Katie1's Edible Backyard

Joined: 12/08/09 Updated: 28/09/09 Frost:
Location: Berkeley

About My Edible Backyard

I'm a bit of a lazy gardener, tending to huge bursts of activity a couple of times a year (not in Summer) and doing little at other times. I am in normal suburban back yard, the house is old, so the block would be bigger than the ones offered today. Soil is clay loam, and even though I have not tested it, I assume it is tending towards acidic, as natives do well.Rainfall has become unpredictable, with the last decent rainfall being in early autumn.

My challenges are growing what I like with minimum watering (after establishment), and choosing smaller trees, as the backyard's aspect is southerly with Lake Illawarra one street away, and I do not want to impede the view, both for myself and more importantly, for my neighbours, for whom this is more important than my crop. At the moment my direct backyard neighbour has two peppercorn trees that somewhat restrict views but offer wind protection from the south.

The other challenge is friut fly, as nothing seems to work. I have used Lebaycid early on in my plum tree's life but I find the fly infected the fruit much earlier than indicated on the instructions, and anything with a witholding period of 3 weeks cannot be beneficial. I am trying home remedies from people who have had success, and even though I used it late last season, I have not had as much infection in my oranges as in other years.I was disappointed in eco naturalure. I tried both methods recommended, i.e. spraying part of the plant only, and spraying a plastic icecream lid, suspended nearby, but fruit was still badly infected. If the home recipes work, I'll start a small veg garden for tomatoes etc. 

Rewards are plenty. Sharing fresh crops, preserving etc are the way to go.

Comments

Plum - Satsuma (Grafted) ^3/10

Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 1992

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Water Given in: Summer

Pruned By: 30% in After Fruiting

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Lebaycid, naturalure, dak pots

Question:

Any remedies for fruit fly infestation.

Australian Round Lime ^6/10

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

Planted: 2000

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: citrus plus compost

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Eco naturalure, dak pots

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Lemonade Tree ^4/10

Fruiting Months July, August, September

Planted: 1998

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 2 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: citrus plus compost

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Eco naturalure, dak pots

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Orange Maltese Blood (Grafted) ^8/10

Fruiting Months September and October

Planted: 1997

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: citrus and compost

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Eco naturalure, dak pots

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Feijoa (Seedling) ^5/10

Fruiting Months March and April

Planted: 1998

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 4 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: citrus fertilizer

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Fruit fly baits, latest organic spray when only a section of the plant is sprayed

Organic Status:Organic

Almonds (Grafted) ^6/10

Fruiting Months August, September, October, November, December

Planted: 2002

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Fruit Harvest: 4 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pruned By: 20% in Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: can\'t remember

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control:

No

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

Cockatoos know exactly when to arrive in flocks. Can anyone suggest a suitable netting?