Growing in pots

[Kimbo]

Anyone tried growing gooseberries, reducrrant, blackcurrant or tayberry in large pots (ie the flower buckets from morrisons)?

I have one of each but dont really have the spare ground this year and wondered if they would grow ok in the buckets.

[Eden]

Hi there,
I have all of the above in pots and they do fine, just remember to feed and water regularly. For the Tayberry I stuck 5 large 6 foot canes around the edge of the pot (which is about twice the size of a black bucket) evenly spaced. As the Tayberry grows I wind it round as horizontally as possible so the it spirals round and round and up and up. Works pretty well so far. I also have 3 apple trees, a plum, and a damson in large black pots and they do fine aswell, so good luck!
best wishes
eden

[jeannine]

If you find watering your pots is a pain in the height of summer you can always buy an automatic watering kit from Hozelock - I enjoy walking round with a watering can after work, but it can take ages, so this summer I'm going to give in to technology!

[sunflower]

Hi Eden, you sayyou have several fruit trees growing in pots. This morning I have acquired 2 conference pear trees, 4foot high and in blossom. Seriously thinking of growing them in pots. How large and deep do the pots need to be? Also, I vaguely remember reading somewhere that you need to trim the roots? time of year? Any info would be grateful from anyone please.

[Eden]

Hi there!
It was my dad that got about 10 great big black pots, they are about 18" deep and 24" across. I stuck my fruit trees in them as I knew we'd be moving in the nearish future. I don't know about trimming the roots as when I bought the trees they had small root balls which easily fitted into the pot, but I have heard about this before, kind of reverse bonsai! I think it restricts their growth. I don't know what the long term affect will be on the trees, probably pot bound with the roots going round and round unless you can plant it in even bigger pots! I ripped out our old copper emmersian (sp?) heater, (the big thing in the cupboard that you have to put a jacket on to keep the hot water hot) and foolishly took it to the scrap yard, it would have made a great giant plant pot cut in half!!! Perhaps those great big blue barrels cut in half would make great tree pots? They might not look that brilliant though!
good luck!

[sunflower]

Hi Eden, Thanks for your reply and thoughts about growing fruit trees in pots. I had'nt considered the roots becoming potbound! So maybe I would have to repot every two years or so. Anyway, up to trying anything once. Thanks again.

[southlondongardener]

Hi there,
I have all of the above in pots and they do fine, just remember to feed and water regularly. For the Tayberry I stuck 5 large 6 foot canes around the edge of the pot (which is about twice the size of a black bucket) evenly spaced. As the Tayberry grows I wind it round as horizontally as possible so the it spirals round and round and up and up. Works pretty well so far. I also have 3 apple trees, a plum, and a damson in large black pots and they do fine aswell, so good luck!
best wishes
eden

How often and with what do you feed them on ?

[bluemoon]

Hi Eden, you sayyou have several fruit trees growing in pots. This morning I have acquired 2 conference pear trees, 4foot high and in blossom. Seriously thinking of growing them in pots. How large and deep do the pots need to be? Also, I vaguely remember reading somewhere that you need to trim the roots? time of year? Any info would be grateful from anyone please.

If you trim the roots when re-potting it needs to be done round about now, but always trim back the top growth by an equal amount.