BJ's Edible Backyard

Joined:19/01/10 Updated:09/02/12 Frost:
Location: Keperra

About My Edible Backyard

Wanted to beautify my yard by planting trees. Got hooked on produce trees with Lilly Pillys, then tried citrus, now South American and Asian fruiters. Im hooked and have very little space in my garden.

My poor little patch is a terraced north facing hill made up of quarry dirt and stone. I have done a lot of work to my soil and in most parts I can now grow a range of Eugenia, Syzygium, Pouteria, Manilikara, Garcinia and Mango.

There are very few things better than walking around your garden, pulling a few fruit off the trees for a feed!

Comments

There is no ability to comment in the BJ Wish List section, so I am doing it here. I know how to get hold of a Pitomba. Are you a member of the Sub-tropical Fruit Club of Qld? This is a great place to find uncommon fruit trees. Anyway contact me on [email protected]. Cheers, Jason.

Hi BJ Just wondering if you are still growing the Broad Leaf Papaya and if you might have a few seeds to spare. Thanks, Linton

Fruit Tree Forum Contributions

Fruit Tree Forum Likes

Sapodilla - Sawo Manila (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - I like sapodillas. I have two planted in the same spot for better pollination - prolific and Sawo Manila. Quick growin and flowering within a few months of going in the ground. Prolific is a leggy grower, Sawo Manila is much more compact.

Height 2 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Australian Blood Lime (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

New CSIRO developed native lime cross. Here's their spiel:

'Australian Blood' (also known as 'Australian Red Centre') is a hybrid between an acid mandarin and a native finger lime. It has blood-red rind, flesh and juice.

It is a nice plant. More prolific than the ordinary finger lime. Very weeping habit. Tons of round fruit which start off like a stumpy black finger lime and fill out to a round red fruit. Taste is very good - particularly in salads or chopped into 'wheels' and put into drinks. Skin is edible and sweet! 

Fruiting Months January, February, March, August, September, October

Planted: 2011

Height 3 Feet

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 3 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Organic Link

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Cape Plum - Flacourtia sp. Shipton\'s Flat (self-fertile) (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: - Very handsome little tree. Has nice little plums similar to Governor's plum but the tree is nicer and has no spikes. Nice red blush to new growth.  this is the self pollinating type.

Height 2 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Garcinia warrenii - Sour Plum (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: - Quick growing Garcinia native to northern Australia. It it easily the fastest garcinia in my yard and should be considered as a vigrous and hardy rootstock for grafting other Garcinia on to. The fruit themselves are not too bad and good for jams etc.

Height 2 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

Hi there. I have been looking for either seends or a seedling of this plant. Are you able to sell me some seeds?

Mango - Alison Red Kensington Pride (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - This is one of Birdwood's limited release selections. It is a bowen mango on a dwarf mango tree with a beautiful red skinned fruit. Very very nice tree.

Height 3 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

Hey BJ, can I ask how big your Alison Red is, assuming it's still in the pot? Guessing you have it in the pot to restrict it's size?

Wongai Plum (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: - I dont mind Wongai fruit. the trees seem to grow okay in Brisbane. I have one in the ground and a few in pots, one of which seems very well adapted to our conditions. the one in ground is a slow and very compact, bushy grower. Very ornamental leaves, especially as they are thrown and open like a sheath.

Planted: 2010

Height 2 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

BJ --I wonder if u have seed/seedlings of Wongai --Native Lychee --Garcinia Warreni-- I am in process of extablishing an exstensive bush food garden on my 26 acre property at Seaforth Qld --- I might be able to swap some rare fruit seedlings with u -- rgds Col

Can you comment on how it tastes etc. Worth growing ? thanks

Grape - Carolina Black Rose

Comments: - Fat growing and hardy to the humidity here. Sets long bunches of grapes.

Planted: 2010

Height 10 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Comments

i transplanted a huge mature black grape vine thriving locally in north Brisbane, so I think it is a CBR. Grows extremely well and sets huge amounts of long bunches of grapes without much care other than pruning and training. Can transplant any time of the year, they will just wait until the following spring to rebound.

You are lucky to have this variety, Daleys won't ship grapes to QLD anymore. Let me know if you want to sell a cutting!

