Recently started indoor gardening as an apartment gardener?
You may be wondering about the different plants you can grow in your own cozy apartment. Well, why not grow some mini fruit trees that will not only enhance the aesthetic of your apartment but will also bear fruit - literally!
Here are my seven favorite fruit trees for apartment gardeners like us!
The Ponderosa Lemon Tree
I love my ponderosa lemon tree!. It is a small tree with a round top and medium-sized branches. It grows well indoors and appreciates being near a sunny window.
However, if sunlight isn’t available, you can use grow lights. My citrus trees are near an east-facing window - so not enough light.
When planting, use one size larger container than the one it has been growing in. Take equal parts of peat vermiculite and sterile potting soil, and there you have your potting mix!
Water your lemon tree deeply and then let the water drain well. Make sure the soil drys out between watering. Citrus does not like wet feet.
Citrus trees like humidity, so mist the leaves if the humidity in your home goes below 50% to keep the plant happy.
My Key Lime on left and Ponderosa Lemon on the right. Photo by Autor, Ame Vanorio
The Key Lime
You’re probably wondering how you can grow this vigorous tree indoors, but it sure is possible (and worth it)! While a standard key lime is typically twelve feet tall, the dwarf version will go up to six feet.
You can also prune your plant. This will keep it compact and to a good size that is manageable indoors. Make sure you provide a good drainage system for this tree, as overwatering can cause root rot. A good option is to place some stones in the bottom two inches of the pot and make sure it has drainage holes.
If your plant isn’t blooming, it means it isn’t getting enough light - it needs at least six hours of bright sunlight or supplement with grow lights every day.
When watering, make sure the soil is evenly moist and not soggy. Also, allow the top two inches of the soil to dry out before watering again.
The ideal temperature for this plant is normal room temperature. Around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They do not like the temperature to fluctuate much.
I found this out the hard way. When I lived off-grid and heated with wood I could not keep a consistent temperature in the house and lost my lime tree.
Peaches
Yes, you can grow peaches indoors! There are several miniature and dwarf varieties that stay under six feet tall.
In fact, growing peaches indoors protects the early blooms from frost which can be a problem with outdoor trees.
Bonfire and Bonanza are both varieties that thrive in containers. They are both self-fertile however pollinating by hand will increase yield.
Check out my quick video on citrus tips! You can also watch my Logees unboxing video on my YouTube channel.
Brown Turkey Fig
The brown turkey fig tree will give you abundant medium to large size figs. It does well in containers and is not as temperature picky as the citrus trees.
They do need pruning to keep them a manageable size. Larger trees will need a good-sized container such as a half-barrel. Using a wheeled plant stand is a good idea with this tree.
Use a soil-based potting mix and add lightweight perlite for good drainage.
Adding a nice layer of mulch will help prevent moisture loss, so you won’t have to water it again and again. But that doesn't mean you can go easy on the watering - make sure to keep the soil slightly moist. Figs love water!
Figs grow best in the summer months, so make sure to give them plenty of nutrition during this time. A high nitrogen fertilizer every four weeks should do the trick.
During the winter, there is no need for fertilizer, and you can water the plant less often. Fig trees will lose their leaves and go dormant in winter.
Figs often start producing at two years of age.
Olives
Freshly-picked olives on your sizzling pizza - sounds like a fantasy, right? Follow the instructions below to plant and grow your own olives and turn this dream into a reality!
First of all, make sure you purchase the kind that is fruit-bearing and not purely ornamental. The Arbequina Olive Tree is a great choice for indoor growing. They are quite hardy and respond well to pruning.
Next, choose a nice, large container that will give the roots room to expand. Olive trees like soil that drains easily, so it’s a good idea to use plenty of vermiculite or gravel at the bottom of the pot. The pot should have several drainage holes.
Now find a sunny spot around the apartment and place the plant where it can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight. If you don’t have a south or west window do what I do and use grow lights to supplement.
Up to the first year of its life, water the plant weekly, and when you notice that it is thriving at a good pace, you can water it once a month.
Banana Tree
If you’re looking for an easy-to-grow plant, this one's for you. With broad shiny leaves, this plant will definitely be a beautiful, tropical addition to your apartment.
But remember - banana plants can grow to be quite large so you’ll want to choose a dwarf kind. Cavendish Super Dwarf and Dwarf Lady Finger stay under five feet and are good producers.
Start off with a spacious pot and any good quality potting mix. Banana plants need ample sunlight and a good amount of humidity, so if you’ve got a bathroom with a window facing south, that could be the perfect spot for your tree.
During the growing phase, banana plants can get really thirsty so keep a check on water levels. If your indoor air is dry, keep misting or use a humidifier.
Keep the soil evenly moist in the summer and on the drier side in the winter months.
Banana plants like being outside during the summer months and thrive in hot humid weather. So a patio or balcony is perfect. They don’t like temperatures under 50˚F so bring them in when fall comes.
Also, remember to fertilize regularly with a good organic fertilizer.
Kumquats
Kumquats are a fun interesting fruit. They look like small oranges but have more of a sour/sweet taste. They remind me of the candy, sweet tarts, for some reason!
They are very reliable and hardy. However, they do grow slower than other citrus fruits.
Like other citrus trees, they need bright sunlight - or supplemental light for at least six hours per day.
Kumquats like humidity between 50 - 60%. If your apartment is below this, especially in winter, you can mist your plants daily. However, water less in winter. Kumquats like a dry period.
It can also help to place your kumquat tree on a tray filled with pebbles and water. You don’t want them in the water, just on the top where the evaporating water will add humidity into the air.
Two good varieties for indoors are Nagami and Changshou.
Take Away
Fruit trees are an excellent choice for indoor gardening. They relieve stress and give pleasure, just like other houseplants, with the perk that they also give you an appetizing, juicy basket of fruit at the end of the season.
Just be sure to choose dwarf or miniature varieties that suit you and your apartment best, and you’ll be good to go. Happy apartment-gardening!