Edward's Edible Backyard

Joined: 26/11/08 Updated: 18/11/11 Frost: None
Location: Carlingford, NSW, AU

About My Edible Backyard

I am an electrical engineer by profession, but I have had a long-standing passion about fruit trees, especially exotic varieties.

We have an average-size garden in Sydney, but we have tried to optimise the space so as to grow a large number of fruit trees in front, back and side of the house. We expect to rely on regular pruning to manage the large number of trees. The climatic conditions can include 1 or 2 days of frost per year, and the maximum temperature can go up to 40 but, with some care, most fruit trees can survive.

The biggest challenge is to stop the possums, bush rats and currawongs from eating up the fruit. In fact the possums have caused considerable damage to plum trees by repeated feasting on young leaves. Neem tree oil spray was recommended by a local nursery but had no effect. Bird netting seems to work quite well in stopping the possums

Lemon - Lisbon (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Large tree producing a good crop of lemons.

Fruiting Months May and June

Planted: 2004

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 50 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pruned By: 40% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

Remove branch swellings affected by gall wasp.

Blueberry - Backyard Blue (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

Very good flavour of the 6 varieties in my garden. 1m high bush. Recommended.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Pummelo - Nam Roi (Grafted) ^7/10

Comments: -

Flowers profusely but not much fruit set. Suspect competition from nearby trees for moisture.

Fruiting Months July

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Spray with Lebaycid to control fruit fly. Not a serious problem but some spoilage can occur.

Pummelo - Flicks Yellow (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

Tasty juicy fruit with delicate flavour. Very productive tree.

Fruiting Months July

Planted: 2006

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 25 Fruit Per Year

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn and Spring

Pruned By: 10% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: citrus

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pummelo - Carters Red (Grafted)

Comments: -

Trying this plant as companion to the yellow pummelo which we found to be very tasty.

Planted: 2011

Height 0.5 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Olive - Kalamata (Grafted) (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

Looking forward to this variety. Must water at fruiting time to ensure fruit does not drop.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Frantoio

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

Occasional leaf damage by black flies (aphids?). Need to check regularly and wipe off by hand or spray. If unchecked can damage large number of leaves. Also need to check for caterpillars which occasionally can wipe out a lot of leaves.

Blueberry - Gulfcoast (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

Produces very large blueberries. Not as tasty as Sharpblue, but maybe because the kids eat them before they fully ripen.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Pest Control:

none

Comments

Edward, have you had any success with blueberrys in pots?

Hello Kim. I only just noticed your question. No, I have not tried using pots, particularly since the blueberry bushes seem to require good soil moisture all the time, otherwise they wilt and don't recover well. Also must remember to have acidic soil (I added granular sulphur to my garden plot).

Plum - Gulfgold (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

Very attractive little tree, bearing largish yellow plums. These ripen later than Gulf Ruby and taste very good provided you wait till fully ripe. In second year producing 30 plums even though its partner Gulfruby did not flower this year, so it looks like it's self-pollinating well.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 20 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 30% in Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Gulf Ruby

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Early bearing so no fruit fly problems. No other pests encountered, so no spray needed.

Organic Status:Organic

Plum - Gulf Ruby (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

Very attractive little tree, bearing a large number of beautiful red plums. The skin is a little bitter. The flesh is yellow, juicy, soft and fairly pleasant. In second year did not produce flowers, but had plenty in third year. Must wait till fully ripe (dark colour and turning soft) to get best taste.

Fruiting Months November

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 50 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Pruned By: 20% in Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Gulfgold

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control: Early bearing so no problem with fruit fly. No other pests. No sprays needed.

Organic Status:Organic

Blueberry - Sharpblue (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

Very good flavour. Of the 6 varieties planted, this is one of the better tasting fruit. Recommended..

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 200 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

None.

Organic Status:Organic

Mango - Bowen (Seedling) ^7/10

Comments: -

Very tasty fruit, but fruit set depends very much on the weather being right at flowering time, so some years get very little fruit. Needs protection from frost when young.

Planted: 2004

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Fruit Harvest: 10 Fruit Per Year

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

Protect from possums using plastic milk bottles placed over fruit.

Banana - Vietnamese xiem (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

Great tasting bananas similar to lady fingers (maybe it's the same variety). Produced good crops of bananas each year. This banana tree variety is quite tall so might not be a good choice for a small garden.

Planted: 2006

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 3 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Persimmon - Fuyu (NA) (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Very tasty fruit. Tree has excellent colours in autumn. Branches are susceptible to breakage, so need to prune long horizontal branches to half size before fruiting.

