June to-do list FILL UP ON FRUIT

There’s still plenty to do outside – sett le in your citrus and plant up the pots!

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Don’t shy away from the garden as the cold bites. Winter is the perfect season for fruit tree planting! What you will plant will depend on your location. Feijoas, for example, can be grown throughout New Zealand, but South Islanders are advised to grow early fruiting cultivars to avoid frost damage to buds. Apricots, on the other hand, need a winter far colder than Auckland’s. Most varieties will require temperatures between zero and seven degrees celsius for a long enough period to break down the growth inhibitors in their vegetative and flower buds. And while northerners can grow a wide range of citrus, if southerners are not prepared to spend a tree’s early years cosseting it against the cold, they’re best advised to stick to Meyer lemons. Garden centres usually stock trees suitable for local conditions, but not always – notably in areas with a range of microclimates. A little research before buying pays off!