Gardeners’ queries

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33934, 29 August 1975, Page 4

Gardeners’ queries

CoiMd you please tell me why our Meyer lemons which appear to be quite normal and a good size, are dried out inside when we cut them? The tree is about six years old and appears to be healthy. It is disappointing to lose a good crop in this way. —R. F. (Christchurch).

The reason tor the lemons being dry in pail or all of the fruit and without juice is due to frost or ven- cold conditions Low temperatures can affect citrus m this way at any stage of development even while the fruit is still ihimature. Once the damage has been caused i there is no cure and it is ! likely that very many crops will Ibe similarly affected this year. The age of the tree is immaterial but it is possible that bigger specimens may only suffer in part and some of the fruit may be perfectly normal. Where citrus are planted in a position known to be subject to very cold conditions or heavy frosts it is advisable to provide some form of protection during the winter Whatever form this may take the tree should usually be uncovered during the day.

We have a hedge of piece | "A" which is very healthy but at one point there is more of i piece "B" growing than "A." I don't like the succulent one and wonder if it will eventually take over but hesistate to remove it as it may be all that will grow under large trees. What would you suggest?—MJA. (Southbridge). The hedge comprises escallonia and the other plant is mesembryanthemum which is certainly not a suitable shelter giving subject. Furthermore this plant can spread and with the support gained from the escallonia and its own weight and growth caused “suppression” of the latter. The dry conditions under the trees would suit it but it is best removed. Providing the escallonia is given some encouragement it should be possible to re-establish it in this vicinity. It is said that peaches do not need pollinating yet the flowers on my three-year-old tree don't come to anything. And what about the pears which are supposed to require others near them — I have two Bon Chretiens but they don't do any good either.— "Fruitless" (Christchurch). Ail flowering subjects require the process of pollination if they are to fruit or set seed but the process may differ. Some kinds and varieties of fruit trees will set fruit with their own pollen, such as all peaches with the exception of J. H. Hale (Million Dollar), and others require cross-pollination from another suitable source—pears are a prime example in this latter case. Unless you have the stated peach, failure to set fruit on your peach tree could be due to one or a number of causes including poor weather at the time, mineral deficiency, a disease such as brown rot and/or failure to have established satisfactorily. Williams Bon Chretien pears require cross-pollination from another variety of pear, not the same one Beurre Bose. Conference and Packhams Triumph are effective cross-pollinators.