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Kathy2's Edible Backyard

Joined: 06/06/10 Updated: 24/08/13 Frost:
Location: MARYLAND

About My Edible Backyard


Why Kathy2 Love's Edible Plants

I love my garden. It gives me so much joy and relaxation. Most of what I grow is exotic fruits, the sorts of things that you can't easily buy from local grocery stores in Newcastle.


I find caring for the plants very therapeutic, I get so excited when something new appears or something flowers for the first time, and at the end of a day's gardening I feel that I have accomplished so much when I end up covered in dirt, sticks and bugs. I particularly love sharing the fruits of my labours with my friends and family who very much enjoy eating things that are hard to come by in the shops.


I moved house in 2009 and I am between gardens at the moment. I couldn't bear to leave my babies behind so all my plants came with me. For the 2 weeks before moving them (and some of the trees had been in the ground for 2 years) I watered them every day. I also Seasoled them a week before the move. The night before I gave them a really good soaking and did the digging in the cooler part of the afternoon. As soon as they were dug up and put into pots I watered them in and then Seasolled them. After I moved them I watered them every day for 2 weeks. They are mostly still living in pots but are happy despite being disturbed and cramped.


We have heaps of rain in Newcastle so water is only an issue in the hottest part of summer and sometimes dry spells in autumn. I can't remember the last time we had water restrictions - but of course being in pots means that my trees need to be watered more often than gardenbeds.


Soil type isn't an issue for me at the moment cause of the pots but I do prefer to buy the cheapo potty mix as a base and fix it up myself with my own compost, worm castings and manures.


I don't have a strict gardening regime. I am more responsive. I water as the plants need water (I use things like native violets in the pots as a water gauge - when the violets droop it's time to water). I feed them when they look hungry or when I get the chance - I figure it is better to do it out of sync than not at all! :O) They don't seem to mind.


To protect the pots from getting too hot or cold or knocked
over in the wind (or attacked my our over-zealous lawn mower man) I have gathered them into clumps, surrounded them with big bush rocks and filled the gaps with mulch. I have my own shredder so EVERYTHING gets put through it. Plus there are a million gum trees on our block which combined drop a metric mountain of leaf litter and bark that works really well between the pots.


I only have a little compost bin (a normal round garbage bin with lots of holes drilled in the body and lid because the local free-range dogs make a mess if I have one without a lid) but with only 2 of us we don't make nearly enough scraps so I pinch most of the compost I need from my parents. What I don't seem to be able to do is keep my worm farm happy. I am told that they don't like citrus or onions so I put those in the compost but the worms keep evacuating the farm and moving into the compost bin. and sometimes in the hot weather they even move into our house!  Either way I guess I still get wormy goodness :O)

 



Comments

naikii says... [4183 days 16hrs ago]
Hy Kathy! Great page! I was reading through some comments in the fig part of the website and became very interested in your white fig from the friendly old Greek man.. I am starting a fig collection and would love to know if I could perhaps trade you for a cutting from this tree? I have about 10 different varieties in various stages, although not all large enough to take cuttings from. you can email me at naikii@hotmail.com Cheers Nate!
Kathy2 says... [3521 days 12hrs ago]
I would love to swap with you but unfortunately it died :( I am hoping to get another one but I need to catch him at home!

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Fruit Tree Forum Contributions

Kathy2 Forum Contributions
Black sapote24 - Ohh can't complain about that! They always have healthy plants there too...4770 days 9hrs
Black sapote24 - Heya John, with this info I think that it might be a seedling. It tried to go straight up but my ex didn't plant it in time and it went crooked - slowly nursing it back to straight!!!! :O)..4770 days 10hrs
Black sapote24 - Nick, apparently they can be boy/girl (self fertile or self infertile) OR boy only :( Boo. The flower buds are just starting to come in now. Looks like there is one big one in the middle with a smaller one on either side of the cluster...4770 days 10hrs
Finger limes16 - Heya Baldrick, I noticed this same thing with mine when it was young. Mine seemed to be caused by a lack of water. When they are fruiting they like a decent amount but still want good drainage. As soon as it got more water, the fruit got bigger...4781 days 11hrs
Black sapote24 - Heya Everyone, I am hoping that someone can help me ID my black sapote flowers? We can't find a record of whether we bought a seedling or grafted but it has flowered for YEARS but we have no fruit set so either I am being too impatient (entirely po..4781 days 19hrs

Kathy2's WISH LIST

Chocolate Vine - Akebia Quinata

Why Kathy2 wants it: -

I need a vine to cover a gap at the front of the house. Fragrance sounds wonderful, flowers look beautiful and fruit sound like fun.







Cinnamon Tree

Why Kathy2 wants it: - Plant looks beautiful and flowers and foliage are meant to smell beautiful. Sounds like it would be a lovely centre piece plant.








Peanut Butter Tree

Why Kathy2 wants it: -

How can you NOT want to try a fruit that tastes like peanut butter?







Orange Berry

Why Kathy2 wants it: -

I love native food plants and am keen to taste these.







Dwarf Persimmon - Fuyu (NA)

Why Kathy2 wants it: -

Love the fruit and they are hard to come by in Newcastle grocers.







Olive - Manzanillo

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4118 days 9hrs

Comments: - Summer 2010:I bought him at a closing down sale. He wasn't a happy chappy but I could see his potential.He came very wonky but with staking/training and careful pruning he should be strong enough to stand up on his own in about 6 months.Spring 2011:he is strong enough to stand on his own now so I am using the stakes and a good pruning to train him into the shape I want. Flowers everywhere this yearbut I%

Planted: 2010


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Chives

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4210 days 13hrs

Comments: - I love cooking with chives. Love love love. I also love the pretty purple fluffy flower balls.For some reason they aren't growing so well at the moment but I have split them around to different spots in the garden to see where they like it best. I have noticed that they don't like competition from the native violets so keep them separated into pots.

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 4

Pollination: No


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Chives

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4210 days 13hrs

Comments: - I love cooking with chives. Love love love. I also love the pretty purple fluffy flower balls.For some reason they aren't growing so well at the moment but I have split them around to different spots in the garden to see where they like it best. I have noticed that they don't like competition from the native violets so keep them separated into pots.

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 4

Pollination: No


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Garlic Chives

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4516 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: I used to have a HUGE clump at my old house but the ones that I brought here never seems to take off. A few months ago I decided to break them up and put some in a pot with a fig. They love it there and have double in size and have put out a bunch of their pretty purple bell flowers for me already. I think that they didn't like the competition from the native violets crowding about them in the garden bed.


I have recently realised that these are Society Garlic Chives. They were originally mislabeled when sold as Garlic Chives but these should have white flowers and mine have purple.



Planted: 2009

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 4

Pollination: No


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jostaberry - ribes x nidigrolaria

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4604 days 16hrs

Comments: - Autumn 2012: Can't wait to try the berries. They are supposed to be pretty yummy - cross between black currants and a couple of gooseberry varieties.

Planted: 2012

Qty: 1


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Berry - Boysenberry

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4604 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2012: gift from my lovely friend Rose


Planted: 2012

Qty: 1


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Achacha

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: - Autumn 2012: I bought this fruit from the supermarket and we both loved it. It is supposed to be from a small very ornamental tree which sounds enticing. We couldn't find one to buy so we're trying to germinate the single seed (I tried to go back for more fruit but there was none left!).After about 2 months in the glasshouse the seed is finally showing signed of life and a tiny root has emerged (I know this because we were going to throw the pot away and I thought I would take a peek first - lucky I did!).

Planted: 2012

Qty: 1


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Rosemary

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

I use rosemary in nearly everything - even just to scent the house. I love it. Such a fresh smell! I want to get an ambelic so that I can get all the good oil out of it when I prune!!


Planted: 2009

Height 0.5 metres

Qty: 3

Pollination: No


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Comments

Lee says... [4592 days 11hrs ago]
Does your house smell like an old lady?
Kathy2 says... [4591 days 18hrs ago]
Rude man! :OP My grandma's hose smells like 4711 so ner!

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Rosella

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Hibiscus sabdariffa - growing to compare fruit to Hibiscus heterophyllus


Spring 2011: They are generally annual around here and I don't think that any of them survived the winter. I have left them in the ground just in case the roots survived... my friend also gave me some seed just in case.

Nope, all dead but the new seeds have germinated and I have s bunch of new seedlings just coming up. :O)


Summer 2012: They didn't do too well this year. Too wet, too cold, too many ants farming scale on them.


Autumn 2012: The seedlings that came up in Summer got to about 15 cm and stopped. I have moved them into the glasshouse to see if they can survive the winter in there and give me a head start on Summer 2013??


Planted: 2010

Height 1.3 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 10

Pollination: No


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Irish Strawberry Tree - arbutus canariensis

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2010: This one was a gift from my sister. She picked it cause it sounded interesting (and she knew I didn't already have it!).


The flowers are pretty but it hasn't fruited yet. It does have lovely bright green new growth.


Spring 2011: lots of new growth. Since spring started it has doubled in volume!


Summer 2011: I don't think that it likes all the rain. Getting brown patches on the inside of a lit of the folliage. Fingers crossed the weather warms up soon.


Summer 2012: The browning has stopped but the growing tips were all getting droopy. I decided not to cut them off just in case and it paid off cause there was nothing wrong with them - they were flowering!!!


