basket for someone you love? Mostly, it is because you want to give the gift a personal touch and ensure that the receiver will be happy with a bundle of customized gift items rather than a single gift item. The bonus is that you might save a lot of money, and you can assemble budget-friendly items into a wonderful gift basket.

The secret behind a successful gift basket is that you can make it look like a million bucks without straining your finances. Here are some tips to make an inexpensive but high-quality gift basket.

• Where to shop for gift basket supplies: First source is a Pound shops. Baskets are very affordable and so are filing material from these stores. While grocery shopping, toss some fruits into the basket and make great present of fruit baskets. Assembling a basket of fruit and combining it with packaging from such a store makes for a much loved and inexpensive present. Second source is a fabric retailer. You can find cheese cloth or tulle for packing as well as myriad options for ribbons. Third are craft stores; they are the cheapest source for attractive gift cards. Fourth are hardware stores. They have jars and containers of all sizes and shapes.
• Shop for containers: Go for exotic and unusual containers, so you keep people guessing about their price. The fuller is the container, the more costly it appears. If you want to gift the same item for many persons, it is best to hit Pound shops, which have multiple versions of containers. But for varied types of containers, you have other options. Platters, bowls, trays, flower vases, wood boxes, plastic containers, flower pots, etc. will serve as excellent containers.
• Making Shred: Shred is mostly used to tuck into spaces, which are empty in the gift display. This makes the gift basket look fuller and provide cushioning to gift items so they don’t bump into and rub against each other. Making shred is easy if you own a paper shredder or cut some with scissors. You can make use of tissue paper, glossy magazine paper, brown bags, coloured paper or newspaper, each giving its own special effect.
• Choosing cellophane wrap: Transparent wrap or cellophane is the perfect wrap for gift baskets and one must not try to scrimp with inexpensive plastic cling wrap or waste plastic covers. Using the latter will give a cheap look, the opposite of what you are trying to achieve.  Ensure you get enough cellophane to cover your entire basket without causing the bag to rip. Many professionals will avoid cellophane bags and use transparent wrap from a roll, tucking the sides inside and taping them with clear tape to provide illusion of a bag.

Place the basket in the middle of the cellophane and start gathering sides. When you get the desired effect, use some strong string or curling ribbon to secure it. If there is any excess it can be folded under the basket and taped.

• Ribbons, cards and bows: The bow, card and ribbons must keep with the theme of the gift basket. For instance, a baby shower basket can feature a rattle as an ornament. A high quality satin ribbon can transform your gift basket into a luxurious affair. Invest in a personally made gift card.

These are some of the aspects to keep in mind while assembling an inexpensive gift basket.

Are you facing troubles with your hair? Is hair fall a pain for you recently? Well, if you enhance your eating habits and add few of these essentials to your fruit baskets, then you can fight hair loss in a natural way. Stop taking medicines or supplements to grow your hair out or to prevent hair loss. Just eat these fruits on a regular basis to see great results…

• Oranges – Orange is a rich source of Vitamin C which is great for so many health problems. Not just health issues but Vitamin C can boost hair gain quickly. If you have oranges every day, then you will see changes in your hair in just 2 weeks. So start eating oranges today!
• Grapes – We all know the miracles grape seed oil does and that enough tells us that grapes are helpful for curing hair fall. The antioxidants and minerals found in grapes can strengthen the hair and lessen hair loss in just 4 weeks. Go ahead and buy grapes right away from the market. Don’t forget to add it in your diet on a day to day basis.
• Apples –We all know the famous saying, an apple a day, keeps the doctor away. Well, that is true! Apple has tons of vitamins, fibre and antioxidants, which help in preventing plus curing hair loss. If you have been struggling with hair fall since a while, then you must eat apples every day. If required, eat two apples for breakfast every morning along with the other fruits to help your hair from getting completely damaged.
• Strawberries – This little red fruit can do wonders. It doesn’t just help in curing diseases, but it also helps in enhancing the hair. If you have frizzy, rough hair, then you must start eating strawberries right now. With regular consumption, your hair texture will improve over time and all the vitamins in this fruit will keep it from breaking.
• Plums – Plums is a tiny fruit, but it is packed with the goodness of nutrients. If you have severe hair fall, then you make a hair pack using the pulp of plum fruit. Directly apply it to the hair and see the magic in just few weeks. You must also consume plums to quicken the hair gain process.
• Guavas – Yes, Guava is yet another fruit that can help in hair growth and also cure hair fall. The fruit is a rich source of Vitamin A, which promotes hair growth and also enhances the functioning of the membranes. You can eat this fruit or use a hair mask for effective results. Just add a little lemon to the mixture and apply this on your hair. Make sure you crush the fruit well in a food processor.

We hope these ideas help you out and lessen your hair fall issue. In case, you are sending fruit basket delivery UK then make sure you add all the above listed fruits without fail. Also, don’t forget to incorporate this list of benefits of every fruit.