Justin1's Edible Backyard

Joined:26/11/08 Updated:01/09/15 Frost:
Location: COBURG

About My Edible Backyard

Why Justin1 Love's Edible Plants

I am planning to have an almost entirely edible (or at least useful) garden. Currently renovating the house so am a bit limited. Most of my plants are growing in pots. Growing everything organically.

Quite windy where I am, so plan to grow windbreaks (feijoa hedge, and possibly a citrus hedge). I have also found, through internet research, that the following trees are wind-tolerant so I'll try a mixture of these as a windbreak also. Apparently having a mix of trees in the windbreak is beneficial in case some biological or physical event affects one of the plants (if they were all the same you'd suddenly end up without a windbreak).

Syzygium tierneyanum (lillypilly)
Jambus (as a hedge)
Feijoa
Sapodilla (can withstand cyclones)
Jakfruit (but not likely to grow in Melbourne, I think).
Arrowroot   (but small)
Brazilian Cherry
Citrus
Guava
Loquat
Natal Plum
Olive
Small Leaved Lilly Pilly
Seedling avocadoes
Seedling macadamias
Some fruit-bearing natives

My wish list is:

avocadoes: Fuerte and Hass together in one hole
Secondo and Reed and Sharwill (B) in another hole (Sharwill is a good pollinator for Reed and Secondo)
Apparently Mexican rootstock is the most cold tolerant. Daleys seem to stock Guatemalan rootstock which has average cold-tolerance. So I may get my avocados from Daleys, or elsewhere if I can find Mexican rootstock.
Canistel - Emma (cold hardy), no pollinator required. Canistel grows to 8m
Cherimoya - one of each (White, and Fina de Jete)
Green Sapote - Schnyder
Sapodilla
Lucuma (where can I find this?)
Longan
Pomegranate
White sapote (but may not have enough space for it, unless it can grow in a pot).
Black Sapote - Maher (because it's small)
Almond
Plum
Mandarin
Almond
Pears
Apples
Peaches
Lemon
Ugli fruit (don't know where to find this one)
Some of the windbreak trees above
Would love to grow jacfruit but I doubt it would survive in Melbourne (tried one from seed that grew quite well for 6 months, but died, I think from lack of humidity).
Star apple (but again, may not do well in Melbourne)

The soil here is failry sandy at the top, but with a clay base.

Comments

Fruit Tree Forum Contributions

Justin1 Forum Contributions
Mango leaf problems - Thanks for that, I will definitely try it. I did wonder about zinc deficiency and applied some trace elements around the root zone and watered in. The R2E2 has responded well, the Royal Red not at all. My other suspect is anthracnose. But I'll try ..2359 days 8hrs
Mango leaf problems - Can anyone identify the problems in my young (2 years in the ground) mangoes? 1. New growth is pale (almost white) with a few blemishes. Normally the new growth is red. 2. Leaves are breaking down from the mid-ribs. This is occurring on 2 differen..2379 days 14hrs
What type of orange is this - Are you sure it is an orange? Tangelo (var Minneola) has the "nipple". https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/buy/tangelo-minneola-tree.htm..2502 days 6hrs
New lychee variety - For those who have tasted Erdon Lee, how would you rate it compared to other top quality lychees? Are there better tasting lychees? How about compared to Salathiel? Thanks...2572 days 17hrs
Which fruit trees can be grown in - In the subtropics I'm finding the two best performers in clay to be Panama Berry and Ice-cream bean. Mango is also supposed to tolerate it and they are everywhere, so I'm planting that next. Sesbania is another good one - not a fruit per se, but is some..2709 days 11hrs

Plum - Santa Rosa ^9/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: - Good cropper. Nice juicy fruit. Need to net to protect from birds. Tends to crop about 3 weeks before Mariposa (not sure if this is due to the variety or due to position).

Fruiting Months January and December

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Pollination: No

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6 of 14 people found this review useful

Plum - Mariposa ^10/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: - Huge cropper of massive, super juicey fruit. No care needed except for netting to protect from birds.

Planted: 2010

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

Pest Control: None

Organic Status:Organic

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6 of 10 people found this review useful

Avocado - Secondo ® (A)

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: - Fruiting first time this year (after about 6 years). Still not as prolific as Hass.

Fruiting Months August, September, October

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: No

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4 of 11 people found this review useful

Avocado - Fuerte (B) ^3/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Produces about 1 avocado per year. :-(

UPDATE 2015: First real crop this year of about 10 fruit. Great flavour and texture.

