Zeni's Edible Backyard

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

About My Edible Backyard

Zeni's WISH LIST

Myrica rubra ^3/10

Why Zeni wants it: -

I\'ve just come back from Japan where the fruit from this tree is called \"yamamomo\" or mountain peach. It\'s also known as a chinese bayberry. The fruit is red, the size of a small plum with a central stone, the skin texture is like a berry, and it tastes sweet with a slight acid after taste. Very nice. Apparently it tolerates frost, but only fruits in relatively frost free areas and is only grown commercially in the lower latitudes (Kyushu and western Honshu) in Japan.

Almond - Garden Prince Dwarf ^8/10

Why Zeni wants it: -

This variety apparently only requires 250hrs chill and would therefore fruit for me. I\'ve only see it on tree lists in USA so I\'m still waiting for someone to trial it here in Oz.

Cherry - Morello ^9/10

Why Zeni wants it: -

I love cooking with sour cherries and my previous one did fruit in Brisbane before it died in the drought

Peach - China Flat ^9/10

Why Zeni wants it: -

I love the taste of these peaches

Blueberry - Backyard Blue ^9/10

Why Zeni wants it: -

This is supposed to be a good backyard variety and will cross pollinate with the other varieties I already have planted.

Apricot - Glengarry (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

where I live is border line for this low chill variety. Over the recent drought all my trees were left to fend for themselves so I'm still waiting to see when/if this tree will fruit. Winter wasn't that cold this year so no fruit this year.

My apricot has flowers all over it at the moment. As soon as the rain stops, I'll go down the back and take some photos.

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pruned By: 30% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: organic

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

Hi Zeni, How is your apricot going now? I am encouraged to see the fantastic things in your garden, as you are in Indooroopilly, and it looks like a suburban-sized garden like mine (I am in Kenmore). You have a few plants that seem hard to find (umboshi, white pomegranate, key lime). I have been looking in nurseries for West Indian limes for a while with no luck. They are supposed to have an intense flavour. Nurseries in Brisbane seem to have Tahitian, Kaffir and Finger limes only. Diana (http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/my/1961/)

Strawberry - Alinta ^10/10

Comments: -

I'm trying Strawberry Alinta. I only just planted them last weekend so we'll see how they go. They are supposed to have an extended fruiting season compared to other varieties.

All plants are now starting to fruit (2/9/2009)

Planted: 2009

Height 0.1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 5

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Winter

Pest Control:

nil needed

Organic Status:Organic

Basella (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

also know as Ceylon spinach. This is a climber which dies back in winter only to reappear the moment the temperature warms up.

Eat the young tips and leaves in stir-fry. With long cooking it becomes mucilageous which is OK if you want the thicken the sauce of what you're cooking.

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

Planted: 2006

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Potatoes (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

I'm growing potatoes in large pots for ease of harvesting. I top up with alternating potting soil and straw as the plants shoot and fertilise with a relatively high K and P ration

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 10

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

the possums tried to dig up the potatoes and the sweet potatoes when it was cold in winter. More mulching with straw seemed to deter them.

Organic Status:Organic

Spinach - English (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

really easy, great in salad and as a cooked vegetable, pie filling, curries etc

Fruiting Months May, June, July, August, September

Planted: 2009

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pigeon Peas (Seedling) ^9/10

Comments: -

I love these, nitrogen fixing, peas to eat (used as a dal in indian food) and pretty yellow flowers that attract bees.

Fruiting Months March, April, August, September, October

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Cut-leaf Mustard ^10/10

Comments: -

I love this in warm salads as well as stir-fries

Fruiting Months June, July, August, September

Planted: 2009

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Brazilian Spinach (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

Another perennial spinach good in all recipes for cooked greens.

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

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

Organic Status:Organic

Betel Leaf ^9/10

Comments: -

Used for Thai and Vietnamese appetisers

Fruiting Months August, September, October, November

Planted: 2008

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

French Sorrel (Seedling) ^9/10

Fruiting Months May, June, July, August, September

Planted: 2004

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

nil needed

Organic Status:Organic

Comfrey ^10/10

Comments: -

these have gone so well and have really helped a couple of sick plants that I planted them next to. This year I've divided the roots and now have lots of new plants to be planted out around the rest of the fruit trees.

Planted: 2007

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

nil

Organic Status:Organic

Blueberry - Sharpblue ^6/10

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

I also think this needs moving to an area with more sun.

Blueberry - Biloxi ^6/10

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

I think I need to move this to somewhere with more sun

Watercress (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: -

I started growoing this after planting out the hydroponic bunches that I bought at the supermarket (after I'd used the leaves of course!) They've been another no fuss plant that I now harvest whenever I want salad.

