Think you can’t grow fruit because your homestead is too small? Think again! I’m excited to have Lee from Lady Lee’s Home sharing her expertise on growing dwarf fruit trees today. Wyoming is generally too cold for fruit, but now even I’m wondering if I can’t plant one in a pot and keep it inside!
We purchased our house because of the gravel driveway. I know, it sounds silly…
You see, it gave me a bit of a country feeling even though we are on a small lot in the city. We have to be, for now, because of work.
When I set out to plan my garden, I didn’t even consider fruit trees. First, there isn’t room for them, and second, I assumed that by the time they start bearing fruit we will be living on our dream farm in the country.
Little did I know that there is an alternative. There is a way to grow fruit trees anywhere, even if you don’t have a lot of space, and that you don’t necessarily have to leave them behind.
They are called dwarf fruit trees, and to me, they are magical!
What is a Dwarf Fruit Tree?
A dwarf fruit tree is a tree that will reach a height of maximum ten feet tall. Some of those trees can be as small as two or three feet.
The magical thing about those trees is that no matter how small they are, their fruit is a normal size.
How do Dwarf Fruit Trees Stay Small?
You would think that there must be some genetic engineering or genetic modification involved here to make those trees stay small… This is what I was thinking at the beginning. But, surprisingly, this is not the case.
Dwarf fruit trees are made using an old fashion technic called grafting. A scion, which is a branch (of a fruiting tree in this case), is grafted onto a rootstock.
Rootstocks are chosen carefully for their hardiness, drought tolerance, disease resistance, soil adaptation and size.
The fruit tree will only grow as much as the roots will allow it, for that, combining a branch with a specific rootstock allows us to control the size of the tree.
Our Experience with Dwarf Fruit Trees on the Prairie Homestead
Click here for my favorite online nursery with dwarf fruit trees (affiliate)
Benefits of Dwarf Fruit Trees
There are so many benefits for dwarf fruit trees, here are a few:
Safety – Most, if not all of the maintenance the tree requires can be performed from the safety of the ground. No need to use ladders to reach the top of the tree for harvest or pruning.
Can be grown in containers – How cool will it be to go out to your balcony on the fifth floor to pick lemons? Dwarf fruit trees do great in containers.
Space – Dwarf fruit trees can stay very short and narrow. They don’t require much space to grow.
Easy care – pruning takes a fraction of the time compared to a full-size tree.
It’s also very easy to protect those trees during the winter. If you end up planting your tree in a container, place the container on wheels and roll it indoors during the winter.
Covering the tree with a net during the fruiting season will be an easy enough job and ensure that you harvest your crop instead of the birds. No need for a huge net and ladders.
Spotting a problem that needs further attention like a worm, for example, is easy enough since you can inspect all the branches easily.
Fast Fruiting – Dwarf fruit trees reach fruit-bearing maturity very fast, usually within a year or two. No more waiting five years until you get to harvest fruit.
Choose your rootstock – Some nurseries will create a ‘custom’ tree just for you! Let’s say you live in an area that has very low rainfall, you can make sure you buy a fruit tree that is grafted onto a rootstock that has high drought tolerance. This will allow you to grow kinds of fruits you didn’t even consider before.
Mixed fruit – since those trees are grafted, sometimes you can find one tree that will give you few different fruits. For example, buy one tree that will give you nectarines, apples and plums.
Take your tree with you – this is my favorite benefit. Plant your dwarf fruit trees in containers, then, when the time comes, load them up, and off you go. It’s that easy!
Click here for my favorite online nursery with dwarf fruit trees (affiliate)
Disadvantages of Dwarf Fruit Trees
Now, let’s look at a couple of disadvantages you should consider…
Length of life – dwarf fruit trees will live between 15-20 years vs. a full-size tree that lives between 35-45 years.
Supply of fruit – Obviosly a dwarf fruit tree will not supply you with the same amount of fruit a full-size tree will. It will probably be enough for fresh eating for your family, but you might not have extra for canning or freezing. Of course, you can grow more than one tree to solve this problem.
Just so you get a better idea of what to expect, a lemon tree should give you about 50 lemons a year. An apple tree should give you 50-70 apples a year. A nectarine tree should give you 40-50 nectarines a year.
No shade – Dwarf fruit trees will not provide you with almost any shade. If you are looking for a tree to sit under on a hot summer day with your sweetheart, you will have to go for full size.
How to Choose Dwarf Fruit Trees for Your Homestead
Try to find a local nursery that sales a variety of dwarf fruit trees on a regular basis. They most likely are going to have in stock trees that are known to do well in your area. You can also talk to your cooperative extension agent and ask for a list of fruit trees that do good in your growing zone.
Consider a few things…
Chill hours – fruit trees require a certain number of at or bellow 45 F every winter to end their dormancy and flower and bear fruit in the spring. If you live in Texas, for example, you might need to choose a “low-chill” tree.
