Lissa's Edible Backyard

Joined:14/03/11 Updated:18/12/12 Frost:
Location: Strathpine

About My Edible Backyard

Why Lissa Love's Edible Plants

I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't interested in plants. I can remember as a young child asking neighbours what their plants were and I can still picture those gardens and remember the plants.

I've tried growing most things that will thrive around Brisbane, but never had much luck with vege growing in the past. Now help is quickly available online with all the forums and I can order wonderul plants and seeds while sitting at the computer, it's changed everything.

I just love going into my now lush (after the years of drought it makes my heart sing) backyard, nibbling here and there, trying new plants from seed and cuttings given by gardening friends. I can share my triumps and failures and learn constantly. Few things make me happier than actually cropping something organic and delicious that my family and I can eat.

I wish I had the money to buy out my neighbours yards so I can plant ALL the things I want ;) as I keep finding new things I just have to try and then have to squeeze them in somewhere (will be a proper jungle one day).

Comments

Fruit Tree Forum Contributions

Lissa Forum Contributions
Taste fruit before growing - Hi Nigel. Finding gardeners within driving distance of you who just happen to have ripe fruit on offer is perhaps a big ask though I know where you are coming from. Always disappointing to wait years for a tree to fruit only to find you don't like it. ..2996 days 10hrs
Avocado noela - Not sure if anyone at Daleys monitors this public Forum. Might be a direct email somewhere on their site...3060 days 5hrs
Unknown fruit tree4 - Jerry C-W always tries to help identify these unusual plants. He thinks it might be https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Barringtonia+racemosa&oq=Barringtonia+racemosa&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.8211j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Let me know what you think..3070 days 0hrs
Unknown fruit tree4 - I can't find it either with a search. Asking Jerry :)..3070 days 24hrs
Beijing grass murdannia loriformis - Hi John. A quick search turned up with seed available at Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/au/market/beijing_grass_plant They're also available on eBay but come from US. Might not get them through customs. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Beijing-Grass-Murdanni..3072 days 7hrs

Fruit Tree Forum Likes

Lissa} has LIKED the following:
Can you purchase olosapo seedstree in australia - To answer your question, yes there are Olosapos being grown here but I'm pretty sure that there is nowhere in Australia that you can buy the seeds or trees. Someone in Queensland gave me a few seeds late last year and I was told that there are people u..Liked Answer 3015 days 2hrs
Avocado noela - Thanks Lissa, Yep, I did reach out to Daleys directly, and sadly they said it could well be years before they have stock of the Noela Avocado again. While we wait... Anyone here have a Noela avocado tree or pictures of the fruit? Would be awesome to..Liked Question 3057 days 23hrs
Drumstick tree - Hi John, If you send seeds in an envelope they will go through the australia post postcode scanner which will bend and crush an aluminium scopemount bar for a rifle! So imagine what it will do to large seeds such as a drumstick tree! It costs $5 or so f..Liked Answer 3344 days 23hrs
Dwarf banana pups for sale - Namwa is a dwarf banana, it's not the kind I'm selling. You're crazy close to me if you live at strathpine btw...Liked Answer 4065 days 3hrs
Acha cha fruit seeds - For all you achacha devotees: http://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/bruces-bolivian-trek-bears-fruit/2723748.aspx..Liked Answer 4065 days 3hrs

Lissa's WISH LIST

Babaco Cutting (Cutting) ^6/10

Why Lissa wants it: -

Highly recommended for our Brisbane region. Managed to obtain some cuttings (for myself and gardening friends). Have tried one fruit and liked it very much - nothing like pawpaw to which it is related. Sort of sorbet-y and bitter/sweet juicy. Likes dry feet, can\'t stand the wet. Nearly everyones plants died from these cuttings. Quite common with this plant apparently. LOOKING FOR MORE CUTTINGS PLEASE.

Mangosteen Purple ^5/10

Why Lissa wants it: -

Would love to grow any Mangosteen - problem now is lack of space. Have never tried the fruit either.

Peach - Tropic Beauty ^5/10

Why Lissa wants it: -

Any tropic peach would do. Lack of space is now an issue and I need to focus on plants that will actually provide more crop for the space they take.

Achacha ^5/10

Why Lissa wants it: -

Such an attractive prolific tree and very pleasant fruit. Thick skinned so not a problem with fruit fly.

Trouble is you need two and they grow quite tall for a small backyard garden. I could always keep them trimmed to size :)

caperberry ^5/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 4871 days 1hrs

Comments: -

My two plants have finally arrived after being on back order for months. Must prepare the right spot now and try to keep these expensive little darlings alive. NOTE 19.12.12: Both became very sick and one died. The other has recovered and seems to be growing well.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Pollination: Self Pollination

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2 of 6 people found this review useful

Cape Gooseberry ^8/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 4871 days 1hrs

Comments: -

These used to grow wild on the island where I grew up. Finally suceeded in growing these during the last winter season.

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2 of 7 people found this review useful

Jakfruit - Seedling (Seedling) ^5/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5154 days 9hrs

Comments: -

I have grown a few seedlings and kept one for myself, from a truly delicious fruit we came across in an abandoned orchard while learning to prune. Not sure if I'm game to plant it as it's supposed to grow quite tall and my garden is already full lol. Note: Have given this plant to a friend with acreage who swears she will share the fruit with me!

Planted: 2010

Height 0.25 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Organic Status:Organic

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4 of 11 people found this review useful

Dragon Fruit - Red (Cutting) ^9/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 7hrs

Comments: -

Yum yum yum. I have red, white and yellow growing but they are all still young so still waiting for my own fruit, and satisfying my hunger for them from the fruit shops (red only).

Planted: 2010

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

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2 of 6 people found this review useful

Raspberry - Williamette ^8/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Who would have thought raspberry would grow in the Brisbane area! Ended up with the Williamette by default when another order placed could not be provided. The canes provided fruit each day in the first year of planting. So glad I've got it. Also growing Bicentennial from a gardening friend, but still waiting for this provide any crop.

Planted: 2010

Height 1.5 metres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

No problems.

Question:

Really have little idea how to look after this plant. It's putting out lots of canes which I think I'm supposed to do something with!

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3 of 7 people found this review useful

custard apple (Grafted) ^7/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

No idea which variety as have lost the ticket, but it's a pretty little tree and gives me some fruit each year. I have to remember to thin it out each year to promote new growth for fruit.

Planted: 2005

Height 2 metres

Fruit Harvest: 2 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

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6 of 14 people found this review useful

Tamarillo - Red (Seedling) ^9/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

What a wonderful small tree to grow in the Brisbane area. Prolific cropper with delicious fruit. More can be grown from seed (which I have had success with) and cuttings (which I have not). Fits in a small space and gives heaps of fruit.

Planted: 2010

Height 2 metres

Fruit Harvest: 4 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Autumn

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

No problems. Skin is so thick the fruit fly can't get in!

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6 of 10 people found this review useful

Carambola Starfruit - Kary

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Such a pretty tree and so prolific in it's fruit production.

I have no idea which variety I have as I can't find the ticket.

Planted: 2007

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Pest Control:

Fruit fly are a big problem - I make sure i remove all fallen fruit quickly. Made a big mistake a couple of years back and composted these under the tree - had a huge infestation of fruit fly the next two crops.

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

I have had a lot of problems with fruit fly.

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4 of 11 people found this review useful

Soursop - Kyogle (Grafted) ^8/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

What a pretty little tree this one is with a lovely cone shape. Prolific cropper all throughout the year. Have used the fruit in icecream and milk drink..delish. The fruit keep for ages in the fridge too. You need to learn when the fruit are ripening to avoid them dropping and ruining themselves with the impact. Fruit often sets quite high in the tree and is hard to reach...I really should cut the top off the tree but I like it the way it is.

Height 4 metres

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

Bit of a problem with wooly aphids and the ants that accompany them, but this isn't a big issue (I hose them off regularly).

Organic Status:Organic

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29 of 35 people found this review useful

Comments

mims says... [3489 days 22hrs ago]

This tree will get to 10 meters... I hope your neighbour likes it as much as you do.

Wampee (Seedling)

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Ate some fruit years ago at the markets and loved it. Have grown at a previous property but left before the trees grew any crop. Didn't realise at the time they are related to citrus, thought they were more like a lychee. Great problem with the flying foxes stealing my entire crop.

Planted: 2007

Height 3.5 metres

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

Flying foxes!!

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

How do I deter the flying foxes from eating my entire crop?

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9 of 16 people found this review useful

Pomegranate - Wonderful (Seedling) ^6/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Pomegranate..yum! Love that juice. I have a Wonderful and a seedling I grew myself, both doing very well. The seedling has almost caught up with the Wonderful, just loved the flood rains.

Height 0.5 metres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

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4 of 11 people found this review useful

Jaboticaba (Grafted) ^5/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Another delicious fruit which does so well in the Bribane region. Really looking forward to my first crop...still a few years away unfortunately.

Planted: 2009

Height 1 metres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

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3 of 8 people found this review useful

Persimmon Jiro (Grafted) ^4/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Persimmons are one of my favourite fruits (along with Lychees) but this plant has stayed quite small. I really liked the old fashioned soft variety of Persimmon.

The plant set 10 fruit this year and all but one fell off. Still waiting for it to ripen so I can enjoy it.

The plant has been outgrown by the Wampi and Lychee either side which are now cutting some of it's sun.

Planted: 2004

Height 1.5 metres

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

A bit of wooly aphid but they don't seem to do much harm.

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

How to get more fruit to stay set?

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2 of 6 people found this review useful

Ceylon Hill Gooseberry (Grafted) ^5/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Really looking forward to trying the fruit from this one. Growing well and I've already taken cuttings that have struck so I can have MORE lol. Watched the Daleys video on these and the flowers are very attractive.

The asparagus are growing up all around the plant which is cutting out some sunlight.

Height 1 metres

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

No problems as yet.

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

How long before it fruits?

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5 of 9 people found this review useful

Dwarf Mulberry - Red Shahtoot (Grafted) ^8/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

What's not to love about Mulberries :) Lots of lovely childhood memories. Bought this dwarf variety as I have a small backyard already chockas with plants.

Height 1 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

No problems so far.

Organic Status:Organic

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3 of 8 people found this review useful

Dwarf Macadamia (Grafted)

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Recommended for a small backyard, but extremely slow growing. Overhung by other plants now so probably not getting as much sun as it needs.

Little worried about the dogs swallowing the kernels and causing an obstruction. At the rate that this one is growing the dogs will be long dead and fertilising underneath it before it gets any kernals.

Planted: 2010

Height 0.25 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Question:

Are they always this slow to grow?

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8 of 14 people found this review useful

Canistel - TFW (Seedling) ^4/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 9hrs

Comments: -

No idea which variety. Bought from the Caboolture Markets as a seedling. Very keen to try the fruit.

Planted: 2011

Height 0.5 metres

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

How long before a seedling fruits?

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2 of 9 people found this review useful

Dwarf Avocado - Wurtz (A) (Grafted) ^6/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 9hrs

Comments: -

I (and my dogs) just love avocado. This dwarf variety was the one recommended for a small yard. Doing very well with lots of new growth. Must take a more recent pic.

Planted: 2010

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Pest Control:

No problems so far.

Organic Status:Organic

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12 of 22 people found this review useful

Comments

andy11 says... [3289 days 22hrs ago]

I know this is quite a few years later lol. But i hope u cut that water shoot off from beneath the graft! ;)

Lychee - Wai Chee (Grafted) ^5/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 5516 days 9hrs

Comments: -

When the tree was still quite small I cropped around 2kg of fruit, but have never repeated that success. Flowers form, fruit sets but often falls off. Then the flying foxes come and steal my crop. I'm lucky to get a handfull.

Planted: 2005

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting

Pest Control:

No problems with fruit fly, just the flying foxes.

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

How to deter the flying foxes from stealing all of my crop.

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13 of 18 people found this review useful

Comments

Jeff7 says... [2725 days 10hrs ago]

Use some bird netting, you can get them from Bunnings. Don't skimp on size, I've found even small looking trees need a large net.

TRIED BUT DIED

Jaboticaba - Yellow (Grafted) ^5/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 4871 days 1hrs

Comments: -

Bought this plant from the BOGI fair with high hopes for some delicious fruit not too far down the track (3yrs apparently compared to 7 for the black). NOTE 19.12.12: This sat looking the same without new growth for about 2yrs and then up and died.

Planted: 2010

Height 0.25 metres

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Organic Status:Organic

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5 of 13 people found this review useful

TRIED BUT DIED

Blueberry - Sharpblue (Grafted) ^4/10

Lissa's Edible Fruits
Update: 4871 days 1hrs

Comments: -

I would so love to think these little plants would one day provide me with more than two delicious berries :S Who knows...they're very healthy and growing well if slowly. Eventually keeled over.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.25 metres

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

No pest problems experienced.

Organic Status:Organic

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6 of 15 people found this review useful

Lissa's Edible Backyard

About My Edible Backyard

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Lissa's WISH LIST

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