VIC My Edibles

Blueberry - Blue Rose (Seedling) ^9/10

Comments: -

Update - Just got my first harvest of blueberries! I did lose one to a bird but I quickly netted the plant and protected the rest. The taste of the berries is very subtle with a hint of sweetness and none of the tartness of the store-bought blueberries. 

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Previous update - lots of little fruits have started forming all over where the flowers used to be. I applied some acidic fertiliser once the berries stated started to develop. Looking forward to heaps of tasty fruit, provided the birds don't get to them first!

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I bought this as a seedling from my local nursery this year. After a number of friends had failed attempts with their blueberry plants, I thought I'd give it a go. I did a lot of research before buying it as I had heard that they can be very fussy plants, but hardy, if they like the conditions they're in.

It is important for the soil to be sufficiently acidic. I potted it in a large 50cm glazed pot, with camellia/azalea potting mix and mixed through peat moss (which is acidic). I mulched with pine needles and every now and again throw on ground coffee which also helps to lower the ph in the soil. It's also important to only water with rainwater as tap water can be quite basic with all the chemicals they add to the water these days. 

So far it seems to be doing well. It has grown quite vigorously even in the short time I have had it. It has dropped all its leaves in the winter. Melbourne has had a particularly cold winter so I'm hoping for a good crop this year!

Update - just last week it started flowering following Melbourne's warmest August days on record! The flowers are stunning as you can see in the photo below. I've got my fingers crossed I get some fruit as the flowers are very sensitive to frost and reports of freezing winter days ahead

Check out my blog! www.bloodplum.tk

Fruiting Months January, November, December

Planted: 2011

Growing: In a Pot

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Guava - Strawberry ^7/10

Planted: 2011

Height 1.7 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Apple - Pink Lady (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

I bought this because my kids love pink lady apples.  I had it in a pot for 2years and planted it in the ground 3 years ago.  It is doing very well.  Last year and this year I got one apple.  It is north facing with full sun.  I put seasol twice a year.  Sprinkle cow manure and slow release fertilizer once a year.

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn and Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Black Sapote - Seedling (Seedling)

Planted: 2011

Water Given in: Spring

Question:

Avocado - Hass (A)

Lemon - Meyer (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

Growing in a pot - gift from relative five years ago

Fruiting Months June, July, August, September

Planted: 2006

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 20 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Nil

Question:

Brown Turkey Fig ^10/10

Comments: -

I have two brown turkey figs. Both are in pots. One is having developing figs while the other was thought dead till it started to produce green buds and now leaves. Am very very estatic that it is alive and glad that I did not give up and bin it...It is from Fleming's nursery.

The other one is just another brown turkey fig tree from a normal nursery and was much cheaper.However, this brown turkey tree did far better than the Fleming's in terms of growth/development and in fact figs from both trees taste equally good.

Fruiting Months January, October, November, December

Planted: 2009

Growing: In a Pot

Fruit Harvest: 10 Fruit Per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Worm poo, homemade compost, seasol

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Winter

Pest Control:

No sprays but netting done to deter birds.

Organic Status:Organic

macadami A4 hidden valley frost resistant,cool climate variety

Planted: 2006

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

why cant my macadamia trees have flowers on them,i have hay round them they are in 44 gallon drums,they have dripped iragation on them,each week in summer i water them,they are fertilisered with seasol and dynamic lifter pellets in spring,the trees are healthy green,and have only grow  1 foot in 5 years,can you help me get them to grow and bear flowers,i am in the stawell area in victoria,is there a way to ge them to bear flowers and fruit,and they have been in ground 5 years,shouldnt they be producing by now, thanks for your time

Avocado - Seedling (Seedling)

Comments: -

It hasn't fruited yet

Planted: 2007

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

West Indian Lime (Grafted)

Comments: - I heard that this particular lime has excellent flavours. I don't know how well it will grow in Melbourne but it seem some members had sucess with this particular lime here. 

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: sheep manure and dynamic lift

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control: No pest so far

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

How well does this lime grow in Melbourne weather?

Is there anything special I may need to do to the plants to ensure its success in my garden?

Pepino - Kendall Gold (Cutting) ^7/10

Comments: -

I first saw this fruit growing in my mother in law's garden. She had been given a cutting, stuck it in the ground and it took off like a weed. Hers produced a few small fruit which tasted okay but didn't receive enough sun so not that sweet.  Came across a few plants at the local big chain nursery and decided to plant in pots.  They did okay for awhile in potting mix, on the deck in full sun. Very thirsty plants in summer.  Watered every day or so. Produced a dozen or so large egg shapes fruit which were deliciously sweet and super juicy. My kids gobbled them up- a definite winner!  After a few months, health of plants declined- yellowing, major leaf drop so moved to garden bed alongside shed with a trellis erected.  Massive growth spurt and heaps of flowers and fruit. At the moment enjoyedby slugs/snails/some ants and  maybe a caterpillar- leaves full of holes and some fruits have had holes muched and ants dig inside to the core and ruined some massive fruits.

