Despite this, there are a few small-growing varieties that are worth considering for smaller yards, such as Rincon and Wurtz. While citrus is dealt with in detail elsewhere in this issue, olives (Olea europaea) are suitable selections for both cool and warm temperate climates. If you have room, you can’t beat the popular varieties Fuerte and Hass. This was not always the case. Rather than battle to grow a plant unsuitable for your region, try to grow fruit trees that perform better in the warm temperate climate. A close Chinese relative of the lychee is the longan (Dimocarpus longan). E: info@birdwoodnursery.com.au, P.O.Box 21 Pome and stone fruits and other cold-climate delicacies. As well as standard eating apples, Australian gardens of the past often included a cooking apple tree; these massive fruits were usually used for making apple pies. Woombye QLD 4559, Phone: (07) 5442 1611 Finding great trees that can cope with tough conditions such as drought, wind, salt or sand; can be challenging. I remember as a child in the 1960s being introduced to the avocado (Persea Americana) as the “avocado pear”. Citrus fruit trees are the most popular fruit bearing group of plants grown in Australia. WellBeing Yoga Experience, ANTA Natural therapies & private health cover, Your guide to fantastic fruit trees for every climate. With restricted room, more thought is needed to select suitable trees for your soil and climate. Bananas are greedy plants and enjoy a high-potassium fertiliser to help produce abundant fruit. For advice on pruning fruit trees as well as comprehensive articles on gardening and backyard design visit  Complete Home. Like apples, most pears need cross-pollination to successfully bear fruit, but one popular variety in Australia that doesn’t need cross-pollination is Williams; the added advantage of choosing this variety is it can cope well with our hot summers. So the following selections are based on the three general climate types found in Australia. Although these plants cope fairly well in hot weather as long as there is regular water, they have evolved to require cold weather to stimulate flowering — the essential precondition to fruit production. In temperate areas, this Australian native evergreen tree will reach around eight … Historical records tell us that from European settlement until the middle of the last century, Australian gardens, like the French, often included several fruit trees. P.O.Box 1 Also known as papaya, these palm-like plants demand good soil and wind protection. Crabapples produce lots of small fruit that’s generally too tart to eat but is the best apple for making jelly. Why not grow your own to make the best organic jelly, which can be served with lamb or used to glaze fruit tarts. Australia. For those living in the north of Australia, apples, pears and cool-climate stonefruit are out of the question. Fax: (03) 9752 0005, General: mail@flemings.com.au We’ve only touched on the possibilities available to home gardeners keen to include fruit trees in their gardens. The tree has a spreading crown and attractive, corky bark. Lady Finger plants can be bought from nurseries or can be divided from new shoots appearing on established plants. Macadamias are members of the protea family and, like their showy cousins, the grevilleas, banksias and proteas, they are sensitive to high levels of phosphates in the soil. Australia, Phone: (03) 9756 6105 Lychee prefer humid climates with high rainfall, but can be grown successfully in warm parts of New South Wales. Fruity chia puddings are great for a refreshing everyday dessert or at a dinner party, dressed up in a fancy... Opt into another list One unusual way of using edible shrubby plants is to make them into hedges. Another Mediterranean/Middle Eastern favourite, the pomegranate is a hardy plant and its seeds are a luscious addition to salads. These plants are easy to grow and many people prefer the taste to the commercially available Cavendish. The pawpaw (Carica papaya) demands warm conditions to produce fruit, so should not be considered for temperate sites in the south. Longan varieties worth trying include Kohala, Dang and Haew. https://www.wellbeing.com.au/at-home/garden/fantastic-fruit-trees.html This tree can grow to great heights but requires a frost-free position in full sun. Another fruit that does well in the subtropics is the lychee (Litchi chinensis). So here we have done the work for you. With the exception of a lemon or banana growing near the back fence, few Australian suburban backyards include fruit trees. Plums, almonds and cherries can also be grown in gardens but require more attention to pests and diseases. For warm winter areas, the best cultivar is Brown Turkey, while for colder spots try White Genoa. There are many pests and diseases that affect apples and other fruit trees, so it’s best to refer to a specialist pest and disease identification book such as Judy McMaugh’s garden classic, What Garden Pest or Disease is That? The choice of what fruit tree is limited not only by your fruit preference — why grow a fruit you don’t want to eat? Citrus, olives, avocado and macadamia grow well up north, but the unchallenged stars of the tropical and subtropical species are the pawpaw, mango and banana. But beware some ornamental crabs are sterile and don’t produce fruit. Although difficult to source, the cooking apple cultivars Willie Sharpe and Ballarat warrant inclusion in your garden for their spectacular size. Birds are the major pest for fig growers, so for a good crop you need to net your tree when the fruit begins to develop. A deep border planted with geums, salvias, fennel, euphorbia and japonica makes an eye–catching display year–round. This slow-growing cultivar makes a low-growing tree, so is suitable for smaller gardens. WellBeing EatWell While apples and pears can be grown in frost-free areas, the chances of good fruit production are slim and the plants are more susceptible to pests and diseases. Because of inbreeding, the plant is susceptible to many diseases and there are few varieties available. The edible fig (Ficus carica) is another tree that enjoys a similar climate to olives and, as with olives, there are varieties suitable for warm temperate and cold climates. 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