Subtropical trees Thrive in Frost at Monto

The Grapevine
August 2014
Newsletter of the Hinkler
branch of Rare Fruit Australia,
Inc.
Subtropical trees Thrive in Frost at Monto
Subtropical trees
Thrive in Frost at
Monto
By Peter Myers
Allan Knight grows
subtropical trees in the frost,
at Mungungo, near Monto in
the North Burnett region.
P.O. Box 5839, Bundaberg
West, Qld 4670.
President: Eddy Dunn
ph. (07) 4154 4466
(m) 0427 794 524
eddy@hortus.net.au
It's a highland area 120 km
west of Bundaberg.
Secretary: Laree Chapman
kevin.chapman2@bigpond.com
Treasurer: Kevin Chapman
ph. (07) 4155-3331
Editor: Peter Myers, 381
Goodwood Rd, Childers 4660.
ph. (07) 41170125
petermyersaus@gmail.com
He bought the 800-acre
block in 1972, but it was not
until about 2000 that he
began an orchard, growing
stone fruits, Finger Limes and
other natives. He only started
growing "exotics" about 6
years ago, when he joined the
Rare Fruit Council (now RFA).
Allan with Red Shahtoot mulberry. "A lot better than the White,"
he says. The White is sweeter, but the Red has more tang. Notice
the bare earth - Allan says it keeps his trees warmer in winter.
His orchard is a work in progress, currently about
3 acres, and he also has a few acres of rainforest.
He cultivates about 80 kinds of exotic trees and
160 kinds of natives.
In this issue
Subtropical trees at Monto
p.1
Mimusops Maxima
p.3
Fruit tree Ratings
p.6
Access to the coast is difficult: circuitous dirt
roads through Mt Perry or Kalpowar State Forest,
or a roundabout bitumen road through Biggenden,
so Allan has only occasionally been able to attend
meetings. However, he was able to obtain plants,
especially from Ray Johnson, but also from Lenzie
and others. Hinkler branch held one meeting at
Allan's place.
Minutes from Last Meeting
p. 8
Botanic Gardens RF orchard
p. 8
Photos from Last Meeting
p.9
Atherton Raspberry
p. 10
President’s Report
p. 10
Next Meeting
p. 10
Billets for 2015 AGM
Hinkler branch is offering billets
for members from other areas
attending the AGM on the
weekend of May 23rd 2015.
Some branches may bring a bus
and stay in a motel. But for
smaller numbers, billets can be
requested. Best plan in advance
and work out your car pooling.
Hinkler members who wish to
offer billets, and other members
who wish to request them,
should contact Peter Myers ph.
(07) 41170125.
A Finger Lime in fruit. Allan grows them
commercially. Note the bare ground once again.
Allan's orchard is on a hill sloping towards the
south-west – the worst possible aspect, a realestate agent would say. The hill is steep enough for
cold air to drain away, but, even so, frost sets on still nights about 4 months a year. In winter, the sun
does not reach it until about 8.30am, by which time the air temperature has warmed up. Thus the
frost does limited damage. But around the house – at the bottom of the hill – cold air pools, and
Allan has recorded -10ºC. The coldest he's recorded on the block was -14ºC about 20 years ago;
the coldest in the last ten years has been -10ºC.
Others in the area are
unable to grow exotic fruit
except for mangos, so Allan
had no idea of what was
possible – he just had to try.
Each success led to more
plantings, and now he grows
the same fruits as members
in frost-free areas close to
the coast. Not only that, but
his trees are thriving, fruiting
early, and looking better than
many grown in more
favourable locations.
In recent years we have been
beset by floods and
droughts. Floods do not
worry Allan, because of the
slope of his land. The Monto
area has about 28" rainfall,
A luxuriant Rollinia, five years old. Allan rates the
fruit at 4/5; Cherimoya & Pinks Mammoth score 5/5.
1
and Allan feels that the dryish climate has helped avoid disease
problems.
