Chilean Guava, Columnar Apples and Olives

In the last couple of weeks I have accumulated some new fruit trees for the garden, and for pots. Several of these came from the growers market in orange, however I also had two new varieties of fig trees from South Australia delivered and some Chilean Guava from Diggers.

Chilean Guava (Myrtus Ugni)

I recently came across some another blog that mentioned Chilean Guava, a shrub with small green leaves that reportedly grows one of the best testing berries you can find. Said to be the favourite fruit of Queen Victoria, these berries are small and red and apparently have a taste similar to a cross between strawberries, apples and pineapple, although most people say that it is a difficult taste to describe. The berries reputedly have a beautiful fragrance that wafts around the bushes filling your yard with scent.

Mytus Ugni berries source

They were touted as the next big thing in Australian agriculture in Tasmania, and in Aus are trademarked under the name Tazziberry. This push to grow came in the early 2000s and I have yet to see any in any stores, so perhaps something went wrong! Our New Zealand cousins across the pond are also trying to jump on this train, and have their own name 'New Zealand Cranberry'.

Whether Chilean Guava, or Tazziberry or NZ Cranberries I had to buy some plants immediately!

From all the research I have done into these berries over the last week there seems to be differing reports on how easy or difficult they are to grow. Some say full sun, some say part sun, some say full shade- in fact this is reportedly one of the few fruits that will fruit well in a full shade position.

One thing that is is certain is that they do not like to dry out, with many plant deaths throughout forums attributed to this. Some also say they enjoy a low soil pH similar to blueberries, and do not require much attention, other than being kept damp. They are frost hardy, and heat tolerant.

I decided to buy 7 plants in total, to be spread in different locations throughout the yard, some in part shade, and some in full sun. Five were from Digger's online and one two were from a local Canberra nursery and slightly more mature.

    

Columnar Apples 

Columnar apples grow to a smaller size than regular apple trees and can be considered a dwarf or semi dwarf, and suitable for pots. They grow as a single main trunk, with apples growing off the side, and side branches should be pruned.

For successful pollination it is important to have two varieties of trees. I bought the varieties 'Waltz' and 'Polka' from the Flemings Ballerina series. They were going into dormancy when I bought them, and have continued to lose leaves as colder weather approaches.

   

Olives

I bought an unknown variety of olive whilst in Orange, and once back in Canberra bought a Barnea olive from a local nursery. Olives are evergreen and cold hardy.  

Mystery Olive

Barnea Olive