Gardenworld

Fruiting Fig Trees In Pots

By Dennis Ting

In the nursery a common question I am asked is what is a good fruit tree to grow in a pot that will also produce a useful yield.  While we have a good range of Dwarf Peaches and Nectarines (Trixzie), Apples (Ballerina) and Pinkabelle and Pear (Pipsqueak). I believe a forgotten fruit is the Fig Tree. 

Many people are afraid to plant fig trees in the ground due to the vigorous growth and massive size and a reputation for a vigorous root system.  Then at harvest time it is almost impossible to pick on a daily basis the ripening figs on the tall branches and beat the birds.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

By Sarah Naumoff 

I first heard about the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, when I attended the Australian Landscape Conference in September 2009. Stephanie Alexander was one of the many wonderful experts who spoke at the conference. 

Baring It All ..... by Wes Fleming

Our special guest blogger is Wes Fleming who will be speaking live down at Gardenworld on Sunday July 12th 2009 from 1.00 pm. More info

Bare root trees are simply that. Trees that are not placed in a pot and spoiled with lovely rich potting mix, but shaken from their growing paddocks and sent off to store with roots exposed.

Many people are concerned about the process of buying and planting these skeletal looking plants - so foreign without their little pots hugging their base, but they needn't be, bare root trees are in their prime with weather conditions ideal to plant and grow now.

Bare root season is also the ideal time to get the widest Fleming's selection of trees - making this another great reason to look for our bare root trees down at Gardenworld or in your local garden centre.

Here are a few simple steps to getting bare root trees planted and established in your garden.

Step 1: Pruning

At Fleming's we often hear of people that are fearful of pruning in case they get it wrong. The best thing to remember is that it's almost impossible to get it wrong. Pruning a bare root tree is easy and all you need is a good sharp pair secateurs.

We estimate that about 50% of the roots from bare root trees remain in the soil after they are removed from their original growing ground. So that means about 50% of the top part of the tree will need to be pruned to return balance to the tree.

Look for the central leader - that is the most dominant branch of the tree and usually follows the line of the trunk. Cut about half that branch off and follow suit with the rest of the branches of the tree.

Jaboticaba - also known as the Brazilian Tree Grape

Jaboticaba or Brazilian Tree Grape 

By Dennis Ting  Gardenworld Nursery

 

A Jabo... what??? you may ask or grapes that grow on trees???  Yes Jaboticaba is the common name for the plant "Myrciara cauliflora" which itself is no easier to say.  

But such a name is befitting of a plant that has some unusual characteristics and produces fruit that are truly delicious and not just merely edible.

Citrus Gall Wasp causes lumps in the lemon tree.

by Dennis Ting

It is common these days for people to come into the garden centre either describing or bringing in branches of Citrus trees (commonly lemons) which have thick knobbly sections or rounded bumps on them wondering what it is and how to treat it. 

The 60 Minutes 'Backyard Revolution' Story

Last Sunday on Channel Nine's 60 minutes program, vegetable growing went primetime. Yep, there was the ever energetic Peter Cundall harvesting potatoes in front of disbelieving Liz Hayes eyes (although some of his spuds were gigantic). The reporter then went on to inform us that people are digging up tennis courts and replacing them with vegie patches although I don't believe Leyton Hewitt has done this yet! However give Peter Cundall 5 minutes with him and I am sure he would love to get his hands this dirty.

Macadamias - The Aussie Nut !

by Dennis Ting - Gardenworld Nursery

Yes that's right.  Macadamias are the true blue Aussie nut originating in the northern NSW to southern Queensland coastal areas.  Everyone is familiar with these expensive nuts now and knows they are delicious. 

Even better still for us down in Melbourne is that they will grow and crop successfully down here.  I have been growing the trees here for over 10 years now and they all produce wonderful crops of delicious nuts.  Well perhaps not as many nuts as up north but still a worthwhile quantity every year. 

These trees can grow huge in the warmer parts of Australia but I feel that three to four metres might be the limit down here for a grafted tree.  Really great for home gardens and the spare corner where it can be left alone to grow happily. 

What is the appeal you ask in growing these trees in the home garden? 

Goji Berry - The Super Fruit

By Dennis Ting - Gardenworld Nursery 

The Goji Berry (Lycium barbarium) plant is a recent addition to the range of plants we have in the garden centre.   

It is widely known as being a "Super Fruit" packed with vitamins, anti-oxidants, amino acids and polysaccarides.  You have to believe its properties given the price currently charged for Goji juice, dried berries and similar products!! 

We have had these plants in the nursery for just over a year now and there is still some amazement expressed by customers when they see the plants and wonder whether it is possible to grow these in Melbourne. 

I have been growing these plants here for several years now and harvest my fruit in December each year so let me tell you a bit about them. 

The plant itself looks fairly ordinary with thin canes and long dull green leaves.  It is actually a member of the Solanaceae family (tomatoes and chillies).  The plant has several growth flushes during the season and in between tends to rest with no active growth.

Tamarillo - the tree tomato

Growing Tree Tomatoes - A Quick Fruiter!!! 

By Dennis Ting - Gardenworld Nursery 

Walking around the garden centre the other day I was thinking about a question I often get asked by many customers.  "If I plant an apple or peach tree how long is it going to take before I can see worthwhile crops of fruit?"  The answer to this obviously varies depending on how quickly the fruit tree becomes established and settles into regular bearing but usually this is some years.  

There are however a small range of fruit bearing plants which grow rapidly and can produce good crops from within one or two years of planting believe it or not!   

One such plant is the Tree Tomato (Cyphomandra betacea) sometimes known as Tamarillo especially by the Kiwis who have commercialised it!  And yes it is related (distantly) to the vegetable tomatoes that you are used to.  But don't be put off by this as the fruit are much much better!! 

Growing Citrus

by Dennis Ting - Gardenworld Nursery

As we come into autumn and the cooler weather this presents an ideal time to plant citrus trees in the home garden.  This weather allows the new plants to put out roots into the surrounding soil and get established before the warmer weather in spring.  This strong root growth is then available to support the trees demands in spring with the heavy leafing out and possible flowering too. 

Citrus deserve more of a place in our gardens as Melbourne's climate has warmed up over the years and winter cold is no longer an issue for most types.  Also our summers have become warmer and longer and citrus thrive in these conditions.