135 responses
| About the Author viscomini sw Sydney 2nd November 2010 7:24pm #UserID: 4502 Posts: |
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| About the Author BJ Brisbane 2nd November 2010 7:51pm #UserID: 3270 Posts: View All BJ's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author John Mc 3rd November 2010 3:08pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author BJ Brisbane 3rd November 2010 4:05pm #UserID: 3270 Posts: View All BJ's Edible Fruit Trees |
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viscomini says... these berries contain the highest level of antioxidants and help to reduce cholestrol, weight and general wellbeing. i have been eating acai berrie which have very similar elements and it has made a world of difference, looks like ill be stoppin at bunnies tomorrow LOL my guys at work used to eat them as kids in chile and said they are really tasty also, can't wait! | About the Author viscomini sw sydney 3rd November 2010 8:14pm #UserID: 4502 Posts: |
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viscomini says... hi all, picked up the maqui plants from bunnies yesterday, does anyone know how wide these grow and how long before i might expect some fruit, it says around 3-5mtrs can i expect that in circumfrence also? any ways its in the ground with plenty room to grow, now on the look out for acai berry palm. thanks for all the help. cheers wayne | About the Author viscomini sw sydney 7th November 2010 1:04pm #UserID: 4502 Posts: |
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| About the Author Violet_Cactus Melbourne 15th November 2010 9:29pm #UserID: 516 Posts: View All Violet_Cactus's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author denise auckland nz 19th November 2010 7:43am #UserID: 1929 Posts: |
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| About the Author Rob Portland Vic 20th November 2010 7:10pm #UserID: 4570 Posts: |
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Jacksprat says... I bought one at Bunnings Coffs Harbour only to find when I investigated that the Maqui Berry is dioecious. 'Dioecious refers to a plant population having separate male and female plants. That is, no individual plant of the population produces both microgametophytes (pollen) and megagametophytes (ovules); individual plants are either male or female.' Wikipedia This is not spelled out on the label which just says two or three plants will supply a family. You cannot be sure you have a male or female plant especially as these plants look to be bred from cuttings, perhaps all off a female tree? Who would know? | About the Author Jacksprat MN Coast NSW 21st November 2010 6:49am #UserID: 4573 Posts: |
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John Mc says... Hi Jacksprat, There are dioecious fruit trees that produce fruit without a pollinator, they just don't produce any seeds. I don't think they are cuttings, IMHO. I bought three plants, and have half a dozen cuttings under propagation. See what happens. The growth is very fast, they're over 1800mm tall already. I'm going to cut the tops off to get them to branch out. | About the Author John Mc 21st November 2010 8:56pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Violet_Cactus Melbourne 21st November 2010 11:22pm #UserID: 516 Posts: View All Violet_Cactus's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author fruitist Brisbane 25th November 2010 12:10pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author BJ Brisbane 25th November 2010 8:17pm #UserID: 3270 Posts: View All BJ's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author fruitist 26th November 2010 8:09am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 26th November 2010 11:55pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Jiri Brisbane 18th December 2010 11:37pm #UserID: 4674 Posts: |
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| About the Author denise auckland nz 19th December 2010 7:10am #UserID: 1929 Posts: |
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John Mc says... The label suggests you buy more than one. The plants may be Pathenocarpic, that's OK providing you have female plants. Pathenocarpic is the ability to set fruit without pollination. I have some heal cuttings under propogation from some secondary branching. Can't see any reason why they shouldn't strike. (famous last words lol). | About the Author John Mc 19th December 2010 7:47pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author BJ Brisbane 24th December 2010 11:23pm #UserID: 3270 Posts: View All BJ's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author fruitist 27th December 2010 9:06am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 27th December 2010 10:17am #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Merilyn says... Both the Bunnings stores in Townsville have the Maqui trees $29.95, but the plants in Fairfield Central are in better shape. I bought a tree (3rd attempt)last night, and already the leaves are a little wilted and the stem is not as secure as it was in the pot. I bought a 4th tree tonight and this will be my final attempt for a while.My first two trees shrivelled up and dropped their leaves. Bunning have a policy that you can take the tree back if it dies within 3 months, so I did and that funded the 3rd tree and a couple of hibiscuses. I have read on the internet that it comes from the temperate rainforests of Chile and Patagonia and I am thinking that even in the shade, Townsville is just too hot for this tree. I am interested to know if anyone else has had success with Maqui in the tropics - and yes it wet season at present and raining a few times a week, so it is not a drought factor. Maybe the soil is too warm and wet and root fungal attacks are happening. I am going to use a lot of sandy mix with our clayish soil. We have many other fruit trees, but I am close to giving up on the Maqui. On the other hand, a nearly dead pecan nut has been resurrected and sprouting even above the graft. | About the Author Merilyn Townsville 12th January 2011 9:45pm #UserID: 4775 Posts: |
