Over 50 fruit trees in an eclectic edible garden | Urban farming | Gardening Australia

preview_player
Показать описание
Inspirational urban food forest in the beating heart of Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Owner:  David Elliot
Location:  Footscray, Victoria. Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung & Boon Wurrung Country
Climate Zone:  Cool temperate
Garden established:  2010
Style:  Space-saving productive garden

Key Features:  

There are more than 50 different species of fruiting trees, shrubs and vines in this small garden, many of them unusual or tropical. David attributes a large part of their success to the near-perfect position of his garden. “It’s north-facing, it’s sheltered and protected, and with the fencing and the house we have a fair retention of heat and thermal mass, which has created a lovely microclimate.”

A sentimental favourite is the Saskatoon Berry (Amelanchier alnifolia). “I’m very excited about these as they are indigenous to the area of Canada I grew up in and I have fond memories of being in the bush and gorging on these delicious berries.” These haven’t fruited yet, but David is hopeful.

Another favourite is the Wampi (Clausenium wampi), which he describes as having fruit “that is a smaller, more citrusy version of a lychee, but without the seed”.

One group of plants that have benefitted from this warmer microclimate are his collection of Caricas - the small family of soft-stemmed sub-tropical fruits from the pawpaw family. David has a Babaco that he describes as “a striking plant, quite cold hardy and very productive. The fruit are a bit on the sour side but still pretty good.” and a Mountain Papaya (Carica pubescens).

A family favourite is the Cherimoya custard apple, which David propagated from seed in 2014.

Grafted Lemon Gold and Ortega White Sapotes (Casimoroa edulis) sit in the back-left hand corner of the garden. David says they are “very sweet and creamy. The first time my Lemon Gold tree fruited I estimated it had over 500 apple sized fruits.”

There are also plums, nectarines, a multi-grafted apples, grapes, figs and a raft of citrus (limes, lemons, oranges, mandarins and tangelos), many of them grown in space-saving ways, such as miniatures, in pots to limit size, or espaliered.

David also grows many Australian native food plants, such as lilly pillies and Eucalypts.

Vertical space is used to great effect, with 10 differing grape varieties growing along fence-lines. He has used Cherry Guava as a hedge at the front of the house, alternating the red and yellow varieties. This is a fantastic way to increase productive plants at a property – get rid of the traditional ornamental hedge and replace it with something delicious!

David is also a potter, and many of his works can be found throughout the garden, particularly in the greenhouse where is rapidly expanding collection of orchids are displayed artfully in his quirky pots. “I’ve begun to relax my ‘edibles only’ policy, and am starting to embrace collections of ornamental plants as well”.

David, a mental-health nurse, spends about eight hours a week pottering and perfecting his pocket of suburbia. “For me gardening is my time, and a nice diversion from my work, which can be stressful,” David says. “I just love it, and I love the learnings and joy it brings”.


About Gardening Australia:
Gardening Australia is an ABC TV program providing gardening know-how and inspiration. Presented by Australia's leading horticultural experts, Gardening Australia is a valuable resource to all gardeners through the television program, the magazine, books, DVDs and extensive online content.

Connect with other Gardening Australia fans:

This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel.
********
Рекомендации по теме
Комментарии
Автор

I was fortunate enough to visit this garden today and it is even more amazing in real life and was so inspirational. Plants have also grown a lot since this was filmed.

andrewdenny
Автор

Wampi, my childhood memories...can’t believe we can grow it in Melbourne, I need to grow it.

adriannehuang
Автор

Funny the mention of someone with an orchard in their front yard.

This winter I just tore up all the grass in the front yard and we will have 7 fruit trees, with a total of 15 different fruits, as well as blackberries/raspberries. Hopefully the blueberries will be here in Oct.

So much better use of the space.

matthewfarrell
Автор

Inspiring effort. I'm guessing there are over 150 fruit trees in my Melbourne garden, but I stopped counting a long time ago. I hope to see more videos like this from urban growers.

RealLifeFruitopia
Автор

Fruits plants, plants fruits, the best sources of food in the world 🗺

hgdon-homeiswheretreesare-
Автор

What a very clever man, I am amazed at what he did with the Apple tree/vine. 🍎 🍏 🍎

chezgirlrose
Автор

Gorgeous!!! A garden is very therapeutic and this garden definitely shows it! Plus it has so many wonderful edibles!!! Love it!

YalisCommunity
Автор

Very inspiring, such a beautiful garden. I might try this babaco papaya as well.

gardentours
Автор

Love these feature videos of the awesome growers in Australia.

nutequest
Автор

Awwww it's cool very welcoming love the diversity he has created a niche for all his plants!

geriannroth
Автор

Think this is my favourite backyard garden ❤️❤️ absolutely wonderful.

mandyp
Автор

Very inspiring ! I also have 4 apple varieties that give me fruit till September . I have the Lady Williams apple that ripens in winter and I have fruit till September !!

acenurses
Автор

Awesome stuff, good use of space and knowledge

LureThosePixels
Автор

Lovely! Would love to Hear more about the Apple tree process

HilaireRadowick
Автор

"small" is very relative. Please indicate the square meters to have a frame of reference.

ChristopherJohnsonArtist
Автор

Is that a Canadian accent? I love his poodles, they are adorbs.

omfug
Автор

Self efficient!!! Amazing relaxing garden, ,you r lucky

userabcdeft
Автор

Keep up the good work mate!
Youth work is very hard but very worth it!
I use the garden to unwind too✊🏽

TheKeaneGardener
Автор

I complained about my 1/2a but, up to 2/3s of it floods. Middle 1/3 is buildings, 1/3 is driveway & fruit trees

Rosethatwantstomove
Автор

Absolutely magnificent I’d love to know where you get some of your fruit trees?

brooster