Planted: 2010

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic Lifter, Seasol, Charlie Carp, worm juice (in rotation)

Pest Control: Ants seem to be farming some sort of GINORMOUS fat black bloated scale things on the hardened off branches (just where the leaves come out). I picked as many off as I could and then sprayed it with pest oil.



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Peanuts - Arachis hypogaea

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: Gift from a lovely friend. I've never had fresh peanuts so I am excited to try some.


Summer 2012: I have been given a second (bought) one as a gift. Gonna have fresh peanuts this year!! Can't wait!


Planted: 2011

Qty: 2

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Tiny leaf-curling caterpillars. They damaged most of the folliage in one day/night. Annoying - too wet to spray, too many to just cut them off. Squished them as I could and moved the plant to the glasshose to recover.



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Lemon - Meyer

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: Seedling from my friend John. Thank you so much! :O) 


Autumn 2012: Some EVIL monster ate ALL THE LEAVES! Fuming!! I have moved him round the back to the new hospital ward (AKA glasshouse) where I hope that he can recover!


Planted: 2011

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Tarragon Russian

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2012: A cutting given to me by a friend. We're not sure if it will take. It's been in the ground for a few months and is green but I dare not disturb it to see how the roots fair.


I am hoping that it will taste better to me than the French Tarragon I used to have. I was concerned that I had bought grass by mistake because it tasted so similar. My mum's was the same though so I can only assume that it just tastes werid...


Qty: 1


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Lemon Verbena

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2012: grown from a cutting pinched from my sister's new plant. Has a pretty form. Seems very similar to oregano in the way it is growing at the moment.

Qty: 1


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Comments

VF1 says... [4304 days 16hrs ago]


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Tamarind

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2012: These have been grown from seeds collected by a friend. ALL of the seeds were viable so I am hoping that is a good sign. The fruit was yummers so I am hoping at least one will be true to type.


Planted: 2012

Qty: 6


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Basil Mint

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2010: Very vigorous. Grows more like mint than basil with long runners and then tall spikes. Small purple flowers that form in balls at the top of the spikes remind me of chive flowers.


Nice taste but the name says it all - mint and basil. The only problem is what do you cook that needs both mint and basil?


Planted: 2010

Qty: 1

Pest Control:

Green caterpilars love it but I just pick them off and squish them.


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Basil Cinnamon

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: - Summer 2010: This basil grows very much like sweet basil but has a purpley colour and pointier leaves similar to Thai basil. The leaves seem a little tougher than sweet basil. You can definitely taste and smell the cinnamon though. They are annuals but self-seed easily. The plants are a bit smaller than sweet basil and the flowers are purple not white.

Qty: 1


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Sage

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: - For some reason I find sage hard to grow. If I love it, then it dies. If I completely ignore it, then it thrives. Annoyance.

Planted: 2011

Qty: 2


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Gac Plant (Momordica cochinchinensis)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: Gift from my good friend. This one is a male but we are all having our fingers crossed that some of the new seedlings will be female!

Pretty soft leaf vine. Doesn't seem too vigorous but it is in a small pot at the moment.


Qty: 1


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Comfrey

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2012: gift from a friend. I have lots of old fashioned home remedies that use comfrey so I thought I might grow some to give it a go. Again I have been warned to keep this one in a pot to make sure that it doesn't take over the world.



Qty: 1


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Bay Tree

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4616 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2012: Easter Bunny brought me this one. Pretty little thing now but I think I'll keep it in the pot to stop it from turning into a monster.


Qty: 1


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Redcurrant - Ribes rubrum

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4626 days 22hrs

Comments: -

I bought some berries from the shops and make blackberry and rad currant jam. Yummers! I need to grow my own now.


Autumn 2012: Brand new cutting bought from the lovely owners of Koolkuna Berry Farm.

Planted: 2012

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Chervil - Anthriscus cerefolium

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4626 days 22hrs

Comments: -

These grow super easily from seed and volunteer everywhere. The leaves are fine and ferny, feeling soft in your mouth. Delicate aniseedish flavour, lovely in salad. Loses a lot of it's flavour if you cook it.


Planted: 2007

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 20


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Coriander

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4626 days 22hrs

Comments: - Self-sewn seedlings everywhere!

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 30


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Aunt Molly\'s Ground Cherries - Physalis pruinosa

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4626 days 22hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2010: Super easy to grow from seed. Grows like a cape gooseberry but the plants and berries are much smaller. They are yellow and very sweet. I really like them.


Spring 2011: Self-sewn babies volunteering everywhere. Yummers!


Planted: 2010

Height 40 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 30

First Fruited: 2 Months From Seed


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Raspberry - Winter Fruiting

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4626 days 22hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: They haven't fruited yet but I am looking forward to comparing with the Summer fruiting ones.

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1


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Perennial Leek

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4626 days 22hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: I love leek but I haven't tried them yet because I want to make sure I have enough before I start eating them! I can't wait.


They propegate by bulbules which is super easy and they sure smell good. They like a decent amount of sun too.

Planted: 2011

Qty: 10


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Currant - Black

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4628 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2012: Only a cutting at the moment. Can't wait to make some jam!

Height 30 Centimetres

Qty: 1


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Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4628 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2012: My lovely partner brought this home with him from a holiday at a friend's house. Can't wait to compare the fruit.

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3


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Papaya - Sunrise Solo (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

I'm not 100% sure that this is the right variety. It was grown from a seed by my brother-in-law's father-in-law. It flowered this year but no fruit. Was hammered in winter and lost all of its leaves (which I noticed happened to all of the local pawpaws this year). Coming back now that it's summer and has branched at the crown which I am told is very rare.


2011: HATES being in a pot. I think that it dries out too quickly so I have put it in the ground to see if it perks up. Doesn't much like the cold either. I think that it's 50/50 as to whether I can save it this time.


Winter 2011: It is not doing well and I think might have to go... the middle of the trunk is fine but both ends seems to be getting skanky. Luckily I have a seedling or 2 ready and waiting to try again.


Spring 2011: The big one died. It just rotted from both ends. No idea why but I have noticed that a LOT of the pawpaws around Newcastle have died in the last 12 months. Perhaps it was too dry last year? And there was a lot of wind which I don't think they liked. I also don't think pots are the way to go with pawpaws. I don't think they like to dry out and I am sure that he hates being moved out of the pot and into the ground.


Summer 2012: The seedlings are looking lovely. I kept the biggest and shared the rest with friends. They don't seem to grow as quickly as the  Aussie Reds that John gave me but they have ALL loved the raining summer.



Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No


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Pitaya - Red Fleshed Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2011: I like the flavour of the flesh better than the white fleshed-red. Mine are currently only teeny tiny seedlings which are going to take FOREVER to fruit but I am a patient woman. :O)


Summer 2011: Am also now the proud owner of a cutting (thank you John!). Fingers crossed that it strikes!!!


Summer 2012: Success! We already have a new shoot on the cutting! The seedlings are also coming along... they are about 3cm tall now! The yellows are growing SO MUCH faster they are all over 20 cm (except where they have snapped in half and now have heaps of little branches)!





Planted: 2011

Height 2 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Pollination: No


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Banana - dwarf cavendish

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: VERY kind gift from my lovely friend John. I am very honoured to have one of his precious babies. She hasn't liked the cold but the last week has been a bit warmer and I am just noticing new leaves unfurling!


Summer 2012: Has lovely purple spots on the leaves as they mature.



Planted: 2012

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Pawpaw - Australian Red

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: I got a pot FULL of seedlings as a gift from my friend John (THANK YOU!!!) :O) The leaves seem darker than the other variety I have. Looking forward to seeing how they go!


Planted: 2011

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 10

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Cassava

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: Gift from a friend who grew them from cuttings from her plants. Will be trying them out as a windbreak/privacy screen to protect the bulk of the fruit trees.


Planted: 2011

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Pollination: No


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Bamboo - Bambusa Oldhamii

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2012: We need to grow a privacy screen and windbreak along the gully and decided to use bamboo (among other things). Oldhamii is supposed to be one of the tastiest so we thought we'd start here. We just bought the one pot and will split it when it goes big enough.


Planted: 2012

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Question:

Summer 2012: We need a wind break and privacy screen along the gully. We decided on a mic of things including some clumping bamboo. This is supposed to be one of the tastiest varieties so we're having an experiment!


The leaves are quite small and thin and very dark.  We bought one pot and intend to split more from it once it gets big enough.



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Spinach - Brazil or Sissoo

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: Gift from John again!


Summer 2012: The leaves are crunchier than normal spinach and very mild in flavour. I ate them straight from the plant but some people prefer to steam them before eating. They are a little tougher than baby spinach but I don't mind. Doesn't seem to grow very quickly but is quite compact so there are a lot of pretty crinkley leaves in a small space. Apparently it is a perennial and makes a nice edible boarder - I cant beleive that it would help keep weeds out of a bed as it is really very compact.


Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pest Control:

Nothing much has attacked it. There are a few small holes but nothing to be bothered with.


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Jerusalem Artichoke

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2012: This was another gift from John only a few months ago. It's already taller than I am and I have flower buds! I'll wait a bit longer to dig it up and see if I have tubers though! ;O)


I've planted it along the gully that we need to revegetate to stop the weeds from going nuts again. I wanted things that were fairly low maintenance and low water. I hardly ever water this and it doesn't seem to care one way or the other (that said it has been a wet Summer round here)!


