Fruit tree in pot 31 July 2008 at 11:01AM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 11 replies 2.6K views

mary43

We're thinking of growing a fruit tree in a container. I've looked through various catalogues (though not 'googled' yet) and wondered if anyone else grew fruit trees in containers and what were the best sort.
We're thinking apples, as we'd use them the most (eaters rather than cooking)

2cats1kid

My SIL used to have 2 apple trees in pots in her garden and they did well, but they have now grown too big for the pots and are planted out (and doing even better!).

katiel

I have a Stella cherry in a pot. It's in its second year and about 6 foot high now. I was delighted to get a crop this year.
Upside to fruit in a pot: easy to net from the birds (if only I'd remembered)
Downside: needs a tremendous amount of water and I keep forgetting, so it's showing signs of stress

frivolous_fay

I've got blueberry and blackcurrant in pots at the moment - too early to fruit, but they seem to be growing happily enough so far.

Farway

I have a Golden Delicious apple in a pot, been there two years and so far is ok and fruiting well, but time will tell no doubt

mary43

Thanks all. I'll discuss this with OH.............we both want apples as we know they'll get eaten

Farway

Of course the ideal fruit for a pot is a fig, the roots will be restricted, you can move it to shelter if need be, thrives on neglect and lack of water, and fresh figs are always expensive

I have one, but it is first year so nothing yet of course

olly300

If you want to grow a fruit tree in a pot you should either get a special patio variety i.e. apple, pear, cherry, kiwi or grow a fig tree that are happy living in pots.

I was reading/listening to a gardening article (I see if I can dig it up) where a woman grew a normal apple tree in a pot and after a few years it had started to look sickly. She was informed by the experts that as it was a normal sized apple tree if she wanted to keep it a live she needed to plant it in the ground asap so the roots wouldn't be restricted.

The cheapest place I found for patio apple trees last year was J Parker but other sellers also sell them like DT Brown.

mary43

Thanks olly I think we've got the J.Parker catalogue -came through the post the other day and thats what got us thinking about it (plus the plant in the pot at the moment has died a death and needs getting rid of)
I'll check whether the catalogues still about or been recycled. We get so many of them

nopot2pin

I was thinking of growing blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes in pots...

Does anyone know if there is anything special that needs to be done with these ??

Thanks

bettyboo1963

I bought 6 fruit trees from Ideal World the shopping channel earlier this year for the pricely sum of £35 inc P&P.
They all are supposed to only grow up to about 6 ft.
I have put them all in pots and am letting them get used to it and hope to have great crops next year.Although the eating apple DIVA has actually given me 3 lovely big apples which i am waiting to pick.
I got 1 conference pear, 1 Apple Diva, 1 Cherry Stella, 1 Bramley Apple , 1 Peach and 1 Plum.
I got loads of lovely blossom this year too, very pretty indeed.