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fruitist says... The tree I bought from Bunnings is doing well under shade cloth in Brisbane weather. No wilted leaves. I don't think wet root is an issue as my pot is sitting in a 1 inch deep permanent water channel for the last 4 weeks due to constant rains and a smaller pot sitting on top. It is still doing really well. May be the humidity? May be your tree is smaller than mine? Mine is 5 ft tall and there were 3 other trees half as tall. | About the Author fruitist 13th January 2011 8:49pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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Merilyn says... Dear Fruitist, Now I am really confused, as you say yours is standing in water. We have major trouble with the leaves wilting at first and then showing signs of nutrient deficieny or water logging? (yellowing and green along the veins), then leaf drop, then black marks on the stem; when the black marks on the stem join and cover most of the stem, the stem appears slightly wrinked and black the plant is almost dead. This process has happened a couple of times; I had it sorted in my mind that it was too wet in the heat (temp range here at present 26 - 31 degrees celcius) in the tropics. I noticed that the trees were under light shade cloth at Bunnings, so our trees are in some shade at home. The first two trees were 4 - 5 ft and these 3rd and 4th trees are about 4 ft. The insects have taken their toll and had a merry time eating the new shoots in store and at home. Anyway, the fact that you can grow maqui in Brisbane has given me hope. I lived in Brisbane for 30 years and remember the '74 floods. I lived in Mount Gravatt. | About the Author Merilyn Townsville 18th January 2011 12:58am #UserID: 4775 Posts: |
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fruitist says... After reading your post, I went out to lift my pot off the trench which has 1cm of water. I now notice that there are some black marks on a 3 inch section around the half way mark of the stem. Nelow the black mark section, 3 leaves are dying. Above the black marks, there are 10 branches, all the leaves are healthy. Brisbane has the same range of temperature as TV but not as humid. Mine is under 85% shade cloth. I think it deosn't like wet roots and hot humid temperature given that a few have died in your place. I assume those died were planted out in your garden and not in pots? | About the Author fruitist 18th January 2011 9:33am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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Ryan says... Oh,very interesting!! I'm in central Qld and brought 6 plants from Bunnings. The last 4 I got dirt cheap as they too were looking a bit worse for wear. I've been giving them lots of love, some in full sun, some filtered light, some in pots some in the ground, but all looking very shabby :(... (black mould around stem)! Is there a solution to this?? P.S. Where can I buy a mangosteen plant? | About the Author Ryan 1770 19th January 2011 10:26pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 19th January 2011 11:12pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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BJ says... Mine are interesting. They grow well when we have rain and cloud cover, but the sun burns back quite a bit of the new growth. My yard is pretty heavy, but on the crest of a hill, they dont really have many drainage problems. One was almost completely defoliated in the wind we had the other day, but it and the one next to it both have heaps of buds and new growth. So the tree doesnt seem to dislike it here, but the foliage appears to be a bit tender. Either way, I dont think I'll put up with it for a great deal longer. I guess we should just stick to Amazonian stuff and forego the Patagonian ones... | About the Author BJ Brisbane 20th January 2011 8:54am #UserID: 3270 Posts: View All BJ's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author JW Michigan 7th February 2011 4:00am #UserID: 4899 Posts: |
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Maqui Lover says... Hi, I am from Chile and in the region where Maqui Trees grows, these tree is very tought and does not need too much soil as in natural habitat can grow in rocks, lava rock as long there is space for roots, best place is next to other bush trees to hide the direct sun as it will grow faster fighting for sun light, in south of chile rain a lot so water is well accepted by the tree, you can find this trees in shalow river beds, actually every where, a 3 meter tree will with branches can holds about two kilos of berry, and hope this plants sold in bunnings are the top berry found in chile as some trees give tyny berry and other are just the right size, I use to collect this berries when i was little enjoyed so much eating them they r so sweet and juicy... they do stain a lot with purple color, you can make strong "CHICHA" wich is like a wine, I bought 4 from bunnings in nov and already 1 meter long, good luck | About the Author Maqui Lover Sydney 7th February 2011 11:54pm #UserID: 4908 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jantina Mt Gambier 8th February 2011 10:29am #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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John Mc says... Thank you also Maqui Lover. I've been doing some research on the Maqui berry climate. A few people here have had some trouble with them recently. One of mine had all it's leaves burnt in the hot weather we had last week. So plenty of water and grow in the shade will help. I was luckily enough to be in Bunnies last week when they were selling the last of them out for $5 ea. They didn't look real good but I could see buds swelling on the main trunk so all should be good. I bought the last eight which brings the total Maqui tree count for me to 12. | About the Author John Mc 8th February 2011 12:00pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Maqui Lover says... Just take all leaves that will not survive even the one that are half grown.... do not be afraid of watering litres and litres of water... do not place then near eucaliptus, pine or other strong oily trees, best neightbours are Cherries, blackberry, flowers trees... In chile to get the best berries was always dangerous as they grow in reef near the rivers, and you have to fight the blackberries spiny branches... after eating the berries ofcourse.. yummie... Loroketes will lve these trees the berries are green and will change in colours to purples giving all shades of colours strong yellows and reds... | About the Author Maqui Lover Sydney 8th February 2011 10:28pm #UserID: 4908 Posts: |
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fruitist says... Thanks Maqui Lover for your valuable info. I have some questions below. 1) Do you know if the trees are dioecious, that is separate male and female trees? Have you seen some trees in your home land not bearing fruits at all? 2) Have anyone in your country grown these trees from cuttings? | About the Author fruitist 10th February 2011 8:21pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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fruitist says... I just found a page that show Marqui Berry being grown by cuttings. See below http://www.velocity4u.com/NewMaqui/images/chile/day-03/IMG00103-20100126-1708.jpg Hi John Mc, I think you have the biggest Maqui Berry plantation in Australia at the moment. | About the Author fruitist 11th February 2011 12:00pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author fruitist 11th February 2011 12:06pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jantina Mt Gambier 11th February 2011 11:26pm #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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Maqui Lover says... Hi Jantina, Yes to both.. they grow in amazing places... near rivers, inside the river, sunny spots in rain forest, and the edges hanging on the cliff.. see picture whre I grow up, Pilmaiquen 10th Region of Chile, rocks.. the annual rain is over 1500 to over 3000mm, that will give you and idea how much water they like... temperature -5 to 30 degrees and heavy winds..
| About the Author Maqui Lover sydney 15th February 2011 12:27am #UserID: 4908 Posts: |
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John Mc says... Hi Maqui Lover, You definately can't beat local knowledge that's for sure. Your knowledge on Maqui trees is, I'm sure, what everyone is hanging off, thank you very much. I'm relocating some of my plants to boggier/wetter areas. Three of the four plants I bought several months ago came through the week of >40ºC unscathed. The only one to loose all it's leaves I'm sure, will bounce back in the cooler conditions. | About the Author John Mc 15th February 2011 9:32am #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Jantina Mt Gambier 15th February 2011 10:17am #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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| About the Author 49rabbit 23rd February 2011 5:40am #UserID: 4978 Posts: |
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Jantina says... Maqui Lover, thanks for the info but to repeat fruitists question above, do you know their pollination requirements? That would be very helpful. 49rabbit, where is southeastern N.C.? if it's out of Australia I can't tell you where to get one, but if you're in Oz try ringing Bunnings to see if they can get you one. If you have no luck get back to me and I can send you a cutting. | About the Author Jantina Mt Gambier 23rd February 2011 10:14am #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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| About the Author BJ Brisbane 23rd February 2011 1:50pm #UserID: 3270 Posts: View All BJ's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author snottiegobble Bunbury/Busso (smack in the middle) 23rd February 2011 3:28pm #UserID: 3468 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jantina 23rd February 2011 4:02pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jason Portland 24th February 2011 10:11pm #UserID: 637 Posts: |
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| About the Author fisgard Fitzgibbon 24th March 2011 5:06pm #UserID: 5097 Posts: |
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BJ says... Less Clay, less sun. I expect mine to come back to life now that summer is coming to a gradual close. They are pushing a lot of new growth, but the wind and sun have made them very unappealing things to have in my yard. I'm either going to transplant them to a shadier area, or put out a notice for adoption and give them to someone who has a nice shady spot for them... | About the Author BJ Brisbane 24th March 2011 5:50pm #UserID: 3270 Posts: View All BJ's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Jason says... Hey Jantina I had a proper look at my cuttings tonight and they have all rooted. So that was pretty easy and didn't take long at all. No magic juice, powder or even heat and it was still fast. I might give them say 2 more weeks in pots, then I'll plant one in it's final position in the ground and see if they can grow over Winter in 13c maximums | About the Author Jason Portland 24th March 2011 7:29pm #UserID: 637 Posts: |
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| About the Author Chrisc Melbourne 31st March 2011 7:32pm #UserID: 5130 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jantina Mt Gambier 1st April 2011 10:50am #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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| About the Author Don Philippines 1st April 2011 4:22pm #UserID: 5137 Posts: |
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Chrisc says... Jantina, I drove out to Melton Bunnings after seeing your post, no-one in the garden section knew about the plant. I will give Bunning a call to see if they can locate from another site. If all fails I'll take up your offer for a cutting if available. Also Denise from NZ mentioned buying seeds from chileflora, does anyone know if its ok to buy seeds from overseas? | About the Author Chrisc Melbourne 1st April 2011 6:24pm #UserID: 5139 Posts: |
