Blueberries, cherries, and other small fruit shrubs produce faster in big tubs and pots! Here are some varieties I recommend.
First, I already have four fruit shrubs in the ground. About a third of the berries were eaten this year (mostly by me) in the garden while picking. Another third was used fresh for tarts and fruit salads. The remainder was frozen for later use. However, my frozen stash never lasts me through the winter. I’m running out of ground, so I’m going to containers.
Why pots? Fruits grown in containers are easier to protect from birds and other critters, more disease resistant and easy to harvest. Potted berries can be picked when ripe by placing their container on a bed sheet or tarp and shaking the pot.
There are so many fruit shrubs today that are perfect for pots, such as the Top Hat blueberry, which was bred by the University of Michigan for small spaces and containers. What could be simpler?
Top Hat is perfect on patios and decks, where it offers three-season interest. Gorgeous white bell flowers blanket plants in the spring, blue berries form during the summer and coppery fall foliage persists until the snow falls. Photo courtesty of Spring Hill Nursery.
Pink blueberries
In the last three years, I’ve received two pink blueberry varieties to test in my garden. One, Pink Lemonade has been in the ground for three summers and hasn’t bore fruit. A second shrub was planted in a large tub and flowered last spring! I expect to harvest my first pink blueberry this year. Because pink blueberries contain genetics from rabbit eye blueberries (a standard in the hot South), these pink berries can be planted in nearly every climate.
The same breeder also sent Pink Champagne, another pink variety last June. It, too, is in a large container. All the potted plants have grown vigorously and are larger than the one in the ground! I’m excited about sampling these new berries that is full of antioxidants and supposed to be sweeter than blue blueberries.
Pink Lemonade blueberries are loaded with the same antioxidants and vitamins as their blue cousins. Photo courtesty of Garden Media Group.
Sweet cherries for a pot
Spring Hill Nursery gave me a Carmine Jewel seedling last March to try. It was in a 2-inch pot, and I immediately potted up to a 6-inch one and kept it indoors until nights were above 25F. Then, the shrub went into a large tub. The plant is almost 4-feet tall now and wintering in my unheated garage.
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I’m sure these cherries won’t make it in the house, because I’ll eat them in the garden! Photo courtesty of Spring Hill Nursery.
Carmine Jewel is self-fruitful and can be picked before it’s fully ripe to use as one would a sour cherry, for pies, etc. It’s a cold-hardy sour cherry, but it has super-high sugar content when allowed to turn deep red and soften. You get two types of cherries in one shrub.
Do you grow berries? What do you think about potting fruit? Please share your comment below!
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Pink Lemonade blueberry plants
I planted two Pink Lemonade Blueberry plants, two summers ago. One looks like its doing ok and gave me four or five berries this summer. The other one looks like its going to die because the branchs look brown and the leaves fell off by mid August. Can I still transplant to a pot? Please advise. also I live in Pennsylvannia, Zone 6.
blueberries not performing
Most of the problems that most people have with plants starts with the soil. Blueberries need acidic soil—that’s soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Whether you leave it or move it to a pot, the soil question has to be addressed. Blueberries also crave organic matter—compost, aged manure…good stuff. So test your soil and amend as needed. You will find more information here: https://www.almanac.com/plant/blueberries
Cherry in pot in Zone 7b
Hi! Your articles are very helpful! Is it worth trying cherries in a pot in Zone 7B 8a in central NC? If so, when should I start the plant?
cherries in a pot
Thanks, Leslie. We have more for you. Is it worth it? Depends. You need to check the cherry variety and its needs and see how those correspond to/match your climate conditions. When to start the plant…? From seed?? If it’s a seed, why any time! If it’s a tree, we suggest that you peruse this page: https://www.almanac.com/plant/cherries and then consult the nursery from which you are getting it.
blueberries in pots
Hi, This concept thrills me. I have lousy soil, thus anything I grow is in pots (except over the septic bed where everything grows well - but I can't plant anything edible there). Because of the harsh winters I experience (I'm in Tiny, Ontario, on the shores of Georgian Bay) I've only tried annuals in pots. Blueberries are perennials. I'm open for suggestions about how to plant blueberries in pots that will survive the winter. Thank you.
overwintering blueberries in containers
As you live in such a cold-winter climate, some containers can be brought indoors–for example, in an unheated garage. If kept outside, insulate your plants by mulching and wrapping in burlap. Blueberries are quite hardy and can survive winters. Move your containers against a building or into a protected area to keep them out of the wind. They don’t need to be watered much in wintertime; just make sure they don’t try out.
blueberries
I have blueberries in containers and they won't grow?
...blueberries in containers and they won't grow
I can't ask you all the questions I would normally ask, so I will ask the important one. What is the ph of the soil in which your blueberry plants are planted? It should be 4.5 to 5.0 ph. They require an acid soil. I grow my blueberries in half wine barrels. I hope this helps.
Top Hat Blueberry Shrub
Where do I purchase this Shrub and would it produce fruit while I winter in AZ from November through April?
Hardiness Zones for Berries
I enjoyed the article regarding growing fruit (blueberries and cherries) in pots for a larger yield. Do you know if they will be ok to grow in Zone 8b? I have never heard of Carmine Jewel or the Pink Champagne berry and Top Hat blueberry. Please advise
Zones for Berries
Hi Augustine, Unfortunately, these berries mentioned aren’t zoned for 8b. The Carmine Jewel Cherry grows in zones 2b to 7; the Top Hat Blueberry grows in zones 3 to 7, as does the Pink Champagne Current. However, there are plenty of berries that you could grow in zone 8b. We’ve grown Pink Lemonade blueberries in large pots and they do great. It might be best to speak to a local nursery or cooperative extension.
Blackberries galore
When we first bought our house - new and one of three built on an abandoned corner on this hilltop, there was a huge stand of wild blackberries in one corner of the yard. The builder said "I'll get those out for you" and I replied "Over my dead body you will!!" I grew up on a farm in Va. and knew the value of wild fruit. I cut back the dead canes yearly, toss in a bit of Miracle grow, and get a couple of gallons of fruit every year. Some canes produce a sweet fruit, some a more acidic type, but it's all good. The more acidic I use in blackberry muffins. We dig wandering shoots out of the laurel and rose of Sharon each year as well, but the effort is worth it. The wild blackberries are a bit smaller than the cultivars one buys, but completely hardy: disease-free and tolerate hot, humid summers and the bitter winds coming off the harbor each winter. I wouldn't be without those bushes!
blackberry jumble
Hi, Samantha—this is such a great story! So happy for you—and envious of your brambles! Good for you for saving them from the builder. About the maintenance, your story is proof—and reason—why nothing good comes easy. But the good is soooo good! Bon berry-ppetit!
Container Fruits
I live in the mountains of Colorado. At approx 8,000 feet. What kind of fruit, if any, can I grow up here? I don't care much for blueberries, but I do love cherries and purple figs. Actully, any suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks.
high-altitude fruit
We looked around and found these ideas:
• This Colorado coop extension page provides lots of detail: http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/trees-and-shrubs-...
• Tree fruits specifically adapted to Idaho’s harsher climates include apples, pears, pie cherries, plums, and some late-blooming apricots. Varieties of each fruit crop vary widely in winter hardiness and timing of fruit maturity. This is from here and may provide more details: https://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/BUL/BUL0867.pdf (Yes, it’s Idaho, but we thought it would be of interest because it’s about altitude.)
• Here more, with complete emphasis on fruit, also from Idaho: https://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/BUL/BUL0868.pdf
We hope this helps! Consulting your local coop extension is also recommended. You can find the nearest to you here: http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services
Pink Lemonade Blueberries
Loved the article, just bought my 1st fruit plant, and SUPER EXCITED!!!
