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Container Gardening Fruit & Orchards

Success growing apricot or peaches in containers?

Travis in PHX (9b)

3 months ago

Hi all,
I purchased an apricot tree last fall with the intention of keeping it in a container, due to space and HOA constraints. I was under the impression that with proper pruning (top and root), I could keep this small and happy. I recently heard a trusted source (Ed Laivo) say that he doesn't think any stone fruit can do well in a container. He said they do well for about 3 years and then they start to dwindle. He said the rootstock are so vigorous and don't adapt well to container culture. He said root pruning will set the tree back about 2 years, so it becomes a self-defeating cycle. He said citrus are very adaptable to containers, but not stone fruit. He likened it to fish in a fishbowl. Some fish will adapt well to the smaller environment, and some won't. FWIW, Ed is a big name in the "small tree" movement so I know his perspective isn't coming from a place of ignorance regarding how to keep trees small.
Anyway, I'm less than 1 year into this apricot tree, so too early for me to tell, but I'm heartbroken at the thought of having to get rid of this tree so quickly. Can anyone confirm or refute Ed's assertion with their own experiences?

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Comments (7)

iochroma
3 months ago
There are true dwarf peaches that can live in a big container, and it should be a really big container, especially in AZ.

I'm not sure if they would get enough chilling hours in PHX to flower and fruit well. And you will want two different varieties for cross pollenation.

Citrus are way easier.
Travis in PHX (9b)
Original Author
3 months ago
Thanks for the input. I purchased my apricot and peach trees from a reputable, local grower and both varieties were recommended by my local Co-op, so I trust the varieties can do well in my location. I'm just not sure they can be kept in containers 😥.
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
3 months ago
Sure they can (be grown in containers). No problem. If you're confident in your ability to grow other woody plants in pots, those you mentioned won't be different enough to present any significant issues.

Al
Travis in PHX (9b) thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
Travis in PHX (9b)
Original Author
3 months ago
Thanks Al! I only have about 3 years experience, and that is mostly citrus, which I hear is easier than other types. I hope I can develop enough competency to make this work, although I'm encouraged that you think it is possible!
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
3 months ago
For the most part, woody plants (in containers) are more cohesive when it comes to what they want, than they are when it comes to what they will tolerate, though there are those with their own quirks. Almost all trees will grow well in a medium that allows you to water pretty much at will. If you can (but don't necessarily do) water on a schedule (as opposed to watering on an as-needed basis) you have a grow medium that's a keeper. Most fruiting trees like full sun, a 2:1:2 ratio fertilizer, and an acidic grow medium (around 5.5-6.0). About the fertilizer ..... good 2:1:2 ratio fertilizers (10-5-10 would be an example) aren't easy to find in packaging less than 50 lbs. If you're already using Foliage-Pro 9-3-6, just keep using it, but supplement the solution with half as much ProTeKt 0-0-3 as the 9-3-6. I.e., if you're using a teaspoon of 9-3-6 per gallon, use half that amount of ProTeKt 0-0-3. Be sure to read fertilizer packaging instructions so as to avoid the precipitation of ingredients that can occur when not mixing correctly. The inclusion of the ProTeKt is an excellent strategy for plants like hibiscus, which just generally needs more K than N, and fruit trees that want/need that extra measure of K when they arrive at sexual maturity/ begin fruiting.

When it's time to repot, I would repot the plant before it starts pushing new growth in spring. That way, the plant will wake up more gradually, with blooms and new leaves emerging as the root system is able to support the new growth. When repotting too late, it can have a bigger impact in blooms and fruiting.

Al
Travis in PHX (9b) thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
Travis in PHX (9b)
Original Author
3 months ago
Thank you! I have all my potted trees in a modified 5-1-1 and on a drip schedule that seems to work well. I have Osmocote Plus in the mix and supplement with Foliage Pro. I will admit, I used FP less during the last season since the drip system was working so well and it's a bear to water by hand in the Phoenix summers, but I plan to save one watering each week to do by hand and add FP. I have ProTeKt but I haven't used it much, so I'll include that in my weekly FP watering.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
3 months ago
Best luck, Travis.

Al

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