Fruit Trees & Shrubs

Once upon a time fruit trees could be found in every New Zealand garden. Nowadays gardens are smaller and it is difficult to find space, but if you choose carefully they can fit. There are dwarf forms / varieties of most fruits which don’t take a lot of space. These can be espaliered on a fence as space savers. This allows a collection of many fruits spread through the season.

AT A GLANCE

Warm, sunny site
Choose fruits and varieties best suited to your area
Feed and water

Pip fruit such as apples and pears have always been the most popular fruit because of their universal appeal, easy to eat, and ripen over a long season. They are vitamin rich, great tasting, and are relatively easy to grow. They are also very attractive trees with their spring blossom.

Stone fruit such as cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums, are also favourites with the great variety of taste.

Stone fruit does not keep as long as pip fruit, but with the many varieties giving a spread of maturity, it is possible to plan a spread of harvest dates.

Dwarf varieties of most fruits are now available which are ideal where space is limited.

Berryfruit

Berryfruit have become popular in recent years because of the great taste and their proven health properties. Hence, this easily grown group of plants is a must for all gardens. Nowadays gardens are smaller and it is difficult to find space, but if you choose carefully they can fit. Most berryfruits produce large quantities on small easily managed plants. Brambles require a fence support, but others form small easily managed bushes.

At a Glance

  • Warm sunny position

  • Choose fruits and varieties that suit your area

  • Fertiliser and water

Some berry fruit such as strawberries have always been popular. But others such as raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, currants, and blueberries have all become popular because of their vitamin rich and anti oxidant content. In addition they are great tasting, and are relatively easy to grow.

Where to Plant

Choose a warm sunny position, sheltered from strong winds.

  • Brambles (raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries) will grow in most soils.

  • Blueberries require a free draining but moist soil which is acidic (do not use lime or dolomite)

  • Strawberries require a free draining soil with lots of compost. They should not be grown in the same soil for more than two years consecutively.

​In clay soils, raise plantings and add lots of compost

Citrus

Citrus have always been popular. They are vitamin rich, great tasting, can be picked progressively over quite a long time and are relatively easy to grow.
Early Mandarins begin to ripen from early June with oranges grapefruit and lemons holding on until November. This winter-early spring fruiting makes citrus so valuable when other fruit is more expensive. They are also very attractive trees with their glossy green leaves, fragrant blossom in spring and coloured fruit in winter.

AT A GLANCE

  • Warm sunny position

  • Free draining soil

  • Lots of food

  • Water in summer

WHERE TO PLANT

  • Citrus will grow in warm or mild climate zones.

  • Providing frosts are not severe they will tolerate cool conditions.

  • They will thrive in hot inland conditions providing they have water. They require a sunny position protected from cold winds.

  • Citrus prefer a sandy or loam soil. They will tolerate clay soils providing they are planted on a raised area with lots of compost mixed into the soil.

WHEN TO PLANT

  • Citrus trees are available most of the year and can be planted anytime provided they are watered regularly in summer

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