We got a Pink Lemonade blueberry plant, per your article if I am reading correctly, you can continue growth in pots instead of planting outside? (as long as you repot, and continue to increase pot size based on size increase of plant?)
Also I 've been reading on some plants best to have 2 of same type of plant for good growth, is this needed/ true for pink lemonade blueberries?
Any tips, greatly appreciated!!! (not sure if needed, but I live in WI) Thanks!! :)
The ‘Pink Lemonade’ is self
The ‘Pink Lemonade’ is self-pollinating but it is recommended that another rabbiteye cultivar (‘Tifblue’ or ‘Climax’ for example) be planted close by to ensure lots of berries.
Question about blueberries
Hi, I have a question, I have a beautiful blueberry plant in a container, in full bloom. My question is should I wait to plant it in my yard until after the berries come and go? Thanks!
Jan in N Fl.
Wait to plant the bush in the
Wait to plant the bush in the yard. Enjoy the berries and then plant it in the ground. Please see our bluberry page at http://www.almanac.com/plant/blueberries. For northern regions we recommend an early spring planting before the plants bloom.
Potted blueberries and Cherry's
If I were to pot some blueberries and a Cherry or two this spring, what do I do with them at seasons end? My garage is unheated as you stated yours is but I live in central Iowa. My garage can get very cold. If I store them somewhere when do I bring them back out again? Would I need to repot them with new potting soil? How many years could I expect to keep them this way?
You can store the containers
You can store the containers in your garage. You can wrap a blanket or two around the pots to insulated them a little bit. You will need to water the plants periodically over the winter, maybe two or three times. It is important to monitor soil moisture through the winter storage period. After a couple of years you may need to repot the plants in bigger pots with fresh soil.
Could you tell me what size
Could you tell me what size pot/tub would be appropriate for a Pink Lemonade Blueberry?
For blueberries, we'd start
For blueberries, we'd start out with one at least 12 inches wide by 18 inches deep.
I bought the Top Hat for a
I bought the Top Hat for a pot on my deck, but noticed after bringing it home that it suggested to have a second bush for pollinating. Is this necessary?
It also mentioned using saw dust further down in the pot....? why?
Thank you.
Hi Sharon, You don't need
Hi Sharon,
You don't need another bush, but yields will likely be higher if you have a different variety nearby. In addition to mulch, composted sawdust mixed into the soil is beneficial to the growth of the plant.
I personally love my
I personally love my blueberry bushes. I purchased them about six years ago from Online Plant Nursery. Waiting for them to produce fresh berries each year is like waiting on Christmas morning. Me and the kids anticipate them just waiting to pick the fresh berries so we can use them in fresh jam, jellies, pies or eat them fresh! If you love blueberries, go for planting a small crop of them!
I love reading all these
I love reading all these great articles regarding blueberries. I have a small fruit orchard behind my house and have roughly about 7 blueberry bushes. My kids wait for fresh blueberries similar to waiting to open gifts on Christmas morning! We freeze them, eat them fresh and can them. The possibilities are endless. I purchased mine from (Online Nursery Co) several years ago and they are still thriving well!
Doreen, I love reading your
Doreen,
I love reading your articles! Coming from Michigan and being a sparty alumni I do know the Top Hat variety is from Michigan State and not U of M. You may check with any nursery. MSU did of course used to be Michigan Agriculture College, and remains to be a top agriculture research university. Go green!
Pink Blueberries
Where is a good place to order some? Does it usually fruit the first year or second?
Re: Pink Blueberries
A number of mail order catalogs are featuring Pink Lemonade blueberries. Spring Hill, Burpee's and Shumway's come to mind. You can also use a search engine to find retailers who sell them. They will fruit the second year in a container and the third year in the ground. The first year, plants are establishing roots systems, growing branches and creating fruit buds for the next season.