Fruiting Months August, September, October

Planted: 2009

Qty: 2

Pollination: No

Pest Control: None

Organic Status:Organic

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4 of 8 people found this review useful

Tamarillo - Red ^6/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Originally started growing in a pot, but I couldn't get the drainage right as they hate wet feet. I repotted a couple of times, and in the end gave up and gave it one last try in the ground. It's a lot happier and grew quite rapidly over summer. Needs to be sheltered from the wind, though, so I have surrounded it with stakes and clad the enclosing area in plastic. The tamarillo loves the protection from the wind and also the increased warmth.

Has had some damage from frosts this winter (which can be seen in the photo).

UPDATE 2014: Gave up on this a couple of years ago as it was an aphid haven. Propagated a new plant from a cutting and gave to my father who now grows it in his backyard without too much problem, and produces lots of fruit.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.6 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 3 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

Small snails are a problem and have consumed a large number of leaves. I pick them off or use organic snail bait, but it doesn't work that well since the small snails tend to live up in the tree.

Occassionally aphid problems, which I ei&

Organic Status:Organic

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6 of 10 people found this review useful

Fig White Adriatic ^7/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Deciduous in winter. Has produced a fair amount of fruit, but as the tree is still young it doesn't ripen properly. Growing fairly rapidly.

Planted: 2008

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pest Control:

As per Fig Excel (Bordeuax)

Organic Status:Organic

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3 of 8 people found this review useful

Loquat (Seedling) ^6/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Inherited this tree when I bought our current property. It was stuck in a small pot in the dark laundry and I didn't water it for the first 6 months as I didn't know what it was at the time. Despite this poor treatment, it survived, although it was just one lanky stem with some leaves. I repotted it into a larger pot, headed it to try to stimulate some branching. This worked, although not quite as well as I'd hoped and it now looks like there's going to be an inclusion in the stem where I originally headed it. But it is happy enough, although quite often it gets brown patches on the edges of the leaves. I suspect this is either fertiliser burn or damage from winds.

UPDATE 2014: Fruited for the first time last year. Got a decent amount of fruit off it, and some more fruit has just begun to set this year. Birds love them, though, so you need to net.

Really tough.

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 2 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 5 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

Occassionally gets aphids on the new growth, but these are easily controlled by squashing regularly.

Organic Status:Organic

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8 of 20 people found this review useful

Dwarf Orange - Washington Navel ^8/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Growing well in a large pot, especially with monthly or bimonthly applications of chook manure just under the mulch (except in winter). Has tried to flower, but I've picked these off so energy can go into growing in the first couple of years.

UPDATE 2014: Produces about 4 small fruit per year. Not a very happy chappy.

UPDATE 2015: Has been in the ground for a few years, but not productive at all, although it seems reasonably healthy.

Height 0.7 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Chicken Manure

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Suffered some damage from gall wasp, and the affected branches were pruned off before August and disposed of in sealed plastic bags.

Organic Status:Organic

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6 of 15 people found this review useful

Feijoa - Apollo ^5/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Very similar performance to the Mammoth, but doing slightly better.

UPDATE 2014: Stacks of fruit off these trees. Perform better if they get afternoon shade in Melbourne as the summers are harsh.

Fruiting Months April, May, June

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Pruned By: 2% in Summer

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Mammoth

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

As per mammoth.

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9 of 14 people found this review useful

Feijoa - Mammoth (Grafted) ^6/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

One of these is doing fairly well. Another is very slow to grow, probably because it is planted in an area where a gum tree (street tree) has roots. It's also fairly exposed (the one doing better is protected a bit by a fence). I am tip pruning to encourage bushiness as it will be part of a hedge. However, I wasn't aware beforehand that the graft would be so high so I may have to do something to deal with the gappy hedge that is sure to result.

UPDATE: One of these died in the harsh summer (multiple days > 40 and no rain). The other is ok and producing a fair amount of fruit. My advice for most evergreen trees in Melbourne is make sure they get a decent amount of shade in summer.

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Fruit Harvest: 3 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 2% in Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Apollo

Fertiliser or Organics Used: manure, B

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Sometimes caterpillars eat the new leaves. I pick them off periodically.

Organic Status:Organic

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9 of 15 people found this review useful

Pomegranate - Rosavaya ^7/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 4280 days 5hrs

Comments: - Produces about 10 pomegranates per year. 2012 was an excellent year, 2013 most of the flowers dropped.

Fruiting Months March

Height 2 metres

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 4 Years from purchase in pot

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

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5 of 9 people found this review useful

Avocado - Hass (A) ^7/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 4280 days 5hrs

Comments: - Produces a decent amount of fruit. But needs protection from harsh sun. Does best in partial shade.

