Small backyards aren't exempt from the luxury of fresh-plucked apples. You simply need to choose varieties that thrive in containers or tiny garden beds.

It used to be that most every Iowa backyard had a big, spreading apple tree. It produced many bushels of apples that were lovingly turned into endless pies, crisps, canned applesauce and dried apples.

Growing fruit trees always seems like a joyous and productive endeavor, promising you a delicious bounty. Until you actually do it. There are more than 7,500 kinds of apples and thousands of pear ...