Yes, you can grow cherry trees containers on patios and decks with the right variety and pot size. Dwarf and compact types do well in large planters where full-size trees would fail. Standard cherry trees grow too big for pots within a few years.
I grew my first container cherry tree on a small city balcony with no yard space at all. The tree gave me a handful of cherries the second year and more each year after that. Winter protection turned out to be the hardest part since pot roots freeze faster than ground roots do. A container cherry tree can produce fruit for years if you manage these challenges.
Cherry trees in pots need genetic dwarf varieties or trees grafted onto dwarfing rootstock. Regular cherry trees grow roots that spread wider than any pot can hold. Restricted roots stress the tree and cut fruit production down to almost nothing. Dwarf types stay compact by nature and handle pot life much better.
North Star sour cherry stays small and makes an excellent dwarf cherry tree pot growers love. Compact Stella gives you sweet cherries on a small tree. Trees grafted onto Gisela 5 rootstock stay about 8-10 feet (2.4-3 meters) tall and work well in large containers with yearly pruning.
Container size matters more than most people think. Start with at least a 20-gallon (76-liter) pot for a young tree. Move up to 25 or 30 gallons as the tree grows over the first few years. Drainage holes in the bottom are not optional since wet roots kill cherry trees fast.
Use a potting mix made for containers rather than garden soil. Mix in one part perlite to improve drainage and aeration. Garden soil compacts in pots and suffocates roots over time. A light airy mix lets water flow through while holding enough moisture for the tree.
Feed your potted cherry tree every two weeks during the growing season. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer for best results. Container trees cannot reach out for nutrients like ground-planted trees can. They depend on you for all their food so don't skip feedings.
Winter protection keeps your cherry tree in a planter alive through cold months. Move pots to an unheated garage or shed when temps drop below 20°F (-7°C) for more than a few days. The tree needs cold to set fruit buds but frozen roots die fast. Wrapping the pot in bubble wrap or burlap adds some insulation if you cannot move it inside.
Repot your tree every two to three years into fresh soil mix. Trim any circling roots and size up the container if the tree seems root bound. Spring works best for repotting just before new growth starts. Your cherry tree in planter can produce fruit for ten years or more with proper care.
Container growing takes more work than planting in the ground but opens cherry growing to anyone with a sunny spot. Your tree won't produce as much fruit as a full-sized one would. A few handfuls of fresh cherries from your own patio tree makes up for the smaller harvest though.
Read the full article: Growing Cherry Trees From Seed or Sapling
