Myrtle rust has invaded the North Island, threatening native species such as pohutukawa, rata, and manuka. I’m concerned about that, of course, but my more immediate worry is that the rust also attacks feijoa trees. I can appreciate their relationship to pohutukawa, because in our garden we enjoy our feijoa’s Christmas display, similar to pohutukawa in the North Island.
I always thought feijoa might be related to citrus, because it’s recommended to give them citrus food. Because of this I haven’t put feijoa skins in my worm farm, but I’ve learned today that worms are happy to eat feijoas, so that’s a habit I will change. This year we’ve had the best harvest ever from our “Unique” feijoa which we planted in 2000.
Today I’ve baked a Feijoa Loaf – yum! I just hope Myrtle may be contained in the North Island and keep away from the Avon Loop.
“I hope rust spores will cease to hurtle
down here I would not welcome Myrtle.”
My heart fell at this unwelcome news too Ruth. I hope a safe biological remedy can be found for this rust. I am eyeing my Feijoas and also the lovely Pohutukawas we enjoy all around us. Your crop looks good. Our old trees are producing but the dwarf Bambina feijoa is not looking to offer much. I think the miserable winds have affected it. We are going to try it in a new spot in the garden. It is too big for the pot we have had it in. It produced beautifully last year so fingers crossed.
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We don’t have room here for more than one feijoa, which is why I chose the ‘Unique’, and it’s certainly proved successful. Good luck with moving your ‘Bambina’.
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Thanks Ruth. The old feijoas were here when we arrived almost 30 years ago. If the Bambina fails I will get a Unique- people report excellent fruiting from them.
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It is such a worry – oh dear New Zealand is getting less and less pure’n’natural by the day! I’m not minimising the threat but the media does sensationalise bad news!
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We need to cross our fingers and toes and hope the rust can be eradicated.
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I am delighted that you like feijoas, like my son Mark and his son Jackson who both love them. They are a fruit I avoid. However the myrtle rust could become a problem that could destroy more than feijoas and pohutakawa. it is likely to hit manuka as well.
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Unfortunately the rust could have many bad effects. We’ll just have to hope it doesn’t spread.
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[…] things when they’re in season, rather than having everything available all year round. If Myrtle Rust creeps south, feijoas may become endangered, so we may as well enjoy them while we […]
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