There
are
heavy
dews
and
fogs,
but the
main
saviour
during
dry
times
has
been a
reliable
bore.
A thriving avocado. Allan has four
It's
1½
varieties; this one is Wurst
km away, on
the flat, so
Allan has to pump water all that way, plus up the hill. But it
produces 500 gal/hr, and is good, drinkable water. In the dry
season, and in summer, Allan irrigates each row for 2 hours each
weekend. The main is 1 ¼", and the spray lines ¾".
As a result, droughts have not been a problem.
A native raspberry, Rubus Mollucanus. It's better-tasting
than the Atherton Raspberry and, although it suckers,
easy to control. Allan got rid of his Atherton Raspberry.
away.
In addition, Allan says that the climate has warmed up over the
years. In the past, the water-pipes at the house would regularly
freeze in winter. Residents in the Dallarnil area said so too.
The soil is red volcanic, on the left side of the orchard, looking
up the hill, and sandy on the right side. Both types dry out
Allan grows Finger
Limes commercially,
sending them to
Eumundi Market. He
also grows Desert
Limes, outside their
natural area. A
grower from Roma,
which is their
natural area, could
not get over Allan's
lack of disease
problems. Allan says
that the dry climate
helps, and the cold
makes the trees bud
better.
The rows run up
and down the hill;
this might facilitate
drainage of cold air.
But Allan's other
secret has been his
Bare-Earth strategy.
Kwai Muk, a beautiful tree with rounded shape. It
bears some fruit, which Allan rates 4/5. Is much more
cold-hardy than Jakfruit.
Allan with Sapodilla "Tropic". It bears
"heaps" of fruit, which tastes good if
there's no Fruit Fly.
A visitor would be
shocked to see bare earth rather than grass between the trees.
Allan sprays Roundup four or five times a year. He says that bare
earth helps prevent frost damage: it absorbs heat fromn the sun
during the day, and radiates warmth at night. Rocks do the same.
In the early years, frost burned the top off a grafted Black Sapote
lower down the hill, but it re-sprouted from below the graft,
becoming a seedling tree. Nevertheless, it bears delicious fruit. A
Jakfruit has also been knocked by frost; it has never fruited.
Allan says that there's less frost damage higher up the hill; the
Black Sapote should have been planted there, but he didn't know
at the time.
As the trees have grown, they have created a micro-climate,
reducing frost damage. Nowadays, there's hardly any frost higher
up the hill, because of the trees. It was often white, in years past;
now, that's rare. But it still gets down to -4ºC in the flat, 2 km
quickly. Allan does not apply fertilizer or lime, except Rocket
Fuel pellets around some, not most, of the trees. "I don't really
fed a tree unless it needs it."
Alan says he does not prune much, but "I'm going to have to get
into the stone fruits". Several trees show signs of getting away on
him – e.g. a White Sapote about 6m high.
Some early successes have been:
- a Rollinia which looks luxuriant and has fruited
- Wurtz and three other varieties of Avocado
- a Sapodilla which bears heavily (though the Fruit Fly get it)
- a Kwai Muk, a rounded, beautiful tree with some fruit (more
cold-hardy than Jakfruit)
- Black Sapotes, a seedling and a grafted Mossman, both with
beautiful fruit
- a Pinks Mammoth custard apple which bears a dozen fruit a
year without hand pollinating
- Mangoes – 400 fruit last summer.
Allan started out as an amateur, and became an expert. It's the
old story we hear so often.
2
(above) This Black Sapote was originally a grafted
tree. Its top was killed by frost, after which it regrew as a seedling. It bears beautiful fruit, 5/5.
Caimito (Star Apple), green. Has not yet
fruited; frost caused it to drop its leaves.
(below) A Jakfruit knocked by frost. No fruit. It
should have been planted higher up the hill.
A Green Sapote seedling, 4 years
old. Has not fruited.
(left &
right) A
Canistel,
four
years
old, with
fruit.
Allan
rates the
taste
3-4/5.
