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Peter Allen starts with ...
I have had so much sucess growing Babaco up here in Olinda where it snows at least Once a year, that I had to make wine from the fruit. Being a permaculture designer we just made a suitable micoclimate and they have never looked back.
Note: it takes longer to ripen fruti so it is nessisary to have two leading branches down here.
I have had so much sucess growing Babaco up here in Olinda where it snows at least Once a year, that I had to make wine from the fruit. Being a permaculture designer we just made a suitable micoclimate and they have never looked back.
Note: it takes longer to ripen fruti so it is nessisary to have two leading branches down here.
| Pictures - Click to enlarge | ||
 Picture: 1 | ||
Peter Allen
Monbulk
26th June 2007
kath
Cawongla
26th June 2007
Correy
Woolloongabba
27th June 2007
Jan
Bundamba Qld.
29th June 2007
Correy says...
Hi Jan,
Daleys does sell the Babaco - Carica pentagona You will need to go to the Babaco Page and click email me when available and we will notify you as soon as they are ready.
They definitely look like a relative of the paw paw, they also do well in pots. All the fruits are seedless and the one I got from daleys is a grafted babaco.
Here are some links about the babaco you might like to look at
http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/fruit%20pages/babaco.htm
http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/plant/Babaco.htm
Hi Jan,
Daleys does sell the Babaco - Carica pentagona You will need to go to the Babaco Page and click email me when available and we will notify you as soon as they are ready.
They definitely look like a relative of the paw paw, they also do well in pots. All the fruits are seedless and the one I got from daleys is a grafted babaco.
Here are some links about the babaco you might like to look at
http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/fruit%20pages/babaco.htm
http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/plant/Babaco.htm
Correy
Woolloongabba
29th June 2007
Peter Allen says...
Hi to Kath, this Babaco gets full Eastern aspect as we are on the east of the Melb ranges, it would be OK to the north but North East is probably the best aspect, the west would be too hot.
to Jan, It is a Hybrid mountain pawpaw species, see "The complete book of fruit groing in Australia" by Loius Glowinski P: 277 this book is excellent for all sorts of fruit from all climates and is simple to read with good detail.
to Correy, It will flower and fruit in one season in the sub tropics but here it has flowers and green fruit in Summer/ Autumn then from Sept to Dec they ripen, while the next set start growing above this lot.
This means you dont get to cut down the tree to a stump for it to shoot again (if you do you lose a years fruit) so I run two branches and cut them alt years to get fruit every year.
Hi to Kath, this Babaco gets full Eastern aspect as we are on the east of the Melb ranges, it would be OK to the north but North East is probably the best aspect, the west would be too hot.
to Jan, It is a Hybrid mountain pawpaw species, see "The complete book of fruit groing in Australia" by Loius Glowinski P: 277 this book is excellent for all sorts of fruit from all climates and is simple to read with good detail.
to Correy, It will flower and fruit in one season in the sub tropics but here it has flowers and green fruit in Summer/ Autumn then from Sept to Dec they ripen, while the next set start growing above this lot.
This means you dont get to cut down the tree to a stump for it to shoot again (if you do you lose a years fruit) so I run two branches and cut them alt years to get fruit every year.
Peter Allen
30th June 2007
Correy
Woolloongabba
30th June 2007
Kath says...
"The babaco is thought to originate from a hybrid of two mountain or highland pawpaw species Carica pubescens and Carica stipulata, it has been cultivated in Ecuador since before the arrival of Europeans. Because there are only female babacos it does not produce seeds, it cannot be improved using conventional breeding techniques and it does not require cross pollination."
from Susanna Lyle's book - Discovering Fruit and Nuts.
Peter - We will be recommend a North eastern aspect to our southern customers for their babacos from now on.
"The babaco is thought to originate from a hybrid of two mountain or highland pawpaw species Carica pubescens and Carica stipulata, it has been cultivated in Ecuador since before the arrival of Europeans. Because there are only female babacos it does not produce seeds, it cannot be improved using conventional breeding techniques and it does not require cross pollination."
from Susanna Lyle's book - Discovering Fruit and Nuts.
Peter - We will be recommend a North eastern aspect to our southern customers for their babacos from now on.
Kath
Cawongla
2nd July 2007
Tran says...
