CJ's Edible Fruits

Joined: 05/08/09 Updated: 02/03/10 Frost: None
Location: Lakelands, WA, AU

About My Edibles

Share on Facebook

Just moved into our newly-built first home and now have the joy of creating a garden paradise out of a pile of bricky sand! We have a great warm climate here and beautiful coastal sunsets so the goal is to build up a garden that is both beautiful to be in and productive. I love to cook and I have a design background, so while I have very little previous knowledge or experience of gardening, planning our suburban orchard is fast becoming a great new hobby for me.

Soil Type: 

We started off with bricky sand and have spent the past few months trying to build up the soil. We have been using a combination of commercially purchased soil, mulch and DIY compost. We are now finally ready to start planting.

Annual Rainfall: 

636.2mm apparently

Aspect: 

Orchard is located in our backyard (suburban block) along north and east facing fences. I am also planning on incorporating some edibles into garden beds around the block.

Challenges: 

The Shed which has somehow managed to get the best position on the block!

Limited space - we are on a 600m2 suburban block

Bricky sand

Massive retaining walls on our block - I'm paranoid about planting things that will undermine these

A lack of knowledge - but I'm getting there!

CJ's WISH LIST

Cherimoya - White

Why CJ wants it: -

So tasty but so expensive at the shops!

Mango - Bowen ^5/10

Why CJ wants it: -

I\'m a huge mango fan and I find it fascinating the way these fruits grow.

Peach - Tropic Snow ^5/10

Why CJ wants it: -

I love peaches and nectarines and this early variety might help extend the season.

Caper

Planted: 2010

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

Purchased very small plant from Dawsons. I love the appearance of these plants, spectacular flowers, although I understand they are very, very slow growing!

Blueberry - Blue Rose (Cutting)

Planted: 2009

Height 0.15 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

CJ's Tips -

Came cheap from Bunnings. Not certain if it will get enough chill in Perth, but worth a shot anyway.

Question:

What is the chill requirement for 'blue rose'?!

Blueberry - Climax

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Syzygium australe - Brush Cherry

Planted: 2009

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

Quince Tree - Smyrna (Grafted)

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

CJ's Tips -

Very vigorous grower, the first of the deciduous trees to bud.

Syzgium paniculata - Magenta Cherry

Planted: 2009

Height 0.15 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

CJ's Tips -

Got this one as a freebie. It's barely more than a twig at the moment and doesn't seem to be enjoying the winter at all. Hopefully it will be happier when summer arrives and it takes off in true lilly pilly fashion!

Pitaya - Red Dragon Fruit (Cutting)

Planted: 2009

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Not yet

CJ's Tips -

Just got started on this one (red with white flesh) with a cutting from a friend. Currently its about 30cm tall. Dotted with rooting power and planted in potting mix. Will wait and see!

Also picked up a red flesh pitaya recently from Tass1. Now I need to find a spot for them!

Plum - Gulf Ruby (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Santa Rosa

CJ's Tips -

Flowering like mad (08/09)!

Question:

Nectarine - Sun Snow (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

Picked this up from Bunnings as it was cheap, low chill and ripens before Christmas (love fresh stone fruit for Christmas!).

Nectarine - Fairlane (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

Not sure how this will go as it might not get enough chill. However it matures late and I thought it would be worth giving it a go if it means we get my favourite fruit for longer!

Pineapple

Planted: 2009

Height 0.1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

CJ's Tips -

I'm trying to grow these from the heads of store bought pineapples. The plants look fantastic, even if they never fruit, so hopefully these will take off.

Question:

Apricot - Buledo (Grafted)

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Peach - Tropic Beauty

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Apple - Dwarf Red Fuji (Grafted)

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Pink Lady

Persimmon - Ichikikijiro (Grafted)

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Persimmon - Fuyu (NA) (Grafted)

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Plum - Mariposa (Grafted)

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Santa Rosa

Plum - Santa rosa (Grafted)

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Mariposa

Peacharine (Grafted)

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

I prefer nectarines, he prefers peaches - this one is for fun!

Peach - Multigraft - Tasty Zee (Grafted)

Fruiting Months January and December

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

Partner really liked the look of this one, and desperate to keep him interested in the garden, I bought it for him straight away! The Double Jewel is yellow-fleshed and ripens first, followed by the white-fleshed Tasty Zee.

Apple - Sundowner (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Granny Smith

Apple - Dwarf Granny Smith (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Pink Lady

Apple - Pink Lady

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Granny Smith

Apple - Dorsett Golden (Grafted)

Fruiting Months January

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Anna

Apple - Anna

Fruiting Months February

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Dorsett Golden

Pluot - Flavor Supreme (Grafted)

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Mariposa

CJ's Tips -

Kaffir Lime (Seedling) ^10/10

Planted: 2007

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 15 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Never needed

CJ's Tips -

Received this as a gift after I discovered Thai cooking. Love making my own curry pastes and the kaffir leaves give an incredible flavour.

Pepino - Kendall Gold (Seedling)

Planted: 2009

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

02/03/10 - died in recent 40 degree heat due to retic failure

Picked up from Big W of all places for very cheap. Surprisingly healthy, bushy looking plant.

paw paw (Seedling)

Planted: 2009

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

02/03/10 - died in recent 40 degree plus heat due to retic failure

Gift from a friend. Grown from seed so not sure what variety it is - hopefully self-fertile! It has gone through a bit of a rough spot recently, very neglected while I was on holiday, but seems to be making a slow recovery.

Apricot - Trevatt (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

CJ's Tips -

Simply did not wake up from winter dormancy, no indication why.

Apple - Lady Williams (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Granny Smith

CJ's Tips -

Rootstock has overtaken the graft :(