Growing fruit in containers

Dixie Sandborn<dixie@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

There are many fruits available that are being bred specifically to grow in containers.

Over the past few years container gardening has taken on a life of its own. Gone are the days of the hanging basket of impatiens. Not really gone, but certainly upgraded.

Container plantings have taken on a whole new meaning in the past decade, perennials, trees, vegetables and even fruit. There are many fruits available that are being bred specifically to grow in containers.

Michigan State University Extension says that columnar apple and peach trees that grow only 10 feet high and 18 inches wide can easily squeeze onto a balcony or deck. Blueberries, boysenberries and currents would look great on the back yard patio. The good old fashion strawberry pot is as popular as ever. This list could go on and on. The fruit and container combinations are almost endless.

The secret to growing great fruit in containers is like any other container plant. Select the right plants for the area, considering the amount of sun and shade available. The soil and feeding requirements of the selected plants need to be maintained. Adjusting the pH is very important for fruiting crops. Watering needs to be done on a regular basis, usually every day, as container plants tend to dry out faster than plants that have been conventionally.

Take some time this spring and shop the garden centers or browse current plant catalogs for ideas on growing fruit in containers. Bring your container gardening to a whole new and tasty level.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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