Fred's Edible Backyard

Joined: 26/11/08 Updated: 28/08/10 Frost: None
Location: Airville, QLD, AU

About My Edible Backyard

I am a retired 'muso', carpenter, businessman, jack of all trades.  We purchased this 4.4 acre property in July 2005, with 63  [12 year old]  Carambola [Five Corner Fruit] Trees and 185 African Mahogany Trees thereon.  We removed the Carambola Trees after 12 months due to the unreliable pricing and marketing.  We added approx another 120 African Mahogany Trees [making a total of approx 300 trees] - a small forest.  We have water on the eastern and western sides of our property  in the 'wet' season only, and therefore we irrigate the remainder of the year three times a week [the property had full irrigation when we purchased the property].  We have since planted 3 and half rows of Red Cedar trees, running north and south on our property between the 2 stands of African Mahogany Trees.  We have planted the Red Cedars about 8 metres apart, and a different fruit tree between the Red Cedars, so that the fruit trees can grow in the partial shade of the canopy of the Red Cedars as they grow.  Early days yet.  We are just hobby farmers now, waiting for all our fruit to grow. 

Avocado - Sheppard (B)

Comments: - First crop is on now - we feel will be ripe by April.  The small tree is laden with fruit.

Fruiting Months January and February

Planted: 2007

Height 2.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 3 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

black mulberry (Grafted)

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Avocado - Wurtz (A)

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Acerola-Barbados-Cherry

Comments: - Variety - malpiglic glabra

Planted: 2009

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

White Sapote - Casimiroa edulis

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

eriobotrya japonica loquat (Seedling)

Comments: - Purchased yesterday and planted today - 25 March 2010

Planted: 2010

Height 0.6 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

ROLLINIA, Rollinia deliciosa

Comments: - This one is also known as a Biriba or Brazilian Custard Apple - currently flowering [end February 2010]

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

August 2010 - this tree is now about 2 metres high - tree went dormant - fruit dried out and dropped off - tree lost its leaves, but leaves are now starting to regrow

Abiu

Comments: - We have two of these - seem to be fast growing

Height 2.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Achacha

Comments: - We planted these from seeds of fruit that we purchased.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Comments

We planted these from seeds of fruit that we purchased.

We planted these from seeds of fruit that we purchased.

Plum - Gulfgold

Comments: -

Our new tree has now got lots of small fruit [think about 1/3 developed] as at today's date 27/8/2010

Planted: 2010

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

Our new tree has now got lots of small fruit [think about 1/3 developed] as at today's date 27/5/2010

Ice Cream Bean (Grafted)

Comments: -

Variety - inga edulis

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

Have trained this to grow a trellis - keeps the areas between trees easier for mowing - main branches growing north and south

Plum - Gulfgold

Comments: -

This plant was about 1.5 metres, and it appears that 'something' has gone through and broken the plant to about 300 mm above the ground  and the trunk of the broken is 30 mm thick - we are hoping it will live and reshoot.

5 March 2010 - looks like it has died - so will have to get another one to replace

July 2010 - This tree has now grown from below the graft, and looks like it is a peach tree - waiting to see what kind of fruit we get.

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

This one has died - so we have now replaced it with another one last week

Our new tree has now got lots of small fruit [think about 1/3 developed] as at today's date 27/5/2010

This tree has not died, but has grown from below the graft, and believe it to now be a peach tree or similar - waiting to see what fruit we get from it.

Fig - Brown Turkey

Comments: -

Not much fruit for the first couple of years - due to birds getting them.  2009 saw us put up some 'holocaust owls' and we got quite a few figs, if we kept an eye on them. At the latter part of the year the birds were starting to get at them, so we netted it. 

Unfortunately, this fig tree has now died - it rotted out at the base - cause unknown

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Planted: 2007

Height 1.75 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fig - Brown Turkey

Comments: -

Second tree - planted Oct 2009

August 2010 -  had some fruit - leaves now growing again, after being dormant for a couple of months.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Chestnut - seedling (Seedling)

Planted: 2010

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Carob (Seedling)

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Tamarillo - Red

Comments: - March 2010 - Looks like this one is dying

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Custard Apple - African Pride

Comments: -

Custard Apple or Annona Atemoya - African Pride

Purchased this tree this morning - have yet to plant it, but it is raining at the moment, so to be done later - have had 52mm since 6 am yesterday

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Longan - Kohala marcotted

Comments: -

Euphoria longana Longan Kohala Cultivar

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Soursop - annona muricata

Planted: 2010

Height 0.6 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

mango

Planted: 2007

Height 1.8 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Comments

Lovely picture Fred. Is there a secret to getting more fruits from my mango trees?

