Kate3's Edible Backyard

Joined: 08/12/09 Updated: 08/12/09 Frost:
Location: Dorrigo

About My Edible Backyard

I live at 760m above sea level, on a 3000m2 block of bright orange, slightly acidic volcanic soil, on a plateau surrounded by virgin rain forest. We get winter frosts and howling winds up here on the plateau, so anything too tender hasn't a hope. We have one of the highest temperate rainfalls in Australia. The plot for my future orchard faces northwest, and gets full sun from about 11am, summer and winter. Long term, I'd like to be as self sufficient in fruit as possible, which is tricky considering how much I love mangos and bananas, but stone and pome fruits are quite possible here. The biggest hazard is going to be the birds and fruit bats. I'm already halfway self sufficient with my vegies, and recently celebrated with my first fully home produced meal, including the meat and the Greek yoghurt. I have just about every book on organic food growing and self sufficiency, and my city friends can't decide if I'm nuts or have the right idea. 

Comments

apples (Grafted) ^3/10

Comments: - Granny Smith, Gala, Pink Lady

Planted: 2009

Height 550 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Sheep poo!

Pest Control: Bit difficult to tell, really, as my main pest is the sheep, who have pruned the poor devils back hard due to the lack of feed in the paddock they share with the fruit trees. %uFFFDI'll have to transplant them this winter.

Organic Status:Organic

peach ^3/10

Comments: - 1 x Pixzee, 1 x unknown mature tree

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer and Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control: Leaf curl on the Pixzee, birds and fruit bats on the mature tree, but I can only use Bordeaux on the former and netting or bags for the latter. The potted tree gets food and water, the mature tree is in the ground and gets nothing except some stray rabbit

Organic Status:Organic

cherry ^3/10

Comments: - Stella

Height 20 Centimetres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: sheep poo

Pest Control: None observed

Organic Status:Organic

plums ^3/10

Comments: - Prune d'Agen, Green Gage

Height 30 Centimetres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: sheep poo

Pest Control: No pests observed

Organic Status:Organic

pears (Grafted) ^3/10

Comments: - Corella, Beurre Bosc, Doyenne du Comice

Height 50 Centimetres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Sheep poo

Pest Control: Again, the sheep predation makes it hard to tell.

Organic Status:Organic