Jungle
seeds
About
twenty years ago Barry decided to try growing something a little more unusual
and ordered some seeds from ‘Jungle Seeds’. One of the packets contained seeds
from Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple guava)
The seeds
were duly planted and cosseted and in time one grew and continued to grow. It
was evergreen, attractive and undemanding and we expected nothing more from it
as the years went by. Last summer, with great excitement, we noticed two pretty
flowers on it and wondered if fruits might follow. I have since found out that
Feijoa is not usually self-fertile and we haven’t got another to fertilise it,
so there is little chance of fruit. We could always eat the flowers, of course.
“If you only have room for one Feijoa
tree, plant Unique as it's the only truly self
fertile variety. Apart from
'Unique' which is reliably self fertile, all feijoa varieties are only at best
partly self fertile. Cross pollination between two (or more) different
varieties will ensure good fruit set and fruit quality.”
Our tree
is now 8’ tall and this year has several flower buds.
Flower buds
Feijoa is a native of South America and a member of the myrtle family. It is also common in New Zealand, where it has been grown since the 1920s. Although it is known as pineapple guava or guavasteen, it is not a guava although guava also belongs to the myrtle family.
Flower opening
It is always interesting to grow something different.
I planted one here in the 1980s but we left that home before it became mature, so we never had fruits, although from what you say about fertility, it is unlikely we ever would have.
ReplyDeleteApparently, you can expect flowers/fruit about five years after planting. Ours was a bit late to the party!
DeleteWe have a fejoia tree here in the side section of the community gardens, there is only one but it sets fruit and the first year I lived here I tasted a couple and they were niceish, kind of a mix between pineapple and banana, but not so nice that I'd pick baskets of them and since then each year the fruits have been less nice since the drought. The flowers are very pretty though.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonder anything survives drought.
DeleteThat looks very impressive indeed - such a lovely flower and all those buds!!! xx
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty, isn't it? Passion flowers are pretty, too, but I've never grown those. x x
DeleteI had never heard of the feijoa until New Zealand friends mentioned it decades ago. It looks like a fig from the outside but sweeter and more juicy.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Australian greengrocers sell them nowadays.
I don't know if they're a commercial proposition.
DeleteHi Janice - what a fun project ... clever Barry for keeping the Feijoa alive and now over 8 feet ... and gorgeous flowers - wonderful to learn about ... thanks - Hilary
ReplyDeleteI'd be very happy to see all the buds ripen into flowers - mustn't be greedy, though, Thank you, Hilary - take care x
ReplyDeleteIt's always good to have plants and wonderful flowers around.
ReplyDeleteIt is. They give such pleasure.
ReplyDelete