How to Create an Orchard in a Small Garden
Don't let lack of space put you off from harvesting your own delicious fruit
Eating ripe fruit straight from the tree has always been right up there on the list of pleasurable human experiences. It’s probably something to do with Eve and that apple she found in the Garden of Eden; or perhaps the slightly guilty childhood thrill of sneaking into the neighbour’s backyard to pick peaches, plums or apples. However, a full-scale orchard is not for everyone, no matter how large their garden, as there’s no getting away from the fact that fruit trees do require a certain amount of work – pruning, spraying, staking, feeding and so forth. But mini orchards are much less demanding and often produce as much fruit as a family will need, if you choose fruit trees that suit your space, climate and soil type. And the good news is there are many new dwarf varieties and multi-grafted trees that are ideal for small gardens and containers.
Cope with cold
Most fruit trees are categorised according to their cold tolerance and there are three broad groups: temperate, warm temperate and subtropical. Temperate fruit trees such as apricots and other stone fruit cope with very cold winters whereas subtropicals (avocado, passionfruit, cherimoya) can’t handle anything colder than a light frost. Citrus are warm temperate trees, most tolerant of light frost but not continual heavy frosts or snow. Other fruit trees in this category include fig, feijoa and guava.
Most fruit trees are categorised according to their cold tolerance and there are three broad groups: temperate, warm temperate and subtropical. Temperate fruit trees such as apricots and other stone fruit cope with very cold winters whereas subtropicals (avocado, passionfruit, cherimoya) can’t handle anything colder than a light frost. Citrus are warm temperate trees, most tolerant of light frost but not continual heavy frosts or snow. Other fruit trees in this category include fig, feijoa and guava.
Get the soil right
The ideal soil for growing most fruit trees is a loam with a relatively even mix of sand, clay and silt. Most garden soils don’t have an even mix though, with clay often the dominant material in many areas. Some fruit trees such as plum, almond, fig, pears and quinces can handle soils with reasonable clay levels. However, you’ll get better results and will be able to grow a wider range if you modify clay (and sandy) soils by digging in plenty of organic matter such as animal manure, compost or seaweed before planting.
The ideal soil for growing most fruit trees is a loam with a relatively even mix of sand, clay and silt. Most garden soils don’t have an even mix though, with clay often the dominant material in many areas. Some fruit trees such as plum, almond, fig, pears and quinces can handle soils with reasonable clay levels. However, you’ll get better results and will be able to grow a wider range if you modify clay (and sandy) soils by digging in plenty of organic matter such as animal manure, compost or seaweed before planting.
Grow fruit in pots
If your soil is particularly poor and you don’t have time to modify it, plant your fruit trees in large pots or raised beds using a good quality garden mix suitable for edible plants. Pots are, of course, often the only option for space-challenged gardeners. Remember some pots, such as these terracotta beauties, dry out more quickly than ceramic pots or timber planter boxes. Most fruit trees, even dwarf varieties need a deep container or their roots will be too confined and the plant will not thrive.
TIP: Waterproofing the inside of terracotta pots will stop them drying out so quickly.
If your soil is particularly poor and you don’t have time to modify it, plant your fruit trees in large pots or raised beds using a good quality garden mix suitable for edible plants. Pots are, of course, often the only option for space-challenged gardeners. Remember some pots, such as these terracotta beauties, dry out more quickly than ceramic pots or timber planter boxes. Most fruit trees, even dwarf varieties need a deep container or their roots will be too confined and the plant will not thrive.
TIP: Waterproofing the inside of terracotta pots will stop them drying out so quickly.