I am no green thumb - prune the trees after fruiting [for manageable size] - are under irrigation three times a week - but after the lorikeets and the fruit bats, we do seem to get a few mangos

Mango - Royal Red

Comments: -

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Planted: 2003

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

First Fruited: 2 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Mango - Kensington Pride grafted

Comments: -

Planted: 2003

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

First Fruited: 2 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Mango - Keitt

Comments: - Were cut down, and regrowth has been since we bought the property

Planted: 2003

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Rocoto Tree Chilli

Comments: -

Planted: 2007

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from Seed

Asparagus - Fat Bastard

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Comments

August 2010 - Unfortunately we only have one of these left - 3 others died

Asparagus - Mary Washington

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Comments

August 2010 - Unfortunately we only have one of these left - 3 others died

Ladies Fingers Banana (Cutting)

Comments: - These are beautiful sweet bananas

Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 2006

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

First Fruited: 2 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

punica granatum pomagranite

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Comments

These are now heavy in flower [August] and are now .7 metre

Lime - Kaffir

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Avocado - Fuerte (B)

Comments: - This tree was here when we purchased the property.  Loads of avocados, but has died back this last year, as it was water bound for approx 8 weeks in our heavy wet - Jan 2009.  It has currently been sitting in water for the last 5 - 6 weeks [Jan/Feb 2010], so we are yet to see how it goes this year. Unfortunately we lost our best tree [Shephard Avocado] to the water last year.  It had massive crops on that tree [over 5 metres tall also].

Planted: 2003

Height 5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Burdekin Plum

Planted: 2007

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Passionfruit - Black

Comments: - We bought this as a Black Passionfruit - but we are getting yellow fruit, and they are sweeter, bigger and fuller fruit than our Panama Gold Passionfruit

Fruiting Months February and March

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Passionfruit - Panama Gold Grafted

Fruiting Months February and March

Planted: 2008

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Star Apple

Comments: -

Planted: 2003

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Java plum

Comments: -

Planted: 2003

Height 5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

Sapodilla - Tropical

Comments: - Don't know what variety - as there were 2 trees here when we bought the property

Planted: 2003

Height 3.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

One Tree is fruiting at the moment for the first time since we purchased the property 5 years ago

Orange - Valencia

Comments: - Only had about 4 or 5 oranges in the last 4 years

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 3 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Kumquat - Nagami

Comments: - We have had small amounts of fruit [a lot heavier at the moment], but my wife always seems to pick them and eat them before I can get any to have her make jam or whatever.

Fruiting Months February and March

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

Pruned this tree after it finished fruiting in July, and also fertilised

Lemonade Tree

Planted: 2005

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Lemonade Tree

Comments: - This tree was here when we bought this property. We have had the property 5 years come July 2010.  Lots of fruit

Fruiting Months February and March

Planted: 2003

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting, Winter, Spring

Lemon - Lisbon

Comments: - Lots of fruit but do get a mild mite

Fruiting Months February and March

Planted: 2003

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting, Winter, Spring

Mandarin - Afourer Murcott

Comments: - Lots of fruit

Planted: 2003

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 5

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting, Winter, Spring

Comments

Is this the new Tango variety that is supposed to be seedless even with cross-pollination? http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/Citrus-growers-excited-about-apf-382866236.html?x=0

Mandarin - Emperor (Seedling)

Height 1.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Mandarin - Ellandale

Comments: - Lots of fruit [if you can get them before the lorikeets

Fruiting Months April and May

Planted: 2003

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 5

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: General citrus blend

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting, Winter, Spring

Blueberry - Gulfcoast

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

tangerine - citrus reticulata (Grafted)

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

white mulberry - morus alba (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 2.25 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Wampi

Comments: - Variety - clausena lansium

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Lychee - No Mai Chi

Comments: - Variety - litchi chinensis

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

AMBARELLA, Spondias cytherea

Comments: - No fruit yet - still waiting

Planted: 2007

Height 7.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Grumichama - Black

Comments: - Variety - eugenia brasillensis.  Slow growing

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Hog Plum - Otahette Apple

Comments: - Variety - spondias cytherea

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Persimmon - Flat Seedless (A)