Fruiting Months March

Planted: 2004

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 40 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 30% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Banana - dwarf (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: -

Good crop of small bananas each year. This banana tree variety is small and so well suited for small garden.

Planted: 2007

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Longan - Chompoo (Cutting) ^5/10

Comments: -

Chose this variety based on internet descriptions of fruit taste. Will comment in future when get fruit.

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Plum - Luisa (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

New tree growing well, but not fruiting yet.

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Grumichama - Black ^6/10

Comments: -

I like the fruit. The tree is still small and so not much fruit as yet, but it's very tasty. It makes a good screen, so have planted two more.

Planted: 2006

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Fruit Harvest: 4 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 4 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Lime - Tahitian (Grafted) ^7/10

Comments: -

Like to use limes for Asian dishes.

Fruiting Months May and June

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 10 Fruit Per Year

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

Originally grown in pot in another garden, but suffered severely from possum attacks until use was made of electronic sound generator. Now moved to new garden and planted in ground. No possum problems so far.

Olive - Frantoio (Cutting) ^5/10

Comments: -

Planted this tree to cross-pollinate Kalamata olive on advice from olive plantation owner.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

Occasional leaf damage by black flies (aphids?). Need to check regularly and wipe off by hand or spray. If unchecked can damage large number of leaves. Also need to check for caterpillars which occasionally can wipe out a lot of leaves.

Olive - Jumbo Kalamata (Cutting) ^5/10

Comments: -

Produces large olives which tasted very good at olive show. Has started to flower but not yet fruited.

Planted: 2007

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

Occasional leaf damage by black flies (aphids?). Need to check regularly and wipe off by hand or spray. If unchecked can damage large number of leaves. Also need to check for caterpillars which occasionally can wipe out a lot of leaves.

Olive - Manzanillo ^5/10

Comments: -

I suspect this is the variety which produces a good crop of olives in Sydney.

Planted: 2011

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pitomba (Seedling) ^5/10

Comments: -

Slow growing with some dieback in winter. Had flowers but no fruit set as yet.

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Avocado - Hass (A) (Grafted) ^4/10

Comments: -

Tree is very susceptible to sun scald during hot summer days in Sydney when temperatures exceed 35 deg C. Causes leaf and branch dieback.

Planted: 2005

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Cherry - Morello ^10/10

Comments: -

Good looking tree with plenty of cherries in Sydney climate. This is a sour cherry good for jams, though the kids enjoy eating them fresh.

Planted: 2007

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 80 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pruned By: 25% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

Tree covered by netting to stop birds and possums.

Macadamia - Bush Nut (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

Prodces good crop of nuts each year. Handsome tree with beautiful pink flower racemes.

Fruiting Months April

Planted: 2004

Height 5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 80 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 4 Years from Seed

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

Some nuts affected by macadamia nut borer, but not many. Rozellas can damage some nuts during growing stage, but not after nuts have hardened.

Lemon - Eureka (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

Small tree, excellent lemons.

Fruiting Months May and June

Planted: 2005

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 30 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 20% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

Mango - Alfonso (Grafted) ^4/10

Comments: -

Good looking wide-spreading tree. Supposed to be one of the favourite mango varieties in India. Has flowered each year but not much luck with fruit set so far.

Planted: 1998

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 6 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Mango - R2E2 (Grafted) (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

Large tasty fruit provided get successful fruit set - depends on weather.

Planted: 2000

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 6 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Autumn

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Guava Hawaiian - Pink Supreme (Cutting) ^7/10

Comments: -

Produces plenty of good fruit.

Fruiting Months May

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 30 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 6 Months after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Initially sprayed against fruit fly, but now prefer to use plastic bags over fruit which is close to ripening and it seems to work well.

Grapefruit - Rio Red (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Good tasting fruit, sweet but also a bit sour, and so usually use it for making breakfast juice.

Fruiting Months May and June

Planted: 2004

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 50 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn and Spring

Pruned By: 10% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: citrus

Tangelo - Seminole (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Beautiful tree and tasty juicy fruit. Great for juicing as it has very little pulp.

Fruiting Months May

Planted: 2004

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 100 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pruned By: 10% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: citrus

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Jaboticaba - Yellow (Seedling)

Comments: -

 Very slow growing.

Planted: 2010

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Passionfuit Panama Red (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Excellent juicy sweet fruit. Trained vine to grow over pergola. This is a grafted variety and it's necessary to pull out any plants which come from the roots in the vicinity.