(left) This Pinks Mammoth
custard apple bears a dozen fruits
a year without hand pollination
(right) Archer Cherry, a native
cherry (Aidia Racemosa). Tastes
like Blackcurrants.You have to
pick the small fruits individually.
(bottom left) A Capulin Cherry,
thriving. Has not fruited yet. Allan
has two for pollination.
(below) A Lychee "Tai So" which
bears delicious fruit.
(below right) A Sugar Apple.
3
Mimusops Maxima: Mystery
Fruit
the sapodilla. Native to the
Caribbean, and from Mexico
through Brazil."
By Peter Myers
Fruitipedia has an article on
Mimusops Balata, which it says
is also called Ausubo and
Manilkara bidentata:
http://www.fruitipedia.com/
ausubo_mimusops_balata.htm
Many fruits have been independently
discovered and named, and it is up to
plant experts to work out which
ones are the same (synonyms of one
another).
Mimusops Maxima, a fruit from
Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius
(in the Indian Ocean), is widely
reported to be the same as
Manilkara Bidentata, a fruit
from the Carribean. Both are in the
Sapotaceae family. Mimusops Maxima
is reportedly Canistel-like, and
Manilkara Bidentata is a relative of
Sapodilla. But are they the same?
(above & below) Peter Salleras with Mimusops Maxima 2010 AGM Field Day at Fruit Forest Farm, Mission
Beach. He bought fruit in Madagascar, and brought the
seeds in. "The taste is quite unique to the fruit
world in its cheesiness," he says.
Kew Garden, which operates the
"Plant List" database, says
"Mimusops maxima … is a
synonym of Mimusops
balata": http://www.theplantlist.org/
tpl1.1/record/kew-128529
Mimusops commersonii is
another synonym: http://
www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/
kew-128390
The tree is often tapped for its
milky latex which is the source of
balata gum.
"Ausubo is one of the strongest and
most attractive commercial woods
in Puerto Rico. It is widely used in
the tropics for railway
sleepers, bridging, heavy
construction, furniture, turnery,
flooring, violin bows, and billiard
cues. ... Its excellent steam-bending
properties make it suitable for
boat frames and other bent
work."
The Kew database seems to equate
the two, where it says "Mimusops
balata Crueg. ex Griseb. is a synonym
of Manilkara bidentata (A.DC.)
A.Chev.": http://www.theplantlist.org/
tpl1.1/record/kew-128391
The seller's store is Polynesian
Produce Stand. They say that
Mimusops maxima is Salt & Wind
tolerant. And Beach Apricot (its
other name) … "is endemic to the
rainforests and semi-dry lands in
Reunion and Mauritius."
Tradewindsfruit sells Ausubo as a
synonym of both Manilkara
bidentata and Mimusops balata:
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/
content/ausubo.htm
"Medium sized, yellow skinned fruit,
about two inches across,
bearing many similarities to
"Ausubo is a little known fruit
growing in tropical America. It is
believed to have been originated in
Puerto Rico. It grows naturally in
the West Indies, and ranges from
Mexico through Panama to
northern South America, including
the Guianas and Venezuela, to
Peru, and to northern Brazil."
The fruit is a berry, 3-5 cm in
diameter, yellow. Seed black, shiny,
1-2 per fruit. Fruits are edible and
eaten fresh. However, the more
common use of the tree is as a
commercial timber.
As for Manilkara bidentata, it is
an accepted name. Synonymns
include Manilkara balata,
Mimusops bidentata, and
Mimusops balata:
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/
record/kew-120114
On eBay, Mimusops maxima
plants are for sale as "Beach
Apricot":
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BEACHAPRICOT-LIVE-Plant-SeedlingSEASIDE-FRUIT-TREE-Mimusopsmaxima-Salt-Wind-/360521002080
AUSUBO (Mimusops
balata)
Family: Sapotaceae
Synonyms: Achras balata,
Manilkara bidentata
Other names: Assapookoo,
balata
(above) Ausubo (Manilkara bidentata) fruits on tree Fruitipedia. It gives Mimusops balata as another
synonym.
