Currants
Tart and sweet, blackcurrant and redcurrant fruit have a short summer season, so grab them while you can.
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There is nothing like cutting open a kiwi fruit and enjoying all of its tasty goodness. Kiwifruit are ideal for on the go eating and are often a staple in little and big kids lunchboxes in autumn and winter. This hardy deciduous is a great addition to a fruit orchard and for those with a bit of space to really let it grow!
How to grow Kiwifruit in a garden
- Choose a sunny spot with well drained soil. Vines prefer a mostly north facing position with protection from harsh winds and scorching sun.
- Enrich the soil with organic material such as Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food and Yates Nature's Way Organic Compost & Soil Improver .
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed.
- Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.
- Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
- Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
- During the growing and fruiting/flowering season apply Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Granular Plant Food. Throughout the year apply Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate.
Growing tips
- Potted kiwifruit vines can be planted year round however do best when planted from late autumn to early spring while dormant.
- Kiwifruits require both a male and female vine to produce fruit. One male vine can pollinate up to 5-7 female vines.
- Kiwifruit flowers are pollinated by bees and wind. Growing lots of flowering plants in your garden helps attract bees and other pollinating insects and improve kiwifruit harvests
- Kiwifruits dislike having wet feet. Try to avoid overwatering and ensure that the soil is well draining.
- Kiwifruit are very vigorous vines that need a lot of space to grow. Each vine will need around 5m of space on a strong support like a fence or pergola. Vines will need regular pruning to keep them under control and improve fruit production.
- Kiwifruit do best in climates with warm summers and cool winters with sufficient ‘chilling hours’. In warmer zones, look for ‘low chill’ varieties of kiwifruit that will still fruit successfully.
- Kiwifruit are vigorous vines that need a lot of space to grow. Each vine will need around 5m of space on a strong support like a fence or pergola. Vines will need regular pruning to keep them under control and improve fruit production.
More Plants
Strawberry
Strawberries happily grow in raised garden beds, in the garden, in pots or even hanging baskets. Eat them fresh, cooked or make into jams.
Apples
Apples can grow into large trees, but you can also find dwarf forms. Be sure to find a self-fertile variety or two which can cross-pollinate.
Makrut Lime
Makrut lime trees are grown for their aromatic leaves and zesty fruits. Mostly used in dishes such as curries, soups, stir-fries, beverages and desserts.
Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Granular Plant Food
Fast acting, gradual feeding plant food specially formulated to grow citrus & fruit trees, with high potassium for more abundant fruit & added magnesium to help prevent leaf yellowing.
Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate
A balanced fish based plant food boosted wtih added NPK to ensure strong, lush plant growth and healthy soil.
Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food
Releases nutrients slowly, improves the structure and moisture retention of the soil and encourages earthworms and beneficial soil micro-organisms.
Yates Nature's Way Organic Compost & Soil Improver
Transform soil into a healthy nutrient-rich base for your gardens and lawns with Yates Nature’s Way Organic Compost & Soil Improver.
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