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#1
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feijoa sellowiana; cont
I've just read through the thread on Feijoa Sellowiana.
I grew some from seed about 3 or 4 years ago after Bob Flowerdew recommended it on GQT. He gave it the alternative name of "cruel plant" saying that the flowers trap insects overnight and release them next morning in order to ensure pollination. I have only once seen it growing, with one fruit, in a Yellow Book garden in Clevedon by the Bristol Channel. It was trained over a pergola. Mine is in a wall pot, and is just allowed to trail down, but has never flowered. It now has about 6 trailing stems. I shall pot it and train it up a fence this year and maybe then it might flower for me. Pam in Bristol |
#2
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I grew five last year, they're about 3 ins tall. I was intending to grow
them over a south-ish facing fence. It looked v impressing in the seed catalogue. but then, what doesn't? I didn't know it tortured insects! Jon in Wisbech "Pam Moore" wrote in message ... I've just read through the thread on Feijoa Sellowiana. I grew some from seed about 3 or 4 years ago after Bob Flowerdew recommended it on GQT. He gave it the alternative name of "cruel plant" saying that the flowers trap insects overnight and release them next morning in order to ensure pollination. I have only once seen it growing, with one fruit, in a Yellow Book garden in Clevedon by the Bristol Channel. It was trained over a pergola. Mine is in a wall pot, and is just allowed to trail down, but has never flowered. It now has about 6 trailing stems. I shall pot it and train it up a fence this year and maybe then it might flower for me. Pam in Bristol |
#3
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In article ,
Pam Moore wrote: I've just read through the thread on Feijoa Sellowiana. I grew some from seed about 3 or 4 years ago after Bob Flowerdew recommended it on GQT. He gave it the alternative name of "cruel plant" saying that the flowers trap insects overnight and release them next morning in order to ensure pollination. Are you sure? The flowers don't look as if they could do that. I have only once seen it growing, with one fruit, in a Yellow Book garden in Clevedon by the Bristol Channel. It was trained over a pergola. Mine is in a wall pot, and is just allowed to trail down, but has never flowered. It now has about 6 trailing stems. I shall pot it and train it up a fence this year and maybe then it might flower for me. That doesn't sound right. It is an upright tree or shrub. I grew some from seed, and kept one. It keeps blowing over, but otherwise makes a nice patio plant. It flowered last year, and the flowers were sweetish, as described. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#4
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#5
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On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 22:23:16 GMT, Pam Moore
wrote: That doesn't sound right. It is an upright tree or shrub. So I wonder what I am growing which is trailing and was grown from the seeds I got from Chiltern!!! Somehow, someone has got the common names mixed up. The 'Cruel Plant' is Araujia sericofera, a half hardy, evergreen (or deciduous in cold areas) vine distantly related to Stephanotis and producing vaguely similar, but shorter tubed, pinkish flushed, fragrant flowers in small clusters. It is so called because the pollen masses are rather viscid when the flowers first open and any probing moth becomes stuck fast. In warmer, drier climates where the plant originates, the pollen dries out after a few hours and the moth is freed so that it can continue on to another flower and pollinate it. In this country, the higher humidity and lower temperatures often prevent the pollen from drying out and the unfortunate 'prisoners' are sometimes held until they die. I have a plant clambering over some trellis and there are times when it is covered in fluttering moths - a somewhat gruesome sight, but fascinating nevertheless. It is not reliably hardy inland or further north than Bristol, but makes a handsome climber for a frost free greenhouse or conservatory. Feijoa (Acca) sellowiana is the 'fruit salad plant' - a shrubby member of the myrtle family with rounded, leathery leaves and showy, red-stamened, white flowers in the leaf axils. The resultant fruits are sometimes known as pineapple guavas and are sweet with a very exotic combination of flavours. The flowers are edible as well and are also rather sweet to taste. Feijoa grows reasonably well in sheltered sunny spots in the south, but its early flowering means that fruit is rarely set out of doors in the UK. If grown in a frost free greenhouse the flowers need to be hand pollinated to ensure a reasonable crop. Feijoa makes a handsome and easily grown shrub for a medium-sized to large container and can be stood out of doors in summer. Although not a particular lime-hater, it seems to grow best in an ericaceous compost. Dave Poole Torquay, Coastal South Devon UK Winter min -2°C. Summer max 34°C. Growing season: March - November |
#6
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On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:35:43 +0000, Dave Poole
wrote: Somehow, someone has got the common names mixed up. I've had a senior moment couple of days. Think I'll shut up for a while. Sorry for the confusion. Pam in Bristol |
#7
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In article ,
Pam Moore wrote: So I wonder what I am growing which is trailing and was grown from the seeds I got from Chiltern!!! Dunno. I got mine from there, if I recall. What are its leaves, bark and growth pattern like? Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#8
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"Pam Moore" wrote in message ... I've just read through the thread on Feijoa Sellowiana. I grew some from seed about 3 or 4 years ago after Bob Flowerdew recommended it on GQT. He gave it the alternative name of "cruel plant" saying that the flowers trap insects overnight and release them next morning in order to ensure pollination. I have only once seen it growing, with one fruit, in a Yellow Book garden in Clevedon by the Bristol Channel. It was trained over a pergola. Mine is in a wall pot, and is just allowed to trail down, but has never flowered. It now has about 6 trailing stems. I shall pot it and train it up a fence this year and maybe then it might flower for me. Pam in Bristol Trouble with your names Pam! :~) the plant is called Araujia sericifera and is a climber, it seldom flowers the first year from seed and should be fine outside in your neck of the woods. -- Charlie, gardening in Cornwall. http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs) |
#9
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In article ,
Dave Poole wrote: Feijoa grows reasonably well in sheltered sunny spots in the south, but its early flowering means that fruit is rarely set out of doors in the UK. If grown in a frost free greenhouse the flowers need to be hand pollinated to ensure a reasonable crop. Feijoa makes a handsome and easily grown shrub for a medium-sized to large container and can be stood out of doors in summer. Although not a particular lime-hater, it seems to grow best in an ericaceous compost. Let's see how mine does this year and on. It is kept outside in winter, in a not particularly sheletered spot, and seems happy. It flowered last year, perhaps because it didn't wake up early (which is why Holboellia fails). It is in a neutral "John Innes" compost with quite a lot of organic material. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#10
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On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:35:43 +0000, Dave Poole
wrote: Somehow, someone has got the common names mixed up. You are right Dave. Mine iscertainly Araujia. I'm blaming Bob Flowerdew as he recommended both araujia and jeijoa and I bought seeds of both from Chiltern. Must try the feijoa again as it would appear the seeds failed! The confusion is totally mine and I'll think twice before spouting off again. Apologies to all. Pam in Bristol |
#11
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In article ,
Pam Moore wrote: The confusion is totally mine and I'll think twice before spouting off again. Apologies to all. No need - only trolls never make mistakes :-) I would strongly recommend having a go with Feijoa again. As I say, I shall see whether mine survives the rough treatment and flowers again, but so far I am very pleased with it. An EXCELLENT patio plant. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
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