Many of us will stare wistfully out at our garden and think: "I wish I had a fruit tree or two growing there."

Fruit trees can seem like a tough challenge to take on — perhaps even impossible in the UK climate which can sometimes feel like it's never anything other than cold and wet.

But there are plenty of options for planting fruit trees, many of which will not only thrive but could last 100 years and far outlive the person who planted it. 

What's more, they could give you delicious fruit year after year — and there are few things more satisfying than growing your own fruit and picking it fresh from the tree before gobbling it down or using it to feed your family. A well-cared-for and mature apple tree can yield up to 800 apples a year, according to the Martha Stewart website, who asked expert fruit tree growers which trees would thrive in your garden. 

1. Pear

Mike Biltonen, founder of Know Your Roots LLC, said pear trees can last up to several centuries. They are native to the UK and are one of the easiest fruits to grow in your garden, whether large or small. The trees blossom in spring then provide delicious fruit from late summer into autumn.  

The RHS says they can be "grown either as free-standing trees or trained against a wall to take up barely any ground space" and adds: "Young pear trees are very easy to plant and like a warm, sunny, sheltered spot in fertile soil that drains freely. There are many varieties to choose from, producing fruit of different shapes, colours, flavours and textures. Pear trees need little maintenance once established, although it’s beneficial to prune them annually to keep them in good shape and fruiting well. The fruit should be harvested just before it’s ripe and brought indoors to complete the ripening process, which can take a month or more depending on the variety."

2. Apple

Apple trees can live up to 100 years and are another tree that should provide fruit year after year without intensive maintenance. 

The RHS says: "An established tree needs little maintenance, although annual pruning will help to ensure the best harvests and keep the tree in good shape. 

"Planting a new apple tree is very straightforward, and there are choices to suit all sizes of garden. You can grow a free-standing tree in a lawn or other open, sunny site, or, if space is limited, choose a more compact trained tree, such as a cordon, against a sunny wall, or even a dwarf tree in a container."

3. Mulberry

David Fried, co-owner of Elmore Roots, told Martha Stewart that mulberry trees are "similar to blackberries but without the seeds". They can live for up to 100 years and are fairly easy to grow. 

The RHS says: "There are several species of mulberry but it is the black mulberry that produces the best-flavoured fruits. These looks similar to large blackberries once ripe and are deliciously sweet, aromatic and tangy — and as they're rarely found in shops it's well worth growing them."

It adds: "Black mulberry trees can be slow to start fruiting, taking around eight years, but are well worth the wait and the varieties often fruit more quickly."

4. Cherry

Cherry trees may sound exotic but they actually "grow particularly well in southern and central England", says the RHS. The two main types of cherry are sweet cherries, which are delicious eaten fresh and best grown in a sunny position, and acid cherries, which are excellent for cooking and grow well in sun or partial shade.

5. Apricot

Like sweet cherry trees above, apricot trees can live for 60 to 80 years. However, they do require hot weather so you'll need to think about how and where you plant them. That doesn't mean the UK is not an option for growing them, however.

The Gardeners World website says: "To fruit successfully, apricots need a period of winter cold, a fairly warm, dry spring and a hot summer, so it's important to give them the conditions they need. In warmer, drier regions of the UK, you can grow apricot trees outdoors, preferably in a sunny, sheltered spot such as in front of a wall. Avoid low-lying sites (known as ‘frost pockets’) where cold air gathers."

6. Fig

Fig trees can live for over 100 years with proper care. They produce delicious, sweet fruit and have attractive and scented foliage. The Gardeners World website says: "While fig trees in Britain might not yield the same quantity or sweetness of fig trees in the Mediterranean, they can be grown successfully in a sheltered, sunny spot, such as against a wall. The idea is to trick them into thinking they are growing on a rocky hilltop in the eastern Mediterranean by keeping their roots restricted. Several fig varieties are hardy enough for outdoor cultivation in the UK and should crop even during poor summers."

The RHS says: "Figs can be grown in containers and brought indoors over winter to protect the young fruitlets, or outdoor plants can be covered or wrapped."