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Fruit trees
plus other fruiting plants & nut trees
This page will have special emphasis on the home garden, especially the small modern suburban garden in the subtropical and tropical parts of Queensland.
Note that fruits grown as annual crops, noteably melons, have more in common with vegetables than fruit trees in terms of cultivation, and you may find additional information via the Vegetables page.
News
Super plum from Queensland
The first commercial harvest of a new high-anthocyanin plum bred in Queensland is set to take advantage of the market for antioxidant-boosted foods. Production of the new Queen Garnet plums has started on the Southern Downs. The fruit is destined for processing into juice and other health foods. Queensland plum set to pack a powerful punch in the health food market (January 2014)
Older news at bottom of page.Suppliers of fruit trees, fruiting plants or related products & services
Regular garden centres will usually carry some common fruit trees and fruiting plants. If you want a broader selection, or rare and unusual tropical species, you'll probably have to locate a specialist fruit tree nursery or edible plants nursery.
The following may include online suppliers. For the most up-to-date information on plants in stock, opening hours, prices etc, be sure to visit the seller's website or contact the business directly.
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VAN VEEN ORGANICS 70 Bigmor Drive Elimbah, Qld 4510 (by appointment) Ph: (07) 5408 6470 Mob: 0422 107 914 vanveenorganics.com  |
van Veen Organics is a growing permaculture plant nursery, educational centre and consultancy. The nursery supplies a range of quality, affordable native species, fruit trees and other edible or medicinal plants. Open to the public via appointment (including after-hours pickups) and most Fridays. Permaculture consultation, design and implementation. Workshop schedule is available at the WEBSITE, plus more about the services available, plant lists and helpful permaculture garden advice. |
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SWEETS STRAWBERRY RUNNERS sweetstrawberryrunners.com.au  |
A number of varieties to choose from, including Queensland-bred strawberries such as 'Redlands Joy'. Runners generally posted from April onwards, subject to seasonal fluctuations and varietal differences. Not available for Western Australia or Tasmania. For more information on the strawberry varieties available or to place an order, visit the Sweets Strawberry Runners WEBSITE. |
More about fruit
As garden sizes shrink, home fruit growers face a variety of problems besides a simple lack of space. For example, the roots of vigorous trees could threaten pipes or foundations (not only yours but your neighbours').
The close proximity of neighbours to food-producing gardens could also create conflicts with respect to sprays, smelly fertilisers, potential to attract birds, bats or vermin, or even just the look of your yard. Such factors have to be considered when planning your garden and in the ongoing maintenance.
One of the key factors in any garden design is of course the plants. There are lots of fruiting plants suitable for small spaces, from strawberries up to dwarf fruit trees or fruit trees grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock. Ask your local garden centre about dwarf trees available locally, or better still, find a good fruit tree nursery in your area.
A subject that is bound to get more and more interest is the subject of growing fruit in containers. While lots of crops can theoretically be grown in pots, whether it is worth the effort in terms of yield is another matter. (How to get the best harvests and the best varieties to grow under these conditions is also something to explore via these pages in the future. Meanwhile, do take the time to explore the links provided at the bottom of the page.)
A good fruit for a beginner might be a lemon tree. Even if your fruit-growing skills or local growing conditions are less than perfect, they are still very useful trees to have. The problem of fruit not being sweet enough is not going to be such an issue as it is with oranges and mandarins. Low yields aren't a great problem either because even a few are handy to have on hand for cooking and other uses around the house. They even look good just aranged in a bowl. There are many varieties to choose from, depending on your situation. If you have the space, why not try a couple?
Another advantage of a lemon tree is that it looks good too, in the ground or in a pot, especially for a Mediteranean or cottage garden style. Many fruiting plants are attractive in their own right and, mixed with non-edible ornamentals or other edible plants, could be incorporated into a visually appealing garden design.
The Coastal regions of Qld, being subtropical or tropical in climate, are well suited to fruits from those regions. Special varieties of other fruits such as peaches and nectarine and blueberries, may be grown in warmer climates than normally associated with such fruits. Look out for cultivars labelled "low chill". better still ask a good fruit tree nursery in your district for advice on what grows best locally.
More Online Information
The following links have been mostly selected with an emphasis on tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean fruits. This collection is an ongoing project. There's a long way to go, but you may find some useful background information here.
Note that some of the information in links may be targeted at farmers rather than home gardeners, and originate in many parts of the world. Therefore, regulations may differ (e.g. with respect to pests, diseases and pesticides). Even information of local origin could be out-of-date. Check with a relevant authority in your region, if in doubt.
Furthermore, some species/varieties referred to in links may not be available in Australia.General
Flowering and fruiting, Pollination
Growing fruit in pots or small spaces
Propagation, grafting
Older News
Big hopes for small trees
The "Small Tree-High Productivity" (STHP) initiative is a long-term Queensland research project which aims to repeat the success of high-density apple cultivation in tropical fruit crops. Through the development of smaller trees, productivity and profitability gains should be possible in crops like mango, macadamia and avocado. They'll will be the focus of the initiative, but it's possible that the findings could be applied to other tropical and subtropical fruits. Aproaches may include dwarfing rootstocks, pruning techniques, tree architecture, breeding and genetic engineering. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), University of Queensland will be collaborating with other research institutions and grower associations on the project, which may span 20 years. Source: Small tree, big yield - the future of food growth (February 2013)
