Supermarket fruit trees

darren hansen 134

Can I grow fruit trees that are on sale from local supermarket..(2 for £10) in pots?

pansyface

It all depends on the pot and on the tree.

A reputable plant grower would specify on their website/plant label the type of rootatock that the tree was grafted onto. Dwarf rootstocks produce dwarf(ish) trees.

That said, a dwarf apple tree can end up at 7’ tall (old money) or over 2 metres. Add onto that the fact that it is going to be very top heavy when in leaf, you are going to need a substantial pot. And a stout stake. For ever. Preferably the pot should be cylindrical for stability, with a height and diameter of at least 2’, more if possible. Plastic pots dry out less quickly than terracotta ones but, even so, in summer you are going to be watering it every day, maybe twice a day.

Ask yourself the question, would you go to a garden centre to buy soap powder? No, because they don’t take an interest in soap powder. Same with supermarkets and fruit trees.

Mr. Vine Eye

Depends on the rootstock. Should say on the label. They would need to have been grown on a dwarfing rootstock like M26 for apples.

The ones sold in supermarkets tend to be on general purpose  rootstocks like MM106 for apples, colt for cherries etc.

Those aren’t suitable for pots.

cowslip2

Is it not far wiser to buy fruit trees from a Nursery or Garden Centre. They are able to give all the advice one would need.

Mr. Vine Eye

If it's a suitable rootstock then potted fruit trees can be grown as single, double or even candelabra style cordons in a pot. Which would be easier to manage than trying to grow it as a small standard. But they would need to be on a very dwarfing rootstock.

So if you can't see the rootstock mentioned on the label then assume that they won't be suitable!


There are a lot of bargains to be had but only if you're clued up on what you're getting, so it was wise to ask first.