DavesCityGarden1's Edible Backyard

Joined: 21/11/10 Updated: 11/08/14 Frost:
Location: Erskineville

About My Edible Backyard

I have always loved growing plants and worked for a few years in a garden centre when I left school. Now that I am older and have a inner west city apartment with a large outside terrace I want to include edible plants with the ornamentals. After living in Europe for a few years I have been inspired by the walled vegetable gardens in stately homes and as my apartment has a walled courtyard I thought - why not creat a walled vegetable garden within the space I have? So this is what I have done.  On the terrace I use pots or grow bags and in my limited space in the courtyard in the ground I have three apples , a persimon, Brazilian cherry, blueberries and a paw paw.  The soil was shocking. Builders sand.  I lifted pavers and made a L shape vegie garden 1m x3m and 2m x 3m. On the opposite wall in winter shade but summer sun I planted camillias and blueberries.  I dug heaps of cow manure, compost and mulched with straw. In the second year the vegies are growing and the fruit trees and putting on good growth.

Comments

Your edible backyard is inspiring as I am starting a container garden in my car space. Amazing how much you can grow in a small space, isn't it?

Absolutly. My strawberries were a hugh success I was picking about a punnet a day during spring.

dave I live in Quakers Hill, would you recommend tropic sweet, Anna And Golden Dorset for our sydney climate in terms of Fruit? Thanks Sandy

Dwarf Apple - Tropic Sweet (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

I am espaliering this tree with 2 other apples- Anna And Golden Dorset in a candelabra shape. This is the first year fruiting - I've had about 10 small apples, very sweet and crisp but don't seem to keep well in the fridge- they become floury.  Fruit fly has been an issue so I will need to take treatment next year.   Spring 2011 - this year more fruit set on all 3 apples. I have thinned some. Growth has reached to top of the fence so will prune in mid summer to reduce growth.

Fruiting Months November

Planted: 2008

Height 1.75 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Golden Dorset

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Cow manure in winter, potassium in spring, trace elements in winter,

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control: I'm controlling fruit fly with paper exclusion bags  . They work fine. 

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

I didn't think we could grow apples in Sydney; now I might give it a try

How many plants are required to get fruit? Thanks

2 they need a cross pollinator so you must ensure you have the right variety to cross pollinate.

Lemon - Meyer (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

Planted into a large 60cm terracotta pot and bearing fruit. It has been slow to develop but this year has about 15 lemons. 

Fruiting Months May, June, July, August

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pruned By: 10% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Cow manure in late winter, liquid fertiliser, potassium just before flowering.

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Pest Control:

pes free except for the swollow butterly caterpiller-which I leave

Organic Status:Organic

Lime - Tahitian (Grafted) ^7/10

Comments: -

Growing in a pot but has struggled.  I moved it to a full winter sun position and repotted and prunned and it is taking off. Not many fruit at this stage.

Srping 2011 - lots of flowers this year and fruit is setting. The tree is loooking a bit sparse of leaves so will fertilise in Nov with Blood & Bone.

Fruiting Months March and April

Planted: 2007

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pruned By: 10% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Cow, liquid, blood

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Scle is the only problem -use white oil

Organic Status:Organic

Papaya - Sri Lankan Red (Seedling) ^7/10

Comments: -

My Paw Paw grew very quickly and flowered last summer for the first time . The fruit developed quickly until the cold set in then stopped. Ripening started with the warm spring weather, but those fruit that hadn't developped fully have not started re-growing but are gradually rippening- so some are quite small. The tast is ok but I've tasted better. The leaves were very ratty by the end of winter and have now given way to a new set pushing forth. Maybe Sydney is too cold for this Paw Paw. 

This year (2011) the Paw Paw had grown another metre or so and has fruited heavily.  I have had already a 7 kg of fruit and more is to ripen. I have had so much fruit  I've made Paw Paw jam with star aniseed- delicious. Fruit starts to ripen in September and continues throughout October to early November.

Fruiting Months October, November, December

Planted: 2008

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 6 kilograms 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: cow manure, Blood

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

fruit got mildue in winter

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

Wish I read about this (re TASTE) before I bought mine, but the sight of fruit on the tree is just as rewarding as eating them.

I made jam with the last of the friut in spring and it was delicious.

Thanks for the tip - my tree has flower buds on them already so it is exciting.

Dwarf Mandarin - Emperor ^10/10

Comments: -

This has been the best tree in my potted fruit collection. It is now a healthy bushy small tree covered with fruit. Last year it had about 15 manderines reached maturity.  The tree was covered in flowers in winter and after the huge ripe ornage coloured fruit from the season before were picked (June).  This tree gets the same treatment as my other citris but it is the best. It is in a 60cm terracotta pot.