(below) Mimusops Maxima in fruit - Polynesian Produce
Stand (eBay). They also call them "Beach Apricot".
Brazilian Trees & Cultivated Exotics
says (p. 619):
"Mimusops commersonii ...
Sin: ... Mimusops coriacea ..
Spanish Cherry. ...
"The Spanish Cherry is a tropical
fruit-bearer, originally from
Madagascar, widely cultivated ...
in the domestic orchards of
northeast and southeast Brazil. ...
The fruits are globose berries, with
a smooth skin, the pulp is creamy
and sweet, with 1-2 seeds; they
mature in summer."
Mimusops Coriacea is called
Pomme Jacquot on Mauritius;
and also known as Monkey’s
Apple. Both it and Mimusops
elengi are called "Spanish Cherry".
4
When I sent Peter Salleras links to websites
saying that Mimusops Maxima is also called
Mimusops Balata and Manilkara Bidentata and
Ausubo, he replied,
yes the two pics sure look
like different species and it
doesn't help everywhere i
look it says mimusops balata
is now manilkara bidentata.
but yes his pic also looks a
lot like beach
apricot..m.maxima.
"Thanks for the info Peter. I'd reckon
you're right and we were given the
wrong name originally as the fruit on
these sites looks like what our tree
produces."
However, it seems that those websites may
have been wrong. That there are two different
species which look the same on the outside
but taste different; the insides are also
different. This new information comes from a
grower in Trinidad, called Murahilin.
Here is a discussion from Garden Web (Fri,
Feb 19, 2011):
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/
tropicalfruits/msg022119547789.html?8
(above) Trina McKiernan runs the nursery at Fruit
Forest Farm. She says Mimusops Maxima taste "like
sweet cheese - philly (cream) cheese, but
crumbly". Ripe fruits are yellow; brown is over-ripe.
(below) Inside the fruit; (below right) the flowers
Fruitlovers says "Both
mimusops and manilkara are
in same family: sapotaceae,
but they are totally different
genus. Manilkara is same
genus as chico sapodilla. If
you look at second photo
you can see the seeds inside
the fruit look like chico
seeds, black and flattened."
Mimusops balata
Murahilin says, "It is no longer known as
Mimusops balata. It is currently
known as Manilkara bidentata. I am
growing it and have tried the fruit. Not a
big fan of it. They usually fruit around JanFeb. I have a tree that I grafted from
budwood from PR onto a sapodilla
seedling. I have not had good success
grafting balata onto sapodilla. I was told that in
Trinidad they use the sapodilla as a rootstock
but I did not have the same luck so I am in the
process of growing my own balata rootstock."
Dassie3553 says "How difficult is it to sprout
the seeds of the Balata? I totally love
the fruit, and in Trinidad it is still difficult to
get these fruits. Sometimes they are small,
with very little pulp around the seed, but I
got some wonderful, lucious fruits
today!"
Murahilin says, "I am beginning to doubt
that the Mimusops balata is the same
thing as Manilkara bidentata though.
M. bidentata is from the Caribbean and I think
M. balata is from Africa/Indian Ocean area.
Even though quite a few websites say they
are the same thing they have marked
differences. The fruit look similar but
taste different, the seeds are different
shaped, and the leaves are somewhat different.
What do you think?
Ripe fruits of Ausubo - Fruitipedia
Balata - translucent inside (balata-2.jpg)
(below) Mimusops Coriacea (Pomme Jacquot) inside. It
may or may not be Mimusops Maxima
Here is a discussion in Tropical Fruit Forum
(September 29, 2013):
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?
topic=7540.0;wap2
Digigarden says "i have found pictures of balata
that look like this.." < balata-2.jpg>
Murahilin says "Manilkara bidentata and
Mimusops balata are two different
species. Many people often confuse
them. The pic you posted is of Manilkara
bidentata and the original pic in this post looks
like Mimusops balata."
