Shallow root fruit trees in the sub tropics

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by YoungJ, Aug 2, 2016.

  1. YoungJ

    YoungJ New Member

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    Hi all,
    I am wanting to plant out my front garden with an edible fruit forest and was hoping I could get some advice on plant selection.
    I live on the NSW side of the QLD border in the Tweed.
    I really need to be conscious of planting anything that has a big root structure, as the garden will be close to the house and we also have underground power and sewage running on the right side of the property.
    The garden itself will not be planted over top of any of these pipes but I just want to be careful not to plant anything that will get too big.
    The front of the house faces East.
    I will try to upload a couple of pics to show you what our home looks like and hopefully give you an idea of what I have to work with,
    The picture taken from the ground level was taken about 8 years ago and all of the palms are now about 5m tall.
    Cheers
     

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  2. S.O.P

    S.O.P Moderator

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    Anything that is a "small tree" should be fine. Root crops, dwarf and probably full-size citrus (they are shallow rooted), most of the small legume trees for fillers (like Cajanus cajan and small Acacia like A.fimbriata), herbs and Banana, Acerola cherry, Grumichama (possibly), Jaboticaba (possibly), Paw Paw etc.

    Research small tree specis from below list:

    Code:
    Curramore's (Blackall SEQ)
    
    Banana
    Lime
    Emporer Mandarin
    Washington Navel Orange
    Late Navel Orange
    Valencia Orange
    Macadamia
    Hass Avocado
    Cherry Guava
    Grumichama
    Jaboticaba
    Ice Cream Bean
    Mulberry
    Tamarillo
    Passionfruit
    Paw Paw
    Fig (White Adriatic, Black Genoa, Brown Turkey)
    Grapefruit
    Jakfruit
    Wampi
    Fejoia
    Lemon
    Kaffir Lime
    Ruby Grapefruit
    Blood Orange
    Pineapple
    Persimmon (Jap non-astringent)
    
    
    Others
    
    Acerola Cherry
    Miracle Fruit
    Pitaya
    Lychee B3
    Mandarin (Imperial, Ellendale)
    Persimmon
    Cherimoya
    Carambola
    Pomegranate (Fuyu)
    
    Gold Coast: We concentrate mostly on tropical perennials cassava,aibika,taro,yam,ginger,banana,
    sweet potato,plenty of herbs and salad greens that act as ground
    covers,flowers,cosmos,sunflowers,daisies,zinnia,gerbras
    for beauty and to attract beneficial insects,some support species we could use for mulch like
    crotolaria,lemon grass,pigeon pea,comfrey and quite a few others.
    
    Just go hard on the Casava and take an arid approach,moringa,aibikas,maranta,yacons will all still do very well upland
    taro pigeon peas,vetiever,any acacia,cassias,paw paws and guavas,papaya all do great
     
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  3. YoungJ

    YoungJ New Member

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    Thanks S.O.P, great list I will start looking them up.
    I also saw this video on the Daley fruit tree channel,would this system of planting work for most trees?

    Thanks
     
  4. S.O.P

    S.O.P Moderator

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    As in mounding them up?

    It would work besides the effort, the import of soil (or digging it from elsewhere) and the fact they dry out unless you are irrigating. What might be important for an Avo may work against you with other trees. If you can realise (as in keep up with it) the benefits, then sure.

    I have an avo growing in the output of a grey water system and it fruits, yet people mound and they die easily. They are picky. You can often see where they grow well as lots of people will have them, or they will be farming them. When it works, you go for it.
     
  5. Occarina

    Occarina New Member

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    Occupation:
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    Location:
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    Climate:
    Sub tropical rainforest
    You might also like to look into Dragon Fruit.
     

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