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

Planted: 2010

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 6

Fruit Harvest: 20 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting, Yearly, Spring

Pest Control:

natrasoap spray  and pyrethrum spray. Will set beer snail traps.

Organic Status:Organic

Pecan - Cherokee (A) SP

Comments: -

wanting graftwood to replace the scion that died

Comments

Hey Speedy, can't help with Cherokee, but next year could swap some Shoshonii (B) if you get the Cherokee going? I only have the one, and even though it's self-pollinating, might be good to have an A on it? (Likewise for you?) What rootstock were you grafting it onto? Cheers, Nathan PS I'm not sure where replies etc come to on here, have not commented before. Maybe CC nathan_poole at haawtmail (replace with hot) dot com if you're interested?

jujube/Red Chinese date (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Jujube, Red Date, or Chinese Date

Italian:'Zinzoli' or 'giuggiola' (jujola)

Korean: daechu

Thai:Poot-sa

Chinese:hong zao

I have 8 trees, two of them 10 years old, the rest are newly planted September 2009.

Very easy to look after, no pruning, pest free, not fussy about soil.  Jujube fruit will dry on the tree after ripening. Dried fruits require no preservative; the tree can go through drought.

In general and also apply to this fruit tree, to get abundant of fruits, water should be given during flowering and fruiting season otherwise fruit embryos will drop.

Fertiliser: Dynamic lifter, blood and bone or aged manure are recommended, a bit at the time  after 4 months in the ground or pot, then every 2 months in growing seasons. Apply Richo brand completed minerals once a year in December as vitamin supplementary.

I was told by a herbalist that this fruit is very good for your health, ranging from purifying your blood to reducing menopause symptom etc.

Personally,  it is a nice sweet fruit to eat, you can eat fresh or dried. Shredded dried fruit that can be added to cereal. You can cook the same way as dried sultana.

Making mildly sweet tea from dried fruit by just dropping a few slices of dried jujube fruits in boiling water. Serve as tea and then eat the residue.

In Thailand,  a drinkcan be made from dried fruit mixed with sugar and hot water, then served chilled.

SWEET JUJUBE (RED CHINESE DATE) GRAFTED TREES FOR SALE

There are 11 varieties to choose from
They are rare but not tropical fruit trees so very suitable for Melbourne, NSW, TAS, Canberra, Southern QLD, SA climates. Grow very well in large pots (50 litres or larger) or in the ground.   I do send interstates.

For more information please contact jujubeforsale@yahoo.com.au

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, December

Planted: 2002

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 8

Fruit Harvest: 4 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

None

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

Hi Nguyet , I want to move my Jujube to another spot in the garden . Should I move it now while it's dormant or wait until spring?

Hi Michael, Yes, You can move your jujube tree in winter (June to August) while they are in dormant. Please make sure your tree is in Full sun location to be able to produce fruits properly.

Betel Leaf ^10/10

Comments: -

Very tasty when wrapped around cooked meat or as a salad.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Peach - Flordagold (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

good taste

Planted: 2010

Water Given in: Winter

Screw Pine Pandanus - Pandanus tectorius

Growing: In a Pot

Cherimoya - White (Cutting) ^5/10

Planted: 2009

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: pig manure

When I Fertilise: Never

Organic Status:Organic

Apple - Pinkabelle (Seedling) ^8/10

Fruiting Months April

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Months from Purchase in Pot

Feijoa (Seedling) ^7/10

Comments: -

I like the taste. It tastes like guava which I ate a lot as a kid in my country as we had a hugh tree.

Fruiting Months January, February, March, December

Planted: 2008

Height 1.8 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting

Pest Control:

othing done so far

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

I have 4 plants.One is 1.8 metre high and it has about 10 - 15 fruits in it first time. Others are very small but 1 tree has only 1 fruit.What is the best time to prune so that it grows upto 1.5 metres high and then branch out. I had a tree like a bush in New Zealand but it never had any fruit for sometime. Oneday I cut some branches only to reduce the area that it was occupying. To my surprise the following year we had a lot of fruits but most of them fell off due to wind (windy Wellington). Some one asked me to put a net under the tree so that they can be collected without soil.

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

Question: Organic measure for cherry slug?

Syzygium corynanthum - Sour Cherry

Comments: -

It requires very little attention, looks terrific with bright red fruit laden branches.  Mine is now about 20ft tall and wide spreading.  It bears tons of cherries - too many for me to pick so round up a few friends to help.  It is at its best about a week before Christmas.  I hardly watered it in the drought and it still survived and fruited well.

Fruiting Months November

Planted: 2003

Water Given in: Summer

When I Fertilise: Never

Question:

I would like to identify the type of cherry.  I was told that it was a Lapin but not sure.  It is self pollinating.  Although the cherries look terrific on tree they are sour so am wondering whether it is a sour cherry.  However if left to fully ripen on tree it becomes darker and sweet but still remains a mahogany colour - not dark like a Stella.  Does anyone recognise it?  I pruned it 2 yrs ago after it fruited and it produced less cherries, but bigger ones and the birds all got them so they must have been sweet as the birds are leaving them alone this year.  They do not split, but I have brown rot in them now because of this unseasonal rainy weather we are having.  As I live in Castlemaine, Vic it is a cold climate and therefore very suitable for cherries with -5 o/n temps.

