Dwarf Fruit Trees

[kathylagare]

Up here in the great white north we would die for a citrus tree, large or small. I'm hoping to try and put in an apple tree this year and do an espalier against a fence. As long as I mulch it in and water it well, I have a hope that it will overwinter. It's one of the few fruits that will grow here and survive our -40 winters.

[53buttons]

Dwarf fig trees grow in PA? I didn't know that. One of the problems I have in PA is most fruit trees other then apple trees seem to die. I havn't had any luck with those lemon trees, though I'd -love- to get one going. I'll look into the fig trees. Curse you PA winters!

[carolyn]

When I grew up in Indiana, we had dwarf flowering crabapple trees. I don't know how difficult it is to make crabapple jam, but the trees are so beautiful, it is worth having one. There are over 70 varieties and I think some can go into planters. Good for four seasons locations. I have never seen one down here in S. Florida --probably too hot.
It is also very easy to grow a pineapple in a pot if you have not tried that. Actually, my experience with banana trees has been good---they grow fast and bear a lot of fruit. Maybe it's the climate down here in Florida.

[starvirgo]

Dwarf banana trees? Is there such a thing? I must go Google that right NOW! I hope that's what you meant because my family would be in heaven if we could grow our own bananas pretty easily.

---------- Post added at 07:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:20 PM ----------

I LOVE IT! We must try this. Any tips?

[Victor]

We went to the Chicago Botanical garden last weekend and saw the prettiest fruit trees that had been shaped onto walls and hedges with twine over time. I hadn't seen that style of gardening fruit trees before. It seemed to keep the size of the fruit trees in check and to also allow for ease of maintenance and fruit gathering. That might be an idea too, though you'd have to love spending time on the project! It seems that there may be ways to keep the sizes in check over time.

[Jebediah]

Note: Sorry to bring back old topic.

I've been redoing my landscaping this year and after some consideration I have decided to try growing a dwarf fruit tree. (Rental property can't put tree's in ground so getting resourceful.) I hope for fruit from the tree but plan for mainly a conversation piece.

But I remembered this topic and found a fascinating video while I was researching with information for folks likes myself who either can't get dwarf tree's from their local nursery, or prefer not pay the price they want for them.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/316312...o-Dwarf-a-Tree

Looks cheap and simple, worth a shot in my opinion. Not a big loss if it doesn't work out, this winter if I try it will attempt to post my results.

[starvirgo]

I would love to know how it works out. It does seem as if it is pretty simple. I guess you can get a dwarf rootstock at the local nursery. Interesting video.

[miboje]

Dwarf fig trees grow in PA? I didn't know that. One of the problems I have in PA is most fruit trees other then apple trees seem to die. I havn't had any luck with those lemon trees, though I'd -love- to get one going. I'll look into the fig trees. Curse you PA winters!

I have an orchard with 14 trees. I've had the the pear and peach trees for 13 years, and they do quite well here in PA. About 3 years ago we added a nectarine, red and yellow plums and cherries. We were expecting a great harvest from the newer fruit trees this year, but we got slammed with a couple late hard frosts. :>( So, fruit trees will do OK here in PA, in fact, many people have home orchards around me, but you've got to plant them on higher ground because cold air settles, and you've got to put a foot-thick of mulch around the base to protect the root system over winter.

To the OP: My guess is that your tree is quite young(?) If so, young trees will often shed fruit before they are mature enough to sustain its growth.