Minky1's Edible Backyard

Joined: 26/11/08 Updated: 30/05/11 Frost:
Location: Rathmines

About My Edible Backyard

Mum of toddler and baby, started growing fruit in my 770sqm block 4 years ago with citrus.  Now trying more tropical plants as an experiment.

Soil type: Good fertile on top with clay at sub surface.  Orchard - citrus, apples and peach face north and receive sun all day.  All others on eastern side of house and receive all morning and midday sun and get protection from late afternoon sun.  Rainfall generally good.

My biggest challenge - clay - having to build everything up and second pests.

My rewards my two year old stripping the fruit of the strawberries, blueberries and mulberry before anyone else can have any.

Comments

Minky1's WISH LIST

Cherimoya - Sofia ^8/10

Why Minky1 wants it: -

I want to taste the best fruit in the world and have an abundance of it.  Am going to Tropical fruit world in February so will try it then and make sure I like it first

Guava - Strawberry ^8/10

Comments: -

In pot about to be put in ground.  Since putting in ground in Nov 09 has flourished, starting to flower but hit and miss with pollination. Lots of new growth and flower buds February 10.

Been in ground for 10 months, very happy, abundance  of new growth and lots of flower buds - just ate a guava - flavour great, shame about those tooth breaking seeds.  Plant is wider than it is in height.

Is quite a good tree that produces hugh amount of fruit, again shame about those seeds - might have to try juicing them.

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December

Planted: 2007

Height 64 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 30 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: seasol, banana special

When I Fertilise: Never and Spring

Pest Control:

Organic Status:Organic

Dwarf Mulberry - Black ^10/10

Comments: -

About to plant in ground.  Has taken off since planting in ground.  5 new branches and a fair bit of fruit.

The new branches are lower than the original branches and seem to be a lot longer as well.  I don't think this tree is grafted - hope not or I these branches will take over the tree.

Just tip pruned above branches which they they shot laterally.  Been 6 months since then and the tree is already covered in masses of leaves and fruit that just starting to change colour.  Very satisfying plant to grow.  Has grown 0.7m since tip pruning.

Has grown to about 4m x 3m and fruited twice this season.  My kids love picking the fruit off and eating it (4yrs and 2yrs) - May 2011

Fruiting Months January, February, August, September, October, November, December

Planted: 2007

Height 2.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 50 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: seal sol, banana special

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

none

Organic Status:Organic

Grumichama - Black ^7/10

Comments: -

Been in pot too long, about to put in ground - will hopefully make a revival.  Revival achieved.  Lots of new leaves and growth (well for a grumichama anyway).

Covered in new growth as of August 2010. Can't wait to see what it will do over spring and summer, maybe it might even fruit.

No fruit and not that much growth in height but it has bushed up. No fruit, i have a feeling I will be waiting a few years for that. May 2011

Height 72 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: seal sol, banana special

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Passionfruit - Panama Sweet Gold (G)

Comments: -

just planted - had a grafted black that died suddenly - hopefully this doesn't go the same way.

Has gone absolutely ballistic.  Constantly having to go out every few days to make sure the new growth stays off the ground. Can't wait until this time next year when it should fruit.

Only been in ground for 5 months and is already flowering - amazing.

So far I have about 7 fruit with a lot more flowers on the way.  The first fruit is huge in size, just have to wait for it to ripen now.

The vine flowered profusley and I had over 100 fruit, however none ripened before winter and now we have just finished a particularly cold winter it has lost half the fruit and leaves, hopefully will spring back in warmer weather.  Might bite the bullet and prun back heavily at the sake of the fruit to give it the best chance this spring.

Did prune back heavily and have reaped the rewards.  Have so far pulled about 50 or so passionfruits off and frozen a large amount of pulp - May 2011.

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Dwarf Apple - Granny Smith (Grafted) ^7/10

Comments: -

has flowered each year but pinkabelle I had died during winter so granny did not have a pollinator.  A new apple tree has sprung up where the pinkabelle was - hopefully another pinkabelle but did not flower this year (it's first year), but for some reason the granny smith did and some flowers have turned into fruit???  A neighbour must have a pollinator for it?? Fruit ended up falling off ):

Just repotted into a larger pot and straightened it up, have a good feeling about this year.

Flowered beautifully but not one translated into a fruit.  Seems my pinkabelle and granny smith don't like to flower at the same time even though they should.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2007

Height 138 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Peach Pixzee (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

Flowered and fruited first year but didn't this year - I think I pruned it at the wrong time and it may have got cankers.  Has got leaves now though. 2009

September 2010 - flowering and new leaves coming through

Got one peach that was quite delicious.  Seems to have a lot of sap come out of it though??

Planted: 2008

Height 55 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: seasol

When I Fertilise: Spring

Lemon - Eureka ^8/10

Comments: -

Great tree, good producer.

Probably got about 40 lemons last season, new growth and flowers coming through now.

Similar output to last year, has grown slightly.  Much more receptive to pests than my lime.

Planted: 2005

Height 190 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 30 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: banana special/seasol

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

none

Organic Status:Organic

Lime - Tahitian ^10/10

Comments: -

Best fruit tree I have, quick growing, prolific producer, great tasting limes, good looking tree

Full of flowers.  Got about 120 limes last year.

