FEIJOAS

Feijoas are a versatile shrub. They can serve as a hedge, be planted in containers, in groups within an orchard, or integrated into ornamental garden plantings. The trees typically reach a height of 2m to 3m and a width of approximately 1.5m to 2m.

‍Selecting the site

Choose a sunny site with well drained soil. Feijoas are hardy to coastal conditions, and can withstand frosts to minus 10 degrees – although frost cover is recommended in spring to protect new growth. Young trees may need shelter from wind as branches can snap if exposed to strong gusts.

‍The soil

The soil should be free-draining and enriched with compost.  

‍Planting

Plant feijoas from mid-autumn to early spring – the earlier the better, as in autumn there is still some warmth in the soil to drive plant growth before winter.

1.     Dig a hole roughly twice the width and depth of the plant's root ball, adding compost or planting mix to the soil. Sprinkle a handful of ican Slow Food into the hole which is a good base fertiliser, feeding for up to 2 years.

2.    Gently remove the plant from its pot and place into the hole. Backfill with soil until the final soil level matches the original potting mix surrounding the plant.

3.    Water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.    

5.    Stake the young tree to secure it while the roots take hold.

‍Watering

Keep the soil moist as the plant establishes. Consider adding a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Once established, feijoas are drought tolerant, but they’ll be much healthier and more productive if watered regularly. They will benefit from a good deep watering once or twice a week during summer.

‍Feeding

Feed regularly from spring to the end of harvest with ican Fruit Food for healthy growth and lots of flowers and fruit. Feijoas usually fruit 2 to 3 years after planting.

‍Harvesting

Feijoas ripen best on the tree and will fall when fully ripe. For optimal ripeness, gently cup the fruit and pull; if it detaches easily, it's ready. If picked this way, they should keep a week or more in the fruit bowl. Fruit from the ground lasts only a few days.

Pruning

Feijoas are easy-care in terms of pruning. They naturally form a bushy shrub, and only need clipping to maintain a nice shape and keep the bush relatively open to allow light, air and birds in. If they get too large,the branches can be pruned back hard. They fruit on new spring growth, so after fruiting, thin out twiggy branches and remove larger ones from the centre. This promotes new wood and more fruit.

FUN FACT

Feijoa flowers are mainly pollinated by birds, with some help from wind and bees.Keeping the shrub open will attract birds, resulting in more fruit.

Choosing varieties

Plant at least two different varieties to aid pollination and increase fruit yield. Some varieties are self-fertile, but even these will produce heavier and more regular crops if they are pollinated by other varieties.

Modern feijoa cultivars (of which there are many) will fruit either early (March to April),mid (April) or late season (May to June). Although they all flower at roughly the same time (November to January), the fruit will ripen at different times, so selecting varieties with different fruiting seasons will spread out the harvest period. If you live in a colder district, plant early-fruiting varieties so the fruit can ripen before the season gets too cold.

This is a selection of recommended varieties, listed in order of fruit maturity from early to late season.

1.    March to April harvest

      a.    Kakariki: Exceptionally sweet, large fruit.

      b.    Takaka: Cold hardy and partially self-fertile with large sweet fruit.

      c.    Unique: The only truly self-fertile variety so useful if you have room for only one tree. Medium size fruit, smooth, soft & juicy flesh.

2.    April harvest

      a.    Pounamu: Medium size fruit with a dark skin. Smooth,aromatic, rich flavoured flesh. Good storage.

      b.    Apollo: Large long fruit. Sweet with good eating quality.

      c.     Kakapo: Medium size fruit with mild sweet flavour.

3.    May to June harvest

      a.    Wiki Tu: Very large fruit, good taste and smooth texture.

      b.    Opal Star: Medium to large fruit. Smooth flesh, juicy and very aromatic.

      c.     Golden Goose: Large to extra-large fruit, ripen to very sweet once picked.

TIP

If you need a small tree, Wiki Tu has a dwarf habit with big fruit, however any variety can be pruned hard to keep the size constrained.

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