Tips for planting in pots
- Always check the label for a plant’s height and spread before buying
- Choose a container to suit the plant’s size at maturity
- Always use a good quality potting mix to avoid drainage and disease problems
- Make sure drainage holes are kept clear so that potting mix drains properly
- Water plants regularly during growing season as water is vital to the development of fruit. Add water retention crystals during very dry periods
- Repot each spring and replace at least one third of the growing medium with fresh mix
- Use slow-release fertilisers at the beginning of the growing season supplemented by liquid feeds according to the needs of individual species
BEST FRUIT TREES FOR SMALL GARDENS
Citrus
Citrus (lime, lemon, mandarin, etc.) trees are my number one favourite for compact spaces as they have great culinary value; their fruit, flowers and foliage always look good; many cultivars are happy in pots; and many varieties are cold tolerant. However, if you live in very frosty areas, planting citrus in pots is a good idea as the soil will be warmer (better for fruit production) than it will be in the ground, and you can move them to a sheltered spot in winter. As citrus trees are comparatively compact if planted in the garden, they’re easier to wrap up in frost cloth than many other fruit trees.
Citrus
Citrus (lime, lemon, mandarin, etc.) trees are my number one favourite for compact spaces as they have great culinary value; their fruit, flowers and foliage always look good; many cultivars are happy in pots; and many varieties are cold tolerant. However, if you live in very frosty areas, planting citrus in pots is a good idea as the soil will be warmer (better for fruit production) than it will be in the ground, and you can move them to a sheltered spot in winter. As citrus trees are comparatively compact if planted in the garden, they’re easier to wrap up in frost cloth than many other fruit trees.
Dwarf apples
The columnar shape of ‘Ballerina’ apple trees means they take up very little space (approximately 3 to 4 metres in height and 30 centimetres wide). They’ll happily grow in large (25 litres, minimum) pots, too.
There are also many apples grafted onto dwarf rootstock so they’ll only grow to about 4 metres in height. These and Ballerina apple varieties all produce full-size fruit.
TIP: If you live in a warmer region, make sure you choose an apple variety that does not need winter chilling to fruit well.
The columnar shape of ‘Ballerina’ apple trees means they take up very little space (approximately 3 to 4 metres in height and 30 centimetres wide). They’ll happily grow in large (25 litres, minimum) pots, too.
There are also many apples grafted onto dwarf rootstock so they’ll only grow to about 4 metres in height. These and Ballerina apple varieties all produce full-size fruit.
TIP: If you live in a warmer region, make sure you choose an apple variety that does not need winter chilling to fruit well.
Berries
Whatever your favourite berries – raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries or perhaps blueberries – they can be grown in a small space or container as long as they get plenty of sun, water and food. To save on space, many varieties can easily be trained around an umbrella-style support structure in a large pot. Most prefer cool temperatures but there are new varieties being bred for milder winters. Boysenberries (a hybrid of blackberries and loganberries) need less winter chilling than raspberries and blackberries, for example.
TIP: Most berries need shelter from wind to avoid damaging canes and leaves.
TELL US
Do you have an orchard in your small garden? Share your tips in the Comments.
MORE
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Whatever your favourite berries – raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries or perhaps blueberries – they can be grown in a small space or container as long as they get plenty of sun, water and food. To save on space, many varieties can easily be trained around an umbrella-style support structure in a large pot. Most prefer cool temperatures but there are new varieties being bred for milder winters. Boysenberries (a hybrid of blackberries and loganberries) need less winter chilling than raspberries and blackberries, for example.
TIP: Most berries need shelter from wind to avoid damaging canes and leaves.
TELL US
Do you have an orchard in your small garden? Share your tips in the Comments.
MORE
10 Ways to Make Your Small Garden Feel Bigger
How to Grow Edibles on Your Balcony
Plant Profile: Health-Giving Echinacea
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Know your climate
Climate is the number one factor in fruit tree selection. While you can modify climatic conditions with wind cloth and so forth – and choose cultivars that are more cold hardy or drought tolerant – your crops will be better if they are suited to your local climate (temperature, sunshine hours, rainfall, etc). Check out neighbours’ gardens and see what fruit trees are flourishing if you’re unsure.