The 6 Best Fruit Trees You Can Grow In Pots
You don't need a sprawling backyard to enjoy the sweet taste of home-grown fruit. If you're working with just a balcony or a modest patio, you can still cultivate a thriving garden. Container gardening isn't just great for space, it's also a fantastic way to control soil quality and move plants whenever you need. Here, we've compiled a list of fruit trees that grow happily in containers or pots, so you can have fresh produce at your fingertips all summer long.
Meyer Lemon
Everyone loves a classic Meyer lemon tree, and for good reason. They're a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange which gives them a sweeter and less acidic flavor than standard grocery store lemons. You’ll love the fragrant white blossoms that scent the air long before the fruit arrives. They need plenty of sun and consistent watering, just don't let their roots sit in soggy soil all the time.
Dwarf Peach
Nothing beats the taste of a sun-warmed peach right off the branch. Standard peach trees are too big for pots, but dwarf varieties like the Bonanza only grow to be a few feet tall. They offer spectacular pink blossoms in the spring followed by full-sized sweet fruit. You'll need to water them diligently as peaches are thirsty plants, especially in containers. You'll need to pick the fruit pretty regularly as to make sure the heavy branches don't break.
Kumquat
These little citrus gems are fun because you eat the whole fruit including the peel. The skin is sweet while the inside is tart, creating a unique flavor explosion. Kumquats are generally hardier than other citrus trees, but you'll still want to protect them from any harsh frosts or winds. They have a compact growth habit that looks naturally tidy in a pot. They’re prolific producers when they’re happy, so you'll have regular fruit all season long.
Brown Turkey Fig
Figs are actually perfect for containers because they appreciate having their roots constricted. It encourages them to produce fruit rather than just growing endless amounts of leaves. The Brown Turkey fig is a hardy variety and produces delicious fruit that turns a deep purple when ripe. You'll need a nice, sunny spot for the sweetest fruit and most consistent growth. Ensure the pot has heavy drainage as figs hate wet feet, but they’re otherwise quite forgiving.
Arbequina Olive
Olive trees bring a touch of the Mediterranean to your home. The Arbequina variety is well-suited for pots because it's slow-growing and handles pruning well. Even if you don't get a massive harvest the silvery-green foliage is stunning and sophisticated. They’re drought-tolerant once established, but need regular water in a pot to fruit, and you’ll need a very sunny location to keep this tree happy.
Dwarf Pomegranate
Pomegranates are beautiful shrubs that can be trained as small trees. Dwarf varieties like the Nana are excellent for containers because they stay small naturally and they produce vibrant orange-red trumpet flowers that attract pollinators. The fruit is smaller than store-bought pomegranates, but it's still edible and decorative. They love heat and sun so a south-facing spot is ideal. It’s a tough plant that can handle a bit of neglect, although consistent care yields the best results.
Growing fruit in pots is a journey of patience and care, but also one of joy once your hard work starts to yield results. It’s okay if you don't get a huge harvest in the first year. The process of nurturing a living thing is the real reward here. Start with one tree and see how it goes. You’ll learn a lot as you, and your tree, grow over the coming years.