JohnI's Edible Backyard

Joined:02/11/09 Updated:03/02/12 Frost:
Location: Melton West

About My Edible Backyard

Why JohnI Love's Edible Plants

Comments

Fruit Tree Forum Contributions

JohnI Forum Contributions
Trees suitable to mullum - Thanks MaryT...4829 days 22hrs
Trees suitable to mullum - How are olives an environmental problem?..4830 days 15hrs
Plant full size or dwarfs in retaining - The trees tend to go through cycles. Some years there is so much fruit that I have to remove some to prevent the branches from snapping. Other years there is much less fruit. When there is too much fruit the fruit tends to be quite small, otherwise it is ..4853 days 20hrs
Plant full size or dwarfs in retaining - Don't write dwarfs off completely. I have a dwarf peach and dwarf nectarine. Both produce an abundance of fruit and both are over 2 meters tall. I also have apples from flemmings. They are around 3.5 meters but are compact (short horizontal branches). ..4854 days 21hrs
Plant full size or dwarfs in retaining - Dannsss, Look for fruit trees suitable for planting in containers. Citrus and fig trees are good. You could also try some of the dwarf fruit trees from flemmings (peaches, nectarines, and apples). Olive trees are another. You may also want to google..4856 days 13hrs

Lady Finger Banana

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5221 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Cool Banana cool climate fruiting bananas.New growth go off to a slow start after winter last year (2009) so this year I have started watering once a week with warm water.Planted Dec 2007. Flower began to emerge Dec 7 2010, first hand of fruit appeared Dec 30 2010. There were about 140 bananas on the bunch (14 to 16 per hand). I trimmed the bunch down to about 100 bananas in the hope that they would increase in size and ripen faster.I read that you can't overwater (but you can drown), or over feed so I have been mulching heavily with pea straw or lucern and in warm weather keeping the mulch moist by watering morning and afternoon (and in between when I can). I also feed heavily with blood and bone and also high nitrate fertiliser every couple weeks during the growing season (where temps get in the mid 20's or more). Careful not to feed too heavily with fruit on, I have read that it can Burn the fruit.July 2011 - I have been cutting a hand of every few weeks and ripening them in a plastic bag with a couple ripe apples. The flavour is mild with a pleasant tang. They aren't as sweet as the shop bought lady finger bananas but still nice to eat. The rain has caused a couple bananas to split but I've managed to remove them.August 2011 - The last remaining hand has rippened on the plant after 7 months.Next stem has began to fruit. Flower emerged end of November. First hand appeared 18th December after a cold start to summer.

Second picture of fruit taken 3rd Feb 2012.

Height 2 metres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Frost is the main problem.

Organic Status:Organic

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9 of 9 people found this review useful

Dwarf Mandarin - Emperor

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5221 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Planted May 2011 as part of citrus hedge along fence line.

Picture taken 3rd Feb 2012. Emporer is plant second from the right.

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

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10 of 25 people found this review useful

Comments

frenchie says... [4015 days 20hrs ago]

Hi John, would love to see your citrus hedge now. Any chance of a photo and some tips from what you have learnt? I am thinking of doing the same here in NNSW. Thank you!

JohnI says... [4014 days 16hrs ago]

Hi Frenchie, I've let the yard slip a bit so don't have a pic to post. I think if I could redo my hedge I would change two things. (1) I planted dwarf trees which are just too small for a hedge. (2) I spaced the trees at about 1.5 metres and should have had them closer together. The other issue I have is that the mandarines are larger and fuller than the oranges and lemonade tree.

frenchie says... [4013 days 16hrs ago]

Thanks so much for the feedback, it has really helped me because I was considering dwarf trees. I would have also done the spacing at 1.5 m so here your tips are going to be very handy! I hope that despite its shortcoming in shaping a hedge, your trees are rewarding you with tasty fruits! Thanks again for taking the time to answer!

Dwarf Cavendish Banana (Cutting)

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5221 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Planted in the ground Jan 2008. This plant was labeled "Dwarf Red Dacca", but is possibly a Dwarf Cavendish.

The first winter I built a frame around the plant and covered it with frost cloth. This did not protect the plant from frost so I leave it alone now. The leaves burn in winter but the plat continues to produce new leaves in spring.

See my notes on my Lady finger banana for care instructions.

Have decided this is a Red Dacca after all. I was told that the fruit doesn't turn red until it is almost ripe.

Flag leaf emerged mid to late June 2011. Bananas appeared while I was away sometime in Sept. I didn't take my own advice and over fertilised in October. All the bananas (about 6 hands) have burnt to a crisp and dried up completly. I have a second stem that should flower next year. 