Winter 2011- produces a very heavy crop but afterward slooked very tiered. I tip prunes and ferilised with Blood and bone.  It has recovered and looks very healthy again but didn't flower. I think its taking a rest. I used some of the last fruit and made marmalade with the last of the passonfruit.

Fruiting Months June

Height 1.5 metres

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Blood

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

no pests

Comments

I'm going to get me one of these! I can only grow in pots so this looks ideal!

Dwarf Persimmon - Ichikikijiro (NA) (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

I've planted this on an east facing wall in the vegie garden.  I prunded back after the first year back to a couple of buds.  Its rebounded this spring but still small (60cm).  After I bought it it has flowers and 2 fruit but nothing since.

Height 60 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: B

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

none so far

Fig Black Genoa (Cutting) ^7/10

Comments: -

Planted into a grow bag and to be espaliered against a west facing wall. It was very small when I bought it and it has now trippled in size and had 2 fruit last year. I noticed yesterday that there is fruit buds setting.  I prune to shape.  Spring 2011- growing very well. I repotted in winter into a trough. Its doubled in height but no fruit yet.

Fruiting Months February and March

Planted: 2009

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.25 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: liquide feed and Blood

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

none noticed

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

I just bought one of these; it is still a baby but good to know that you are getting fruit. There's hope.

Raspberry - Heritage (Cutting) ^5/10

Comments: -

I bought this from Bunnings and planted it into a 45cm grow bag. It has fruited last year with a couple of raspberries.  I made my own soil mix , which includes sand from the vegie patch and I don't think this has been very good. I will repot next year in premium potting mix. I cut them back in winter to ground level and they are shooting well.  I've located my raspberries in a side terrace where they get the sun in the middle of the day for a few hours then shade morning and afternoon. They seem to like it there.

Fruiting Months March and April

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.25 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: b

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

the leave get eaten by something- maybe caterpillers- but its no big issue

Organic Status:Organic

Blueberry - Sunshine Blue (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

I have planted 3 as a small hedge on a south facing wall with espaliered camilias. They are doing very well and loaded with fruit. In preparing the site I removed the soil to a spade depth and replaced with azalea potting mix. 

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Fruit Harvest: 0.25 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 0.5 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Azalea fertilizer, liquid feeds

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

non observed

Passionfruit - Panama Sweet Gold (G) (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

I planted this to grow over the terrace railling. It did this within 1 year and had fruit the first summer.  Unfortunately rats seem to like the fruit, as the fruits aroma wafts about the garden when they start to ripen.  It became a battle with the rats as to who could get to the passoinfruit first!  I have since got rid of the rats so this year they should be all mine!!

Fruiting Months February, March, April

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 4 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 30% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: not much

Pest Control:

rats eat the fruit

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

Rats sounds scary; maybe I won't get one of these

Berry - Loganberry (Cutting) ^6/10

Comments: -

I am growing this loganberry in a 45Lt growbag. Like the raspberries I will change the soil next winter. To keep it under control I have trained the canes to form a circle held up on a stake. I'm a bit disappointed that there was not many flowers this year so not much fruit. :< 

Fruiting Months January and December

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 0.2 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pruned By: 30% in Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Pest Control:

no pests

Organic Status:Organic

Raspberry - Williamette (Cutting) ^6/10

Comments: -

I am growing this a in a 45lt growbag in semi-shaded position. The soil was one that I made using sand from the vegetable garden, which in hindsight was a mistake. I will repot these next winter into premium potting mix. Otherwise they are growing ok and floweing. I wasn't sure that the winter would be cold enough to set flowering but it seems to have been.

Fruiting Months January, February, December

Planted: 2009

Height 1.75 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Fruit Harvest: 0.25 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Blood

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

leave have been chewed by something but not detramental

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

I haven't had much luck with the raspberries. I repotted them, they grew better but too leggy. I've moved then to a sunny aspect. If they don't perform this season they'll be gone.

Dwarf Orange - Washington Navel (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

I have put this in a large trough and plan to espalier it across a brick wall.It gets morning sun for 6 hours but it has yet to grow.

Planted: 2010

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly, Winter, Spring

Pest Control:

no pest yet

Organic Status:Organic

Rhubarb - Silvan Giant (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

I foolishly picked the stalks in the first year and the plant suffered and is only just recovering now its spring.  It is in a position of total shade during late autum to winter to early spring

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: cow manure

When I Fertilise: Winter

Pest Control:

none observed

Brazilian Cherry (Seedling) ^7/10

Comments: -

Planted this in my walled vegetable garden as a small 30cm plant. It has doubled in height.  It gets sun from October to April and then winter shade until it grows high enough to clear the 2m wall. No flowers yet.

Height 1.2 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: B

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

none observed

Organic Status:Organic