JohnI's Edible Backyard

Joined: 02/11/09 Updated: 03/02/12 Frost: Medium
Location: Melton West, VIC, AU

About My Edible Backyard

Lady Finger Banana

Comments: -

Cool Banana cool climate fruiting bananas.New growth go off to a slow start after winter last year (2009) so this year I have started watering once a week with warm water.Planted Dec 2007. Flower began to emerge Dec 7 2010, first hand of fruit appeared Dec 30 2010. There were about 140 bananas on the bunch (14 to 16 per hand). I trimmed the bunch down to about 100 bananas in the hope that they would increase in size and ripen faster.I read that you can't overwater (but you can drown), or over feed so I have been mulching heavily with pea straw or lucern and in warm weather keeping the mulch moist by watering morning and afternoon (and in between when I can). I also feed heavily with blood and bone and also high nitrate fertiliser every couple weeks during the growing season (where temps get in the mid 20's or more). Careful not to feed too heavily with fruit on, I have read that it can Burn the fruit.July 2011 - I have been cutting a hand of every few weeks and ripening them in a plastic bag with a couple ripe apples. The flavour is mild with a pleasant tang. They aren't as sweet as the shop bought lady finger bananas but still nice to eat. The rain has caused a couple bananas to split but I've managed to remove them.August 2011 - The last remaining hand has rippened on the plant after 7 months.Next stem has began to fruit. Flower emerged end of November. First hand appeared 18th December after a cold start to summer.

Second picture of fruit taken 3rd Feb 2012.

Height 2 metres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Frost is the main problem.

Organic Status:Organic

Dwarf Mandarin - Imperial (Grafted)

Comments: -

Planted May 2011 as part of a citrus hedge along the fence line.

Picture taken 3rd Feb 2012. Imperial is plant second from the left.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Mandarin - Emperor

Comments: -

Planted May 2011 as part of citrus hedge along fence line.

Picture taken 3rd Feb 2012. Emporer is plant second from the right.

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Lemonade (Grafted)

Comments: -

Planted May 2011 as part of a citrus hedge along the fence line.

I didn't follow the instructions and cut the top 3rd off the plant when planting. Seems to have resulted in the plant dropping must of its leaves. It has since sprung back with regular watering and feeding.

Picture taken Feb 3rd 2012. Lemonade is the plant on the far left.

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Orange - Navelina

Comments: -

Planted May 2011 as part of citrus hedge along fence line.Producing lots of flowers which I have been removing until the plant is better established.

Picture taken Feb 3rd 2012. Navilina is palnt on far right.

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Orange - Washington Navel (Grafted)

Comments: -

Planted May 2011 as part of citrus hedge along fence line. 

Picture taken Feb 3 2012. Washington Navel is the middle tree.

Planted: 2011

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Cavendish Banana (Cutting)

Comments: -

Planted in the ground Jan 2008. This plant was labeled "Dwarf Red Dacca", but is possibly a Dwarf Cavendish.

The first winter I built a frame around the plant and covered it with frost cloth. This did not protect the plant from frost so I leave it alone now. The leaves burn in winter but the plat continues to produce new leaves in spring.

See my notes on my Lady finger banana for care instructions.

Have decided this is a Red Dacca after all. I was told that the fruit doesn't turn red until it is almost ripe.

Flag leaf emerged mid to late June 2011. Bananas appeared while I was away sometime in Sept. I didn't take my own advice and over fertilised in October. All the bananas (about 6 hands) have burnt to a crisp and dried up completly. I have a second stem that should flower next year. 

Second stem produced a flag lead at the end of Dec 2011.  Given the timing and the cool summer we are having down here I don't think the bananas will ripen before winter.  Picture of fruit a couple weeks after the first hand appeared.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

Kiwifruit (Seedling)

Comments: -

Plants almost died in full sun position. Moved to a more sheltered position with free draining soil, and they have picked up considerably.

Requires male and female plant. Only the female produces fruit.

Jan 2012 - No fruit or flowers as yet.

Planted: 1998

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Trixzie \'Pixzee\' Peach

Comments: -

Unfortunately I planted this tree in a sheltered position which seems to prevent the fruit from becoming nice and sweet. Fruit size and color is good though.

Tree is now above the fence line and the fruit is much sweeter. 

The two bigest problems I have is leaf curl (which can be controlled by spraying at the right time), and earwigs which chew the skin of the developing fruit.

Fruiting Months January and February

Planted: 2001

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Blue Java Banana (Cutting)

Comments: -

Potted from tube stock Feb 4th 2010.