Planted: 2011

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1


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Comments

Loves Fruit Trees says... [3330 days 4hrs ago]
That should stop the weeds for sure - it would over-run them. These plants are absolutely invasive! They are not ready to harvest until the plants look like they died - then you uproot them by digging carefully like you would with potatoes. You should have good longevity with all those growing - they are noted for Anti-Aging!

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Dragon Fruit - Pearl

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 12hrs

Comments: -

2011 Winter: Growing them from collected seeds. I know that they will take a million years to fruit but I don't know anyone who has a big one for me to take a cutting.


Summer 2011: Am also now the proud owner of a cutting (thank you John!). Fingers crossed that it strikes!!!


Summer 2012: I have a new shoot on John's cutting! So excited!


Planted: 2011

Height 1 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Pollination: No


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Sugar Cane - New Guinea

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Height 40 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pest Control:

Nothing seems to bother it.

Question:

Summer 2011: This was a cutting given to me by my lovely friend John. It has only been in the ground for a few months in the pic.


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Ginger QLD

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Likes a fair bit of water and shadey places. Once you find somewhere that it likes it is very easy to grow. The leaves remind me of bamboo. I have mind mixed in with a bed full of mint basil and native violets... kinda makes it a bit hard to dig up the rhizomes!


DOES NOT like to be moved while it has leaves (all of the leaves will die back) - so wait until it naturally dies back in winter and just move the rhizomes.


Planted: 2009

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 10

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: I haven't noticed anything that particularly bothers them which is nice!



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Cherimoya - White (Grafted) 6/10

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

In spring/summer she grows so quickly she can easy get too wispy. Make sure you tip prune!!! I have to make sure to cut her back at least 30% when she loses her leaves otherwise the next spring she isn't strong enough to support all the new growth.


Planted: 2008

Height 1.25 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pruned By: 30% in Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Hand Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: chicken poo, seasol, charlie carp, worm castings

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Elephant weevils = only thing you can do is hunt them down, pick them off and squish them. Or put them in a jar and look at how freaky they are!



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Black Sapote - Chocolate 6/10

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

He flowers like a bandit prefering flowers to new leaves. If you pull the flowers off you can force leave growth. New leaves are easily damaged by the cold and the wind can easily knock older leaves off.


He responds well to tip pruning and loves to be fertilised.


2009: He was in the ground for 2 years before moved him into a pot to move house. I just watered him well the night before and seasoled him once he was in the pot. Then because it was then end of Spring (getting HOT!) I watered him every evening for a fortnight to make sure he didn't go into shock.


2010: Covered in flowers this year and I'm hoping for fruit!


Spring 2011: Having gotten a little worried that I haven't had fruit-set despite years of flowering I did a little bit of research. Looks like either I am being impatient, I have a boy, or an infertile boy/girl. Poop! If there is no fruit-set this year I will look into getting a second, grafted - between the two I would HAVE to have pollination??


Summer 2011: We have flowers. There seems to be a big one in the centre of each cluster and smaller ones around... fingers crossed!



Planted: 2007

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: chicked poo, seasol, charlie carp, worm castings

Pest Control:

Have noticed very few pests. Occasionally gets some leaf boring insects = if a few leaves effected I usually just leave them as they don't seem to spread

Small spiders spinning webs in new branches kills growing tips = get rid of webs
&a


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Ice Cream Bean Mountain (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

My big boy isn't old enough to have fruited yet but since I put him in a bigger pot he has shot up. He likes his space and his water. He dries out and looks sad very easily.


2009: He was in the ground but has been happier since I put him in a pot and moved house.


Winter 2011: I have planted some seeds that I collected from pods. They were already germinating in the pods so fingers crossed I'd have an entire grove shortly. Literally 3 days later there are seedlings up!


Spring 2011: I have given away SO MANY seedlings and they keep coming up! So prolific! I have planted out the edge of the gully with them (where we hacked out the lantana). If they take they will make a great windbreak for my potted fruit trees and hopefully both help stabilise the bank and help keep the lantana down.


Summer 2011: Stupid little tiny caterpillars (the ones that curl the leaf up and spin web all over the inside) have decimated the new growth and we have had so much rain that I can't spray the anti-caterpillar bacteria. GRRRR! All I can do is keep and eye out and squish them as I find them.


Fruiting Months May, June, July

Planted: 2008

Height 1.25 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Grasshoppers = catch em when I can and lux soap spray the rest of the time. I have been told that molasses spray works well but I haven't needed to try it.


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Curry Tree

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Very sweet slightly weeping tree with pretty fragrant folliage. .


I live near the bush so I always make sure that I cut away the flowers before they can turn into berries to make sure birds don't spread the seeds. Apparently the fruit are edible (e.g. as beans in soup) but I have never tried. Pruning away flowers and berries also has the added benefit of increasing the vigor of the tree.


It does like water and you can easily tell if it is thirsty cause the leaves droop.


The leaves turn very yellow over winter then loses them all in spring just when the new growth starts to come in. The first year I was worried that it was dying but it does it every year, looks a bit mottled for a few weeks but is back to lovely when the new leaves fully develope.

Fruiting Months January and December

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

scale = I have noticed that ants like to farm scale on it. I rub the scale off with my fingers and spray with white oil to keep them away.

cateripllars = squish em

black spot = I haven't had black spot on mine but I have noticed a


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Kiwiberry - 74-49 Female

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

She's not old enough to have fruited yet but she is a lovely vine - smooth stems and much smaller leaves than the normal male.


WINTER 2010: dry weather had set in, I wasn't getting home early enough to water and she was regularly suffering from dehydration. Being that it was nearly time to prune her I pruned her before she lost all her leaves to stop her drying out but it got rainy a few days later and her wounds got infected with some feral slimey mould. At first I thought a kookaburra has been pooing on her. I brought her inside, cut the sick bit back and cleaned the wound with 70% EtOH which didn't work.


I tried garlic and commercial fungicides (begrudgingly) but they had no effect either. I got desperate and figured that if I had a manky wound I would use Detol on myself. I soaked a cottonball and left it on the wound for a fortnight. The ooze dried up and then when spring came she was right as rain! So pleased!


LESSON: use bitumen to seal wounds and do not assume that dry weather will hold!


Spring 2011: we have our first flower buds!!! The boy doesn't seem to be wanting to play though and has only just started getting leave let alone flowers. He has ONE PURPOSE in life so he had better get a riggle on otherwise I will get another boy for her! Grrr!


Summer 2011: Nope. He didn't perform. GR GR GR GR GRRRR!!!!



Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Normal male kiwi


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Comments

Tommoz says... [3949 days 20hrs ago]
The male is not 'performing' because it is probably a regular high chill Matui or Tomuri. Get a low chill male from Forbidden Fruits or Daleys when available.
Kathy2 says... [3926 days 13hrs ago]
Thanks for the tip! :) Ends up that he might be dead - I found a great big ant nest in the pot!

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Kiwifruit - Male

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Very vigorous! You could very nearly watch him and see him growing! Make sure that you keep him under control. He doesn't have to be enormous to get his job done.


I would like to try grafting a female to him and get double bang for my pot space but I don't know anyone with a female vine. Anyone in Newcastle willing to offer me  a piece next time they prune?


Spring 2011: No flowers this year. Very cross! I got flowers on the kiwiberry but nothing on the male. I am thinking that I will graft a piece of her onto him next year and maybe her hormones will encourage him to flower at the right time? Admitedly he might not be a dud, he might justbe too young?




Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: it is the pollinator


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Davidson Plum NSW

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Such a beautiful girl! I love her velvety pink new growth - if only you could make a dress out of it! You have to be careful not to damage a leaf though because when she's little one leaf is a significant proportion of the tree.


2009: She transplanted from my old house which was great - I was particularly worried about her cause she's a native. She did get flowers that year but I had to pull them off because I didn't want her to waste energy on them when I needed her to focus on surviving the move.


2010: First fruit this year. My dad LOVES how sour it is. I think next year the fruit that he doesn't eat might be destined to make some yummy relish.


Summer 2011: Lots of suckery new growth coming round the base. To leave or not to leave? Do I want a bush or a tree?


Spring 2011: I left the suckers because I was worried that I might have planted her into potty mix that was a bit gross. She seems fine though. Hated the strong spring winds that we had this year. I have planted some cassava to try and grow a windbreak for her.



Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 2007

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: chicken poo, worm castings, Seasol, Charlie Carp

Pest Control:

Elephant weevils might be the ugliest looking thing I have ever seen. They are big enough to just pick off but EWWWW!




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Cardamon Ginger

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Mine is the non-podding variety. Lovely fragrant folliage. I use the leaves as a substitute for ginger in soups and teas. You just bruise the leaves, add them to the liquid and remove before serving. It's a more mild flavour but works well if there's no ginger on hand.


They love lots of water but equally will survive in drier situations. Very hardly.



Planted: 2008

Height 0.75 metres

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Spiders like to make webs in the middle of the folliage so when you put your hand down there to pick a leaf watch out!


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Raspberry - Summer Fruiting

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Make sure that you keep them contained cause they go nuts! From my original plant bought in August 2009 I had 6 plants by November 2009!


They need support. I've used She-oaks and gum tree as a trellis. They also like lots of water to make sure that they can fruit well.


They are also VERY spiky so be careful!


2009: I haven't gotten any fruit yet because the original plant had to stay at the old house and the new canes came with me. Being that they don't fruit on the newest canes I missed out this year but next year there will be rasberries aplenty.


2010: so much fruit!!!!




Fruiting Months January, November, December

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

caterpillars & grasshoppers = pick them off by hand and lux soap spray to keep them off


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Dragon Fruit - Red

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

These are the red skinned white fleshed variety. Very fragile and need support (mine are growing up palm trees). Strikes easily from cuttings.


Winter 2011: I recently found out that they won't branch and flower (or fruit) if you let it get too tall. Apparently you only let the main stem grow to max 2 m and then force it to turn. So I have very carefully peels the majority of it off the palm tree and carefully laid it over our patio frame.


Summer 2011: Success - I have side branches on both!



Planted: 2009

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

ants like to eat the growing tips = dragon's blood spray (blended garlic, habanero, and dishwashing liquid - DO NOT GET IT IN YOUR EYES!)


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Chilli - Yellow Habanero

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Grow easily from saved seeds. Fruits prolifically.


Fruit is ridiculously hot so be careful not to get it under your nails or in your eyes.


Perfect for making Dragon's Blood Spray (chilli, garlic, dishwashing liquid, and water) that I use as a pest spray.


Planted: 2009

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Pruned By: 30% in Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Snails and slugs will get it when there is nothing else around. They will even eat the fruit!


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Cranberry

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2010: I love the dried fruit but commercially they usually have so much sugar added. I can't get them fresh in Newcastle so decided to grow my own.


The plant was difficult to get hold of but well worth it. The plant has trippled in size in about 3 months. It's a ground cover so needs to be able to spread. Small dark green leaves (redish tinge to new growth) on very thin woody looking stems.


I have planted it in an old terracotta birdbath which drains very slowly (they like it boggy). Looks lovely trailing down the sides. Seems to be loving it.


I fed it and I do not think that it likes it at all. The leaves have gone purple and it doesn't seem too happy. I cut it back thinking that the branches were dead but them stems were still juicey. I don't think it likes the food. That said, it might be deiduous and the leavse going purple is normal... I guess I will have to wait til next spring?


Spring 2011: These are really quite fragile. I was mulching and snapped off the branch! I have stuck it back in... maybe the roots are OK? Just in case I bought a second one. :O)


Summer 2011: The broken bits did not strike. I think it might need to be layered to propagate. When the new one is big enough I will have a crack.


Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Green caterpillars seem to be the only thing that eats them. Because the foliage is so small it is easy to spot them so I just pull them off and squish them.


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Raspberry - Atherton 10/10

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2008: This was a gift from a friend. I beleive that it is an Atherton Rasberry (rubus probus which is also known as rubus fraxinifolius)

The fruit are awesome! So tastey and it is so prolific. It fruits early too so I haven't had any trouble at all with fruit fly (unlike the blackberries).


It is not at vigorous as the non-native rasberries but it still spreads so I keep it in a pot. The canes are also shorter and mostly self-supporting so you don't need to prop them up. It drinks a lot and will get droopy if you let it dry out. It has been fruiting for about 2 months now and there are still flowers coming!


I have orders for canes from all my friends but I don't know when they'll get any because I am NOT disturbing it til it stops fruiting! YUMMERS!!!!!


Autumn 2011: I think that we have a brave kangaroo that has developed a liking for the leaves. I went out this morning to find a branch completely leafless. Kindly it ate around the flowers. It is a discerning animal too as it only ate the leaves from ONE of the bushes! :O)


Spring 2011: We've been enjoying fruit since the very beginning of spring. So yummy. The fruit is at its best just before it or immediately after it has fallen. Don't PULL them off because they won't be as tastey. Tickle them a bit and if they fall off on their own then they are perfect.


I cut off all the finished fruit stalks. I find that this encourages new grow and flowers which means more fruit!!


This year we have had a LOT of heavy spring rain and a lot of the fruit was damaged, either by getting knocked off and smashed into the ground or the mud was splashing up so high that it was getting embedded into the fruit. To prevent fruit loss I build a garden bed   around the pot and filled it with peas straw. The soft straw provides a soft landing for the fruit and I haven't lost any since.


Summer 2011: We have had a visit from our kangaroo again. Though I think that it might have developed a preference for the native violets in one of the other pots as there was only a little damage to the raspberry. Maybe it got a thorn in its mouth?


Fruiting Months September, October, November, December

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 5

First Fruited: 12 Months after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Fallen fruit can attract tiny slugs so get to them before the slugs. Also gets white scale which I scrub off with a toothbrush and spray the area with pest oil.


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Tamarillo - Red (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Great big leaves. Juicy trunk. Is taking a little while to settle into my garden.


I tried to grow some from bought seed but have had no luck so far. This one is a gift from a friend.


Spring 2011: some new babies planted and my original has FLOWERS! Despite the evil palm trees dropping leaves and trying to kill it, and mites and green caterpillars doing their best to eat it, she is happy enough and has flowers everywhere!


Summer 2012: We had a LOT of heavy rain and wind in Spring and a lot of the tiny fruit was knocked off, as well as an entire branch thanks to the evil palm trees (how I hate them!). We still have some and I am so excited to try them. I am sure that now the weather has warmed up we will be eating them soon!


Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

sap-sucking mite heavan = soap sprays don't seem to work, draagon's blood is the best. The cold weather seems to have helped with the mite problem.


Green caterpillars love it too = I am trying Dipel this year. 


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Citrus Splitzer - lemon/lime

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

One of the grafts seems much more vigorous than the other (not sure which yet). It's also helped by the fact there are 2 grafts of one and only 1 of the other.


Spring 2011: Covered in flowers and just starting to grow teeny tiny fruit.


About a month after this  I decided to get rid of the fruit. There was just so much and I thought that it was a bad idea to leave them all. It didn't seem to like that and suddenly dropped all of its leaves. There are teeny tiny new shoots appearingon some of the branches (mostly on one graft not the other). No idea what I did wrong - I am SURE there was enough food, I am sure it wasn't too wet or too dry. I am hoping that it was a sunlight issue so I have moved into a sunnier spot.


Summer 2012: First day of the new year and I have noticed new shoots on the bare branches. I think that the weather has just started to warm up enough for it to get going again. Catch is that I think they shoots might actually be flowers not leaves. What is it thinking? All I can do is keep an eye on it and keep reminding my man to help fertilise!


Fruiting Months September and October

Planted: 2010

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Charlie Carp, Seasol, and my partner helps out too


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Turmeric - Orange

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

It dies back in winter so be careful to remember where it is! It's heartbreaking to think you're shoving your spade into an empty patch but come out with half an orange rhizome!!!!


They really really like water. I have them in a spot that gets a lot of the runnoff from our roof and they are big and lush.


Summer 2012: Beautiful flowers coming out on the larger clumps. So so pretty. Very very tropical feeling.



Planted: 2009

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 10

Pollination: No

Pest Control: The leaves seem to get attacked by something (you can see a few holes in the pic) but it doesn't defoliate them and the doesn't seem to worry the plants so I don't worry about pesst contol.



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Monstera - Fruit Salad Tree

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

This has been in my father-in-law's garden for 20 years and he never knew it was edible! He is not a gardener and has never done a thing for the plant so obviously monsteras can thrive on neglect. My partner is so excited to be eating them for the first time this season. He loves it.


When you do eat the fruit remember to wait til the plates fall off and don't get the nasty acid/spikey bits in your mouth cause they hurt! I think that I am particularly sensitive to the acid and it burns my mouth if I eat too much.


Planted: 1990

Height 3 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Pollination: No


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Cape Gooseberry

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Annuals. Seeds save well for following year. I mix them through the herb bed and also have them in pots.


I have 2 different sorts of these - a yellow and a green variety. I am told that both should go yellow when it ripens but I kept fruit from last season and they stayed green until I broke it open to plant the seeds this year so I don't know what sort that is!


I really like adding the fruit to salad. They have a lovely tomatoey flavour and I like the seedy texture. They also dry well in a dessicator and retain a strong flavour.


Summer 2011: John gave me a gift of some mamoth cape gooseberry seeds. I have planted them but nothing is up yet. Not surprised though, the weather has been so cold and wet that nothing much is coming up - not even my flowers!


Planted: 2009

Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 4

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Last year they got orange and black striped bugs that completely decimated them within a day. I was lucky to get enough fruit to save the seeds. This year there has been no sign of them


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Comments

davewastech says... [2604 days 16hrs ago]
Cucumber beetle?
davewastech says... [2604 days 16hrs ago]
or potato beetle perhaps?
Tacofox1 says... [2109 days 16hrs ago]
I got rid of the larvae with a good sprinkle of corn flower over a couple of days and the bugs I did find I flicked them into a bucket of water- I felt awful but they were decimating my plant.

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Olive - Manzanillo

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2010:I bought him at a closing down sale. He wasn't a happy chappy but I could see his potential.He came very wonky but with staking/training and careful pruning he should be strong enough to stand up on his own in about 6 months.


Spring 2011:he is strong enough to stand on his own now so I am using the stakes and a good pruning to train him into the shape I want. Flowers everywhere this yearbut I don't think that I will let him fruit.


Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Charlie Carp, Seasol, worm juice, Blood and Bone, Dynamic Lifter (in rotation)

Pest Control: He got some sort of sap-sucking gross black thing on his leaves but I just sprayed with Dragon's Blood (habanero chilli, garlic and detergent concoction) and he is right as rain.


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Blueberry - Nellie Kelly

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2010: Have had heaps of fruit but not the best flavour and small. They needed little maintenance. I rotate which ones were allowed to fruit each year. They are still small and fruiting takes a lot of energy. Rotation seems to improve vigor.


