You're having a hard time getting a definitive answer because there isn't one. The need for a larger container is progressive and depends on your skills at and dedication to pruning roots and the above-ground portion of the plant. A #3-size plant, left to its own devices, would quickly outgrow a 5 gallon container, after only a year or two, but a #3-size plant properly cared for and properly pruned might be productive in a 5 gallon container for many years. The soil you use also plays into the equation. You can't just plop a #3 plant in 10 gallons of heavy soil and expect it to grow robustly. You could, however, plop a #3 plant in 10 gallons of a well-aerated soil and it will thrive, if you meet its other cultural requirements. You would also need to describe the present size of the plant material. If they are liners, a half gallon container might be appropriate for this growing season, but if they are in 5 gallon nursery pots, you might be able to leave them in that container if they were recently bumped up in size or if they have tight roots you'll need to bump them up yourself. From what I offered, you should be at least starting to get a feel for how difficult it is to answer your question directly? Al The link I left below should provide some insight about maintaining woody material in containers. Here is a link that might be useful: Trees (and other woody stuff), in Containers

Ianna - what kinds of fruit trees did you keep in pots? I'd be interested in hearing about your experience. I'm in zone 7B, and am keeping fruit trees in pots for several reasons. I haven't been doing this for too long, so it is a learning experience. I'm in a duplex apartment, so things must be reasonably mobile. With fruit trees, it may be some years before seeing fruit (if ever), but I have several citrus (from a few inches to a few feet tall), several guavas (which seem very well-adapted to containers), feijoas, coconas (Solanum sessiliflorum). I keep trying other things - naranjilla, tamarillos, cherimoyas. They are attractive plants, and it's a lot of fun to research the plants, their needs, etc. There are a lot of folks on these forums doing fruit trees, but apart from citrus, there's very little discussion of fruit trees in containers, even though it is certainly doable with many plants. I think a lot of folks only consider the value of fruit trees if they are bearing fruit; however as houseplants, citrus, cherimoyas/annonas, feijoas, certain solanums (my cape gooseberries are blooming now!), and guavas are beautiful, striking plants, fruit or not.

I have grown Cape Gooseberries (Physalis peruviana) for the first time this year. I treated them like tomatoes ie started the seed indoors and then planted out the young plants when no more frost was likely. The soil is clayey with liberal homemade compost and some manure. They get reasonable light but certainly not sun all day. They appear unaffected by any pests or diseases in my climate and have grown into 2.5 - 3 foot tall bushes. I have them about 2 feet apart. They do not sprawl particularly although I have given most of them a few twiggy prunings to relax against if necessary. They are flowering well and have many fruits forming. The gamble is whether they will ripen before the weather becomes too cool, gloomy and damp. Verdict - in my climate it is easy to grow the plants but the fruit crop is touch and go. I am curious as to whether it will overwinter for me as it is a perennial. I rather doubt it.

Hi! So nice to see you're joining us. You won't worry about bottom drains if you put them on the side of the container ;-) Just take a sharp steak knife and add one stab per side, close to the bottom. TJs tom containers may have too many holes..you don't want to have too much drainage or ventilation because the moisture will drain and wick away to fast. You can tape over at least half of them with duct or packing tape. A favorite cheapo of mine for sowing toms is to use a styrafoam coffee cup. Put a hole in the bottom with a pencil and you can write the name on the rim with a ball point pen...like a bic. I like bics because the ink doesn't fade fast. And if it did, the name is still scribed into the cup. You can nest several cups into a tinfoil tray--add drainage to that, and then slip it all into a big baggie or even a grocery store bag. You need to put slits in that too. Or you can cover the cups with plastic wrap held on with tape or rubberbands. RBs may need replacing in a month or two because they break down in UV rays, but you'll have germination so fast that the point is moot. Use the link below to get some ideas of how I do it, but you can flex it to adapt any way you want with whatever you have on hand. T PS--if you need tom seeds hit the tomato SASE link on the page for the addy. Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Toms with WS