Hi, I don't mean to derail this thread - coincidentally I began some research into DF yesterday. @Matt z5b - Greenhouse 10a you wrote "good to go if it's as high as you want it". Can the opposite work, i.e. "be as short as you want it" ? I have certain height restrictions, and everything I've read on the internet so far shows DF tied to a single, tall pole (6-8ft) which then branches out at the top to let the DF spread out like a fountain. Could I keep it at 3ft? 4ft? What would be the recommended minimum?

Many thanks, and sorry for the diversion to the OP.

It can work either way. Yes! If you want to do the umbrella form I would let it get 3 feet or so. I just let mine die in the snow this year. I had it 4-5 years and no fruit so I wasn't wasting any more of my time with it. In higher zones 9-10 and up it takes less time.

@Matt z5b - Greenhouse 10a okay, thank you! Are there other ways to grow them? Just let them branch out, like orchid cactuses / epiphyllums? Hanging pots and draping over/down?

This is one I have at the end of my driveway, supports are about 3-4 feet.

Thats a neat little support. Don't people try to steal the fruit being that close to the street?

Steal the fruit? geez is America really that bad. Not too many Americans will know there's fruit to follow. LOL

Oh they totally steal fruit, not too mention kids will pick it to throw at each other and at cars. Where I live now, its 4 acres so I have all my fruit trees in the back way off the street. At a different house, we had citrus and Prickly pear out by the street and people would strip the trees and the prickly pear fruit. Kids would whack the prickly pear pads with big sticks and tear them up just for the heck of it, I guess. Glad I don't live there any longer.