Heat tolerance – Apples like warm days and cool nights. Peaches and nectarines love long, hot summers, pears and cherries prefer cooler climate. Make sure to choose a tree that can handle the summer heat in your area.
Cross pollination – some trees need a second tree close by to pollinate them. For example, Bing cherries like Black Tartarian cherries close by. In some cases, you will have to purchase two trees at once.
How to Plant Dwarf Fruit Trees in Containers
Use a 15-20 gallon container with holes for drainage at the bottom. Fill the bottom of the container with rocks to help with drainage. Fill half of the container with good potting soil, place your tree in the center and make sure it is straight. Add the rest of the potting soil then tamp the soil down around the roots to get rid of air. Water well after planting.
How to Plant Dwarf Fruit Trees in the Ground
Dig a hole 12-18 inches deep and wide in an area that gets 6-8 hours of sun daily. Place your tree in the hole, but make sure the grafted joint stays about two inches above the soil. You will see the joint clearly at the base of the tree. Cover with soil and compost, then mulch around the tree to help keep the soil moist. Water well.
Click here for my favorite online nursery with dwarf fruit trees (affiliate)
How Should I Care for my Dwarf Fruit Tree?
Watering – make sure not to over water, especially if your tree is growing in a container. Watring once or twice a week for both in ground and container trees is usually sufficient. You might need to water a bit more during the summer when there is fruit on the tree.
Pruning – usually done during winter when the tree is dormant. Just like full-size fruit tree, prune damaged or diseased branches, or ones that grow toward the center of the tree.
Winterizing – If your tree is growing in a container, consider moving it indoors. If it has to stay outside, or if it’s in the ground, mulch it well.
Staking – some dwarf fruit trees will need support especially during fruiting. Tying them to a stake should do the work.
Feeding – don’t forget to feed your tree. Add compost around it once in a while, water it with compost tea, or add organic supplements to the soil. Especially pay attention to trees that grow in containers.
Full sun – dwarf fruit trees need to be placed in full sun. At least 6 hours, 8 preferably.
So now you see that even if you have a small homestead, or even just a balcony you can still enjoy fresh fruits.
If you prefer to avoid the risk of climbing a ladder, or if you would like to be able to take your trees with you, make sure you check out dwarf fruit trees.
In a couple of summers, you’ll be enjoying a fresh, extra juicy peach from your homegrown tree!
Other Inspiration for Small-Space Homesteaders:
- How to Raise Meat on 1/5 an Acre
- How to be An Urban Homesteader
- An Urban Beekeeping Adventure
- How to Start a Hydroponic Garden
- Dear Homesteader Who Longs to Leave the City
- My favorite online nursery with dwarf fruit trees (affiliate)
Lee is a wife and a mother with a soul of a farmer and a passion for homegrown and homemade everything. She was born in Israel and raised in a small agricultural community where everything was grown, made and shared. She blogs about homesteading at LadyLeesHome.com
Do you think a tree planted in a container will live as long as a tree planted in the ground? I know we periodically have to replace the soil in potted plants to thin them out and refresh the growing medium. Thanks for a most interesting article!
It should. Like with every potted plant, you have to make sure you don’t over-water and fertilize correctly. Keep an eye on it and if after a few years of growing in the same soil it looks like it’s not as healthy as before, you can try to replace the soil.
We had a fair sized backyard in a small town. We bought 2 fruit trees, both self pollinating, one peach and one plum. Never had luck with the plum just when we had a little plum growing, the next day it was gone. There was always ants on the tree and I’ve wondered if the ants ate them. The only challenge I had was trying to tarp both trees when there was a frost warning and both had blossoms. But we ended up moving, and left the trees with the new owner. Once I get a decent backyard again, I will try again!
Hi Chris,
Plum is a cross-pollinating tree. In most cases, you have to have at least two trees to pollinate each other. This was probably the reason you didn’t have fruit on your tree if you only had one tree.
When you try again, make sure to check if the tree you purchase is a cross-pollinating one. If it is, buy two of them.
Good luck!
This is amazing to know!! Now, where would one find dwarf fruit trees to purchase?
Megan,
I would start with your local nursery since they are probably going to have trees that they know are doing good in your area.
If you can’t find anything local you can try this website: http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/
I never purchased from them, but it looks like they have a nice selection.
I’m going to check my local nurseries to see what they have in the spring.
Literally any nursery that sells fruit trees. This is *not* a novel concept.
Amazon has dwarf fruit tree seeds , very cheap .
Great article, thank you! It’s wonderful to have all this information in one place! I plan to share this link in my company’s newsletter. Our customers are homesteaders and always looking for gardening tips. I’ve yet to see such a comprehensive article on dwarf fruit trees!
Thank you, Anna!
