Potted dwarf citrus trees look so lovely in other people’s yards. Lush, decorative, healthy—and seemingly out of reach for the not-so-savvy gardener. But Angela O’Callaghan, social horticulture specialist and associate professor for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, says otherwise.

Plant the tree in a large pot (at least 20 inches in diameter) using soil well amended with compost and a handful of bone meal, then keep it in the sun. “You won’t grow fruit in the shade,” she says. Water often, keeping the soil damp. The compost will allow for drainage and give structure.

Mostly, be patient. It could be year three before you see fruit: “You’re trying to grow it in this pot, which is a far cry from where it was before. You want the plant to become accustomed to where it’s growing to produce fruit, to know that this is home.”

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