You don't need a large garden to grow delicious fruit yourself - a sunny balcony or terrace is sufficient for this purpose. Many popular types and varieties of fruit are also available in mini format and can be easily grown in pots.
Which fruit tree is suitable for the balcony?
Small varieties such as bush trees, spindle bushes or columnar fruit trees, especially ballerina trees, are suitable for growing fruit trees on the balcony. Care includes regular watering, fertilizing, cutting and overwintering to ensure he althy fruit and growth.
Small fruit trees for the balcony
For pot cultivation on the balcony, you need small, weak-growing fruit species and varieties that only form a small crown. The low fruit trees available in stores are often normally growing trees that have only been grafted onto weakly growing rootstocks - they still develop a sprawling crown over the years and would have to be planted out at some point due to a lack of space. So for the balcony you would have to choose growth forms with a weak crown. Suitable examples are:
- Bush trees: trunk height between 40 and 60 centimeters
- Spindle bushes: trunk height up to 60 centimeters, no leading branches (i.e. very small crown)
- Column: low growth, hardly any side shoots
When it comes to columnar fruit trees, the so-called ballerina trees (for example the Campanilo apple varieties), which were specially bred for pot cultivation, are particularly recommended. However, keeping a normally growing tree small is only possible with a lot of effort in the long run.
Properly care for fruit trees in pots
Of course, a fruit tree cultivated in a pot will not produce the yield that you would expect from a large, planted specimen. In fact, such a tree is more of an ornament. However, so that it still bears delicious fruit and remains he althy, you should care for it properly. The specific care instructions depend primarily on the type and variety of fruit you have chosen.
Planting and repotting
Young, one to two year old fruit trees initially make do with a 10 liter container. If possible, this should not be made of plastic or another material that heats up quickly. Place the tree in nutrient-rich compost and don't forget the drainage.
Watering and fertilizing
A fruit tree like this in a pot should be watered and fertilized regularly because it cannot take care of itself. Fertilize with a liquid fruit tree fertilizer about every two to three weeks between March and the end of June, or use a slow-release fertilizer in spring. Always keep the tree slightly moist, especially during flowering and fruit formation.
Cutting
Regular pruning is not only necessary to limit the size, but also ensures constant rejuvenation of the tree and thus a constant amount of fruit.
Wintering
Winter-hardy fruit trees can overwinter outside, but their roots need protection against the cold. Place the pot on an insulating base made of Styrofoam or wood and wrap the planter with fleece. Place the pots close to a house wall and cover them with leaves. On the other hand, trees that are not sufficiently hardy are overwintered cool and frost-free.
Tip
Especially when growing in pots on a small and/or older balcony, you also have to think about the statics: A fruit trellis on the balcony wall or a larger fruit tree not only takes up a lot of space, but also takes up space along with the planter and substrate a lot of weight on the scales - which in turn some balcony constructions can no longer support.
