Diana's Edible Backyard

Joined: 26/11/08 Updated: 22/05/10 Frost: None
Location: Kenmore, QLD, AU

About My Edible Backyard

We moved into this suburban Brisbane house in early 2008. Most weekends I manage to dig up a bit more lawn, which has heavy clay underneath. I am trying to make a screen of fruit trees around the front on mounds, as there is no fence.

Diana's WISH LIST

Cinnamon Tree

Why Diana wants it: -

I love cinnamon. Growing a tree for bark sounds like less trouble than fruit- no pollination of fruit fly barriers needed.

Grape - Lady Patricia

Why Diana wants it: -

I am really happy with my Carolina Black Rose, and I would love to have a mould-resistant white one. This sounds like the best tasting humid climate white grape.

Naranjilla

Comments: -

Vigorous plant, prone to falling over (I haven't propped it up). Has several fruit on it.

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

yard

Comments: -

The front yard, January 2008 (before we moved here), July 2008, September 2009, April 2010.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pitaya - Vietnam Dragon Fruit

Comments: -

One in the front and one in back yard. They are both starting to grow branches now that they are hanging over the support (head height).

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and worm water, blood and bone

White Sapote - Lemon Gold

Comments: -

Growing quite fast.

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Sandpaper fig

Comments: -

Needs frequent water to grow and fruit. Fruit is nice, but not a very strong flavour.

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Apple - Dorsett Golden (Grafted)

Comments: -

Starting an espalier with a dorsett golden, anna and rome beauty.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Cut leaf mintbush

Comments: -

Smells gorgeous.

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Panama Berry

Comments: -

Planted in November. Second picture is April.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 2 Months from Purchase in Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Berry - Boysenberry

Comments: -

I have only got about 5 fruit in two years- I might pull it out, or cut right back and start again.

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost, blood and bone

rosella

Comments: -

Lovely looking, fast growing shrubs, and they seem to be pest free. Loaded with flowers. I did not know that they would get so big, they are taller than me. I have just made the first batch of cordial with the biggest buds.

Fruiting Months January, February, March, November, December

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 2 Months from Purchase in Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Raspberry - Heritage (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

Delicious and problem free. Kids are eating them every morning. I have a williamette now too.

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 0.5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Wampi

Comments: -

I really like the taste of the fruit from the one at Northy Street city farm, citrus but a bit like custard. Mine hasn't flowered yet.

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Guava Hawaiian

Comments: -

Hoping to prune as an informal hedge along the path. Responding well to tip pruning so far. About five fruit on each one. Yum- but some were stung when quite small, before I bagged them.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

macadamia

Comments: -

Slow growing.

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

None

citronella grass

Comments: -

A good screen and mulch.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

None

jakfruit

Comments: -

I have heard that you can't prune these, so I'm slightly worried about the size as I have chosen other trees not to be too big, or happy to be pruned heavily.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Jaboticaba - Grafted

Comments: -

New growth and green leaves after rain.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

banana- ducasse

Comments: -

Also have a pisang ceylan with fruit , in chook yard.

Planted: 2008

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: large amount of chook manure and compost

Mulberry - White Seedling

Comments: -

Fast-growing. Fruit has a more subtle flavour than black mulberry. Second fruiting season in January/February after tip pruning.

Fruiting Months January, February, October, November

Planted: 2008

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 8 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

When I Fertilise: Spring

Lime - Tahitian

Comments: -

No fruit yet. This lime never looks completely happy, it always has some mottled leaves. I have now also got a key lime in a pot, which looks very healthy.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and chook manure, kelp and fish emulsion

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Lemon - Lisbon ^10/10

Comments: -

Very healthy, bushy tree, flowering and fruiting. Needs pruning at the bottom (when we've eaten the lemons).

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and chook manure, kelp and fish emulsion

When I Fertilise: Winter

Persimmon - Nightingale (A)

Comments: -

New. Not pruned yet.

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Blueberry - Biloxi

Comments: -

Sharpblue in the same pot. Growing luxuriantly, but new leaves are a bit mottled yellow, although the potting mix/ compost/sulphur mix is Ph5.5. I learned from the last one that died planted in the ground that they need shade in summer.

Planted: 2010

Pollination: Self Pollination

Peach - Dwarf (Grafted)

Comments: -

Nearly three but no fruit yet

Planted: 2007

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

olive - St Helena

Comments: -

Humid climate olive. Fast-growing. Falls over easily in wind and rain and needs staking.

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

chilli (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

Extremely productive constantly for two years.

Planted: 2008

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

rollinia

Comments: -

Had a bit of scale twice now, but treated successfully.

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Mango - Glenn

Comments: -

Taking off. Perhaps it has too many low branches.

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Strawberry - Maroochy Flame ^9/10

Comments: -

Yum. I am intending to turn over a veggie bed to strawberries this year-you can't have too many and they have been pest free and no trouble.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Planted in compost

Pest Control:

Only spraying with seaweed

Grape - Carolina Black Rose ^10/10

Comments: -

Fantastic shade plant. Did not go dormant until early August, and only for a month. About 15 bunches of grapes in it's first year, which were delicious.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2008

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: occasional seaweed spray

Comments

Wow Diana, fabulous picture of your grapes. I also bought one from daleys and had it in the ground...first season. Do you happen to have more pictures of it? I would like to learn how you train it onto the roof? Can you send your pics to au0rey @hotmail.com I am having a bit of headache how i can do it. It is grown against the patio support pole. Has it been disease free since you had it? The young new leaves of mine come out curling and distorted. Do you have any idea why it is like that? Thanks!

