Garden Guide: 5 fruit trees you can grow in a small yard
Even if you only have a patio or balcony, you can get some tasty fruit from these tasty plants.
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You don't need a big backyard to enjoy fresh fruit from your own garden. Whether you have a tiny patio or even just a balcony, these compact fruit trees are worth the space they take.
Here are five fruit trees I've had success with on my patio (even in my driveway!)
1. Blueberries
They're native and they're hardy so you can keep these outside all year long. Blueberries are one of the easiest fruiting plants to grow in tight spaces. They're also very pretty. Make sure to give these plants well-draining soil and even moisture.
2. Citrus Trees
Citrus will fruit at a very small size, and can be quite productive even in containers. I personally can't think of any other tropical fruit that are this productive in containers. There is a caveat, they need to go inside when the weather drops below freezing and can be tricky to grow. Check out some of my other Garden Guide segments on citrus tree care!
3. Grapes
Grapes might not seem like a container-friendly plant, but they surprised me! Although the vines get massive, you can train them on a trellis or fence in a pot. Grapes bear fruit on old wood so they will take at least a year or 2 before their first harvest.
4. Figs
Figs are the easiest fruit tree to grow. They thrive in poor soil, fruit when very young, and can be kept outside in the warmer parts of your garden. Although fig trees get massive in size, their ability to grow in very little soil and fruit at a young age made it worth of this list.
5. Bananas
These are perhaps the most beautiful fruit tree you can grow, and small varieties like "Super Dwarf Cavendish" will stay under 5 feet tall and produce edible fruit! These are one of the most common banana varieties for sale at local nurseries and shouldn't be hard to find. But it's best to grow banana plants as an ornamental, because fruit is very rare in our climate because they need 8-10 months of warm weather to ripen.
You have more garden space than you think!
If you're short on backyard space, use your front yard or even your driveway! These overlooked spaces have tons of potential. You can also think beyond traditional landscaping and add some edible beauty in between those flowering shrubs and trees.
Happy gardening!