Carambola Starfruit - Kary (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - I dont mind the fruit, and the flowers are lovely when they smother the brances. i had to move this plant during the wet in 2010-11 floods. It handles transplanting quite well and is powering away in new spot, putting on lots of flowers summer 2011

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Abiu (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: - Nice looking tree. Quite quick growing. I had it in an exposed spot and it grew quickly (contrary to popular thought) it flowered but set no fruit. I moved it to a prime spot to try to get it to set fruit and it is flowering again spring 2011.

Planted: 2010

Height 1.7 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Organic Link

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Eugenia myrcianthes - \'Tropical Apricot\'

Comments: - Flowered spring 2011, no fruit set as yet. It is a fairly ornamental plant with furry leaves. Moderate growth rate. 

Planted: 2010

Height 2 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Custard Apple - \'Paxton\'s Prolific\' (cv. KJ Pink\'s) (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Budsport of Pink's Mammoth, so same type of fruit, just self-pollinates much better.

In its first season it had many flowers and set two fruits while still in its 6l bag, which I had to knock off so it didnt get too stressed at this size. Going into the ground when dormant in winter.

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2011 - has set fruit already. Nice growth rate and easily managed. Brilliant!

Planted: 2011

Height 3 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Panama Berry (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

This is among my favourite trees. Fastest growing fruit tree I've ever seen, most prolific fruiting fruit tree I've ever seen, easiest care fruit tree. The fruit are lovely little fruits - tasting a bit like caramel corn or the popcorn jelly belly lollies. There would have to be around 1000 fruits on the tree at all times during the warm months...

Keep tree pruned by cutting off the top half every few months. you dont need much tree to get plenty of fruit!

Fruiting Months January, February, October, November, December

Planted: 2010

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pruned By: 50% in Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Loquat - Champagne (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

I've heard good things about this variety and it is slightly different to the 4 others most easily available. It has just gone in the ground, but it is a beautiful little tree!

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2011 - Had a large crop of fruit (around 200) in its first year in ground. Taste is fantastic - a cross between pear and peach with a little tang. Must bag from fruit fly. This is a vigorous grower, but quite dense compared to other loquats.

Fruiting Months September and October

Planted: 2010

Height 1.6 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pruned By: 10% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Pest Control: Bag for fruit fly

Comments

Where did you manage to find the Champagne variety? I like my Nagasakiwase but had a few other varieties including Champagne that I'd Iike to taste/grow.

The only person i know who still stockes them is Bob McGuffin. He usually has a stall at Chandler markets? and the bogi fair, which is coming up next weekend at Albion.

Acerola - Florida Sweet (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: - Very tough tree. Can be fairly easily pruned to a smaller size. Very pretty masses of flowers throughout the warmer months and multiple crops of fruit.

Fruiting Months January, February, September, October

Planted: 2010

Height 1.8 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

Pollination: Self Pollination

Black Sapote - Bernicker (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - Fantastic tree. Has had a good fruit set second season in ground. Cant wait for the ruit to ripen now!

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

Dec 2011 - I've had this in the ground around 1.5 years and it has just flowered and set around 40 fruits to a size where most should mature. Cant wait!

Lychee - Bosworth 3

Comments: - Im growing this Kwai Mai Pink (B-3) tree in a pot. Has fruited second year in pot. Very tough compared to other Lychees.

Planted: 2010

Height 3 Feet

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

This is great, BJ. I have a dwarf wai chee in a pot, 4 years old and never fruited (it lost all its leaves for a while last year) in central western Brisbane. It sounds as though Bosworth 3 would be better. I have heard Anette McFarlane say that conditions for lychee fruiting are right in Brisbane about once every ten years.

Yes Diana, the B-3 will fruit every year here. Many others are biennial at best, but B-3 will crop heavily each year, even with heavy pruning at the right times and in a pot if you can keep it under control. Many other types are unsuited to pots due to their reluctance to fruit after pruning. The other suitable pot specimen is the Salathiel, but it bears biennially, but bears well when it does, and is a much smaller tree with one of the best fruits.

Do u recommend it growing in a Pot? how much avg harvest u get/year ?

Cherimoya - White (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - This has gone in the ground in the west of Brisbane (toward iPSWICH) and has set fruit 2011. Seems to set well on its own in this area.

