PhilippafromDerbyWA1's Edible Backyard

Joined: 26/08/11 Updated: 19/10/11 Frost:
Location: DERBY

About My Edible Backyard

Comments

I love any plants so incorporated into the things I grow are the edibles. We live in a tropical environment however our landscape is one of savannah grasslands which is bordered by dessert. Our earth is pindan which is red red sandy soil that is clay based and low in nutrient. Our water is from a 100 foot bore and is delicious and there is plenty of it. However I must have a green thumb or a lot of luck as my motto is "JUST ADD WATER and anything will grow" and it does. We are fortunate to own a 5 acre property just outside of town. I have created various areas within the garden one which is dedicated to the local species such as Leicchardt Pine,Woolybutt, Red Rivergum and Cheesewood. Another part I dedicate to Dungay Creek in NSW where I lived previously and features the Silky oak, Shea Oaks, Bunya Pine and Willow. Another part is my creation of the rainforest. The rainforest theme runs throughout my garden with plantings to name a few of ferns,philodendrons,palms,birdsnests,treeferns,figs ficus,pandanus,frangipani,crotons and different types of trees to form my canopy. I have been able to begin planting my understory recently as my first tree plantings are large enough. The other part is my edibles. We are growing a reasonable herb and vegie garden however my exotic fruit trees have me very excited. Our climate allows me to experiment with a range of the true exotic tropical fruit. These exotics are an exciting range to grow. Weird and wonderful. Not only do they feed me and the family there is and will be plenty for the birds bats and animal life here which is weird and wonderful in itself. I am truly green mad and my whole existence revolves around the plant kingdom.

That's awesome, really like your motto & what you got going on in your forest, very nice.

My Incredible ^10/10

Comments: -

INCREDIBLE  Happy Plant !!!!!

20 - 30 year old Happy Plants in the ground. They truly are my incredibles. For 6-8 weeks of the year they flower at night with many spikes and with the most sensual indulgent powerful aromatic that spreads through the house and over our 5 acres. My nurseryman comes to view it each year at night and says I have the only flowering Happy Plant in WA. Maybe she is right. Truly a gift to our senses.

Pollination: No

^10/10

Comments: -

BAOB

These trees are amazing and make you feel special. Boabs can be 1500yr {prison boab tree} or older which makes them the oldest living being in Australia and puts them amongst the oldest in the world. I reckon the Boab in the photo which is just off our verandah is probably 400- 500 years old. But who knows. They are the most incredible tree in the world and the Australian Boab is only found in the Kimberly.

Planted: 1500

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 19

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pineapple - F180

Comments: -

This pineapple is growing in an old washing machine tub. It is the first pineapple that has fruited and is about 18 months old. Most exciting to taste to see if it is worth growing more. The pineapple itself is about 3 weeks old and is growing fast-aprox. half the size of a shop bought one at present. I don t really know when it will be ripe or ready to pick. I do know there will be many hands reaching out for a slice once it is ripe.

Avocado - Bacon (B) ^8/10

Comments: -

They say where you grow mangoes you can grow avocados. My B type avocado is young yet my mangoes are old. So here is hopjng the avo s thrive!

I do apologise the astute among you would have realised that one of my photoes is of my Black Sapote. I have since added a photo of my Bacon Avocado and left the sapote there - just to keep it interesting.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Pandanus - Edible ^10/10

Comments: -

The Pandanus is a great feature plant in the garden. I have many patches of different ages and they look great.

Planted: 2004

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 6

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

Nil pests. Pandanus seem to have a natural inhibitor to pests and other growth around them.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Question:

Comments

Is this plant the pandan?

Pandan is the common name for all pandanus. Pandanus amaryllifolius is the popular edible pandanus found in asian cooking. My pandanus is one of the local species found in the Kimberly. The aboriginal people use most all parts of this plant. I hope this is helpful.

