I grow genetic dwarf peaches in pots. I would never try even a semi dwarf, let alone a standard, in a pot on a deck. No the rootball is not the same size at all. You would need a mighty big pot to keep a standard peach tree, however heavily pruned, content in a pot. Then there's how much of the deck you can let it take up - not the whole thing I'm sure. Now if you have one of those huge landscape-size concrete planters that office parks use then you could try a semi dwarf. I have used half oak barrels, and then switched to a garbage can on wheels because of my dog jumping into the half barrels and dig dig dig dig digging. Happy dog! unhappy trees. Punch holes in the bottom of the garbage can with a nail for drainage, and redo the holes every year. That worked out very well, trees happy, nice fruit, dog couldn't get in, and I could easily move them around. Right now I have a relatively new one in a standard sized deck pot that will be moved up as it grows. I don't like to put them in a huge pot right away but size the pot to the current size of the root system. Yes, as with any woody plant in a pot, you will need to do root pruning every few years once it gets as big as you want it to. That's how bonsai are kept small for decades and centuries. I've found when pruning trees that they grow to the size they're meant to be. The harder you prune them to keep them smaller, the harder they work at growing back to the size they want to be. Blueberries get pretty big too, but I do have one in a pot. Don't get much off it. Self fertile, but it wants to be bigger. That's another important consideration when growing fruit in pots - pollinating varieties. Go for self fertile when possible. Genetic dwarf peaches have that advantage over most other peaches. I had a pineapple guava in a pot for a while but it didn't do all that well - it had to stay small enough to move inside in the winter, which is when the fruit would ripen in this cool summer climate, and they just don't like being kept that small. Meyer lemons do well for that if you have a suitable place inside. Other citrus get too big. I had a rangpur lime for a while, but it was borderline size wise - hard to bring inside, and barely gave enough fruit. This year I'm trying a couple of mini dwarf apples in pots too. Most everything else in fruit, gets too big in my opinion and experience. Unless you're talking the landscape sized containers, and those aren't very practical for the home gardener without an estate. Since most fruit trees are grafted at the bottom of the trunk, you could experiment with trees on semi dwarfing root stock and whack the tops off to force branching at a low level. Look for rootstocks that are very dwarfing. I might try that some year with a stanley prune or a stella cherry. Something self fertile and normally rather compact growing. They'd definitely need the garbage can size pots, and a home that won't move anytime...

Great pics guys! Love seeing the peaches you have growing in your gardens ;-) -blondiesc, nice daylily and balloon flower combo! I have a daylily similar to that called 'Abstract Art'. Never thought I would like such a pale color, but now it is my favorite! -GGG, forgot about the peach colored 'Cameo' quince! I love that thing. I got a tiny start from a patch of them in town years ago, but was lucky enough to find a bigger one for $10 this spring! I would love to see your Peach Bed sometime... -Cindy, those are really nice Dahlias- particularly like that 'Gabrielle Marie'. No, don't have any dahlias. Had a whole bunch of them at one time, but hated having to dig them up every year. I am such a lazy gardener, LOL! CMK

GGG or FL (???) Sounds like a trip of a life time. Glad you returned safe to a loving hubby who cared enough to take care of things in your absence. Shame on him if you had returned to find droopy plants... I am not much of trip type guy either although we did take a week trip about 3 years ago up to the Smokey Mountains and to the Biltmore House. That place is amazing! Sampled their wine, but too dry for my taste. Guess I prefer the homemade wine... I am not very cultured. Wow! 18 hours of daylight! How did your body adjust to it? Next time be sure ESH goes along... she is good at stomping to let the critters know you're coming and I consider her the resident native plant expert. When she starts about those plants... I can understand a few words like AND, BLOOM... that's about it... lol It's heck to be a big dummy like me :( Saw on the news this morning where 2 young ladies had gotten off the hiking trail and survived about a week in the Alaskan wild. That must have been a hair raising experience... Good to see you back safe and sound. Photos always welcome.. (hint hint) Shot

PEACHY POLKA-DOT CRUMB PIE 1 unbaked 10" deep-dish pie shell 2 1/2 cups sliced fresh peaches 1/2 cup blueberries 2 cups sugar 1 1/3 cups flour 1/8 tsp salt 1/2 cup sour cream 2 eggs, beaten 1 stick butter Sliced fresh peaches for garnish Fresh blueberries for garnish Preheat oven to 350°. combine the 2 1/2 cups peaches & 1/2 cup blueberries; spoon into the pie shell. Combine 1 cup of the sugar, 1/3 cup of the flour & the salt in a bowl & mix well. Stir in the sour cream & beaten eggs. Spoon over the fruit in the pie shell. Mix the remaining 1 cup flour & 1 cup sugar in a bowl. Cut in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the top. Bake 55-60 minutes or until b rowned. Garnish w/sliced peaches & blueberries.~~Southern on Occasion *I've used drained, thawed frozen peaches for this.