Fruiting Months May and June

Planted: 2009

Height 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

Water Given in: Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

No pests so far except for occasional caterpillar.

Organic Status:Organic

Grumichama - Black (Seedling)

Comments: -

Good looking trees. Growing slowly. Fruit is very tasty.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2006

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Fruit Harvest: 6 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: complete

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Goji Berry ^4/10

Comments: -

The plant has grown bushy to a height of about 1.5 m and produces many flowers and red berries. The small berries are sweet but the skin has a slightly bitter aftertaste which detracts from their enjoyment.

New shoots are springing up from the roots up to 2 m away from the original plant. I remove them so as to prevent uncontrolled spreading.

Fruiting Months March and April

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Fruit Harvest: 60 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 20% in Spring

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Carambola (Star fruit) (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: -

Lovely weeping tree with small pink flowers several times a year. However, must get a really good watering at that time to grow fruit successfully, otherwise the tiny fruit will fall.

Fruiting Months May

Planted: 2003

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 100 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting

Pest Control:

Fruit can get macadamia moth weevil damage in summer months, so spray is beneficial. I prune the top of the tree to keep within reach for fruit picking.

Jaboticaba ^5/10

Comments: -

Good looking tree. Awaiting fruit.

Planted: 2006

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Orange - Washington Navel ^10/10

Comments: -

Great tasting oranges. Good looking tree.

Fruiting Months July and August

Planted: 2005

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Fruit Harvest: 50 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn and Spring

Pruned By: 10% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: citrus

Achacha (Seedling)

Comments: -

Good tasting fruit, therefore decided to try growing from seed. Germination was fairly easy. Have planted 2 plants - one in a sunny spot and one in part shade.

Planted: 2011

Qty: 2

Pollination: No

Comments

look out for cold weather i would stake some plastic as weather gets colder!

I love achacha....im still waiting for mine to pop up from the ground.....weather starting to get cooler so may not be lucky...

Persimmon - Ichikikijiro (NA) ^9/10

Comments: -

Produces large tasty fruit.

Planted: 2007

Height 2 metres

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: Autumn

Pruned By: 40% in Spring

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Bags over each fruit to prevent fruit fly and possums

Cedar Bay Cherry (Seedling) ^3/10

Comments: -

The first plant died in winter, but possibly due to being overwatered one time, as I have since read from another contributor that this plant requires very good drainage.  Planted another plant and covered with shade cloth to see if it grows better. But this one also started to lose leaves, so have moved it to another more sheltered part of the garden in open shade. This time it is thriving.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Blueberry- Premier (Cutting)

Comments: -

Just planted next to Climax for cross-pollination. Had to wait for 2 years till available.

Planted: 2010

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Passionfruit Panama Gold (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Excellent sweet fruit. This is a grafted plant and it's necessary to remove any shoots coming from the roots of the rotstock in the vicinity. Benefits from good pruning each year.

Fruiting Months May and June

Planted: 2006

Height 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 Shade

Water Given in: Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

None needed.

Organic Status:Organic

Blueberry - Brightwell (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

Prolific bearer.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Blueberry - Climax (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

Vigorous grower.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Pest Control:

none

Passionfruit - Sweet Lilikoi (Grafted) ^1/10

Comments: -

Grows vigorously and has many flowers each year, but has not set a single fruit for over 5 years in spite of attempts at manual pollination and cross pollination with granadillaxlilikoi variety. Therefore have removed the plant.

Planted: 2003

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Hand Pollination

Acerola Cherry - Florida Sweet (Seedling) ^8/10

Comments: -

Produces a profusion of small pink flowers followed by tasty soft red fruit. Some leaf loss in late winter, early spring due to cold Sydney winter. Very shallow rooted, so will benefit from staking to avoid toppling over. Requires good watering in dry spells.

Produced a large crop in 2010, but suddenly died

Planted: 2007

Height 2 metres

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn and Spring

Pruned By: 20% in Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

none

Passionfruit hybrid (Grafted) ^1/10

Comments: -

Vigorous grower with many flowers each year, but fails to set fruit despite attempts at cross-pollination with sweet lilikoi. After 5 non-productive years have removed the plant.

Planted: 2006

Pollination: Hand Pollination

Comments

i found a pollinator for this 1 and daleys dont sell it!

Star Apple (Seedling) ^1/10

Comments: -

Tried to grow this tree several times, but each time it died at the end of winter, presumably because of the low temperatures at night.