How long do feijoas take to grow?
2-3 yearsFeijoa trees usually fruit 2-3 years after planting, and should be fed regularly from spring to late summer to ensure a healthy tree and bumper harvest.
Do you need 2 feijoa trees?
Plant at least two different varieties. Even self-fertile varieties will produce a better crop if pollinated by other varieties.
Why are my feijoa not fruiting?
The most common reasons for no fruit aside from the trees being too young (they take 2-3 years to fruit) is inadequate pollination or poor tree health.
How do you know when a feijoa is ready?
A ripe feijoa will be soft but not squishy. They will ripen a little bit off the tree so if a fallen fruit is still hard, pop them in a fruit bowl and give them a few days to finish ripening. Check under your tree regularly for fruit because they will start to rot and attract pests if they are left for too long.
Do rats eat feijoas?
A new study shows that city rats eat the feijoa plant's flowers and may end up pollinating the plants along the way. Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Rats are Pollinators, Too.
Can feijoa grow in pots?
Feijoas take very well to growing in pots. Use a premium organic potting mix or a mix blended for fruiting and edible plants.
How do I get my feijoa tree to fruit?
For best quality fruiting they require up to 50 chill hours. They prefer cool winters and moderate summers. Temperature can affect the taste of the fruit. Plant feijoas in a sunny, well-drained spot and give them plenty of compost to get started.
Should I prune my feijoa tree?
A. You prune feijoas to open up to allow bird pollination, wind movement and sunlight in for fruit ripening. It is not necessary to prune feijoas every year, but if you are going to prune them wait until after fruiting has finished.
Do birds pollinate feijoa trees?
Unusually it is birds that pollinate feijoa trees. Blackbirds in the South Island and a combination of blackbirds and mynas in the North Island are the main pollinators. As these birds feast on the flower petals, they collect pollen on their heads and carry it from tree to tree.
Can feijoas grow in shade?
Unlike most fruit trees, feijoas will thrive in anything from full sun to part shade.
Why are my feijoas so small?
This could be because of lack of bees pollination efforts or could be due to drought that we have had for the last two summers. Keep them well watered to reduce stress and plant bee friendly plants like lavender and borage near by.
Are feijoa self-fertile?
In terms of pollination, feijoas are generally self-fertile, but you will get a lot more and often better fruit if you have another variety for cross pollination.
Does feijoa need a pollinator?
Feijoas are self-fertile, meaning that they don't need a cross-pollinator, although they like company, and if you grow at least two plants within 5 metres of each other they produce more and larger fruits than if grown individually.
How far apart do I plant feijoa trees?
Feijoas are self fertile, however, having another close by improves pollination and ultimately fruiting. Birds (mainly blackbirds) are the main pollinators of feijoas. Plant your trees 1.5m apart or you can plant closer if you want to create a hedge or screen.
What grows well with feijoa?
If you are planting to attract bees or repel insect pests then some suggestions for feijoas are borage, comfrey, marigold, chives, calendula. Remember feijoas have a very surface rooting fibrous root system so plant these companions in the vicinity of the trees.
Are Feijoa sellowiana self pollinating?
It is not self-pollinating but produces large, round fruit that is extremely sweet and delicious.