Ili's Edible Backyard

Joined: 14/08/10 Updated: 14/04/11 Frost:
Location: Altona Meadows

About My Edible Backyard

Why Ili Love's Edible Plants

- Knowing what has gone on them

- Practicality of having them in the backyard and being more self-sufficient to decrease food miles and chemicals.

- Functional covering up fence and adding height to our low planted backyard.  Moved in 6 months ago and yard was pretty bare.  Aim is to create a native area, moving through 2 vege beds into a native meets organic orchard that has a landscaped dry creek running through it.

- Personal growth and learning.  My thumb has a tinge of green these days :-)

- Making use of my north facing backyard and trying to work with my clay soil.  Plums should do well, trying to plant any citrus I add to the yard above the ground line.  Will try to improve soil quality by mulching with  and compost mix and another layer of compost.  Apparently the worms should drag the straw down and improve soil quality.  I have a low rainfall to contend with.  Still to add a tank.

Comments

Correy says... [5004 days 23hrs ago]

Wow you are growing some great fruit trees in your backyard. Keep working with your clay soil :) Great to see people like yourself so passionate about becoming more self sufficient. Also if you had some time to take a few pictures and add them to your My Edible Backyard page that would be great to see.

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Fruit Tree Forum Contributions

Ili Forum Contributions
Satsuma plum tree - Also most cherries and pear do need a pollinator. Flemings has info on pollinators. I'm not experienced enough to know how correct this is. Louis Glowinski's 'the complete book of growing fruit in Australia' says williams are self-fertile while fle..4832 days 1hrs
Satsuma plum tree - Hi, I also have newly planted plums a Santa Rosa and Mariposa, they went in last winter (2010). I cut them back by a third as I had been advised. They were not looking great this summer so I started to pay them some attention. Some food and more wat..4832 days 1hrs
Passionfruit - Anyone know any good passion fruit varieties to grow in cool Melbourne? I have heard black is a good one. Am trying red panama but it has been suggested to me that it might not do much in Melbourne. Ileana..4910 days 22hrs
Passionfruit - I also bought both of these from bunnings too. My nellie kelly I decide to put out of it's misery. It had what so many people have described in the forums here, the virus. My panama is still growing and I will see what it does in the spring and summer..5002 days 23hrs
Passionfruit - Not Sure I agree with James' comment at all . I have two new grafted plants, one black one panama red. They are oval at the base but exactly as picture at the growing tip. So as long as they are not growing under the graft mark it will be the grafter ..5233 days 16hrs

Mandarin - Emperor

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4761 days 12hrs

Comments: -

I'm just hoping it survives at this stage. Feb 2011, it's looking much better after mulching with manure and watering more frequently.

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: manure, dynamic lifter for citrus,blood and bone.

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Question:

Would love to hear if people have had success growing mandarins in pots?  Any tips too.  Ta.

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Lemon - Meyer ^7/10

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4761 days 12hrs

Comments: - Compact tree.  Large lemons that are on th sweeter side.  They should call the juice burst they are so juicy!

Fruiting Months July and August

Planted: 2004

Height 2 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost, manure, citrus

Pest Control:

White Oil used in the first year we have moved in 2010 on the already established plant.  Second year look like something was eating it so was advised to sprinkle tomato dust.  Worked well.

Was also recommended to add manure 3 times

Organic Status:Partially Organic

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Comments

Correy says... [5004 days 23hrs ago]

Every backyard needs a Meyer Lemon I do like how they are a bit sweeter so you don't need as much sugar when making your home made lemonade.

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Apple - Opalescent

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4761 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Heritage apple on MM102 rootstock.  Apparently nice looking too.

Tasted one at Petty's Orchard Apple tasting festival 2010.  It was delicious.  I also loved Rome Beauty, another Heritage apple.

Planted: 2010

Height 1.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Apple - Blenheim Orange

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control: None to date - too little.

Organic Status:Organic

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Orange - Valencia

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4761 days 12hrs

Comments: - Although not the best orange for Melbourne, it is warmer where we are close to the bay so hope it will do ok.  Selected the valencia due to it's longer fruiting period and due to fruits ability to hang on the tree for several months when ripe.  I have also read it is more disease resistant than other oranges.

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Manure, compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum. Dynamic lifter for fruit

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Question:

Is anyone growing valencias in Melbourne? Any comments on sweet or sour and how they are doing?

