On 21/07/15 15:15, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Pam Moore wrote:

I can recommend not bothering with dragonfruit, though the flowers
are very attractive. There are quite a lot of others, including
tree tomato (a small tree) and passion fruit, but all are a bit iffy,
and keeping them under control might conflict with fruiting.

years ago Bob Flowerdew recommended Guava as a good plant to grow from
seed obtained from the fruit, but I have never seen a guava on sale in
supermarkets. Has anyone tried?

Yes. No joy, but I suspect that the fruit was picked green and
'ripened' artificially, from the lack of taste. That's why I don't
usually bother with sub-tropical fruit in the UK - people who have
never had ripe ones are more easily satisfied. And guava seeds are
very hard, so might need chipping.

Well, there are guavas and guavas. I expect quite a few people are
growing a guava without knowing it, as Acca (previously Feijoa)
sellowiana - pineapple guava. I grew one of these for years in Horsham,
often enjoying the petals as a nibble, but never seeing fruit. Until
about 10 years ago, when I got a couple of kilos of fruit. I can't say
that I particularly liked the flavour, of the fruit itself but it made
an extraordinarily interesting and tasty chutney.

--

Jeff

On 23/07/2015 5:37 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 21/07/15 15:15, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Pam Moore wrote:

I can recommend not bothering with dragonfruit, though the flowers
are very attractive. There are quite a lot of others, including
tree tomato (a small tree) and passion fruit, but all are a bit iffy,
and keeping them under control might conflict with fruiting.

years ago Bob Flowerdew recommended Guava as a good plant to grow from
seed obtained from the fruit, but I have never seen a guava on sale in
supermarkets. Has anyone tried?

Yes. No joy, but I suspect that the fruit was picked green and
'ripened' artificially, from the lack of taste. That's why I don't
usually bother with sub-tropical fruit in the UK - people who have
never had ripe ones are more easily satisfied. And guava seeds are
very hard, so might need chipping.

Well, there are guavas and guavas. I expect quite a few people are
growing a guava without knowing it, as Acca (previously Feijoa)
sellowiana - pineapple guava. I grew one of these for years in Horsham,
often enjoying the petals as a nibble, but never seeing fruit. Until
about 10 years ago, when I got a couple of kilos of fruit. I can't say
that I particularly liked the flavour, of the fruit itself but it made
an extraordinarily interesting and tasty chutney.


That's interesting and also a coincidence as I was just reading up on
Feijoas this morning as mine need pruning to get better fruit set.

I had thought that Feijoas weren't considered to be 'real' guavas. I
found out that they are considered gross feeders and I clearly haven't
been feeding mine enough but based on what i read, it's now time for me
to dig out the fert and spread some around.

On 22/07/2015 9:55 PM, Janet wrote:
In article ,
says...

On 22/07/2015 2:50 AM, Janet wrote:

Easiest of all (though only sub-tropical) are kiwi fruit. I've had them
germinate after winter in the compost heap. One of them having survived
several winters with no protection, is currently making a robust
territorial bid on our somewhat crowded front fence.

The very hairy red stems and big leaves lend a jungly exotic look though
its unlikely ever to bear edible fruit here in Scotland.

It might if you have a kiwi fruit of each sex (need both for fruit) as
they can be grown and will fruit where I live and we get down to -6 to
-9 regularly. They need protection form wind though.

It has no trouble surviving winter temps here (mine are warmer than
yours)

I thought it must have survived given your current mention and in light
all that snow your island had last winter.

The problem is the temperature in what we laughingly call
"summer".(Yours are warmer than mine).

Too sodding 'warm'! Give me highs in the low 30s or even the high 20s
and I'd be a happy gardening bunny.

In article ,
Fran Farmer wrote:
On 23/07/2015 5:37 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:

Well, there are guavas and guavas. I expect quite a few people are
growing a guava without knowing it, as Acca (previously Feijoa)
sellowiana - pineapple guava. I grew one of these for years in Horsham,
often enjoying the petals as a nibble, but never seeing fruit. Until
about 10 years ago, when I got a couple of kilos of fruit. I can't say
that I particularly liked the flavour, of the fruit itself but it made
an extraordinarily interesting and tasty chutney.

That's interesting and also a coincidence as I was just reading up on
Feijoas this morning as mine need pruning to get better fruit set.

I had thought that Feijoas weren't considered to be 'real' guavas. I
found out that they are considered gross feeders and I clearly haven't
been feeding mine enough but based on what i read, it's now time for me
to dig out the fert and spread some around.

They are related, but not the same. I have grown it for some years
in a pot, and usually get some flowers. It seems to be extremely
hardy, compared with what it is usually claimed to be.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 23/07/15 08:26, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Fran Farmer wrote:
I had thought that Feijoas weren't considered to be 'real' guavas. I
found out that they are considered gross feeders and I clearly haven't
been feeding mine enough but based on what i read, it's now time for me
to dig out the fert and spread some around.

They are related, but not the same. I have grown it for some years
in a pot, and usually get some flowers. It seems to be extremely
hardy, compared with what it is usually claimed to be.

Indeed. I should have made it clear that mine was grown outside, and I
never saw any frost damage. It was only a metre or two away from the
south-east facing house wall, so that may have helped. I also never gave
it any fertiliser. The new one here in south Hampshire is growing well,
but isn't quite big enough to flower.. It's also only on a west-facing
fence, and not near a wall.

--

Jeff

In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:
On 23/07/15 08:26, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Fran Farmer wrote:
I had thought that Feijoas weren't considered to be 'real' guavas. I
found out that they are considered gross feeders and I clearly haven't
been feeding mine enough but based on what i read, it's now time for me
to dig out the fert and spread some around.

They are related, but not the same. I have grown it for some years
in a pot, and usually get some flowers. It seems to be extremely
hardy, compared with what it is usually claimed to be.

Indeed. I should have made it clear that mine was grown outside, and I
never saw any frost damage. It was only a metre or two away from the
south-east facing house wall, so that may have helped. I also never gave
it any fertiliser. The new one here in south Hampshire is growing well,
but isn't quite big enough to flower.. It's also only on a west-facing
fence, and not near a wall.

Mine is in a protected spot, and suffers frost damage every winter.
But the damage is only discolouration of leaves, and sometimes a
little die-back of shoots. Much like what happens to bay, garrya
and so on.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 23/07/2015 5:26 PM, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Fran Farmer wrote:
On 23/07/2015 5:37 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:

Well, there are guavas and guavas. I expect quite a few people are
growing a guava without knowing it, as Acca (previously Feijoa)
sellowiana - pineapple guava. I grew one of these for years in Horsham,
often enjoying the petals as a nibble, but never seeing fruit. Until
about 10 years ago, when I got a couple of kilos of fruit. I can't say
that I particularly liked the flavour, of the fruit itself but it made
an extraordinarily interesting and tasty chutney.

That's interesting and also a coincidence as I was just reading up on
Feijoas this morning as mine need pruning to get better fruit set.

I had thought that Feijoas weren't considered to be 'real' guavas. I
found out that they are considered gross feeders and I clearly haven't
been feeding mine enough but based on what i read, it's now time for me
to dig out the fert and spread some around.

They are related, but not the same. I have grown it for some years
in a pot, and usually get some flowers. It seems to be extremely
hardy, compared with what it is usually claimed to be.

Feijoas are very hardy. I look out my bedroom French Doors and see mine
white with frost and yet it still puts out flowers and a few fruit when
the weather warms up. Now I know it is a gross feeder and I now have a
book bought recently in NZ and dedicated only to Feijoas and which give
me more information on their needs for fruit production, I intend to
plant out 5 more in a short hedge.