(left) A young
seedling Mimusops
Maxima
(right) Joe Camilleri,
of Mackay branch,
with his Mimusops
Maxima tree
Digigarden says:
5
Family or
Group
Tree Ratings - Fruits
for the Subtropics (a
guide only; allow for
variation in tastes, varieties,
soils, rootstocks etc)
Taste
Rating
1-5
Grows
Drough Wet
Cold
Shade
Salt
Wind Dioe
from
t
Feet
Tolerant
Tolerant Tolerant Tolerant cious
Cutting
Tolerant Tolerant
1-5
1-5
1-5
1-5
?
s
1-5
1-5
4
Cherimoya
4
Custard Apple
1
Mountain Soursop
4
Rollinia
4
Soursop
4
Sugar Apple
4
Artocarpus Jakfruit
4
Kwai Muk
Bean trees Carob
Y
Horseradish Tree
legume
Icecream Bean
3
Y
Tamarind
5
Y
Bromeliad Pineapple
3
Y
Cacti
Indian Fig (Prickly Pear)
4
Y
Pitaya (Dragonfruit)
Citrus
Calamondin
3
Grapefruit
4
Kumquat
3
Lime
4
Mandarin
5
Orange (navel)
3
Y
Pommelo
1
Y
Cherry-type Acerola
2
fruits
Beach (Cedar Bay) Cherry
3
Brazilian Cherry black
3
Cape Gooseberry
2
Capulin Cherry
3
Ceylon Hill Gooseberry
4
Cherry Rio Grande
4
Grumichama
3
Panama Berry
Y
Phalsa
Garcinia
Achacha
& related
Bakupari
2
Imbe
Mundu (Dulcis, Sweet Yellow)
Yellow Mangosteen
5
Y
Grape-type Grape
5
Y
fruits
Jaboticaba
3
Y
Muscardine Grape
2
Y
Sea Grape
4
Y
Guava
Feijoa
3
family
Guava - Red (Cherry)
not attacked by Fruit Fly
Guava - Brazilian
3
Guava
5
Lychee &
Longan
5
similar
Lychee
3
Y
Wampi
2
Nut Trees Cashew Apple
1
Guiana Chestnut
4
Macadamia
Annona &
related
Pandanus
3
2
3
1
2
1
1
2
3
2
1
2
2
4
2
4
2
4
2
4
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
1
3
3
3
4
4
3
N
3
3
5
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
2
1
3
1
4
4
3
5
2
5
2
3
1
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
N
3
3
1
3
3
3
1
N
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Y
3
2
2
2
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
5
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
2
3
2
3
5
3
3
2
1
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
4
2
4
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
Y
1
5
4
2
2
3
3
4
3
3
3
4
4
Y
4
1
1
1
2
1
Y
N
3
4
3
4
2
2
3
1
1
1
5
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
2
1
1
2
3
3
1
N
1
Y
2
N
3
Y
most
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
6
Family or
Group
Oily fruits
Palms
Persimmon
& related
Pome Fruits
Pouteria
& related
Spice /
Condiment
Spondias
Stone Fruits
Syzygiums
Ungrouped
Tree Ratings - Fruits
for the Subtropics (a
guide only; allow for
variation in tastes, varieties,
soils, rootstocks etc)
Peanut Tree
Pecan
Tropical (Indian) Almond
Saba Nut
Avocado
Olive
Coconut
Date Palm
Jelly Palm
Black Sapote
Mabolo
Persimmon
Loquat
Pear - tropical & Nashi
Abiu
Black Apple
Canistel
Green Sapote
Mamey Sapote
Mimusops Maxima
Sapodilla
Star Apple (Caimito)
Allspice
Bay Leaf
Cinnamon
Clove Tree
Cocoa
Coffee
Miracle Fruit
Pepper
Tea
Ambarella
Red Mombin
Nectarine & Peach (trop.)
