by Janine Hill

The owner of a Bli Bli fruit tree nursery says suburbia should be no barrier to growing your own food.

Heidi West-Newman, the proprietor of Fruit Tree Cottage, said fruit could be grown in even the smallest outdoor space.

“There’s something for every garden and there’s such wide range of trees that people don’t realise: smaller ones for growing in pots or techniques to keep trees small if you’ve only got a small space,” she said.

Heidi is passionate about fruit trees. Her grandparents farmed at Montville and her parents farmed at Palmwoods. Fruit Tree Cottage is very much a family business. Her Dad, Peter, is both a farmer and agricultural scientist, and you can often find him at the nursery sharing his 50 plus years of expertise and knowledge about growing fruit trees.

Heidi established Fruit Tree Cottage, which stocks and supplies close to 100 types of fruit trees, in 2020.

Although open to the public twice a week, Fruit Tree Cottage concentrates on online orders and offers home delivery to customers.

Those who do go to Fruit Tree Cottage have the opportunity to see how the trees will grow once planted.

“I like the fact we have a dedicated block full of fruit trees so customers can come and see the trees growing, see them when they’re in season, see what they look like,” she said.

“My children go to the dedicated block and they can pick and eat. My children can go outside like I did and learn how to grow food. 

“I think there’s something really special about being able to pick something that’s been allowed to ripen on the branch. It tastes different, it tastes good.”

Heidi is happy to provide relevant advice about growing conditions, pests and treatments that can help customers with their trees.

“We want them to be successful,” she said.

Fruit Tree Cottage at 41 Conway Court is open to the public on Fridays from 10am to 2pm and Sundays from 8am to noon.