Fruiting Months September and October

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Fruit Harvest: 2 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 4 Years from purchase in pot

Pollination: No

Pest Control: No pest problems

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2 of 7 people found this review useful

Pepino - Kendall Gold ^5/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 4280 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Has grown like crazy to cover a large area, and has flowered a little bit, but there have been no fruit so far.

UPDATE 2014: Produces lots of fruit over summer. But the fruit needs protecting as something gets into it, looks like codling moth. Propagates easily by layering.

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Height 0.3 metres

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 4 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

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6 of 12 people found this review useful

Comments

Loves Fruit Trees says... [3905 days 4hrs ago]

Good for you! They are a health asset too. It helps with liver disease, lowers blood pressure, helps those that suffer from strokes to heal faster, and promotes cardiovascular health.

Babaco Cutting ^6/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 4280 days 6hrs

Comments: -

Did very poorly in a pot. Have now transplanted into the ground and have protected with Hessian. Doing much better now.

UPDATE 2014: Fruited well for a couple of years, then died. Tried to grow from cutting but no luck.

Fruiting Months January and February

Qty: 1

Pollination: Cross Pollination

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9 of 24 people found this review useful

Comments

Leo1 says... [1755 days 9hrs ago]

They hate wet feet and will develop root rot in a hearbeat. I only ever grow them in pots (large pots). Cuttings should be from mature wood, not green wood, and must be dried for at least 3 days before planting. Remove all leaves except for the tiny ones at the tip when you take the cutting. I let mine dry for a week (sometimes more), but they need to be kept upright or they start growing at an angle! The potting mix must be freely draining, and don't overwater them. Even though I've grown hundreds of them from cuttings, I will still lose 20% - 30% of my cuttings.

Fig Excel ^7/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 6119 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Took awhile to get started after winter.

Got a bit of rust on the leaves. Washed with Bordeaux solution during the summer, and during winter.

Planted: 2008

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: None

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

No pests apart from rust.

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6 of 10 people found this review useful

TRIED BUT DIED

Miracle Fruit ^7/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Growing quite well. During Melbourne's winter I have brought it inside and stopped watering it, and it is coping. Apparently likes acidic conditions so it is growing in a camelia potting mix. I periodically add coffee grounds to the top of the pot.

Planted: 2008

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

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7 of 18 people found this review useful

TRIED BUT DIED

Grumichama - Black ^6/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Did quite poorly to begin with (dry/brown tips of leaves and not growing), probably because it wasn't sheltered. Once I gave it some protection from the wind it improved.

Planted: 2008

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: B

When I Fertilise: Spring

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10 of 18 people found this review useful

TRIED BUT DIED

Wax Jambu - White ^3/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

Growing fairly well, after first losing all it's leaves. It does much better if protected from wind.

Water weekly-fortnightly in Spring and Summer. Next to no water in winter to keep it dormant. In winter, it is protected on the verandah.

However, it has died during the winter.

Planted: 2008

Height 0.7 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: B

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Had some scale, but sprayed with a home-made white oil and then cleared up.

Died over Melbourne winter.

Organic Status:Organic

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6 of 11 people found this review useful

TRIED BUT DIED

Acerola - Florida Sweet ^8/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 3912 days 5hrs

Comments: -

When I first received this it lost all its leaves within a few weeks and I thought it wouldn't make it, but then it regrew more leaves and since then it's been growing very quickly. It's now winter and it has lost a few leaves, and quite a few leaves and going brown, but I think it'll be ok once the weather warms up again.

Seems to love lots of water, although you would think from the small leaves that it would be drought-tolerant. I'm hardly watering it at all in winter though.

UPDATE: I neglected it a bit in winter and it died.

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Blood and Bone and liquid fish emulsion seaweed

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Seems to be very pest resistant, but I have noticed the occassional black scale which I just scrape off.

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8 of 13 people found this review useful

Comments

Leo1 says... [1755 days 9hrs ago]

I think these need a warmer climate. I have 3 of them growing in my edible hedge (SE QLD) and they are doing well. I had them in pots for over a year and they've now been in the ground for 1 year. Doing well when planted in a rich soil and watered weekly.

TRIED BUT DIED

Peanut Butter Tree ^7/10

Justin1's Edible Fruits
Update: 4280 days 6hrs

Comments: -

Tends to lose leaves if not sheltered from wind or if cold. Needs a decent amount of water.

Planted: 2007

Height 0.8 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: B

Organic Status:Organic

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3 of 10 people found this review useful

Comments

Leo1 says... [1755 days 9hrs ago]

Probably another one that needs a warmer climate. I'm in SE QLD. My neighbour has two trees and using seeds from his I've grown dozens of seedlings. Gave most of them away but have 3 growing in my edible hedge. Full sun, fully exposed to the wind, watered weekly, doing well.

TRIED BUT DIED