10 Best Fruit Trees to Grow in Pots

By the Viral Info team · Updated November 2026 · 3 min read

10 Best Fruit Trees To Grow In Pots

Container fruit trees are perfect for patios, balconies and small gardens, and you can move them to shelter in winter. These 10 best fruit trees to grow in pots are compact, productive and forgiving.

Container basics

Item Why it works
Pot size Start at 40 to 50 litres and size up
Soil Loam-based compost with grit for drainage
Watering Deeply when the top few cm are dry
Feeding Fruit or citrus feed in the growing season
Winter Move citrus indoors; wrap other pots

Best fruit trees for pots

  1. Dwarf lemon for fragrant flowers and year-round fruit in mild climates.
  2. Meyer lemon for sweeter, thin-skinned lemons.
  3. Calamondin for small sour fruit and a neat shape.
  4. Fig for big leaves and a heavy crop in a sunny spot.
  5. Olive for silvery leaves and drought tolerance.
  6. Dwarf peach or nectarine for early summer fruit.
  7. Columnar apple for a slim tree on a balcony.
  8. Dwarf cherry on a dwarfing rootstock.
  9. Kumquat for small fruit you can eat whole.
  10. Pomegranate for a dwarf, heat-loving tree with red flowers.

Tip: Lift heavy pots with a trolley or pot feet and get help rather than straining your back, keep fertilisers and any sprays out of reach of children and pets, note that fig sap can irritate skin so wear gloves when pruning, and make sure balconies can safely take the weight of large, wet pots.

FAQ

What is the easiest fruit tree to grow in a pot?

A fig or a Meyer lemon is very forgiving in a sunny spot.

How big a pot does a fruit tree need?

At least 40 to 50 litres, moving up to 70 to 100 litres as it grows.

Can potted fruit trees stay outside in winter?

Hardy ones like apple and fig can with wrapped pots; citrus needs frost protection.

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