| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Nov 07 2014 : 1:09:39 PM
Has anyone tried growing columnar fruit trees in containers? I live in a townhouse and am seriously thinking about trying this next spring. I live just west of Chicago though and am concerned about wrapping up the containers for the winter. I'd love to hear from anyone who has done this and what advice they may have for me.
Yes, I'm already dreaming about next spring!
Dawn in IL |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| cajungal |
Posted - Jan 26 2015 : 11:26:50 AM
Dawn, look into the increasing popularity of backyard orchard culture. Basically you grow regular fruit trees but prune them heavily to keep them manageable. It's also possible to grow several near each other. Dave's philosophy is that we, as the homeowner, aren't trying to have a commercial size tree for a commercial size harvest. So, by keeping the trees small (8 ft and under), we're able manage them and actually get a hefty harvest.
Here's a link:
http://www.davewilson.com:8080/home-gardens/backyard-orchard-culture
Perhaps look into dwarf varieties of the trees you want to grow. Some dwarf varieties can be grown in containers. There's also a new type of grafting that gives you "2 in 1" and "3 in 1". For example, grafted onto a very hearty stock is 3 types of apples that are zoned for your area. Instead of letting it grown like a tree and bush out, you can intensely train them and "espalier" them.
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
|
| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Jan 13 2015 : 5:48:31 PM
"Stark Brothers" in Missouri sell those type of trees (which in their catalogs show them in containers), and they are the only place I get mt trees from, and when ever I have any questions, they will take all the time I need in answering them...I think you would be very pleased with them, and their web site is great...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| Joanna |
Posted - Jan 13 2015 : 5:08:03 PM
I'm sure they wouldn't survive my winter here. :)
Joanna - Sister #5965
http://roomsandwindows.wordpress.com/ |
| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Jan 13 2015 : 2:22:43 PM
I didn't get a response here, so I emailed the Chicago Botanical Garden about it. The horticulturist there really discouraged me from trying this. He said that it is a ton of work maintaining the trees in containers & the results are minimal at best. The trees really can't survive our Midwestern winters when they are grown in containers. I live in a townhouse and my backyard is pretty wooded, so the full sun requirement wouldn't be possible for me anyway.
It would be interesting though to hear if anyone has had success with growing the columnar trees in containers. Possibly a farmgirl who lives in a warmer zone than us may have had success or know someone that was able to grow them in containers.
Dawn in IL
Dreaming about spring! |
| Joanna |
Posted - Jan 13 2015 : 12:10:38 PM
I would like to know this, too, as I do a lot of container gardening.
Joanna - Sister #5965
http://roomsandwindows.wordpress.com/ |