Planted: 2011

Height 0.8 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

Grows well on crappy acidic soil in west brisbane. Has set quite a few fruit soon after going in ground without hand pollination, so would seem fairly self-fertile here.

Persimmon - Nightingale (A) (Grafted)

Comments: -

Hoping these go well this seaon - I've not had much luck with Persimmons in the past few years. Nightingale on left, Jiro on right.

Planted: 2011

Height 1.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Lychee - Wai Chee (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: -

Grown in pot for 1 year, but failed to hold numerous small fruit, so have transferred to the ground. it got wind scorched in an exposed spot, so was transplanted into a better spot and cut back and is now pushing lots of new growth. Hoping for a few fruits next year.

PROTECT FROM WIND!

Planted: 2010

Height 3 Feet

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Comments

Sapodilla - Tropical (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

This guy is in an exposed positionin my front yard. It is a fast but compact grower and is flowering first season.

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Pollination: Self Pollination

Grumichama - Black ^9/10

Comments: -

Beautiful tree. Only in the ground a few months and taking off already. jsut a bit of Organic Xtra and regular watering has it glossy and flushing with new foliage.

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First fruit set 2011 - around 50 fruits - taste is fantastic - a little like the real cherry, but with a slight sherberty element.

Picture is of tree after pruning - around 30-40% after fruiting

Fruiting Months October, November, December

Planted: 2010

Height 0.8 metres

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 50 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1.5 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 30% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Organic link

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control: Nil.

Organic Status:Organic

Avocado - Hass (A) ^8/10

Comments: -

In ground for around 1 year. I've knocked off first heavy flower/small fruit flush to allow to root well. Growing very quickly and strong. Gets near full sun until late afternoon.

Wanted the Wurtz, but picked up the Hass by mistake. Not dissapointed at all though!

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Top half of tree was knocked off in 2010, regrowth was super fast and much thicker. First fruit set 2011.

Planted: 2008

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Hand pick grasshoppers and beetles

Pitomba (Seedling)

Comments: - Finally found a little Pitomba. And when i say little, I really mean it, just a few cms tall. Hope I can get it growing!

Planted: 2010

Height 5 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Comments

Have you tasted these BJ? And how is your tree faring now?

I've picked up a nice big one through the Sub Tropical fruit Club. Ive tasted them and they are nice, like a watery spicy apricot, but nice. They are super slow growers.

Jujube - Li

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Comments

Hello BJ, may I ask where you bought your jujube plants? Regards, Cam

Hi Cam, I got them from a user on here - 'Jujube for sale in Melbourne'. Give her a message and she should be able to send you some in winter.

Hi BJ, I've read some posts from her but I thought of finding a few other places before deciding where to buy from because these plants are quite costly. Looks like JujubeForSale offers the most variety. Will contact her again. Thanks for your help.

Yes, they are costly, but it is near impossible to find quality grafted plants. The Sub-Tropical Fruit Club of QLD had a really good, thorough article in a news letter on the Jujube last year. You could contact them and ask for a copy. They also gave these as contacts with propogating material (but no contact details): Phil Ciminata in WA imported material from California and China. Ben Waddelow from South Australia also imported several varieties from Roger Meyer in California. Di Tod has a plantation in Koorooman Vict. Jim Dawson in Gidgegannup WA sells plants.

Thank you for your time and information. It seems like these plants won't be commercially available too soon so it might be a wise choice for me to contact JujubeForSale. We use dried red dates often to make nourishing Chinese medicinal soups as well as adding them to refreshing beverages either served warm or chilled. Delicious! I think it'll definitely be a worth while investment and as a new addition to my plant collection. Thanks again for your help. Cheers, Cam I hope you don't mind if I drop by to ask you other future plant queries.

No problem Cam. Also, if you are put off by the price of the grafted plants, you can try them from seed. A Brisbane seller I know lists them regularly, and may even have some plants for sale if you enquire. Best of luck, Bruce.

Sorry about the late reply. I have already bought some seeds from Phoenix Seeds. I will most likely order one from JujubeForSale, will contact her next year.

Hi,BJ,Could you give me some of your jujube cutting?I would like to try to grow with cutting,my email is [email protected].