Plum
Jambolan Plum
Wax Jambu
Banana
Carambola
Davidson's Plum
Fig
Jujube (Chinese Date)
Marula
Mango
Mulberry
Passionfruit red & yellow
Pawpaw (Papaya)
Peanut Butter Fruit
Pitomba
Pomegranate
White Sapote Casimiroa
Taste
Rating
1-5
1
4
3
1
4
3
4
Grows
Drough Wet
Cold
Shade
Salt
Wind Dioe
from
t
Feet
Tolerant
Tolerant Tolerant Tolerant cious
Cutting
Tolerant Tolerant
1-5
1-5
1-5
1-5
?
s
1-5
1-5
Y
2
4
3
4
3
3
4
1
4
4
4
3
4
4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
2
2
4
4
2
1
5
4
2
4
4
2
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
2
5
2
N
3
4
2
Y
4
1
1
5
4
5
1
2
2
2
1
4
4
Y
N
3
5
4
Y
4
3
3
4
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
5
Y
5
1
4
4
N
2
1
1
Y
1
1
1
1
N
5
3
N
Y
N
1
1
2
N
N
N
3
4
3
3
4
4
3
3
5
1
5
5
2
2
2
3
2
5
4
2
2
5
2
1
3
2
4
3
2
2
3
3
4
4
4
4
2
2
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
Y
3
3
2
1
Y
N
2
3
5
3
2
1
2
2
1
2
Y
3
1
1
5
4
1
4
Y
N
3
5
5
Y
5
3
3
3
3
3
4
Y
3
4
4
5
5
4
Y
1
1
N
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
2
3
3
1
3
3
2
1
3
3
3
2
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
most
most
Y
most
Y
1
1
1
1
N
2
3
1
N
3
4
3
5
1
1
2
3
Y
2
2
1
1
1
4
N
3
3
Y
3
4
2
1
1
3
2
4
4
4
Y
Y
Y
Y
most
7
MINUTES OF BI-MONTHLY MEETING
HINKLER BRANCH OF RARE FRUIT AUSTRALIA
INC.
Held on 28.6.2014 Hosted by Lenzie Duffy
MEETING OPENED AT: 11.30 a.m.
WELCOME: by president Eddy Dunn to present members and
guests
APOLOGIES: Guy Ousey and Rin Madge, Bill and Dulcie
Tunstall, Michael Skerra, Mike and Gwynneth Poulton, Jeff Logan
and Terry and Gail McDonnell.
Mov:Jill Lyle Sec:Lynne Watkins
GUESTS: Iris Johnson, Margaret Logan, Ethel Goss, Carlo, Lyn
Lyle, Pam and Paul Biden (new members) and Lyn McIlwain (new
member)
MINUTES: As per Grapevine
Mov: Lou Gatti Sec: Daphne Harris
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES: Nil.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Inwards: Widebay Aust. Bank statement for May. Orchard Talk
newsletter from Fraser Coast Sub-Tropical Club inc. Capricorn
Edible Plants newsletter, John Picone cheque for 2 years
membership RFA, Gardeners Gazette, Subtropical Fruit Club of
Qld. June-July issue,
Outwards: Letter to RFA McKay for memberships for Rob &
Carolyn Jamnikar, Stretch Chamberlain & Sherron Beal, Luke
Lester and Maureen Stringer.
Mov: Cheryl Gatti Sec: David da Costa
TREASURER'S REPORT: Kevin moved an amendment of
$105 to the AGM and Feb 2014 balance due to an un-presented
cheque for that amount. Sec: Jenny Tait. Kevin moved our
insurance for 82 members of the club be paid. Sec: Lynne
Watkins
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENTS:
NAME
AMOUNT
REASON
Ray Johnson
110
Trees
Peter Myers
74.65
Newsletter expenses
Daphne Harris
61.98
Lunch provisions
Mov: Lenzie Duffy Sec: Cheryl Gatti
TALK BY HOSTS: Lenzie detailed the history of his block.
