Garden rooms
I often think of my small garden in terms of different rooms. This last shopping trip definitely reflected that train of thought.
When I saw a dwarf mulberry tree for only 16.00 I began to think about the fact that I have a collection of different fruit tree/bushes, but they are scattered around. I had been toying with the idea of moving my hanging strawberry plants to planters that fit flush against the fence, as the hanging ones always seem to collapse. This is the spare carport at our entrance and does not look very enticing.
So all it took was the purchase of a mulberry tree to start "Fruit salad alley"
That was the first project I undertook over the weekend. Passionfruit grow well in this climate, but need to be moved into another area after a while. They develop woody passionfruit virus, and lately, even though new vines start up in the back vegetable area they never quite flourish like the original one did. I would love a purple passionfuit, but havent had much success with starting from seeds, so transplanted two volunteer vines from the back yard. One of them might not survive - it is looking decidedly droopy. I think the two white pots on either end look good, and the vines can meander towards each other. If I find a purple passionfruit I will replace one of them.. Eventually the fruit trees will be espalliered - I hope the wire I have used is strong enough. I cut back a forward facing branch of the fig tree, and I have two little figs already, so think the fig tree is happy here. The mulberry also has some tiny fruit already.
This is a good spot as the area gets full afternoon sun - I just have to make sure the pots dont dry out. In pots I should be able to control the growth of the trees so that they dont get out of hand. I might have room for a couple of paw paw as well, not sure if they should go in the ground or in a pot....
I have to re-pot the strawberries - they have put out runners. Do I have to keep this attached to the parent plant until it gets established or can I just cut it off and plant it at this stage?
That plant cascading down from the strawberries is dichondra - I planted that from seed - it looks lovely dripping down from the hanging pots.
In the future I can see grandchildren as they visit, wandering past and picking fruit to nibble on....
When I saw a dwarf mulberry tree for only 16.00 I began to think about the fact that I have a collection of different fruit tree/bushes, but they are scattered around. I had been toying with the idea of moving my hanging strawberry plants to planters that fit flush against the fence, as the hanging ones always seem to collapse. This is the spare carport at our entrance and does not look very enticing.
So all it took was the purchase of a mulberry tree to start "Fruit salad alley"
I have to re-pot the strawberries - they have put out runners. Do I have to keep this attached to the parent plant until it gets established or can I just cut it off and plant it at this stage?
In the future I can see grandchildren as they visit, wandering past and picking fruit to nibble on....
I like the idea of fruit salad alley - a mini orchard of your favourite fruits. Will pineapples grow or is it too wet for them? (Always nice in a fruit salad)
ReplyDeleteOh great idea Roz, they take about two years to fruit from a pineapple top, I have never wanted to waste space for that long, but I could tuck a few in between the pots. Thank you!
DeleteI also like the idea of a fruit salad alley...won't it be nice to just wander outside and pick a selection of fruit every morning for a tasty fruit salad for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteAll I have so far is a palm alley and a herb garden, but I just may look into this fruit salad alley idea.
Virginia,
DeleteI dont have the room for an orchard, but the side of this carport has always looked bare to me. On one of our favourite TV shows recently they were talking about espaliering and I suppose that is what got me going. I look forward to seeing what you create. :)
Fruit salad ally sounds delicious. We have both a black and a white mulberry and there are times when we just stand beside the trees chatting and eating the fruit.
ReplyDeleteFiona,
Deletegosh I didnt know you could get different coloured mulberries. I am also not sure it can be espaliered. Oh yes! I look forward to that day - chatting and eating fruit!
I would love to save the picture of your fruit salad alley and put in one of my folders on Pinterest. Would you mind? I love the idea and also love the looks of the area with the river rock and all. I just plain love this blog. Let me know if it's okay to copy the picture, and have fun with your garden.
ReplyDeleteLindaLee,
DeleteI have added a pin it button, when you hover over the picture it should give you the option of pinning to your board. Let me know if you have any problems or if it doesnt work properly. thanks for the love :)
I wish you were here to help me with my small garden ;-) I am fairly hopeless and I really don't enjoy the gardening all that much though I really love the end product when a garden grows well. Happy gardening!
ReplyDeleteJoyful,
DeleteI must say that even when I am being bitten by mosquitoes, dripping with sweat and aching all over I am happy as a pig in mud when I am out in the garden!
Looking lovely Gill. I have 2 passion fruit vines that grow and grow, they are even taking over the neighbours fence, but we both get lots of passion fruit, so that is good. We have a short fig tree in the front garden by the driveway and just yesterday I picked over 2kg of figs. Fig and walnut jam being made today! I'm not sure how that tree gives so many figs, we never water it at all, unless there is an underground water supply...
ReplyDeleteSami,
DeleteYou must not get the same kind of passionfruit virus over there that we get here. 2kgs of figs - how awesome. Wow fig and walnut jam sounds great - I have never heard of adding nuts to jam. Hopefully one day I will get so many figs that I will ask for the recipe. I am keeping my fig in a pot as I have heard that their roots can travel far looking for water.
I don't think passion fruit would be happy here in the UK but we have just planted two apple trees. They're two year old plants so I'm hoping we'll soon see their blossom. Gardens arranged into 'rooms' are my favourite sort.
ReplyDeleteRosalind,
DeleteI have heard of them growing in colder climates, but mainly for their flowers which by the way smell awesome. I hope you get some apples soon - I bet they will be full of flavour.
I love your idea of garden salad alley. How romantic and the grandchildren would definitely enjoy a walk and nibble. Your fig is divine, it is such a lovely sun drenched area. What variety of mulberry tree is it?
ReplyDeleteMerryn,
DeleteThe grandchildren love to go and inspect the garden with me every time they visit. I might get them to help me re-pot the strawberries. It just said dwarf mulberry - I never thought to look for more information and now I have thrown the label away....