Oh my god this is the best fruit tree ever.  No effort required and just continues to produce have just pulled 94 limes off that were either green or green/yellow.  Thought the yellow ones would be no good but I was wrong.  I have given about 35 away, hand juiced and frozen in ice cubes trays 35 and have just over 20 for fresh use.  This does not incvlude the 50 already picked and the 100 left on there still ripening.  Oh and it has flowered again and full of more baby fruit - May 2011.

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, December

Planted: 2005

Height 210 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 80 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: banana special/seasol

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Pest oil once a year if that for scale etc

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Question:

Orange - Washington Navel ^7/10

Comments: -

Slow growing, drops fruit regularly, fruit that is left gets scarred??  All this rain we have had has really helped this little fella.  Is flowering again as well.  Got two fruit in 2009/10

September 2010 has put on a fair amount of growth in a year and is now full of flowers. Going to fertilise now.

Got two fully ripened oranges which were delicious.  For some reason most of the fruit fall off soon after developing.

Planted: 2005

Height 125 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 2 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: banana special/seasol

When I Fertilise: Spring

Question:

Black Sapote

Comments: -

Just ordered from Daleys should get it next week.

Received and planted and is growing exceptionally well.  A lot of new growth, all I do is make sure it gets lots and lots of water.

Unfortunately my son has decided to practice his pruning skills on my black sapote whilst I was hanging out the clothes.  What was about 1.5m tall with a massive amount of new growth is now only under 0.5m with a couple of leaves. I don't know if this little guy is going to make it.  Let's just say I was very, very upset with my son for this.

September 2010 - new growth starting to come from stick that was left - this guy is a fighter.

Has grown sigificantly over summer and is now growing more laterally than in height - lots of branches.

Planted: 2009

Height 58 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Jaboticaba Large Leaf (Seedling) ^5/10

Comments: -

Planted December 09.  Is very happy and getting new growth.

Has not done anything really in last 9 months but is starting to get new growth now.

Very slow growing, easily my slowest plant to grow.

Planted: 2009

Height 67 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

None yet

Papaya - Southern Red

Comments: -

Planted Dec 09.  It truly is amazing how fast these plants grow.  Was the baby in the new garden, is close to being the big daddy.

Had a fruit going but frost got it.  Is in a bit of hibernation but new leaves starting to appear September 2010.

Is now May 2011 and the tree is covered in large fruit but none has ripened do not know if it will last over winter though.

Planted: 2009

Height 162 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

feijoa (Seedling)

Comments: -

Planted December 2009. Good looking specimen about 1.5m when bought from local nursery.

Did nothing not one bit of new growth until last month, now has new growth all over it. September 2010.

Has grown significantly will hopefully flower next spring - May 2011

Planted: 2009

Height 152 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Apple - Pinkabelle PBR ^7/10

Comments: -

Bought a new pinkabelle to cover just in case nothing happens with the other one.  Just repotted and is already bursting bud and flowering (is this early for pinkabelle?)

Produced three fruit which fruit fly got!!!

Planted: 2010

Height 108 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: seasol, banana special

Question:

nectarine dwarf

Comments: -

was flowering when I bought and planted it straight away but no fruit emerging from the flower buds???  looks good anyway though.

Grew in size quite significantly over summer but did not flower, hopefully next spring.

Height 44 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Blueberry - Misty

Comments: -

Trying again but trying them in pots away from dogs.  Pulled most of flowers off, just let a couple grow for my son.  Getting lots of new growth.

Got quite burnt while away and most leaves died, hoping plant will pull through.

Height 42 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Blueberry - Sharpblue

Comments: -

Trying again in pot this time. New growth coming on - took most of the flowers off.

Got quite burnt while away and most leaves died, hoping plant will pull through.

Height 37 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

blueberry nelly kelly

Comments: -

Was given as present, seems far inferior to my others flowers and fruit are a lot smaller.  Seems to grow wide rather than high.

Is growing OK, very fine small leaf.

Height 18 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Chilli - Yellow Habanero

Comments: -

I think this is the one I have.  Has always fruited well - more than I use.  Leaves look yellow and a bit sick but I imagine that is from winter.

Grows easily but tastes more like a small capsicum than a chilli.  I would't say it has any heat at all.

Planted: 2009

Height 60 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Apple - Pinkabelle PBR ^5/10

Comments: -

Died after first winter in pot - looked okay but didn't burst bud??.  However another apple tree has started growing in it's pot - hopefully another pinkabelle

Just repotted llos like new buds coming through.

Planted: 2009

Height 107 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: seal sol

When I Fertilise: Spring

strawberry surprise

Comments: -

in self  watering pot - only had about 5 fruit so far

Growing: In a Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

strawberry red gauntlet

Comments: -

in self watering pots currently have had about 10-15 fruit off each.

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Strawberry - Lowanna

Comments: -

In self watering pot currently have had about 10 fruit.

Fruiting Months November

Planted: 2009

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Blueberry - Sharpblue

Comments: -

First one died, just ordered another from Daleys should arrive next week.  Died also from one too many dog tramplings.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Blueberry - Misty

Comments: -

About to be put into raised mound in ground.  Died from one too many dog tramplings.

Planted: 2008

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

None

Organic Status:Organic