I had a different variety a few years ago and grasshoppers demolished it but the Nellie Kellies haven't been touched. I'm either luckier this time or this variety isn't so tastey!


Summer 2011: SO MUCH FRUIT! Fruit was much better quality this year. They obviously take a few years to really establish. Plus I think that they have loved the rain!


Fruiting Months January, November, December

Planted: 2008

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 4

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Some sort of grub likes to spin webs through the flowers and berries at the very tip of the branches. Kills the branch. I just cut them off and throw them away.




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Jelly Melon - Cucumis metuliferus

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Crazy spiky vine with bright green cucumbery fruit. I've grown mine from seed saved from a fruit bought at the grocery store. They are only seedlings at the moment.


After 3 months in the ground the vine has gone bananas! It is covered in flowers and tiny crazy looking spiky monster fruit! I tried to encourage it to grow up a fence but it seems happier trailing along the ground and strangling and old tree stump.


Make sure you plant is somewhere that;

1. it won't spike you every time you walk past it

2. you don't mind it invading everything! Tomatos seem to like it though! They came up right through the middle of the vine and are the only tomatoes that we had fruit this year!


Planted: 2010

Height 6 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

slugs ate the first batch of seedlings down to the stalks = keep them covered while they are little


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Mexican Cucumber (Melothria scabra)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Lots of yummy fruit, easy to grow vine, covering two of the eyesore evil palm trees.


They are sometimes called SOUR mexican cucumbers but instead of picking them from the vine, if you wait until the fruit fall before eating them then they are not sour at all.


TIP: when they are fruit make sure that you mulch really well below the vine so that when the fruit fall it is easy to find - of course you have to make sure the mulch is a contrasting colour to the fruit (like nice yellow straw).


These are annuals so make sure you keep seeds for next year.


They go very well with in a salad with cherry tomatoes and cape gooseberries.


Summer 2011: The very cold and wet weather has delayed them coming back up this year but I finally have new vines. I didn't even have to plant them myself - they just came up on their own! Looking forward to the first crop!


Fruiting Months March and April

Planted: 2011

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

First Fruited: 4 Months From Seed

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Haven't noticed anything particularly problematic yet


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Acerola - Florida Sweet

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2011: I loved the fruit so collected the seed. I am hoping that at least some of them will be fertile. I will be so excited to have my own source of this gorgeous fruit.


Spring 2011: The seed cases were empty so we didn't get any plants but I was lucky enough to buy one on the weekend! :O) Looking forward to the fruit! It had hardly any new leaves but there is potential.


Summer 2011: Very happy. New leaves everywhere. They are quite a bright green so you have to be careful not to get confused and think that it is malnourished.



Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Sugar Herb - Stevia

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2010: Gift from a friend.


Winter 2011: Died down with the cold weather. I hope that it's not dead. :O(


Spring 2011: New leaves just coming in. Yay!



Planted: 2010

Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Haven't noticed any pests


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Mamey Sapote (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2011: bought some fruit from Tropic Fruit World and it tasted awesome so saved the seeds and planted them (1 at home and 2 at work in the glass house). About a month later I have little pink baby just starting to poke himself out of the soil. So exciting. I have been bringing him inside at night to keep him warm - so pampered.


Oh I am so stupid! I thought that he looked weird so I had a little dig about in the pot and he was upside down! When I planted him I thought that there was a big root coming out so put that down... apparently I was wrong. I have added a new pic of him being the right way up!!!


The other 2 seeds that are in the glasshouse are up too! So exciting. They are bigger than the one at home now but I think that it's best to keep them separated in case something happens at one site!


Spring 2011: the sapotes are home now. I have 1 from the glasshouse and my friend has the other. I made sure that they were kept in the dappled shade for a month before moving into more sun. They are taking a little while to adjust to life on the outside but they are happy and hopefully just waiting for summer.


Summer 2011: The tiny leaf curling caterpillars love the new growth and you have to be SO carful not to snap it off when you're trying to get rid of it. Bring on the dry weather so that I can spray the anti-caterillar bacteria!



Planted: 2011

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

A green caterpillar did make a silk cocoon underneath one leaf (didn't eat anything though).

Ants started farming something small and green on the underside of the leaves.


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Comments

Farouk says... [2558 days 17hrs ago]
Hello, how is your Mamey Sapote *Tree now ? No longer a seedling I am guessing.
Farouk says... [1938 days 16hrs ago]
Hi it's been about 7 years since you posted this, any fruit yet?

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Papaya (unknown variety) (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Autumn/Winter 2011: Grown from collected seeds. Fingers crossed that they like it here!


Interestingly I have noticed that the seedlings raised outside (image with the round pot) are happier than the seedlings my friend has been germinating in the big glasshouse at work (image with the pebbley seed-raising mix) - even in the colder weather that we are experiencing now. Crazy!


Spring 2011: SLUGS!!!! They ate the tops off all the seedlings! How rude! I think that only one will survive! There is now a WALL of pellets ALL THE WAY AROUND THE POT!!!!


Planted: 2011

Height 3 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 20

Pollination: No


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Comments

JohnMc1 says... [4781 days 11hrs ago]
I have far too many solo X seedlings I cannot use if you wanted a head start.
Kathy2 says... [4779 days 24hrs ago]
That would be lovely John! Are you in Newcastle somewhere?
Kathy2 says... [4779 days 24hrs ago]
I see that Wallarah is pretty close. I could come out one weekend to pick them up if you like?
JohnMc1 says... [4779 days 18hrs ago]
By all means Kathy you can contact me via johnatcentralcoastskylightsdotcomdotau

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Berry - Youngberry (Cutting)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2011: My dad just bought this for me - he was buying onfor himself and it had rooted into a second pot so the nursery just pulled it out and let him have it all.


Spring 2011: New leaves just coming on. :O) And by mid-October I have my first flowers! He is still little but I feel greedy because I have never had youngberries before so I am going to leave them on there!


Fruiting Months November

Planted: 2011

Height 40 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Charlie Carp, Seasol, worm juice, Blood and Bone

Pest Control: I haven't noticed any pests as of yet although I have put a good helping of iron-based snail pellets around the base of the pot to keep the snail invasion at bay.



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Native Violet

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

I used these everywhere as living mulch to out-compete the weeds and as a water indicator. They droop way before the potted fruit trees get thirsty enough to show any signs - so when the violets droop it's time to water the pots.

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Something large and mammalian is eating them - but only from 2 pots specifically! The pots are too high for rabbits so I am thinking I either have a very brave kangaroo, a feral goat or a dog gone vego!



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Comments

ahimsa cottage says... [4454 days 10hrs ago]
Thanks Kathy for this tip i hadn't thought of using them as a moisture indicator -really useful. I am a big fan of these violets too Samantha (Ahimsa Cottage)
Kathy2 says... [4453 days 12hrs ago]
They are pretty!! :O)

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Macadamia - Bush Nut (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2011: Who knows what variety this is? I was lucky enough to find some seedlings and saved them from being mowed by diligent council workers. Only little babies now but exciting!


Planted: 2011

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Comments

Timbo says... [4358 days 2hrs ago]
hey Kathy, M. integrifolia has whorls of 3 leaves whereas M.tetraphylla has whorls of 4. Once the true leaves come out you can confirm the species.

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Brazilian Cherry

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

I beleive that these are also called Pitangas.


Winter 2011: My friend is germinating these for me from seeds I collected at Tropical Fruit World in March. They are slow to start but it is winter and I can't blame them. The fruit was awesome and I am very excited to have these new babies. There are 3 in the pic: the big one, a smaller one at the back and a tiny weeny one right at the bottom/centre of the first image.


All of the seeds have now come up. They are pretty, delicate little seedlings and I am very excited.


Planted: 2011

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Pollination: No


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Jakfruit - Seedling

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Winter 2011: I am not sure what variety these are as again my friend is germinating them from seeds that I collected. You can see in the pic that the sizes are very different. The big one was one of the first of all the seeds we collected to germinate while the other has come up months later. LESSON: be patient!!!


Spring 2011: My friend took one and I took the other. Hopefully between us we can get fruit from one!


Summer 2012: He has been home for a few months now but he is not happy. I think that the weather has just been too cold for him to really get going. The weather is warming up now though so I am hoping that he will get a chance to put on some new growth before winter. I might have to get a glasshouse or bring him into the bathroom to keep him alive over winter if he doesn't get a bit more established.


Planted: 2011

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Ants love farming scale on them. The tiny leaf curling caterpillars love the new growth and you have to be SO carful not to snap it off when you're trying to get rid of it.


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Sapodilla - Seedling

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Winter 2011: Again coming up from collected seeds. These have taken 2 months to germinate so be patient. We are not sure if all 3 babies will survive - the one in the top of the image looked like it might have gotten mouldy but there is still a little bit of green clinging in there.


We now have 6 seedlings. The one that got mouldy seems to have died but the others are looking really strong. My friend took some and I have some so between us we should be able to keep one alive!


Summer 2011: One of the seedlings had conjoined leaves. It stayed green but couldn't grow any adult leaves because the cotyledons were stuck together across the growing tip. I carefully peeled them apart and there are new leaves coming!! :O)


Planted: 2011

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Nothing seems to have bothered them yet.


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curry bush (Helichrysum italicum)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

You can't use it to cook cause the flavour goes weird but you can use the fresh tips, chopped finely, in salad dressings to get a nice curry taste.


