I am an urban gardener. As such, I am well aware that there are things I can grow and things I can’t (e.g. Apple trees) because of space constraints that come with limited lot size. In our case, we have just a 3-foot-wide strip of ground between our building and the sidewalk.

Raspberries are out of the question due to the proximity of the thorny brambles to passersby. Highbush blueberries are out, too, as are fruit-bearing trees. But wait, not so fast according to Nature Hills Nursery. They apparently have an apple tree that will fit the sliver of land I have available to me.

It’s called the Urban Apple. You can buy one online from Nature Hills. They offer a combo, one of each variety, which ensures cross-pollination.

Making fruit trees that are suitable for the urban citizen is a smart move. It keeps the city slicker feeling connected to his/her source of food and nurtures a person’s inner farmer. And should he or she move to the suburbs and have access to more elbowroom, they are then likely to continue their growing ways.

Here are more reasons to love to the Urban Apple:

An apple tree bred specifically for growing in tight spaces

The Urban Apple’s main trunk is loaded with “spurs,” or short side shoots that produce tons of fruit on upright-growing branches. According to its breeders, this cylindrical tree grows to be just two feet wide. That gives me 6 inches on either side—more than enough room to spare.

No actual in-ground space? No worries—plant it in a large container and place on your front stoop, back deck, or even 10^th-floor balcony. Its size makes the Urban Apple suitable for the smallest of spots.

It’s cold hardy and disease resistant

Despite its size, the Urban Apple is suitable for zones as low as USDA Zone 4. It’s also disease resistant.

Two types of apples

Nature Hills Nursery has two varieties of the Urban Apple. Tasty Red bears a bright-red fruit, and Blushing Delight produces rose-hued apples. Both varieties are sweet and juicy. And while the tree itself is small, the fruit is just as large as apples from larger trees.

This is all good news for city orchardists. My only remaining problem is keeping the neighbor kids from picking the fruit.