Introduction: Prepare for Success The quest for the most delectable, wholesome fruits and nuts has taken humankind to every part of the globe. When our ancestors traversed the savannah and spread outward, we initiated a long and successful survival strategy: hunting and gathering the incredible bounty of the natural world. Thousands of years later, we learned to save the seeds of our most precious plants, replanting them, and then returning to the same locations each season. Eventually we settled in one place and began to tend the plants that had become our benefactors. The plants that feed us best are the ones we continue to tend with great care. In turn our care has become their most successful survival strategy. Apples from the mountains of Central Asia now grow worldwide, tended by their human caretakers throughout North America, New Zealand, Chile, and elsewhere. Oranges, walnuts, grapes, and blueberries thrive with an enormous entourage of people caring for their every need, because they have made themselves especially mouthwatering and sustaining for us.

Have you ever thought about the apparent intelligence of these resourceful plants on which we depend? We propagate them and ensure their pollination. We feed and water them, and tend them when they are ill. We have become tribes of caregivers, devoted to meeting all their requirements. Our service to our plant partners is a privilege and a gift. What better way to repay the kindness of nature, and to connect with the abundance of the natural world? The reward for tending your own fruit garden goes beyond stewardship of the green world. It helps us too. There is an expanding body of evidence that indicates homegrown fruit has higher nutrient values and better flavor. The more we learn about the importance of a diet rich in antioxidants, the more we know it just makes sense to grow our own fruits and nuts.

As anyone who has shopped for organic produce knows, it''s expensive, but over time cultivating it yourself will save you money. Even if you have only a small yard or balcony, given enough sunlight, you can raise fruit at home. There are a few key factors to take into account while preparing for that bountiful harvest. Right from the start you need to know about temperature, soil, light, and water needs for plants you want to grow. With few exceptions, fruits and nuts are perennials. You commit to these plants for years, so choosing the right plant, putting it in the right place, and selecting the best cultivar for your situation and taste is really important. For instance, if you live in the subtropics, the right type of plant might be a banana and a good cultivar would be ''Dwarf Cavendish,'' the easiest to grow in a small home garden. Take some time to research pest- and disease-resistant plants that are available in your region.

Some heirloom varieties and modern hybrids carry resistance in their genes. For example, both ''Liberty'' and ''Chehalis'' apple cultivars are resistant to apple scab, a common and serious fungal disease of apples worldwide. To find pest- or disease-resistant cultivars, look at plant labels and catalog descriptions. If they do not mention resistance, assume the plant is susceptible. Experienced neighbors or nearby fruit growers, extension agents, or master gardeners can give you local knowledge about who''s succeeding with which cultivars. This allows you to choose cultivars that are best suited to your location and likely to remain healthy. When choosing a cultivar, local knowledge is invaluable. Talk to experienced neighbors, your county extension agent or master gardener organization, or local fruit clubs to determine which cultivars do best in your climate.