Source
r/gardening•
Alentrish

Any fruit plants that can be potted?

Hello r/gardening!

I'm new here and very curious about gardening and plants and whatnot. I'll be moving out on my own in a while and would like to get some plants for my home, but that is not my question today.

I won't have an actual garden to plant anything in, so I was wondering if you lovely folks could tell me what kinds of fruit bearing plants would be suitable for keeping in pots. I'm living in itty bitty Belgium, which usually isn't as tropical as it is this year. (Seriously, where's my rain? D': )

I'm thinking things like blueberries, blackberries, possibly a grape vine? I'm just curious to know what's out there!

Thanks in advance!

Posted Jul 27, 2018, 9:33 AM UTC

311
GuyganN. New England zone 5b•

You can, but the plants won't grow very large, so you won't get as much fruit. Also, fruiting plants require a great deal of direct sunlight. You would need to grow them in an area that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight (not shaded by trees, buildings, etc.)

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AlentrishOP•

It's no problem if they don't grow as large. We also have a south-faced balcony, so they'd get more than plenty of sun.

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Fishes_Suspicious•

I am a big fan of my Calamondin, it's a colder hardy citrus. I have one that is currently flowering and doing fine in Vermont. They take to potting really well and flower year round. The down side is that the fruit takes a long time to ripen which always tests my patience.

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AlentrishOP•

Is Calamondin a dwarf version of mandarins? Sounds very nice if it is. Does it need a lot of care and watering? How big a pot is yours in? 😀

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Fishes_Suspicious•

Yes, it is a cross of a mandarin orange and a kumquat (according to wiki) which can be kept smaller in containers. The pot I have it in is 8inches wide and about 10inches tall (˜20cm w x 25.5cm tall - approximately, maybe a bit smaller)

I don't think it required any special care, but I have pruned it specifically to keep it bushier for the small pot I have it in. For basics I let it dry out fully before giving it a good soak weekly in the summer, monthly in the winter and make sure it is in partial to full sun.

The first year it flowered fine, but it didn't flower again until I gave it some fertilizers. Citrus apparently are a very hungry bunch so they will respond well to periodic fertilizing. I allowed the pot to dry out longer than usual (2 full weeks) before I fertilized this past month to force flowering. Fair warning it took 9-10 months where I lived in Massachusetts for the fruit to ripen fully.

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AlentrishOP•

Thanks a million for all the info! If I can get one I'll definitely use all your tips!

I'm going to make an educated guess that most fruit bearing plants are a pretty hungry bunch that need the periodic fertilizer, lol. I'm already planning out an irrigation system of sorts in the back of my head too x)

9-10 months is a hecking long ripening time though, I totally understand your impatience now.

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PerennialPangolinUS Zone 5a, VT•

There a few dwarf varieties of blueberry that are specifically marketed for container gardening. Top Hat is one that I know of. You’ll have to see what’s available in your area.

I believe strawberries of any variety can be pretty easily grown in containers.

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AlentrishOP•

Ah yes, strawberries. I hadn't thought of those yet!

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uzi53•

Ud b surprised what can b happy in a pot. Where I live zone 7 area u can gro, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, strawberries, bean/ peas plenty of herbs, sage rosemary lavender thyme. Woody perennials like blueberries, raspberries, and even dwarf fruit varieties of things like apples and peaches may do well if u have a big enough pot( like around 15 gal pot) and sun they should b happy.

Because they r in pots and will b in full sun u may also b surprised how much u have to water them. During a heat wave could b three times a day depending on the plant, soil, and size.

Don't cheap out on the soil. Container plants need the good stuff. Good luck

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AlentrishOP•

Hmm. You gave me much fruit for thought.

I might think out some kind of irrigation system to water them, depending on what plants I can get here. If another heat wave like this one strikes I'm doomed though 😅

Thanks about the tip about the soil. I wasn't planning on cheaping out, but I'll certainly keep it in mind.

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alienfromplanetZ•

Tomatos

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