Hi Peter,
I have a fruiting Babaco in pot and it is getting quite big for the pot. In winter I cover the root with plastic sheets and almost all the leaves dropped except the fruits. I wonder if yours (soo beautiful) are on the ground. If so, please tell me if a special location that I should follow. I have a book from Dr Loius Glowinski
Many thanks
Tran
Hi Peter,
I have a fruiting Babaco in pot and it is getting quite big for the pot. In winter I cover the root with plastic sheets and almost all the leaves dropped except the fruits. I wonder if yours (soo beautiful) are on the ground. If so, please tell me if a special location that I should follow. I have a book from Dr Loius Glowinski
Many thanks
Tran
Tran
Clayton
10th August 2007
Anonymous says...
Hi Tran mine are in built up beds made of bluestone to store heat and give good drainage ( we get snow here yearly so they are under lazer lite)they have lost all their leaves for now with big frosts and 2 days snow but they will recover well and ripen sept- dec here in Olinda.
if you wish to plant it out i suggest put it against the house or a wall and face east or Nth east so its protected from cold wind/rain and frost, it will like good drainage so wath if you have sticky clay in Clayton ( you may have to build it up) or buy a wine barrel, but hey if it fruits now your going OK already, the next thing is to cut it off so it shoots out again, this is why I keep 2 branches cos you sacrifice those green fruit before they ripen down our way. I have been told you can use the green fruit to cook with such as in a curry to replace green paw paw but i have not tried it yet as they look as interesting as a choko. hey also make lousy wine but a nice spirit.
cheers peter
PS Louis book is great and so is he.
Hi Tran mine are in built up beds made of bluestone to store heat and give good drainage ( we get snow here yearly so they are under lazer lite)they have lost all their leaves for now with big frosts and 2 days snow but they will recover well and ripen sept- dec here in Olinda.
if you wish to plant it out i suggest put it against the house or a wall and face east or Nth east so its protected from cold wind/rain and frost, it will like good drainage so wath if you have sticky clay in Clayton ( you may have to build it up) or buy a wine barrel, but hey if it fruits now your going OK already, the next thing is to cut it off so it shoots out again, this is why I keep 2 branches cos you sacrifice those green fruit before they ripen down our way. I have been told you can use the green fruit to cook with such as in a curry to replace green paw paw but i have not tried it yet as they look as interesting as a choko. hey also make lousy wine but a nice spirit.
cheers peter
PS Louis book is great and so is he.
Anonymous
Olinda
10th August 2007
Tran
Clayton
11th August 2007
Correy says...
Well I am proud to say I have tasted my first babaco. The first bite was nothing like I expected perhaps because I expected it to taste like a paw paw. It certainly isn't sweet however the cultured taste almost like a good glass of wine starts making a great impression on you.
If you give them a bit of a chill in the fridge before eating them they are amazing. There is a lot of juice in each one.
My babaco is nearing it's second year and has 3 babacos forming on it.... I can't wait.
Well I am proud to say I have tasted my first babaco. The first bite was nothing like I expected perhaps because I expected it to taste like a paw paw. It certainly isn't sweet however the cultured taste almost like a good glass of wine starts making a great impression on you.
If you give them a bit of a chill in the fridge before eating them they are amazing. There is a lot of juice in each one.
My babaco is nearing it's second year and has 3 babacos forming on it.... I can't wait.
Correy
Woolloongabba, QLD
27th October 2007
Anonymous says...
Hi Correy, yes there is a suprise if you thing you ae about to bite into a nice red pawpaw, the babaco has an acid taste ( like tamarillo) I suggest you eat it when it still has some green tinges on the edges and its quite firm, other wise we enjoy it teamed with the fleah of a mango as the compliment each other perfectly, just top & Tail the babaco and shove in the blender even with banana and some orange juice, we also freeze this mix for later in plastic cups. I have made wine , it smells like a fruit elexia cask wine but tastes very dry ( not my prefered style of wine) another one was wwe sent it to a freind who makes organic icecream and sorbets, the babaco's sharp aciddity is cut by the milk in icecream it's sensational.
why do you think I'm giving you recipes, well wait till next year we had so many fruit(even after 2 snows we ahd to make recipes)about 20-30 @ 1kg per plant.
they also freeze whole for later juicing.
