CairnsGal1's Edible Backyard

Joined: 17/07/11 Updated: 19/07/11 Frost:
Location:

About My Edible Backyard

What's not to love about edibles? Why waste space on plants you can't eat?

Trying to find the right balance for planting in our unique tropical climate.

We have a huge amount of rainfall throughout the year and a modest dry season. Climate is not as harsh as Darwin and even in Summer highs are usually around 30degrees.

Am currently experimenting with dwarf trees, snd a large raised vege patch on our little suburb block.

I have been told there is an apple orchard of some 200 of these North of Port Douglas... so I am keen to try this out! (just one or two NOT 200!) :)

All Newly planted trees are in Semi shaded positions/ more sun than shade for most but others like Avicado more shade... but again all sheltered while young from hot afternoon sun. - give them time to truley sun harden. Prepared all with a base mixure of sand, quincan drainage rock, potting mix, and compost.  Going by the theory of needing loads of drainage in the wet season but also many plants don't really like our hot "full sun", so filtered sun would be better especially while young.

We have chooks that free range under most of our trees also.-loads of free fertiliser :)

Comments

CairnsGal1's WISH LIST

Avocado - Fuerte (B)

Avocado - Bacon (B)

Wax Jambu - Red

Rollinia - Brazilian Custard Apple ^10/10

Why CairnsGal1 wants it: -

I love the tase of Rollinia and it\'s hard to find at Rusty\'s Market. Often sold out.

I would like a dwarf version but have not seen any lately.

Passionfruit - Sweet Granadilla ^10/10

Why CairnsGal1 wants it: -

favourite fruit as a child

Giant Lau Lau

Lychee - Bosworth 3 ^4/10

Why CairnsGal1 wants it: -

thinking maybe... but also put off by the difficulty... would like a dwarf version and haven\'t found great reviews...

Dwarf Mango - Irwin (Grafted) ^6/10

Why CairnsGal1 wants it: -

any dwarf mango really... still thinking which one to buy.

Mandarin - unknown ^9/10

Comments: -

Lovely fruit, old tree was here when we bought the place. variety not known.

Sometimes fruits 2 times a year depending on rainfall conditions. No real set month.

Planted: 2004

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Fruit Harvest: 5 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pruned By: 30% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

white oil and copper.

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

Dwarf Lemon - Meyer (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

Like lemons...

Had negleted this one in a pot - therefore failure to thrive. Have just recently transplanted to ground and new shoots are appearing... will update later.

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control:

white oil and copper fungal contral

Organic Status:Organic

Dwarf Apple - Tropical Anna

Comments: -

Want to be the first of our friends to grow an apple tree in Cairns!!

I have been told there is an apple orchard of some 200 of these North of Port Douglas... so I am keen to try this out!

Newly planted in Semi shaded position/ more sun but sheltered while young from hot afternoon sun. Prepared base with a mixure of sand, quincan, potting mix, and compost.  Going by the theory of needing loads of drainage in the wet season but also many plants doesn't really like our hot "full sun", so filtered sun would be better especially while young.

We have chooks that free range under also. loads of free fertiliser :)

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

Any luck with your apples fruiting?

Dwarf Apple - Dorsett Golden

Comments: -

Newly planted in Semi shaded position/ more sun but sheltered while young from hot afternoon sun. Prepared base with a mixure of sand, quincan, potting mix, and compost.  Going by the theory of needing loads of drainage in the wet season but also many plants doesn't really like our tropical  hot "full sun", so filtered sun would be better especially while young.

We have chooks that free range under also. loads of free fertiliser :)

Pollination: Self Pollination

Mulberry - Dwarf Red Shahtoot (Grafted)

Comments: -

Newly planted in Semi shaded position/ more sun but sheltered while young from hot afternoon sun. Prepared base with a mixure of sand, quincan, potting mix, and compost.  Going by the theory of needing loads of drainage in the wet season but also many plants doesn't really like our hot "full sun", so filtered sun would be better especially while young.

We have chooks that free range under also. loads of free fertiliser :)

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Peach - Tropic Snow

Comments: -

Newly planted in Semi shaded position/ more sun but sheltered while young from hot afternoon sun. Growing in a pot. Prepared pot base with a mixure of sand, quincan, potting mix. many plants doesn't really like our hot "full sun", so filtered sun would be better especially while young.

We have chooks that free range under also. loads of free fertiliser :)

Growing: In a Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Blueberry - Gulfcoast (Grafted)

Comments: -

So excited by the idea of growing blueberries in the tropics. Am keen to give this ago - I have read that Cairns can do this... our climate is not as harsh of the typically refferred to tropics of Darwin.

have been told there is an apple orchard of some 200 North of Port Douglas... so  if we can grow apples up here we must be able to grow these bluberries!! Newly planted in Pot. Semi shaded position/ more sun but sheltered while young from hot afternoon sun. Prepared pot  base with a mixure of sand, quincan, potting mix, .  Going by the theory that  many plants doesn't really like our hot "full sun", so filtered sun would be better especially while young.

i find this works in the vege patch too, I ignore all the so called full sun as in reality a full day of our summer sun would kill a lot of young seedlings etc.

Keepimg this one on a pot to ensure better control of requiring acid  soil.

Growing: In a Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Passionfruit - Panama Gold (Seedling)

Comments: -

Yummy fruit.

Am going to train up a single wire trellis that then branches out 4 ways (2 on each side) planted with base of quincan, coarse sand, potting mix and compost. Watering in dry season only.

Planted: 2011

Height 30 Centimetres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

Aibika (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

Aibika is a PNG green. Cooked similar to silver beet but with longer simerring time. Not nice raw.

Lovely cooked in a coconut curry.

Just stick cuttings in ground and water well in dry season.

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Parsley Curly leaf (Seedling)

Comments: -

grows well in hanging pot.

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Basil - Sweet

Comments: -

save seeds and replant. continuous supply.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In a Pot

Pollination: Self Pollination

Strawberry - Sugarbaby

Fruiting Months June, July, August, September, October

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

First Fruited: 3 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Grumichama - Black (Grafted)

Comments: -

Newly planted in Semi shaded position/ more sun but sheltered while young from hot afternoon sun. Prepared base with a mixure of sand, quincan, potting mix, and compost.  Going by the theory of needing loads of drainage in the wet season but also many plants doesn't really like our hot "full sun", so filtered sun would be better especially while young.

Growing: In the Ground

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Dwarf Avocado - Wurtz (A) (Grafted)

Comments: -

i love Avocados. Newly planted in Semi shaded position. Prepared base with a mixure of sand, quincan, potting mix, and compost.  Going by the theory of needing loads of dranage in the wet season but also doesn't really like our hot full sun, so filtered sun would be better.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Loquat - Nagasakiwase ^5/10

Comments: -

LIke the idea of it... but waiting for it to grow... had neglected it in a pot but have now transplanted to yard. will update on progress

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly, Winter, Spring

Organic Status:Organic

Dwarf Custard Apple - Tropic Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Orange - Washington Navel (Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

Will update when actually starts to fruit. But healthy growth at this stage.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Fertiliser or Organics Used: organic plus Potash

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

white Oil and copper fungal spray

Organic Status:Organic

Question: