The worst thing to do with a 2" up calibre tree is to let it fruit the first season, unless it comes with about a half ton of dirt. I'm sorry, but if you're impatient plant some blackberries or fall bearing raspberries. Part of my business is selling bearing age fruit trees in the southeastern NY area to impatient and usually wealthy customers. I instruct them to remove all flowers the first year because a transplanted tree that has started to fruit is tougher to get established than a sexually immature bare root. Next years flowers and this years fruit take a lot of energy to make, and it comes at the expense of root growth. You can't stop a mature tree from making next year's flowers but at least you should remove this year's (or the fruit as soon as it forms). I have potted trees in 15 gallon pots, but I even like them to get a lot of root in the ground before cropping them. Incidentally, I don't ship.

Hey no problem I love her (her name is pam) she has all sorts of goodies and always sells out of most items.. if you get a chance her goat milk soap is AWESOME as well :) Here is a link that might be useful: I did a post about her awhile ago.. might be worth it for everyone to check out

Tom, do they like constant moisture, ie, should one go in a SWC? Brenie, these are perennial...I'd just put them in the ground. I doubt they'd do any better than grape vines would in an SWC. Beautiful! My two are rotting. One has a 3" shoot and the other, with the worst rot, just barely has the growth showing. Sigh..... V, if you see rot that fruit/seed is history but don't give up, maybe it's the variety you bought. If you want I'll buy five more from SweetBay and see how it goes. They were only 59 cents each. If I get them started you can come over to the VA hospital and pick them up...just let me know. Tom

As amber said, welcome to Tampa, and USF. I'm a recent graduate myself. Anyway, you have some good suggestions going so far, especially the botanical gardens on campus. You will probably find lots of stuff perfect for balcony space there. You might try Treemart, which is on Nebraska between Fletcher and Fowler. If you want to go a bit further, there are a ton of nurseries on Gunn highway north of Citrus Park. Tampa Bay Nursery, which is out there, is one of my favorites. good luck and congrats on your own garden space!