Tamarind ^10/10

Comments: -

Have since found out that a species of Tamarind is native to this area and this one came all the way from Kyogle. Needless to say I am very happy with my tree and it loves it here. It has taken off and has grown 1m since it was planted last year. 

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

hows the Tamarind going now 9 years in ground?

^10/10

Comments: -

ANCIENT CUDDLING BOAB

The boab nuts have a sweet and sour taste and are picked after the wet. Seeds, pith in fact most parts of the tree are edible. You can eat the nut, young leaves in a salad and the boab tree roots are delicious{similar in texture to water chestnuts and sweet and crunchy like the core of a carrot}. All Adansonia species have long been used as a staple food source.

Planted: 1700

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 19

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Monstera - Fruit Salad Tree ^10/10

Comments: -

This monstera is one of two that made the trip from Daleys NSW This one is out in the sun a little more growing up a woolybut tree and the other is planted beneath our largest tree a 30m Mahoganey tree deep in the understorey. They are both loving their spots and have produced several new leaves, They are still slow in growth as yet.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Mango Who knows ^10/10

Comments: -

Come November and we have an avalanche of MANGOES. We could bathe in them. There is nothing quite like the taste the smell and the look of your own tree laden in front of you. Truly wonderful!!!

Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 2004

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 5

Fruit Harvest: 50 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

nil

Organic Status:Organic

^10/10

Comments: -

WATER CHESTNUt

What a pretty tree with its livid green trunk and surprisingly boab leaf shaped foliage. Has not nutted as far as I know but will be on the lookout. Maybe it does not get enough sun where it is but I would not trade it.

Planted: 2000

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

^10/10

Comments: -

MORE MANGO

One of our mature mango trees with a great bunch of mangoes which will be ready to pick around November.

Fruiting Months November

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 8

Fruit Harvest: 99 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

^10/10

Comments: -

CARDOMON GINGER

From Daleys and thriving.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Custard Apple - Seedling ^10/10

Comments: -

These trees have self seeded everywhere however when they fruit they produce the most delicious sweet soft moist unbelievable fruit. They do have a lot of seeds but are totally worth it anyway the seeds are slim and smooth and slip down easily. I just let the seedlings grow up as I can t bear to pull em up at this point.

Qty: 30

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Loquat - Nagasakiwase ^10/10

Comments: -

My loquat came from Daleys and I was a little hesitant to proceed with my purchase due to our tropical climate. It has been in the ground for a year and I chose my site carefully. So far so good - the new growth on the top has come since it has been in the ground.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

^10/10

Comments: -

DRAGONFRUIT

Ideal to grow in the tropics. I have grown this one up a dead tree stump and plan to propagate the plant by cutting off the segments and sticking them in the ground just like you do with a zygocactus. I have not tried this before however I have a feeling it will work. What do others think?

Another Daleys plant!!

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

^10/10

Comments: -

STAR APPLE

My favorite colour is purple so what could be better than a purple apple which will grow in the tropics. My star apple was a bit sad looking in the pot however since putting in the ground 6 mths ago it looks a lot happier in the dappled sun with plenty of water It really needs a bit of shaping.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Wampee - Guy Sam ^10/10

Comments: -

An exotic from Daleys planted next to my Longan. It was damaged by the fire however its new growth looks fabulous.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Longan - Seedling ^10/10

Comments: -

An exotic from Daleys planted last year and thriving. Again in the dappled sun on a slope in the orchard. It had a slight setback when we burnt off a pile of dead branches etc. near it {same as the Wampi} and the leaves were burnt. That was so upsetting however they have all bounced back beautifully. Thank God!! Looking forward to watching and caring for this plant. in the years to come.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Bunya Nut ^10/10

Comments: -

I planted a bunya nut of this size about 20 years ago in NSW on a creekflat which is now my sisters property. It stands 25m high and is magnificent. So I had to plant one here on our property for sentimental reasons. It  also has an edible nut which is delicious.

This tree is another plant from Daleys from last year. It is planted near my fenceline in full sun. We are half way through our long hot dry so it is on a dripper and is watered dailey. We are fortunate to have bore water as without it I would not have half the garden that I do. It is doing well and already a haven for spiders and such that build their webs close to the trunk as the spikey leaves keep the predators at bay.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

^10/10

Comments: -

LILLYPILLY

Another tree from Daleys which has flourished. It has grown over a metre in its first year in the ground. It is planted near my Chinese Elm and the Red Ceddar. I plan for these trees to grow up and create part of my canopy. I also have this tree on a dailey dripper cycle. So far so good the tree has not looked back.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

^10/10

Comments: -

BAY LEAF

I have already used bayleafs from this tree in my cooking - a must for any garden of size. Another Daleys tree that is doing well.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

^9/10

Comments: -

DAVIDSON PLUM

A Daleys plant. I have planted this tree in the partial understorey. It is very slow to take off. I wanted this tree as it is native to the rainforest and I have seen lots of these trees in the wild on the Nth coast of NSW.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

^10/10

Comments: -

NATAL PLUM

I have only just put this one in the ground. It has thorns on it so for some reason I thought it would go well next to my dragon fruit.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Comments: -

LIME

This tree is in a dire need to be pruned especially now after it has finished fruiting. We have had a great season with fresh limes not only going in salads and the odd bit of Asian cooking, but also in all our iced drinks be it water or cordial. Shall miss them until next season.

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

^9/10

Comments: -

AVOCADO

One of four avocado trees planted on a slope for good drainage and in partial shade.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

^10/10

Comments: -

JACK FRUIT

I have planted this tree on a slope for Drainage in dappled to medium sun in my orchard area. It is on dailey watering and so far it is doing well. The Jack fruit is a very attractive tree when mature.

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Mango - Bowen Seedling ^10/10

Comments: -

I decided to go a Bowen mango to add to our other 7 large fruiting mangoes. They go so well here with spectacular fruiting so why not go with a Bowen as well. It is planted on a slight slope on dripper retic. However the other mature trees rely totally on the rainfall or otherwise their roots have tapped into some underground water as I never water them. Mangoes are truly suited to this town with many trees throughout the area all healthy with plenty of fruit.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 8

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Guava Yellow Cherry ^10/10

Comments: -

Sweet juicy Guava s are plentiful from this tree. I think they have self seeded in the garden as there are quite a number of them.

Fruiting Months March and April

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 6

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Carambola Starfruit - Kary ^10/10

Comments: -

This tree was here when we bought the place and is one of my favorites. The kid underneath is one of my best too. He is the youngest  of a blended family of 10, which halve of still live at home. Now you can probably understand why I love to be in my garden. Among other things it is my serenity my peace.

Star fruit abound on this tree nearly all year round there is something happening from its pretty little flowers to its crunchy tart juicy fruit. One of my older boys loves them and eats them whole off the tree. This one is planted in mostly shade between towering bamboo and a large date palm. It is very healthy,prolific fruiter and very pretty. In need of a good prune no dought.

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

Comments: -

CHEESE FRUIT

This is a strange fruit. Picked it up at a local Broome nursery as was intrigued. At that time it had little hard fruit on it not unlike an immature green pine cone. WELL what a surprise. The fruit ripened to a very soft cheesey type colour and consistency. Soft. However the smell was horrible, so bad in fact I was not game to try it this year. Next year I will have physched myself into it.

The tree has large leaves is lush and really growing well. Due to the overall look of it I planted it in low sun with fair bit of shade on a slope. Something really different!!!

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Passionfruit - Panama Sweet Gold (G) ^10/10

Comments: -

Just one of my many passionfruits as you can never have enough. This one is growing up a wire mesh as a screen for our mini orb rock bathroom. The wallabies have taken a bit of a liking to some of them. They prune the passionfruit and the pawpaws but so far have left everything else alone. Fair is fair I suppose as you can t always have it your own way!!!

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 11

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Recent exotics from Daleys ^10/10

Comments: -

This is part of my latest shipment from Daleys which arrived last week in Derby after spending close to a fortnight on the road,. They loved coming out of their boxes however I must say the plants were in great shape on arrival and surprisingly still moist. In the photo from left are the 2 Yellow Mangosteens, Sapodilla,Lychee,Canistel and Kwai Muk. Others that came were Mandrono,Mandarin,Soursop,Achiote,Burdekin Plum,Carob,Cherimoya,Fig Picone and Pecan. This is my second order from Daleys and I have been most satisfied. Considering that Derby you may as well say is on the other side of Australia from Kyogle, especially as they go through Perth quarantine. It is probably one of the longest roadtrips possible and they arrive fine.

The yellow Mangosteins are my favorite - they have such large elongated leaves and look lush and tropical. I hope the Lychee will shine. It is very difficult to accsses these trees here and I don t know of anyone in the district who is growing these types of exoctics. One can only hope that they will do well and also inspire others to give it a try. Now I just have to nuture my new lot through the rest of the dry and heat and plant out in Nov. sometime before the wet. Happy days ahead!!!

Planted: 2011

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

^10/10

Comments: -

CANDLENUT

Purchased from Daleys last year and it made the trip all the way here through Perth and quarantine and arrived as good as can be. A credit to all involved.

A very beautiful little tree with great shaped leaves and is doing well in dappled shade on a slight slope. Have not seen any candlenuts in the local area and I realise they are a bit of a weed problem in North Queensland. Hope I have not started something.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Dwarf Persimmon - Fuyu (NA)

Comments: -

Have recently just put the persimmon in the ground on a slight slope in dappled shade. It flowered and has 4 fruit growing already. The persimmon is a very pretty ornamental tree so will be interesting to see how this one grows up.

Fruiting Months August and September

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2011 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: cow poo and dynamic

Pest Control:

As we live in termite country having the dreaded mastoterme which is the largest and most ferrocious termite in Australia I have had to do something to protect my investment. I dig very large holes in the soft Pindan and coat the holes with Termidour.

Comments: -

BLACK SAPOTE

I have 2 black sapote one stands 1m high and the other is 25m tall. A very attractive tree with a dark straight trunk. The fruit to me is a little bland and does not remind me of chocalate. However I have not really experimented much with it. I do love my tree though the shape, colour of the leaves, the trunk, the height and the lush feeling it has. That is why I have planted the second tree and it is doing very well. I would highly reccomend the black sapote to anyone who has a bit of space. 

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

Papayuelo ^8/10

Comments: -

I purchased 4 plants last year from Daleys as you need both male and female. They are not doing overly well. They seem to sprout and grow new leaves then die off. They have done that 4 times now. Maybe someone might know what the problem is. I certainly have not given up as yet and they are still alive.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Mulberry - Black English (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Our black mulberry is where you will find a lot of them- over the chookyard. A perfect symbiolic relationship. It is only a year old and has the first green fruit on its branch. Trying to decide whether to let grow up as a single trunk or prune it to branch it out. I am a very natural gardener so rarely get the pruners out. Hopefully the tree will do well here. I have seen one in a neighbouring property that is 10 metres high. I have memories of when I was a child of my sister and I being caught not only with purple hands and faces but up the neighbours tree.

Fruiting Months August

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2011 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Organic Status:Organic

^10/10

Comments: -

PAWPAW

We have many Pawpaws and they taste delicious.  They are often called the poor mans banana but here where they grow so well they truly taste exquisite. I think they are an attractive tree with their straight trunk and the foliage suits my tropical garden effect that I am after. Here they grow fast with fruit in their second year. We now have Pawpaws self seeding throughout some parts of the garden. The birds and bats love them so we pick them slightly green. Very easy to grow even from seed and they do love water.

Fruiting Months July, August, September, October

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 30

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly