Angela

Gonna start cutting back the established Camellia (japonica? Sasanqua?) trees in our yard, to replace eventually with #quince, #avocado, and #CamelliaSinensis.

If anyone can recommend good places to order such trees from in #Aotearoa, please link them here. I'm Googling of course, but reviews from actual people instead of bots on websites are appreciated. #EdibleGardens #MāraKai
🔖
Camellia Sinensis Plants | Tea Plant | Grow Tea NZ – Urban Bounty
https://urbanbounty.co.nz/products/buy-camellia-sinensis-tea-plant-nz

Camellia Sinensis (Tea Plant)

Mar 8, 2023 at 9:08pmWeb
Show threadAngelaMar 8, 2023
I've heard a few locals recommended SouthernWoods as a good source for fruit trees, should I wait on them to restock their quince? 🤔 https://www.southernwoods.co.nz/shop/quince-smyrna/
Buy Quince 'Smyrna' Online - Southern Woods

Browse and purchase our Quince 'Smyrna' and other products online or instore at Southern Woods.

Southern Woods
Show threadAngelaMar 8, 2023
Also, I dunno if my #grapevines just went dormant with little fanfare or if they've expired, so I'm still hoping for some nice labrusca-style table grapes. I'll order from Koanga, probably. https://koanga.org.nz/gardens/forest-garden/isabella-grape-og/
Grape | Isabella | og | Kōanga

These vines have been grown in Open Ground "og" situation.

Kōanga
Show threadAngelaMar 9, 2023
Avocado trees can grow huge, apparently, so gotta plan this one carefully https://www.oderings.co.nz/shop/plants-bedding-perennials-shrubs-vegetables/plants-fruit-strawberries-berries/avocado/avocado-reed-__I.422885__C.422843__N.84
Oderings Garden Centre | Fruit & Nuts | Fruit - Avocado Reed

Medium, round fruit with a green skin that stays green when ripe. Excellent eating quality. ‘A’ type flowering. Harvest from January to May.

Show threadAngelaMar 9, 2023
At this rate we will probably have no more room for trees in our section, lol, so stretch goals: hire an allotment at the local community garden, and plant one or two cinnamon trees. 😁 🥧 https://exoticanz.com/products/cinnamon-plant?variant=43073526497528
Cinnamon Plant

Show threadCrafty Gardener NZMar 9, 2023
@seawall Oooohhhhh I need one 😭
Show threadAngelaMar 9, 2023
@craftygardennz Inorite? Google tells me cinnamon trees might be tricky to grow any further south than the upper North Island, though. Unless you have a good-sized polytunnel or glasshouse. Even more so for nutmeg, cardamom or clove, they really want that heat and humidity you get near the Equator.
Show threadCrafty Gardener NZMar 9, 2023
@seawall Yeah, the only way to grow it here would be a heated glasshouse. All I have is an unheated glasshouse, and I struggle to keep my lime tree alive in winter in it.
Show threadAngelaMar 9, 2023

Ah, the #Cleopatra is a dwarf variety of #avocado. Can self-fertilize but gets a better yield when there's two trees. 🥑

Getting pricey now so definitely holding off until next year. 😂 https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/incredible-edibles-avocado-cleopatra/p/327457

Show threadAngelaMar 9, 2023
Also available at Bunnings for a bit less. 🤔 Buy one from each and see which thrives? https://www.bunnings.co.nz/10l-avocado-cleopatra-persea-americana_p0049139?store=9532&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgaGgBhC8ARIsAAAyLfFRtsW18FIlehEWsaZD5sQ9SBmg57v-rWTkZxMAal0JUJdw4iM412kaAp-qEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
10L Avocado Cleopatra - Persea americana

Find 10L Avocado Cleopatra - Persea americana at Bunnings. Visit your local store for the widest range of products.

Show threadAngelaJul 23, 2024
I should buy one (or two) of these already, the kid and I love avos and they're not getting any cheaper
Show threadAngelaAug 11, 2024
Hmmm, says in stock rn but not available for click and collect. I assume I can call first about it, at least
Show threadAngelaAug 11, 2024

Or I can call our nearest Oderings to ask when they'll be in stock. Costs more but their plants are usually good quality 🥑

https://www.oderings.co.nz/shop/plants-bedding-perennials-shrubs-vegetables/plants-fruit-strawberries-berries/avocado/avocado-cleopatra-pb5s-__I.703754__C.422843__N.84#

Oderings Garden Centre | Fruit & Nuts - Avocado Cleopatra PB5S

Cleopatra grows 3m in height and produces fruit similar to the black avocado ‘Hass’. Frost tender when young but becomes hardier once established. Harvest fruit from July through December.

Show threadcachalotMar 9, 2023
@seawall Oh yeah. Ours are huge now!
Show threadAngelaMar 9, 2023
@Happyfishmedia how far away from your house and property line did you plant them? Are their roots threatening to break your foundation or the sidewalk?
Show threadcachalotMar 9, 2023
@seawall uh, they just grew semi spontaneously from seeds that were in the compost. Away from the house, fortunately, but close to the fences
Show threadBlueShiftNZMar 9, 2023

@seawall I wonder if you can espalier an avo tree?

Oooh, Google says yes!
https://www.google.com/search?q=espalier+avocado

Bevor Sie zur Google Suche weitergehen

Show threadBeeDeeMar 9, 2023
@blueshiftnz @seawall the sap in avo trees is poisonous, or high allergen properties, Not sure if you w would get fruit from an espalier one, but if google sez yup. otherwise allow a 15x 15m area, x 20m high tree tho some types can be pruned
Show threadAngelaMar 9, 2023
@blueshiftnz apparently they can also come in dwarf varieties, so that's handy
Show threadAllison OMar 9, 2023
@seawall get Cleopatra, it's a dwarf specimen.
Show threadMs_PymMar 9, 2023
@seawall our rental property has an avocado tree that looms over the second storey, too high for easy harvesting so the only creatures that get avocados are the possums and rats, who also use the tree to jump onto our roof and run along it. Dwarf trees or espalier is a much better way to go.
Show threadCrafty Gardener NZMar 8, 2023
@seawall I'd wait until winter, and then go and pick out a quince tree in person. I did that, and it took me a while to find the exact tree with the characteristics I was looking for. I was after a tree with multiple branches, that were growing in a certain direction.
Show threadAngelaMar 8, 2023
@craftygardennz oh OK, their garden centre is out near Rolleston so I'll make a note to go in like, July. Can be a birthday present for me ☺
Show threadAngelaMar 9, 2023

Should get a couple of tea plants, since you only harvest the first few leaves off each branch. Another one to wait until 2024/25, and probably put in the proposed allotment with the cinnamon trees. 🍵

I wonder how many components of #masalachai I could plant in one space, lol 😂 Ginger might have to go in a glasshouse. Will look at clove and cardamom next...
https://kaiparacoastplantcentre.com/https:/kaiparacoastplantcentre.com/home/online-store/product-category/sample-product/camellia-sinensis/

CAMELLIA SINENSIS

‘Tea Camellia’

Kaipara Coast Plant Centre & Sculpture Gardens