- I bought and planted a hazelnut tree last year. Do I plant another one for pollination?
- Can gardenia be grown in a pot in the shade? How much should I water it?
Q. I bought and planted a hazelnut tree last year. Do I plant another one for pollination?
Hazelnuts are monoecious, meaning the tree has separate male and female flowers. The flowers may
bloom at different times. Time of bloom for male and female flowers is important for receptivity of the
female flowers’ pollen set. This makes them self incompatible and a tree cannot set nuts with its own
pollination. At least one other tree is need for pollination to occur.
Certain varieties of hazelnut are compatible with other varieties for good pollination. The variety of hazelnut you have is important to know as different varieties have been shown to have greater or lesser compatibility based on blight resistance, microclimate where the trees are planted, soil type, and availability of water. Reading about and contacting the following sources will help you with specific information in choosing a compatible hazelnut tree with the one you are growing.
Sources
http://www.growinghazelnuts.com/our-nursery/understanding-compatibility
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9074-growing-hazelnuts-pacific-northwest-
pollination-nut-development
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agriservice-bc/production-
guides/hazelnuts
Q. Can gardenia be grown in a pot in the shade? How much should I water it?
Gardenia jasminoides (zones 8-11) is a tender sub shrub grown as houseplants in our area. Growing
them in pots can be successful by meeting the needs of these beautifully fragrant plants. They need a
pot only slightly bigger (2.5-5 cm.) and not much deeper than the one they are purchased in using acidic
potting soil that is slightly below PH 7.
They require moisture with regular watering but hate to be waterlogged. Using water such as we have in Victoria is ideal but if your water is hard use saved rainwater. The minerals in hard water (high PH) affect acidic sensitive plants like gardenia. Regular watering and covering the soil with mulch helps the plant maintain water. Wait until the soil surface is only slightly damp before watering again, then water thoroughly. How much water the plant uses is based on how big the plant is and how warm the temperatures are.
These plants best like to be in a warm protected site out of hot sunlight with morning sun and dappled afternoon shade. The temperature gardenias prefer is from 21C to 24C during the day. They can tolerate night time temperature 15-18C. The blooming period is from late spring to early summer, depending on the variety. Some bloom sporadically over the summer. Buds are set for the following year in summer and
early fall so any pruning should be done right after the first spring bloom is finished. Remove straggly
branches and faded flowers. When night temperatures drop below 16C the pot can be brought inside.
Gardenias are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and will drop buds if extreme changes occur.
When it is time to bring the pot out of the house for the spring do it gradually. Wait until the daytime
temperature is adequate then place the pot in a sheltered shady site, bringing it in at night if the temperature dips. Do this for two weeks then add morning sun and afternoon shade to the site where it
is placed, bringing the pot indoors until night temperatures are up to 16C. This will acclimatize the plant
gradually to being outdoors.
Fertilize gardenia with a fertilizer suitable for azaleas and rhododendrons from March to August. When the plant is brought into a house or greenhouse in the fall provide brightlight, adequate watering and humidity by placing a moist gravel tray under the pot.
Problems include powdery mildew, leaf spots, dieback, anthracnose, sooty mold, whiteflies, mealy bugs,
scales, aphids and spider mites. Hard water, lack of iron or too alkaline soil will produce yellow leaves
(chlorosis). Temperatures below 15C can produce malformed buds.
Sources
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/gardenia
https://www.monrovia.com/shop/by-
collection/gardenias.html?srsltid=AfmBOorr4RPlPtQ1KYl1nR2nYkW4I57zqp_4NiZob40WMnLcN8hFxS-g
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b555