Several fruit trees grow well in containers, making a usable harvest of fresh fruit every year. Fruit trees could be grown in a container because the climate is unsuitable for the in-ground tree, lack of growing space or the capacity to easily relocate the tree when you move. Containers permit the fruit trees to be moved under protection during harsh weather. The ideal container to use is the extent of a half-whiskey barrel on wheels. Dwarf tree varieties remain smaller than conventional varieties, which make them easier to grow in containers.

Temperate Fruit Trees

Temperate fruit trees typically require winter chilling in order to produce fruit during the summer. These containers do best if left out year round. “Black Jack” fig trees (Ficus carica “Black Jack”) produce sweet elongated purple fruit in the summer in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. This deciduous tree reaches 15 feet tall, but can be kept at 6 feet tall with annual pruning. This fig tree bears fruit in mild winter regions, unlike several different kinds of temperate fruit trees. “Tropic Gold” apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca “Tropic Gold”) develop best in USDA zones 7 through 9, reaching just 15 feet tall without trimming. This apricot variety produces fruit nicely in mild winter regions, because it only takes 350 hours of exposure to lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. Other temperate fruit trees to grow in containers include dwarf kinds of apples, peaches, plums and cherries.

Citrus Trees

Citrus trees develop as ornamentals in addition to having the benefit of producing fruit that is edible. Most of these trees don’t tolerate frost and need to be brought into warmer regions during winter. 1 suitable citrus fruit tree for containers is the “Dwarf Redblush” grapefruit tree (Citrus paradisi “Dwarf Redblush”), which rises as an evergreen in USDA zones 9 and 10 with a rich red colour flesh. The fruit ripens with this 8- to 12-foot-tall tree from the spring and winter. “Nagami” kumquat trees (Citrus kumquat “Nagami”) remain modest, reaching 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with dense branches covered with glowing orange tart-tasting fruit in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and 10. Lemons, limes and oranges grow well in containers too.

Tropical Fruit Trees

Tropical fruit trees enjoy mild winters, producing sweet fruit from warm temperatures. 1 tree good for containers is the pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana), which stays bullied in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, reaching 10 to 15 feet tall. Both the white thick petals of the blossoms and guava fruit are edible. Pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) reach around 20 feet tall when planted in the ground in USDA zones 8 through 11, but can be kept as brief as 6 ft tall when grown in a container. The reddish-orange flowers decorate the tree in the summer, while the orange-sized showy fruit show up in the fall. This tree stays evergreen if moved indoors during the winter.

Exotic Fruit Trees

Many kinds of exotic fruit trees grow well in containers. Exotic fruits are the kind of fruits that are rare in most produce sections of supermarkets. Jujube trees (Ziziphus jujuba) develop best outdoors in USDA zones 6 through 9, reaching around 30 feet tall in the wild. This tree grows little when planted in a container, producing yellowish-green blossoms in the spring and drupes the size of small plums after in the year. Handle this fruit tree with care because it’s thorny. Soursop trees (Annona muricata) is just another fruit tree that stays smaller when grown in containers, however, reaches around 20 feet tall in the wild in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. The showy yellow-green flowers appear in the summer followed by sour-tasting fruit reaching 6 to 12 inches long and 4 to 6 inches wide, weighing about 8 to 15 lbs. This evergreen tree is native to the tropical regions of South America.

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