Be sure to keep it tip pruned otherwise it will go rangey but can withsatnd hard pruning if it gets out of control. Can grow easily from cuttings.

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Wampee

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: - Spring 2011: I couldn't resist buying him when I saw him at a spring market. He didn't seem in the best condition - soil had come out of the pot and was exposing roots and his leaves ere yellow- but there was new growth and I knew he just needed some love. His leaves are starting to turn a better shade of green now that I have fed him up.


Planted: 2011

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Got some sort of biggishscale on the upper side of the leaves. Scraped them off with my thumb (squished them) then sprayed both sides of the leaves with pest oil.


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Feijoa

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: tried some of the fruit earlier in the year. Loved it and promised myself one of these this year! This one was a little bit sad (soil had been washed out of the top of the pot exposing the roots a little bit and he was on his way to being root-bound) but I think with some new potting mix and some lvoe he will be perfect.


Summer 2011: New growth is a good sign but I am getting grew new growth at the growing tips and bright green at the base... it isn't supposed to be grafted????? :O)


Those damned tiny leaf curling caterpillars are at the new growth on this one too. Too wet, can't spray, have to resort to manual termination!


Planted: 2011

Height 60 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Tamarillo - yellow

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: my gorgeous friend gave these to me as a gift but unfortuately they got mixed up with the red ones so I don't know which is which! Eep! I guess I will just have to wait until next year to find out!



Planted: 2011

Height 25 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pest Control: Watch out for the mites. They LOVE the tamarillos. I have noticed though that the one in more sunlight has fewer mite issues. I've tried a few sprays and  Dragon's Blood works the best.



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Passionfruit - Banana

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: - Spring 2011: Everyone says that these are the bomb and I LOVE passionfruit so when I saw it at the nursery I thought I might try it out! :O)


Sumemr 2011:  Despite how strongly it started out my poor passionfruit died. There didn't seem to be any reason - one day a branch just died, then the next and the next. It was really weird. My grandma gave me another for Christmas so I am trying again. The tag recommends growing it in a pot so I am trying that this time. Fingers crossed!!

 

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Nothing at all seems to have bothered it yet, despite the massive slug and snail invasion that we've had this spring.




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Comments

b1b2j3 says... [2490 days 22hrs ago]
Mine (6 months & vigorous) just carked it. I think maybe my dog own (1 of 3) peed on it. Also found a balm of gilead uprooted. My dog payback. I am going to ask the seller if any others sudden death.

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Gooseberry - Captivator (Cutting)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: snapped it up when I saw it in the nursery. I love berries so couldn't resist. I beleive that this variety doesn't need frostto bear good fruit... we will just have to wait and see!


This variety (ribes uva-crispa) is thornless which also attracted me-between the various raspberries I usually come away from gardening with holes in something - either myself or my clothes!


Summer 2011: It has taken a while to settle in to the garden. I think more due to the wet and cold than anything else. It is starting to get some new growth now that the weather is warming up. Have notices those nasty leaf curling caterpillars in the new growth. GRRR!


Planted: 2011

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

The leaf curling caterpillars get into the new growth.



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Oregano

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

I love cooking with oregano so it is a must have.


I have started using it in the male kiwi pot as a living mulch and to make sure that I know which one is the oregano and which one is the golden marjoram (because where I had it in the ground everything was all creeping together).


Spring 2011: Has gone bananas this year and I had to hack 2/3 of it off to stop it from taking over the world!


Summer 2011: It seems to have decided to turn into a vine and is growing up the trellis with the male kiwi. And I have pretty flowers this year too. First time I have ever seen flowers on an oregano.


Planted: 2011

Qty: 1

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Pest Control: Nothing ever seems to bother oregano.



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Chocolate Mint (Cutting)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011:  I have lots of mint but this is one of the prettier ones with green leaves and brown stalks. Actually tastes like peppermintpatties to me... but that said I have NO IDEA what to do with it??? :O)


This year I put a new clump in with the Black Apple as a water indicator.


Planted: 2009

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Green Caterpillars get into it sometimes.


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Comments

ahimsa cottage says... [4454 days 10hrs ago]
Hi Kathy, I have used it in a savoury dish - caponata this type of mint really compliments the fried eggplant flavours. I will put the recipe on my edible under chocolate mint this weekend Cheers Samantha (Ahimsa Cottage)
Kathy2 says... [4453 days 12hrs ago]
Awesome! Thanks :O)

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Pineapple Sage (Cutting)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: cutting from my grandma's garden. Brings the bees and tastes yummy. What more can you ask for. Have to be careful to keep it pruned into a nice compact shape otherwise it gets leggy and ugly - BUT it doesn't mind a hard prune.


Planted: 2011

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Guava Yellow Cherry (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: Brand new baby seedling. Will have to wait to see what happens.

Height 25 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Mint

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

You can't have a herb garden without mint! But as all mints keep it in a pot otherwise it will take over the whole world! And they like the water a LOT! It will creep out of the drainage holes and try to escape into the garden looking for more water if you aren't careful!


My variety has lowish twisty branches that tend to run along the ground. Roundish leaves too.


When it gets too rangy or there's too many caterpillars eating it I just hack it all back to ground level. Within a few weeks you have a crop again so it's no dramas.



Planted: 2008

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Caterpillars LOVE it but it is prollific enough not to be too much of a problem but you


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Basil Perennial

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

This is a good all year round alternative to sweet basil. I find the leaves a bit tougher and the flavour not so good but it is better than nothing! The leaves can be mixed in with the sweet to make pesto to get a bigger batch.

I love the purplish flowers and they act as an excellent bee/pollinator attractant. 


You do have to be careful not to let it get rangey so I tip prune all the time. It can tollerate a heavy prune a few times a year.


Height 70 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Green caterpillars and snails seem to like like it when there is nothing else about.


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Sweet Marjoram

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4718 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Staple in my cooking when I want a milder flavour than oregano. Love the golden leaves and spreading nature. Doesn't get as tall as oregano, tending to lay flatteron the ground.


I have one in the ground (shown in the picture) and one in the mulberry pot so that it doesn't get out competed by anything else and so that I can be sure where it is (some times in the year the golden colour reduces and it can be hard to tell which is oregano and which is marjoram!).


I have noticed that it hates having any liquid fertiliser on its leaves - burns them really quickly no matter the concentration. So I always make sure to give it a light water after fertilising to make sure it all gets washed off.


Planted: 2009

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Pollination: No


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Thyme - orange

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4718 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Autumn 2011: still has small leaves like normal thyme but completely different shape. Much lower growing. Had a beautiful orange and thyme fragrance (as the name suggests). It's not big enough to harvest yet but I am keen to cook with it. Smells beautiful.


Because my normal thyme doesn't like competition from other ground covers I have put this one in the pot with the ice cream bean where it will act as living mulch.

Planted: 2011

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Plum - Sugar

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4718 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: Gift from my friend Brett. Looking forward to comparing it to the other unknown plum cuttings we struck earlier in the year.


Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Strawberries (unknown)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4718 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Gifts from my grandad's garden. Grow everywhere.


First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Keep the fruit away from slugs!!!


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Soursop

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4718 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Winter 2011: 2 seedlings just coming up from collected seeds! Yay! They have taken longer than most of the other seeds but they are here now so I am happy!

Planted: 2011

Height 0.5 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Pollination: No


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Lime - Kaffir (Grafted)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4718 days 19hrs

Comments: -

I have to tip prune to keep him from getting rangy and make sure that the internal part of the tree is kept open for air flow.


I thought I killed him a few years ago when I was pruning a large bottle brush above him. A big branch twisted out of my grasp and landed on him. It ripped a branch and part of his trunk half off. I put him back together and wrapped him with hemp twine. He survived and the wound healed back together. He just looks a bit like an old warrier with battle scars now.


I grow native violets in the pot as a living mulch and as a water indicator - when the violets droop the pot needs water.


Planted: 2006

Height 1.5 metres

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

caterpillars & grass hoppers = pull them off by hand and lux soap spray to keep them off

scale & curly leaf = white oil


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Basil - Sweet

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Basil pesto is one of my favourite things in the kitchen. Garlic, basil, balsamic, brown sugar, olive oil and parmesan. Yummers.


Summer 2011: The basil has taken ages to come up from seed this year. I hope that I get a decent crop otherwise there will be no pesto for winter!


Growing: In a Pot

Pollination: No


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Chives

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 8hrs

Comments: -

I love cooking with chives. Love love love. I also love the pretty purple fluffy flower balls.


For some reason they aren't growing so well at the moment but I have split them around to different spots in the garden to see where they like it best. I have noticed that they don't like competition from the native violets so keep them separated into pots.


Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 4

Pollination: No


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Zante Currant (small red grape)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Very vigorous. Needs a sturdy trellis (or in my case a gum tree) to climb. Deciduous. Dried fruit makes currant-like fruit.


Summer 2010: First fruit set! Yum yum yummers!!!! Can't wait til I get more next year! Make sure that you keep the water up to them though, because without enough water they will just turn to currants on the vine!


Spring 2011: have about 10 little bunches of grapes just starting to form! I am so excited!


Summer 2011: Worst weather EVER for my grape. I was away for a week and the insane winds and heavy rain destroyed my entire crop (even though he was in a sheltered position). Devastated! I have also noticed that the wet is attracting a lot of mealy bugs which is not nice.