Lemon - Meyer (Grafted)

Comments: -

This variety is said to be a cross between a lemon and an orange  so it doesn't have the true acidic/sour/tangy factor like  Eurekas or Lisbon, but it's mild sweetness is good for making refreshing drinks.

Planted in the ground in December 2009.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Osmocote, Seasol liquid, comfrey

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Apricot - Moorepark

Avocado - Hass (A) (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - Hass is probably the best variety for cool climates, the pollination in cold weather is outstanding good compared to most Avocados

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

Planted: 2003

Qty: 3

Fruit Harvest: 150 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Water Given in: Spring

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Comments

Hi Jason, did you buy your Avocado from Melbourne? If so, could you let me know where? Thanks in advance, Cam

Pomegranate - Rosavaya (Seedling)

Comments: -

it makes a beautiful sauce

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Water Given in: Spring

Question:

its turning yellow i have 4 seelings two with heaps of leave and two i think are dead, the two with leave one is yellow and the other is green why is it yellow? will it die?

Chilean guava (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

I love the way the bush is neat and small, it can be trimmed into a hedge. The small berry has a rich sweet flavour and can be made into jam if it makes it to the kitchen.

Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 2008

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Never seems to be bothered with pests

Pepino - Kendall Gold (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

I bought the plant at bunnings as a 10 cm high cutting/seedling (unknown), in October 2009.  At first I had in growing in a 40 cm pot but it was not at it's best. It grew bushy and it was very difficult to reach under to water. Plus it was always drying out so had to be watered twice a day if not more. The leaves became all mottled, shrivelled looking, some yellow leaves, and they would drop off if I even looked at it.  It was trying to tell me something. Well it almost had a trip to the dirt bin. Seriously, it was a close call.

Decided to give it one more chance at life It was now mid July 2010 (winter). Had to decide on a position to suit little miss fussy as the Mildura summers reach 45 degrees C and winters get frosty with temps down to minus 3.  I chose a north facing wall with shade from the hot afternoon sun, and protection from winds. On frosty nights I have a shadecloth above which I can extend over the area.

So, dug a hole twice it's pot size, which by now was quite big, 80 cm wide x 80cm deep.  Filled the hole with compost, cow poo, a handful of blood and bone, and a sprinkle of sulphate of potash. Heavy handed I know but I had nothing to lose.  I put up a trellis behind it, 1 metre square to lift the branches up off the ground. This prevents soil borne bugs from moving home into your fruit tree and makes for easier watering. I then pruned it harshly, leaving only three main branches. These were tied to the trellis with soft pantihose. The three fruit were each tied up as well to support their weight. At time of transplanting there were about 15 liliac flower which I expected to drop off, but they did not.

I piled on an extra layer of compost and cow poo around the base of the plant as a mulch, making sure it did not touch the plant's stem.  I gave it a spray of copper oxychloride thinking maybe the leaves had a fungus or some tiny bug i could not see without a telescope. I also planted some coriander, marigolds, and fennel around it to help keep away white flies and other bugs. I put a yellow sticky trap along side it as an extra.  I am trying to do the organic thing in my garden as I cannot bear to harm the ladybirds and good fellers. I do water with seasol two weekly and will do so throughout spring to late summer, dropping off to three weekly in winter. I have heard that the pepino, flowers and fruits all year around, but I will keep this site updated with what happens to my bush.

When I did the pruning, I placed 2 x 10 cm cuttings in pots,(after dipping in root hormone powder), and 4 cuttings floating in water to grow roots. I will monitor which is the easiest and quickest way to propagate more pepino bushes.

It is now late september 2010 and I have just taken a photograph to show how this pepino has flourished. (now 2 months in ground). The leaves are larger, more green and smooth. The fruits have doubled in size,  plus there are more bigger flowers. The fruits even have liliac coloured streaks down them so they are on their way to be eaten. I have just checked for bugs but found none. The yellow sticky trap is full of carcases. Can't wait to taste the fruit.

2 October 2010: update:Found some snails nibbling on the leaves. Apparently this is a potential problem for pepinos. Spread some crushed eggshells around the base of the plant. White fly is another potential problem, but they seem to be stuck to the yellow sticky trap and not infesting my pepino.  I gave the bush a little shake to make the remaining family members take off, straight onto the trap. The fruit are becomming a little more yellow in colour, still no odour, very firm to touch, but measure 12 cm long, and 10 cm round. The cuttings floating in water now have small roots sprouting, whereas the ones in pots have different outcomes. One has died, the other just in limbo. Of course I can't see what is happening under the soil. Time will tell.

Eucalyptus dunnii - Dunns White Gum ^3/10

Lemon - Eureka (Seedling) ^9/10

Comments: -

Always has fruit and is really low maintenance

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

Planted: 2007

Fruit Harvest: 9 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: seasoal every now and then

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

nil

Question:

How can I have more fruit on it?