How to Grow Miniature Peach Trees in Containers – a short tutorial with step-by-step pictures on growing miniature/dwarf fruit trees in a small garden.
In Minnesota, we had a big yard with lots of trees and it was a lot of work. It took us many years to trim and tame the huge mature trees before we finally had a sunny spot to start Our Vegetable Garden. Even though it was a lot of work, we found it very rewarding to be able to grow and harvest some our own vegetables in the summer. We were hooked!
Planning Our New Colorado Backyard
When we started building our house in Colorado, it was an opportunity to set up our small backyard exactly the way we wanted it to be. We got the people who did our driveway to pour concrete for our backyard patio. This created the perfect place for container gardening. We also had the landscapers put in two raised vegetable boxes for us so that we can easily plant some of the vegetables we enjoy. It was great! We were all set and could not wait for spring to arrive.
A Cold and Wet Spring
The landscapers finished their work in our backyard at the end of March. The weather was warming up nicely until a series of late snowstorms hit the Colorado Front Range. We were leaving for our trip to Asia in mid April and had hope that we could get some planting done before we left. Unfortunately, the weather started getting colder and I had to find alternative ways to keep the plants I had purchased alive. That was when I discovered Self-Watering Raised Bed Patio Grow Boxes which I will talk about in an upcoming post.
A Step-By-Step Tutorial on How to Grow Miniature Peach Trees in Containers
Bonfire Dwarf Patio Peach Tree
Three days before the late snowstorm of April 10th hit, we chanced upon a Bonfire Patio Peach Tree at Walmart. This tree is self-fertile or self-fruitful meaning that it can set fruit with pollen from the same tree or with pollen from the same variety. This is great because we only need this one tree and it will bear fruit. We could not let it pass and so we brought the miniature tree home. It was done flowering but the longish burgundy leaves were still quite pretty.
Complementary Plants at Base of Miniature Peach Tree
Since it was so tiny, we decided to put in some plants at the base of the tree so that the pot will not look so empty. I chose 2 hardy bog rosemary with pretty pink flowers and blue green leaves to complement the peach tree and container. Later I added 2 English lavender to fill the bare spots.
Rocks, Potting Mix, and Compost
Gardening experts say it is a myth that rocks at the bottom of a pot improves drainage. Whatever the case, we usually put a single layer in larger containers to prevent the dirt from washing out of the holes. You can omit this step if you wish. Since we have lots of rocks in our garden, we can just gather some into the container.
For fruit trees and edible plants in my garden, I prefer to use organic potting mix and compost. Always use potting mix and not garden soil which is too dense and will not drain well in containers. I like to use a ratio of 3:1, that is 3 parts potting mix to 1 part compost in my containers.
We were excited and could not wait to get home to pot our first container for the patio.
Planter Caddy
Potted plants can be pretty heavy and to move them around can be back breaking. You can save your back by placing them on planter caddies with wheels. By doing this you can move them easily on your patio.
Similar Products used in How to Grow Miniature Peach Trees in Containers
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Bonfire Dwarf Patio Peach Tree – 2 Year Old
Gardener Select EPR18-204 Egg Planter Blue Flower, 18″
Trendspot 18in Blue Tall Egg Composite Resin Plastic Planter
Landscapers Selec Pt-s028 Resin Planter, Blue Stain Finish, 22″
Plastec CDW12 Cedar Wood Caddy
Devault 12 in Plant Dolly, Black
Devault 16 in Plant Dolly, Black
How to Grow Miniature Peach Trees in Containers
Equipment
- A trowel
Materials
- 1 unit 18 inch planter
- Small rocks (optional)
- 1 bag 1.5 qt organic potting mix
- 1 bag 1.5 qt organic compost
- 1 unit Bonfire Dwarf Patio Peach Tree
- 2 hardy bog rosemary
- 2 English lavender
- Mulch
- 1 unit 12 inch x 12 inch planter caddy
Instructions
- Put a single layer of rocks at the base of the planter. (optional)
- Add a shallow layer of potting mix and compost with a ratio of 3:1 to about a quarter of the height of the container.
- Gently loosen the plant from its original pot and transfer it into the prepared container.
- Fill the sides of the container with a mixture of potting mix and compost.
- Transfer bog rosemary and English lavender plants into the container.
- Fill the container to the top with more potting mix and compost.
- Spread an even layer of mulch over the bare soil where it is not covered by the bog rosemary and lavender.
- Lift the container onto a planter caddy so that it can be moved around easily on your patio.
- Saturate the plant with water and check to make sure that excess water is draining from the holes in the container.
Notes
How to Grow Miniature Peach Trees in Containers – Good Growth
We planted this Bonfire Patio Peach Tree on April 7th and you can see from the pictures below that it has grown quite lush and pretty after 1½ months. Unfortunately, the flowers have mostly dropped off because of the snowstorms and so we will not be getting any fruits this year. Hopefully next year, we will get an abundance of peaches.
