Feijoa trees, also known as pineapple guava, are a staple in many New Zealand gardens thanks to their delicious fruit, attractive form, and ease of care. Whether you're planting one for home fruit production or as part of an edible hedge, this guide will show you how to grow a healthy, productive feijoa tree in your NZ garden.
Growing a Feijoa tree hedge takes some thought and planning to ensure you get what you are after. Factors such as the hedge spacing, desired height, and trimming are all important considerations. The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to provide advice so you can grow a Feijoa tree hedge with confidence and success.
Feijoa trees make amazing formal hedges (i.e., trimmed) and to create an outstanding hedge, space plants 50-70 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted. Similarly, space plants closely if you want a dense hedge quickly (i.e., 50 cm apart).
It is important to understand that the hedge is generally pruned in winter with about 10-15% of the exterior vegetation removed. The amount removed depends on how much you need to contain the hedge. The best Feijoa hedges are trimmed again during summer. The notion being that the trimming is little and often to keep the plants dense and lush. That said, they still look good with once-a-year trimming.
The hedge width can be anywhere from 50 cm to 1.5 m. Narrower hedges will take more regular trimming than wider ones, however. Work out the maximum width you want the hedge to grow to before trimming as you plan the planting. Trimming is generally 10 cm back from that outer width and allowing for a centre of at least 30 cm.
Feijoa trees make amazing informal hedges (i.e., minimally trimmed) and to create an outstanding hedge, space plants 75 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted. Similarly, space plants closely if you want a dense hedge quickly (i.e., 50 cm apart).
The hedge can be trimmed as little or as much as you want given it is the informality you are wanting. Sometimes, however, it is the natural shape of the plants that clients are after but still with the hedge closing in to a large extent. In these situations, The Plant Company recommends spacing plants 1.5 m apart, though they will take longer to close together in this situation.
This series of articles answers many of the frequently asked questions about Feijoa Trees, such as how fast they grow, their hardiness, and more!
Yes, feijoa flowers are edible and are considered quite delicious! They have a unique and pleasant flavour that is described as sweet and succulent, with hints of the pineapple and mint. The fleshy petals are the edible part, and you can simply pluck them off the flower and enjoy them raw or add them to salads. They can also be used in various culinary creations like desserts, sorbets, crumbles, or cocktails.
Yes, Feijoas are generally considered good for you! They offer a variety of potential health benefits and nutrients:
Like most fruits, feijoas are generally healthy but best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Yes, "fejoas" are the same as "feijoas". Fejoa is the incorrect spelling for Feijoa.
Yes, you can eat the skin of a feijoa. While many people peel them before eating, the skin is edible and contains many nutrients. However, the skin can be quite tart and unpleasant, especially compared to the flesh inside. Irrespective, the skin is a good source of fibre, vitamin C, antioxidants, and can add a unique flavour to your food.
Feijoa flowers do turn into fruit under the right conditions. The trees produce showy flowers with prominent stamens and a sweet fragrance in spring or early summer. For the flowers to develop into fruit, they need to be pollinated. This generally happens with bees which are attracted to the nectar in the flowers. If pollination is successful, the fertilised flower will begin to develop into a fruit. The feijoa fruit will mature over several months, typically reaching harvest time in autumn.
Feijoa trees are known for their beautiful red flowers. The flowers are one of the attractive features of the tree, along with their delicious fruit. The flowers are typically a bright red colour with showy, yellow stamens in the centre. They are fragrant and attract pollinators such as bees.
Feijoa trees have flowers that have both male and female reproductive organs. This means there are no such things as male and female feijoa trees. However, many feijoa varieties are self-incompatible. This means that pollen from the same flower or even the same tree won't effectively pollinate the flower and produce fruit. Rather, they require pollen from a different feijoa variety to produce fruit. This is why you'll often find recommendations to plant at least two different feijoa varieties to ensure good fruit production. The Plant Company explains this another way. If you have a single feijoa variety, you’ll get about 75% of its fruiting potential. However, if you have two varieties, you’ll likely get close to 100% of the fruiting potential from each variety and a longer fruiting season.
There are some telltale signs to tell when a feijoa is ripe:
Finally, there is not better test than to cut one open and taste it! You will know in an instant whether the fruit are coming ready or not.
The feijoa season is autumn and into early winter. The timing depends on the variety and some of the more popular ones are presented below along with then they become ready to harvest.
Early season Feijoa varieties (March-April harvest):
Mid-season Feijoa varieties (April-May harvest):
Late season Feijoa varieties (May-June harvest):
The best variety for you will depend on your personal preferences, such as taste, ripening time, and desired tree size. It's also a good idea to consider your climate, as some varieties are more suited to cooler or warmer regions.
The question of what to plant under a Feijoa tree generally has to factor in access to the tree to pick the fruit. The Plant Company generally only recommends Muehlenbeckia axillaris in these circumstances as it can handle the low-light conditions under the tree plus being walked on to access the fruit. It forms a dense carpet of foliage that is great for suppressing weeds and stays low enough that it doesn’t impede access to the tree.
If the feijoa tree is being grown more for ornamental purposes, grass plants such as Carex, Lomandra, and Liriopes are great options. A blanket planting of Star Jasmine is also very effective.
