Durban - We are all well into autumn now. The plants all realise this and their growth is slowing down, and hormone and sugar levels in the leaves and stems are changing – which causes their autumn colour.
Some plants, such as poinsettia, chrysanthemum, kalanchoe, zygocactus, cineraria, poppy, pansy, primula and viola thrive in this weather.
Pansies, especially, need a big variation between day and night temperatures to develop their biggest and brightest flowers. This is why the pansies in Harrismith are always bigger than those in Durban – the difference between their minimum night temperature and the maximum day temperature can be at least 25ºC.
While most gardeners have taken to the trend of urban farming and started a vegetable garden, only some have started to grow their own fruit.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is blessed with a wonderful sub-tropical climate with adequate rainfall, which means that a huge variety of fruit trees can be grown very successfully.
There are commercial growers of banana, avocado, litchi, macadamia, pawpaw, citrus and kiwi fruit all within 50km of Durban.
Some fruit trees such as guava, mulberry, loquat and granadilla do so well here that they have found their way on to the banned list and can no longer be sold.
Remember that all fruit trees need full sun to perform at their best – it is the sunlight that puts the quality into the fruit.
A good, well-prepared fertile soil with good drainage is advisable.
Remember too, that all fruit trees need regular watering, especially at certain times of the year.
Always buy the best quality fruit trees you can find from a reputable nursery. In all cases try to buy a “grafted” or cutting-grown tree, rather than a seedling-grown one.
All seedlings are hybrids, while all cuttings and grafts are clones and therefore true reproductions of a single parent, and will be “true to type”, so you will be assured of what you are buying.
Grafted trees and those grown from cuttings will also bear fruit much quicker than seedlings which can take up to seven years to mature, and then might still not be of the expected quality.
Grafted trees cost more but it is money well spent. These are always from tried and tested stock, often with impressive international “pedigrees” so you will be getting the best there is.
Use the correct compost and fertiliser for planting.
Mango, litchi and avocado all originate from parts of the world that have distinct wet and dry seasons. They need a dry winter to flower well, and good watering for proper fruiting. Our winters are dry so they usually flower well, but our spring rains are often too late and not heavy enough for all the young fruit to mature – so you should irrigate your trees as soon as the young fruits have formed. If you do not water well at this time, the trees will drop fruit to compensate, and then when the rains do come the fruit may split as it grows and expand too quickly.
Pawpaw (and kiwifruit) have separate male and female plants – only the female plants bear fruit, but the males are necessary for pollination and fruit. About one male for every nine females is required.
Citrus do well in large pots and are ornamental – the fruit hangs on the tree for a long time (up to 18 months in a grapefruit) and so looks good if planted in the front garden and not the orchard.
A lemon tree is the obvious first choice for any garden – the leading commercial variety is Eureka, which is world-famous for its excellent, quality, slightly wrinkled fruit borne almost all year.
The Meyer lemon is very suited to home gardens as it bears fruit on the outside of the tree where it is more visible. Other trees, not exactly fruit trees, but also suited to the urban farm, are bay leaf and the curry leaf tree.
On a final note, it is time to feed your lawn with a fertiliser high in potassium such as 3:1:5 or 2:3:4. The potassium “toughens” up the grass to withstand the rigours of winter. Still mow long. If there are weeds in the lawn, they should be sprayed now with weedkiller to prevent them seeding and re-emerging in abundance in spring.
The Mercury