Given that I'm in a climate zone where these things do well, I'm probably not the best person to give advice. But I can endorse the idea of Chilean guava in a pot. Mine was permanently outdoors of course, but it flowered and fruited fine for several years before I was able to plant it in the garden. The flowering is late enough that it won't be troubled by being indoors etc until the frosts have passed, and it doesn't require a long season to fruit. I don't know what level of frost it will tolerate - certainly some, but the places it grows best are cool and windy, so not frosty. There is also at least one feijoa variety that can be grown and fruited in a pot (the self-fertile Unique), but it is probably still too big to be moved inside, unlike the Chilean guava which is small. I don't have the space for kiwifruit or the climate for pomegranate (not hot enough in summer), so I can't help with those.

Mariou, What region of the country are in? Most California rosarians do not have to deal with the rampant black spot typical in my zone 6b garden. Their biggest problem is mildew. If you garden in the Mid-Atlantic, for example, you will have to contend with the worst fungal pressures in the country. Roses that are completely clean - no spray - in places like Petaluma CA will defoliate elsewhere. I do not have Julia Child but I have grown Happy Child for years. It is pretty little rose, approximately 2.5 feet tall with an loose, open growth habit. Good repeat bloom and truly lovely flowers. Fragrance is moderate to strong, and Tea-like. The foliage is rather unusual looking, resembling spinach leaves. In my region black spot can be a problem but is resistant to other fungal diseases. To prevent defoliation you would have to spray it with a fungicide every two weeks to control the black spot. About my only real complaint is the vigor. Without disbudding during years one and two, an own root plant will limp along never maturing. It is also a wee bit more sensitive to the cold than your typical English Rose. I lost one during a particularly cold winter, which I quickly replaced in the spring. You would too if you ever saw the blossoms. The yellow color is extremely pure without any secondary tones. Very few roses combine fragrance with such clear, canary yellow color. You can purchase an own root plant of HAPPY CHILD online from Heirloom Roses. Good luck, Patrick

John Spain ". He lives in Connecticut. It addresses the fundamentals of ground prep. This one was written in 1965 so it has been around for awhile. It is more of a pamphlet. Leo's is a full on book. Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Winter Hardy Cactus in Cold/Wet Climates

Needle palms are the most cold tolerant so that's the best place to start looking. No matter what you read, they are only reliably cold hardy in zone 7 and up. They will handle subzero temperatures when older, but cold winters in zone 7 can have subzero temperatures which is why I think that they are probably safest there. But with protection, you can grow a ton of palms in a zone 5b (and by a ton I mean a few haha). Really it all depends on how much protection you are willing to give your palms. Most cold hardy palms are also hardy to many other things and are very tolerant of being given winter protection without ill effects. Windmill palms, Sabal minors, and European fan palms are just a few other examples of palms that are very cold tolerant. With the right protection, you will have no problem with those and even more tender plants. Check out Jim's pics. He lives in a zone 5 also and is growing a ton of incredible things. Good luck! -Alex