Feijoa fruit problems (forum)

talita starts with ...
We have two feijoa trees both fruited for the first time this year, they are approximately 3 years old. We have had a lot of fruit from both trees, but they have fallen unripe from the trees and are brownish inside. Some that have been close to ripe are quite dry inside and do not have the soft jelly consistency I think they should have. As from the photos you can see that we have some sort of bug problem as well? Any ideas on what might be causing the is?? Thanks!
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Time: 21st April 2013 2:32pm

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Original Post was last edited: 21st April 2013 2:33pm

About the Author talita
 
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David says...
Hi, The problem is Fruit Fly.You have picked a fruit that would have to be the best fruit fly magnet in the world (or close to it)Dont know where you live but would suggest netting completely to protect the fruit ,this is the only way to ensure good fruit.

Time: 21st April 2013 3:51pm

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About the Author David
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gus says...
You should try covering the fruit with the little organza bags you can get on ebay which will keep the critters away. I have read recently that feijoa are best picked hard then left to soften for a couple of weeks. So far I don't have fruit fly, but I have had similair problems with the fruit rotting from the inside, so am experimenting myself. I also suspect that feijoa like a nice cool autumn to jelly up, but will see how mine turn out after a maturing period

Time: 22nd April 2013 11:25am

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About the Author gus
karrinyup
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Michael D says...
Organz bags still allows the fruit flies to sting the fruits if it touches the bag. A better product is wax bags . I used both on my guava tree and the wax bags are way better .They are pretty cheap to buy from green harvest website.

Time: 22nd April 2013 12:27pm

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About the Author Michael D
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VF says...
How do the wax bags hold up to rain?

Time: 22nd April 2013 3:41pm

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About the Author VF
Wongawallan
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Michael D says...
They hold up really well as they are wax coated . I've been using them for three seasons now on my persimmons,mangoes ,guavas and nashi pears . The only minor draw back is that sometime it get's pretty humid inside the bag and the fruit would rot but it's a very small % and I'll take that anyday over my fruits getting stung by FF.

http://greenharvest.com.au/PestControlOrganic/ExclusionProducts.html#FruitProtectionBags


Time: 23rd April 2013 1:24pm

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About the Author Michael D
wakeley
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talita says...
Thank you David, Gus & Michael for your speedy, helpful responses. I will definitely give this a go Netting would be easier, but will try the wax bags on a few as well. We are located in Sydney, the trees actually started to fruit in February and they really haven't had enough cool weather - so I am hoping that you are right Gus and that is all it needs and hopefully not all of the fruit falls before it gets cold enough! Funny that you mention picking the fruit before they are ripe and leaving them to mature off the tree, I had read that they do not ripen off the tree and are only ripe once they fall from the tree? Anyway I will try this option as well.

Time: 23rd April 2013 6:39pm

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About the Author talita
 
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gus says...
Hey Michael, was wondering if you use the little individual bags or a big tree covering bag?
I have also had problems with feijoa turning brown from the inside out and assumed it was more about climate as I expected you would see fruit fly if they were around? I now suspect they have been ruining my fruit for the last few years without me seeing one of the little buggers.

Time: 5th May 2013 12:36pm

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About the Author gus
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