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How Much Fruit to Grow for Two
Small-Space Harvests for Canning, Freezing, Drying and Fresh Eating
Growing fruit for two people is easier than most gardeners expect. With dwarf trees, compact vines, and productive berry bushes, a small yard can produce hundreds of pounds of fresh fruit—more than enough for eating, baking, jam-making, juicing, drying and winter storage. Here’s a realistic, Canadian-based guide to what two people need for a full year of fruit.
As a personal note, I do have to cover my fruits with some type of protection, I use mostly fruit bags. The wildlife around here wants the first pick. I thought the squirrels would chew the branches to get to the fruit, but for some reason they are leaving it alone. This year they ate all of the melons. I was busy with other stuff and when I came back to the garden they had eaten everything. Oh, but they left me the rinds. :) Next year I'm going to hide all of my melons in a plastic pot and cover the melons in the pot with straw or shredded paper. I did that one year and it worked. Now they are back again.
One healthy dwarf apple tree can produce 40–80 lbs of fruit. Two people who bake, preserve, and snack on apples will benefit from 2 different dwarf varieties for pollination and staggered ripening.
Recommended for Two:- 2 dwarf or semi-dwarf apple trees
- Yields: 80–150 lbs total
- Uses: fresh eating, sauce, dehydrating, pies, cider
Pears bear heavily once mature. Most varieties require a pollinator, so you’ll need two. Expect 60–100 lbs per tree.
Recommended for Two:- 2 dwarf pears
- Yields: 120–180 lbs
- Uses: canning, drying, fresh eating, juice
Dwarf peaches can produce 30–60 lbs per tree, depending on thinning and weather. Great for freezing, jam, and fresh eating.
Recommended for Two:- 1 dwarf peach tree
- Yields: 40–60 lbs
- Uses: jam, slices for freezing, fresh eating
Hardy Canadian grape varieties produce 8–15 lbs per vine. One or two vines are plenty for a two-person household.
Recommended for Two:- 1–2 grapevines
- Yields: 15–30 lbs
- Uses: fresh eating, juice, jelly, raisins
Berries are incredibly productive in small spaces and perfect for freezing or dehydrating. For two people:
Recommended:- Strawberries: 25–40 plants (10–20 lbs/yr)
- Raspberries: 4–6 canes (10–15 lbs/yr)
- Blueberries: 2 bushes (10–15 lbs/yr)
These thrive in Canadian climates and produce heavily with minimal work. One bush may yield 5–10 lbs.
Recommended for Two:- 2 currant bushes (red, black, or white)
- 1 gooseberry bush
- Total yield: 15–25 lbs
| Fruit Type | Recommended for Two | Average Annual Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | 2 dwarf trees | 80–150 lbs |
| Peaches | 1 dwarf tree | Whatever the wildlife leave me |
| Strawberries | 25–40 plants | 10–20 lbs |
Explore Related Pages
- How Much Food to Grow for Two
- How Much Vegetables to Grow for Two
- Canning Food homes-n-gardens.com