Gardeners Diary - May

This month in the fruit garden, the harvest period is coming to a close for pip and stone fruit and is just beginning for feijoas.

PICK

Feijoa, quince, apples, pears, rhubarb, passionfruit.

PLANT

Plant evergreen, frost-hardy fruits such as feijoa and Chilean guavas. See theTui Feijoa Growing Guide for more information.
Remember fruit requires a position in full sun. Shelter from prevailing winds is preferable.

TASKS

General

• Collect and compost any rotting fruit from under fruit trees.
• Check harvested fruit to make sure nothing is rotting, remove fruit as soon as its starts to decay.
• The rot can quickly spread throughout a whole harvest within a week or two.

Protect

• Aphids, whitefly and scale insects may be about, spray with Tui Insect Control for Fruit & Veges to control.

Weeds

• Keep orchards and the areas around fruit trees weed free.
• Only use weed sprays that are non-residual near fruit trees.

Mulch

• Add a layer of Tui Mulch & Feed around the base of fruit trees, to keep the soil warmer over the winter months and keep the area weed free.
• As the mulch rots down it adds nutrients to the soil as well.