Pix Zee Miniature Peach Tree
When we came across the Pix Zee Miniature Peach Tree at a nursery upon our return from Asia, we could not resist bringing another miniature peach tree home. Fortunately, this tree is also self-fertile and has lots of tiny peaches on it. We have had this tree for 3 weeks now and the fruits have grown larger and some of them are turning to a rosy peach color. We will have to carefully remove some of the fruits so that the remaining ones will have a chance to grow big. Please check back frequently for updates on the trees’ progress throughout the summer.
I hope you have enjoyed this quick tutorial on How to Grow Miniature Peach Trees in Containers. It’s been a fun project for us and we can’t wait to see the fruits grow. I will definitely use some of the fruits for a recipe when they ripen.
How to Grow Miniature Peach Trees in Containers – Update July 20, 2019
After 2 months of repotting this Pix Zee Miniature Peach Tree, the fruits have grown larger. They are also beginning to change color. We removed about half of the fruits from the tree and are still left with over 30 good size peaches.
How to Grow Miniature Peach Trees in Containers – Update Aug 11, 2019
We are getting really excited about the peaches on this Pix Zee Miniature Peach Tree. They are quite a sight to behold! They all have a beautiful color and are about 2 inches in diameter. At this time, the fruits are still very firm and so we will leave them a little longer on the tree.
A Bowl of Peaches – Update August 28, 2019
We have been enjoying tree ripen peaches for the past two weeks now. So far, we have not plucked them from the tree. We usually just pick them up from the base of the pot where we have grown a carpet of Ajuga (a.k.a. carpetweed or bugleweed) for them to land on. They really are sweet if allowed to ripen on the tree. Those that are knocked down by the winds need to be kept for a few days before they are soft enough to eat.
All in all, we are very happy with our Pix Zee Miniature Peach Tree. If it continues to bear fruits next year, we plan to cull more fruits so that they will grow larger. Hopefully, our Bonfire Dwarf Patio Peach Tree will also start bearing fruits next year. 🙂
This is what the sweet and juicy flesh looks like. Also tree ripen peaches are very easy to peel. They just come right off.
Pretty Pix Zee Miniature Peach Flowers – Update February 28, 2020
It is almost spring here in Colorado and our Pix Zee Miniature Peach Tree is giving a fantastic show of pretty peach flowers. There are lots of flower buds right now but we will likely remove some so that we will have fewer but bigger fruits. It is very exciting and I can’t wait to see the fruits forming.
Pretty Bonfire Dwarf Patio Peach Flowers – Update March 10, 2020
10 days later and our Bonfire Dwarf Peach Tree is also blossoming. This tiny tree did not bear fruit last year because the flowers were mostly gone when we bought it. Currently, it looks very promising as there are many blossoms on the tree, much more than the Pix Zee. The flowers are quite different. They are a very light pink in color with spread out angular petals. I wonder what the fruits will taste like.
Comparison of The Two Peach Flowers
Both flowers are pretty and I can’t decide which one is prettier. Which do you like better? 🙂 Hopefully, I will get to do a comparison of the fruits later in the year.
Madeline says
I’m in Colorado and just got my first dwarf peach tree. Are yours still thriving well in the 18” containers? How did you protect them over winter/risk for frosts?
Linda says
Yes, both peach trees are still alive 😅 as we bring them into the garage or sunroom during the winter. The winter of 2019/2020 was brutal. We had several late snow storms and cold snaps. We scrambled to bring them in each time. The constant moving wasn’t good for them and some of the formed fruits got knocked off.
After all the moving because of the bad weather, we had 8 large fruits from the Pix Zee in the spring/summer of 2020. We lost 2 of them to deer roaming in the neighborhood and 2 more from someone actually pinching them off our tree! We were left with 4 to enjoy.
The Bonfire is still a very small tree. We did not have any peaches from the Bonfire when we potted it in spring of 2019 but had 5 to 6 small peaches in 2020 after the rough handling because of the snow storms and cold snaps. They were not as juicy as the Pix Zee peaches.
Currently, both peach trees are still in the garage. The Bonfire has lots of flowers and the Pix Zee already has small green leaves. I only saw a few flowers this time. 😥 I will try and update this post with pictures of the fruits from summer of 2020 and the current state the trees are in now.
Stephen Pegler says
Just what I needed! I live in Colorado and am thinking of planting some fruit trees in pots.
But, what do I do in October when winter starts? Leave them out? What about when it gets really really cold at night?
Linda says
We bring them into the garage when it gets really cold as they are still very small trees. Please see my above lengthy response.
Joan says
Very helpful
Linda says
Glad to hear that. 🙂
Steve says
Hi,
Enjoyed this blog very much, thank you! We have trees established in the ground around our property, but just bought two dwarf peach trees. I like the slightly darker flowers, which was why I went with a Rose Chiffon which are dark red, along with a Bonanza. Our idea is to have attractive ornamental trees for our outdoor covered area with the hope of fruit, too.
Best wishes, Steve
Linda says
You are welcome and thank you for the kind words. Totally agree with your idea of attractive ornamental trees with the hope of fruit. Best of both worlds.