Planted: 2009

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

citrus x paradisi \'marsh\' grapefruit (Grafted)

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Lime - Tahitian (Grafted)

Planted: 2005

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Black Sapote - Chocolate (Seedling)

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pitaya - Vietnam Dragon Fruit (Cutting)

Planted: 2006

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Hand Pollination

Pitaya - Yellow Dragon Fruit (Cutting)

Planted: 2006

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Hand Pollination

Pitaya - Red Dragon Fruit

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Hand Pollination

Pommelo - Citrus maxima

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

Pruned Pommelo in late July, and is now growing 'new flush' in August 2010

Jakfruit

Comments: - We have two Jakfruit Trees - both about 3 - 3.5 metres high - these were on the property when we bought it.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2003

Height 3.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Pollination: No

Soursop

Comments: - These were our second lot of Soursop Trees [2] - we have now bought another plant today - we have heard they are a great cancer cure - they are known as Graviola and come from the Amazon area - refer to internet for more details.

Fruiting Months January, February, November, December

Planted: 2009

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Microcitrus australasica - Finger lime

Height 1.7 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Tangelo Orlando

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Soursop

Comments: -

This was our first tree - had one fruit the first year - but what a beauty!  Second year had a couple but they went 'black' and were no good. Third year we had 17 - beautiful.  My wife makes Soursop Scones and Soursop Ice Cream - to die for. 

Fruiting Months January

Planted: 2007

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Macadamia - A38

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pomegranate - Elcite (Grafted)

Comments: - Flowering for the second time - only had 1 fruit, wasn't too sure when to pick, so when we did pick it,  we think we might have picked it too soon

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

Have trained this to grow on a trellis - keeps the areas between trees easier for mowing - main branches growing north and south

Jaboticaba

Comments: - Slow growing

Planted: 2008

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Wampi - Guy Sam (Grafted)

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Cherry of Rio Grande (Grafted)

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Giant Lau Lau (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Guava - Strawberry

Fruiting Months October

Planted: 2008

Height 1.75 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 5% in After Fruiting and Summer

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Liquid fertilsers, Dynamic lifter occasionally

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control: Bugmaster or Diomenarte when fruit is near ripening [weekly] as required

Organic Status:Pesticides Used

Comments

Was flowering in July, and now fruiting in August

Toona ciliata - Red Cedar

Comments: - Pruning of side branches to promote growth until about 4 or 5 metres high - of the first 40  planted we have only approm 30 left.  The others 'drowned' in tropical flooding. 

Planted: 2008

Height 6 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 30

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 10% in

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control: Bugmaster sprayed weekly for Tipmoth - top 60cm of the tree only

Organic Status:Pesticides Used

Comments

Dwarf Coffee - Catui (Grafted)

Comments: - Hasn't grown much at all - slow 'starter'

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Toona ciliata - Red Cedar

Comments: -

This is our second lot  - 23 trees

Pruning side branches  to promote growth 

Height 3 metres

Qty: 23

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Bugmaster for Tip Moth - weekly - top 60 cm of tree

Malabar Chestnut (Grafted)

Comments: - Still in its first year - too young to comment much

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Coffee arabica

Comments: - Hasn't grown much - seems to be a slow 'starter'

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Rollinia - Brazilian Custard Apple (Grafted)

Comments: - All our trees are irrigated three times a week, unless raining, when we turn the irrigation off for those wet periods.

Fruiting Months January and February

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Comments

August 2010 - now about 2.5 metres high, and now starting to flower again for the third time

Pineapple - F180 (Cutting)

Comments: - Had two - but they died

Miracle Fruit (Grafted)

Comments: - Don't know why - wasn't growing, so dug up and shifted it, but still didn't grow - died

Blueberry - Gulfcoast (Grafted)

Comments: - Don't know what happened - maybe too much mulch from mower

Pollination: No

Davidsons Plum - QLD

Comments: -

Don't know - maybe it doesn't like tropical conditions - too wet?

This was our second one - planted in Jan 2009

Pollination: No

Davidsons Plum - QLD (Grafted)

Comments: - Don't know - this was our first one - planted in  Oct 2008

Pollination: No