Hi, ther is an event called 'the june drop' which is when a fruit tree decides how much fruit it can sustain, and discards any excess, it sounds as though in this case, as they're in pots, and probably in need of repotting into larger pots, with fresh compost, that the trees have decided that they cannot support any fruit this year, and have got rid of the lot, it would be better for the plants if they were t be planted in the ground, but if this is not an option, you will need to at least feed every year, and repot every 2 to 3 years, Derek.

Thanks for your advice, Derek.
I would prefer to put them in the ground, but I bought them as "Patio Fruit Trees" and, in my ignorance, thought they had to stay in pots.
So, if I put them in the ground, would I treat them as ordinary fruit trees? How tall would they be likely to grow?

Hi, they will have been grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock, to keep them fairly small, unless you know which rootstock they're on, it will be impossible to say how tall they're likely to grow, however they will be bigger than when they're grown in pots, Derek.

Thank you Derek. And should I treat them as ordinary fruit trees as far as planting and care is concerned?

Hi, yes just treat them the same, Derek.

Derek, thank you for your help. May I trouble you with one further question, please?
If we plant the fruit trees in the garden, how far apart should we space them?
Many thanks.

What fruits are they? There are some dwarf peaches that are fine in containers. And any fruit tree that has been sold as a patio variety should still be ok in a pot in its second year (subject to the size of the pot)

I have two apples, one cherry, one plum and one pear.