Popular, dwarf fruit trees to grow in pots
If you’d like to grow your own fruit at home but have limited space, try growing fruit trees in pots.
Fruit trees grow well in pots as long as they are grown on a dwarf rootstock, which means they grow to about half the size of a regular fruit tree.
Most popular fruit trees are available in dwarf or mini varieties including apples, pears, oranges and cherries.
You can use just about any type of container to grow fruit trees including plastic, timber, terracotta or ceramic pots as long as they’re at least 1 foot (30cm) wide and 1 foot deep. Half wine barrels also work well.
The best time to plant fruit trees in containers is during winter or early spring when the trees are still dormant.
Place your fruit tree in a nice sunny spot and feed it regularly with a liquid seaweed solution.
11 BEST FRUIT TREES TO GROW IN POTS
1. Apple Trees
Dwarf apple trees look great growing in pots or tubs, and they’re perfect for backyards, courtyards or sunny balconies.
If you don’t have much space, it’s best to choose a self-pollinating variety so that you only need to grow one plant to get fruit.
2. Orange Trees
Oranges and other citrus fruits will grow well in pots situated in a sunny position.
Orange trees need at least 8 hours of sunlight a day and grow best in warm climates where winters are mild, but they can still be grown in cool climates with a bit of care during winter.
3. Cherry Trees
Some cherry trees take up to four years to produce fruit, but in the meantime you can enjoy their beautiful white or pink blossoms during springtime.
Birds love to eat cherries, so netting may be needed.
The best time to pick cherries is when they’re fully ripe.
4. Pear Trees
Pear trees grown in containers need at least six hours of sunlight each day.
Pears are one of the earliest flowering fruit trees and can be damaged by frost.
The trees can be covered if they’re in flower when a frost is forecast.
5. Plum Trees
Plum trees can be grown in containers but the fruit will need to be thinned to avoid the branches getting too heavy.
Thin out the fruit so that each fruit is about 2 inches (5 cm) apart.
Plum trees need regular fertilizing once fruit production has started.
6. Apricot Trees
Apricot trees are frost hardy when dormant over winter, but the flowers are susceptible to frost damage.
The best time to pick apricots is when the fruit changes from green to yellow / orange in color and feels slightly soft, but still firm.
7. Peach Trees
Peach trees are another popular fruit tree that can be grown in containers.
Both peach and nectarine trees are available in dwarf varieties.
Most dwarf varieties grow to a height of 6 – 8 feet (1.8 – 2.4 m) and are self-pollinating.
Peaches should be picked when they are fully ripe with no green on the fruit.
8. Fig Trees
Fig trees are a good choice for growing in containers because they don’t mind having their roots confined.
Fig trees prefer to grow in climates with warm summers and cool winters.
Suckers that grow around the base of the tree can be removed throughout the growing season and used to grow more plants.
Figs should be picked when they are slightly soft and smell sweet. Figs don’t continue to ripen once they have been picked, so it’s best to pick them when you need them.