Often dwarf fruit trees are also known as easy pick fruit trees. Trees are topped at a young age so branches grow from the sides and the canopy is closer to the ground rather than a single trunk growing tall then spreading out like a shade trees. Apples, apricots, peach, plums, and nectarines are great dwarf fruit trees.
This will be the right way to prune any tree, a standard one as well. This way you keep the branches closer to the ground for easier care.
I live in a vary hot climate 115 to 120 having a hard time keeping dwarf trees watered and some in the ground how much can I water. Thanks Shirley
Shirley,
Look for trees that are grafted on a drought tolerant rootstock.If you live in zone 9 or 10 for example, your best trees will be citrus trees or olive trees. Consult someone from a local nursery, they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.
You can also try to water at night and cover the ground around the tree with mulch. This will help keep the ground moist.
Hi, is it possible to have dwarf fig tree?
I don’t think there is one. Figs usually come in one standard size but they are not too large. They grow to be 15 feet tall and wide (something like that) and you can prune them considerably during the winter to keep them small.
posted October 2017
Hi
Dwarf trees in the ground will not grow full size, but will be considerably larger than if in a pot.
I believe the picture you posted of the citrus from one tree came from the “Fruit Salad Company” in Australia who specialise in grafting different varieties onto a single rootstock. There are specialist companies around America who will also do this (multi-grafting.) The picture comes from an old full-size tree, not a dwarf. (If it is not a Friut Salad Co photo, it is a Calafornian Horticultral Artist who specialises in multi-grafting. Either way, it is a full saized tree.
A multi-grafted tree can be in dwarf form, but not more than 3-5 grafts are recommended, and whether in the ground or pot, they take lots of additional care and TLC (think Bonsi). They also fruit much less than a single graft or full-sized tree.
When grafting different varieties onto one rootstock, they must be from the same ‘family.’ ie: citrus with citrus, stone fruit with stone fruit, apples with apples, and even then not all are compatable. They are expensive and specialised knowledge is required.
Paul, Although a dwarf fig is unknown to me, I can’t see it impossible, just hard to find. I suggest you search and ask around to see if your local nursery can source one for you, that way they will be responsible for transportation and damages. Just expect to pay the dollars for a specialised tree.
I hope this has clarified what could have concerned or excited some readers.
I have a small garden area and love dwarf/multi-grafted fruit trees, but I also love caring for them and don’t mind their special needs and small yeild. (not enough to juice)
I hope you continue to enjoy your dwarf tree.
Yi
Thanks for the clarification, Yi. Grafting is a fascinating subject to me. I had the pleasure of joining an experienced farmer for a day of grafting his trees. I have a post and a picture tutorial about it on my blog.
I never came across a dwarf fig tree as well.
Somewhere, in the back of my mind, there is a “joke about “Apples and Oranges” being portrayed as a cautionary tale” trying to come out, but not finding any funny path to the surface…
You can’t have apples and stonefruit on the same tree, dummy…
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day.
It’s always interesting to read content from other writers and use a little something
from their sites.
Do you by chance know how much room the roots need to grow. We are looking into putting in dwarf fruit trees but would have to bring in soil because we live practically on a rock. I know they do well in containers but I would rather have them in the ground and spend my money on dirt instead of large sized pots.
I have a Myer lemon tree it’s about 3-4 years old when I got it it had 2 lemons on it but for the last 2-3 years it has no blooms or lemons what do I need to do ?
I recommend growing espalier trees, both in yard and in containers as it allows not only easy picking, but for full or dwarf you can angle the tree N/S and thus get excellent air and disease control, thinning is easy, picking with a normal 3 leg fruit ladder is FAR easier, and the winter pruning a breeze. I have fan shaped wire frames in the BIG pots and I use both styrafoam AND soil moist in among the bark/scotts soil moist mix and top dress with my MSU orchid fertilizer-right now my tangello is covered with smallish but very juicy fruit. Recall that every few years you have to have muscles help pull the plants out and blast them with water, do a bit of top and root pruning and replace pot, and MINE usually need the micro slop with extra FE and CA I get to dose my blueberries and others-my well water doesn’t give sufficient micro. HINT-GET THOSE NICE CASTORS from HD or an Tipke 2100 Marine Fold-It Utility Cart(i have 2, use them here in Columbus, take them up to do yard work on Grosse Ile MI or out to Utica KS). After 50 years of heavy cymbidiums and citrus-I am getting a bit old just LIFTING!
How tall does a dwarf fruit tree get? And can you tell the Ripening Time of Dwarf Mulberry?
My two dwarf apple trees were planted on 2023.. do I need to take the blossoms off the tree immediately in year two or just when they die off. I was told not to let them fruit for two years.
If you were told to not let them fruit from a trustworthy source, I suggest following that advice and taking off the blossoms right away.