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Fruit trees in pots are a beautiful decoration for the balcony and terrace, which also provide delicious fruit. In addition to the classic types of fruit such as pears and apples, exotic fruits are increasingly conquering the balcony.

In a nutshell

  • Apples and pears absolutely need a weak substrate
  • hardy columnar fruit benefit from winter protection in the first few years
  • there are exotic columnar fruits, such as mulberries, which are hardy

apples

"Braeburn"

  • high vitamin C content
  • juicy sweet flesh
  • low water requirement
  • Pot size 60 - 80 cm
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: from October

"gala"

  • not self-fertile
  • suitable as a pollinator
  • easy-care
  • dessert apple
  • Pot size 60 - 70 cm
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: mid-September

"Golden Delicious"

  • very productive
  • sunny location
  • Height: up to 300 cm
  • Harvest: from September

Notice: With columnar fruit for the terrace and balcony, always make sure that the trees have a weakly growing rootstock. The "Golden Delicious" variety is also available with a half-stem or standard, the fruit trees of which are not suitable for cultivation in tubs.

apricots

"Army Col"

  • narrow growth
  • big fruits
  • sweet taste
  • not susceptible to Monilia
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: from July
Source: apple2000, Apricot tree05, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

"Compacta Super Compact"

  • hardy to -25°C
  • very productive
  • very juicy
  • not susceptible to Monilia
  • self-fertile
  • Height up to 300 cm
  • Harvest: July - August

pears

"conference"

  • pollinator variety
  • needs a good water supply
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: from mid-September

"Doyenne du Comice"

  • tender pulp
  • green-yellow shell
  • light scent
  • low water requirement
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: from mid-October

Notice: Pears are susceptible to various fungal diseases. Choose resistant varieties as columnar fruit for the terrace.

cherries

"Garden Bing"

  • hardly forms side shoots
  • self-fertile
  • robust
  • Height: up to 200 cm
  • Harvest: from August
Sweet cherry (Prunus avium)

"stella"

  • robust
  • aromatic fruits
  • Pot size: 60 - 80 cm
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: late July - early August

"Swing"

  • self-fertile
  • aromatic fruits
  • easy-care
  • very frost hardy
  • Height: up to 400 cm, needs regular pruning
  • Harvest: from mid-June

plums

"Bellamira"

  • sunny location preferred
  • robust
  • self-fertile
  • high yield
  • suitable for jam
  • Height: 200 - 400 cm
  • Harvest: August

"Nancy"

  • self-fertile
  • very productive
  • comes off the stone easily
  • prefers sunny locations
  • very juicy and sweet
  • Height: 200 - 400 cm
  • Harvest: August - September

peaches

"bonanza"

  • self-fertile
  • sunny locations preferred
  • sweet and juicy fruits
  • Height: up to 120 cm
  • Harvest: from August

"PlatiforTWO"

  • plate peach
  • white firm flesh
  • small stone
  • intense red skin color
  • Height: up to 300 cm
  • Harvest: from July

plums

"Anja"

  • very resistant
  • sweet fruits
  • self-fertile
  • very productive
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: from mid-September

"Black Amber"

  • self-fertile
  • very sweet taste
  • sunny to semi-shady
  • Pot size: 60 - 80 cm
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: September/October

"Colunar Ruby"

  • sweet fruits
  • reddish skin
  • bears fruit in the second year
  • self-fertile
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: from the beginning of July

Berry bushes as standard

Berry bushes can also be cultivated with standard trees as small fruit trees in tubs.

Chokeberry "Aronia Viking"

  • high content of vitamin C
  • Berries can be used in many ways
  • suitable for partial shade
  • requires regular topiary
  • Height: up to 150 cm
  • Harvest: August

Gooseberry strain "Captivator"

  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • resistant
  • dark red fruits
  • growing
  • Height: up to 120 cm
  • Harvest: from mid-June

Exotic fruit

With the right care, you can also grow exotic fruit trees in tubs on your balcony or terrace.

figs

"Little Miss Figgy"

  • attractive leaves
  • drought resistant
  • self-fertile
  • needs sheltered space
  • Height: up to 90 cm
  • Harvest: summer - autumn

"Rouge de Bordeaux"

  • not sensitive to frost
  • very large fruits
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • Height: up to 250 cm
  • Harvest: end of July

Notice: In the first two to three years you should wrap the shoots of the fig trees well. Only after about the fourth year are they no longer so sensitive to frost.

pomegranate

  • hardy to -15°C
  • vitamin-rich fruits
  • Height: up to 150 cm
  • Harvest: October

Notice: All pomegranate trees are suitable for pot culture.

kumquat

  • Fruits edible with peel
  • full sun location
  • not hardy
  • Flowering from March
  • Height: up to 150 cm
  • Harvest: in autumn

Mulberry "BonBon Berry"

  • hardy to -15°C
  • bears fruit in the first year
  • very sweet fruits
  • new fruits are constantly ripening
  • Height: up to 150 cm
  • Harvest: May - September

olive

  • two trees necessary for fertilization
  • sunny and warm location
  • tolerates short-term down to -8°C
  • low maintenance
  • Height: up to 150 cm
  • Harvest: from November

orange

  • not hardy
  • must be overwintered frost-free
  • intensely scented flowers
  • blooms almost all year round
  • water moderately
  • fertilize regularly
  • Height: up to 100m cm
  • Harvest: almost all year round

Pillar Kiwi "Issai"

  • very productive
  • smooth edible shell
  • sheltered location
  • nutrient-rich soil
  • climbing aid required
  • Height: up to 300 cm
  • Harvest: from October

lemon

  • not hardy
  • Hibernation at 5 - 10°C
  • medium maintenance effort
  • medium water requirement
  • blooms almost all year round
  • Height: up to 300 cm
  • Harvest: almost all year round

frequently asked Questions

Are there columnar fruit with differently refined varieties?

Yes, there are columnar fruits in the shops that have been refined with pears and apples, for example. Often, however, only one refinement develops so well that it also produces yields. It is therefore advisable to limit yourself to just one type of processed fruit.

How productive are fruit trees in pots?

Classic fruits such as apples, pears or cherries tend to produce smaller yields in pot culture and are more suitable as table fruit that is eaten occasionally. However, high-stem berry bushes can certainly produce yields in larger quantities.

Do I have to cut columnar fruit regularly?

Yes, you should cut columnar fruit regularly. This keeps the fruit trees compact and they are more productive. Regular pruning also promotes the vitality of the plants.

What is a weak rootstock?

The rootstock is the tree species or variety onto which the scions are grafted. It does not necessarily have to be the same species, because fruit trees are sometimes grafted onto wild shrubs that have the desired properties. Slow-growing rootstocks don't grow fast and usually don't get tall compared to fast-growing rootstocks.

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Garden plants