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| About the Author Chrisc Melbourne 2nd April 2011 12:07pm #UserID: 5130 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 2nd April 2011 12:28pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Jason Portland 2nd April 2011 8:04pm #UserID: 637 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jantina Mt Gambier 2nd April 2011 10:20pm #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jason Portland 3rd April 2011 9:38am #UserID: 637 Posts: |
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Jantina says... Chokos flower about now, there are buds on ours. Was just saying to Geoff this morning, looks like the figs won't ripen this year. Just as well I put stockings on the first crop or we would have missed out altogether. A friend just introduced us to a new mushroom (new to us that is)that grows wild around here. We had them fried in a little butter for breakfast. Delicious. Next time I'll try it with e bit of garlic. Apparently they stain your urine yellow for a day or two. Are you familiar with them? | About the Author Jantina Mt Gambier 3rd April 2011 10:29am #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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snottiegobble says... I expected my choko to produce all summer, but it seemed to suffer in the heat. its just started to kick on now but is it too late for fruit? Found a baby fig in my vegie patch so will pot it up winter & see what happens. The mushroom sounds interesting & I wonder if eating lots of beetroot as well would produce orange urine!:) | About the Author snottiegobble Bunbury/Busso ( smack in the middle) 3rd April 2011 11:38am #UserID: 3468 Posts: |
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Jantina says... Now is about the time they set fruit here snottie, probably over there too, Lorna could tell us but she hasn't posted for ages. The mushroom is interesting, it's a champagne glass shape and a palish brick colour, they grow near pine trees here (of which of course there is more than an abundance of here). They remain firm when cooked which makes them great for a stir fry. Hubby said it was like eating a steak. As for the beetroot, a decent quantity produces pink/red urine and I know of at least one person who fronted up to A&E thinking their bladder was bleeding. Are you still wanting the Pondeteria ? | About the Author Jantina Mt Gambier 3rd April 2011 1:02pm #UserID: 1351 Posts: |
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| About the Author snottiegobble Bunbury/Busso ( smack in the middle) 4th April 2011 5:24pm #UserID: 3468 Posts: |
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| About the Author denise auckland nz 7th April 2011 9:56am #UserID: 1929 Posts: |
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| About the Author denise auckland nz 7th April 2011 9:56am #UserID: 1929 Posts: |
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Fisgard says... I took the matter of clay to heart and walzted up to Bunnings and bought a clay break down preperation called GROUNDBREAKER on the advice of a very helpful employee of mediteranian (?) origin.Since then there has been very little sun and lots of rain.I will keep you posted on the Maqui runts! | About the Author Fisgard 8th April 2011 4:18pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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Laura says... I just bought a Maqui berry. Anyone know if they grow well in a pot? The woman at Bunnings said if citrus does, the Maqui berry should (not sure of the logic there). Also, when do they flower and when can I expect to eat them? Spring flower, summer fruit? How wide/bushy will it get (which may help me decide whether to keep it in a pot or not)? | About the Author Laura Sydney 12th April 2011 5:02pm #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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| About the Author Laura Sydney 12th April 2011 5:26pm #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 12th April 2011 8:55pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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V.McCallum says... Cuttings. Good damp potting mix in 6-8 inch pot (& deep). I placed a side stem taken from the main stem into this pot. Enclosed the pot in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high. Need a support system to keep the bag like a tent. ie four sticks/wire cage. (can just wrap glad-wrap around these sticks & i allowed 2inches above the pot rim open). I wired the sticks to stich to the pot. Put pot on window sill inside. It got strong shaded light and the temp got about 20-23 celius during the day. Took one month to develop roots. Growth will show about then. The surface inside the bag will mist abit, good sign that the humidity is working. Another cutting was NOT sucessful outside the humidity bag. A large cutting will see up to 70% of the leaves drop from the stem, so don't be alarm. The roots are quite fine. Be careful that the new growth is not burnt by direct sun, as the cuttings take. The new growth will start of with small leaves. After six weeks, i've removed the plastic bag/glad-wrap, placed out side to adopt, gradually alowing more direct sun. Then tip upside down to transfer to whole setup, soil & plant, to ground/large pot. Plant reponses well to feeding. Image, Cutting on pot/left had to be re-rooted as i snapped it of the (front) plant in pot/right (accident). Two cuttings in right pot. Front one bushy now (minus the main stem)
| About the Author V.McCallum Auckland, NZ. 13th April 2011 9:15pm #UserID: 5183 Posts: |
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| About the Author murray new lambton heights 14th April 2011 8:47pm #UserID: 3311 Posts: View All murray's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Laura Sydney 15th April 2011 7:28am #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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Jason says... I put the cuttings I got from Jantina in a pot with a bag over it in late Summer in the shade, just like normal for any cutting like this. I watered them once then didn't water them or even acknowledge their existence for 3-4 weeks and then they had good enough roots to be planted out. Autumn in Sydney would probably still have enough heat for them to grow roots I'd say? | About the Author Jason Portland 15th April 2011 3:07pm #UserID: 637 Posts: |
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V. McCallum says... Maqui berry is a small evergreen tree which reaches a height of up to 4m. The dark green leaves are opposite and oval. The flowers are unisexual, green colored and large. The purple maqui berry fruits are 4 to 6 mm in diameter, and contain 4 to 8 angular seeds. The Maqui is a purple berry that grows wild on trees in Chile, South America only. Their range of growth is finite and starts as far north as Santiago, Chile and stretches down into the southern region of Patagonia. The Maqui berry grows on trees that are very picky about where they grow and require unique climate conditions to thrive that consist of dry, more arid weather conditions and peculiar acidic soil conditions. (Probabily do well in NZ, so shade may be necessary in hotter/dry areas Austr. Hear they grow in Spain) Maqui berry is a plant of the Elaeocarpaceae family that grows in Chile and Argentina. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdivian_temperate_rainforest Scientifically known as "Aristotelia chilensis", (Google this Latin name for better info, if you google "Maqui Berry", results will be commerical pills/powder etc). Plants in NZ are $70, prob first time here, so cost will drop, hence thats why i've got backup (cuttings). Reponse well to feeding. (add good compost to soil before planting) ?. | About the Author V. McCallum Auckland, NZ. 15th April 2011 8:05pm #UserID: 5183 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jason Portland 15th April 2011 8:39pm #UserID: 637 Posts: |
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| About the Author 49rabbit NORTH AMERICA I live in NORTH CAROLIMA 20th April 2011 11:58pm #UserID: 4978 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 21st April 2011 5:19pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Laura Sydney 23rd April 2011 1:39pm #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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John Mc says... I don't have any experience with these Laura. This is my first year. I planted more than a dozen plants around the property in as many different conditions as I could. The ones doing the best are in my old vegi garden with heaps of mulch probably slightly acidic. The ones I planted in the creek bed surprisingly arn't doing that good at all. | About the Author John Mc 23rd April 2011 7:38pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Phil@Tyalgum says... I don't think the person who designed the Maqui berry site spoke English as a first language http://www.ultimatemaquiberrysite.com/menu/about_maqui_berry/ | About the Author Phil@Tyalgum Murwillumbah 23rd April 2011 9:09pm #UserID: 960 Posts: View All Phil@Tyalgum's Edible Fruit Trees |
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V.McCallum says... The ones doing the best are in my old vegi garden with heaps of Mulch probably Slightly Acidic. YES John Mc, thats what they say. You should place mulch around the others. Phil... They export 44 gal drums of Maqui powder from Chile, Health companies or indivials can then bottle this powder into pills to sell to us westerners. Then bombard us with info that suddenly our life will turn to bliss if we take this massive mark-up marketing into our stomach. Hence the long wind-ed wedsite link you placed above goes on & on. Sometimes health issues can be improved by addressing bad eating habits & increasing exercise. | About the Author V.McCallum Auckland, N.Z. 27th April 2011 5:04pm #UserID: 5183 Posts: |
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| About the Author Bev Beenleigh 9th May 2011 9:42pm #UserID: 5278 Posts: |
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fruitist says... Hi John Mc, grower of the largest collection of Macqui Berry in Oz land, have you discovered more trees flowering besides your first one? This morning I found that all 3 trees of mine (BJ, please take note) have little buds at the leaf nodes. Are these flower buds or more leaves. If possible, can you please take a picture of your flowers showing where the flowers are attached to the branches. | About the Author fruitist Brisbane 15th June 2011 10:07am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author fruitist Brisbane 15th June 2011 11:28am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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fruitist says... Just checked my Ceylon Olive flowers which are masses on the tree. One main branch just snapped 2 weeks ago due to the weight (may be). Most flower clusters come out from leaf axils. The clusters can appear from stems. See the pictures. Ceylon Olive is in the same family as Maqui Berry,
| About the Author fruitist 15th June 2011 11:40am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author Sarah Adelaide 15th June 2011 10:36pm #UserID: 4696 Posts: View All Sarah's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Wayne Mackay QLD 16th June 2011 6:56am #UserID: 338 Posts: View All Wayne's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author fruitist 16th June 2011 7:48am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author BJ Brisbane 16th June 2011 9:21am #UserID: 3270 Posts: View All BJ's Edible Fruit Trees |
