Davewastech's Edible Backyard
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Joined:
03/11/12 Updated:
31/12/19 Frost: About My Edible BackyardWhy Davewastech Love's Edible Plants Very rewarding. So much more interesting than watching azaleas. Less work, water and materials than growing veggies.  Comments* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Fruit Tree Forum ContributionsDavewastech Forum ContributionsGrowing bananas in sydney - Thanks David, Mindy and Chad. I'll try a Lady Finger (I just found out where I can obtain a "pup" for free near my home)..1521 days 13hrs Growing bananas in sydney - Thanks Mindy, Interesting to know you've had success so far south. Have they fruited yet? and if so how's the taste? Also I know of one big clump of lady fingers (in Sydney) where rats (bush rats?) have been damaging the roots. But it's i..1524 days 10hrs Growing bananas in sydney - Hi guys, I'm considering buying and planting a lady finger banana in a frost-free part of Sydney (near Chatswood). What season would be best for me to plant? I would consider other banana varieties too - so long as they do ok in this climate and t..1527 days 10hrs Solanum torvum perennial or biennial - Thanks Fruitylicious1, I wonder if it's perennial if I'm lucky and just biennial if I'm less lucky(?) or just not to expect it to deliver much past 2 years. (I'm defining perennial here as more than 2 years)..1576 days 12hrs Solanum torvum perennial or biennial - Hi gardeners, Solanum Torvum aka Thai Pea Eggplant aka Turkey Berry. My plants are in a frost-free area of Sydney, 13 months old, and currently fruiting. I've been trawling the net searching for the answer to the above question. Some people say p..1582 days 7hrs |
Fruit Tree Forum LikesDavewastech has LIKED the following:Midyim berries zero fruit - I had one plant, always had some fruit so must have self pollinated. I assume yours flower ? ie it flowers but doesnt set rather than it just doesnt flower ? Im in Victoria, so they can grow outside their natural range, which is Nth NSW where they grow an..Liked Answer 1628 days 12hrs Longans in melbourne - Hi Davewastech For a more detailed explanation on how to use potassium chlorate with longan trees just type in 'longans in Western Australia' with Google. Just click on the W.A. DPI inet address and they have an in-depth article about longan growing in..Liked Answer 2063 days 10hrs Jaboticaba growers take heart - Have you checked the date on the last post - 2013! Amanda has not been on Daleys forum for years...Liked Answer 2367 days 1hrs Free fruit trees in public places - Macadamias need to be planted along the edges of bush parks so the nuts don't drop on the footpaths, and yet people can se them and access them if they wish. All street trees need to be planted so they are not dropping fruit, seeds, nuts, leaves onto ca..Liked Answer 2542 days 3hrs Free fruit trees in public places - My concern is that people start off really keen, water them, feed them etc. Then they move, or get too old, or die, and the next person isn't interested. I see this often where I live - not in street trees, but backyards. Someone plants fruit trees..Liked Answer 2542 days 3hrs Calliandra haematocephala - Yes.....Easy! Calliandras will grow well in Sydney. I have Calliandra Tweedii in my garden which flowers almost continuously year round with amazing crimson red flowers, except for now in mid winter. It looks identical to C.haematocephala so I don't k..Liked Answer 2592 days 5hrs Okinawa spinach - It is a superfood. Sydney? I want to grow it in Katoomba, but that's probably too cold???..Liked Question 2608 days 7hrs Okinawa spinach - It grows in Auckland which is cooler than Sydney. Put it in a warm spot...Liked Answer 2611 days 12hrs Panama berry dead - Mine has been growing in a bansai bag for two years near Wollongong a few hundred metres from the beach. No problems at all. I want to get rid of it though as I don't like the taste of the fruit...Liked Answer 2612 days 10hrs Free fruit trees in public places - Trees that look good, are productive and dont cause much mess or harbour major diseases ( a major bias here for tropical plants as thats where i am, these are ones ive seen used already - except pimento and clove ) A grade Bay trees Pimento J..Liked Answer 2678 days 13hrs Lamb hass avocado1 - I actually have a Sharwil but it gets absolutely PUNISHED in the Summer here. It might fruit this year (never has before) but it's the days over 40c that it just can not deal with in anyway. Most Avocados burn a little on hot Southern days, Fuerte does b..Liked Answer 2924 days 1hrs Jaboticaba how to choose - Hi Dave, Grafted vs seedling? - there is not much difference, we have found that even grafted plants are slow Small vs big leaf variety? The large leaf is a larger more open tree with larger leaves and larger fruits that have thicker skin Any other co..Liked Answer 2925 days 4hrs Ceylon hill gooseberry - Hi all, It would be wonderful if some one could tell me how long does it take for this tree to fruit. In Vietnam I know that there is a native forest of this tree and they make into wine which is very popular there. Regards Tran..Liked Question 2927 days 11hrs Wurtz avocado3 - what's the Wurtz avocado taste like compared with Hazz? I like to buy one but not which one to choose from. I like the Hazz texture and it can keep for long time but unlike the tree size. What's your advise of these? Thanks. ..Liked Question 2929 days 1hrs Wurtz avocado - Can anyone tell me what which month you harvest the Wurtz fruit?..Liked Question 2929 days 1hrs Black sapote doesnt set fruit - Seedling tree should eventually produce fruit once mature. That may be many years after it first flowers. The long wait is the price you pay when you don't pay the price. ..Liked Answer 3127 days 13hrs Black sapote doesnt set fruit - I purchased a Black Sapote Seedling from Daleys in August,2009. At the time of purchase there was no communication to advise that seedlings may not produce fruit. The tree has grown prolifically, it is 3 meters tall, and for the last two years has set ..Liked Question 3127 days 13hrs Wampi variety selection - Wampis grow well from cuttings (hard and soft)...Liked Answer 3525 days 10hrs Snails fruit trees - The copper does not work, they just go straight over them. Other than pellets the only thing which has ever worked really well for me is going out with a torch and a stomping shoe at night...Liked Answer 3525 days 11hrs |
Wampee - Yeem Pay 9/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 1579 days 13hrs Comments: - Wonderful, rather complex taste. Fruited after 2 years. All the fruit ripened at the same time (February). Attractive shrub, looks healthy thru the whole year (I'm in Sydney). But in second season I got no flowers or fruit. Third season got about 70 fruit. Seedling purchased from Daleys. I planted a few seeds from my first crop and most of them are growing (slowly - 1 year old, just 20cm high), so I suppose that's an easy way to grow them if you're not in a hurry. Fruiting Months February Height 1.4 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 1 First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot Pollination: No Fertiliser or Organics Used: Citrus fertilizer 3 / year Pest Control: First crop had no pests, but third season about half had Qld fruit fly. (I'll net next season!) If it didn't get fruit fly I'd rate it 11 out of 10. Up there with the yummiest! (although not quite up there with good durians...) Organic Status:Partially Organic Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 9 of 16 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Little Evodia (Seedling) 8/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 1586 days 4hrs Comments: - Not really edible, but the flowers are so beautiful. Starts flowering around Christmas. Native to rain forests around Cairns. Grows and flowers ok in Sydney. Fruit have a citrus smell but aren't edible. Likes damp part of garden. Bought as tube stock from Daleys. Fruiting Months January and December Planted: 2014 Height 3 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 3 First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot Sun/Shade: Low Sun Pest Control: Not required Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report * You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Dwarf Persimmon - Fuyu (NA) 10/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 1586 days 11hrs Comments: - Pretty tree. Fruit quality is good. Had 2 fruits in 2015, 35 in 2016, 80 in 2017 and about 160 in 2018. I always thin the fruit by about 50% to improve fruit size and avoid branches snapping under the weight. Also I prune when dormant each winter to avoid too many long straggly branches - consult a reference. Grows reasonably fast. I find it is susceptible to Qld fruit fly so I bag the fruit in organza bags. Definitely recommend though for Sydney climate. (I tried growing one once in Perth, but the salty bore water quickly killed that one - needs decent water). Fruits from beginning April till mid May, much the same every year. Fruiting Months April and May Planted: 2012 Height 3 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 1 Fruit Harvest: 30 kilograms per Year First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Water Given in: Winter Pruned By: 30% in Autumn and Winter Pollination: Self Pollination Fertiliser or Organics Used: manure When I Fertilise: Winter Pest Control: Organza bags to stop Qld fruit fly Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 11 of 11 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Cape Gooseberry 7/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 1586 days 11hrs Comments: - Easy grow and quick to get fruit. Old fashioned fruit; my grandma had them growing next to her outdoor toilet 50 years ago! I grew mine from seed I bought online. Some of the plants produced poor tasting fruits and others had good tasting fruits, so I just left one or two good ones. Self-seeds a lot. Tasty to add a few into a fruit salad. Usually the ones that have fallen off and laid on the ground for a few days are the tastiest. But all cape gooseberry plants I've sampled have a rather acid taste, so I don't think you can eat a cup full without getting a belly ache. I've grown it in Perth and Sydney. I find the plant to be short-lived, at least in Sydney's clay and humid weather, where it grows a lot of foliage but fruit seldom seem to get adequately ripe. Mine did better in Perth's hot, arid summers and sandy soil where there was less foliage but better fruit - ie a bit of watering and mainly neglect seemed to work well. In Sydney after a year or two it looks sick so I pull it out. Always more self seeds coming up though, so just let a new one grow. Never had one damaged by Med fly or Qld fruitfly. Fruiting Months January, July, August, September, October, November, December Planted: 2012 Height 0.6 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 2 Fruit Harvest: 2 kilograms per Year First Fruited: 1 Years from Seed Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Pollination: No When I Fertilise: Never Pest Control: None. Pests don't seem to bother it. Organic Status:Partially Organic Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 21 of 31 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Midyim Berry 1/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 1827 days 5hrs Comments: - Very slow growing. Planted two in semi-shade. Flowered, but Still no fruit after 6.5 years. Planted: 2012 Height 0.4 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 2 Sun/Shade: Low Sun Pollination: No Pest Control: None required since they don't fruit Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 3 of 7 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Cherry of Rio Grande Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 1841 days 11hrs Comments: - Planted two small trees (Sydney, frost-free area). Look healthy but very slow growing - still just 80cm high at 5.5 years old. Had one single fruit so far - it tasted very good, looking forward to my second one! (next year perhaps...) I thought they were moderately tough, but we had one day 38degC in Sydney when they were 3 years old, and the photo shows the amount of leaf burn. Planted: 2013 Height 25 Centimetres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 2 Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Water Given in: Spring SpringPollination: Self Pollination When I Fertilise: Spring Question: Growth rate very slow. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 2 of 6 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Ceylon Hill Gooseberry Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2039 days 0hrs Comments: - Pretty small shrub. Almost finished flowering Jan 2017 for first time. Pretty when flowering. Hopefully will soon have fruit! Yep - fruited in June, a few over-wintered. Fruit a bit small and taste ho-hum. Fruiting Months April, May, September Planted: 2013 Height 0.4 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 1 Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Water Given in: Winter Autumn and WinterPollination: Self Pollination Fertiliser or Organics Used: NPK Pest Control: None Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 4 of 10 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Grapefruit - Ruby Red (Grafted) Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2039 days 0hrs Comments: - Pretty. Growing moderately fast. A few flowers spring 2017 delivering my first fruit (one) in September 2018 which was quite red inside and tasted very good, although skin was more dark yellow rather than pink. Has a leaf yellowing problem for which I tried using Epsom salts foliar spray. Not sure if it helped (placebo effect...) Fruiting Months September Planted: 2014 Height 2 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 1 Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Water Given in: Spring SpringPollination: Self Pollination When I Fertilise: Spring Pest Control: White oil for leaf miner Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 2 of 6 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Guava - Strawberry 7/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2049 days 12hrs Comments: - Strawberry Guava aka Cherry Guava aka Cattley Guava (Psidium cattleyanum) A good "grazing" shrub when fruit are ripening. Quite ornamental, suited as a screen. Planted one of the red and one of the yellow fruited Strawberry Guavas. The yellow (photo) suffers from Qld fruit fly, but so far the red is less affected. So I'd say the red is a better shrub. ( I'll eventually get rid of the yellow) Taste of reds vary a bit - I know of a red in somebody's yard with bigger and much yummier fruits than others I've tried, but the Qld ff think it's yummier too. So I would give the yellow a Satisfaction rating of 3. The red I'd give 6. And if I could find one of the big yummy kind then that would be a 9. It is classed as a weed in wet sub-tropics and wet tropics. Update Sept 2018 - the yellow one is gradually becoming sicker looking - probably time to dig it out shortly. The red one looks fine. Fruiting Months February and March Planted: 2012 Height 1.5 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 2 Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Water Given in: Summer After FruitingPollination: Self Pollination Fertiliser or Organics Used: NPK When I Fertilise: Yearly Pest Control: The yellow suffers from fruit fly, so I use a big mosi net over it. But so far the red doesn't need anything. Organic Status:Organic Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 3 of 5 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Jaboticaba (Seedling) Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2049 days 12hrs Comments: - I would love it if it ever grew big, because the trees look so special. From Daleys Oct 2015. No growth when photo taken Jan 2017, but by Sep 2018 it has about doubled in size. Planted: 2015 Height 0.2 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 2 Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Pollination: Self Pollination Fertiliser or Organics Used: Cow When I Fertilise: Spring Organic Status:Organic Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report CommentsFruitylicious1 says... [2373 days 13hrs ago]Jabos wanted their soil to be on the acidic side like the blueberries. I used azalea potting mix and fert and alternate it with dyna lifter to perk this turtle like movers a bit quicker. So far its working.* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Grumichama - Black (Seedling) Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2092 days 4hrs Comments: - Looks good. Update - Oct 2013 I increased the shade because leaves had become rather yellow. (increased shade by planting a papaya to the north of it). Looking a bit better now, and finally starting to grow. In 2012 I planted a total of 3 grumichamas, all in medium to full sun. This seems to have made the folliage rather yellow. Growth rate - very slow. Update - Apr2016 I finally got a few flowers on one of my grumis last year, (but no fruit) Update - Aug 2017 - One finally fruited, somewhat out of season in April 2017. About 15 little fruit, very pretty and quite tasty. The other two are still a bit yellow-leaved though. Planted: 2012 Height 1 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 3 Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Water Given in: Spring SpringPollination: Self Pollination When I Fertilise: Spring Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 11 of 24 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Curry Tree Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2092 days 4hrs Comments: - Murraya koenigii. Growing happily in summer. Dies off a little in winter while young (Sydney). But quite robust thru second winter. Mine seem to do better in the ground than in pots. Tastes great. Planted: 2016 Height 0.4 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 2 Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Pollination: No Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report * You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Yacon 8/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2092 days 4hrs Comments: - Grew from crowns planted Sept 2016. After a slow start they then grew quite rapidly. Taste was very juicy and very crunchy, but only slightly sweet. All my attempts to "improve the sweetness" by storing in the dark, leaving in the sun, etc (as per internet) were total failures - they simply wizzen up quite soon. Maybe that might work in a cooler climate(?) This year (2018) I've left the yacon harvest till late July/August, and the taste is a bit sweeter. Currently I've got a hole dug down one side of the roots, and just scratch around to harvest 1 or 2 tubers each day. Seems to work ok. Fruiting Months June, July, August Height 2 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 3 Fruit Harvest: 3 kilograms per Year First Fruited: 9 Months after I planted Cutting Sun/Shade: Medium Sun Water Given in: Spring Pruned By: 100% in Spring Pollination: No When I Fertilise: Spring Pest Control: None Organic Status:Organic Question: Anybody get them to taste sweet in a warmish climate? (eg Sydney) Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 1 of 1 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy  |
Pepino (Cutting) 9/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2658 days 6hrs Comments: - Crops most of the year. Quite productive. The young fruits take quite a long time to ripen on the bush - have to wait until they are quite yellow. If they are at all greenish the taste is not sweet, rather like cucumber. (I believe the word "pepino" also means cucumber in Spanish). The fruit will keep quite well once harvested, but they won't ripen once picked. Very easy to propagate - the runners just grow roots where they contact soil, dig a bit off and plant. Can also easily strike tip cuttings during warmer weather. I have heard that some varieties of pepino taste uninteresting, well I was lucky, mine tastes delicious! Unfortunately the neighbourhood rats think it's delicious too. Attractive ground cover, but better to let it scramble on a low trellis.. Update 2016 - I find the taste can vary quite a