so enjoy
peter
Hi Correy, yes there is a suprise if you thing you ae about to bite into a nice red pawpaw, the babaco has an acid taste ( like tamarillo) I suggest you eat it when it still has some green tinges on the edges and its quite firm, other wise we enjoy it teamed with the fleah of a mango as the compliment each other perfectly, just top & Tail the babaco and shove in the blender even with banana and some orange juice, we also freeze this mix for later in plastic cups. I have made wine , it smells like a fruit elexia cask wine but tastes very dry ( not my prefered style of wine) another one was wwe sent it to a freind who makes organic icecream and sorbets, the babaco's sharp aciddity is cut by the milk in icecream it's sensational.
why do you think I'm giving you recipes, well wait till next year we had so many fruit(even after 2 snows we ahd to make recipes)about 20-30 @ 1kg per plant.
they also freeze whole for later juicing.
so enjoy
peter
Anonymous
Olinda
27th October 2007
Banda Grey
Victoria
8th November 2007
Robbie
18th December 2007
Correy says...
Our Babaco has it rock bottom. Before we re-potted it the leaves were turning yellow and falling off then when we took it out of the pot we noticed that the root had a white fungus around it.
Now all the leaves have fallen off and we cut the top off it to see if it was dead. I have got 3 pictures for you to see?
Does anyone have any advise or knowledge about what has happened?
Our Babaco has it rock bottom. Before we re-potted it the leaves were turning yellow and falling off then when we took it out of the pot we noticed that the root had a white fungus around it.
Now all the leaves have fallen off and we cut the top off it to see if it was dead. I have got 3 pictures for you to see?
Does anyone have any advise or knowledge about what has happened?
| Pictures - Click to enlarge | ||
 Picture: 1 |  Picture: 2 |  Picture: 3 |
Correy
Woolloongabba, QLD
30th December 2007
Kath
Cawongla
7th January 2008
Correy
Woolloongabba, QLD
7th January 2008
Scott G says...
I grew (or rather tried to grow) a Babaco here on The Gold Coast and I failed. I didnt have it in a pot so I couldn't control its watering too much. At first I had it planted on a raised bed of normal soil (here clay loam) in full sun. It didn't like the heat and dropped its leaves. Then I replanted it under the bananas for some shade and cool. The soil there was damper and very high in organic matter. It began to recover then its roots rotted. I transplanted the side shoots in various places and some of them took root. Then we had a rainy period and they rotted too.
Correy: are you sure you are right when you said "the one I got from daleys is a grafted babaco"? Do you mean it is/was on a pawpaw rootstock?
A grafted babaco on a pawpaw rootstock might be the answer to my problems.
I grew (or rather tried to grow) a Babaco here on The Gold Coast and I failed. I didnt have it in a pot so I couldn't control its watering too much. At first I had it planted on a raised bed of normal soil (here clay loam) in full sun. It didn't like the heat and dropped its leaves. Then I replanted it under the bananas for some shade and cool. The soil there was damper and very high in organic matter. It began to recover then its roots rotted. I transplanted the side shoots in various places and some of them took root. Then we had a rainy period and they rotted too.
Correy: are you sure you are right when you said "the one I got from daleys is a grafted babaco"? Do you mean it is/was on a pawpaw rootstock?
A grafted babaco on a pawpaw rootstock might be the answer to my problems.
Scott G
Gold Coast
8th January 2008
Correy says...
Yes my babaco is grafted onto Papayuelo rootstock. If you have a look at these comments on the babaco page you will notice that drainage is number one priority.
It was my fault because when I first planted the babaco I was just starting out and didn't know the joys of selecting a good quality potting mix.
Now that it has been re-potted it looks like it is getting some great regrowth see picture 1.
Yes my babaco is grafted onto Papayuelo rootstock. If you have a look at these comments on the babaco page you will notice that drainage is number one priority.
It was my fault because when I first planted the babaco I was just starting out and didn't know the joys of selecting a good quality potting mix.
Now that it has been re-potted it looks like it is getting some great regrowth see picture 1.
| Pictures - Click to enlarge | ||
 Picture: 1 | ||
Correy
Woolloongabba, QLD
8th January 2008
Larry says...
Hi Correy,
What you have is root rot. When you have moist conditions with not much sunlight a white fungis appears. They will go up the minor cappileries in your root system and slowly kill your plant. Symptoms are leaves yellowing and/or lower leaves slowly dying and falling off. The only cure is to repot your plant with different potting mix and pot. If wish to reuse the original pot you will have to clean it with bleach. Prevention is always better than the cure, make sure you have excellent drainage at the base of your pot and don't over water in winter.
