Conquering the pineapple
Despite their spiky attitudes, pineapples are amazingly easy to grow!
How to grow
- Start with a cut off crown of a pineapple, making sure to remove all fruit flesh until it is clean and dry.
- Leave the crown for a day or two to thoroughly dry out.
- Fill a pot with a rich fertilised soil, and plant the crown so that the exposed white nub is buried.
How to care for
- Make sure not to water your yellow friend too much, the strong, tough leaves mean that there is little evaporation.
- You won’t need to transplant it, as they grow very well in pots. But make sure you’re pot is deep and wide enough to accommodate the fruit.
- Wait and watch, and in about a year, your pineapple will arrive!
Raising the orange (and most citrus)
You can grow citrus from seeds, but as many varieties take almost 7 years to produce a crop, you are better off choosing a seedling and getting closer to that juice.
How to grow
- Choose a sunny spot that will allow up to 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
- Soak your seedling root base by dunking it in water for a minute or two.
- Dig a hole that is twice the width and twice the depth of the root base.
- Cover with soil, and then mulch round the base but keep it away from the trunk.How to care for
- Water once or twice a week.
- Spread fertiliser around the tree to encourage growth and healthy crops. Citrus takes a lot of feeding.
- Pruning is not essential for it to bear fruit but is good for clearing dead growth.
Got a fence that needs an upgrade? Garnish it with a lush, fruity vine.
How to grow
- Choose a rich, well drained soil in a large pot.
- Dig a deep and wide hole, and plant your seedling, teasing out the roots gently. Water well.
- Mulch it with a finer material like sugar cane or pea straw.
How to care for
- Water thoroughly a couple of times a week, making sure to cover the entire planting area and not just the stem.
- It loves a good chicken manure, but steer clear of those high in nitrogen, as it affects the fruit and flower quality.
- You can train it up along the fence, or wait for it to find its own way.
Taming the banana
Ah bananas, let me count the ways I love thee….
How to grow
- Bananas are a warm loving fruit, so choose a spot that receives at least six hours a day of sunshine.
- Prepare for planting with a rich, well drained soil that receives regular moisture and turn manure through the soil with a pitchfork.
- Take your plants and dig a deep hole, and cover with soil. If you’re planting multiple trees, plant metres away from each to ensure plenty of room to grow.
How to care for
- Water regularly and fertilise every eight weeks.
- Cover any sprouting fruit flowers with an open ended plastic bag to deter flying foxes and other pesky fruit pinchers!
