5 Unusual Fruits to Grow in a Container Garden

Container gardening has become popular recently due to its convenience and beauty. Whether you live in a northern climate and need to bring your precious plants indoors, or you are a renter and want to ensure you can take your slice of heaven with you wherever you go, container gardening provides flexibility in arranging your beloved plants.

But container gardening isn’t just for looks, either; it can provide a huge wealth of exotic fruits that are otherwise hard to come by. Today, we’ll look at some of the more unique fruits you can plant in a container garden to add variety to your culinary adventures.

Papaya

Papaya is a sweet, creamy fruit that tastes like a combination of mango and cantaloupe. It is rich in vitamins and contains papain, which helps the body digest protein. Thus, papaya is perfect for those looking to balance their gut biome and live a healthier lifestyle.

Through decades of careful breeding, horticulturalists have developed the Red Lady Papaya Dwarf Tree, which is fertile all year round and small enough to be planted in a container. Not only will you enjoy fresh, delicious fruit throughout the year, but you can easily move the plant indoors to protect it from colder weather and frost. Papaya thrives in full sun and will start bearing fruit within two years of planting.

Starfruit

With soft citrus notes and flesh similar to that of a green grape, starfruit is a unique culinary experience that works well in fruit salads or on its own. Rich in Vitamin C and potassium, it is a diet-friendly snack with a high fiber content, so you stay fuller for longer. Its flavor is compared to a mix of grapes, apples, and oranges, creating a highly unique flavor that will wow your friends.

Despite its exotic appearance, starfruit is actually quite easy to grow and is recommended for beginner container gardens. It thrives in subtropical and tropical climates, so it needs direct sunlight and warm temperatures. Starfruit generally starts fruiting within a year of planting and is known to be more productive than its citrus relatives.

Buddha’s Hand Citron

This fascinating citrus plant has fruits that look like fingers and a beautiful fragrance similar to violets. Buddha’s Hand Citron originated in Northern India and was the first citrus to reach the Mediterranean, which is now famous for its citruses. Despite its unnerving appearance, the fruit is believed to be a good luck charm and is often offered in religious ceremonies.

While a bit more difficult to grow than starfruit, Buddha’s Hand Citron will thrive in an indoor container. It is very sensitive to frot and should be kept warm all year round to ensure the best results. Those interested in cultivating this plant should ensure it has full sun exposure, well-drained soil, and regular watering. Buddha’s Hand Citron is self-pollinating and can consistently produce its finger-like fruits.

Currants

Currants are a truly special berry brought to North America by colonists in the 1600s. The plant prospered in North America’s rich soil, but was banned due to being an intermediate host of a white pine-killing fungus. The ban was lifted in 1966, but farmers are slow to re-embrace this delicious fruit. Thankfully, you can be part of the change and bring this sweet, tart berry back to jams, jellies, and pies.

Multiple currant varieties exist, including black, red, white, and golden, each with its own flavor profile and use. Due to their high antioxidants and powerful vitamin C content, currants are also used as a home remedy for colds and flu.

These no-nonsense bushes grow easily in container gardens as long as you give them at least 10 gallons of soil. Though currants can tolerate shade, they prefer full sun for optimal fruit production. Provide well-draining soil and keep it moist in hot weather, but avoid overwatering.

Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit has a soft, custard-like taste with a crunchy texture due to its many small black seeds. It can be challenging to get perfectly ripe dragon fruit at the grocery store, which is why growing your own can be such a rewarding endeavor. Dragon fruit takes easily to container gardening, though it does require a very large container that is at least 20 gallons or more.

As your dragon fruit grows, it will need a trellis or cage to support the climbing stems. To ensure its continued flourishing, be sure to provide full sun and bring the plant inside during cold weather.

Lower Your Grocery Bills Through Container Gardening

These five fruits are bursting with flavor and can often be challenging to find in the local supermarket, making a container garden the perfect way to get your fix without breaking the bank. Each of these plants is easily grown in a container garden, even in northern climates, but they all require well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine. Source your plants from a responsible nursery and prepare to be the talk of the neighborhood thanks to your unusual windfalls!