Over 50 fruit trees in an eclectic edible garden | Urban farming | Gardening Australia

Inspirational urban food forest in the beating heart of Melbourne’s western suburbs.
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Owner:  David Elliot
Location:  Footscray, Victoria. Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung & Boon Wurrung Country
Climate Zone:  Cool temperate
Garden established:  2010
Style:  Space-saving productive garden
Key Features:  
There are more than 50 different species of fruiting trees, shrubs and vines in this small garden, many of them unusual or tropical. David attributes a large part of their success to the near-perfect position of his garden. “It’s north-facing, it’s sheltered and protected, and with the fencing and the house we have a fair retention of heat and thermal mass, which has created a lovely microclimate.”
A sentimental favourite is the Saskatoon Berry (Amelanchier alnifolia). “I’m very excited about these as they are indigenous to the area of Canada I grew up in and I have fond memories of being in the bush and gorging on these delicious berries.” These haven’t fruited yet, but David is hopeful.
Another favourite is the Wampi (Clausenium wampi), which he describes as having fruit “that is a smaller, more citrusy version of a lychee, but without the seed”.
One group of plants that have benefitted from this warmer microclimate are his collection of Caricas - the small family of soft-stemmed sub-tropical fruits from the pawpaw family. David has a Babaco that he describes as “a striking plant, quite cold hardy and very productive. The fruit are a bit on the sour side but still pretty good.” and a Mountain Papaya (Carica pubescens).
A family favourite is the Cherimoya custard apple, which David propagated from seed in 2014.
Grafted Lemon Gold and Ortega White Sapotes (Casimoroa edulis) sit in the back-left hand corner of the garden. David says they are “very sweet and creamy. The first time my Lemon Gold tree fruited I estimated it had over 500 apple sized fruits.”
There are also plums, nectarines, a multi-grafted apples, grapes, figs and a raft of citrus (limes, lemons, oranges, mandarins and tangelos), many of them grown in space-saving ways, such as miniatures, in pots to limit size, or espaliered.
David also grows many Australian native food plants, such as lilly pillies and Eucalypts.
Vertical space is used to great effect, with 10 differing grape varieties growing along fence-lines. He has used Cherry Guava as a hedge at the front of the house, alternating the red and yellow varieties. This is a fantastic way to increase productive plants at a property - get rid of the traditional ornamental hedge and replace it with something delicious!
David is also a potter, and many of his works can be found throughout the garden, particularly in the greenhouse where is rapidly expanding collection of orchids are displayed artfully in his quirky pots. “I’ve begun to relax my ‘edibles only’ policy, and am starting to embrace collections of ornamental plants as well”.
David, a mental-health nurse, spends about eight hours a week pottering and perfecting his pocket of suburbia. “For me gardening is my time, and a nice diversion from my work, which can be stressful,” David says. “I just love it, and I love the learnings and joy it brings”.
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[@adriannehuang6509]

Wampi, my childhood memories...can’t believe we can grow it in Melbourne, I need to grow it.

[@andrewdenny87]

I was fortunate enough to visit this garden today and it is even more amazing in real life and was so inspirational. Plants have also grown a lot since this was filmed.

[@TylerDurden404]

do you have the address and do they charge fee to enter?

[@AAHomeGardening]

Gardening Best therapy

[@chezgirlrose7654]

What a very clever man, I am amazed at what he did with the Apple tree/vine. 🍎 🍏 🍎

[@hgdon-homeiswheretreesare-9239]

Fruits plants, plants fruits, the best sources of food in the world 🗺

[@RealLifeFruitopia]

Inspiring effort. I'm guessing there are over 150 fruit trees in my Melbourne garden, but I stopped counting a long time ago. I hope to see more videos like this from urban growers.

[@acenurses9650]

@ Real Life Fruitopia Wow that’s impressive ! Where are u located and how big is your backyard ? I have about 25 and don’t have room for much more !

[@RealLifeFruitopia]

@@acenurses9650 Well done with 25 trees. I'm located Outer SE suburbs with an above average size backyard.

[@acenurses9650]

Real Life Fruitopia Iam in Maribyrnong on a 450 sq block and managed a decent sized vege and fruit orchard . Anyone can do this and grow food . It’s the best feeling eating from your garden. I hope more people take on growing food and being more self sufficient 🤞 All the best and happy gardening 😄

[@matthewfarrell317]

150 is damn impressive, we only managed a total of 9, but there is a granny flat on the property. Plus need lawn space for the kids.

[@RealLifeFruitopia]

@@matthewfarrell317 So long as they are your favourite 9 fruits then great!

[@matthewfarrell317]

Funny the mention of someone with an orchard in their front yard. This winter I just tore up all the grass in the front yard and we will have 7 fruit trees, with a total of 15 different fruits, as well as blackberries/raspberries. Hopefully the blueberries will be here in Oct. So much better use of the space.

