SueBee's Edible Backyard

Joined: 26/02/12 Updated: 27/04/23 Frost:
Location: HILLMAN

About My Edible Backyard

Why SueBee Love's Edible Plants

Organic gardening in my burgeoning  food forest is my reward after many hard years of working. Nestled in the lee of an extinct volcano I have fertile loamy soil, an annual rainfall that is reliable plus three water tanks I have added and soon a bore.

Biggest learning curve is bug control , a wet year sees influx of millions of snails and a dry year sees zillions of harlequin bugs infest the entire garden. Being adjancent to farmland means I have no control over breeding areas for these pests .

Two large 100 year old oak trees (Quercus Robur) on the south boundary  give shade and shelter for wood heap, compost bins and chookshed. Apples,pears, almonds and nectarines,loquats are prolific as are apricot and cherries.Peaches both died after a late planting.Lemon tree is doing OK.Raspberries and Pineapple Guava, Goji berries and blueberry all taking shape very quickly. Grapes in pots waiting to grow onto chookyard soon to be built.

Aspect is North & west for most sun. Large neighbouring trees throw a lot of shade from north side so afternoon sun is most reliable from west.Winds come from south west and sheltered by oaks and chookpens.

8x3mt frogpond soon to be installed with a solar pump.They can deal with the snails!

Comments

SueBee says... [2692 days 9hrs ago]

Ended up with a divided pond which is wrapped around the gazebo on thhree sides. Had to divide pond as liner was not long enough but worked well as fish and edibles in one and frogs and ornamentals in the other.Snails still a problem after a wet winter,pond very successful and growing edible bacopa,Water parsley and Taro in it as well as ornamentals.Fish love it and frogs sing in their pond too.

alan14 says... [2540 days 5hrs ago]

hi sue...are you in tweed heads near Mt Warning. I am interested in that you grow Lapin cherries I thought they where high chill but surely tweed is low chill?

SueBee says... [2539 days 4hrs ago]

Hi Alan,No I am in SW Victoria so lots of cool wet weather for cherries.

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Fruit Tree Forum Contributions

SueBee Forum Contributions
Loquat advice for a blackthumb - I would put it straight in the ground and just watch it take off in Cairns. They can grow very big so judicious pruning either to keep pickable / shrubby or as a tall shade tree by lopping lower branches off.No matter whiich there will be more pruning lat..1645 days 4hrs
Loquat advice for a blackthumb - I have two large loquats that do not require watering and lots of seedlings in pots that do.I doubt the brittle nature of branches will allow you to espalier them though.Once in the ground it will grow very fast -they tend to sit in pots but grow away in ..1647 days 9hrs
Aristotelia chilensismaqui berry - I am on the lookout for a second Maqui as my first has done little since I planted it in 2016.I am sure it needs a 'friend'. It is now about 1 mt high and wide but doing nothing but grow slowly. Maybe a better site in more sun needed? It is in partial sha..2176 days 11hrs
Maqui berry - Does anyone know where Maqui is available in 2018 in Australia...by mail order or Bunnies? I am in country Victoria. Thanks..2176 days 11hrs
Pear tree with thorns - Probably an ornamental Pear by the sound of it. My Manchurian Pear has done the same thing..straight tall 4 metres in less than 2 years ,big thorns.I am going to cut it down low this winter and dig it up for a Bonsai. ..2177 days 7hrs

Fruit Tree Forum Likes

SueBee has LIKED the following:
Group order myrica rubra chinese yumberry - I grow seedling yangmei plants and find that fertiliser in any amount kills them. As an added measure I installed a chlorine filter in the irrigation. Others who grow them have noted that putting leaf litter around under the trees enhances the mycorrhyza ..Liked Answer 2604 days 11hrs

Raspberry - Heritage (Seedling) ^6/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2632 days 9hrs

Comments: -

Prolific fruiting and easy propagation for increasing supply of plants.

Fruiting Months January and December

Planted: 2013

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 40

Fruit Harvest: 5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 90% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Worm tea and compost

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

None though I do have a problem with Harlequin bugs eating the fruit at harvest.

Organic Status:Organic

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4 of 10 people found this review useful

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Lemon - Lisbon (Grafted) ^10/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2635 days 7hrs

Comments: -

Almost Everbearing.  Seems to always have some lemons on the way and ripening except for a month or two a year. Kept pruned low to ensure easy picking, open vase shaped centre. Planted in middle of vegie bed to ensure good watering and no weed competition.Ocassionally grow lettuce and radish underneath to keep soil loose. lemon balm close by seems to help with  bug prevention.

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

Planted: 2010

Height 2.5 metres

Qty: 2

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 10% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and composted manures

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

none so far lucky to have little problems.

Organic Status:Organic

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Elderberry ^8/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2635 days 7hrs

Comments: -

Fast growing, nice bushy shrub easily pruned to shape and size.propagates from cuttings so easy to increase quantity for hedging. Both fruit and flowers can be used both medicinally and as pantry stores- eg jellies, syrups etc.

Fruiting Months January and February

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 20% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

none.Birds like the friut.

Organic Status:Organic

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Grape - Menindee Seedless (Grafted) ^9/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2635 days 7hrs

Comments: -

Prolific bearing, good coverage over arch in 2 years.Easy to prune back in winter.Lovely sweet grapes. Birds and possums a problem.

Fruiting Months February and March

Planted: 2014

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 50% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Composted manures.

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

none though caterpillars can be a problem , so far not too bad.Pick off when I see them.

Organic Status:Organic

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Peach -Golden Queen (Grafted) ^9/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2635 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Prolific bearer after only two years in ground. Grows large if not kept pruned.Good bottling peach.

Fruiting Months February, March, April

Planted: 2014

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 20% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly and Spring

Pest Control:

Pheromone strips to deter moths hung in nearby apple trees.Chooks run under tree to deter bugs. Curly leaf a problem, sprayed with  Copper Fungicide each year  before budburst.

Organic Status:Organic

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Cherry ,Sir Don (Grafted) ^7/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2635 days 8hrs

Comments: -

 Good  bearer with nice upright growth.Needs to be kept in check or can grow too tall. Natural vase shaped tree.Cherries are firm dark and sweet. Bearing just beginning so no details on quantity as yet. Birds a problem so needs netting a from late Spring onwards until harvest. Pear & Cherry slug can decimate leaves so soapy spray fortnightly  is best.

Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 2015

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 2 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 10% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and chook manure

When I Fertilise: Yearly and Spring

Pest Control:

pear & Cherry Slug are a problem. Spray fortnightly with soapy water with a little olive oil included.

Organic Status:Organic

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Red Currant (Cutting) ^9/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2662 days 7hrs

Comments: -

fast to fruit, this is first year fruiting just about to ripen.

A few weeks later not a currant to be seen as I had a visit by a lot of flying foxes after my loquats but they also found the currants.GRRRR

Fruiting Months January and December

Planted: 2015

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 10% in Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: worm tea and home made liquid fertiliser

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Snail control (pellets)

Organic Status:Organic

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Cherry - Lapins (Grafted) ^8/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2662 days 7hrs

Comments: -

Good bearing and controllable to netting height. Birds,possums and flying foxes all try and beat me to them though. I have also planted a Sir Don Cherry, A dark sour cherry and a Stella for cross pollination and longer harvest time. I preserve by drying,plus in brandy and make jams and chutneys with my cherries.

Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 2013

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Fruit Harvest: 3 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 25% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Worm tea

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

I use soapy water regularly to control Pear & Cherry Slug.

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

How low can I keep them pruned?

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Hazelnuts - Halls Giant ^5/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2692 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Have three planted of differing varieties and have moved two to a better site (less wind). They seem to be happier now and growing well. I will move the Cosford next winter to the same area. I did originally plant them as a hedge but the wind burned them in summer and they just sat there suffering.No nuts as yet.

Planted: 2014

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Cosford

Pest Control:

None

Question:

How long before I can harvest nuts?

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Nashi Pear - Shinseiki ^9/10

SueBee's Edible Fruits
Update: 2692 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Amazingly fast growing and prolific bearing after just two year in ground.More than I can eat plus neighbours.Birds a problem if they find first.

Fruiting Months March, April, May

Planted: 2014

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 30 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: none

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

Hang Pheromone strips in trees from winter to deter Codling Moth.

Organic Status:Organic

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3 of 3 people found this review useful

Comments

ajedi2k1 says... [1510 days 21hrs ago]

looks beautiful. do you think I will get fruit in Sydney with limited chill hours?

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