Fruiting Months July, August, September

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

First Fruited: 1 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Sagitaria (Duck Potatoes) (Cutting) ^8/10

Fruiting Months May, June, July

Planted: 2007

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Leeks - perennial and annual (Seedling) ^8/10

Comments: -

these have been very no fuss.

Fruiting Months August and September

Planted: 2009

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

nil

Bay Tree (Seedling) ^8/10

Planted: 2006

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

some scale which I haven't worried about really. Occasionally I'll remove some by hand

Organic Status:Organic

Cherry Tomato (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

I get 1-2kg of fruit every week from this one plant. They're lovely and sweet. Perfect

Fruiting Months June, July, August, September

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Kale (Seedling) ^9/10

Comments: -

I great robust green that I love cooking with.

Fruiting Months July, August, September, October

Planted: 2009

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

some cabbage moth - egg shells for detirent.

Organic Status:Organic

Babaco ^6/10

Comments: -

so far so good. No fruit yet but currently flowering and looks like the start of some fruit set (2/9/2009)

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

no pest so far

Organic Status:Organic

Pomegranate - Double Flowering White (Seedling) ^7/10

Comments: -

I've just got this double flowering white pomegranate and planted it out last weekend. I've seed the trees used as an ornament in Japan so waiting so see what happens. Apparently they also set edible although small fruit.

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Capulin Cherry

Comments: -

This cas just started sprouting again with the increase in temperatures from about mig August.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

grapefruit- oroblanco (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

I have an oroblanco grapefruit. I don't know whether this is a true grapefruit variety or a hybrid. At the moment it's in a pot and going gang busters with loads of flowers at present.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Winter

Organic Status:Organic

Apricot - Chinese (Seedling) ^6/10

Comments: -

this is prunus mume and is used to make asian plum wine and umeboshi.  The picture shows my ice-cream bean tree with the small green shrub on the lower right being the Japanese Plum.

Planted: 2008

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Lemonade Tree (Grafted) ^7/10

Comments: -

Even though you can't see it in the photo my tree is loaded with blossom and hopefully the fruit will follow (2/9/2009)

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Ice Cream Bean (Grafted) ^7/10

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: organic

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Pineapple - F180 (Cutting) ^7/10

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Horseradish

Comments: -

these are only new and are yet to be planted out. There will go around the fruit trees once I get the drip watering system working again.

Planted: 2009

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 5

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Cardamon Ginger (Cutting) ^9/10

Height 2 metres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Arrowroot (Cutting) ^9/10

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Galangal ^9/10

Comments: -

this is going well and I harvest whenever I need to refill the jar I keep in the fridge for galangal

Planted: 2004

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

Lemon - Villa Franca ^7/10

Planted: 2006

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 1 Fruit Per Year

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Winter

Pest Control:

pruning to control gall wasp

Organic Status:Organic

Madrono (Grafted)

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Ceylon Hill Gooseberry - Cutting Grown (Cutting)

Planted: 2009

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Orange - Arnold Blood (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

It's not cold enough here for the oranges to develop the blood colouring but the flavour is great.

Fruiting Months May and June

Planted: 2004

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 24 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2006 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pruned By: 30% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: organic

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

pruning to control/remove gall wasp

Organic Status:Organic

Cherry - Morello (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

I bought a sour cherry tree (morello)  when I lived in Adelaide and brought it home to Brisbane in a pot. It fruited the first 2 years in brisbane but once again didn't survive  the drought (and the council water restrictions). I'd really love to get another one (hint hint).

Pollination: Self Pollination

Mango - Schneider\'s Pride

Comments: -

I didn't water regularly long enough for it to establish well and then the drought got it. I have no idea how I would get another one as I bought this just as Mr Schneider retired and closed his nursery.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Lime - Mexican or Key Lime

Comments: -

This Mexican Lime tree was always struggling and it didn't survive the drought. I wonder if it wasn't warm enough in winter here even though I planted it next to a stone wall to try and give it more warmth.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

Where can we get Key Limes from?

I got the Mexican Lime from Turner's Nursery at Rochedale 2-3 years ago. They're hard to find - I'd been keeping my eye out for one for several years.

Horseradish (Cutting) ^3/10

Comments: -

I planted this in an area with hydrophobic soil in strong sun and no matter how much I watered nothing seemed to help. It struggled on for a year or so but then gave up the ghost.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fig White Adriatic (Cutting) ^4/10

Comments: -

died in drought

Pollination: Self Pollination

Peach - China Flat (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

the tree above the graft died during the drought but the root stock has survived, flowered and I'm waiting to see what happens.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Grapefruit - Rio Red (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

didn't survive the drought

Pollination: Self Pollination