When he settled there, there were only 7 trees standing. Since
then he has planted 4000 trees. His old orchards are looking
after themselves now, and he describes them as his wild forest.
He is planting a new orchard closer to the house and hopes to
get fruit from these this year. Lenzie enriches his own soil with
cracker dust, vegetable scraps, prunings and all plant materials he
can access. He sprays his veggie garden with a garlic and chilli
mix and nets it to deter pests.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S REPORT: Peter advised he
will not be editor next year, but if elected, Michael Skerra would
be available to undertake the position. Peter requested people
share articles and photos for future newsletters.
NEC REPRESENTATIVE'S REPORT: Gordon reported
that the RFA AGM was held by the Cassowary Coast this year.
Next year (May 2015) it will be held by Hinkler Branch. Deadline
for articles in the 2015 Rare Fruit Review is September 2014.
PLANT PROCURER'S REPORT: : Ray Johnson advised
that due to different growing conditions he did not procure
many trees from Tully. He did bring back some Beetle Leaf trees.
Ray is going to Fitzroy Nursery (Rockhampton) and requested
members to contact him if they want trees.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT: David encouraged members to
access books held in the library. He asked people to tell him if
they find books they think are suitable for purchase by the club.
GENERAL BUSINESS: Jenny proposed an itinerary for the
2015 NEC AGM. If members had further suggestions they
should contact her. Jenny also requested our members consider
billets for the visiting members. Peter Myers will co-ordinate the
billeting roster. Contact him if you have a bed available. Ray
moved that Nola and David Roberts be refunded their $50
deposit for the Stanthorpe trip due to health reasons. Sec:
Eleanor Hannah.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Richelle announced a special offer on
massage in Gin Gin for RFA members.
NEXT MEETING: Peter and Sally Myers on 23 August
2014.
CLOSED:12.15 p.m.
Members of Hinkler Branch gathered at the
Bundaberg Botanic Gardens on February 20
to plant more trees in the Rare Fruit orchard
there.
(left and right) Management and Staff of the
Gardens inspect the trees before the
planting, with Ray explaining
(below L & R) The Gardens has now erected
this sign at the Rare Fruit orchard.
The sign says, "No sprays are
used on any fruit and visitors
to the garden are welcome
to taste the ripe fruits but
strongly discouraged from
removing any fruit out of the
orchard."
The sign
depicts
ripe
Canistel
fruit.
8
Photos from the June Meeting (at Lenzie's)
Many of us "younger" members wondered how our gardening efforts could be
completely upstaged by a 77-year-old man with a bad back.Your editor did not even know that beetroot and rhubarb could grow in the
subtropics, before seeing them thriving in Lenzie's above-ground garden beds. (below) Ray & Eddy install the top on a shadecloth "tent".
(above) the 5-sided bottom of a "tent"; the wood heap, which Lenzie turns into charcoal; a White Shahtoot mulberry; a Governor's Plum with
nice fruit (but the birds get it). These trees and those below are in the "old" orchard, which is mostly thriving despite neglect.
Ray and your Editor worked out one of Lenzie's secrets. The bottom half of each raised bed is filled with wallum, the local soil which Lenzie
says is worthless. However, it's silty and holds water. Thus, we think, it makes these beds like wicking gardens, helping them survive the dry.
(below) Stretch hand-pollinates a Lilikoi passionfruit; a Kaffir Plum (the birds eat the fruit, but knock some down for Lenzie); Eddy ventures
into a thorny Kei Apple tree to pick the fruit; it tasted quite good.
9
President's Report August 2014
Bundaberg
ISIS
HWY
NEXT MEETING:
GOOD
WOOD
RD
Logging
Ck Rd
Goodwood
Apple
Tree
Creek
North Stockyard Rd
Isis Rd
GOOD
381
WOOD
RD
BRUCE
HIGHWAY
Woodgate
Peter & Sally
Myers
Knockroe Rd
ISIS
HWY
SAT Aug 23,
10am
381 Goodwood
Rd
Childers
ph. 4126-2296
Childers
Growing Native Raspberries
Eleanor Hannah
In our warm subtropical climate I believed that raspberries were
something that was going to have to come in a punnet at the
market. I also thought that native raspberries were small, dry
things you eat when desperate. I was wrong on both counts.
There are several native raspberries, the one I refer to here is
the Atherton raspberry
(Rubus probus). This bramble
grows to around 2 metres in
height and will spread as far as
you let it, and quite possibly
further.
{tip: put it in a spot where you
can mow around it - Ed.}
As its name suggests it
originates from north
Queensland. The plants spread
from the roots with new
shoots coming up as far as
two metres from the parent
plant and will keep spreading.
Put it where you don't mind if
it spreads or plant it in a pot or some other container, bath tubs
are great. The spread will also be contained by dry conditions
and the presence of cattle.
The plant itself is an attractive lively green with typical raspberry
shaped leaves. They are also incredibly thorny, both along the
stems and leaves, even along the mid vein.
To Pickle Olives in Salt
These Tips are from Mt Stirling Olives, in Stanthorpe; we visited
them in March.
- drill holes in the bottom of a plastic drum (or styrofoam box).
Holes should me 4mm dia. or less.
- put 1/2" of Table Salt or Butcher's Salt in the bottom (buy from a
wholesaler or IGA or Woolworths). (not industrial salt - it tastes
A big thankyou to Lenzie for hosting the citrus
meeting. It was great to see him looking so well. The
vegetable beds are really working well, and it was
interesting to see which trees survived in a mature
orchard after being neglected. The Kei apple certainly
thrived! Has anyone been using their candlenuts to
save on electricity?
It is very dry (as our winters often are), with 2.5mm
registered in my gauge for July. I hope that we get some
good rainfall soon. This dry weather has made the frost
worse which has affected some crops. Large mango
trees, citrus and bananas at Wallaville got burnt. Many
people in Bundaberg also got frost but without a lot of
damage. The cool weather generally is good for the
winter vegies. My carambola crop is very good as the
fruit fly is on holidays in winter. The birds that eat the
Panama cherries also seem to be on holidays.
We look forward to our next meeting at Peter and
Sally Myers on 23rd August starting at 10am.
Kind regards,
Eddy Dunn BAppSc (Horticulture)
IPM Agronomist
It fruits for several months, for me in Bundaberg this year that
started in May and goes through until October or even
November. It is not something you have to wait a long time to
harvest, you can get good crops just one year after planting. A
clump one metre square will provide you a couple of punnets of
fruit every week during the main fruiting period. Fruit should be
harvested when bright red and easily comes off the plant. They
are slightly milder and tarter in flavour then regular raspberries.
To get good fruit set give it
some water during dry times
and compost will always give it
a boost. I usually just ignore
mine and let it produce fruit
without me doing anything.
Birds love the fruit so once
discovered this may severely
limit your crop unless you net.
I had trouble with fig birds last
season.
Most of my fruit are simply
eaten straight from the plant,
some last long enough to go
into a bowl to be taken inside.
They do, however, go well in
cooking. They are wonderful
stirred through no bake lemon cheesecake, tossed over ice
cream and custard, on top of morning muesli and next on my list
of things to try is piled onto a pavlova.
Several members in our group are growing this plant so if you
want to know more or would like a piece to grow just ask at
our next meeting.
bad)
- put a layer of olives on the salt, then another layer of salt
- alternate up to your maximum
- rock the drum or box sideways every day to let water drain off
- remove olives after 3 weeks.; they will be shrivelled like prunes.
- wash in vinegar (there's a natural anti-biotic on it).
- dry the olives, and eat them like that.; throw the salt away.
- to store them, pack in a bottle, vegemite jar or ziplock bag, and
add olive oil and dried garlic & herbs.
10