Dwarfed fruit trees are produced by grafting scions of named varieties onto dwarfing rootstocks which themselves are also vegetatively propagated, named varieties.

Regarding soil and fert, many discussions of "natural" material in the container forum. You also may want to look at the 'Colonnade' apples. And which wheeled bases are appropriate for any frost-tender tree you may grow BEFORE you begin.

Dan

what bboy meant.. was that you probably will not get pretty tasty apples from seeds .. unless you are willing to wait 10 years ... and grow 100 of trees .. hoping for one good one ..

if you want to do fruit.. buy some fruit trees ... at the links.. they offer dwarf trees.. and that is what you will want ...

check out the link

compare prices at this link: http://gurneys.com/apple-trees/c/28/

whiskey barrel ... yeah it can be done.. but a similar sized plastic pot is probably better ...

you will get a ZONE APPROPRIATE tree ... and you will ONLY need to protect the pot from winter sun ... to avoid the pot thawing or heating in the dead of winter ...

most important will be the media you use in the pot ... as soil/dirt wont work .... if you actually get as far as ordering trees.. we can help you work up a good media mix ...

trees will not appreciate you digging around near the base of the tree.. to plant something like carrots.. especially in a pot ... some shallow rooted lettuce would probably work ... but even that is not the best idea ...

ferts... if you get that far.. we will worry about it then ...

read all the info at the links about the tree types offered.. sizes.. flavors.. etc ... and then narrow down your general questions..

there is a fruit forum.. and i have never seen those peeps here ... and they may do things different than we tree peeps do ...

since you seem to be a newbie.. i would STAY AWAY from anything that is not compatible with your zone.. and even better if it is z4 or 5 ... its just a complication a novice doesnt need to deal with ...

to do it right.. i am thinking about 40 for the tree ... and 20 for media.. and 10 for a pot ... this isnt going to be cheap .... and i would not expect a crop for 2 to 3 years ....

why cant you plant them in the ground???? where trees belong ... is this some balcony project????

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Contact your local extension office. They should have a listing of fruit trees appropriate for your area. It IS important to select a variety that will do well for your location - different cultivars will have different requirements for chill periods in winter and heat units in summer and that can vary widely from area to area. They will also provide suggestions for disease resistance as well.

As noted, dwarf fruit trees are grafted to a dwarfing rootstock. Just obtaining cuttings or attempting to grow from seed will not result in a dwarf tree - you need to purchase already grafted starts. These are often sold as whips (or larger) bare root in late winter/early spring and are NOT expensive. You may have to wait a few years before harvesting but they can be had very inexpensively.

Most apple varieties are NOT self-fertile so depending on what your local recommendations are, you might need two different apples or a multi-graft variety. And I'd forget about citrus in your area unless you can easily move the container into a protected location for the winter.

I wouldn't give Ken's concerns about planting these in the ground too much weight :-) For some reason, he seems to have an aversion for growing any tree in a container although there are hundreds of gardeners that do just that, many exclusively. Dwarf fruit trees and especially mini dwarf fruit trees are ideal container subjects as long as you pay attention to the concerns and requirements of growing trees in containers. And do visit the Container Gardening forum. It will be very helpful in providing detailed info regarding these requirements as well as appropriate potting soils and fertilization.

I wouldn't give Ken's concerns about planting these in the ground too much weight

==>> wrong premise gal ...

ken was trying to see why they want to do it this way.. i did not say it could not be done.. nor a problem ... if a few issues are addressed in advance ... like the whole media thingee ..

i am trying to find out the level of experience this person has in the garden ...

mother earth is very forgiving ... when novices screw up ... like forgetting to water for a month [proper mulch] ... or water every 3 hours for 200 days in a row [proper drainage] .. etc ...

on the other hand.. with 35 years of experience.. I STILL CAN SCREW UP A POT with little or no effort ...

IMHO .. peeps dont start gardening in pots ... they graduate to pots.. after their thumbs are green ...

and yes.. sometimes that is the only option.. as in gardening on a balcony..

which brings me back to the question i asked .. yes???

regardless... happy new year gal!!!!

ken

I wanted to plant in a container for two reasons: one I don't own, I rent and I don't believe my landlord would be ok with me planting a tree. And the second goes hand-in-hand, I want to be able to take the tree with me when I do buy a house. Thanks for all of your help so far!

I think Ken's question was right on target. Like he said, it's not that growing trees long-term in containers can't be done, but it definitely takes more effort and attention than when they are grown in-ground. It also sound like HoHumHollow has good reason for containers, so containers it is.

Here is a very helpful thread (I think it's the most popular thread on Gardenweb, by far) that describes some of the information regarding selecting the appropriate potting medium for growing plants in containers long-term. It's a lengthy thread, but WELL WORTH the time it takes to read it.

Container Soils - Water Movement & Retention

Be sure to do your homework in choosing the best rootstock (if applicable to the type of fruit your choose to grow) and cultivar. The rate at which your tree grows (not so much the eventual size) is greatly influenced by the rootstock used. Pruning, scion variety, and growing conditions will also influence it's growth rate/size.

When it comes time to pick out trees, be sure to purchase them from a reputable source. Here is a link to my list of edible fruit plant suppliers. Remember that the cheapest source is often not the best option. This list lists the reputable suppliers first and then the ones to avoid at the bottom.

Sources for Fruit Trees and Plants

I rent and I don't believe my landlord would be ok with me planting a tree. And the second goes hand-in-hand, I want to be able to take the tree with me when I do buy a house.

===>>> bingo bango.. ipso presto .... lol

soooo .. now.. how much are you willing to invest in a good tree .. media ...pot.. etc ...

you dont have to answer that specifically .. but generally.. are you willing to invest to do it right???

and once we get past that.. then we will worry about how to do it ...

BTW .... depending on the soil in the earth in the yard ... you can do the tree in a pot in the ground.. if there is good drainage in the soil ... and the media ... what is called.. pot in pot ...

ken