How to Grow Fruit Trees in Pots

Growing fruit trees in pots allow you to have them in paved areas and unlikely garden spaces. So you can grow your own fruity harvest in the smallest of spaces!

Choosing the right pot

To grow a decent, fruit-bearing tree, it is recommended that you use a pot at least 40cm in size, depending on the size the tree is likely to be when it reaches maturity. Once potted up, a pot this size can be difficult to move once it contains potting mix, so it’s best to carefully consider the position of your tree before potting it up.

Plant Position

Fruit trees need good levels of sunlight to perform well and bear fruit, so position your tree where it will receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.

Watering

Any plants grown in pots will be more vulnerable to dry-out than plants grown in the ground. They will also be more susceptible to extremes of temperature. Large pots can also have problems with drainage and waterlogging if the wrong type of potting mix is used.

Unlike those grown in the ground, which can access water and nutrients from considerable distances, plants grown in pots depend on the potting mix for all their nutritional needs. This means a quality potting mix is vital and is a wise investment in ensuring the success of your tree. A high-quality potting mix like Searles Platinum Potting Mix is recommended.

While established fruit trees in the ground should only need watering once a week during very hot, dry weather, the same trees grown in pots must be watered at least a couple of times a week in similar circumstances. While they’re still establishing, potted fruit trees will need watering at least once daily in hot, dry conditions. Even at cooler times of year, potted trees will need more watering than those in the ground. This extra watering can cause leaching of nutrients from the potting mix, which means it is also necessary to feed plants more regularly. Apply Searles 5 IN 1 Fruit & Flower — an excellent organic plant food — at the beginning of spring and the end of summer for best results.

Choosing the right fruit tree for the job

Fruit trees that don’t grow too big or too fast are the best candidates for growing in pots. Some good choices are the dwarf lemon tree, ‘Lots a Lemons’, grafted dwarf oranges, Kaffir lime, table grapes, dwarf mulberry (featured above), dwarf pomegranate, dwarf peaches, blueberries, sweet Jiro dwarf persimmon, feijoa, Brazilian cherry and strawberry guava.

Pruning

Potted fruit trees can benefit from annual pruning to make sure they stay compact.

 Part 1: How to Grow Potted Lemon Trees How to Grow Garlic in Pots How to Grow Ginger in Pots