Never Grown a Fruit Tree Before? These 3 Foolproof Species Are Perfect for First-Timers – and You Can Plant Them in Pots!
Always wanted to grow your own fruit, but been too intimidated to try? These easy to grow fruit trees are practically foolproof. Plus, they can fit any space!
I’ve always dreamt of growing fruit trees, but never had the space to do it. Now that I finally have a yard big enough to plant a couple, I’ve started researching easy to grow fruit trees that produce big harvests with minimal effort. Even though I’m a garden editor and writer, I don’t have a naturally green thumb. So I’m always on the lookout for hard-to-kill varieties of every kind of plant.
Since fruit trees can be more of an investment than bedding annuals or vegetable seeds, I want to be sure the varieties I buy will actually succeed. That’s why I compiled this shortlist of easy fruit trees to grow. Even if you don’t have much space – or much gardening skill to keep plants alive – these easy fruits for beginners will thrive either in the ground or in containers.
One of the benefits of growing fruit trees in pots is that you can grow tender, tropical species in a cold climate. Simply move the pots indoors as fall arrives and overwinter your plants in a greenhouse or sunny corner of your house. Here are the easiest fruit trees that even beginners can grow in pots or in the garden.
Article continues below1. Figs
Figs are the ultimate beginner fruit tree. They are very easy to grow, produce early, and put out tons of fruit. After only one or two years, you will be harvesting delicious figs from the comfort of your own backyard or patio.
If you’re short on space and are interested in growing a potted fig tree, a dwarf-sized ‘Fignomenal’ tree from Burpee is the perfect choice. It only grows 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) tall and is ideal for container gardening in colder climates. It’s hardy in USDA hardiness zones 7-9, but just pop the pot on a rolling plant caddy, like this one from Amazon, to easily move it indoors for overwintering. It keeps producing fruit all year, even indoors!
Looking for an even easier fruit tree to grow? If you can’t be bothered to move plants indoors and outdoors each year, then the ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig tree from Fast Growing Trees is what you need. This easy to grow fruit tree is hardy down to zone 5. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and puts out plenty of fruit every late summer into early fall.
2. Citrus
If you live in a cold climate, you may think that growing a citrus tree is out of reach. But as long as you choose the right variety and are willing to move citrus trees indoors when nighttime temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C), it’s actually quite easy. Sweet citrus trees typically require higher heat to produce fruit, so sour varieties are your best bet for more northern areas where you’ll move your potted citrus tree indoors.
A ‘Meyer’ lemon tree, which is available from Fast Growing Trees, is just about the easiest citrus cultivar to grow. It’s compact, so it's perfect for pots. Plus, its fruits are a bit sweeter than regular lemons because this plant is a cross between a lemon and an orange. They produce just one or two years after planting, so you won’t have to wait long to enjoy this unique fruit.
If you want a sweet citrus fruit you can eat right off the plant, try a satsuma (Citrus reticulata) or Calamondin orange tree, both of which you can get from Fast Growing Trees. Calamondin is a cross between a kumquat and a satsuma, so it’s a bit tart but is delicious in marmalades and desserts.
3. Elderberries
The American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is an extremely low-maintenance fruit tree. Birds and butterflies will love it as much as you do! The elderberry is native to much of North America and can range in size from large shrub to small fruit tree, making it a good option for pots.
To grow an elderberry in a pot, you will need to provide plenty of water. These easy to grow fruit trees like a lot of moisture, so caring for them in containers is a bit more work than growing them in-ground. But if you only have a small patio, it is possible. If you have enough space, I recommend planting elderberries in your garden.
Both the berries and flowers of this fruit tree are edible. You can bread and deep fry the flower panicles for a tasty fritter-like appetizer straight from the garden. Use the berries to make jam, wine, or herbal medicines. You can get a species elderberry tree from the Arbor Day Foundation or shop other elderberry cultivars from Stark Bro’s Nurseries.