Thanks, au0rey, I have answered your questions in the passionfruit thread of the forum.

pomegranate-javita

Comments: -

Looks very healthy and no trouble. A yellow-fruited variety. I also have a wonderful (fruiting) and a rosavaya. There is a temporary screen of arrowroot behind it.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

Natal Plum

Comments: -

New. Making a small hedge of four plants in a new raised garden bed.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Cedar Bay Cherry

Comments: -

Three plants, one in shady spot. The beach cherries in the rainforest bush food section of Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens are lovely.

Planted: 2010

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Soursop - Grafted (Grafted) ^7/10

Comments: -

My favourite ever. I hope it will eventually fruit.

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Microcitrus australasica - Finger lime

Comments: -

Extremely thorny. Some flowers after rain.

Planted: 2008

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Mandarin - Miho Wase (Satsuma)

Comments: -

Was not happy in exposed, windy position. I recently moved it to a new raised bed and then it rained for three weeks, so it looks happy now.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pummelo - Flicks Yellow ^10/10

Comments: -

A really fast-growing citrus.

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and chook manure, fish emulsion

Cherry of Rio Grande

Comments: -

An attractive shrubby plant.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

joppa orange

Comments: -

Looks fine, no flowers yet.

Planted: 2009

Height 2.5 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and chook manure, kelp and fish emulsion

When I Fertilise: Winter

Kei Apple ^10/10

Comments: -

Lime-green, vigorous hedge plant (7).

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Qty: 7

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Midyim Berry

Comments: -

Attractive sprawling shrub, with nice pink new growth and flowers. No berries yet.

Planted: 2008

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

None

Plum - Gulf Ruby (Grafted)

Comments: -

Amazingly fast growing, twice as tall as the gulfblaze cross-pollinator planted a couple of months earlier. The two photos are about two months apart (the rosellas have grown about as fast and they are annuals).

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

pawpaw

Comments: -

Seeds from local fruit.

Planted: 2008

Height 2.5 metres

Qty: 6

First Fruited: 10 Months From Seed

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and chook manure

Raspberry - Atherton ^10/10

Comments: -

Growing very vigorously. Fruit did not last long.

Fruiting Months October

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

None

Rhodomyrtus psidioides - Native Guava

Comments: -

I really like the leaf colours. Pretty fast growing.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Mandarin - Okitsu wase

Comments: -

In a raised bed, like a pot. Was pretty yellow during winter. Have removed the first lot of fruit.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: Self Pollination

carambola

Comments: -

Looked a bit sick last year, now taking off with lots of new growth and looking lush

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

When I Fertilise: Spring

Comments

Your leaves look green and lucious

Thanks, Michael. I have got in the habit of giving it half a watering can full before I leave for work every morning (and the bananas and fig, and anything fairly new).

orange berry

Comments: -

Growing strongly, nice glossy shrub. Fruit quite nice, but mostly seeds.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Orange - Valencia (Grafted)

Comments: -

Growing quite fast

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and chook manure, kelp and fish emulsion

When I Fertilise: Winter

Sweet potato ^10/10

Comments: -

Growing vigorously as a perennial climber. Requires little water. Planted from tubers bought at the markets.

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

None

Comments

Oh my goodness! Your sweet potato creeper is incredible! Where are you located? Do they die and come back again? I am in melbourne and wonder if they would survive the winter. I am growing 6 creepers as groundcover around my growing golden sheen trees. Do you use the leaves? I am asian and i like frying them with sambal(dried shrimp) chilli. The tender leaves are yummy as stir fry even with chopped garlic.

Passionfruit - Panama Gold ^10/10

Comments: -

Extremely prolific. Has out-competed the panama red the same age growing on the same fence- nearly all fruit is gold. Was transplanted after digging up from old house when a year old.

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

Planted: 2007

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 30% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost, fish emulsion

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

None except pruning dead vines off in winter

Comments

Wow gorgeous! I am also going to plant a panama gold which is stil in a pot now. Is that from just one plant...now i am wondering if the area i have designated for it is enough looking at how massive yours is. Is it from seed or is it grafted?

Thanks, au0rey. They pretty much do as they are told, i.e. it i fine to prune off the growing tips if they stray too far. I have seen a lot of these growing on low strand wire fences and they accommodate themselves to those. I think it is grafted.

lemongrass ^10/10

Comments: -

Very vigorous and huge. West Indian variety. Took a while to make thick stems good for cooking.

Planted: 2008

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

None

Comments

Wow they do flower and they do look a mess from here...I have five small clumps and I guess i am going to expect them to become like that haha...do you prune them or cut the long leaves back?

Arrowroot ^10/10

Comments: -

Looks lovely, survives periods without watering very well, grows fast, propogates very easily, and the tubers actually taste good.

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 15

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

None

galangal

Comments: -

Beautiful and delicious. Does not die down like ginger.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

None

sugar cane

Comments: -

Black and green varieties. The black variety is beautiful deep purple and ornamental. Mainly used for a screen and mulch, it is hard work to chop up for eating.

Planted: 2008

Height 3 metres

Qty: 4

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

None

Tea Plant

Comments: -

Was in part shade, but scorched then drowned.

kiwi fruit

Comments: -

I have killed a male and three females by trying to grow them through summer (costing about $30 each- I'm not getting another one). They were next to the back fence in part shade, watered and mulched, but they don't like warm weather.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Abiu

Comments: -

We had three days of frost, and that was enough to kill it. It had been in the ground for about six months and looked pretty healthy in summer.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

Hi Diana, you were asking about Key limes, I believe they grow well from seed, unlike other citrus

Thanks. I found one at Bunnings a few months ago and it is in a pot (assuming that is what it actually is).