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fruitist says... Will do cuttings once the trees are bigger and you are welcome to some. Still haven't chosen a place for yet to put them in. Main consideration is findung a spot where the nasties like birds and bats won't get the fruits. Sarah, Maqui Berry May flowering is in South America. Here in Oz, may be different and trees in general can flower earlier or later depending on local conditions. I have many a times going out at night time with a torch to talk to my trees. | About the Author fruitist 16th June 2011 9:42am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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Laura says... My tree looks so happy with new leaves on the end of every branch but not a single flower (yet). Looks like John Mc is the lucky one. It's pretty normal for plants to skip a year after a transplant so I'm not toooooo worried (just very anxious). I am reassured that people in this thread say the tree loves water since I live in Sydney and there appears to be no end to this rain. What is going on???? | About the Author Laura Sydney 16th June 2011 12:00pm #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 17th June 2011 10:29pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author fruitist 18th June 2011 11:17am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 18th June 2011 1:25pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Laura Sydney 22nd June 2011 9:24pm #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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| About the Author murray new lambton heights 26th June 2011 9:05pm #UserID: 3311 Posts: View All murray's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author denise 2nd July 2011 12:29pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author murray 2nd July 2011 1:45pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author denise 6th July 2011 6:31pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author sylvia Wyong Central Coast 4th August 2011 4:19am #UserID: 5611 Posts: |
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Laura says... Sylvia, good idea. I have just started collecting organic coffee grounds from my local Bunnings (a local initiative but a good one - go and bug your local shop to get some). I'm trialling it in one pot plant and on a couple of beds to see the results. I don't want to experiment on my maqui berry yet - but if my results on other plants look good, I will. Or if one of you says it's doing amazing things, my maqui tree might move up the list of my trials. | About the Author Laura Sydney 4th August 2011 12:34pm #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc 4th August 2011 6:42pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Laura Sydney 14th August 2011 7:23am #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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Brendan says... Hi Laura, Check out this site for 'Rooterpot'. Much simpler way to air-layer :-) http://www.nutri-tech.com.au/products/misc-products/the-rooterpot.html | About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 14th August 2011 8:06am #UserID: 1947 Posts: |
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Tania says... I got a a Maqui (mock-ee)plant from my local Bunnings about 8 months ago was looking a bit sick at the time. It now has little berrys starting to form we cant wait to try them. Ours is growing in an Earth Box. We still get however a few leaves that turn a bit brownish and not sure why this is happenning. Any information Re this would help. All new growth looks lush. thanks | About the Author Tania Blacktown 15th September 2011 3:47pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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John Mc says... @ Laura, Sorry I missed your post last month. That pic is the result of an airlayer that worked. I just rolled some cocopeat around the stem with some plastic sheet like a plastic bread bag or similar and sealed both ends as best I could to keep the moisture in. I found those rubber bands Daley's tie their plants up for transporting work well. Before I covered the stem, I cut away all the bark around the stem for about an inch long. Wait till you see the roots through the plastic then, hey presto, you have a new plant. | About the Author John Mc Warnervale NSW 15th September 2011 4:43pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Laura says... @John Mc, Can it really be that easy? I'm definitely going to try it - next year. My tree is budding with new leaves everywhere right now and I'm not about to rock the boat. Plus it's still a tiny little thing and I don't want to stunt it. Do you know which season works best for airlayering (or propagation from cutting) of Maqui berry trees? | About the Author Laura Sydney 18th September 2011 11:12am #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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John Mc says... Summer and Autumn would be good. I did mine late last autumn and the little plant is now flowering. I aimed at a branch that was going to be cut off anyway, it was low and growing out at an angle that didn't suit me. All my seedling trees I bought from Bunnies are getting very spindly, I'll wait till the flowering is over and I'll air layer all the long branches that I will be pruned anyway. They might be all male flowers yet, so we'll have to wait and see, short of pulling one apart and putting it under the microscope, they're very small. Here's a couple of pics of the Maqui berry starting to flower, including the airlayer in flower.
| About the Author John Mc Warnervale NSW 18th September 2011 6:04pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Laura says... John Mc, Is Warnervale some freaky Shangri La on the Central Coast of NSW? I was so proud of my Maqui Berry until I saw your photos! Mine has heaps of new growth and the new leaves are plentiful. But not one berry to be seen. As near as I can tell, you live about 70ks north of me which isn't enough to account for the difference in our tree production. My tree didn't get good winter sun (plenty of winter shade though :-) - how about yours? What do you feed them? What is your secret? I am suffering extreme berry envy.