Planted in ground Oct 2010 0.75 meters. Very fast grower, is now about 6 feet (from base to tip of stem) as of start Feb 2011.

Photo 30th Mar 2011 - 2.5 meters.

Flag leaf emerged end of November 2011. First hand emerged 13th Dec. Even though it has been cold this summer the Blue Java has continued to grow while my Lady Finger has virtually stoped.

The bunch produced is a bit scraggly with only about 40 bananas. Could be because the plant is still so young or maybe its too close to my Red Dacca (about 1.5 meters apart).

Planted: 2010

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Comments

Hi john when your blue java next fruits I would be interested in purchasing some of its bananas to try the taste. Also wouuld you be preparedd to sell me some blue java succers please?

Babaco

Comments: -

Doing well in a large pot. Is suffering burnt leaves from over fertilising. Planted in August (at about 30 cm hight), first fruit formed December 2009.

Fruit ripened Nov 2010. There were about 14 fruit. I didn't like the taste much but it is starting to grow on me. People I gave it to loved the taste.

Fruit is not very sweet but aromatic.

Fruited again this year. Stem began to bend so had to tie it upright to prevent it from breaking. Side branches have started to grow so I will cut off the main trunk when fruit has finished.

This fruit has started to grow on me. I like it in a smoothie with milk, honey and sugar. Can replace sugar with an overripe banana. The Babaco needs to be really really really ripe before eating.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

I'd like to give this a go. I was at Heronswood garden in Dromana today and saw one of these and a mountain pawpaw. There was a small mountain paw paw that was yellow and appeared to be ripe. The flesh was quite rubbery and slightly acidic. I think I go some sap on my hand which I must have rubbed on my eye as it has become very ichy! How like the taste of a normal paw paw is the babaco?

Blueberry - Blue Rose

Comments: - Planted Dec 2008. Died but sprang back to life Dec 2009. Wasn't doing well in wine barrel so I repotted it in a self watering pot. It has since taken off. 

Pollination: Self Pollination

Yacon (Seedling)

Comments: - Harvested in early may. While I don't hate the taste, I am not fond of it either so I don't think I will grow it again.

Fruiting Months May

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Fig Brown Turky

Comments: - I had to remove this plant due to its invasive roots. Have taken cuttings and hope to grow in a pot.

Planted: 2004

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Raspberry - Heritage

Comments: - Easier to maintain than other raspberries, however the flavour is not great, and they taste a little dry.

Fruiting Months March and April

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Raspberry - Chilcotin

Comments: - Excellent flavour. Plant suckers vigorously. I should have kept it in a large pot.

Fruiting Months January and December

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Trixzie \'Nectazee\' Nectarine

Fruiting Months January and December

Planted: 2002

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

Leaf Curl:  Spray spring before bud burst with copper base spray. Remove infected leaves from spring to autumn.

Earwig: Remove debris and other areas where earwigs like to breed. 

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Apple Ballerina Waltz

Comments: - I am yet to taste fruit. Every year codling moth get to the fruit before me.

Planted: 2001

Height 2.5 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Ballerina Polka

Pest Control: Codling Moth: Bunnings sells a codling moth trap that needs to be setup early spring.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Blackberry (Thornless)

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pitaya - Red Dragon Fruit (Cutting)

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Fig White Adriatic

Planted: 2009

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

White Sapote

Comments: - Planted August 2009. Fast growing, going to try repotting into a 35L bonsai bag this winter (2010).

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

This sounds like an interesting fruit, and I would like to try it once I know if I like the fruit.

Apple Ballerina Polka

Planted: 2001

Height 2.5 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Ballerina Waltz

Pest Control: Codling Moth: bunnings sells codling moth trap that needs to be setup in early spring.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

BLUEBERRY - REVEILLE (Seedling)

Comments: - Purchased August 2009

Dwarf Meyer Lemon

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Scale: Spray with white oil.

Custard Apple - Seedling (Seedling)

Comments: -

Planted seeds around the garden (Oct) from a custard apple I bought at the Vic Market late last year. Only one has come up (its in a sheltered position with plenty of water. I don't expect it to survive winter but you never know.

I potted it and placed it near my water heater over winter but it died during winter.

Planted: 2009

Pollination: Self Pollination

Ducasse Banana

Comments: -

Cool Bananas cool climate fruiting banana. Leaves burn when temperature drops below 3 or goes above 36.

I have removed the plant as it was not doing well. We have clay soil and I did not prepare well for planting. I have started digging in lots of horse manure and will be replacing the plant with a Blue Java banana.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No