Feijoa

[Brack]

To add to my collection of less conventional fruit I acquired a feijoa in the post today. Most of my research suggested that they weren't self fertile and I'd need two (given it has to share a greenhouse with a fig, a pomegranate and a fair few other plants there mightn't be space for that).
Anyway, the new Zealand nurseries suggested that there was only one truly self fertile cultivar, called unique, which just happened to be early ripening, only grew to 6' and fruits younger than most. Ideal, but finding named cultivars and unique in particular in the UK wasn't easy. I only managed to find one supplier (urban jungle.uk.com) and paid their excessive minimum postage (£12.50) for it and a Carolina allspice.
It's prettier than I expected, nice colour of leaves and bark.

Has anyone grown feijoa in the UK? Apparently they need a long hot summer to fruit, I was hoping the greenhouse would do that. I'd be interested if anyone has any experience.

[Jay-ell]

Not grown it and... Resisting.... Urge..... To...... Buy

Oh its in the cart

[mrbadexample]

(given it has to share a greenhouse with a fig, a pomegranate and a fair few other plants there mightn't be space for that).

Can't you boot the fig out? Didn't think they needed a greenhouse?

[Jay-ell]

My figs are outside - but I think they might do better in a greenhouse giving a slightly longer season for the figs to ripen. I've took cutting of the Petir Negra and if they take I'll be trying one or two in pots.

However most of the plants may be OK outside in the summer and autumn, but brought back in when the weather gets colder.

[veggiechicken]

Kore say Feijoa is hardy enough to be outside.
https://www.korewildfruitnursery.co....ellowiana.html

[DannyK]

Got two from Burncoose 2013

Not bad looking evergreen shrubs growing outside. Pretty myrtle type flowers ,which are sweet to eat but not a sign of fruit. No I didn't eat all the flowers.

The elaeagnus was a bigger disappointment promised scent and berries failed to materialize and I am considering shredding when I can find a replacement.

The ugni disappeared!

Before winter check the hardiness of that fig as not all are hardy.

Roll on global warming.

[Brack]

The fig (brown turkey), pomegranate (Provence) and Chilean guavas are all hardy, but the fig has failed to ripen fruit in the past 2 years, the pomegranate will likely need the heat to do so, and the Chilean guavas suffered a fair bit of die back on the ends of branches a few years back so I've taken to putting them in the greenhouse in autumn (they're outside at the minute).

DannyK - apparently they're mostly bird pollinated, have you tried pollen transfer with a paintbrush?

[TrixC]

I have three (Unique, Triumph and Mammoth) currently in pots but they’ll be going in the ground once I get around to getting my fence replaced. I get some fruit off them most years, but the fruits are small in this climate compared to NZ. I expect they’ll perform a bit better in the ground but the fruit ripens very late (around November) and I suspect we don’t really have enough sun in the autumn here in the UK for them to thrive. They’re an extremely popular garden fruit in NZ and I absolutely love them, although they can be a bit of a marmite fruit. Great for fresh eating and also chutney etc. They are evergreen and reliably hardy here in London (mine stay out all winter although I did wrap them during the Beast from the East), but I think they might struggle further north.

[hamamelis]

I've got two little, not especially healthy ones, which are the only plants I saved from my old allotment (hence the unhealthy, they got pretty maltreated during the move). They survived outside in Bristol with only a bit of die back in the worst weather, and have only ever got as far as producing one flower between them.

Maybe one day they'll fruit... I had the fruit in New Zealand and love the things. So expensive to buy here though, if you can even find them.