lot during the year, sometimes has bit of an off flavour, usually delicious. After about 3 years the plant was looking a bit sad, so I keep propagating it into a new spot, and dig out anything looking sad, using the old ground for veggies for a while (crop rotation) Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December Planted: 2012 Height 0.3 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 1 Fruit Harvest: 20 kilograms per Year First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot Sun/Shade: Full Sun Pollination: No When I Fertilise: Spring Pest Control: Qld Fruit fly will destroy most of the pepinos unless you stop them, so I put an organza bag around each fruit. Also some animal here sometimes eats some of them right thru the organza bag, probably rats, although ringtail possums might be to blame. Lo Organic Status:Partially Organic Question: About 20% of the fruit have a problem. Patches of ugly greyish coloured flesh, and the affected fruit don't taste good. Appears more at some times of the year, and then I don't see any affected fruit for months. Anybody know the cause? Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report * You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
Pawpaw (Seedling) 6/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 2730 days 12hrs Comments: - Pawpaw Southern Red Bisexual - from Daleys. Tastes yummy, but less yummy during cold weather. I've recently figured out that the best thing to do with those green fruit that are showing a bit of skin damage from the winter is to use them up about August thru October as a vege (my favorite is Thai green pawpaw salad), because if I let them get ripe they won't taste good. Any green fruit that still look ok by October can be left to ripen on the tree. Tree looks nice from about November to June (then it looks very shabby due to the winter weather). Planted next to a north facing brick wall (NNE actually), with moderate wind exposure. Water in warmer weather. I'll give it 6/10 for Sydney climate, although I'd give almost any pawpaw 9/10 in the tropics. I've grown a few pawpaws (mostly Southern Red bisexual or their prodigy) here in Sydney, and they usually die after 2 to 4 years. I suppose the cool winters and damp clay soils aren't kind to them. I planted some pawpaws in Perth's sandy soil once that lasted longer, and I got more fruit to the fully ripe stage (the aspect of that spot in Perth was as good as it gets though, so that may explain its better performance) Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August Planted: 2012 Height 2.5 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 2 First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot Sun/Shade: Full Sun Pollination: Self Pollination Fertiliser or Organics Used: during warm season Pest Control: None. No major problem with pests. Some black spots on fruit mainly during cool season. Organic Status:Partially Organic Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 2 of 2 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
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TRIED BUT DIED
Panama Berry 7/10 Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 1841 days 10hrs Comments: - Extraordinary fast growing (3m/year in Sydney), attractive tree. Fruit are pleasant, very sweet and juicy. The leaves are soft and easily damaged by wind, so the tree can look a bit scruffy towards the end of winter until the new growth starts with warmer weather. It got sick looking and died after two years - in spring. (Clay soil?) Planted a second one - it's first fruit were this summer 2019. Similar to the first one - hope I can keep this one alive! Fruiting Months February, March, April, May Planted: 2013 Height 4 metres Growing: In the Ground Qty: 1 Fruit Harvest: 2 kilograms per Year First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot Sun/Shade: Full Sun Water Given in: Winter Pruned By: 50% in Autumn and Winter Pollination: Self Pollination When I Fertilise: Yearly Pest Control: None. No fruit fly (yet) Organic Status:Partially Organic Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report 7 of 17 people found this review useful* You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
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TRIED BUT DIED
Acerola - unknown variety 1/10Davewastech's Edible FruitsUpdate: 1841 days 10hrs Comments: - I might like it if it survived. Grew rapidly to about a meter, then suddenly died (early October) about 11 months from planting. I think the soil was too damp. Planted a second one Nov 2016, growing vigorously (about 2m high by Sep 2018). This one is Florida Sweet. Mounded the soil up this time. Fruited off and on throughout the warmer months of 2018/2019. Taste is ok, kind of different, interesting, slightly sweet - given its speed and easyness to grow I'd give the successful one about 7 out of 10 Pollination: Self Pollination Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report * You need your own My Edibles Page to contribute Quick & Easy |
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