Colleen1's Edible Backyard

Joined: 01/04/10 Updated: 22/08/10 Frost:
Location: Mt Pleasant

About My Edible Backyard

We live in the Northern Adelaide Hills on a 4000sqm urban block. Moved here Nov 09. Previous owner had dry climate garden and never mulched or fetilised. Soil ph is 5 but currently very poor on organics and fertility. Have several shadehouses and a range of micro climates. Natural rainfall is about 700mm with some winter frosts but are on the top of a rise so hopefully not too severe on the frosts. Previous lived only 15 min away in similar climate.

Comments

Hi colleen, how are you pecan's going? Are the kiwi fruit coping?

Pecan - Cherokee (A) SP (Grafted)

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pecan - Mohawk (B) SP (Grafted)

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Olive - Frantoio (Grafted)

Planted: 2010

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Fig White Adriatic (Cutting)

Comments: -

Planted in area of permenant moisture

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Fig Black Genoa (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

Planted in area of permenant moisture

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Apricot - Trevatt ^8/10

Comments: -

Large juicy fruit, mid season, great flaour.

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Apricot - Hunter (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

Latest of all the APricots. Nice acid finish

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Tamarillo - Demark Gold (Cutting)

Comments: -

Planted in sheltered NE facing site

Planted: 2010

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Olive - Kolossus Kalamata

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Olive - Kalamata ^8/10

Comments: -

Looking forward to fruit as these are my favourites.

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Tamarillo - Kyogle ^10/10

Comments: -

Planted again NE facing shed wall, in courtyard area. Flowering after 3 months.  Was badly hit but a series of heavy frost over winter 2010, but coming away again. Have taken cuttings and planted in more sheltered NE facing site against the house.

Planted: 2010

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Fertiliser or Organics Used: lots

Goji Berry - Shrub (Grafted) ^7/10

Planted: 2009

Peach Late Italian Red ^10/10

Comments: -

I like this peach, which I grew at my previous place, as it flowers so late that it misses most of the spring rain and gets less curly leaf. Lovely firm sweet peach that ripens about Easter, clingstone

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Tea Plant (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Planted in a shade house area where camellias are already established and doing well.

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Spring

Kiwifruit - H4 Female (Grafted)

Comments: -

Also have male and Bruno. Just purchased. Poblem with kiwifruit in SA is hot dry summer. Will plant these in shade house area to increase humidity and reduce damage from hot dry winds.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Spring

Ugni ( Tazziberry ) ^8/10

Comments: -

Planted in sunny spot, doing well.

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Loquat - Nagasakiwase (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Growing near area of permenannt moisture.

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Bush Banana (Seedling) ^8/10

Comments: -

Marsdenia
Species: Marsdenia australis
Family: Asclepiadaceae

Marsdenia has a long twining stem, which often seems to appear from nowhere on it's host tree. For the untrained eye, the Marsdenia fruit often seems to be part of the tree or bush it is climbing on. The leaves vary from thin and spiky in the Flinders Ranges, to long and wide for most plants that grow around Alice Springs. The leaves broaden even more as you go northwards to the Gulf Country. When cultivated, they are grown on trellises, not unlike grape vines.

MarsdeniaMarsdenia - or Bush Banana, as they have been called - are really the "Pantry of the Desert", as they have four different edible parts.

Firstly, the fruit, which is shaped a bit like a small smooth Avocado. It has a wonderful flavour not unlike crunchy snow peas and zucchini when small, but woody and fibrous when fully grown. The plant exudes a sweet,sticky white sap when fruit or leaves are plucked from the stem, and the fruit contains high levels of thiamine.

Secondly, the flowers are quite spectacular, with creamy succulent clusters of small cups which, when in full bloom, are full of nectar. The flowers by themselves are a real culinary treat and can be eaten straight from the vine, or used as a garnish.

MarsdeniaThirdly, the fresh young leaves are great in salads. Last, but not least, there is a yam or tuber in the ground at the base of the vine. The tuber carries the plant through droughts, just waiting for the next big rains. The vine also immediately responds after a bushfire.

The Marsdenia fruit are a wonderful green vegetable boiled or microwaved with butter, lemon juice and Mountain Pepper. They can also be sliced raw into salads, stir-fry or whole into casseroles. The Marsdenia flowers are very special as a garnish for salads or make a spectacular addition to fruit salad.

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Lilly Pilly - Blue (Grafted)

Comments: -

Have both Bluey and Riberry. Planted in half shaded area to reduce risk of frost damage. Large gum trees nearby.

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pomegranate - Wonderful (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

Have planted both Wonderful and Veles

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Mulberry - Black English (Grafted) ^9/10

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Fig Black Genoa (Cutting) ^10/10

Comments: -

Grown from tip layer from previous property.

Planted near septic soak for moisture.

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Lime - Tahitian ^7/10

Comments: -

Have Tahitian and West Indian lime. Both on northern edge of shade house area, so can get winter sun but not much summer sun. Will see how they survive winter. Currently the West Indian lime is growing better than the Tahitian.

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Feijoa

Comments: -

Have Nazametze and Mammoth.

Currently doing well.

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Whatever I can get.