My Edible Fruit Trees: Vine VIC

^9/10

Comments: -

In my dwarf tree pack I received a Meyer Lemon, mandarin, persimmon, black mulberry and peach trees.  I think it was about 2 years ago.  I have them all planted in large planter pots in bonsai bags and they have been growing happily on my back deck. 

The mulberry started fruiting straight away.  It was a tiny little thing and gave a few fruit it's first summer. Right now it is about 1.5m tall, very healthy and this summer it looks like we will have LOTS of fruit!  

THis winter was the first time that both the mandarin and lemon had fruit.  Both had about 15 fruit each.  The lemons were so tasty that the kids would pick them and eat them like apples!!  and the Mandarins were truly glorious!  THe best I've ever tasted... but the fruit you grow yourself always does taste better :P

This last Autumn we had one precious persimmon.  I had to fight the birds for it, but It was yum.  I'm hoping that next year we get a few more fruit.  I've moved it to a new spot to see if that makes any difference.

The peach tree  is still tiny.  Maybe a foot tall.  It has the most beautiful and plentiful foliage... but never had a flower or a fruit. 

Because they are in pots under a covered deck, we have to water them every few days.  I just save water from the kitchen and bucket it out.  we also use rain water.

we top up the soil with a soil compost mix every now and then as the birds love to get in and dig up the soil and make a big mess and often will expose the roots... all this even though we have 2 dogs!.  Once the trees start to bud in spring, we put bird net up to protect the fruit.

we fertilise them a few times a year with either chook poo or a liquid fertisier of some kind. 

anything we add, as in soil, compost fertiliser etc is always organic.

Planted: 2007

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Hand Pollination

Pest Control:

bird net

Organic Status:Organic

(Grafted) ^6/10

Comments: -

2 x Hass avocado tree's turned up at our front door. It took us 12 months before we found out who did the lovely gesture.They were advanced to 2mtrs. So we prepared a spot for them and planted them.They are very sheltered but in full sun. They have there own microclimate. Remember we are talking South Gippsland, cool climate. They are only kept watered in Summer due to our high rainfall.

Fruiting Months January, February, March

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 5% in Summer

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Organic

Pest Control:

Garlic spray.

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

Will they fruit?

Comments

In Victoria you will probably need bot an "A" and a "B" variety to ensure fruiting They fruit abundantly in various areas of Victoria including the Mornington Peninsula.

Comments: -

(Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Available fruit for months, Pink Lady and Granny Smith on one stock

Fruiting Months March, April, May

Planted: 2006

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 10 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Summer

Pruned By: 30% in After Fruiting, Summer, Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: none

Pest Control:

Mancozeb for Black Spot and Carbyryl for Codlin Moth

Organic Status:Pesticides Used

(Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: - Was ecstatic to get a Watermelon to grow in our cool climate in South Gippsland. Yes, it tasted awesome. Larger than a football.  A paler Pink on the inside to shop stuff.

Planted: 2011

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 3 kilograms per Year

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Mushroom Compost in soil and Amgrow Harvest Liquid Fertilizer.

Pest Control: Organic Seed.

Almond - All in one (Grafted) ^3/10

Comments: - Doesn't fruit too well but flowers beautifully every year 

Fruiting Months January and February

Planted: 2006

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

apples assorted

Apricot - Trevatt (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Assignment help

Brown Turkey Fig ^10/10

Comments: -

I have two brown turkey figs. Both are in pots. One is having developing figs while the other was thought dead till it started to produce green buds and now leaves. Am very very estatic that it is alive and glad that I did not give up and bin it...It is from Fleming's nursery.

The other one is just another brown turkey fig tree from a normal nursery and was much cheaper.However, this brown turkey tree did far better than the Fleming's in terms of growth/development and in fact figs from both trees taste equally good.

Fruiting Months January, October, November, December

Planted: 2009

Growing: In a Pot

Fruit Harvest: 10 Fruit Per Year

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Worm poo, homemade compost, seasol

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Winter

Pest Control:

No sprays but netting done to deter birds.

Organic Status:Organic

Chickpea ^5/10

Comments: -

It is a legume for nitrogen fixing, a pretty feathery leaf and hopefully some chickpeas in the future!

Planted: 2010

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Organic Status:Certified

Question:

How long does it take to get peas?

Chilean guava (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

I love the way the bush is neat and small, it can be trimmed into a hedge. The small berry has a rich sweet flavour and can be made into jam if it makes it to the kitchen.

Fruiting Months November and December

Planted: 2008

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 1 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Spring

Pest Control:

Never seems to be bothered with pests

Coffee ^7/10

Comments: - Purchased this plant from Daleys and planted straight into our prepared plot. Growth has been slow but only after 1.5 years since planting, we have now had flowers and what appears to be small berries. 

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Duck manure

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control: Poultry.

