Apples
Apples are one of the most popular fruits in the world and you too can grow a crop of crunchy, juicy fruit in your own backyard!
Red or yellow and sometimes even pink, grapefruit are a great addition to your garden and plate! The traditional yellow forms can be quite tart, however, the red varieties are growing in popularity due to their sweeter taste. Add them to your salads or enjoy on their own for breakfast – they’re an excellent source of vitamin C.
How to grow grapefruits in a garden
- Choose a sunny spot with well drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. If the soil is clay based, improve soil structure by adding gypsum and forking in well. In poorly drained areas, citrus can also be planted in a raised mound of free-draining soil.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.
- Mulch around the base with organic mulch like sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
- Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
- Feed your citrus with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser three times a year, in early spring, summer and again in autumn.
- When the tree starts to produce fruit (normally after its 2nd year), feed weekly with Yates Thrive Citrus Liquid Plant Food.
How to grow grapefruits in a pot
When planting in a pot, choose a dwarf grapefruit variety, like Dwarf Rio Red or Dwarf Honneffs Surprise.
- Choose a pot at least 500mm wide. Position in full sun and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. TIP: Consider placing the pot on wheels if you live in a cold area, so it can be easily moved inside or to a more protected spot in winter.
- Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Water deeply, 2-3 times during the week, depending on weather conditions.
- Feed your citrus with Yates Dynamic Lifter Liquid Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser three times a year, in early spring, summer and again in autumn.
- When the tree starts to produce fruit (normally after its second year), feed weekly with Yates Thrive Citrus Liquid Plant Food.
Growing tips
If you’re short of sunny spots in the garden, grow citrus in pots that can be moved to take advantage of changing patterns of sunlight.
- In heavy clay soils, it’s best to put extra effort into soil preparation. To check if your soil needs work, dig a hole and pour a bucket of water into the hole – if it takes more than 30 minutes to disappear, then you will need to improve your drainage. Consider raising the level of the bed as much as possible with free draining garden soil, dig in gypsum to help break up the clay and add plenty of Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. Potted grapefruit should be grown in a good quality mix (such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter) and moved into larger containers as they grow.
- Remove any small fruit that develop within the first two years - this allows the tree to devote its energy to growing strong healthy stems and roots.
Almonds
Looking for a nut to grow? Go for almonds! Full of goodness, great taste, high in good fats & have the highest fibre content of all the nuts.
Avocado
Smashed, smeared or spooned straight from the fruit, Avocados have a place in everyone's breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
Blackberry
Blackberries (Rubus canadensis) are amazing to eat fresh from the bush or made into jams or pies.
Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser
Create organic nutrient rich soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter for better root growth, stronger plants and more flowers and fruit.
Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food
This Organic Pelletised Plant Food is a special combination of organic ingredients boosted with fast-acting fertilisers, designed to produce richer, juicier and more abundant fruit.
Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Liquid Plant Food
Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Liquid Plant Food is a complete, liquid plant food that provides balanced nutrients for healthy growth.
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