Dwarf Peaches and Nectarines for Small-Space Gardens

Jul 8, 2011
Chris McLaughlin

You can purchase dwarf fruit trees leaved out in containers. - Living in Monrovia

Dwarf fruit trees reach a mere 4' to 6' tall and are perfect for the small garden or yard.

If you have a small-space garden when it comes to fruit trees, you have more choices than you think. Small gardens won't be able to handle standard-sized trees, but there's always the semi-dwarf and dwarf varieties. The shorter versions are created by grafting standard cultivars on dwarfed rootstock.

So, for those gardeners who would like to have a mini-orchard, dwarf peaches and nectarines are the perfect solution when gardening in a small space. These miniature versions of their larger, standard cousins grow to a short 5'- 6' tall.

Planting Dwarf Fruit Trees

The best way for any fruit tree to become established in a new yard or garden is to purchase bare-root trees and plant them while they're dormant. If you missed that window you'll find leafed-out ones in containers, but they'll go through some shock when they're first planted as opposed to the bare-rooted ones that wake up in spring not realizing that they've been transplanted at all.

Both dwarf peaches and nectarines like to be situated in full sun and prefer to have their feet in a loam or sandy-loam type soil. So if your soil is clay, you're better off planting them in half-wine barrels or a raised bed. They dislike strong wind, so try to find a protected spot for their permanent home.

Peaches and nectarines produce an amazing amount of fruit, so when the new fruits are about 1", remove some of them so that those remaining are around 8"-10" apart.

Dwarf Peach Tree Varieties:

Golden Glory: 5' tall
Garden Pride: 4'-6' tall
Garden Gold: 6' tall
Southern Sweet: 4'-5' tall
Honey Babe: 4'-6' tall
El Dorado: 4-5' tall
Bonanza II: 5' tall
Pix Zee: 5-9' tall

Dwarf Nectarine Tree Varieties:

Nectar Babe: 5'-6' tall
Garden Delight: 6' tall
Golden Prolific: 5' tall
Red Sunset: 5' tall
Southern Belle: 4'-5' tall
Goldmine: 3'-4' tall
Necta Zee: 5' tall

Standard-sized peach and nectarine trees are pruned heavily, but the dwarf types can get away with much less. That said, some good pruning will encourage the fruit to be produced all over the tree branches instead of just at the tips - which may cause them to break. Additionally, most (though not all) peach and nectarine trees have the benefit of being self-pollinating. Which means you can get away with planting a single specimen and still have fruit.