Even if you have very little room, it's always possible to grow a fruit tree. Furthermore, these days there are many varieties of fruit trees grafted onto dwarf rootstock and they give good harvests, even when raised in pots.

Choosing the fruit tree
� Always choose a species appropriate to the conditions of your garden. Prospects for growth are limited in spots that are cold and shady.
� Check what size the tree will be when fully grown. In general, fruit trees like wide open spaces so the light hits them fully and they can breathe.
� Buy your trees at a greenhouse. They are trustworthier, and can give you tips on how to care for the trees.
� Avoid trees that are malformed, have wounds on the stems and signs of pests or diseases.
� It is best to buy young trees, of one or two years of age. They take root better, and are easier to guide and give shape to.
� From the middle of winter to the end of the season, when roots are inactive, you can buy fruit trees with naked roots; they are cheaper and easier to handle.
� Choose trees with robust development and check that the side branches are well spaced. Year-old trees will take longer to bear fruit.

Planting the tree
In order to flourish, all fruit trees need fertile, well-drained soil with good structure and a sunny location. So it is necessary to provide these conditions from the outset. The steps to follow are these:
� Dig a hole twice the size of the tree's soil ball. Water well and check that the soil drains well. Before planting the tree put a stake in the hole to hold the tree while it takes root.
� Add gravel or sand to the bottom to act as a drain. Then place the dirt ball in the hole carefully so that the base of the tree's stem is level with the edge of the hole and the union of the graft (this is seen in a twisting of the stem) is above ground level.� Fill with earth little by little, and pack it down gradually but softly so that air pockets do not form between the roots. Then water the tree.
� Finally, tie the tree to the stake with a special device of the kind sold in greenhouses so that the stem will not be damaged as it grows and thickens.
It is good idea to establish a wide perimeter at the base of the trunk and keep it clean of weeds and other plants and even turf, until at least three years go by. This way they will not compete with the fruit tree for nutrients. Once this time goes by you can plant lawn or small plants around the tree, from a radius of 20 cm from the trunk.

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