Text by Bill Tunstall, photos by Gordon Tait.
On Friday 31st July, one of our local Rare Fruit members, Ray Johnson, had organised to have a tree planting in the grounds of the Gin Gin High School. Much preparation had been done previous to the day. The ground had been worked over by machinery and filter press, donated by Isis Sugar Mill had been worked into the soil. Four banks of soil had been made and the trees were to be planted into these raised banks. Young people from the special class at the school were to be involved with the planting and the ongoing care of the trees.
Our local Rare Fruit group had donated money towards buying some of the trees and Ray had also provided many of them. Some of our local members, Gordon and Jenny Tait, Ted and Daphne Harris, Eddy Dunn and Bill and Dulcie Tunstall went to assist Ray as did a number of the school community, the class members and the Bundaberg Regional Council Deputy Mayor, Wayne Honour.
We measured out distances between the trees and used bamboo poles to mark where the actual holes were to be dug. Ray had already planned on paper where the trees would be placed. Once all had been marked out the hole digging began with sufficient spaces being provided.
In a short time all was ready as the soil had been worked over with the machinery. The trees were put in place
according to the plan with a row of jaboticabas and grumichamas being placed on the bank on the windward side.
Water, which was carried by buckets, was added to the tree holes prior to the planting and again following the tree planting. A permanent watering system was added soon afterwards as was a fence on two sides to complete the enclosure of the area and to prevent the local kangaroos damaging our handiwork. One section of the other three banks was taken up with citrus trees, including K15 pomello, Ruby Red grapefruit, Tahitian lime, Hickson and Imperial mandarins, Valentia orange and Eureka lemon. Other trees planted included, 2 longan varieties, 2 lychees, sapotes including mamey, green, black, yellow and 3 whites, yellow cherry guava, wampi, 2 carambolas and jackfruit.
In all approximately 60 trees were planted.
Before we left, we were thanked for our work and given a Certificate of Appreciation and a tasty morning tea. Our special thanks must go to Ray for all the effort he put in before the day and for his willingness to provide continuing support of this worthwhile project."
Regards,
Bill.
Dear All,
Am new to this site and so forgive me if I have posted this in the wrong place. I live in victoria and I saw this beautiful tree (Couroupita guianensis) in India during a recent trip. I am looking to find out if this tree is grown in australia? I have read a few articles about this tree in australian websites but none of them say if this tree or its seeds are for sale anywhere.I would be very very grateful if anyone can help me find a place that sells this plant or its seeds, I also found that this is available for sale in the USA. Thanx in advance for your help and apologies if I had posted this at the wrong place.
'I was looking for another variety to graft on to my Pink’s Mammoth and this sounded like an interesting option.'
Ray Johnson shares his experiences with the custard apple family. Read more by clicking on: Island Gem
The Maprang is a mango related species which is native to Malaysia, north Sumatra and west Java and grown extensively in Thailand. Paul Andrew describes his personal experience with growing this fruit.
FACTS:
The Miracle Fruit Plant (Synsepalum dulcificum) is a plant first documented in 1725 during an excursion to its native West Africa. Local tribes picked the berry from shrubs and chewed it before meals. Why?
Shirley Kerle, President of Mackay Branch of Rare Fruit Australia shares her experiences with growing Jakfruit
Paul Andrew, the Secretary for the Mackay Branch of Rare Fruit Australia describes his personal experiences with Jakfruit and explains how he has overcome the problems with this fruit.
Dig large, deep holes in your backyard, line with concrete then fill with water … Next, add some gravel and sand, several varieties of fish, plants and vegetables.
Allan Small describes a visit to an amazing backyard by Mossman Branch in April
An article about Aibeka, written by Shirley Kerle with help from other members in the Mackay Branch and which provides a photo and key information on how to grow and cook it.
Click here to read the article on Aibeka
This article was submitted seeking help on identifying the root shown in the photo. If you have any suggestions, please post a comment.
Click here to see the article on What is that?
By Roger Goebel, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Botanical name: Amaranthus spp. of the AMARANTHACEAE (Amatanth) family
Other names: Tampala, Chinese Spinach, Een Choy
Click here for more information
By Roger Goebel, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Botanical name: Abelmoschus manihot of the MALVACEAE (Mallow) family
Other names: Pele, Bele, Sunset Hibiscus, Hibiscus manihot
Click here for more information
Written by Roger Goebel, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Botanical name: Canna edulis of the CANNACEAE (Canna) family
Other names: Edible Canna, Achira, Purple Arrowroot.
Click here for more information
By Roger Goebel, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Botanical name: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus of the LEGUMINOSAE (Pea & Bean) family. Other names: Four angled bean, Princess pea
Click here for more information
Written by Roger Goebel, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
The botanical name for Yam Bean is Pachyrhizus erosus of the LEGUMINOSAE (pea & bean) family. Other names include Jicama, Mexican water chestnut, Saa got.
Click here for more information and photograph
There are more than 40 mature rare fruit trees in the Flecker Botanical Gardens, 5 kms from the centre of the City of Cairns. They are located in the Centenary Lakes area of the gardens directly opposite Cominos House.
If you are having a holiday in Cairns make the time to explore the gardens and see the trees.
Click here to see the self guided walk information
A small red berry from West Africa makes a perfect pot plant
WORDS BY IAN AND DAWN WILSON, PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALISON GOTTS This article was written br Ian and Dawn Wilson, the owners of Avondale Nursery, a tree nursery in Cairns in the 1980s, and published in the Rare Fruit Newsletter; January 1982
The Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) or Miraculous Berry is a small, multi-branched tree with dense foliage from the Sapotoacae family, indigenous to tropical West Africa, where it reaches a height of 2 to 5 metres. The fruit when ripe is bright red, approximately 2cm long, olive shaped and has a relatively large seed surrounded by sweet white pulp. This pulp has the ability to affect the sour receptors of the taste buds so that all sour foods taste sweet.
Read the full article here
These notes are based on a presentation given by Yan Diczbalis, Senior Horticulturalist, Dept Primary Industries, to Mangosteen Growers in September 2005.
Arthur Bovey from Mackay Branch shares a simple and easy method for propping up heavy banana bunches.
This article is taken from the 'Daley News' - April 2007.
I have a panama berry tree in my home orchard and it is one of my most favourite trees, especially at the moment when it is fruiting.
