September 2002
The Daley News
With the beginning of delightful warm temperatures and longer days we can spend some more time in the orchard. It's one of the most rewarding times of the year, a time where we can work hand-in-hand with nature and reap the benefits. Not only are the spring months an ideal time to plant, they are also the most important time of the year to fertilise and mulch. This little bit of attention will have a profound effect on your fruit trees. Their health will be improved greatly increasing their resistance against disease, strong healthy new growth will be formed and mature trees will reward you with a generous fruit set. Greg
Whats New
The nursery is an abundance of young fresh plants. The state-of-the-art polyhouses erected in early winter have worked wonderfully. As a result the young trees are well established and strong, in fact they are almost pleading to be released from the confines of their pots in order to take off with lush new spring growth and to get their roots established in the warm ground. With more and more interest from the southern states we have implemented several systems to help grower's get an early start.
The Orchard
Most home gardeners will still be enjoying an abundance of mandarins, oranges and lemons but September also brings the delicious star ruby grapefruits. I know, alot of people declare their dislike for them as being too sour but you really have to taste the star ruby before you judge. They are deliciously sweet with that characteristic sharp after taste and look and taste great in a fresh juice or fruit salad. Also this month we are enjoying loquats, canistels, avocadoes, black sapote, custard apples and large luscious passionfruit
Fruit Tree of the Month
Ambarella
The Ambarella (Spondias cytherea) also known as the Hog plum or Golden apple is one of the newer fruits on the ever expanding list of exotics quickly gaining in popularity. The tree is a very attractive plant that suits container planting, bears striking fruit and offers versatility above that of its close relative, the Mango.
Due to customer demand we have seen a growing amount of small commercial orchards being planted throughout northern NSW and South East Qld. To date these growers are very happy with the results. The trees have proven to be quite hardy and are very fast to become established and fruit begins to appear after only three years.
Uses
This pleasant tasting acidic fruit has a pineapple-mango flavour and a crunchy 
texture. The part nearer to the peel is quite sour getting sweeter near the seed. The ripe fruit is also much sweeter than the less mature green fruit.
The fruit is quite nice eaten fresh, being referred to as the travellers delight in some countries because people are often seen munching on them, and is often used for making delicious jelly, pickles, relishes, soups and stews. The fruits yield a delicious juice, which can be made in to drinks and sherbets or mixed with other tropical fruit juices to enhance flavour, aroma and taste.
A versatile tree, the young ambarella leaves can be consumed raw. In Indonesia, they are steamed and eaten as a vegetable with salted fish and rice and in Sri Lanka the raw fruit is mostly eaten fresh and cooked as a curry with chilli.
The fruit is considered to be a good source of vitamin C and it is suggested that is has some value in aiding diabetes, heart ailment and urinary troubles.
Description
This highly ornamental tree is a rapid-grower reaching a height of 12-to18 m with upright growth. Deciduous in habit, its leaves turn bright yellow before falling in the cool season. The small white flowers are borne in large bunches with male, female and perfect flowers within each cluster. The long-stalked fruits dangle in bunches of a dozen or more.
While green the fruit will fall to the ground over a period of several weeks. As they mature the skin turns golden-yellow with an orange-yellow pulp surrounding a single large spiny seed. When ripe they have a pleasant pineapple-like fragrance.
Growing conditions
Like the Mango, the tree thrives in humid tropical and subtropical areas growing up to 2 metres in a single growing season. It grows on all types of soil, as long as they are well drained. It has been noted that some trees can suffer from some nutritional disorders if the soil is too alkaline.
Trees are cold sensitive when small and should be protected from serious frost and strong wind. Trees do best in full sun, but will produce some fruit in light shade. As a large and vigorous tree they prefer not be planted underneath other large trees and unlike some mango varieties they are not too fussed on salt spray.
Rainforest, Dryland Native and Hedge Plants
The Queensland Kauri Pine (Agathis robusta) is native to the Cairns and Maryborough districts and is always described as one of the one of the tallest and most majestic of trees. It is quite similar to another member of its family, the Hoop pine. The species grows as a rainforest plant and is dominant in the dry marginal rainforest areas often seen in eastern Queensland. You will often find these trees are accompanied by Flame trees and Flindersia trees.
This tree is very popular for use in park landscapes and large gardens throughout Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. The trees are easily identifiable due to their unusually coloured foliage. It is a very hardy species with a robust trunk and spreading crown. It is quite common to see these trees reach up to 50m in height with a diameter and 1.8m. The bark is brown to grey-brown and is slightly flaky.
The timber, slightly darker than hoop pine, is a softwood and is useful for making vats, tanks, wooden machinery and violin bellies. It is also used successfully in boat building, building construction and cabinetry. The cheaper grades of the timber are used for plywood, boxes, and crates.
A hardy, virtually trouble free tree that will reach its true potential when grown on a fertile well drained soil with adequate moisture.
Casper Schnyder
Between Greg, Rick, Rod and the team we pride ourselves in having a huge combined knowledge of fruit trees. However Casper Schnyder, a customer and supplier continuously astounds us with his wealth of knowledge in subtropical and exotic fruit trees.
Casper came to Australia from Switzerland in 1961. Initially managing an organic strawberry farm it wasn't until the late 70's that Casper was able to realize and develop his passion for fruit trees. Casper and his wife Kate, purchased a small farmlet of 6 acres and planted over 700 trees comprising of over 70 species.
Both Casper and Kate have spent many an hour studying the characteristics and forms of the fruit trees. Kate is a talented still life artist and each Christmas we look forward to receiving another superb painting of one of her favourite fruits.
Some of the more unusual varities planted were the Mabola, a huge range of Jakfruit and several different Sapotes. At this time the trees were quite rare and a lot of time, effort and networking went into building up this exquisite collection.
In 1980 the Schnyder's relocated to a superb farm in Redland Bay where they began a commercial fruit tree orchard. Initially supplying to the Brisbane Fruit Trees Market, Casper now readily sells his fruit to a huge customer base at the front gate. The majority of fruit sold is organic and is available for extended periods due to the diversity of those varieties planted.
When asked, Casper offers this valuable advice. "You never stop learning, learn by talking to other growers and hands-on experience is the best teacher".
