Easiest Fruit-Bearing Plants that Grow Best in Containers
Many of us love the idea of growing our own fresh fruits and vegetables, but a lot of us just don’t have the room. That is where container gardening comes into play, but what are the easiest fruit-bearing plants that grow best in containers? Many different plants will flourish in containers as long as they are given the right conditions. This article will explore the many different fruit-bearing plants that can easily be grown in containers.
Pots can be quite expensive so I recommend repurposing as many different planters as you can. Buckets will do just fine too although they may not be as aesthetically pleasing, they will suffice as a home for your plants. Buckets can be found relatively inexpensive at most hardware stores. If you do go the bucket route, just make sure that you drill drainage holes in the bottom prior to planting.
Dollar stores typically will have a decent selection of small to medium-sized planters, but not much for larger ones.
The next obstacle to tackle in terms of container gardening is soil. You will be responsible to provide your plants with all of their nutrients so it’s best to start with some really rich soil. This can be done relatively easily with the right mixture.
Compost is one of the best, most nutrient-dense components that you can add to your soil mixture. It is wonderful if you have your own homemade compost brewing, but if you are not that fortunate, you can certainly purchase pre-made compost. If you are unsure how to make your own homemade compost there are plenty of tutorials online and I will offer a post in the near future to tackle that task for small areas.
You will also want to fertilize your plants with an all-purpose non-toxic fertilizer. I have used fish emulsion on all of my plants and I have had pretty good luck with it. It’s best to mix with water and spray the leaves in the mornings or evenings, but not recommended during the hot afternoon sun.
Fish emulsion is a bit stinky and if you are spraying the leaves indoors just be weary that anything you’re spraying near may end up wearing it too. I suggest taking the plants outside to be fertilized. I do this every so often during the year since I tend to get lazy and forget, but it is suggested to fertilize once per week.
Once you have your containers ready and your soil nice and rich, you are ready to choose which fruit-bearing plants you want to start growing. Let’s take a look at some fun-to-grow, easy and incredibly nutritious, fruit bearers that are perfect for containers.
Blueberry Bush
You’re probably thinking, that doesn’t really look like your typical blueberry bush. Well, you would be correct. This blueberry bush is called Pink Lemonade Blueberry Bush and it is stunning.
This beauty is consistently earning 5-star reviews for its flavor and ease of growth. The Pink Lemonade Blueberry is juicy and sweet and will continue to bear fruit all summer long as opposed to many other varieties that produce just one harvest.
These berries will turn pink when ripe and ready to be harvested. The berries also pack quite a vitamin punch too. Loaded with calcium, zinc, Vitamin K, magnesium, and phosphorus, they play a large role in strengthening bones and joints. They have a high volume of Vitamin C, which is known to boost the immune system, aid in the skin’s elasticity and even improve skin texture.
When selecting a location to plant your Blueberry bush, make sure it has full sun and drains well. The plant grows best in moist soil, but not overly wet. Blueberry plants require acidic, well-draining soil so make sure that your container has adequate drainage holes.
This plant can reach up to 4- feet so keep that in mind when determining what size container you will use to grow this beauty.
Raspberry Bush
Bushel and Berry Raspberry Shortcake Raspberry Bush is the perfect addition to your patio or balcony! This is not your typical viney, thorny raspberry bush, this plant grows compactly and does exceptionally well in pots. Mature height reaches about 3 ft and this bush, like most fruit-bearing plants, prefers full sun.
The use of a trellis would be helpful in supporting this plant, however, it’s not necessary. The best time to plant is early spring. You may need to net your berry trees because they will be just as appealing to your outdoor wildlife as they are to you!
Meyer Lemon Tree
Meyer lemon trees are a favorite among many plant lovers. The blooms smell amazing and will fill your patio or balcony with their lovely aroma.
Meyer lemon trees and bushes grow quite well in pots. They do love humid environments so if you live in a colder climate you will need to bring her in once the weather changes. You can mist her daily or add cups of water around to increase humidity.
My lemon tree drops almost every one of her leaves once the weather changes and I bring her indoors, but she manages to bloom every February-March. Not many leaves, but lots of sweet-smelling fragrant blossoms. Every year she blooms more and more!
As soon as the weather changes back, I put her back in my greenhouse and within a few weeks she is as full as can be. So don’t worry if this happens to yours too. Try to remain calm and don’t overwater as you may be tempted to do so and startled at the sight of all of her leaves falling off. She’ll make it through!
Although Meyer Lemons may seem a bit fussy, they are a lot tougher than they look. They also produce a nice size lemon, though it may seem to take FOREVER for them to turn into lemons, they look like limes for the majority of their growing time.
Apple Trees
Believe it or not, apple trees can grow in containers and they actually do quite well. Consider your zone and determine which apple tree you would like to grow based on your particular region.
Honey Crisp, Granny Smith and Gala are quite popular in the Northern United States. Fuji and Pink Lady are popular apple trees that are grown in the south while Mcintosh and Golden Delicious are popular varieties that are grown in the west.
Whatever region you are located in, consider growing one on your patio or in your yard.
Other varieties to consider are dwarf apple trees or columnar fruit trees, both keep a compact and manageable size while still producing an abundance of fruit! With almost effortless care, these are perfect for those with minimal space.
Clementine Tree
Growing a Clementine tree is almost identical to growing a Meyer Lemon. The Easy Peel Clementine Tree is a favorite of most growers. The fruit is sweet and virtually seedless and as the name suggests, is quite easy to peel.
The blooms smell incredibly fragrant and will leave your home smelling like you stepped into a jasmine orchard. Once done blooming, you’re on your way to sweet little clementine oranges. It really is so satisfying to be able to walk to your patio and pick your very own homegrown fruit, knowing exactly how it was grown and at the peak of freshness!
Olive Tree
There are many different varieties of olive trees but we will focus on the smaller varieties that are well-suited for container growing. One of the more popular varieties is the Mission Olive tree.
If you live in California feel free to plant this baby anywhere in your outdoor landscape and watch it soar up to 30 feet. If you are not, consider keeping it in a container where you can manage its growth. If you do live in a colder climate, it will need to be brought indoors when the temperatures drop.
Mission Olive Trees grow well in containers and produce a nice amount of olives and they even have relatively small pits which is a plus for me. How nice to have your very own homegrown olives and olive oil all within your own backyard.
Strawberries
There isn’t a more delightful fruit to grow in a container than strawberries. Everbearing Strawberries produce fruit well after spring. This plant is rather effortless to grow if it is already established.
I have purchased bare-root strawberries and they are a tad challenging to start if you don’t have much experience. They require a bit of technique when starting and a bit more TLC than many other plants that I have grown. Once established though, you should be in the clear.
Just keep in mind that these ruby red sweet treats are quite attractive to wildlife so it’s best to keep them above ground level if you can help it. Nothing like going to harvest your berries for your morning breakfast to see the pot has a bunch of berries that are half eaten.
These are cold hardy and very low maintenance and are easily grown in pots if given plenty of sunshine and nice rich soil.
There are many other fruit-bearing plants that will thrive in containers and if you are interested in learning about them fastgrowingtrees.com has any and every plant you could possibly imagine for any zone that you call home.
The growing season is soon upon us and I wish all of you a beautiful and flourishing spring!
Thank you for reading.