| About the Author Laura Sydney 21st September 2011 3:43pm #UserID: 5176 Posts: |
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John Mc says... Hey Laura, The plant is surprising me how fast it's flowers are developing and the number of flowers are amazing. This is my first year with them so I have no experience on how to grow them. The plant pictured, together with it's air-layered cutting in the next garden bed, is by far the best performer. This is the same plant that bared a couple of small fruit late last year. The next best performing Maqui seedling is just starting to show some flowers. All the others are just putting out new growth and others, nothing. I can tell you that the best performing plants are in a well drained old garden bed that has heaps of old rotted horse manure and heaps of organic matter and have always been watered very well. I was lucky enough to buy several plants cheaply at a bunnies sellout some time ago. I planted them out at different locations over the property with slightly different climate and soil characteristics. A few I neglected died off and others are just surviving. So, it appears that they like rich friable vege garden type soil with plenty of organic matter and kept well watered. Oh, and I don't get any full sun on my place, anywhere, half the day they are in mottled shade. My minimum temps didn't get below 5.5 deg C this year. Good luck, your's looks like it's doing well. | About the Author John Mc Warnervale NSW 21st September 2011 7:03pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Justine says... Hi, I have just bought a Maqui from our local Bunnings. Many plants that are sold there do not suit our conditions but I have never heard of it so I thought I would give it a go. The label says "easy care, hardy plant, tolerates hot and cold" but now I think I may struggle to keep it alive. We have fairly heavy red clay soil and experience drought, flooding, frost, heavy winds and even light snow. I'm guessing I will have buckley's keeping it alive. Shame the label was not more informative. Any ideas John? thanks, Justine | About the Author Justine Mudgee 30th September 2011 8:27pm #UserID: 5904 Posts: |
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| About the Author John Mc Warnervale NSW 30th September 2011 10:00pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Jason Portland 1st October 2011 5:42am #UserID: 637 Posts: |
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Chris_Marc says... Hi all, I have been of late been informed about this Maqui Berry and would really like to get my hands on it. I have tried Bunnings around the Gold Coast where I live but with no success. I know by reading this forum that mostly everyone is on their way to harvesting their fruit already. But I just want to know if anyone lives close to the gold coast and can tell me where I can get my hands on this plant other than bunnings. I would greatly appreciate it. | About the Author Chris_Marc Queensland 5th October 2011 4:30am #UserID: 5925 Posts: |
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| About the Author jurgen gold coast 10th October 2011 11:51pm #UserID: 5949 Posts: |
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| About the Author Speedy Nthn Vic. 15th October 2011 12:30am #UserID: 2305 Posts: View All Speedy's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Merilyn says... Bunnings at Fairfield Waters, Townsville have 10+ pots of Maqui Berry $29.95, but after my attempts last year for several months, I am not going to try again until the wet season starts. It is hot and dry at present. We have had our first thunderstorm 2 days ago with 5 mls of rain for the season - first rain since ... maybe the last 11 mls in Jul or Aug - can't remember now. The last wet season finished in about April. The Maqui Berry plants are in fine form about 1 m tall in the shop - beginning of their season, have not seen them since last season, specimens have no wilting, no black marks on leaves or stems. As for being tolerant of hot or cold, wet or dry ... I am not so sure, but I think they don't like hot wet feet, as they seemed to droop in the clay and then never pick up again. Once the drooping starts, they don't seem to recover - could this be a soil fungal infection?. I tried about 2 new plants in fine form and 6 plants with decreased form but with new shoots, which I received for $5 each. I have seen other people on this forum have success with Maqui Berry further south - maybe the plants don't like the hot tropics, which considering they come from Patagonia, southern Chile is not unexpected. My best guess for a good Maqui Berry environment in Townsville is: partly shaded, loose loam kept a bit moist - this is a tall order for Townsville which is mostly dry tropics on clay. I am very interested if anyone else in Townsville has long term success. | About the Author Merilyn Townsville 18th October 2011 9:14pm #UserID: 4775 Posts: |
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NQ grower says... Hi Merilyn, From townsville also. I just bought one last week from bunnings at Domain (they had about 6 in stock last week). Planted it out and will see how it goes. It's in part shade and as you said, have heaps of new shoots and growth and looks really healthy - probably until it came home with me :) I will let you know how it goes. | About the Author NQ grower NQ 19th October 2011 1:44pm #UserID: 5050 Posts: View All NQ grower's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Joan says... I'm a newbie gardener and on impulse bought 2 maqui berry plants from Bunnings in Ashfield. I sent an email to the address written on the plant's tag asking if I need to have at least 1 female flowering plant to get berries, and if there's a way to tell the male and female plants apart (told you I'm a newbie!). They came back to me about a week later saying: "The female only needs the male to produce fertile seed not fruit You should get some fruit in their 3rd year onwards if planted in the ground" So I still don't know whether I have male or female flowering plants, I guess time will tell (fingers crossed they live long enough under my care). | About the Author Joan Sydney NSW 31st October 2011 12:21pm #UserID: 6065 Posts: |
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| About the Author Delphine 4th November 2011 11:54am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author glenpm 4th November 2011 9:22pm #UserID: 3483 Posts: |