Organic Status:Organic

Double graft Fuji and royal gala

Dwarf Lemon - Eureka (Grafted) ^9/10

Planted: 2021

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

finger lime

Planted: 2010

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Fuchsia boliviana ^9/10

Comments: -

Fuchsia boliviana - Bolivian Fuchsia

Compact weeping bush with dramatic pendulus red flowers and clusters of hanging sausage shaped fruits. The sweet tasting purple fruits look like jelly beans when ripe and are sold in markets in Bolivia. The flowers are also edible and can be candied.

A very hardy plant that thrives on neglect. It produces several crops per year.

Fruiting Months January, June, November

Planted: 2011

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pollination: No

Guava - white indian ^8/10

Comments: - Tropical 

Fruiting Months January and February

Planted: 2019

Height 1.9 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 5 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Seasol seaweed

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control: Neem Oil and dishwash spray

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

Frost protection and how to increase fruit size

imperial mandarin (Grafted) ^5/10

Comments: -

Taste of fruit, kids eat them constantly when in season!

Planted: 2010

Height 0.8 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 5% in After Fruiting and Spring

Fertiliser or Organics Used: blood and bone

When I Fertilise: Winter

Question:

How many years until it will bare fruit?

Jostaberry ^8/10

Comments: -

I love to be able to wander round the garden and browse on berries. The Jostaberry is a good bite size with a lovely flavour between currants and gooseberries. They burst in your mouth with fresh sweetness, with a hint of tange. The rich burnished colour of the ripe fruits looks lovely amongst the green leaves.

Fruiting Months February

Planted: 2007

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

First Fruited: 2 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Autumn

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly and Spring

Pest Control:

Birds are the only pests and they aren't major. I'll use nets if they get  into a habit.

Organic Status:Organic

jujube/Red Chinese date (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Jujube, Red Date, or Chinese Date

Italian:'Zinzoli' or 'giuggiola' (jujola)

Korean: daechu

Thai:Poot-sa

Chinese:hong zao

I have 8 trees, two of them 10 years old, the rest are newly planted September 2009.

Very easy to look after, no pruning, pest free, not fussy about soil.  Jujube fruit will dry on the tree after ripening. Dried fruits require no preservative; the tree can go through drought.

In general and also apply to this fruit tree, to get abundant of fruits, water should be given during flowering and fruiting season otherwise fruit embryos will drop.

Fertiliser: Dynamic lifter, blood and bone or aged manure are recommended, a bit at the time  after 4 months in the ground or pot, then every 2 months in growing seasons. Apply Richo brand completed minerals once a year in December as vitamin supplementary.

I was told by a herbalist that this fruit is very good for your health, ranging from purifying your blood to reducing menopause symptom etc.

Personally,  it is a nice sweet fruit to eat, you can eat fresh or dried. Shredded dried fruit that can be added to cereal. You can cook the same way as dried sultana.

Making mildly sweet tea from dried fruit by just dropping a few slices of dried jujube fruits in boiling water. Serve as tea and then eat the residue.

In Thailand,  a drinkcan be made from dried fruit mixed with sugar and hot water, then served chilled.

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, December

Planted: 2002

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 18

Fruit Harvest: 4 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Spring

Pest Control:

None

Organic Status:Organic

Comments

Hi Nguyet , I want to move my Jujube to another spot in the garden . Should I move it now while it's dormant or wait until spring?

Hi Michael, Yes, You can move your jujube tree in winter (June to August) while they are in dormant. Please make sure your tree is in Full sun location to be able to produce fruits properly.

ladies fingers ^10/10

Comments: -

looks awesome and people think you cannot grow in vic

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, November, December

Planted: 2010

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 78

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Comments

Are you growing them as a perennial or an annual here in victoria?

on average perennial.....they need lots of dynamic lifter, chook poo, potash and water. You need to time the flowering around Feb with lots of water to produce about 8 hands on the ladies fingers h/w I once got 20 hands on the golden ones..

also they need a full sun and warm place in the garden...a brick wall is ideal

wow! I thought that it would be too cold in Vic for it to survive winter.

macadami A4 hidden valley frost resistant,cool climate variety

Planted: 2006

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Organic

Question:

why cant my macadamia trees have flowers on them,i have hay round them they are in 44 gallon drums,they have dripped iragation on them,each week in summer i water them,they are fertilisered with seasol and dynamic lifter pellets in spring,the trees are healthy green,and have only grow  1 foot in 5 years,can you help me get them to grow and bear flowers,i am in the stawell area in victoria,is there a way to ge them to bear flowers and fruit,and they have been in ground 5 years,shouldnt they be producing by now, thanks for your time

Nectarine - dwarf

Planted: 2006

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Organic Status:Organic

olive

Papaya- Gold (Seedling) ^9/10

Comments: - It survived through the winter 2016 but heavy rains and the cold caused root rot which killed it. 

peaches ^3/10