Does anyone have fruit trees in pots??

[vegtable newbie!]

Good afternoon.

Does anyone have fruit trees in pots in their garden? If so where did you get them from and are you pleased with them?
Thanks
Sue
x

[FB.]

You can grow some types of fruit trees in pots.
There are certain rootstocks that you should look for. The rootstock partially controls the growth rate and mature age of the plant.

Apples are by far the easiest to grow in a pot. Look for varieties grafted onto rootstock M27. It could be kept at a height/spread of 2ft, although it would be happier being allowed to reach 3-4ft. Additionally, certain varieties of apple are naturally quite dwarf, while others (such as Bramley) are natural giants (and/or tip-bearers) and not really suited to pots.
There are many good varieties of apples, depending on what time of year you want them to ripen and what flavours and types you want. However, I would avoid canker-prone varieties for pot-growing.

Pears on rootstock Quince C would be another fairly easy-to-grow option. A variety such as "Conference" or "Concorde" would make a good potted tree.

Plums and Cherries are less good in pots. They dislike pruning and can be troubled with canker, but will grow quite large if not pruned.

If you only want the one tree, it is probably just as well to buy one form a local nursery or garden centre. You can buy them cheaper mail-order, but they are younger and there are courier fees and you will not be able to see the tree before it arrives.

[vegtable newbie!]

Thank you very very much

sue
x

[sarraceniac]

Have you thought of 'family trees' VN. If you don't get the right tree you need a pollinator from a diferent type of tree. For example I love Cox's Orange but I use Granny Smith as a pollinator and I just bought a russet which fits in with either.

But if you are growing in a pot it usually means you have space problems. But a family tree has maybe 3 different types of tree grafted onto one root stock and the varieties pollinate each other.

If you don't actually take the magazine then try to get hold of 'Grow Your Own' mags from October and November. I wish to state that I have no connection with the magazine or this web site at all but their articles on this subject will answer all your questions. They did mine.

[miffy]

I have some crab apples in large half barrels in back garden, they have been really happy once we had drilled holes for drainage. You can get dwarf root stock apples too which are sold as suitable for pots. Some are self pollinating too. Good luck with your trees.

[Mcbee]

i bought an Egromont Russet 2day from Wyevale for £5 from £25!

Its called "Coronet" and seems to be on dwarf rootstock so I'm going to give it a go in a 30ltr container. Fingers crossed!!

[vegtable newbie!]

thats a bargain!! I love russet apples - i hope it goes well.

sue
xx

[sarraceniac]

Hope there is a pollinator for it near you Mcbee. That is a great price.

[Mcbee]

Hope there is a pollinator for it near you Mcbee. That is a great price.

I've got a Crawley Beauty which might be a bit late for it, but there are plenty of apples nearby so hopeful they'll coincide with blossom etc. Otherwise, it might not be such a bargain

[sarraceniac]

Reckon you should be OK. I don't know that one (there are about 2,000 different apples) but russets are never exactly the end of August are they? Lol

[FB.]

thats a bargain!! I love russet apples - i hope it goes well.

sue
xx

Egremont Russet (as seen in the shops in recent weeks) and many of the other russets are natural semi-dwarfs and very disease resistant. Egremont Russet (or a family tree that includes E.R.) on rootstock M27 would be at the top of my list.

[FB.]

I've got a Crawley Beauty which might be a bit late for it, but there are plenty of apples nearby so hopeful they'll coincide with blossom etc. Otherwise, it might not be such a bargain

Egremont Russet is one of the earliest flowering apples, whereas Crawley Beauty is one of the latest. I have both and the Egremont has completely finished it's flowering at least a week before the first Crawley flowers open.
Fortunately, it is reckoned that both E.R. and C.B. are partially self-fertile. The vast quantities of blossom that they produce probably helps get enough pips fertilised from their own pollen for a satisfactory crop.

[maytreefrannie]

i bought an Egromont Russet 2day from Wyevale for £5 from £25!

Its called "Coronet" and seems to be on dwarf rootstock so I'm going to give it a go in a 30ltr container. Fingers crossed!!

I've heard of the "Coronet" variety as one that grows and does well in a container. Best of luck.

[bramble]

I have a Victoria plum in a large half barrell, also a Morello cherry. I have them both about 5 years now but they are not producing as well as they were in the first few years. I will keep them for this coming season, as it could well be the last two summers being so awful did'nt help them.

[Tam]

I have two figs in two pots - I move them in to the greenhouse during the winter. They fruit much better if you restrict the roots, so growing in a pot is one way of doing this. I have quite a number of apple trees and would go along with Egremont Russet as being quite a star. Sunset would be one that would also do you well and I think it is the prettiest of the dessert apples - it is often grown as a decorative, although the taste is superb. Pitmaston Pineapple is, however, my favourite for flavour.