A decorative mulch on top of the soil will help keep moisture in. These fruit shrubs and trees don’t require a lot of space and can thrive in the smallest of patches…including pots and containers! A dwarf fruit tree needs sunlight and almost no growing room. Read our 10 tips for your best ever fruit harvest.. For small trees, a 12-inch-diameter container — what nurseries call a five-gallon pot — is perfect for starters. In any case, do not burn a new tree's tender feeder roots with fertilizer or uncomposted manure. Soil requirements for pot-grown fruit trees. Mature trees need pots double that width and at least 18 to 24 inches deep. You can move it, although once the container is full of soil and the tree gains bulk, you may not wish to move it often. All a gardener needs are light, fertilizer, and sufficient water to enjoy citrus, cherries, apples, and more. Small trees on patios or similar areas can serve as natural focal points, add privacy, frame views, provide shade, or even bear fruit. Put some large pebbles or broken clay pot pieces in the bottom to allow drainage. Anyone can grow fruit trees in containers or pots indoors. Anyone can grow fruit trees in containers or pots indoors. The roots of fruit trees growing in open ground are insulated from freezing air by the soil above them, but fruit trees growing in containers have less soil and are exposed to cold air on all sides. In most cases, no soil amendments are needed at the time of planting a fruit tree. Soils that are lacking in nutrients also make it challenging for fruit trees to produce tasty, juicy fruit. Fruit trees grow best in well-drained soil with a sandy, loamy texture. Close attention to potting soil is the first step in ensuring healthy container-grown citrus trees. Consistently wet soil is bad news because citrus are susceptible to root rot. Extra soil around trees complicates moisture control, so work your way up in pot size as trees grow. People frequently want to grow some type of fruit tree in a container, usually because of poor soil, improper climate or lack of sufficient space as is often the case around apartments and condominiums. Potted Fruit Trees. It is best to use normal soil, or a mix of compost such as John Innes No. ... Fertilizing Fruit Trees in Containers Many potting soil mixes come with fertilizer included. Growing citrus trees in pots is a great way to get the fresh fruits and a great way to brighten a patio or sun room. Growing Medium. When you pot up a fruit tree, you can savor springtime blossoms and feast on fall fruit anywhere—on a deck, on a patio, or even on a sliver of balcony.