Hi Correy,
What you have is root rot. When you have moist conditions with not much sunlight a white fungis appears. They will go up the minor cappileries in your root system and slowly kill your plant. Symptoms are leaves yellowing and/or lower leaves slowly dying and falling off. The only cure is to repot your plant with different potting mix and pot. If wish to reuse the original pot you will have to clean it with bleach. Prevention is always better than the cure, make sure you have excellent drainage at the base of your pot and don't over water in winter.
Larry
perth
27th May 2008
Bill
Wantirna VIC
1st June 2008
juanita
melbourne
7th June 2008
Bill
Wantirna Sth VIC
10th June 2008
juanita
melbourne
11th June 2008
Bill
Wantirna Sth VIC
11th June 2008
Kate says...
hi there,
I have bought 2 babaco trees from daleys nursery. planted them both at the same time. One is near the fence protected by a gardenia tree and pepino bush and is doing nicely and has 2 tiny fuit on it and nearly a metre high. the other one though is about 6 foot away and is only half the size. It is more exposed though to the elements, does anyone have any ideas, does anyone companion plant?
hi there,
I have bought 2 babaco trees from daleys nursery. planted them both at the same time. One is near the fence protected by a gardenia tree and pepino bush and is doing nicely and has 2 tiny fuit on it and nearly a metre high. the other one though is about 6 foot away and is only half the size. It is more exposed though to the elements, does anyone have any ideas, does anyone companion plant?
Kate
Wollongong
18th June 2008
Jeff says...
I planted a Babaco tree from Daleys about 10 months ago. Since then it has grown from about 30cm to over 2 metres, and has heaps of fruit on it (about 20). However, for some reason, the fruit do not seem to be ripening. The largest ones have been sitting apparently dormant for about 4 months, with no change in size or colour. The tree is still growing and making more new fruit. Any ideas?
I planted a Babaco tree from Daleys about 10 months ago. Since then it has grown from about 30cm to over 2 metres, and has heaps of fruit on it (about 20). However, for some reason, the fruit do not seem to be ripening. The largest ones have been sitting apparently dormant for about 4 months, with no change in size or colour. The tree is still growing and making more new fruit. Any ideas?
Jeff
Brisbane
8th July 2008
Anonymous says...
Dont worry ... mine did the same. the fact is making more new growth and fruit is a good sign. It should ripen up in Spring.
Rich
www.happyearth.com.au
Dont worry ... mine did the same. the fact is making more new growth and fruit is a good sign. It should ripen up in Spring.
Rich
www.happyearth.com.au
Anonymous
Wollongong
8th July 2008
leanne
coffs harbour
26th August 2008
Anonymous
sydney
26th August 2008
Scott G
The Gold Coast
26th August 2008
leanne
28th August 2008
Peter the permie says...
Hi I sell all my fruit at the farmers markets here in melb from Sept to next aopril as they ripen , I dont get to eat any now as they all go ( annd so do the trees I propogate as its dead easy)
cheers peter
www.petethepermie.com
Hi I sell all my fruit at the farmers markets here in melb from Sept to next aopril as they ripen , I dont get to eat any now as they all go ( annd so do the trees I propogate as its dead easy)
cheers peter
www.petethepermie.com
Peter the permie
monbulk vic
30th August 2008
Manda
Perth/WA
31st August 2008
leanne
22nd September 2008
juanita
melbourne
23rd September 2008
clarence says...
Hi guys, I am trying to get my hands on a babaco plant since I first saw it in the Royal Botanical Gardens last week. I thought it was a paw paw tree but was really fascinated when I was told it was babaco. Does anyone have any cuttings to sell or know a nursery in Melbourne where these plants could be obtained ? Please email me at yapc@bigfoot.com if you could assist. Thank you for your assistance.
Hi guys, I am trying to get my hands on a babaco plant since I first saw it in the Royal Botanical Gardens last week. I thought it was a paw paw tree but was really fascinated when I was told it was babaco. Does anyone have any cuttings to sell or know a nursery in Melbourne where these plants could be obtained ? Please email me at yapc@bigfoot.com if you could assist. Thank you for your assistance.
clarence
Melbourne
7th October 2008
Jantina
7th October 2008
juanita
melbourne
8th October 2008