On 25/7/08 23:31, in article ,
"someone" wrote:


"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Sacha writes:

snip


I haven't grown one from seed, but have had one outside for 8 years here
in W. Sussex. It was about 1m tall when I put it in, and it's now about
2.5m tall and across. Never flowered well until this year (just had 50+
flowers on it). About 3 years ago it formed one fruit, but as they need
to overwinter to develop properly it never got very far.

As to needing good drainage, well, it's growing in solid wealden clay
here. True, it's on a slight slope, but that shouldn't make too much
difference when the clay is waterlogged.

I agree that it is a much neglected plant. If it has a weak point, it is
that it is a bit straggly ("of open habit" is the usual gardening
euphemism). The flowers are wonderful, and it is a great trick to pull
off the petals and hand them to someone who doesn't know that they are
edible. The look on their faces when that sweet taste hits is always a
pleasure to behold.

A friend gave me a foot-high Feijoa sellowiana in 1988 which, not knowing
any better in those days, I planted in my back garden in ordinary garden
soil. It has grown into a small tree about 7 feet high, and although it
looks nice, it never flowered until last year (when we had an extremely wet
spring). As Jeff said (and I discovered), the flowers are delicious. I
assume it needs really quite a lot of water, so I watered it copiously this
spring and early summer.

I've now got quite a few flower buds which will probably open in mid-August.
A few buds have disappeared, so it may be that the birds like them too.

Didn't know I should have taken better care of it.

someone



Sometimes, it's better not to know these things because it precludes anxious
hovering! Thanks everyone - definitely one to get again.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon