VIC My Edibles

Kei Apple (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

Doing OK

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Cherimoya - White (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

This fruit formed in autumn this year. I purchased the plant 2 years ago. Last winter, the pot was kept in a glasshouse, but this year it has been outside in a sheltered location. We have had about 20 mild frosts. The fruit has hung on over winter, and I am hoping it will ripen once the weather warms up. This is the first tropival fruit that I have produced in Melbourne.

Fruiting Months April

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 18 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

None

Question:

Can I keep it in a large container?

Avocado - Bacon (B) (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

This Bacon was from Daley's I bought some time late last year. But died due to root rot. I think the plant was too young to aclimatise to the Melbourne's cold weather, even though it was in a pot. My suggestion is either try to get plants from your area or if you are getting from interstate, climatise it well. Also, too much love will certainly kill it. I now have another Bacon, 2 Hass, and a Pinkerton doing very well.

No pruning, unless its really needed.

Peruvian Parsnip (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

Having recently read some Paddington Bear stories, where Paddington grows vegetables and Mrs Brown, the housekeeper, buys the produce from him "for market prices", I decided to encourage my children into the garden by giving them each an old pot and they chose three edible plants each to grow to earn some pocket money! I Having read Stephanie Alexander's praise of home grown parsnips in Gardening Australia, and how different they taste to shop bought ones, that was one of our selections. We've never grown them before and we are watching their progress with baited breath!

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 6

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: when planted

Vietnamese mint (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: - This is a very useful plant; can be used in salads, wraps, curries, broths, etc.  It is an essential ingredient in a favourite Asian dish of ours called "Assam Laksa" which is a rice noodle dish in a fish broth that is spicy and sour.  I've planted a cutting behind our water tank and it has just flourished there with very little care...I just water it occassionally.  We've been able to share the plant with many of our friends who are amazed at how well it is doing.  The vietnamese mint doesn't keep well after cutting so it is really a great herb to plant your own.

Planted: 2009

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control: No pests so far...

Organic Status:Organic

Comments: -

finger lime

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Rhubarb - Silvan Giant (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

After planting in winter 2008 and thinking I had lost it, I came out one day to find new leaves bursting through.  Although it says not to over pick in the first year to encourage growth I found that we had so much that we couldn't pick enough to keep up with it.  My family has enjoyed many tasty dishes and I am sure there will be many more tom come.

Planted: 2008

Height 75 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Blood and bone

Pest Control:

None

Berry - Thornless Loganberry (Seedling) ^7/10

Comments: - Great tasting fruit, always get loads at christmas from Wife's grandmother

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Autumn and Winter

Pruned By: 50% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: blood and bone

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control: None needed.

Question: It's not growing much in the pot, what are the sun/shade conditions it likes in Melbourne?

Pepino - Kendall Gold

Yacon - Apple of the Earth (Seedling) ^9/10

Comments: -

Yacon is crisp crunchy root vegetable which has a sweet taste. While it is not a very exciting looking plant (think bulbous yam) and it is not high in nutritous value, its sweet crunchy texture mean it can be used raw or lightly cooked in either sweet ot savouy dishes. I have used it in all manner of stir frys cut into chunks or small batons and quickly  heated at the end of the cooking. In desserts it has been grated or chopped up and added raw to asian and middle eastern style desserts.It has a clean sweetish crunchy teaxture which goes well with coconut milk or custardy flavours.

Yacon was very easy to grow just plant out the bulblets that form at the base of the plant in late spring In Melbourne) after the threat of frost or plant earlier under a cloche. The plants here grew to about 2 metres in the first season and were interplanted with globe artichokes along a NW facing fence line. They are dug up when the plant dies down in winter, the large root tubers can be stored for several weeks in a cool dry place. Tubers can be left in the ground and each plant dug up as needed. The bulblets at the base of the plant are set aside to divide up and replant in spring. These bulblets can be stored in wet sand or planted out in pots and kept out of the frost in sunny sheltered spot or a hothouse.

Fruiting Months June and July

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 8 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost dug in before planting

Pest Control:

Did not have any great problems with pests, noticed whitefly at one stage but the hot weather took care of them!

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

I believe that there are a number of different varieties and was wondering how I could get hold of some different types

Persimmon - Fuyu (NA)

Comments: -

I love the fruit and the family does too. As a kid we had the astringent variety (far too furry to eat and I hated it) Now we have the non-astringent variety & they are just beautiful.....just like apples but much smoother & sweeter. Healthwise, they r suppose to be very high in anti-oxidents.  And they look soooo good - plump, shiny and I intend to espalier my plant along a fence. I was told Fuyu is one of the better variety to grow esp in the cool climate of Warburton Victoria. Another way to eat it is to wait till they r really ripe and spoon it over ice cream (like a thick sauce). Persimmon also keep very well, as long as 3-4 weeks from date of purchase (if u can restrain from them too quickly!)

Apple - Pinkabelle (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

the fruit is so fresh and tasty when picked straight of the tree, the tree only grows about 2 metres, so nice and compact.

Fruiting Months January and December

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 2 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting

Pest Control:

nothing at all

Organic Status:Organic

Orange - Arnold Blood (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

I love blood organges, they're my favorite. This tree is new but growing quickly and I'm just watching and looking forward to when it gets some fruit

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Question:

It's growing in a large wine barrel, what is a good practice to fertilize?

is there something I should do to pollinate?

Avocado - Hass (A)

Planted: 2010

Height 5 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Question: I planted my tree about 2 months ago at the most, it is about 5 ft tall and now it has very sad droopy leaves, any suggestions as to why this is happening, it isnt thirsty but it looks like it hasnt been watered for ages, help.

Chickpea ^5/10

Comments: -

It is a legume for nitrogen fixing, a pretty feathery leaf and hopefully some chickpeas in the future!

Planted: 2010

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Organic Status:Certified

Question:

How long does it take to get peas?

Parsley ^10/10

Comments: -

tastes great easy to grow self seeds

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

Planted: 2003

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 300

Fruit Harvest: 70 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Months From Seed

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

none

Organic Status:Organic

Orange - Washington Navel (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

My orange tree is only one year old and I have only had one orange from it but the taste was beautiful. I dont know if its my imagination or not but home grown fruit and vegetables taste soooooooooooo much better. I am hoping for a few more oranges this year. I have two kumquats in pots doing well and I make spoon sweets (Greek), marmalade and liqueure from them. When my son was about four he used to love popping a kumquat into his little sisters mouths and watching their faces.  I also have a fig tree, also one year old, and I had about six yummy figs. Also good for jam and desserts or just to eat fresh.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 5

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

havent had to use anything yet.

Question:

Tamarillo - Red (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

the tree produces hundreds of fruits, excellent quality and full of vitamin c

Fruiting Months May, June, July, August

Planted: 2007

Height 3.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 12 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

nothing

Question:

I would like to know how to grow from seeds, this tree just grew into my garden obviously from a bird dropping. had no luck sprouting my own yet

Persimmon - Fuyu (NA) (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Delicious fruits, low maintenance tree, no deceases so far, no sprays

Fruiting Months February, March, April, May

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 4 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pruned By: 15% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Blood and bones

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting

Question:

Bell Chilli

imperial mandarin (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

Taste of fruit, kids eat them constantly when in season!

Planted: 2010

Height 0.8 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 5% in After Fruiting and Spring

Fertiliser or Organics Used: blood and bone

When I Fertilise: Winter

Question:

How many years until it will bare fruit?

Pepino - Kendall Gold (Cutting) ^8/10

Planted: 2008

Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 10 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 3 Months after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pruned By: 90% in After Fruiting

Fertiliser or Organics Used: organic

Mulberry - Black English (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

Eat fruit straight from the tree while working in the shed or enjoying the back yard, I have espalliered the tree to cover an unattractive fence and as it is a fast grower it has achieved this well. Low maintenance and easy to look after.

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

Planted: 2008

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2009 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Searles 5 in One

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

None

Organic Status:Certified

Comments

Babaco ^8/10

Comments: -

I love Paw Paw and I thought this was similar so I agreed to look after a young plant my son gave me when he moved overseas. Had in pot for 12 months and in July 2008 planted in my garden. I don't have a green thumb & had to Google regularly to learn about plant. I actually killed it (so I thought) and decided to leave the trunk in the soil. I kept feeding it my lovely compost and protected from strong Bay winds in Mornington. To my surprise...it sprouted little shoots from the dead trunk. Now its 1 1/2 M high and full of fruit. Picture attached.

Fruiting Months April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 10 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: chook manure from my chooks

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

none required so far.

Question:

Why are leaves scruffy and have patches of yellow on leaves? Is it iron deficiency?

Cherry - Stella

Comments: - Self-fertile.  Hoping the cherry is a pretty tree.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic