Question How many edible plants do you grow?

ClissAT

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I always just knew those berries as blackberries.
but then kids will call a thing what it looks like anyway if they never get to know its real name.
 

Mataeka

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I've known it as a nightshade for years although my older sister told me they were deadly nightshade and then tried to convince me they were edible by pretending to eat one ... I guess last laugh is on her since they actually are edible? :chuffed:
 

Steve

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Been in the new house for about a year now so thought best I update my list seeing I started this thread...

Cherry tree
Feijoa
Avocado
Papaya
Bay Leaf
Orange
Mandarin
Lime (tahitian and finger lime)
Pepino
Lemon
Banana (Lady Finger and Cav)
Coconuts (x2)
Blueberry
Olive (Kala and some other type?)
Apples (Tropical Sweet and Tropic Anna)
Pear
Dwarf Peach
Macadamia
Cumquats
Chilies (various)
Thyme
Rosemary
Parsley
Coriander
Lettuce
Chives
Spring Onions
Buk Choi
Carrots
Mint
Lemongrass
Curry leaves
Lemon Scented Tea Tree (just because you can make tea from it :sneaky:)
Ginger

I think that's about it. Sitting at 34 I think. When I started this thread I had 16 so I'm pretty happy with that improvement. Plus now I have multiple of some of these types which makes it even better now. :twothumbsup:
 

Steve

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Thanks @letsgo
The banana's came from Turner's Garden Centre at Rochedale in Brissy.
From what I've read they come from a grower up in NQ.
They only had one Cav left when I bought these and I hear they sell out fairly fast.
But they did have a few different varieties which I thought was pretty cool.
 

ClissAT

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Yes Steve that certainly is an extensive list.
I'm guessing its one of those coconuts that is causing you angst getting your car & trailer past?

Here is a link to a banana selling nursery. They also provide links to many other outlets on their home page.

http://backyardbananas.com.au/

They do need to update their info though, about all the banana growing regions in QLd & what varieties can be grown.
All the banana growing regions are gone now in Qld. Any banana can be grown anywhere. Any variety available in Australia can now be grown in Qld. I'm not sure about other states.
This is great for those who want to grow different types like cooking bananas or ornamental varieties or simply something other than cavs or ladies.
 

Mark

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Been in the new house for about a year now so thought best I update my list seeing I started this thread...

Cherry tree
Feijoa
Avocado
Papaya
Bay Leaf
Orange
Mandarin
Lime (tahitian and finger lime)
Pepino
Lemon
Banana (Lady Finger and Cav)
Coconuts (x2)
Blueberry
Olive (Kala and some other type?)
Apples (Tropical Sweet and Tropic Anna)
Pear
Dwarf Peach
Macadamia
Cumquats
Chilies (various)
Thyme
Rosemary
Parsley
Coriander
Lettuce
Chives
Spring Onions
Buk Choi
Carrots
Mint
Lemongrass
Curry leaves
Lemon Scented Tea Tree (just because you can make tea from it :sneaky:)
Ginger

I think that's about it. Sitting at 34 I think. When I started this thread I had 16 so I'm pretty happy with that improvement. Plus now I have multiple of some of these types which makes it even better now. :twothumbsup:
You have been busy Steve! That's great mate :cheer:

How are you settling in with respect to managing your property, self-sufficiency, and work etc?
 

Steve

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Hi Mark, yes pretty busy. :heat: Thanks.

Settling in has been hard work but rewarding at the same time.
Only a few short months after we moved in we had our first child so that just zapped all the time I had on the property.
I would have loved to get fruit trees in earlier but time just got away from me.
Working full time and with the bub I only really get half a day on the weekends to get some solid work done.
I commute over 2 hours each day now for work which cuts into my home time so getting something done during the week just ain't no fun.

But I wouldn't have it any other way mate.
The place is looking good, after fencing, putting in a 'pretty' front garden, lawns, build retaining walls, etc etc, I now have herbs and trees in and my current project is a chook house and veggie garden beds which will make me so much happier once they're done. The only plants that have died are the ones that dont give me food so I'm happy with that.

Since moving in our internet connection is woeful (wireless only) as the NBN has been postponed once again and we can't get ADSL here. It makes life on the internet a right pain.

All in all, life is good. :cheers:
 

garden in port

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The other day I looked around my tiny back yard and felt pretty proud of how far I've come on the journey of growing my own food. I have a long long way to go but it got me thinking, just how many edible plants do I currently have growing?
It took me all of 10 seconds to count them all but it shocked me to think that I started off only 2 years ago with only 2 herbs in a couple of pots. All my plants are in pots so I am probably at my maximum capacity unless I go a little crazy and take over our living space. Never say never.
I know with many others it will take a good walk around their property to count it all up that might take an hour. I'm sure it will be inspiring to see how far this self-sufficiency thing can go.

I thought I would put the question out there to see what others currently have on the go.
Here's the rules (so we have level playing field):
  1. Only count plants that either fruit, root, rhizome, leaf, etc that can be eaten.
  2. Dont count animals (different thread maybe)
  3. Count each different type of plant once, i.e if you have 3 different types of tomatoes growing count that as ONE, same as if you have 4 different lettuce varieties growing... count as one.
  4. Dont count how many of the one type of plant, i.e. if you have 20 carrots growing only count that as ONE.
  5. Only count them if they are currently in the ground and alive, i.e. if you have planted it with the expectation it will grow then count it, you can also count seeds that have been planted. However if the seeds are sitting in a packet on the self in your shed then leave them out of the count.
  6. If the plant is dormant but still in the ground then it counts. (perhaps like ginger may be, or a raspberry bush)
  7. Herbs and spices still count as they are still consumed.
  8. This is just a snap-shot-in-time question so if you just pulled up a plant then don't count it. I want to know what you have growing right now.
  9. That should be enough rules......
Post your answer below and feel free to add more info of what that number is made up of. For some of you that may be a big task but it may just give others an idea of new crops to sow and generate discussionQUOTE]beetroot,cucumbers,chives,garlic,onions ,tomatoes,watermelon ,passion fruit,blood oranges, manderins, pomegranate,persimmons,figs,ginger,spring onions,strawberries ,chillis,beans,lemons, mango,dragon fruit
 

Mark

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But I wouldn't have it any other way mate.
The place is looking good, after fencing, putting in a 'pretty' front garden, lawns, build retaining walls, etc etc, I now have herbs and trees in and my current project is a chook house and veggie garden beds which will make me so much happier once they're done.
Our experience is very similar to yours - some days it can be a grind developing the acreage from a blank canvas but as it grows and gets better with every little improvement you look out, walk around and appreciate what you've built - it's hard to explain...

Nina (my wife) is currently working away FIFO, but above all, being away has shown her how much shes loves acreage living and when she's back instead of sitting inside and resting etc she's often outside digging, pruning, planting, and wearing the blisters on her hands like a badge of honor! God bless her cotton socks... :)
 

Steve

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So true Mark.

My wife and I were just thinking through all the little projects I've done since we moved in and once you start listing them you realise you've done a fair bit.
I just can't wait till some of these trees start producing. At the moment they are just twigs in the ground... :cool:
 

DarrenP

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OK, a belated entry from me.
In no particular order:
orange
lemon
grapefruit
mandarine
plum
apricot
nectarine
fig
passionfruit
dwarf pomegranate
pumpkin
cucumber
tomato
capsicum
chilli
sweetcorn
squash
zucchini
lettuce
leek
spring onion
beans
watermelon
rockmelon
sunflower
nasturtium
kale
mint
coriander
basil
thyme
sage
sorrel
oregano
parsley
lemonbalm
lemongrass
garlic
beetroot
carrots
radish
I think that's all. I did a mental tour of the yard, lol.
 

Mark

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I hadn't heard of a Dwarf Pomegranate
They grow really fast and fruit within a year on a small bush not quite knee high. The problem is the fruit is small and often they dry out and aren't worth harvesting... well, in my experience anyway.
dwarf Pomegranate fruit and flower.jpg
 

DarrenP

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I was led to believe that the fruit was virtually the same, it was just the size of the tree/bush that was smaller. Interesting. Might have to find room for a full sized tree. Add it to the wish list (persimmon, olive, lime), lol.
 

DarrenP

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Thanks Steve. And that's abiding by your rules of no varieties. I've got 6 varieties of pumpkin growing, 5 cucumbers, and three sweetcorn. I know they say to grow the different varieties far apart, but we'll just have to wait and see how the seeds turn out next season. Also have 5 varieties of tomatoes growing, and several of the fruit trees are multiples to lengthen the cropping.
I planted summer Valencia oranges luckily, because in the winter there are so many free oranges in town.
 

Robyn67

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Here's my list of which most of the fruit trees I can inherited when we bought the place (although last year I did grow lots of veggies myself, this year the sheep got in and I have let it overgrow)
Spring onions,
Rhubarb
Potatoes
Celery
Mint
Majoram
Plums
Apricots
Apple
Mulberry
Figs
Hazelnut
Pear
Passion fruit
Kiwi fruit
Grapes
Finger lime
Peach
Blackberries
Nectarine
Irish strawberry tree
 

ClissAT

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They grow really fast and fruit within a year on a small bush not quite knee high. The problem is the fruit is small and often they dry out and aren't worth harvesting... well, in my experience anyway.
View attachment 2928


OH NO!!!! I hope that's not what I've got! Mine flowered & bore in the first year too.
I didn't expect that to happen. I purchased from a person I believed to be a reliable supplier & was told my seedling trees were from wild stock that had lovely big juicy fruit.
But the best I get are these nasty little bullets. What a waste!
 

DarrenP

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Ours hasn't hardly grown since I planted it. My patience is wearing thin; non-productive means out it comes.
 
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