Second stem produced a flag lead at the end of Dec 2011.  Given the timing and the cool summer we are having down here I don't think the bananas will ripen before winter.  Picture of fruit a couple weeks after the first hand appeared.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

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11 of 14 people found this review useful

Comments

Cam says... [5635 days 17hrs ago]

Trixzie \'Pixzee\' Peach

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5250 days 18hrs

Comments: -

Unfortunately I planted this tree in a sheltered position which seems to prevent the fruit from becoming nice and sweet. Fruit size and color is good though.

Tree is now above the fence line and the fruit is much sweeter. 

The two bigest problems I have is leaf curl (which can be controlled by spraying at the right time), and earwigs which chew the skin of the developing fruit.

Fruiting Months January and February

Planted: 2001

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

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2 of 2 people found this review useful

Blue Java Banana (Cutting)

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5250 days 19hrs

Comments: -

Potted from tube stock Feb 4th 2010.

Planted in ground Oct 2010 0.75 meters. Very fast grower, is now about 6 feet (from base to tip of stem) as of start Feb 2011.

Photo 30th Mar 2011 - 2.5 meters.

Flag leaf emerged end of November 2011. First hand emerged 13th Dec. Even though it has been cold this summer the Blue Java has continued to grow while my Lady Finger has virtually stoped.

The bunch produced is a bit scraggly with only about 40 bananas. Could be because the plant is still so young or maybe its too close to my Red Dacca (about 1.5 meters apart).

Planted: 2010

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

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3 of 3 people found this review useful

Comments

NSWBananas1 says... [5271 days 4hrs ago]

NSWBananas1 says... [5271 days 4hrs ago]

Hi john when your blue java next fruits I would be interested in purchasing some of its bananas to try the taste. Also wouuld you be preparedd to sell me some blue java succers please?

Babaco

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5268 days 20hrs

Comments: -

Doing well in a large pot. Is suffering burnt leaves from over fertilising. Planted in August (at about 30 cm hight), first fruit formed December 2009.

Fruit ripened Nov 2010. There were about 14 fruit. I didn't like the taste much but it is starting to grow on me. People I gave it to loved the taste.

Fruit is not very sweet but aromatic.

Fruited again this year. Stem began to bend so had to tie it upright to prevent it from breaking. Side branches have started to grow so I will cut off the main trunk when fruit has finished.

This fruit has started to grow on me. I like it in a smoothie with milk, honey and sugar. Can replace sugar with an overripe banana. The Babaco needs to be really really really ripe before eating.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Organic Status:Organic

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3 of 3 people found this review useful

Comments

TimmyDoulos says... [5780 days 5hrs ago]

TimmyDoulos says... [5780 days 5hrs ago]

I'd like to give this a go. I was at Heronswood garden in Dromana today and saw one of these and a mountain pawpaw. There was a small mountain paw paw that was yellow and appeared to be ripe. The flesh was quite rubbery and slightly acidic. I think I go some sap on my hand which I must have rubbed on my eye as it has become very ichy! How like the taste of a normal paw paw is the babaco?

Blueberry - Blue Rose

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5531 days 16hrs

Comments: - Planted Dec 2008. Died but sprang back to life Dec 2009. Wasn't doing well in wine barrel so I repotted it in a self watering pot. It has since taken off. 

Pollination: Self Pollination

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3 of 7 people found this review useful

Trixzie \'Nectazee\' Nectarine

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5887 days 19hrs

Fruiting Months January and December

Planted: 2002

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

Leaf Curl:  Spray spring before bud burst with copper base spray. Remove infected leaves from spring to autumn.

Earwig: Remove debris and other areas where earwigs like to breed. 

Organic Status:Partially Organic

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1 of 1 people found this review useful

Apple Ballerina Waltz

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5887 days 19hrs

Comments: - I am yet to taste fruit. Every year codling moth get to the fruit before me.

Planted: 2001

Height 2.5 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Ballerina Polka

Pest Control: Codling Moth: Bunnings sells a codling moth trap that needs to be setup early spring.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

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1 of 1 people found this review useful

Fig White Adriatic

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5887 days 19hrs

Planted: 2009

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

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White Sapote

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5887 days 19hrs

Comments: - Planted August 2009. Fast growing, going to try repotting into a 35L bonsai bag this winter (2010).

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

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1 of 3 people found this review useful

Comments

TimmyDoulos says... [5780 days 5hrs ago]

This sounds like an interesting fruit, and I would like to try it once I know if I like the fruit.

Apple Ballerina Polka

JohnI's Edible Fruits
Update: 5887 days 19hrs

Planted: 2001

Height 2.5 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Ballerina Waltz

Pest Control: Codling Moth: bunnings sells codling moth trap that needs to be setup in early spring.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

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1 of 1 people found this review useful