An English garden just isn’t complete without a gorgeous fruit tree of some kind – and even if you have just a small yard or patio, you can still grow one in a pot. There are dwarf varieties for smaller spaces, but you can always prune back a standard fruit tree in most instances to keep it the right size for your outdoor area.

Some of the best fruit trees, native to the UK, are cherry trees, apple or plum trees along with fig and pear trees. Growing a tree in a pot will actually keep it from becoming too large, compared to if it was planted in the ground. However, if you look after the fruit tree correctly, you can look forward to a harvest of  fruit in summertime or autumn, depending on what you choose to grow.

Apple trees are a good place to start; if you want to grow the eating kind (as opposed to cooking types) you could try Arthur Turner or Bountiful varieties.

If it’s dessert apples you’re looking to harvest, there are several types that are happy in a pot, including Discovery, Fiesta, Pixie, and Sunset.

Fig trees Brown Turkey and White Marseilles also self-pollinate and will reward you (or the birds) with fruit – even when grown in a pot.

Self-pollinating cherries such as Lapins and Stella are self fertile, so they do not need another cherry tree to pollinate them – and they grow well in pots for many years to come.

Pear varieties such as Conference and Red Comice are also suitable for smaller spaces along with some plum trees. Dessert plum varieties will also grow well in containers, look out for Opal and Victoria (these are also self pollinators).

Other trees that are perhaps a little more challenging to grow, but can do well in the right environment are olive trees, apricots and peaches.

You could also set up a grape vine in a conservatory or glass-windowed space; many English households have grown grapes through the centuries.

Another possibility is a blueberry bush in a pot, most types will do well in containers and the UK climate – it’s not a tree as such, but will still give you an abundance of seasonal fruit.

When your trees start to fruit, you may need to cover them, otherwise wildlife might beat you to the harvest.

Most fruit trees do require a position in full sun to thrive, and they’ll need lots of water when the weather is hot and dry; the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises to "water generously but allow the compost’s surface to dry out before the next watering, without it becoming bone dry". 

Sharing expertise on planting fruit in pots, the RHS advises: “As far as the type of container, clay pots are heavy and stable; plastic is durable, light and easier to manage. For most fruit, choose pots 45 to 50cm (18 to 20in) in diameter.

“Fruit trees, vines and bushes can be planted in containers at any time of year. However, spring (March or April) is a particularly good time, as the roots soon grow and establish into the new compost.”