Selfsufficientme's Edible Backyard

Joined:21/02/12 Updated:07/11/13 Frost:
Location: Bellmere

About My Edible Backyard

Why Selfsufficientme Love's Edible Plants

I love edible plants and my property is blessed with many more fruit trees because of Daley's excellent online shop.I'm a writer/blogger and founder of the blog Self Sufficient Me (just Google it) or go to www.selfsufficientme.com My children love fruit and because they can see it growing at home, they appreciate it even more. The other day my youngest came home and said his teacher had never heard of dragon fruit - she saw it in his lunch box and said "that's not fruit." See, children can even help educate teachers in healthy eating sometimes ;) My soil type here in Bellmere is mainly heavy clay with a small amount of ok topsoil and being a subtropical climate just north of Brisbane we get our fair share of rain. Regardless, most plants grow very well (Avocados being the exception) - I'm working on it...My orchard runs down a slight slope from east to west (ish) but I have also scattered fruit trees everywhere throughout my block replacing ornamentals with fruiting plants in some cases. The world is becoming more populated and this is placing increasing strains on food supplies particularly fresh fruit and vegetables. If you're not insuring yourself now by planting some fruit trees then be prepared to pay lots more for your fruit in the future. Growing my own fruit also gives me diversity and a chance to try fruits which otherwise are rarely seen on the supermarket shelves. A big property is not required for lots of fruit trees and I think that's pretty cool...

Comments

Fruit Tree Forum Contributions

Selfsufficientme Forum Contributions
Which fruit trees can be grown in - db, in regards to pomegranate I have two trees but they're only a few years old. When I researched growing in clay soils (just as you are) pomegranates were flagged as able to withstand clay and so far mine are doing well. However, I stress buildi..5201 days 19hrs
Which fruit trees can be grown in - db, I lost 3 avos before I realised the clay was killing them especially Hass due to its long tap root. I solved my clay problem by building up the soil but first I dug down about a foot deep amd 1 metre wide loosend up the soil threw in some gypsu..5207 days 18hrs
Mango tree disease - Wow! This is a huge thread on mango tree issues (mostly issues) and it shows what a pain it is growing this fruit . When i lived in Darwin i saw people harvesting disease free mangoes from large trees growing carefree in the local parks - made me think gr..5246 days 17hrs
Shade tolerant fruit tree1 - Yes Gledy, it's a passion fruit vine on a cross-like trellis. I wanted a tree in this part of my yard but the soil gets water logged in summer mounding didn't help and everything kept dying so I came up with this idea and it worked. When my brother visi..5298 days 15hrs
Shade tolerant fruit tree1 - Hi, shade is a difficult problem most of us food gardeners face. Fruit trees will grow 'okish' in a semi-shaded place but they won't thrive and because of the energy needed to produce fruit, production is better in full sun. If your particular spot c..5302 days 20hrs

Acerola - Florida Sweet (Seedling) ^7/10

Selfsufficientme's Edible Fruits
Update: 4580 days 8hrs

Comments: -

I prefer to call it the Barbados cherry and there's lots of good and some ordinary points about this large shrub.

Firstly the ordinary: The plant itself is rather fickle and prone to stem breakage at the base of the shrub which isn't too bad due to it's bushy growth but it can leave the plant vulnerable to disease and may look unsightly until it grows out naturally.    

The fruit isn't liked by everyone and some people can't stand the sour taste especially freshly picked.

In a fruit fly area it will get stung and whilst the larva may not develop in the fruit it still distorts growth.

Our large shrub/tree is showing signs of age at about 5-6 years but I'm not sure how long it lives - pruning does rejuvenate growth a little.

Now the good: We love the fruit freshly off the plant and there's usually lots of it with sometimes several flowerings a year. The flowers are small pretty pink things making it a nice addition to a garden or orchard.

An awesome jam or syrup (especially for ice-cream) can be made by simmering the fruit, straining, and adding a little sugar to taste to make a vibrant red topping - it tastes amazing!

It doesn't seem to be troubled by pests other than fruit fly and we don't lose too much fruit to birds or other animals really.

Growth is fast - particularly early on as it establishes which is good because it isn't long before the shrub will be fruiting.

I fertilise with a little citrus fertiliser in spring.       

Planted: 2008

Height 3 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 3 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Pest Control: No sprays

Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report
12 of 15 people found this review useful

Dragon Fruit - Yellow (Cutting) ^9/10

Selfsufficientme's Edible Fruits
Update: 4583 days 8hrs

Comments: -

Our yellow dragon fruit vines are flourishing! I think the fruit tastes like a mild melon with a flesh texture similar to a kiwi fruit (only white). Everyone I know who tastes this fruit for the first time loves it. I personally do not think dragon fruit is bland tasting (the yellow variety anyway).   

The yellow dragon fruit is smaller than the red variety but sweeter tasting - I think they are both good but I have had some red DF from the supermarket which were horrible. My own home-grown reds are great. Anyway, care needs to be taken when picking or handling the yellow DF as the fruit proudly displays many 1/2 inch - inch long thin thorns. A dust pan brush is the best way to remove the thorns from a ripe DF prior to picking.

The plant is also spikey (being a cactus) so I have grouped my pitayas in a separate garden with my other thorny edibles like raspberries and pineapples.

Growth was pretty fast reaching 2.5 metres in 2 years. I trained the plant up a post and then left it "droop" from the top. It was this "drooping" that resulted in small bend fractures which triggered the plants to start branching at the top and then flowering this season.

Flowering is spectacular! My wife first saw the flowers in the early morning when she opened the curtains and gasped at the display telling me to come quickly. The plants were 50 metres away but the flowers were easily visible at about 7-8 inches across. Normally, dragon fruit flower at night so catching the flowers in the morning before they closed was a great treat. The large flowers quickly die-off and the fruit forms from the base.

Naturally shed branches or cuttings root easily to make new plants and the plants survive on little water. In fact, I would be careful not to over-water this plant as it seems to enjoy "dryer feet".

Recommendation? Yes, the yellow dragon fruit is a top specimen to have in the garden. The fruit certainly looks more remarkable than it tastes but it's still great eating (especially chilled) and I'll definately be growing a couple more.  

Fruiting Months February, March, April, May

Planted: 2010

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 3

Fruit Harvest: 4 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Summer and Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Some chook poo

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Nothing seems to touch this plant. Can get a few minor rust spots through humid summers but recovers easily.

Organic Status:Organic

Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report
9 of 9 people found this review useful