I have heard they do o and best to pick them about April as they get sweeter the longer they stay on the tree.

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4 of 6 people found this review useful

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Peach - Red Haven

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4826 days 18hrs

Comments: - I here it is apparently a great tasting red fruit.  Yellow semi-freestone early fruiting.

Fruiting Months January

Planted: 2010

Height 2 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Summer, Autumn, Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter for fruit. Compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control: Copper spray.

Organic Status:Organic

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PLum - Santa Rosa

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4826 days 18hrs

Comments: - Should be nice looking and tasting  red fruit.  Can row in partial shade - we have a huge shed growing in the house behind us covering it's northern sun.

Fruiting Months February

Planted: 2010

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum

Organic Status:Organic

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Blueberry - Sunshine Blue

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4828 days 12hrs

Comments: -

Compact and pretty flowers.  I hear they are not as fussy about their soil type as other blueberries that only tolerate acidic soils.

It's still young so I'm only feeding it for green growth rather than flower support for the first two years.

Planted: 2010

Height 0.3 metres

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

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11 of 16 people found this review useful

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Blueberry - Brigitta

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4828 days 12hrs

Planted: 2010

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: cow manure

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1 of 3 people found this review useful

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Apricot - Moorpark

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 0hrs

Comments: - Nice tasting fruit.  Should not produce as much as the very productive varieties ad should still plenty more than we need.

Fruiting Months January

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Blood and bone, compost

Organic Status:Organic

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4 of 8 people found this review useful

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Dwarf Lime - Kaffir

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 0hrs

Comments: -

Love cooking with lime leaves.  Nice and small.

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: manure, dynamic lifter for fruit

Pest Control:

Add tomato dust for eaten leaves.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

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Dwarf Lime - Tahitian

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 0hrs

Comments: -

Good size, don't need too many limes.

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: manure and dynamic lifter for fruit

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

Leaves looked eaten and I was told to sprinkle tomato dust.  Worked well.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Question:

How long before a dwarf fruits?

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Cherry - Stella

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 0hrs

Comments: - Self-fertile.  Hoping the cherry is a pretty tree.

Fruiting Months December

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

When I Fertilise: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Question: Organic measure for cherry slug?

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Pear - Red Sensation

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 0hrs

Comments: - A red williams pear.

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

I have some pear & cherry slug on it.  Just picking them off by hand while it is still small.

Organic Status:Organic

Question: What are some organic measures I can take for pear & cherry slug?

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Lemon - lots a lemons

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 0hrs

Comments: - Mini meyer lemon variety that is a trooper.  Just many lemons from it as my normal meyer lemon.  Lemons are very differet though.  Sweet &awesome.

Fruiting Months June, July, August

Planted: 2007

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 15 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost and worm juice. Blood and bone, dynamic lifter.

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

White Oil spray.

Tomato dust for eaten leaves.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Question: How do these do in the ground?

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2 of 4 people found this review useful

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Nectarine - Dwarf (Grafted)

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 0hrs

Comments: - Small and scored it for $10 after the hot 2009 summer when it was looking sad.  I believe it to be a yellow freestone mid season variety.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost, worm juice and blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

Pest Control: Copper spray

Organic Status:Organic

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1 of 1 people found this review useful

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Apple - Blenheim Orange (Grafted)

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 1hrs

Comments: - Heritage apple grafted on MM102 rootstock.

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Opalescent

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost and worm juice. blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

None to date. It's tiny.

Organic Status:Organic

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Nectarine - Goldmine

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 1hrs

Comments: - Good looking with red fruit and tasty white freestone nectarine.  Should be a late season.

Fruiting Months March

Planted: 2010

Height 2 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

Pest Control:

Copper spray

Loved food andextra water!

Organic Status:Organic

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3 of 4 people found this review useful

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Plum - Mariposa

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 4832 days 1hrs

Comments: - Love blood plums and I look forward to first fruit.

Fruiting Months February

Planted: 2010

Height 2 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Santa Rosa

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter, compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

Pest Control:

None to date as it has been planted this winter.  

Was looking unexcited by it's new life in my garden by summer.  Gave it food and more water and it seems very happy now.

Organic Status:Organic

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Pomegranate - Wonderful

Ili's Edible Fruits
Update: 5005 days 1hrs

Height 0.5 metres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Autumn and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Compost and worm juice. Blood and bone mixed with gypsum.

Organic Status:Organic

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0 of 1 people found this review useful

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