Best fruit trees for pots

Princess_Money_Penny · 27 December 2018 at 10:45AM

I’m looking for recommendations for the best fruit trees to grow in a large pot. We may/may not be moving this time next year but I would like to get my tree growing started this year. I’m looking for an eating apple and a pear. I’d also like to grow them using the espalier method. It’s a big ask but I’d like to know best variety and also how big a pot?

DaftyDuck · 27 December 2018 at 11:32AM

It's going to need to be grafted on a dwarfing rootstock, like MM27 if you grow apples, if it needs to be in a pot permanently. The variety can be based mainly on personal preference.

You can use a larger rootstock if you grow as an espalier, but you will need a large pot... say two feet across, but more than that deep.

Many suppliers of patio fruit trees... Most are about the same quality, so don't be price led. Better if you can buy one you have seen, and like the shape.act

Sadly, they do always do better direct in the ground.

Farway · 27 December 2018 at 11:41AM

The main factor limiting size & suitability is the root stock they will be grafted onto
Details here
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=359

If you will only have one variety of each then self fertile or not will be the next consideration, no point having a lovely espalier that never sets fruit due to lack of pollination

With the above in mind this will whittle down your choices, often due to availability , but still give a big choice

Personally I would chose from a variety that is not readily available in greengrocers, but DYO research,suitable in your area for instance? May thrive in Dorset but not Dundee

Princess_Money_Penny · 27 December 2018 at 11:52AM

Thank you that’s two things I’ve not thought about yet

I’m in East Yorkshire if that makes any difference? Our garden in quite sunny too.

savemoney · 27 December 2018 at 11:57AM

You can get trees design for pots.I grow a cherry tree called kordio in one I think you can get other types of trees even on growing different fruit on each branch but it always depends as said on what the root stock is.

I got mine from J Parkers

https://www.jparkers.co.uk/fruits-vegetables/fruit-trees/patio-dwarf-fruit-trees

I am also growing some blackcurrants in some pots as of this year I am using 35litre pots the sort you grow spuds in

Farway · 27 December 2018 at 5:11PM

Princess_Money_Penny wrote: »

Thank you that’s two things I’ve not thought about yet

I’m in East Yorkshire if that makes any difference? Our garden in quite sunny too.

It may make a difference, some varieties are real softy southerners, others will relish your cooler conditions

A good supplier should have that locality information available

francohoops · 1 January 2019 at 9:58PM

Hi
I’m interested in the kordio cherry tree. Do they produce much fruit? Is normal compost ok or do you need a special type? Any other advice re this tree?
Thanks
F

savemoney · 2 January 2019 at 1:54PM

It took 3 years to fruit but in 3rd year I moved the tree as it was partial in the shade. It was original on allotment until I took it home. In 3rd year didn't get much fruit but I think this year might be better. Normal compost would be fine I do feed it though. I have a few cherry trees on allotment raised from bare root trees

francohoops wrote: »

Hi
I’m interested in the kordio cherry tree. Do they produce much fruit? Is normal compost ok or do you need a special type? Any other advice re this tree?
Thanks
F

JRRoberts · 19 July 2020 at 3:23PM

I have tried about 2 dozen nurseries over the last few years, buying about fruit 100 trees. Price with quality, the winners for us have been blackmoore for "normal" fruit trees and hillbillypawpaws.com for exotice type fruit trees. Many of the others send small trees that don't thrive or falsely state what they are.

Best fruit trees for pots

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