Black Sapote (Seedling)

Comments: - Have been growing this in a pot for 1 year. Is flowering profusely already.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Dwarf Mulberry - Black (Cutting)

Height 3 Feet

Growing: In a Pot

First Fruited: 0.5 Months from Purchase in Pot

Comments

Even the 'dwarf' has a tendency to shoot for the sky. After fruiting it is essential to cut right back. The tree always responds during spring and early summer with another load of fruit!

Blackberry Jam Tree - Randia formosa

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Comments

where can you buy a plant?

I got mine from a nice lady on eBay. You can get one from her on there, but if you cant find one, give me another message and i'll see if I can dig up her contacts for you.

i just bought 1 of these plants off ebay it is about 28cm big do you know how much bigger it will have to get before it will start to fruit

It can fruit at that size. mine fruited last year at around 40cm. Is starting to push flowers now. Very nice pure white star flowers.

Hi BJ - is it possible for you to let me have the details of the lady you bought this plant from - I would love to grow one :)

Mangosteen Purple

Comments: -

Not supposed to grow in this climate, but is going fine so far in a self-watering pot. Growing slowly over winter, but certainly surviving and has done so through the coldest part of winter. This is my special project, as I dont expect it to survive, but I'll try my best to get this one to live here.

Comments

Hi, where are you?

Finger Lime - Collette (Grafted)

Comments: -

In small pot. Already had very small fruit on when purchased. Lots of flowers mid-winter.

Height 1.5 Feet

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Months from Purchase in Pot

Lemon - Meyer ^9/10

Comments: -

Has been in the ground for a bit over a year. grows quickly after good rains (of which we've had a few in the past 6mths) and is hardly without flowers/small fruit, which I've knocked off to let the roots set. At the stage now where I will let the fruits grow.

In dry spells new growth will make it shed old growth, samme with fruiting. Now looking great and will have to watch for the hoppers and grubs!

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 5 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1.5 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Very prone to grasshoppers and catterpillars. Pull most off by hand and give to neighbours chooks. Have also dusted for brown beetle larvae, which love the mulched areas around my citrus.

Banana - Blue Java

Planted: 2010

Comments

would you be intrsted in selling me some blue java succers?

hi, I should have some suckers mid jan. Unfortunately, I have two semi-mature suckers (2m) and the only small sucker i have got stepped on yesterday!

BJ PLease email me [email protected]

BJ could you please email me at [email protected] to discuss this blue java and some other fruits?

Araca-boi (Eugenia stipitata)

Height 1 Feet

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Comments

Extremely finnicky plant. Make sure you find a sun-hardened specimen or it will never thrive. they flower when still quite small, but the leaves get easily burned and limbs die back easily.

Finger Lime - Red Cutting (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

the Rainforest pearl is a very spikey tree. In a suburban block it is  just not good, too much of a hazzard. On a rural block it would be good, as it is low maintanance, but just not for me. Had to dig it up, and it now lives in the great orchard in the sky.

This one is actually the Rainforest Pearl variety.

In ground around 1 year and has exploded. outperforming quick growing lilly pillys. fruited (10 full sized fruit) within 1 year of planting with little special care.

Very thorny plant and not conventionally pretty. Great green colour though. fruits from central mass, so can afford to trim the lower and errant growths so I dont get jagged.

*Second year of fruiting now, and is holding over 100 pinkie finger sized fruit. Colour has changed to dark purple/black this year from a light purple/red colour last season...

*Ended up getting about 300 fruits from this tree this year (2010-11 crop).

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Planted: 2008

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 300 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Organic Xstra

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

Only gets a few spiders and caterpillars in its dense mass of thorns. They dont seem to do any real damage, so I think if they can survive in there, good luck to them! I do hand catch the odd grasshopper from it and feed them to the neighbour's chooks

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Jaboticaba - Grafted (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

This little guy was going great guns, fruiting well at a young age. But this seemed due to stress from a bad graft, which gradually opened into a wound, and with all the wet lately, rot got in there and it lost the will to live. Have replaced it with a very large Jaboticaba.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1.5 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

When I Fertilise: Spring

Fig Black Genoa ^7/10

Comments: -

I like this fig, so planted one. It took a while to adapt to the new (dry rock/clay) conditions, shedding all of its leaves, but is now flushing with new growth from lower limbs.

Height 0.4 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

Hi BJ. I was wondering how all your other figs were going? We live in the same suburb and I could use some tips!