Lyn1's Edible Backyard

Joined: 26/11/08 Updated: 07/01/11 Frost:
Location: West Haven

About My Edible Backyard

Hi, I moved to West Haven almost 10 years ago and during the last 4 years have been converting my small backyard to edible fruiting plants. 

Our soil is virgin soil of around 5 to 6ph but we live on the side of a mountain and for some reason everything grows twice as fast & bigger than normal. i.e. Paw paw seed planted in early spring will mature & produce fruit within 6 months.

Our annual rainfall is reasonably low as the mountain faces north and the rain from the south mostly misses us, I often have to water by hand.

My biggest challenge is trying to beat the fruit fly and the birds to the fruit that I grow and to keep the trees from growing too high and blocking my neighbours view.

My greatest rewards are seeing the plants thrive & produce then being able to use them and share them with  family & friends.

I find the ABC Gardening Australia Magazine, Sub Tropical Gardening and  the Organic Gardening Magazines very helpful.

Comments

Papaya - Southern Red (Seedling)

Comments: - Grew very fast from seedling & fruited within the first year.  Fruit very large football size, red/pink inside with small seed cavity and very sweet flavour.   I watered it when needed and fertilized about every 3 months.  Fruit ripened late summer.  I pruned the plant at 1 meter by pinching out the top 2-3cms.  This makes it branch out and not grow so tall, although it does set back the growth a bit.  It now has four heads and this year has fruit forming on each one.

Fruiting Months May and June

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 8 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic Lifter/Blood

When I Fertilise: Yearly and Spring

Pest Control: None used

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Brazilian Cherry (Seedling)

Comments: -

Planted about 3 years ago, flowered & fruited the first year. 

Fertliize with Blood & Bone & Dynamic Lifter mix two or three times a year.

Water when dry.

Plant is approximately  1m x 1m in size now and produces fruit all through the warm months of the year.  Fruit appears quickly after flowering and ripens very fast.   Best eaten when bright Orange/red for the nicest flavour.  The fluffy white flowers look pretty on the bush,and the fruit look like bright orange chinese lanterns.

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

No Pest Control Used

Grumichama - Black

Comments: -

Purchased 3 plants about 3 years ago,  2 Black & 1 Yellow.   They are all doing well but as yet no flowers or fruit.   I Water them when needed and fertilize about 3 times a year with Blood & Bone & Dynamic Lifter mix.  They are growing in the light shade of my Pawpaw trees as are most of my smaller fruiting plants and appear to be quite happy.

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

No Pest Control Used

Pollination: No

Comments: -