Garden Tips by Month
April Gardening Tips
The temperatures are rising, the birds are singing and the sun is shining- Spring is here! The weather, rather than the calendar, dictate when to start working in your garden.
April 1, 2024
make life beautiful
Taste of the Tropics
Imagine your backyard patio filled with beautiful fruit trees, providing a private sanctuary this summer. And imagine having an abundance of fruit for your family to enjoy! You will be able to create true garden to table recipes; homemade mango sorbet and
All of these plants can be grown in a pot during the summer. Be sure to move into a garage or other sheltered area during the winter, as these plants are not hardy.
Here’s a selection of the tasty fruit plants:
Mango
Season: May to January.
Average Size: 15 to 15 feet.
Mangos were first grown in India over 5,000 years ago. This delicious fruit is known to have many benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, clearing the skin and improving eye health. Research has shown that the compounds of antioxidants in mango protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.
Miracle Fruit
Season: All Year.
Average Size: 6 to 4 feet.
The berries on Miracle Fruit trees transform otherwise unappealing tastes in your mouth to a sweet, sugary taste. And Miracle Fruit berries only have 1 calorie each… a tasty treat without the guilt!
Olive
Season: Late Summer through fall.
Average Size: 25 x 25 feet.
On average, an olive tree can live between 300 and 600 years. Having one in your backyard offers both a delicious addition to your meals, as well as a beautiful tree. The trees are highly ornamental, with densely foliated branches. Green olives are picked off the plant before they’ve ripened, and black olives are able to ripen on the plant.
Cacao – Chocolate
Season: All year.
Average Size: 30 to 45 feet tall.
Minimum Temperature: 60 degrees F.
Who wouldn’t want a chocolate factory on their patio! Cacao beans develop inside a large ribbed pod that grows from the stems of the plant. The pod contains a sweet white pulp surrounding 20 to 60 chocolate beans. The beans are bitter raw, but when roasted and mixed with other ingredients, they make delicious chocolate.
Coffee Arabica
Season: Winter.
Average Size: 6 to 4 feet.
Coffee is known to promote a healthy heart. Not only can you roast your own coffee from this plant, but small white flowers consistently bloom, providing a wonderful fragrance.
Dragon Fruit
Season: Year Round
Dragon Fruit is rich in antioxidants, contain vitamin C and lots of B vitamins for a good metabolism. The fruit is most often eaten chilled and cut in half so the flesh may bespooned out. The juice can be used for yummy frozen drinks. Dragon is a vining cactus plant.
Avocado
Season: May through February
Average Size: 25 x 20 feet
Avocados are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, making a smart addition to a summer salad or sandwich. They’re also a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin K, copper, vitamin B6, and many others!
Guava
Season: Year Round
Average Size: 15 x 15 feet
Guava’s nutritional value and tastiness make it the perfect choice of fruit. It is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that are beneficial for skin. And the possibilities are endless when it comes to cooking with guava; homemade jelly, pastries and juice await!
Here are a few tips on planting your edible fruit tree:
Planting Your Tree in a Container
– Use a potting soil with a pH of 6-6.5. Should we keep this pH recommendation? Proven Winners Potting Soil is recommended.
– Add loose stones to the bottom of the pot for good drainage.
– When you’re ready to plant, remove the plastic nursery pot from the root ball. Keep the root ball intact, and plant the tree so the top of the soil around the base of the tree is still visible.
– Fertilize the plant about six weeks after planting. Use a slow release fertilizer. Fruit-tone and/or Citrus-tone fertilizers are best.
– Larger growing tropical plants will benefit from a good sized container, but these can get heavy, use a sturdy caddy so you can roll the plant in and out with the change in seasons.
– Fruit plants can develop bugs indoors, be sure to spray the plats with a horticultural oil spray at least a day before moving in for the winter.
Water
– Keep the soil moist, avoid both overwatering and letting the soil completely dry out.
– Plants like to be misted during the winter months.
Light
– The trees will thrive best in full sun.
– Move tree inside for the winter (when temperatures are below 45 F).
– Give your plants a bright southern window for best light.
Look for a selection of tropical fruit plants at our stores in May. Click here to see our store locations and hours.
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