"David E. Ross" wrote in message
news
On 2/17/2008 1:41 PM, danny22 wrote:
hi all, quick query. my brother bought me two fruit trees, apple and
pear, about five foot tall. problem is, i have absolutely nowhere to
put them in my garden!!! would the survive in huge pots? just for a
couple of years until i move house. i know they're meant to be in the
ground but there is nowhere i could put them in the ground! i really
like them and id rather not have to give them up!

thanks to anyone who can help!

danny

If you have really large pots (e.g., 2 ft in diameter at the top and at
least 2 ft deep), you might be able to keep them for a few years. I
would not leave the trees in pots once their trunks are 3-4 inches in
diameter.

You will need a fast-draining potting mix. Of course, I recommend my
own do-it-yourself recipe at
http://www.rossde.com/garden/garden_potting_mix.html.

Also, you will have to keep the tops trimmed more than usual so that the
foliage does not exceed the ability of constrained roots to supply
moisture.

Gosh, wonder what I have been doing wrong with my container grown 3 way
apple and peach tree on my NW facing third floor balcony. I have them in
round plastic tubs, about 20" across and 18" deep. I used potting soil on
sale at Home Depot when I planted them eight years ago and they are healthy
and produce beautifully each year. The second year I had them I did use an
oil spray on them. Too messy and it stinks right outside my living room door
(my balcony is only 7' x 8') so I stopped that. Since then I just hand pick
the few nasties I see that the birds have missed. I have some bird feeders
in these trees and I read and have been told I'm not supposed to do that
either but it hasn't proven detrimental. I have very minimal loss due to
bird damage. Other than tossing some alfalfa meal on top of the soil in the
early spring and a few foliar feeds of kelp early A.M. from April to August
they don't get any kind of special care. I do water them a few times a week
or more during the heat of summer if they look dry. A light, quick pruning
only if a branch is growing in an un-esthetically pleasing direction. I've
had a gorgeous tree peony in a similar sized pot for twelve years now. It's
also thriving with very similar care. I must be holding my mouth right or
something in Zone 8b.



Val