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Subtropical/unusual fruit in SA

    4 responses

NinaR starts with ...
Hello SA fruit growers,
I would like some info from you all as to what subtropical (and tropical - but perhaps too unrealistic?!) or unusual fruit you have had success growing in your yard and any tips in growing the same.
I'm in the midst of planning my next fruit tree purchase!
I live about 5 km north of the Adelaide CBD.
I know there will be some trial and error involved, but hoping to build my knowledge bank and make some informed decisions based on others' experience.

Also, I have a strawberry guava plant and chocolate sapote - does anyone have experience as to whether these would do better with another similar fruit (for cross pollination purposes)? If so, can anyone comment on whether a yellow cherry guava fruit is tasty or would I be better off going with the Hawaiian guava?

Cheers!
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NinaR
SA
17th August 2015 10:41pm
#UserID: 12162
Posts: 7
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Markmelb says...
your choc Sapote would benefit from another for cross pollination - (let me know how you go as my fruit is 2 years on tree and still just a bit bigger than a squash ball)Mossman & Bernicker grafted plants.
Im over growing my Hawaii pink guava - not juicy in fact dry but fruit I had on my Indian was juicier and not dry so will persist with that and a Mexican Cream that should fruit this summer. You will find links to the South Aust rare fruit growers on this forum or take a trip out to perrys nursery near you - he would advise and have a look at his orchard too - I would love to do a trip there this Summer.
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Markmelb
MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
18th August 2015 8:00am
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Original Post was last edited: 18th August 2015 7:58am
Peter91 says...
I'm also about 7km's from Adelaide CBD and i've got mostly Guava varieties growing, a babaco which has fruit, and a white sapote that seems like it's doing fine.

Hawaiian Guava was probably my one that got effected most during the winter, Thai is gaining new growth although the leaves all went red, My Mexican Cream doesn't seem to have any new growth since the cold yet and my Indian is probably doing the best with a majority of green leaves with only tinges of red and the most growth.

I'm also curious what else could be grown, but I wouldn't really get your hopes up for anything more exotic unless you've got a greenhouse/the means to protect it.
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Peter91
North Plympton
18th August 2015 6:05pm
#UserID: 11892
Posts: 111
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NinaR says...
Thanks for your responses.

Peter - sounds like you have a nice collection of fruiting trees. Does babaco taste nice? I recently discovered that plant on the diggers website. I'd love to try growing some more guavas and other unusual fruit but then worry that I might not like the fruit!

I've actually been toying with the idea of building a small-ish greenhouse (or more accurately having someone build it for me!). At the moment, I've settled for using the front patio - probably too drafty for tropical plants but does prevent a lot of the frost issues with subtropical plants.

Please keep me posted if you plant any other unusual plants. Would love to hear about your successes so I can learn what plants I can try with some hope of success!


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NinaR
SA
27th August 2015 9:30pm
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Peter91 says...
Hey Nina, yeah I'm pretty pleased with my Guavas as I actually really enjoy the fruits, and they seem very hardy for a sub tropical plant, so realistically a good option for the Adelaide weather.

Babaco is honestly so hard to describe, when my first one ripened it smelled almost like Candy to me, when I cut it open I it was pretty much the most unique textured fruit i'd seen personally, the taste was just strange, it started out relatively sweet for me, but the more I ate it started to take a taste almost like eating champagne was the only way to describe it.

You could buy a babaco cutting from Daleys as they have them up for sale currently I think, it's something that's worth trying in my opinion if you can spare a pot for it.

And i've had the same thoughts lately, I feel the only way to grow anything relatively exotic like Sapodilla's etc would be to invest in a greenhouse or something similar.
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Peter91
North Plympton
28th August 2015 7:23pm
#UserID: 11892
Posts: 111
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