Being that I hadn't intended to stay where I am for as long as I have I hadn't put him in an ideal spot (under a tree). While he has still been prollific I don't think that it is the best location for him so this summer I cut him back and moved him onto a trellis agains a big brick wall. I think that he will like it much better here as there is much more sun and hopefully it will also keep the damned mealy bugs down! Plus I have used the prunings to try striking some cuttings. Fingers crossed!


I have read that they like the lime too so I am going to have him a shot and see how he likes it.


Fruiting Months January, February, December

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Charlie Carp, Seasol, worm juice, Blood and Bone, Dnamic Lifter (all in rotation)

Pest Control: Caterpillars seem to like the leaves but not enough to have decimated it. This year I am trying Dipel to see how that goes.



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Avocado - Reed Seedling

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Who knows what this one is?. It came up in my friend Mark's compost and it's pretty so I kept it. Probably won't fruit for 10 years but I am a patient woman! :O)


Very thirst. The new growth droops very visibily so you can tell when it needs a drink.


Quite vigorous and the stems and branches seem quite juicey rather than woody.


Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Charlie Carp, Seasol, Dynamic Lifter, Blood and Bone, worm jouce (in rotation)

Pest Control: Nothing much seems to bother it.


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Pomegranate - Wonderful (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 16hrs

Comments: -

It might be a Wonderful - the folliage looks right but I can't be sure. This plant is an icon of my childhood memories. It sprang up unbidden in my grandma's garden and I was lucky enough to get the only seedling it has ever produced. The fruit are small but the bush is only small. In fact at the moment she looks like she has more flowers than leaves!


She is very slow growing, and the branches are very fragile. You should use scissors to cut the fruit off because if you pull or twist you can take a whole branch with it.


She is very hardy though. She has been snapped in half a number of times (evil street children with soccer balls) and always come back.


Spring 2011: I saved some seeds from a fruit last year and now have lots and lots of beautiful tiny little seedlings.


Fruiting Months January, February, March

Planted: 2006

Height 60 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 6

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pruned By: 10% in

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Charlie Carp, Seasol, warm juie, Dynmaic Lifter, Blood and Bone (in rotation)

Pest Control:

curly leaf = white oil


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Comments

JohnMc1 says... [4781 days 11hrs ago]

JohnMc1 says... [4781 days 11hrs ago]
They also strike exceptionally easy if you wanted to take cuttings.
Kathy2 says... [4779 days 24hrs ago]
Thanks for the heads up John! :O) Knowing that, I might take some cuttings from my friend's tree to get another variety going.

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Thyme

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 17hrs

Comments: -

No herb garden is complete without thyme. I love the pretty flowers and the tiny folliage and the gorgeous smell. Ahhh beautiful.


Thrives on neglect. Doesn't mind a good haircut (which doubles as harvest if you have space to dry it properly). Likes lots of sun and does not like wet feet.


Mine is in a bed with native violets and I have noticed that it doesn't like violets growing too close so I keep it all well back.


Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Spearmint

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Pointier leaves than normal mint and mine tends to grow in great bit vertical spikes rather than lower twisty brnaches like the normal mint. Slightly different floavour. Same as normal mint in that it will take over the world if you don't keep it in a pot.


Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Caterpillars LOVE it but it is prollific enough not to be too much of a problem but you have to be careful not to end up with a caterpillar breeding ground that infests the rest of the garden.


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Kangkong ( Water Spinach )

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: I love love love asian greens and my friend John gave me a few cuttings.


These are the EASIEST thingin the world to grow from cuttings (and I might be suggesting easier than mint!). They are great! And the folliage is pretty so you can't complain on any front! Can't wait for them to be big enough to harvest!!


They do like the water though and will get very sad and doopy when they are thirsty. Bounce back straight away though.


Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Pollination: No


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Plum (unknown) (Cutting)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: Cuttings given to me by a friend of a friend (thakns heaps Brett!!) who inherited the parent tree with his farm... none of us know what sort they are but they are yummers! The first of the cuttings just appear to be coming to life.


Summer 2011: Out of 5 cuttings only 2 grew leaves (back in spring). One was dead as a dodo but the other 2 were still green - just sleepy?? So I scraped off some bark, dunked them in rooting hormone and repotted them. One is already starting to how signs of success!


Planted: 2011

Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 4

Pollination: No


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Berry - Elderberry

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2011: Cutting struck from John. I got mixed up and thought that it was for making gin. Poo to it not being but still there are PLENTY of things to be done with elderberry and I love the pretty folliage and big fluffy balls of white flowers.


Planted: 2011

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Pepino - Kendall Gold (Cutting)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 17hrs

Comments: -

My pepino has spread across the city. My friends love the fruit and beautiful purple flowers and have taken cuttings away with them. I keep a reserve of pots with babies just in case a visitor wants one.


Moving disrupted his fruiting so I've only had 1 tiny crop but next year will be better!


Summer 2010/2011: Mits and green caterpillars devouring him. Dragon's blood spray works but with all the rain it just gets washed off. Had to prune him back hard so no fruit again this year. Bum.


Spring 2011: I have split him up and there are plants in 4 different locations in the garden... whichever one grows the best will be the one who survives! :O)


Summer 2011: Well to call me a liar the original plant is looking really healthy this year and I have flowers. Go figure! Fingers crossed for fruit!


Fruiting Months January, February, March

Planted: 2008

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Fruit Harvest: 2 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: chicken poo, seasol, charlie carp, worm castings

Pest Control:

Green caterpillars, slugs, snails eat the leaves and the fruit = pull the ones you can see off with your fingers and spray with lux soap in water to keep them from coming back

sap-sucking mites = soap spray

kookaburras = leave water out


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Fig Black Genoa (Cutting) 10/10

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 17hrs

Comments: -

I love figs. I would say that they are probably my favourite. They fruit well, are a lovely shade tree, are low maintenance and you make SO MANY FRIENDS when people find out you have a fig tree! ;O)


2009: All of my figs have grown from cuttings from my old tree which was one of a very few trees I had to leave behind at my old house. A friend taught me the trick - you crush the bottom 30% of the cutting with a rock and you get a MUCH better striking rate.


2010: The Genoas are crazy and even though it is winter and the other types are losing their leaves the Genoas are putting on new growth.


Autumn 2011: They never did lose their leaves last year and I am sure that some of the leaves they have now are the same ones! AND they do not look like they are intending to lose them this year either.


Summer 2011: With the cold and rain the figs aren't too happy. They also were copping mealy bug and stupid fig leaf curl bug. RAR! Not happy. Was forced to resort to Confidor. I hate to do it but they were is too much pain.


Fruiting Months January, February, March, December

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Qty: 4

First Fruited: 1 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: chicken poo, seasol, charlie carp, worm castings

Pest Control:

Ants sometimes attack fruit = I leave them as I am happy to sacrifice a few fruit for the protection from other nasties that the ants provide

Birds (I have only ever once had a currawong attack my fruit but it was a vandal) = netting


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Coffee arabica

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Lovely large glossy leaves. Bright green new growth ages to a dark green. Seems to be slow growing.


Summer 2011: FIRST FLOWERS! So excited. They are hard to see because they are down at the base of the leaves along the branches but they are there! Fingers crossed for some fruit!!! I had always been told that they were highly fragrant. I haven't noticed any particular smell but with all the rain it could easily have been washed away.




Planted: 2009

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: SCALE SCALE SCALE! Like you wouldn't beleive on the growing tips. So bad that I just cut them off and threwthe lot away!


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Lemon Myrtle

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 18hrs

Comments: -

Winter 2011: lots of lovely new growth. I think that it might be a combination of having settled into her new pot and loving all of the rain we're having.

Summer 2011: I have flower buds! So exciting!


Planted: 2010

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Black Apple

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 18hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: Gift from my dad. Native but doesn't get coloured new growth. Healthy dark leaves, very pretty. Has a very "old" look about it (like a big tree in minature).

 

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Ants like to farm all sorts of different scale on it so I have to be diligent with scraping them off and spraying with white oil.


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Mushroom Plant

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 18hrs

Comments: -

Love the taste - just like juicy mushrooms! Great in salads. Pretty dark purple flowers too.


Grow easily from cuttings put directly in the ground. You can pick individual leaves as you need them or if you double-up harvesting and pruning the stalks will keep for a few weeks in a cup of water in the kitchen. Cuttings kept in water don't tend to put out roots so striking is best done straight into the ground.


Planted: 2009

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 5

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: I haven't noticed anything at all eating them.


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Midyim Berry

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 18hrs

Comments: -

Such a lovely bush. I must have more! The new growth is furry and white then goes pink and smooth then turns green. But be careful because the stems are thin and woody and very fragile.


It is a really beautiful bush but has a tendency to be rangy so be sure to tip prune to keep it nice and dense.


The pale blue speckly fruit is small but so tastey. I think it tastes like sweet, mild cardamom. Very nice.


Autumn 2011: I broke a big branch off by accident a few months ago. I split it up and planted the 2 pieces. It's been 2 months and they still have leaves... maybe they are going to strike!!! :O)


Summer 2012: No they didn't strike. The leaves held in there for ages but they didn't root. Not that I was too diligent about watering and I didn't use rooting hormone to help them either. Maybe next time I will be a bot more professional about it?


I got a second bush from Santa (which was non-descriptively called Bush Snacks). It is great though because I would very much like a midyim berry informal hedge. I love the folliage and the fruit and I think the berries would make a really great and unusual jam. Maybe I should try harder to strike some babies?

