Kitchen Garden Forum

Dear All,

I'm new to the whole fruit-growing experience, and space being limited, I was wondering if it’s possible to grow a Victoria Plum tree in a container. Perhaps some special dwarf variety?

Many thanks in advance.

Dear Georgygirl, they now do plum trees on a dwarfing pixie rootstock, so these should be fine in a large tub.
A Victoria is a good choice as it is self-fertile, meaning you won't need another tree to polinate each other.

Georgy Girl

As OH says, definitely make sure it is on Pixy rootstock. Also, do prune apropriately - a Dwarf Pyramid form is best for containers. 'RHS Pruning and Training' or 'Fruit Garden Displayed' give good instructions. Alternatively, for quicker fruiting, you can 'festoon' the long shoots - i'e tie them down in a loop to the stem or lower branch - this encourages early formation of fruit buds at the bend of the shoot. Once fruit buds have formed, the branch can be cut back to them.

Also. use JI3 soil based potting compost.

Mole

Also look out for the newer dwarf rootstock 'Gisela'

Beryl.

Many thanks for all the leads and useful information.

All the best for the coming season.

I have a 'Marjories seedling' minarette from Ken Muirs and I grow it in a pot no probs. Its about due for a top dressing and I just use regualar supermarket compost. It fruited well enough but I'm sure I will need to give it a bit more TLC if I want it to thrive. Wasps are a real menace on plums and the great thing about minarettes is the compact shape so last year I made a tube like slip cover out of environemesh and foiled the hot arsed little b******s!