Dwarf Fruit Trees for Small-Space Gardens

When it comes to fruit trees, those of us with small-spaces have more choices than we think. Small gardens won’t be able to handle standard-sized trees, but there’s always the semi-dwarf and dwarf varieties. The shorter versions are created by grafting standard cultivars on dwarfed rootstock.

Dwarf fruit trees can grow to anywhere from 4′ to 6′ tall and are perfect for the small garden or yard. If you’ve always dreamed of a mini-orchard, dwarf peaches and nectarines are the perfect solution as they’re miniature versions of their larger, standard cousins, maturing at merely 5′- 6′ tall.

Planting Dwarf Fruit Trees

The best way for any fruit tree to become established in a new yard or garden is to purchase bare-root trees and get them into the ground while they’re dormant. If you miss that window, you’re certain to find some that are planted and already happily growing in containers. They’ll go through a little transplant shock when they’re first planted as opposed to the bare-rooted ones that simply “wake up” in the spring not realizing that they’ve been disrupted at all.

Both dwarf peaches and nectarines like to be situated in full sun and prefer to have their feet in a loam or sandy-loam type soil. So if your soil is clay, you’re better off planting them in half-wine barrels or a raised bed. Choose a protected area as they dislike strong wind. Both peaches and nectarines produce an amazing amount of fruit, so when new fruits are about 1″, remove some of them so that those remaining are around 8″-10″ apart.

Dwarf Peach Tree Varieties:

• Golden Glory: 5′ tall
• Garden Pride: 4′-6′ tall
• Garden Gold: 6′ tall
• Southern Sweet: 4′-5′ tall
• Honey Babe: 4′-6′ tall
• El Dorado: 4-5′ tall
• Bonanza II: 5′ tall
• Pix Zee: 5-9′ tall

Dwarf Nectarine Tree Varieties:

• Nectar Babe: 5′-6′ tall
• Garden Delight: 6′ tall
• Golden Prolific: 5′ tall
• Red Sunset: 5′ tall
• Southern Belle: 4′-5′ tall
• Goldmine: 3′-4′ tall
• Necta Zee: 5′ tall

Standard-sized peach and nectarine trees are pruned heavily, but the dwarf types can get away with much less. That said, some good pruning will encourage the fruit to be produced all over the tree branches instead of just at the tips – which may cause them to break. Additionally, most (though not all) peach and nectarine trees have the benefit of being self-pollinating. Which means you can get away with planting a single specimen and still have fruit.

Dwarf fruit trees by RBerteig

Peach by Airdrie.m

Dwarf nectarine tree by Living in Monrovia

About Chris

Chris McLaughlin has written 36 posts in this blog.

Chris is a freelance garden writer and author of six books including A Garden to Dye For (St. Lynn's Press). She balances family, writing, and all things modern homesteading from their flower and fiber farm in the Northern California foothills. Chris is blessed with four fabulous kids and five gorgeous sugar babies. Follow Chris on Twitter: @Suburban_Farmer and her website: www.laughingcrowco.com.

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