Beth Jarman Beth Jarman

Fruit Trees, Bushes and Vines to Plant in January

Fruit Trees, Bushes and Vines to Plant in January

In gardening, what’s successful in one growing zone or climate won’t work in another. I live in the USDA equivalent of Zone 11a in Australia - a warm, Mediterranean climate. If you live in an alternate climate or zone, please comment below with the details of where you are growing and I will give you an equivalent of what month in your year this advice would apply!

January in Australia is right smack bang in the middle of our hottest months of the year and believe me - it’s hot!

This is both a blessing and a curse; it limits the number of fruiting plants that we can plant and keep alive at this time of the year, but also means that in warmer climates, it’s not too late to get some fruit vines in the dirt.

To keep any young fruiting plants thriving and setting down strong roots in January, you need to make sure you are:

  • Water deeply (to encourage roots to grow down) and early in the morning

  • Mulching will help stop moisture evaporating out of the soil, but be careful to leave a gap around the stem or trunk of your fruit plant

  • In warm climates, keep your young plants out of the afternoon sun completely until the cooler months begin. In the morning sun, you will still need to use a 50% white shadecloth to protect your plants. For days that are over 35C you need to block the sun’s burning rays out with an umbrella or tarp all day - something that stops the light completely.

  • No fertilising on extra hot days

This is my list of fruit trees, bushes and vines that you could plant in January:

TREES

  • Banana

  • Citrus: lime, lemon

  • Figs

  • Finger Lime

  • Kiwifruit

  • Loquat

BUSHES

  • Cape Gooseberry

  • Cossack Pineapple

  • Lilly Pilly (I’m currently on the lookout for a blue variety!)

  • Midyim Berry (Australian native)

  • Muntries (Australian native berry)

VINES

  • Dragonfruit

  • Rockmelon (and other melons)

  • Watermelon

I love to hear about what people are growing in their backyard…please share in the comments what fruiting plants you currently have in your garden!

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