If you’ve ever daydreamed about growing your own fruit in the summer, now is the time to act. June, July and August are the best months to plant fruit trees in New Zealand. Planting fruit trees now gives the roots time to settle into the soil. There’s also a much wider variety of fruit trees on sale during winter.
Here’s how to plant fruit trees successfully in your backyard.
Deciding what type of fruit you want to grow will impact where you should plant them. The bigger your fruit tree will grow, the more space and sunshine your plant will need to be happy and healthy.
If you are short on space, consider growing dwarf varieties of your favourite fruits. Dwarf apple, citrus, olive, guava, peaches and plum trees grow well in containers and pots and are the perfect size for townhouses or small backyards.
The type of fruit you can grow right now depends on where you live:
Grow well between May and September throughout New Zealand and take two to four years to harvest.
In warmer climates, apricots should be planted between May and August. If you live on the South Island, avoid planting them in June, July, and August. Instead, either plant your trees now or wait until October or November.
Avocados grow exceptionally well in parts of the North Island, like Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Marlborough at the top of the South Island. Unfortunately, most other parts of New Zealand are too cold or not humid enough to support their growth. If you want to grow avocados, August, September, and October are the best times to plant your trees. Avocado trees take 2-4 years to harvest.
Blackberries grow exceptionally well all throughout New Zealand. They also have a long planting season and only take a year of growth before your plants bear fruit. You can plant blackberries anytime between May and November.
Similarly, blueberries are a great fruit to plant wherever you live. They also only take 60-90 days from your plant's first flowers before the fruit is harvested. You can plant blueberries any time of year, from January to December.
Feijoas are a fruit relatively unique to New Zealand. They grow well in any soil. If you live in Auckland or Northland, you can plant feijoa anytime between March and October. For the rest of the country, avoid planting feijoas in June, July or between December and February. Feijoa trees take three to four years to bear fruit that is ready to harvest.
Lemons are a must-have fruit tree for your backyard. They don’t take up much space and are ideal for containers or pots. The planting season is between March and May or August and November throughout the country.
Limes are another must-have for your backyard. Like lemons, they are perfect for growing in pots or containers. The planting season is between March and May or August and November. It can take 2-4 years from planting before your lime tree produces fruit ready for harvesting.
The planting season for peach trees in New Zealand is between June and August. Peach trees can take between one and three years to bear fruit. They are best suited to warm and dry climates like Central Otago, Marlborough and the Wairarapa.
Like apples, pear trees grow well throughout New Zealand. The best time to plant a pear tree is between May and September. A pear tree can take two to four years to bear fruit ready for harvesting.
Plum trees can be grown all throughout New Zealand. Most of the country's planting season is between June and August. If you are in Canterbury, Otago, or Southland, you can extend the planting season to September. A plum tree takes between two and four years to bear fruit.
Raspberries
Raspberries can be grown throughout the country from Northland to Southland. Plant raspberry bushes between May and November. It takes about one year before your raspberry bushes will begin to fruit.
Strawberries are the ideal fruit to grow anywhere and can be grown in pots or the ground. In the North Island, strawberries can be grown between May and December. The planting season is between July and November if you live in Canterbury, Otago, or Southland. Strawberries are usually ready for harvest 140-160 days after planting.
Tomatoes can be grown throughout New Zealand. In cooler climates, like Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland the planting season is October through to January. In warmer climates including Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne you can begin planting tomatoes in September. It can take 60-85 days before tomato plants bear ripe fruit.
High-quality soil is important for the health of your fruit trees. If you are planting your fruit tree in an existing garden bed, start by incorporating organic matter such as sheep pellets and compost into the soil.
Adding organic matter enriches the soil with nutrients that will help your tree grow. You can also add a specific citrus or fruit tree mix to the soil to improve fertility. A pot-plant version of this soil is recommended for container planting.
Not all fruit trees require the same amount of space, sunlight or water. Most fruit trees come with planting instructions and it’s important that you check these before you begin. You’ll learn how much space, sun and shade your tree needs. Some fruit trees also need staking.
Some people like to soak their tree before planting it in a seaweed-based tonic to help promote growth. Seaweed can help the tree adjust to the new soil and offer protection against cold temperatures.
If you are planting your fruit tree in a garden, dig a hole about twice the depth and width of your tree’s root ball. Add some soil mix (a citrus tree mix or a fruit tree variety) into the hole. Gently loosen the root ball with your hands and place the tree ball into the hole. Loosening the root ball helps the roots take hold after planting. Fill the hole with more citrus tree or fruit tree soil mix. Make sure your tree is planted at the same depth as it was in its original container or bag.
Remove any fruit that grows during the first year after planting your fruit tree. Removing the initial fruit helps your tree to establish itself and encourages the plant to put its energy into growing rather than bearing fruit (right now). It also encourages better fruiting in subsequent seasons.
Fertilising your fruit tree is important, especially if you’re growing fruit trees in the ground rather than in a pot where drainage, nutrients and soil quality are easier to control. Using a citrus or fruit tree fertiliser in spring and summer encourages growth. Consistent watering, especially during summer when the soil can dry, is also very important. Well-watered and well-nourished trees are also more resistant to insect pests and diseases.
Another important step is protecting your fruit trees from the elements, weeds, pests, and diseases. Mulching is an effective way to keep moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing. Apply a 5cm layer of mulch around your tree, avoiding the trunk or stem, as this can lead to rot.
Pruning is an important part of fruit tree care, though the timing and necessity of pruning vary by tree variety. Generally, you should remove any diseased, damaged, or dead wood. You can also remove any branches that rub or cross over others. Likewise, thinning out crowded areas of the canopy helps shape your fruit tree, which can help improve the airflow, which is good for the fruit.
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