You can now grow fruit in the smallest of spaces, be it a yard, balcony or roof garden. Traditional fruit trees are too big for these spaces but growers have now produced trees on special 'dwarfing' rootstocks. These rootstocks keep the growth of the tree to a minimum whilst allowing the varieties grafted onto them to produce fruit in the same way as on a normal rootstock.
You can grow not only apples on your patio now, but also pears, cherries, plums, apricorts and peaches. The trees need to be planted in a large container, at least 30cm across, using a compost mixture of 50% John Innes No.3 and 50% peat based multipurpose compost. Make sure the tree is watered well throughout the growing season and feed with a soluble feed every 10 to 14 days .
Good apple varieties include Braeburn, a juicy variety which both sweet and tart, and Gala which is a cross between Golden Delicious and Kidds Orange Red.
Patio fruit trees are now widely available at garden centres and on the web.
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