YogiandCheri1's Edible Backyard

Joined: 09/09/09 Updated: 17/09/09 Frost:
Location: Calvert

About My Edible Backyard

We've got a half acre block and we are progressively trying to establish an orchard of fruit trees. We've turned part of the garden into a vegie garden, which is already too small and needs to expand. For vegies, we like to grow things from seed, and nearly all the plants currently in our vegie garden were started from seed.

Our aim is to be as self sufficient as possible. We are fully reliant on tank water, have our own sewage system, keep chickens (to feed scraps; eat their eggs; use their manure), keep ducks (to keep the weeds down), and use the scraps we cannot feed the chickens in our compost.

As we have only lived here since the beginning of April, we are still learning about our soil, the rainfall, frost, and general weather conditions. Our wish list is huge, but one day we hope to have a garden that can provide us with all of our fruit and vegetable needs.

Comments

corn

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planted from seed

garlic

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planted from bulbs

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Pest Control:

sunflowers

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we planted these from seeds not long after we moved in and when we quickly discovered how much our chickens love sunflower seeds. They have just been transplanted into the vegie patch in this pic, but the first one is in flower right now, with buds forming on all the others

broad beans ^8/10

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this is a pic of them when they just started coming up. We planted them around mid-June. They are flowering now and I cannot wait to taste the beans when they finally appear

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Organic Status:Organic

Parsley Curly leaf

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Absolutely essential for cooking. Picked it up for $1.5 at the local markets.

Growing: In a Pot

Aloe Vera

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essential for summers in Queensland. In the terrible event that I get sunburt (and I am always very careful with my pale skin), this is the most soothing thing to put on it.

Need to be careful about putting it in the ground. Past experience has taught me that it can take over everything.

Growing: In a Pot

Garlic Chives

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Many years ago (over ten) I started gardening as a teenager. I planted some garlic chives and the clump got bigger and bigger. So I gave a clump to my dad, and he planted them in a pot and the clump got bigger and bigger. When he came to see our place for the first time, he brought some clumps down with him. Now they're in our vegie patch. This plant is very special to me because of it's history.

Growing: In the Ground

Organic Status:Organic

Rosemary

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We have two of these. One that we got free from the Council with our rates (we can get 8 free plants per year); and one that is taken from a cutting from my dad's garden.

Growing: In a Pot

Organic Status:Organic

Bay Tree

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one of my works mates got us this as a wedding present for cooking, as he knows how much we love cooking and what we are trying to establish here. He also gave us the most beautiful book on Sicilian cooking to go with it. Already getting some new growth.

Growing: In the Ground

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

We were thinking of getting one but now we wont need to, cheers Flanders :-)

Bunya Nut

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This was already here when we got here. Still tiny right now. In our front yard. I'm a bit concerned it may grow too big.

Growing: In the Ground

Organic Status:Organic

Grape - Golden Muscat

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We have planted this along the fence where our neighbours (Paul and Lina - they're on here too) have planted theirs. We plan on continuing this up the entire fence line, and making into wine when they fruit.

Growing: In the Ground

Macadamia - Bush Nut (Seedling)

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Jurgen's mum propogated this one for us too. Can't wait. It's just teeny-tiny right now.

Growing: In the Ground

Organic Status:Organic

Orange - Valencia Seedless

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I love taking oranges to work as a snack and find that eating one a day really does keep the dr away (when it comes to colds, anyway). No new growth on it yet though :(

Growing: In the Ground

Lime - Tahitian

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Another house warming present from mum and stepfather. Will be so great when it fruits and I can use in margaritas!

Growing: In the Ground

Mandarin - Emperor

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Another wedding present! Do our friends know us or what?

Growing: In the Ground

Organic Status:Organic

Bush Lemon Tree (Seedling)

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I collected the seeds from a bush lemon that my mother brought over one day (from her neighbour's tree). I had given up on them coming up, and then at the first sign of warm weather, there they were!

Lemon - Meyer ^7/10

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My mum and stepfather bought us this as a housewarming present. Can't wait to first fruit.

Growing: In the Ground

Organic Status:Organic

Mango - Bowen Seedling (Seedling)

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we received this as a wedding present a few weeks ago. Planted in the ground on 6 September 2009

Planted: 2009

Growing: In the Ground

Pest Control:

Organic Status:Organic