My Edibles: Berry Vines WA

Lycium Chinense/Chinese Wolfberry (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

A hardy plant, easy to grow and has nice flowers but be aware of thorns. Cutting made from my old plant which expired just after planting this beauty into the ground. Last plant was in a pot under the patio, had the last one since 2005. Great little plant if kept trimmed and controlled. Young leaves good in soups.

Notice leaves are different from the Africian Boxthorn and the popular Lycium Barbarum which can now be found in Geraldton's Bunnings outlet for $27.95, last checked 25/01/12.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Comments

I don't remember seeing berries after flowering therefore for a long while didn't know I had a rather precious plant (was special anyway to me). I only harvested the young leaves.

Guava - Strawberry (Seedling) ^3/10

Comments: -

Four little plants from Bunnings, planted quite close together (just over 1m apart as I'm hoping to create a dense hedge) in 2010. I've loaded them with compost and some blood & bone. Hopefully the soil improvements will be enough - but the soil is very poor and likely to stunt their growth (hence planting them so close)! They really don't appear to enjoy large amounts of WA sun (they will be blasted in summer) so I'm hoping they can make it. I've recently tasted a few strawberry guavas in my grandfather's yard in Melbourne. Delicious ... I hope that in time mine are as tasty!

They are quite fast growers, doubling in size in less than 6 months. They appear to be quite bushy - they tips are already touching (which is good from my perspective - a dense hedge is exactly what I want). I've tip pruned to encourage strength rather than straggly. Flowers and baby fruit have already appeared (October 2010)

I'm actually not thrilled with these guys. They all have the yellow guava instead of the pink, and they are getting hit by disease quite hard. They might end up being relocated (and replaced with a known feijoa) or 'donated'. Not a bad looking plant ... but just not the flavour I wanted.

Jan 2012 - tough as old boots, fruit well ... but boring.

Planted: 2010

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

None so far

Organic Status:Partially Organic

raspberry - Unknown

Comments: -

I actually thought I had killed this plant, but it has bounced back for spring (in August). The plant was purchased to cultivate my husband's appreciation of gardening (as he is a fan of raspberries). I'll be interested to see how well it crops given the mild winter. I've thrown on loads of coffee in the hope this will assist with nutrients and moisture retention. I must confess it is in the 'forgotten corner' next to the compost bin (where I was going to put it when I thought it was dead) so it is probably not optimum for light! Although the WA sun is crisping any leaves that sneak out of the dark corner! The plant does not appear to love the pot (it isn't fruting much) and I'm wondering if it really is a plant for me.

It is probably my husband's favorite plant, and he has plonked it in the ground near the avocado as of May. Perhaps it will give him some raspberries in summer.

Alas, as of Jan 2012 there are no raspberries. the plant fails to thrive despite being in the optimum soil, getting plenty of water and attention. I think it is just a Bunnings dud and quite probably nearing the end of its life - leaves are very healthy, but each year it responds less and less ... perhaps just age?

Planted: 2010

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 80% in Autumn and Winter

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

None - I've not seen any pests yet

Question:

Mulberry - Black Shahtoot? (Cutting)

Comments: -

A cutting from a tree growing wild on an undeveloped block I hope to nurture this plant and put it in the naturestrip. The fruit are delicious (although nothing beats the Black English) and the parent plant has survived years of neglect and no water in unimproved soil (at least 10 metres above the water table) so the cutting should be tough! I'm planning on espilaring it against the fence (in a pot) and keeping a close eye on the berries to prevent paver stains.

Maybe my husband won't notice!

From a 10cm cutting in November 2010 it is now 1m high in October 2011 and covered in fruit. Clearly a tough weed (that will never be released from a pot!) By Jan 2012 it has its second crop of fruit (I've not seen such a thing before) and is 1.5m high. This plant is a weed!! I intend to plant it out on the verge come autumn as it cannot stay in the pot (it will stain pavers and grows too quickly).

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Dwarf Mulberry - Red Shahtoot (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

I love the fruit they are always nice, sometimes fruits 2 times yum. likes perth climate.

Fruiting Months October and November

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 20% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: dynamic lifter

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

hand removal of slugs

Organic Status:Organic

Marionberry

Silvanberry

Blueberry Ash - Prima Donna

Berry - Boysenberry

Strawberry Gum

Comments: -

lack of water

Blueberry - Reveille

Comments: -

Didn't like the soil or position. All blueberries have now been planted in pots buried in the ground. Replaced this one with Climax

New plant purchased via mail order in 2009. Large quantity of cow manure added to sandy soil  sodium bentonite (clay, stock feed) for moisture/prevent water repellency. Pine needle mulch flowers of sulphur to decrease soil pH (Blueberries like acid soils).

Note blueberries will prefer some shelter from sun- particularly in warmer climates (e.g. Perth).

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pruned By: 25% in

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Azalea and camellia mix

When I Fertilise: Spring

Dwarf Mulberry - Black (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

Purchased this in 2008 as I enjoy mullberries but don't have the room left in the yard for a full sized tree. Growing this in half a wine barrel will keep the tree dwarfed and I'll still get a "taste" of fruit off it.

Reasonably heavily pruned due to being in pot. Grows faster than the Black English and isn't as suitable for pot culture in my opinion

2010- I've revised my opinion of this- the vigorous growth means heaps of mulberries off the new growth. Pruned this in late summer when I repotted it into a larger pot (note to self- termites love half wine barrels left in damp gardens). Got an early autumn crop of mulberries from the new growth!!

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 3 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pruned By: 50% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Slow release

When I Fertilise: Spring

Raspberry - Heritage (Cutting) ^7/10

Comments: -

Don't taste as good as the summer fruiting varieties (drier fruit produced in my climate) removed to be replaced with Chilliwack and Williamette (Which I already have growing as well)

Planted in winter of 2008 and fruited that year. I only started off with 5 canes and expect to get 3 times that amount this year. An autumn fruiting variety that needs to be cut off at ground level after fruiting finishes in late autumn/early winter. In my climate (hot summers, sandy soils) does not do as well as the earlier fruiting varieties as the soil tends to dry out so the berries become drier and less sweet (it's easier to keep the varieties that fruit in sprin/early summer moist).

However- the late berries that appear in autumn (during first autumn rains) do improve in juiciness and quality- and having this variety does extend my cropping period

Does prefer some shelter from afternoon/hot sun. This is planted in the coolest/wettest part of my garden- with a retaining wall and fence to the north, shorter wall and fence to the east and plum tree planted to the south. The grass in this area used to get moss growing on it in winter.

Lots and lots of organic matter, bentonite clay added (to sandy soil) to keep them moist. This variety does have prickly thorns.

Fruiting Months February, March, April, May

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Fruit Harvest: 0.25 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 6 Months after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pruned By: 95% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

strawberry guava ^8/10

Comments: -

Didn't like the flavour or the large seeds with little flesh- removed the tree

Planted in 2008 and has grown rapidly with first fruit in Autumn/winter of 2009. Had me fooled for a while as the fruit were going yellow and dropping off. I've since discovered that I have the yellow variety of strawberry guava (not red) and the yellow fruit are ripe. (Definitely a strawberry guava due to large seed size)

Planted: 2008

Height 0.5 metres

Fruit Harvest: 0.5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Autumn and Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

Mulberry - White Shahtoot

Planted: 2010

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Midyim Berry

Comments: -

not sure

Pollination: No

Mulberry - Black English

Pollination: No

Cranberry

Comments: - Struggled along then died

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Blueberry - Sharpblue

Comments: -

Labelled as Sharpe. Bought in small pot Dec 2009. Potted up Dec 22 (the rightmost plant). Mix of commercial grade unfertilized potting mix, peat conditioning mix (~half-half), plus some zeolite, spongelite, cow manure, pine fines, coffee grounds and a final squirt of lemon juice. Have azalea slow release fertilizer for use when its adjusted to the new pot. Some leaf damage jan 2010 - maybe a grasshopper? Flowering August 2010, was a bit late with fungicide spray. Still young, so thinned fruit and flowers mid september, only leaving a handful to taste.

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Blueberry - Misty

Comments: -

Bought in small pot Dec 2009. Potted up Dec 22. Mix of commercial grade unfertilized potting mix, peat conditioning mix (~half-half), plus some zeolite, spongelite, cow manure, pine fines, coffee grounds and a final squirt of lemon juice. Have azalea slow release fertilizer for use when its adjusted to the new pot. pH rose to 7, so iron sulphate used to lower it longer term. Flowering August 2010, was a bit late with fungicide spray. Still young, so thinned fruit and flowers mid september, only leaving a handful to taste.

Planted: 2009

Height 40 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pest Control:

copper spray, pest oil, lime sulfur as needed

Goji Berry

Comments: - Lost it's leaves over winter-? might reshoot in spring??

Planted: 2009

Pollination: Self Pollination

Cape Gooseberry ^10/10

Comments: -  Cape Gooseberries are so easy to grow. You just bury one of the fruits (you can probably grow them from cuttings too but I've never bothered) and water occasionally.  The require no maintenance at all, although you may need to cut the plants back because they grow so vigorously and you will get new plants self seeding from fallen fruit every year. The fruit are very attractive and fun to pick as the fruit grow individually inside paper lantern-like cases. When fresh the fruit resemble a cherry tomato and are very juicy with a sharp/sweet flavour, reminiscent of apricots. The fruit can also be left to dry on the bush (although many will fall when ripened before drying out). When dry the fruits a wrinkled and somewhat leathery with a much sweeter flavour. Kids love to pick and eat these.    

Planted: 2010

Height 0.7 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 6 Months From Seed

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:  

Question:  I've been told that it can be harmful to eat unripe Cape Goosberry fruits. Do you know if this is true? 

Blueberry - Northland

Comments: -

Bought in mid size pot Dec 2009. Potted up Dec 22. Mix of commercial grade unfertilized potting mix, peat conditioning mix (~half-half), plus some zeolite, spongelite, cow manure, pine fines, coffee grounds and a final squirt of lemon juice. Have azalea slow release fertilizer for use when its adjusted to the new pot. Affected by scale autumn 2010. The other two are flowering in august 2010, this still looks like brown twigs with poor looking buds. Might not be happy

Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Strawberry - Hokowase

Comments: -

From one original Bunnings pot in 2008. Propagated over 20 plants in 2009 and kept about half. Hanging baskets and planter boxes. Mulch well in winter to get (earlier) spring fruit. Putting out runners Feb 2010 after fruiting later and less than I'd like. One plant pushed out first 2 flowers mid august 2010. Giving them liquid feeds now

Planted: 2008

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 12

Question:

Quite a lot of red (and then dead?) leaves heading into winter. Is this normal? What do you do to get strawberries going again early in spring?

Comments

Brad, do you prune your strawberry plants since 2008? What do you feed them with? I have a pot of strawberry delight. Got two plants out of it so far and more runners coming. Just wondering what I should with them when the weather starts to cool down.

Hi au0rey... not sure how to reply so that I know you'll see it.... if you want to propagate the runners, wait until you see crowns form. You can tease these up and if they have roots, pot them up. If you cut the runners too early, you'll likely lose the plants. If you want the original plant to continue flowering over summer, cut the runners that come, when you see them. To answer your question, I only removed tired leaves (generally sunburnt). I let all runners go in 2008 from the pot shown below and I propagated those in 2 batches. This year I've no use for runners, so I'll remove them, but they haven't come yet (probably because I didn't mulch over winter and they've been slow to get going)

Hi Brad, thanks so much! I 'favourited' your page and check regularly to see if you had replied. :)My plant is having like 5 runners. For the 1st runner, I potted it before seeing roots and my son actually knocked it over one day and I saw roots, so i cut it off from the parent. I suppose it would be self-sufficient thereafter. That same runner also produced another baby so I potted that one as well. Would that be good idea? Yesterday I potted 3 other runners as they do have leaves (not sure if that is called crown) and pegged them down with wires. It's making a guess if they are ready to be cut off from the parent. I mean I cant have my son knocking it over again to see the roots haha.. So now I know from your advice, wait for the roots to appear before potting. If i do not trim off runners, does that mean smaller fruits?

Hi au0rey. Last first, no I don't think you'll get smaller fruits. But the plant will put energy into the runners rather than more flowers and fruit, so you'll get less. If a new plant has a runner attached, the energy drain on the small amount of roots might be too much. So only cut it away from the main plant when all the runners can be cut. It sounds like yours are going great. best of luck

Thanks Brad! :)

Hi Brad, how deep is your planter above..the one with 4 strawberry plants in it...can the plants in that planter last through at least one year without repotting? Do you know if strawberry have shallow or deep roots? Thanks loads!

Hi again. This thing really needs to alert me to comments... I only planted out this year. I'm sure you can go at least one year. That planter is not deep at all, ~20cm, I'd say. I've also got 2 self-watering pots in that rectangle shape of similar size. The roots do get to the bottom. The round hanging basket also has roots come through to the water resevoir. So far they seem to like it.

Cape Gooseberry (Seedling) ^9/10

Comments: -

Very rootbound when I first planted it.  Hopefully will survive. It lives!!!  Starting to get much new growth. 

This bush is goung berzerk.  Must love the location

Height 20 Centimetres

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Raspberry - Chilliwack

Pollination: No

Berry - Thornless Blackberry

Berry - Marionberry

Berry - Silvanberry

Silvanberry

Planted: 2009

Pollination: Self Pollination