What Fruits Grow In Ireland

If you’re curious about what fruits grow in Ireland, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The Irish climate, with its mild temperatures and ample rainfall, supports a wonderful range of locally grown seasonal varieties right here on our island.

From traditional orchards to modern polytunnels, Irish growers are producing fantastic fruit. This guide walks you through the annual harvest, offering tips on when and where to find the best local produce.

The core list of fruits cultivated commercially and in gardens across Ireland is both classic and expanding. While we may not grow tropical fruits, our seasonal calender is full of flavour.

Tree Fruits: The Heart of the Orchard

Apples are arguably Ireland’s most important fruit. We have a rich heritage of dessert, cooking, and cider apples.

Dessert Apples: Varieties like ‘Discovery’, ‘Katy’, and the late-season ‘Red Pippin’ are grown for eating fresh.
Culinary Apples: ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ is the iconic Irish cooking apple, perfect for pies and sauces.
Cider Apples: Specialised bittersweet and sharp varieties are cultivated for the thriving craft cider industry.

Plums, damsons, and cherries also thrive in sheltered spots. Victoria plums are a common and reliable garden variety. Sweet cherries require the sunniest locations, often found in counties like Kilkenny and Waterford.

Soft Fruits: Summer’s Sweet Bounty

These are the stars of the mid-to-late summer months and are widely grown by both farmers and gardeners.

Strawberries: The taste of an Irish-grown strawberry, especially from the Wexford region, is unbeatably sweet. The season runs from June to September.
Raspberries: These delicate berries come in summer and autumn-fruiting types, extending the harvest.
Blueberries: Cultivated in acidic soil beds, they’re a successful high-value crop, with the season peaking in July and August.
Blackcurrants & Redcurrants: Often used for jams, cordials, and desserts, they add a tangy burst of flavour.

Other Notable Fruits

You’ll also find pears, though they can be trickier than apples. Conference is a popular reliable variety. Rhubarb, technically a vegetable, is treated as a fruit and is one of the first harvests in early spring. Some passionate growers even succesfully cultivate figs and outdoor grapes in very favourable microclimates.

The Irish Fruit Season: A Month-by-Month Guide

Eating with the seasons ensures you get fruit at its peak flavour and supports local growers. Here’s a typical annual cycle.

Spring (March – May)

This is a quiet time for fresh fruit, but it’s when things begin to awaken. Forced rhubarb (often grown under pots) is available early. Later in spring, the first Irish greenhouse strawberries may appear, though the main harvest is later.

Summer (June – August)

The harvest explodes into life. This is the busiest and most abundant period.

June: Strawberries from tunnels and early outdoor varieties start.
July: Raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, and cherries join the strawberries. Early apples like Discovery may appear late July.
August: All soft fruits are in full swing. Plums and early pears begin to ripen.

Autumn (September – November)

The focus shifts from soft fruits to tree fruits. This is the core of the apple and pear harvest. Late raspberries continue, and damsons are ready. It’s also the main season for foraging wild fruits like blackberries, which are abundant in hedgerows.

Winter (December – February)

Fresh local fruit is scarce. We rely on stored apples, like Bramley, which keep very well. This is a time for enjoying preserves, jams, and frozen berries from the summer surplus.

How to Source Irish-Grown Fruit

Finding genuine local fruit requires a little attention, as supermarkets often import even when Irish stock is available. Here’s how to make sure your getting the real deal.

Check the Label: Always look for “Country of Origin: Ireland”. Don’t just trust pictures of the Irish countryside on the packaging.
Visit Farmers’ Markets: This is the best way to meet growers directly. You can ask about varieties and their growing methods.
Join a CSA Scheme: Community Supported Agriculture boxes often include seasonal fruit from the farm.
Pick-Your-Own Farms: A fantastic family activity. It connects you directly to the source and guarantees freshness.
Local Greengrocers: Independent shops are more likely to highlight and stock local produce when in season.

Growing Your Own Irish Fruit

With some planning, you can grow a surprising amount of fruit in an Irish garden. Start with easy, reliable choices.

Getting Started: Easy Wins

Begin with plants that are well-suited to our climate and don’t require elaborate care.

Strawberries: Grow great in pots, growbags, or the ground. Choose a mix of early and late varieties.
Raspberries: Plant a summer and an autumn-fruiting cane to extend your harvest. They need support with posts and wires.
Apple Trees: Look for family trees with multiple varieties grafted onto one dwarfing rootstock. This is perfect for small spaces and ensures pollination.

Key Tips for Success

Follow these basic steps to improve your chances of a good harvest.

Choose the Right Spot: Most fruit needs full sun – at least 6-8 hours a day – and shelter from strong winds.
Prepare the Soil: Good drainage is essential. Add plenty of well-rotted compost before planting.
Practice Good Maintenance: Water during dry spells, especially when fruit is forming. Use netting to protect from birds.
Prune Correctly: Learn the basic pruning needs for each fruit type. Summer-fruiting raspberries, for example, are pruned differently to autumn ones.

Benefits of Choosing Irish Seasonal Fruit

Opting for local, seasonal fruit isn’t just a trend; it has real advantages.

Superior Flavour & Nutrition: Fruit picked at its peak and sold quickly retains more taste and nutrients than imported fruit picked under-ripe.
Supports Local Economy: You’re supporting Irish farmers and the rural economy, helping to maintain our agricultural landscape.
Reduces Environmental Impact: Local fruit has a much lower carbon footprint from transportation, often called “food miles”.
Connects You to the Seasons: It brings a rhythm to the year and makes the arrival of the first strawberry or apple something to genuinely look forward too.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the most common fruit grown in Ireland?

Apples are the most widely cultivated fruit tree in Ireland, with Bramley apples being particularly iconic for cooking.

Can you grow peaches in Ireland?

Peaches and nectarines are challenging outdoors but can be grown in a very sheltered, south-facing spot or, more reliably, in a greenhouse or polytunnel.

When is the Irish strawberry season?

The main season for outdoor Irish strawberries runs from June through to early September, with tunnel-grown fruit starting a little earlier.

Where are most strawberries grown in Ireland?

County Wexford is renowned as the centre of Irish strawberry production, thanks to its favourable sunny climate and soil conditions.

What wild fruits can I forage in Ireland?

Blackberries are extremely abundant in autumn. You can also find wild strawberries, bilberries (on mountains/heaths), and hazelnuts. Always forage responsibly and be certain of your identification.

Embracing the range of fruits that grow in Ireland is a journey through our seasons. By choosing local and seasonal, you get to experience the true taste of our land while making a positive choice for the environment and local community. Whether you’re buying from a farm shop or planting a single fruit bush in your garden, you’re becoming part of Ireland’s fruitful story.