Kloe's Edible Backyard

Joined: 14/01/11 Updated: 09/02/11 Frost:
Location: Adelaide

About My Edible Backyard

It's very rewarding to gather food from the yard! 

Comments

Mountain Pepper - Tasmannia lanceolata ^10/10

Comments: - Tasmania's native 'pepper' is an attractive shrub with dark green leaves and distinctive crimson stems. Does not like direct hot sun, but quite hardy, and happy in a pot.  I use leaves fresh or dried as a pepper or allspice substitute; delicious!

Planted: 2010

Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pest Control: None yet.

Lemon - Eureka ^10/10

Comments: - This lemon is very hardy, and finally producing some decent fruit. Grows well in a large tub.

Fruiting Months January, February, November, December

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Citrus fert

When I Fertilise: Spring

Lemon Myrtle ^10/10

Comments: - This is a stunning tree.  The growth this season has been very fast, despite regular harvesting of the leaves for cooking and tea.  Very low maintenance and extremely hardy.

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Small Leaf Tamarind ^10/10

Comments: - The lime green foliage of this tree is a brilliant contrast to the other plants in my tiny courtyard.  The tree has doubled in size in one season.  It is compact in width, and growing nice and straight and tall without a stake.  I have Brahmi growing underneath it in a pot, and the two work well as they need more water than the other drought tolerant plants I have.

Planted: 2010

Height 105 Centimetres

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pest Control: Affected by a plague of red spider mites, but problem solved by water spraying the underside of the leaves early morning and night (don't wet when sun can burn leaves).

Cinnamon Myrtle ^10/10

Comments: - This is a stunning bush.  Beautiful aromatic foliage, with amazing cream coloured flowers in spring through summer, followed by loads of new growth.  I will never need to buy cinnamon again!

Planted: 2010

Height 50 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pest Control: No pests to date...

Curry Tree ^10/10

Comments: - Once established, this tree tripled in size in one season, despite regularly harvesting the leaves.

Planted: 2010

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Fertiliser or Organics Used: All purpose

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control: Watch out for, and remove looper caterpillars as they love to eat the leaves as much as I do.

Bay Tree ^10/10

Comments: - This bay is the Laurus nobilis.  It loves full sun, even through the heat waves.  It's a great, low maintenance tree, and can be pruned to desired shape.

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Fertiliser or Organics Used: All purpose fert.

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control: Check the leaves for scale.  Remove if affected.

Lemongrass ^10/10

Comments: - No maintenance plant which needs regular watering (I have mine in a water well pot).  Regular harvesting will mean you can supply everyone you know with lemongrass, and still have loads left over.  Freeze or dry stalks for cooking; dry leaves for tea.  Mulch well.

Planted: 2010

Height 60 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pest Control: No pests yet...  Watch out for slugs/snails in the winter.

Lime - Kaffir ^10/10

Comments: - In my humble opinion, this is the best citrus tree.  Harvest the leaves and freeze or dry for the quintessential Thai curry ingredient.  Also fruits (although mine too young yet).  This one just had some leaves burnt in the heat wave, but the tree still going strong.  Mulch well.

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Citrus fert

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control: No pests yet...

Comments

What is the ideal pot size for this please? Thanks

Ginkgo (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: - I grew a dozen Gingkos from seed - it's a business, and five died, but the remaining seven are doing very well.  It will be some years before I can put these in the ground.  This tree is very slow growing, but so beautiful and worth the wait.

Planted: 2010

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 7

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Mushroom Plant ^10/10

Comments: - Took a little while to establish, but lots of new growth despite plenty of leaf harvesting.  Great plants.  They don't like to dry out, or too much sun.  Have an inch of mulch on the surface to help with water retention.

Planted: 2010

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Low Sun