 

Fruiting Months January, February, March

Planted: 2008

Height 0.6 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

tiny black caterpillars that curl the new leaves up around themselves = prune them off and throw them in the bin

black spot = don't let it get too much shade and keep somewhere well ventilated


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Lilly Pilly - Riberry

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4719 days 18hrs

Comments: -

Summer 2012: Gift from Santa. I have had one of these before, way back when I was only just starting to get into gardening. It was bought as a tube stock and I left it in a "temporary" position long enough for the roots to get out of the pot and into the soil below. It died when I tried to get it out of the pot... won't make that mistake twice!


Lovely pink new growth which is one of the things I love most about so many of the Australian natives. The berries are supposed to be yummers so I am looking forward to trying them.


Planted: 2012

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Loquat - Seedling

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4783 days 13hrs

Comments: -

I am not sure what variety loquat I have as it was a gift but I don't think it's grafted. It is probably one of the most vigorous trees in my garden. I have alwasys kept him in a big concrete pot to try and limit him size but I don't think he listens to me. It didn't fit in the pantec when we moved and I had to cut the crown out (and even then he had to bend over to fit). He didn't mind though and has gone crazy since.


He will be 4 next year so I am hoping to get my first crop! I have noticed a few of these trees around Newcastle and they all seem to being growing well.


He is VERY thirsty. New leaves and branches get droopy in dry weather. A good water and there is no permanent damage. I grow native violets in the pot as an early water indicater - if the violets droop it's time for a drink!


Winter 2011: I have my first flowers! Fingers crossed that I will get fruit soon! I took the pic a bit late so the flowers have gone skanky but they are still flowers!


Fruiting Months June and July

Planted: 2007

Height 2.25 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 4 Years from purchase in pot

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: chicken poo, worm castings, Seasol, Charlie Carp

Pest Control:

slaters = the pot got a bit of a slater infestation and they started eating the leaves. I filled the pot up with water til it was overflowing which triggered a slater exodus and then got rid og them by hand (well foot actually).


elepha


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Guava Hawaiian - Pink Supreme (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4788 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: again seedlings were gifted by a friend so I can't be sure that this is the right variety but it sounds like it might be. They are only little now so we just have to wait and see what happens with them.

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 3

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Finger Lime - Red Cutting 10/10

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4790 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Mine never seems to know what it's doing. It flowers and fruits all year round and seems to prefer a pot to the ground. The flowers are a lovely pink and white and the fruit are decorative, really obvious against the small leaves.


It is VERY spikey so don't plants it in a walk-way.


I love it. It is one of my favourites.


Make sure that you tip prune to keep him bushy and watch out for ants farming scale on him.


Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Planted: 2007

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: chicken poo (one small amount though!), seasol, charlie carp, worm castings (all in rotation)oh and get your man to wee on it like any other citrus they LOVE it

Pest Control:

Small spiders do seem to like living in the new growth which kills it = remove as best you can with a stick


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Goji Berry - Shrub

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4790 days 16hrs

Comments: -

Very fragile branches - snap easily. Leaves can be knocked off easily too. Needs a trellis. They are a bit of a straggly thing but I do like the dried berries so I am willing to tolerate it.


Deciduous but looks really really really sad when it's losing its leaves. Looks like it's sick but it's not!


Spring 2011: still straggly but I am hoping for fruit this year.


Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Vietnamese Mint

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4790 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Spring 2011: I am using the mint as a living mulch in with the avocado which HATES drying out so the mint will act as a perfect water indicator. Plus the leaves are pretty and taste yummy!


Planted: 2011

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No


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Mulberry - Black English (Cutting) 10/10

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4790 days 17hrs

Comments: -

Again I don't know exactly what sort of mulberry I have. I grew it from a cutting from my old tree (that stayed at my old house) which in turn was grown from my dad's tree which HE struck from a cutting from a job site when I was a little girl.


They love a good prune and make sure that you don't let the branches get too long because in spring the weight of the leaves and fruit can break the branches (which my dad learnt to his sorrow after a few years of not pruning his huge old tree). In high winds the leaves can act like sails and you can end up with half the tree ripped off or the whole thing over. Tip prune to keep him from getting too lanky and if that doesn't help I just hack into him whenever he needs it.


Mine is also a bit crazy. I had a summer crop but now seem to have a winter crop as well. I don't think anyone has told him that he is deciduous!!


Spring 2011: despite having had a super hard prune in winter the new growth this year has been so vigorous (and the spring winds so strong) that one of the branches started to droop down. I have staked it up - twisting the branch back into place and only using the stakes to stop it from being able to fall back down while it sorts itself out.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.75 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.5 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Lilly Pilly - Blue

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4790 days 17hrs

Comments: -

She has gorgeous red new growth. She's a bit straggly at the moment but she's not very old. I am sure she will bush up to be beautiful.


2008: I bought her as tube stock from Dalyes and she was in the ground for 12 months before I moved. So she got dug up in the middle of spring and moved to our new place.


2009: I was worried that she wouldn't make the move but plenty of water and seasol and she didn't bat an eyelid.


2010: She's very happy with beautiful red/bronze new growth.


Spring 2011: lots of new growth... will this be the year she gets her first flowers?



Planted: 2008

Height 0.75 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Chilli - Thai flame

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4924 days 18hrs

Comments: -

Very pretty with upright chillis. Very hot so handle with care.


Planted: 2009

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

First Fruited: 2 Years from Seed


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Lemongrass

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4924 days 18hrs

Comments: -

The pictures show the difference in only about 6 months! Grows really fast. Love the soft weaping look.


Planted: 2010

Height 1.25 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Seasol, Charlie Carp, chicken poo, worm juice

Pest Control: Nothing seems to bother it



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Thai Ginger

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4927 days 18hrs

Comments: -

Mum bought me this from a market and she's not 100% sure that the guy selling it knew what he was talking about. The leaves are verigated purple and the plant looks more like turmeric than ginger.


Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: No

Question:

Can anyone help me identify what this is exactly?


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Blackberry - Thornless Chester

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4962 days 15hrs

Comments: -

How many friends have I made since I got a blackberry?!


Even this type can get away from you so keep it in a pot and keep the canes off the ground otherwise they can strike. I have mine sitting in the middle of 2 she-oaks and a gum tree and have the canes ties up all along the trees. It works really well!


The fruit aren't as sweet as the commercial ones... yet. I am hoping as the plant matures it will get sweeter.


He also doesn't seem to know the difference between the seasons - new growth and new berries in winter! :O)


Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, June

Planted: 2008

Height 4 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

white scale = scrape off with a finernail and spray with white oil

caterpillars & grasshoppers = pick them off by hand and then lux soap spray to keep them off

fruit fly = traps (both Wild Mays and sugar water work)


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Aloe Vera

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4973 days 15hrs

Comments: -

I use it all the time for healing minor wounds and burns, and as a moisturiser when my skin is really dry or sunburnt. One stem cut from the base will last at least a week (without drying out completely) on the bathroom bench and all you need to do is cut the dried end, squeeze out the liquid and apply to the skin.

Planted: 2009

Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Chilli - kaleidoscope

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 5087 days 17hrs


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Chilli - anaheim

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 5087 days 17hrs


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Sorrel - French

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 5089 days 14hrs

Planted: 2009

Height 0.6 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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Passionfruit - Black

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 5089 days 15hrs

Comments: -

Apparently this is what I have... they were grown from sees from a friend of a friend. Haven't fruited yet so can't be sure!


Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No


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Fig - Brown Turkey (Cutting)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 5089 days 15hrs

Comments: -

This cutting was from a friend who tells me that he thinks the fruit is brown... It hasn't fruited yet so I can't be sure. All I know is that the leaves look different to my Genoas so I am hoping it is a Brown Turkey.


Fruiting Months January, February, March

Planted: 2009

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No


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TRIED BUT DIED

Fig White Adriatic (Cutting) 10/10

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

My white fig was a gift from a gorgeous little old man who brought it with him from Greece a LONG time ago when it was OK to do so. I can't be sure that it is an Adriatic fig but I can guess.


Spring 2010: I decided to try deep-rooting it when I repotted it. Seems to have worked really well. It has been slow to get re-growing but seems really happy once it settled down.


Autumn 2011: I let it fruit this season which admittedly restricted its growth but now with the colder weather it has lost all of its leaves but the fruit have not ripened. Looks like an alien tree!


Spring 2011: It seems to have rotted overwinter. No indication as to why. Prolly shouldn't have let it fruit theyear. Chris has promised me a new cutting - but have to wait til winter next year! :O( 

Fruiting Months January, February, March

Planted: 2009

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No


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TRIED BUT DIED

Native Rosella (Seedling)

Kathy2's Edible Fruits
Update: 4684 days 13hrs

Comments: -

Brand new for Xmas 2010. So excited! I already have a Hibiscus sabdariffa so now I can compare.


So far doesn't seem to be as fast growing as the African rosellas but they are in the ground and I have this on in a big pot .


Winter 2011: It is not liking the colder weather. Looking really sad and rangy. It is still flowering though so I have been removing the flowers to try and redirect its energies.


I have also moved it into a more sheltered position and piled bags of decomposing mulch around the pot to try and give it some warmth. Fingers crossed that it helps.


It is annual. Didn't make it through Winter. Next time round will collect seeds - if I can find another one!!!


Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: No

Pest Control: Scale loves it! It gets together in huge clumps that look revolting. And wherever the scale attacks it, the branch starts rotting. It is pretty gross. I have been using pest oil but with al


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