 Imagine a small fruit tree with an abundance of fruit. Easy to pick not just for yourself but for your kids as well. Now imagine it anywhere in your garden or even on your balcony. Believe me it is possible.
The thought of having a small fruit tree seems satisfying to many people. But going about and finding that special dwarf tree isn’t easy in SA. In our ever changing concrete jungle, tree growing spaces seem to get less. The gardens get smaller but the buildings get bigger. So, when we think of a plum tree growing to 6 metres or an apricot tree growing to 9 metres we cannot even consider growing these in that little space we call a garden. It is just too big and will take up far too much space. Well, did you know that you can have a 15 year old fruit tree that is only 1.6 metres tall? The only way to accomplish this is through pruning. When buying a tree it may seem intimidating when you already know what the actual size can be. Do not let that discourage you as there are many benefits to growing a small fruit tree. It is easier to harvest the fruit and also easier to care for, especially with regards to pruning and spraying. Once you have selected the fruit tree you want , consider the height you want it at and keep that your goal. Stick to it, and when it reaches higher than the goal, prune it. Bareroot or dormant trees are great for growing into small trees. These trees can be pruned to as low as a third of its size at the beginning. Regular pruning will keep the size as small as you may desire. After the spring growth you can cut that growth by half and then in summer again. Just remember that size control and the developing of the fruit tree begins in the first year. Pruning 2-3 times a year, spring, early summer and late summer, will be the easiest way to keep the tree small. You still have to be careful when pruning so as not to cut back too much at one time. This might cause excess sun exposure which could lead to sunburn on the inside. Also keep in mind that if your tree is 10metres tall and older than 20 years with a stem of half a metre, it would not be advisable to make it into a smaller tree. Get a professional to remove that unwanted tree and then plan your garden the way you want it. |
The 24th of September is Heritage day. Why not add another routine to your heritage day celebration. Before you braai come and choose a fruit tree and add this to your garden. We have a huge variety of berry plants and fruit trees to choose from. You will surely find the tree that suits your taste.
We are open 9am – 1pm tomorrow
What are figs?
Have you ever considered eating flowers. Sometimes the smell is so invigorating that you just want to taste it. Maybe you have, just without knowing. Figs are in actual fact a flower and not a fruit. Really? It never crossed my mind when eating figs that the whole edible part of the fig is the fleshy base of the flower. This in turn has enveloped the small florets which gives way to the small crunchy seeds.
Because they are sweet and have a very thin skin, they are consumed as fruit. Figs grow upwards on a tree. When they ripen the fruit becomes too heavy and then hang down. Thus nature has a great way to let you know when to harvest your figs.
So what do figs taste like?
Figs taste as good as it smells. The basic taste of all figs are sweet and moist, yet there are many different varieties as they do differ in taste. We have the following varieties available and many of our fig trees are already fruiting. As seen below the varieties listed show their ripening times which can differ in many cases as fig trees tend to give a smaller first harvest and then a larger later harvest. Come and select your favourite variety, or even order online. You may be surprised to notice that they already have fruit.
This fig ripens in January. It is a very sweet yet medium sized fruit. The outer skin is a purple green with darker ribs. The flesh is a reddish colour.
This is considered one of the oldest fig trees you can get.
This fig ripens in January. It is a very sweet large round fruit. The outer skin is green turning slightly yellow when fully ripe. The flesh is straw coloured.
This fig ripens in late January to mid May. It is a sweet fig with a good balance of acids to enhance the flavour. The outer skin is a a purple colour and it is slightly flattened. The flesh is a ruby red colour.
This fig ripens in February. It is a sweet fig when fully ripe. The outer skin is a light greenish-yellow colour. The flesh is an amber colour.
This is the workhorse of white figs as it is excellent in jams.
This ripens in mid January. It is very sweet with a rich flavour, excellent for fresh eating. The outer skin is a light green colour. The flesh is a strawberry coloured pulp.
Considered one of the tastiest figs.
This ripens December to January. It is a sweet and juicy flavour. The outer skin is a distinctive dark purple colour. The flesh is a dark cherry colour with a prominent fig flavour.
This fig ripens in December. It is sweet tasting similar to that of strawberry or raspberry jam. The outer skin has a unique light yellow with green stripes. The flesh is a crimson colour with high sugar content.
This is considered to be one of the best tasting of all figs. It certainly is my favourite.
This fig ripens in summer and can produce a larger yield again early Autumn. It has a sweet taste similar to that of candied berries with a pleasantly chewy texture. The outer is a greenish-yellow skin. The flesh is also an amber colour.
Contact details and information https://www.justberryplants.co.za/contact/