Potted Fruit Trees for Small Yards

I’m a huge fan of gardening and I’m a huge fan of eating, that’s why I created an edible landscape at home.

You can’t walk 2 feet in my yard without being able to snag some kind of fruit, herb or vegetable!

I have a virtual orchard of fruit trees and yet my suburban lot is average size, so how do I do it?

 

I plant dwarf fruit tree varieties in pots and place them all over the yard!

 

Pineapple Guava

 

 

Feijoa sellowiana, or “pineapple guava” is happy growing in an oversized (24-inch) container.

 

Feijoa is commonly planted  as a medium size bush (10-15 feet tall and wide), but they are also available as “standards” or tree -style as well. I use a potting soil that is appropriate for vegetable and fruit plants.

Nothing fancy.

The flavor of the feijoa can be described as “exotic, pineapple-like”  fragrant, juicy and similar to passion fruit.

A “bi-sexual”plant, the feijoa is self pollinating and does well as a drought resistant plant when planted in the ground, but as a potted plant, the feijoa requires regular watering during the flowering and fruiting period.

This translates to watering 2 times per week, occasionally a third time if it is very hot.

I have a “Pineapple Gem” variety grown by Monrovia that does very well in my arid, hot  Southern California climate.

 

There is an “Edenvale” series of feijoa that does slightly better in cooler weather  areas.

 

Citrus Trees

“Oro Blanco” grapefruit anyone?

 

Yellow flesh ripens to a blushing pink, guarding super-sweet yellow pulp.

Almost any citrus tree variety does well in a container.

Just keep in mind that the sweeter the fruit, the hotter temperature it will require.

Look for dwarf varieties that have been grafted onto “Flying Dragon” rootsock to assure the tree stays small for your container.

A 20″ inch or 24″inch container will give your 15 gallon tree plenty of space to grow for at least 5 to 8 years.

Drip irrigation is essential if you don’t want to be a slave to watering your tree.

You want your soil to be moist but never saturated! Water when the top of the soil is slightly dry to the touch.

If you use terra cotta pots, you can expect your soil to dry especially fast.

Temperatures under 25 degrees can be detrimental to your citrus tree so if you experience a cold snap, move your citrus indoors to a bright, cool spot.

Follow fertilizing regimen during the growing season but curtail feeding when it starts to get cold. You don’t want to subject fragile, new growth to freezing temperatures.

Read more about citrus tree varieties and growers of dwarf citrus.

 

Dwarf Nectarines, Peaches, Plums and Apricots

 

“Stone fruit trees” like apricots, plums, nectarines and peaches can be grown in containers but have special chill requirements in order to set fruit.

On the other hand, they also need some heat to sweeten and ripen.

Oh yes, nectarines, peaches, plums and apricots come in dwarf varieties too! Select a container between 20″ and 24″ inches.

Plant in well draining soil and for convenience, use casters underneath the pot so you can move it around as needed to catch the sunlight.

Read more about stone fruit trees and specialty growers.

 

Figs

 

In Southern California, I’ve got lot’ of choices for fig tree varieties that do well in containers…and in my mouth!

I made a “to die for’ desert the other night with some “Brown Turkey” figs I have growing in my backyard.

I sliced the figs in half,  tucked  a pinch of blue cheese inside the pulp and  placed one walnut halve on top of it.

Microwave for 15 seconds and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Finger and plate licking good!

I felt like I was enjoying desert in some fancy restaurant.

I actually prefer to grow all my fig trees in pots because their growth, (which can be rampant) is kept in check

. Select a pot that is slightly wider and deeper than the rootball and you are good for at least 3 to 4 years.

Place in a sunny location and pray the squirrels don’t find  your fig tree.

My squirrels wait for the fruit to ripen before “harvesting” them so I have to race them to the tree…dang squirrels!

 

Read more about figs at Aaron’s Nursery website.

 

Time for me to rest.

I’ve planted more fruit trees than I can remember!

But what are you sitting around for? You have your instructions….go plant a fruit tree in your small yard!

 

 

Pick a nice looking planter too while  you’re at it and send me a photo.

I invite you to upload photos of your container fruit trees in the comment box below.

Just select “Add a video comment” and share your photo or video with your fellow “eden makers!”

 

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