Oh, I feel you on the lack of gardening time & spoons! From my experience, I have to say that the tayberry, while not quite as tasty as raspberries, is far less work, more productive & hardier. I didn't even get to eat all my tayberries this summer! Have you thought about an apple tree on a dwarfing rootstock in a pot? Plenty are very hardy, certainly more so than cherries or citrus. Less than 4 years planted, with no pruning or maintenance *guilt* mine looks to be fruiting heavily this autumn.
If you have any inclination to try carrots again ever, I did see what looked like quite a good solution: collapsible carrot planters (like potato asks but stiffer sided, like a canvas storage box). I wasn't going to try carrots again for the same reasons as you, but I may give those a go some time as they might reduce the faff of getting the soil balance right, thinning, etc etc. Will let you know if I do.
Have you tried outdoor cucumbers? I found our snails were surprisingly uninterested in Crystal Apples, and they're delicious. I love snails and don't want to hurt them, but they are total sods.
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If you have any inclination to try carrots again ever, I did see what looked like quite a good solution: collapsible carrot planters (like potato asks but stiffer sided, like a canvas storage box). I wasn't going to try carrots again for the same reasons as you, but I may give those a go some time as they might reduce the faff of getting the soil balance right, thinning, etc etc. Will let you know if I do.
Have you tried outdoor cucumbers? I found our snails were surprisingly uninterested in Crystal Apples, and they're delicious. I love snails and don't want to hurt them, but they are total sods.