How one Melbourne backyard hosts over 50 different fruit species
In short: In the heart of Footscray, a small urban garden has become a thriving food forest. By mastering microclimates and vertical space, this space-saving sanctuary manages to grow everything from tropical Caricas to nostalgic Canadian berries in a cool temperate zone.
Located in Melbourne’s western suburbs on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung Country, this productive garden was established in 2010. Despite being in a cool temperate climate, the garden thrives due to a carefully managed microclimate. The owner, David, attributes this success to the garden's north-facing, sheltered position, where the house and fencing provide essential heat retention and thermal mass.
The garden's diversity is its hallmark, featuring more than 50 species of fruiting trees, shrubs, and vines. This collection includes unusual and tropical varieties that might otherwise struggle. Among the favorites are the Wampi, a citrusy, seedless fruit similar to a lychee, and various Caricas, such as the cold-hardy Babaco and the Mountain Papaya. David even propagated a Cherimoya custard apple from seed in 2014.
To maximize a small urban footprint, the garden utilizes clever space-saving techniques. This includes growing plants in pots to limit size, using espaliered methods, and employing vertical space, such as the 10 different grape varieties grown along fence-lines. Even traditional ornamental features are repurposed for food, like the Cherry Guava hedge used at the front of the house. For David, a mental-health nurse, the eight hours a week spent gardening serves as a vital diversion from a stressful profession.
The collection is eclectic, blending Australian native food plants like lilly pillies and Eucalypts with sentimental imports like the Saskatoon Berry, which reminds David of his Canadian upbringing. While the garden began with an 'edibles only' policy, it has recently expanded to include ornamental plants and an artfully displayed collection of orchids in handmade pottery.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Over 50 fruit trees in an eclectic edible garden | Urban farming | Gardening Australia
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