5 tips for potted fruit

By growing your fruit trees in pots, you can add another dimension to your edible garden. Fruit trees like lemons, oranges, apples, figs, berries and even bananas can be grown in pots. Here are 5 tips to remember when potting up a fruit tree:

1. Choose the correct pot

The roots will need space to grow, so choose a big enough pot, not smaller than 20cm. You can at a later stage repot your tree if needed. Make sure the pot has adequate drainage holes.
 

2. Good soil

For very large pots, fill the bottom with empty plastic bottles so you need less soil. This will also make the pots lighter when they require moving, such as into shelter from the harsh winter weather. Add a good potting soil with a couple of handfuls of organic fertiliser for fruit trees and a handful of supersphosphate or bonemeal.
 

3. Mulch and water

Add a layer of mulch to the top of the soil, leaving space around the stem of the tree to prevent rotting. This will keep the moisture in the soil and reduce the need for watering. Fruit trees need to be watered well, but not waterlogged.
 

4. Position well

Fruit trees need at least 6 – 7 hours of sunlight per day. Position to receive the optimum amount of sun in the summer, and move in winter if necessary.
 

5. Feeding

Add a monthly dose of fruit-tree-specific fertiliser and water in well to get the best from your trees.