CJ's Edible Backyard

Joined: 05/08/09 Updated: 11/08/10 Frost: None
Location: Lakelands, WA, AU

About My Edible Backyard

Just moved into our newly-built first home and now have the joy of creating a garden paradise out of a pile of bricky sand! We have a great warm climate here and beautiful coastal sunsets so the goal is to build up a garden that is both beautiful to be in and productive. I love to cook and I have a design background, so while I have very little previous knowledge or experience of gardening, planning our suburban orchard is fast becoming a great new hobby for me.

Soil Type: 

We started off with bricky sand and have spent the past few months trying to build up the soil. We have been using a combination of commercially purchased soil, mulch and DIY compost. We are now finally ready to start planting.

Annual Rainfall: 

636.2mm apparently

Aspect: 

Orchard is located in our backyard (suburban block) along north and east facing fences. I am also planning on incorporating some edibles into garden beds around the block.

Challenges: 

The Shed which has somehow managed to get the best position on the block!

Limited space - we are on a 600m2 suburban block

Bricky sand

Massive retaining walls on our block - I'm paranoid about planting things that will undermine these

A lack of knowledge - but I'm getting there!

CJ's WISH LIST

Cherimoya - White

Why CJ wants it: -

So tasty but so expensive at the shops!

Mango - Bowen ^5/10

Why CJ wants it: -

I\'m a huge mango fan and I find it fascinating the way these fruits grow.

Peach - Tropic Snow ^5/10

Why CJ wants it: -

I love peaches and nectarines and this early variety might help extend the season.

Quince Tree - Smyrna (Grafted)

Comments: -

Very vigorous grower, the first of the deciduous trees to bud.

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Comments

CJ, does your quince loose all its leaves in the warm Perth winters? If so - when does it tend to drop its leaves?

Hi BJ, it has been very, very reluctant. Last weekend I gave it a good prune and removed the last of the leaves, which had changed colour but not quite dropped off. The tree is planted against a north-facing, cream-coloured fence, so that probably doesn't help!

Pitaya - Red Dragon Fruit (Cutting)

Comments: -

Just got started on this one (red with white flesh) with a cutting from a friend. Currently its about 30cm tall. Dotted with rooting power and planted in potting mix. Will wait and see!

Also picked up a red flesh pitaya recently from Tass1. Now I need to find a spot for them!

12/06/10 - and another cutting from Tass1, this time yellow skin white flesh. Treated same as above. My other two have had lots of new growth over summer but seem to be slowing a bit now in winter.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.3 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Not yet

Fig - Brown Turkey

Comments: -

Purchased from Tass1 on a whim.

Height 60 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pepino - Kendall Gold

Comments: -

Thought I'd give this another go after my previous one died. Purchased with three very immature fruit on it.

Planted: 2010

Height 20 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Caper

Comments: -

Purchased very small plant from Dawsons. I love the appearance of these plants, spectacular flowers, although I understand they are very, very slow growing!

Planted: 2010

Height 10 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: No

Blueberry - Blue Rose (Cutting)

Comments: -

Came cheap from Bunnings. Not certain if it will get enough chill in Perth, but worth a shot anyway.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.15 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Question:

What is the chill requirement for 'blue rose'?!

Blueberry - Climax

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Syzygium australe - Brush Cherry

Planted: 2009

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Syzgium paniculata - Magenta Cherry

Comments: -

Got this one as a freebie. It's barely more than a twig at the moment and doesn't seem to be enjoying the winter at all. Hopefully it will be happier when summer arrives and it takes off in true lilly pilly fashion!

Planted: 2009

Height 0.15 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Plum - Gulf Ruby (Grafted)

Comments: -

Flowering like mad (08/09)!

Planted: 2009

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Santa Rosa

Question:

Comments

Beautiful plum flowers- did these fruit OK after they flowered in the first year? I have one with a gulfgold for pollination.

Hi Diana, had quite a bit of fruit set but didn't allow to mature. Will see how they go this coming season now that tree is nicely settled.

Nectarine - Sun Snow (Grafted)

Comments: -

Picked this up from Bunnings as it was cheap, low chill and ripens before Christmas (love fresh stone fruit for Christmas!).

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Nectarine - Fairlane (Grafted)

Comments: -

Not sure how this will go as it might not get enough chill. However it matures late and I thought it would be worth giving it a go if it means we get my favourite fruit for longer!

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pineapple

Comments: -

I'm trying to grow these from the heads of store bought pineapples. The plants look fantastic, even if they never fruit, so hopefully these will take off.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Question:

Apricot - Buledo (Grafted)

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Peach - Tropic Beauty

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Apple - Dwarf Red Fuji (Grafted)

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Pink Lady

Persimmon - Ichikikijiro (NA) (Grafted)

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Persimmon - Fuyu (NA) (Grafted)

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Plum - Mariposa (Grafted)

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Santa Rosa

Plum - Santa rosa (Grafted)

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Mariposa

Peacharine (Grafted)

Comments: -

I prefer nectarines, he prefers peaches - this one is for fun!

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Peach - Multigraft - Tasty Zee (Grafted)

Comments: -

Partner really liked the look of this one, and desperate to keep him interested in the garden, I bought it for him straight away! The Double Jewel is yellow-fleshed and ripens first, followed by the white-fleshed Tasty Zee.

Fruiting Months January and December

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Apple - Sundowner (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Granny Smith

Apple - Dwarf Granny Smith (Grafted)

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Pink Lady

Apple - Pink Lady

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Granny Smith

Apple - Dorsett Golden (Grafted)

Fruiting Months January

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Anna

Apple - Anna

Fruiting Months February

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Dorsett Golden

Pluot - Flavor Supreme (Grafted)

Comments: -

Height 2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Mariposa

Kaffir Lime (Seedling) ^10/10

Comments: -

Received this as a gift after I discovered Thai cooking. Love making my own curry pastes and the kaffir leaves give an incredible flavour.

Planted: 2007

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 15 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pest Control:

Never needed

paw paw (Seedling)

Comments: -

02/03/10 - died in recent 40 degree plus heat due to retic failure

Gift from a friend. Grown from seed so not sure what variety it is - hopefully self-fertile! It has gone through a bit of a rough spot recently, very neglected while I was on holiday, but seems to be making a slow recovery.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.4 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Pepino - Kendall Gold (Seedling)

Comments: -

02/03/10 - died in recent 40 degree heat due to retic failure

Picked up from Big W of all places for very cheap. Surprisingly healthy, bushy looking plant.

Planted: 2009

Height 0.2 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Apricot - Trevatt (Grafted)

Comments: -

Simply did not wake up from winter dormancy, no indication why.

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Apple - Lady Williams (Grafted)

Comments: -

Rootstock has overtaken the graft :(

Planted: 2009

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Cross Pollination

Cross Pollinator Variety: Granny Smith