The nearest garden centre to Waikanae now is Harrisons in Peka Peka.

by Wally Richards

FRUITFUL CONTAINERS

The following is a revamped article of one that I wrote on 13 December 2003

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There is nothing easier than growing a few selected fruiting plants in containers.

There are lots of advantages in growing in containers, easy to manage and maintain, they don’t interfere with valuable garden space, attractive and can be moved around to suit.

You are growing above soil so you don’t need to worry about drainage, what contaminates is in the soil (from lead paint and chemicals used in the past).

You can move tender plants out of harm’s way in the winter easily and move them to get the maximum benefit from sunlight as the seasons change.

It also allows you to grow chemically free, heathy fruit that is going to taste better than what you can buy. Which brings up another point, it saves you money and hives you expensive fruit for a very low cost.

The type of plants you wish to grow determines the size of the container needed.

There are a number of fruiting plants that will grow very well in 35 to 50-litre containers. In these sizes I have the following growing: passion fruit, pepinos, cranberries, grapes, strawberries, blue berries and other berries.

Weeding is minimal and care once planted is only watering and feeding, with the occasional, safe to use spray, if a problem happens.

Potting mix is not a good medium to use in containers as there is not enough grunt in it, potting mix is fine for pot plants and flowering annuals.

To get the grunt stuff use a organic compost or mulch which is available from your garden centre. Not only will you get better results, it is better on the pocket as well.

I like to add some soil to the container when potting up. In my case I have a worm farm and so I mix about a handful of worm cast (along with the worms) into the container.

If you don’t have a worm farm, then take some good topsoil and sterilize it in the oven or microwave to kill any weed seeds. A bit of heavy clay is also good value.

If you can introduce some worms into the container even better as these will nicely keep the mix aerated and give extra food as they do their thing.

When I plant up, a good handful of chook manure goes in under the plant along with minerals from Ocean Solids, Unlocking Your Soil and Wallys Neem Tree Powder.

Then in with your chosen specimen, fill the container to about an inch from the rim; a wee drink and you’re growing.

You could instead of buying a fruit tree plant the seed from a fruit you like, be it a stone or pip which I wrote about not so long ago. (If you don’t have the article, e-mail me and I will send a copy of it.)

For fruiting and flowering plants sprinkle some Fruit and Flower Power about once a month == a teaspoon or so is adequate. You can also sprinkle Neem Granules on top of the mix to prevent insect pests from establishing.

Then just ensure that the plant receives plenty of sunshine and don’t allow the container to dry out.

Here are a few of the fruits that are great for containers: New BLUE BERRY MUFFIN (Dwarf), delicious mouthwatering light blue fruit; DUAL CROPPER which crops in December and again in March/ April.

This is a highly attractive compact grower producing heavy crops of medium sized berries. An outstanding container plant, it is stunning as a low growing hedge at the front entrance where visitors can pick and eat on their arrival. The fruit is high in antioxidants. Keep moist, harvest when the fruit turns blue, try to leave for 5 to 7 days on the plant to enhance the flavour then get in quick before the birds get to them. (Use Bird Repeller Ribbon before they start to ripen,) They are self-fertile, so you only need one plant but if you really love blueberries then half a dozen would not go astray.

BERRY DELIGHT (New) Mouthwatering large dark rich red fruit in December and January.

THORNLESS. Delicious boysenberry/loganberry flavour. Heavy cropper. Grows well in both warm and cool climates. Very tasty screening plant on the side of the deck or the fence. Try it in a pillar-rose frame as a focal point in the garden or container.

Wherever you plant it make sure the fruit can be picked and eaten fresh by you. High in antioxidants. Rich in Vitamin C. Plant in well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Mulch well to ensure the root systems remain moist during the growing season. Sit back and enjoy. Feed with slow-release fertiliser early spring and again in mid-summer.

Prune in winter to remove canes that have fruited; also old or damaged ones. Harvest when the fruit turns dark red and are easy to remove. Self-fertile.

Now one of my all-time favorites, PEPINOS, which are easy to grow, a large rock melon tasting like fruit that stores well and oh-so juicy. It is a member of the same family as potatoes and tomatoes so keep them a bit away from each other as diseases can cross over.

I generally find no problems with diseases, but the tomato worm can ruin the odd fruit. The plant grows up between half to a metre tall dependent on the size of the container.

Feed really well from the time the first fruit sets.

Plants obtained now will be producing fruit to eat in autumn/winter.

They are a bit frost tender, so once the danger of frosts starts you can move your container to a protected good light spot. It is best at that time to harvest any near mature fruit to ripen off the plants.

 I left mine on through the winter and some rotted, but I am still eating a few from last season. When ripe, the fruit colour changes and goes from hard to firm. When fully ripe they are so yummy.

Enough said, get started with a few fruits that appeal to you and start potting up.

oooOooo

XMAS IS CLOSE

Shopping for Xmas presents? Don’t forget your garden centre as they have heaps of neat ideas for gifts.

We are not just talking plants and things, through there certainly are plenty of them that make excellent gifts.

It’s all the other neat things related to gardening and outdoor living that has changed the face of many garden centres over the last few years.

Most garden centres have ample parking and that is another big reason for making them a stop shop for Xmas presents. I think you will be glad you did.

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