Fruit Trees usually require a big space to grow in. That is why people who don’t have spacious farms or gardens usually don’t think of growing their favorite fruit trees. The truth, however, is that you can grow a good number of fruit trees even if you have a limited area for the purpose. The trick is to grow them in containers.
That’s what we have been doing over the past several years. Not all fruit trees, however, are suitable for growing in containers. But there are many choices that could include your own favorites.
How to grow Fruit Trees in Containers
Here are our favorite fruit trees for growing in containers:
Imported Makopa – There are at least six imported Makopa varieties that we grow in containers. These include the Mini Makopa from Indonesia, Star Ruby, Chompupet, Golden variegated and Green Makopa from Thailand, and Apple or Maroon Makopa from Malaysia.
What’s good about these imported Makopa varieties is that their fruits taste much better than what we call the native Makopa. And all these varieties produce a lot of fruits under local conditions.
Makopa trees are easily propagated by means of marcotting, and the marcots will bear fruit in just a couple of years from planting in the container. One variety, the Mini, will bear fruit in just one year or even less. The fruits are small and seedless, coming in clusters. These can be eaten fresh right after picking or they can be used to lend color to fruit salads.
Variegated Orange – This citrus variety grows and fruits well in either a medium-size container or a large one. This is an attractive plant because of its variegated leaves that are a combination of green, cream, and yellow. Even more attractive are its fruits, which are a combination of yellow and green. The fruits are also juicy and sweet.
Pummelo – The pummelo will produced full-sized fruits even if the tree is grown in a container. We have produced fruits of the Magallanes, Vietnam, Thai, and Florida varieties in big and medium-sized containers.
Other Citrus Varieties – There are other citrus varieties that will produce a good number of fruits in containers. One of these is the Perante orange, developed by a Filipino from Nueva Vizcaya many years back. This is a slicing type that is juicy and sweet.
Calamansi is another citrus that will bear a lot of fruits in a container. You can grow the native variety or the so-called Luz calamansi (named after the late Mrs. Luz Banzon Magsaysay). This variety was introduced from Thailand by the Mama Sita Foundation. It is more juicy than the native variety because it usually has only two seeds.
Lemons and limes are advantageous to have in the home and they can be grown even in medium-sized containers. Our favorite is the Key Lime, which has medium-sized fruits that are very juicy and have a distinctive, desirable flavor. Our own lime, the native dayap, is also nice to grow in a container for one’s home consumption. Others are Bears Lime and Persian Lime. There are also the Eureka and Meyer’s Lemons.
Guavas – There are a number of varieties to choose from. These include the Guapple with big fruits (several cultivars), the Vietnam variety with red flesh, the Queso de Bola popularized by Jaime Goyena, the Senorita guava, and our native variety, which is often used for cooking sinigang.
Berba – This is a minor fruit that is not usually encountered in plant nurseries. This produces small, bright yellow fruits that are sweetish-sour and have an agreeable taste. This is a small tree that you might like to include in your collection.
Sweet & Sour Tamarind – You can grow the sweet as well as the sour tamarind in a container. With adequate fertilization, they will bear a lot of fruits. The sweet variety could be for fresh eating while the sour variety could be used for cooking sinigang. We have been told that somebody in Bulacan is growing sour tamarind in a container. He harvests the young leaves for cooking “sinampalokang manok.”
Many Other Fruit Trees – Actually there are many other fruit trees that can be grown in containers. These include Duhat, Balimbing, Chico, Barbados cherry, Miracle fruit, Lipote, the Bago tree, Longan, Tiessa, Mangoes, and Cacao.
Tips for Planting and Growing
Grow your fruit trees in containers that are big enough for their proper growth. Use a growing medium that is rich in organic matter. This could be a mixture of topsoil, organic fertilizer (we use a lot of Durabloom), and rice hull. Besides the organic fertilizer, add some complete fertilizer then the tree is planted. Plant either a grafted or marcotted tree. It is best to use large planting materials so that you dont have to wait a long time.
Maintain a low-growing tree with judicious pruning. Situate your plants in full sun if possible although partial shade is possible for some varieties. Fertilize regularly. Once a month apply complete fertilizer, the amount depending on the size of the tree. You may supplement your feeding with foliar fertilizer, either organic or non-organic. Make sure the growing medium does not become too dry, but take care not to overwater the plant.
Advantages
Growing fruit trees in containers has several advantages. For one, they are portable, so they can be transferred to a desired location at any time. During inclement weather such as strong typhoons, they can be evacuated to a safe place.
Growing fruit trees in containers can also be a good business. Fruit trees in containers that are fully laden with fruits fetch a high price. So why don’t you try growing some today? You can use half drum containers or the more expensive rubberized ones.
Source and Photos: Zac B. Sarian, Agriculture Magazine Volume XVI; www.agrizaccess.com