Part of sustainable living is being able to supply your own food, and fruit is a big part of a healthy diet.

Some easy fruit trees to grow in pots, (if you have a small garden or even just a balcony), are:

loquats

small citrus trees like "meyer" lemon, kumquats, limes and mandarins.

quince trees and pomegranate

pepinos

dwarf apples, pears, nectarines, peaches, apricots and plums.

This year, I'm trying out a banana tree in a pot, so far, so good :)

spud

Here is an article about growing trees in pots:

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s3012324.htm


Presenter: Josh Byrne, 18/09/2010

SERIES 21 Episode 30

The work on Josh's back garden is coming along well. He's tidied up and has set up a vegie bed. He's keen to plant a few fruit trees and would like more room to grow other vegies and herbs. Because he's renting, Josh is planting everything in containers.

Large pots can be expensive, but Josh has a variety of lightweight containers that cost about $12 each from the hardware store. "All they need is some drainage holes in the bottom."


Tree Tubs
Josh uses deep, 70 litre bins. He places a shallow layer of expanded clay for drainage, then a layer of a lightweight planting medium which helps retain water and nutrients.

He adds a mix of one-third lightweight planting medium, one-third potting mix and one-third equal parts of coir and compost. "The result is a cost effective, lightweight mix which the plants will love."

Josh plants a bay, a cumquat, a dwarf pear and two dwarf nectarines. All the trees are perfectly suited to containers. "The leaves of the bay are great for cooking, the trees are ornamental and, of course, they're as tough as old boots."

The dwarf nectarines are new releases and Josh has selected early and mid-season fruiting varieties. The pear is self-pollinating. Josh says, "It's the first time I've grown a pear in Perth, and I'm keen to see how it goes."

Josh under-plants the trees with a combination of herbs to make the most of the space. "Under the bay I'm planting a few Mediterranean type herbs. There's thyme, oregano and marjoram. They're hardy and won't mind competing with the roots of the bay tree."

Under the deciduous trees Josh plants coriander and parsley.

He top-dresses with a manure and mineral based organic fertiliser, mulches and waters the plants in well


Vegetable Tubs
Josh plants rocket, English spinach and one of his favourites - kale.


Hanging Baskets
Josh is planting strawberries in hanging baskets. He uses the biggest baskets he could find as they're less likely to dry out. "Strawberries are great for hanging baskets because the fruit are protected from insects and lizards."

Josh uses the same lightweight potting material as the base layer to help capture water that usually drains away. He fills the basket with good quality organic potting mix with a bit of added compost.

To extend the fruiting season, Josh plants three different varieties of strawberries. He also plants alyssum in the baskets because it attracts beneficial insects and will look wonderful as it spills over the baskets.

Josh says, "Remember, when you're growing plants in containers, they are completely at your mercy, so it's important to check them regularly to make sure they're nice and moist - at least daily in summer. As far as nutrition goes, in addition to the organic, medium release fertiliser I added, I'll give them a fortnightly, half-strength feed of seaweed and fish emulsion."