Feijoas are called pineapple guava because it has some characteristics of both pineapples and guavas, even though it's not closely related to either. Firstly, feijoa fruit has a unique flavour that some people describe as a mix of pineapple, guava, and sometimes even strawberry. While it doesn't exactly taste like either fruit, the combination of sweet and tropical notes evokes those comparisons. Second and finally, feijoas are superficially similar to guava in some ways. Both are round or oval-shaped with a bumpy green skin. However, guava skin is usually thinner and more delicate than feijoa skin.
There are a few reasons why a feijoa tree might not be fruiting. The most common reasons are:
Decisions about when to prune a Feijoa Tree, how to cut them back and how hard, and even how to do this task can be daunting for the novice gardener. The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to provide advice for how to trim Feijoa Trees so you can manicure your plants with confidence and success.
Feijoa trees can be espalier trained, but they will require regular trimming to given their vigorous nature. Simply lay and tie the branches down on a wire during summer when they are most pliable. A flush of growth will soon result from the buds along the stem. Such growth will need trimming regularly to keep the plant tidy and contained. Be aware that they fruit on one year old wood, so there is always a balance between stem removal and fruiting.
Feijoa 'Unique' is a cultivar that is prized for its several characteristics:
Feijoa 'Unique' is a popular choice for home gardeners due to its ease of care and reliable fruiting.
There are two things you are trying to achieve when pruning a feijoa tree. The first is to contain the tree to a manageable size so the fruit is produced lower. The second is to “open up” the tree to let more light and air penetrate to the centre of the plant. If light can’t get in, the fruit tend to be borne on the periphery of the tree only.
Start by taking the tree down to a height you want to pick the fruit from. If the tree is large, you may have to make some large cuts. That is fine as the tree will sprout new shoots from the cut stump during spring and summer. Next, thin out the branches through the tree. Ideally, you should be able to see gaps that penetrate the width of the tree when you are finished. Finally, shape the exterior of the tree to how you want it to look.
You may think the tree is somewhat “nude” after pruning, but this is normal if you have removed considerable vegetation. When you trim the tree a year later, it will be a lot less aggressive and look more appealing afterwards. Nonetheless, the fundamentals of light penetration and keeping the tree manageable remain the same.
The best time to prune feijoa trees is after they have finished fruiting in autumn. At this time, light pruning to remove a small amount of vegetation is fine. However, if you are planning aggressive pruning, The Plant Company recommends that you do this in spring or summer as the plant will recover better and sprout new shoots easier that can harden off ahead of frosts.
Feijoa trees respond well to pruning and there are to main benefits:
Establishing Feijoa Trees and getting them to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to ensure success when you are growing Feijoas.
Choose a full sun position or partial shade position with good drainage for your Feijoa Tree. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots are bound up, you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. The Plant Company does not advise cutting through roots, even if the plant is rootbound, as that injures the plant.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter Fruiting Plant Fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and then give the plant a good watering. You may need to consider staking a taller specimen.
Feijoa trees grow relatively compactly to 2-5 metres tall. However, there are some dwarf varieties that only grow to be 1.5 metres tall, and some larger varieties that can grow up to seven metres tall.
The size of a feijoa tree will depend on the variety you choose, as well as the growing conditions. They will grow larger in warm, temperate climates with well-drained soil. Popular smaller varieties include Feijoa 'Bambina' and Feijoa 'Unique', while larger varieties include Feijoa 'Mammoth' and Feijoa 'Triumph'.
Feijoa trees are considered reasonably fast-growing for fruit trees. They typically put 40-60 cm of growth each year, and you can expect them to reach fruiting size relatively quickly. They generally start producing fruit as early as 2-3 years after planting. Of course, the care provided such as proper watering, fertiliser applications, and occasional pruning, will all have a bearing on how well your feijoa tree does.
In New Zealand, the ideal time to plant feijoa trees is anytime during autumn, winter, and spring. During these times the plants can establish firmly before the heat of summer arrives. This also dramatically improves the chance that the plant will survive and start growing actively. While you can still plant in summer, particular attention must be paid to watering as the roots won’t have penetrated the surrounding soil just yet. They are therefore more vulnerable to drying out. Ensure you are planting the feijoa into soil that is well-drained and fertile. Remember also that it's important to choose a variety suitable for your region and personal preferences.
Providing the best fertiliser for Feijoa Trees is vital for ensuring the plants thrive. The correct fertiliser depends on whether the plant is grown in a pot or in soil, and getting this wrong can be disastrous for your plants. Our fertiliser articles provide the best advice about fertiliser for Feijoa Trees so you can achieve the amazing results you are after.
Feijoa Trees grown in containers require different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance the correct fertiliser to use is either container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertilisers can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets have been used. If you think the plant needs an extra boost or has some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it.
Feijoas are vigorous plants that require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s Fruiting Plant Fertiliser has been blended to give plants an initial boost and then sustained nutrition for 12-months to support good fruiting. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. This fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company’s Fruiting Plant Fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time, but this is not essential if Fruiting Plant Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
Feijoa trees require feeding to keep them looking amazing and producing good crops. A lot of articles have all sorts of advice on this subject which often requires multiple applications, so you use more of their fertiliser. The Plant Company prefers to take a simpler and more environmentally responsible approach. We believe the best organic option is The Plant Company organic fertiliser which is applied in spring and again in autumn and will keep them well fed. You can safely apply generous amounts of this fertiliser without risk of injuring the plants. More details about this fertiliser are provided with the product.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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