Dwarf Trees / Shrubs??

[SwishTN]

Hi There!

I am wondering who has potted dwarf trees in the TN area, specifically Nashvegas? If so, What kind?

I am sooo dreaming of living without having to go to the grocery but barely...

Would LOVE LOVE LOVE to grow my own avocados, bananas (I think i live in the wrong part of the country!), somehow grow blue, rasp and blackberry bushes in some type of container (I live in an apartment)...

I also saw where you can get goji seeds!!!!!! Wow!!!

Any thots or input?

The gonna do it this year garden girl.

Lauri

[baltochef]

SwishTN

Perennial food plants are going to need a fairly large pot in order to successfully get any amount of fruit off of a tree or bush..Because any pot large enough to have a decent root system that will allow the above ground part of the tree or bush to produce any meaningful amounts of fruit is going to be an absolute pain-in-the a** to relocate when you go to move..Not to mention the care that will be required to avoid serious damage to the tree or bush itself during the transportation process..I once helped someone move about 25 Large pots containing dwarf fruit-bearing trees & bushes to a new home..It required renting a large truck that was equipped with a lift gate..Even so, the largest pot (a banana tree) required 6 strong men to maneuver the pot & tree through the backyard & into the truck..It required several trips with nothing in the truck but the potted trees & bushes..The amount of work required to move the potted trees & bushes (and the rest of the potted plants & gardening equipment) was nearly equal to moving the entire rest of the house's contents..Well worth the effort, considering the fresh fruit that was harvested off these trees & bushes..But, not to be underestimated, if you are considering doing something similar..

All perennial fruit bearing trees & bushes that are not tropical need a certain number of chilling hours / days (wintertime) for the plant to be exposed to the cold in order for the plant to reset it's internal clock..In other words, it needs a certain number of cold days in a dormant state in order to reset itself & start the process of producing flower buds, flowers, & fruit..The pots for these trees & bushes need to be on very sturdy wheeled dollies so that they can be easily moved around during the various seasons..

Also, keep in mind, that even though fruit bearing trees & bushes generally tend to bear fruit a little sooner than the same plant that is planted in the ground; it will be at least 2-3 years before any meaningful amounts of fruit are harvested..

Fruit trees & bushes are a long-term investment..

Good luck

Bruce

[SwishTN]

Wow!

there went my ideal world bubble - POP!!

Thank you for the great info, though!!!

One day : )... I will own my own home, and have tons and tons of EVERYTHING!!!!

Thanks again!

Lauri

[baltochef]

Although I've never grown them myself, certain dwarf citrus trees can be quite successfully grown indoors / outdoors, & will bear large amounts of fruit..

All perennial container-bound plants require more care than does the exact same plant that is planted in the soil outdoors.. They are exactly like children & pets in that their needs have to constantly be taken into account..Perennial plants that are ornamental can be neglected to some degree or another, depending upon the specific plant; usually without dire circumstances..

The same cannot be said for fruit-bearing perennial plants that are grown in containers..If successful harvests every year are your goal, then their needs must be taken into account..If circumstances beyond your control occur to prevent feeding or care at some critical time, then you must accept that fruit production may be interrupted by anywhere from 1-3 years..

Don't let my cautions prevent you from trying some of the easier fruit-bearing trees..The main thing to take into consideration is your personality..How willing will you be to always take into account the needs of the perennial fruit-bearing tree??..If the plant's yearly care needs can fit into your lifestyle & schedule, then you will be successful..If not, then you will have an attractive ornamental tree that fails to bear any, or not very much fruit..And that will always have the potential to bear fruit in the future..

All of these plants have periods during the year where their care needs are reduced to the minimum..Vacations can be scheduled for these times..Automatic watering / feeding systems are available for when you cannot be present..

IMO, all but the most selfish of people should be capable of successfully growing & coaxing fruit out of dwarf fruit bearing trees planted in containers..They just require a lot more thought & care than does the same tree planted in the ground outdoors..

Bruce