[@acenurses9650]

@Mathew Farell I did the same too for my front yard . Managed to plant some raspberries , blueberries and guava , herbs and some Veges in the front together with some flower beds. No more mowing the lawn 😄

[@matthewfarrell317]

@@acenurses9650 We are planning on planting pumpkin and watermelon between the fruit trees (the last of which arrived today) as a cover to stop any grass returning. No mowing but more work lol, but the amount of people who have walked past in the last month and commented on it is amazing.

[@acenurses9650]

Matthew Farrell Great job mate 👍🏼 Good idea to grow watermelon and pumpkin to spread and stop grass growing back. I think I will use your idea and do the same 🤣🤣 Happy gardening 😄

[@matthewfarrell317]

@@acenurses9650 The main purpose is the roots, pumpkin, watermelon and peas can develop roots down around the 1-metre mark. Which helps to build the soil up. As well as make a good ground cover to stop the grass coming up lol

[@acenurses9650]

Matthew Farrell Thanks for that info . Makes lot of sense . Where did u order your fruit trees from ?

[@rachelhmua]

Pots are beautiful and great idea.

[@YalisCommunity]

Gorgeous!!! A garden is very therapeutic and this garden definitely shows it! Plus it has so many wonderful edibles!!! Love it!

[@nutequest]

Love these feature videos of the awesome growers in Australia.

[@gardentours]

Very inspiring, such a beautiful garden. I might try this babaco papaya as well.

[@mandyp2438]

Think this is my favourite backyard garden ❤️❤️ absolutely wonderful.

[@geriannroth449]

Awwww it's cool very welcoming love the diversity he has created a niche for all his plants!

[@mariadelpilarsatizabal1099]

Omg! So beautiful ! Love your garden!

[@liligoodchinesevoice]

He is a genius gardener.

[@LureThosePixels]

Awesome stuff, good use of space and knowledge

[@HilaireRadowick]

Lovely! Would love to Hear more about the Apple tree process

[@user12345abcdeft]

Self efficient!!! Amazing relaxing garden ,,you r lucky

[@rebeccapurdon3531]

Wow, amazing 😍

[@rashmijain2475]

Awesome

[@amerruru2443]

Thank you so much 🌻

[@acenurses9650]

Very inspiring ! I also have 4 apple varieties that give me fruit till September . I have the Lady Williams apple that ripens in winter and I have fruit till September !!

[@ErraticPerfectionist]

I bought a Lady Williams apple for the stretching out my fresh apple season. Great to hear we can have it right up to September!

[@Arzooghazel]

Great job. So amazing 🤩

[@TheKeaneGardener]

Keep up the good work mate! Youth work is very hard but very worth it! I use the garden to unwind too✊🏽

[@northeasthardytropicals541]

This is great 👍🏼 🍎 🍏

[@ChristopherJohnsonArtist]

"small" is very relative. Please indicate the square meters to have a frame of reference.

[@omfug7148]

Is that a Canadian accent? I love his poodles, they are adorbs.

[@catey62]

They are gorgeous little puppers :-)

[@brooster3607]

Absolutely magnificent I’d love to know where you get some of your fruit trees?

[@Rosethatwantstomove]

I complained about my 1/2a but, up to 2/3s of it floods. Middle 1/3 is buildings, 1/3 is driveway & fruit trees

[@elizabethmogro4543]

Saludos desde Argentina. Muy buenos videos. 🤗👍👍👍

[@astaridjatmiko8187]

i want to have a house like this, where i can eat fruit that i've grown.

[@ACOB6]

Boon Wurung Country Its good view my. Stay conected

[@jamshidnikkerdar2074]

Great 👍 👌

[@Ded-Ede]

Awesome garden

[@foziahramli3001]

With all the colorful flowers there maybe he should have bee hives as well.

[@bibiyajoy]

Hi David From where did you buy the wampee fruit tree?

[@evansflockfamily2001]

Awesome 👏 I would be very interested to know what the name of the grape that is mentioned that tastes like passion fruit?

[@TylerDurden404]

what is the purpose of the tennis balls on the metal polls in the ground?

[@sangeethasaakshi9315]

Doesn't d roots of trees get tangled ?

[@lindaclayton8701]

👍☺

[@brandonlamontcooper8141]

I can imagine he studies in the garden.. all that doesn't take care of itself.. I believe he's In the field..

[@daman19kaur]

No Australian native fruit ..he is like all America

[@katesmiles4208]

Footscray no masks.. how old is this item?

[@klarag7059]

I did wonder l as soon as I heard the location how they could cross boundaries.

[@petergilfillan8340]

So what? What are you going to do? Call the Police? Seriously what a ridiculous comment.

[@rachelhmua]

I'm guessing this was filmed pre covid 👍

[@klarag7059]

Peter Gilfillan what are you on about?! No one has a problem here but you Mr. Grumpy Pants.

[@petergilfillan8340]

@@klarag7059 nah not Grumpy its just that why would they need to wear masks, he is on his own property & she is filming a TV program, making her exempt and it appears they were a healthy distance from one another so your comment about where are their masks being in Melbourne is absurd. Cheers.