Potted fruit trees: how to grow them

Growing and watching a tree grow that bears fruit that we can enjoy is an experience that all gardening lovers long for sooner or later. However, it is normal to think that in order to plant an apple or an orange tree, a large garden with a lot of land is necessary. Well, this is not entirely true. Many fruit trees can be planted in pots, some of them are even good-sized species when they are outdoors. In fact, the practice of planting fruit trees in pots is very old, and it began to be used to beautify and delimit paths in gardens.

If you want to learn more about how to grow potted fruit trees , join us in this article. Remember that small fruit trees bear less fruit, but not of smaller size or quality! Do you dare to grow them in your pots?

What are the best fruit trees for pots

There are many fruit trees that, either because of their size or because of their other characteristics, are suitable for planting in pots and placing them on a balcony, terrace or garden. However, there are a few that are by far the most popular in this regard. Among the best fruit trees to have in pots we highlight:

  • Peach tree: it can be planted throughout the year if you buy them in a container, but if you are going to buy a bare root peach tree, plant it in early spring, after the first frosts, or in autumn. Another option is to germinate the peach or peach seeds to get your tree having planted it yourself.
  • Pear tree : this tree adapts to many climates and conditions, although it welcomes environments with some humidity. It resists the cold quite well, although not so much the heat.
  • Apple tree: one of the potted fruit trees par excellence. Although the apple tree will grow much less in a pot, its fruits will still be just as large, so you can have a source of tasty apples in very little space. 
  • Lemon tree: many of you will have seen lemon trees in large pots on terraces or balconies. These trees do not require excessive care, and will allow you to enjoy the flavor of lemons as you have rarely tasted. They need slightly acidic soil, for which you can add a marl base to the substrate.
Potted Fruit Trees: How To Grow Them - What Are The Best Potted Fruit Trees

Potted fruit trees: can they be kept indoors?

If it’s posible. But there are some considerations to keep in mind. The first of these is that some fruit trees require large amounts of sun and light, while others can thrive in semi-shady conditions. The latter may be suitable to have them indoors, but only if you place them in a very bright room and near a window . Remember that these are trees after all, and in very low light they will rarely grow well.

The other is that, in fact, if the winters are cold in your climate, it is very possible that you will have to shelter your fruit trees indoors. Container or potted trees are less resistant than in their natural state, and strong wind currents and cold can do a lot of damage even to species that would normally support them.

Potted fruit trees: how to grow them - Potted fruit trees: can they be kept indoors?

How to grow potted fruit trees

If you have already decided what types of fruit trees to have, follow these tips to care for and grow potted fruit trees

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Substratum

Most fruit trees do not tolerate excess humidity or puddles well. To avoid future complications, you must prepare a substrate with a very good drainage for them, in which you prepare a base with gravel, volcanic clay or some other similar material. Adding pearlite to the mix will help in this regard as well.

Watering potted fruit trees

As we have just said, avoid waterlogging, but don’t skimp too much on watering because almost all fruit trees need good humidity levels. To maintain this delicate balance, be consistent with your waterings, and check the moisture level of the substrate before watering, checking that it is almost dry, but not completely. If you can, water with lime-free water.

Location

The pots must, of course, be large enough for the species they are going to host. It is a good idea to choose a strong material with a solid base, as when the tree grows it could easily become unbalanced.

Fruit tree pruning

Since you will need them not to open very much so that they do not occupy all the space that they would take outdoors, training and maintenance pruning are especially important in these cases. Make sure its branches grow properly and that the tree maintains the desired structure.

Potted fruit trees: how to grow them

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