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| About the Author Recher 5th November 2011 7:04am #UserID: 3075 Posts: View All Recher's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author John Mc Warnervale NSW 5th November 2011 10:49pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: View All John Mc's Edible Fruit Trees |
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oldeccentric says... I know this is an old question, but just in case, a man called Troy who spends his time between Balingup and Denmark and sells plants at local markets has maqui. I purchased two a year ago and now have fruit, I jagged it and got a male and female, just out of interest, the male has set no fruit. | About the Author oldeccentric Greenbushes, WA 10th November 2011 2:10pm #UserID: 6101 Posts: |
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Merilyn says... Hi NQ grower, How is your Maqui growing in Townsville? If it is still growing well you are doing well, as we have had almost no rain - a trace a week ago and the winds are hot and dry. If the tree is kept moist, but not too moist, and shaded, on loamy soil, my theory is your tree should be ok. When I was a volunteer guide at the Botanic Gardens, the horticulturist said to be almost certain you get a male and female palm plants, you need 7 plants, for a likelyhood of male and female, 3 plants will probably be sufficient as a minimum. | About the Author Merilyn Townsville 11th November 2011 4:59pm #UserID: 4775 Posts: |
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Merilyn says... Hi NQ Grower, I have checked out you list of fruit trees and you are doing very well, you must be really watering those trees carefully in Townsville. Regarding your tropical apple tree: Apple - Anna 7/10 NQ Grower's Edible Fruits Update: 57 days 19hrs Comments: - I really want to grow apples but not sure if there are enough chill hours here. I bought the plant in Rockhampton and it looks like I have three fruit growing but I won't know until next year if fruit will set for me here. Height 1.4 metres Qty: 1 Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Water Given in: Spring Pollination: Self Pollination Our tropical apple growing at Mingela has at least 10+ baby green apples, the biggest 2-3 cm wide has been sampled by something not us. To real southern apple growers these fruits would be of little consequence, but we are thrilled. The tropical apple tree is about 18 months old, 1.5 m high; Mingela does have a colder and longer period of cold, with cooler nights for longer than Townsville. | About the Author Merilyn Townsville 11th November 2011 5:10pm #UserID: 4775 Posts: |
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Merilyn says... To NQ grower re bush lemon tree: If there is only one or two bushes with leaf miner, I pick off the individually affected leaves as soon as the grub and the mining is apparent. Naturally this is only possible on a small scale, but it does seem to stem the onslaught of the leaf mining damage and to a certain degree stops the leaf miner spreading to other trees in the orchard. At least this way the whole tree or branches may not need to be cut back, and the tree bounces back faster as it does not need to grow new branches. I am a minimalist when it comes to pesticides and removing individual caterpillars is more environmentally friendly in my garden. Mind you, I am not trying earn an income from my fruit trees. | About the Author Merilyn Townsville 11th November 2011 5:36pm #UserID: 4775 Posts: |
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NQ Grower says... Hi Merilyn, Thanks for all your advice - greatly appreciated. Maqui is still doing well (pic below), but I am not sure if we get a big wet season this year if it might get too much rain - guess we will wait and see. I was at bunnings again this week and the ones that were left from when I bought mine are almost dead. As for my other plants, i am really new to this - only started gardening Christmas last year and literally never even had a cactus before that! I am not sure I am doing well yet because I think the plants are still fairly new and so I haven't had a chance to kill them yet :) I am also trying not to use any pesticides when possible because we are just growing for ourselves as well. The lemon tree has bounced back but next time i will try to remove just the damaged leaves. Re the apple tree - that's great news! the couple i had fell off but the tree has had heaps of growth so I am hopeing i will be luckier next year.
| About the Author NQ Grower 12th November 2011 7:34am #UserID: 5050 Posts: View All NQ Grower's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Becky 20th November 2011 9:55pm #UserID: 6152 Posts: |
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| About the Author sunshine armidale nsw 29th November 2011 6:57pm #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author ringelstrumpf Mountains 30th November 2011 12:47pm #UserID: 5542 Posts: View All ringelstrumpf's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author jd Brisbane 1st February 2012 12:43pm #UserID: 6485 Posts: |
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denise says... Hi Ringelstrumpf, I used real peat and had 1300 seedlings come up. I sold them all bulk in cell trays . Dollar each- cheap but good money for little work. They all had real health and vigour. I previously had a seedling 1.8m tall about a year old. It was in the greenhouse. They can start very floppy and need a stake but at 30cms high they start to strengthen and grow really straight and fast. If you want to grow them in bulk -or any other plant by bulk, then get proper sterilized potting mix. I just had a batch of 1200 black mulberry seedlings potted up and they all got a bad fungus spot presumably from the mix. They would have all died and there is no spray known to cure it except maybe repeated copper spray forever. I made up a homeopathic remedy for them that is working very well. Also it is wise to grow valuable plants above the gound to avoid soil borne diseases. | About the Author denise 2nd February 2012 7:39am #UserID: 0 Posts: |
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| About the Author eddie sydney 7th February 2012 2:14pm #UserID: 6512 Posts: |
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| About the Author The Maqui Berry tree Sydney 18th February 2012 5:34pm #UserID: 6574 Posts: |
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| About the Author Jenny Shoalhaven nsw 5th May 2012 10:22pm #UserID: 6916 Posts: |
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