In the subtropics where we don't get the right chill hours you can still grow apples you just need the right varieties. I have chosen the Dwarf Dorsett Golden Apple Tree which is already fruiting in my first year since getting them from Daleys.
The Gulf Ruby Plum gave me fruit last year and looks like it won't disappoint this year. I noticed last year the fruit was on the trunk but this year it is on the branches. Perhaps it likes to fruit on new growth.
I have about many different varieties of blueberry plants for cross pollination. My favourite variety is misty for it's size but some other varieties are better in taste. My advise is don't just get one variety.
The Sugar Herb Stevia only has a limited lifespan but it is easy to uproot a portion of the main plant and then replant as I have done in my Black Sapotes pot. Stevia is sweet and has a strong minty aftertaste.
The panama berry has covered itself into flowers and the smell is overbearing when you are close to this plant. The flowers, fruit and leaves omit a fragrant smell. Best of all it has a long fruiting time except for winter.
My Florigon Mango Tree is grafted and wants to fruit straight away. By keeping this flower it will dwarf new growth and hamper the size of next years crop. Regardless I am going to try and get 1 mango from this baby mango tree.
My coffee plants which I am growing in pots have finished producing their red berries and are pushing some new growth as the weather heats up. I am expecting them to break into flower in summer.
Daleys Dwarf Black Mulberry Trees are the best tasting variety you will get. Far better tasting then the sometimes acidic tasting ones you find in parks throughout Brisbane
This Bowen Mango Flower has got a fungus from the rain we had in Brisbane a few months ago. My best course of action is to cut all the flowers and hope I get more flowers. Then spray them with copper spray and anthracnose spray
I haven't had too much luck with my Red Dragon Fruit cropping perhaps because I haven't chosen a sunny enough position but it is looking healthy. I have recently seen a few dragon fruit farms on the outskirts of Brisbane.
If you are in the city, have a small backyard or are renting then growing a mango tree in a pot could be just for you.
The first thing to do is choose a variety: Colder Climates (eg Victoria) - Mango R2E2 Seeding - More Hardy but takes longer to fruit - Mango Nam Doc Mai - Good cropper in cooler climates
Subtropical or Tropical Climates (eg Northern NSW and QLD) - Dwarf Irwin Mango Tree - Resistant to Black Spot - Glenn Mango Tree - Semi Dwarf Variety and My Mango Tree pictured It is also resistant to Black spot - R2E2 Grafted Mango Tree - We have all seen this variety in the supermarket and they are huge, non-stringy and taste great.
Choosing A Pot I would suggest getting one of similar size to the one in the picture. How it works is the smaller the pot the smaller your plant and the sooner it will flower. The bigger the pot the bigger your mango tree and the mango tree may take a bit longer to flower.
Growing Mango Trees in Cooler Climates Now is the best time to get your Mango Tree (Oct-Jan) Or I would suggest as soon as Spring breaks. The longer your mango tree has to establish and harden up the better. Ask your nursery to choose you one that is well established. That way when winter comes your mango tree is settled in. Working out ways to protect your mango tree from frosts while it is young will be your biggest challenge.
Potting Mix - The best quality you can afford.
Mulch - Lucerne is best but Sugar mulch will do to keep moisture in.
1st Year Flowering If you purchased a grafted variety your mango tree will want to flower straight away. You should cut all these flowers off and encourage new foliage to grow.
2nd Year Flowering The pictured mango is a second year mango tree grown in a pot and flowered profusely when Spring broke. There is no way that all the flowers will turn into mango's so I would cut half the flowers off and encourage new growth and the other half perhaps thin out leaving a maximum of 3 flower heads which could produce 5 mango's in the 2nd year.
3rd Year Flowering Your mango tree should be well established by now and you can be the judge.
Pruning your Mango Tree Because it is in a pot it's growth will be bonsaied even if you chose a variety that could normally grow very tall. Nevertheless I am a huge fan of pruning fruit trees because when you prune the tips instead of growing upwards which it does so instinctively it will start bushing out which is what you want.
Fertiliser and Watering When Spring comes on you should start applying the fertiliser and when the fruit starts forming you should give it some water. If possible avoid watering in the late afternoon due to the water sitting on the leaves and developing a fungus.
Summary Mango's have come a long way since the old Bowen's became a huge favourite for Australians upcoming varieties such as the Irwin and Glenn can be grown with much less damage from fungal diseases which required you to be attentive come early spring with your spraying regime. Mango Trees grow very well in pots and allow you to position them to get the Sun in Spring and protection from frosts in Winter.
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f you are in the city, have a small backyard or are renting then growing a mango tree in a pot could be just for you.
1st Year Flowering