Do you have a food-growing question you’d like me to answer? Check out these guidelines to find out the best way to ask. Need a plant, weed, bug or pest identified? This post describes how to go about it.
Passion possible or fruitless folly?
Is it possible to grow passionfruit in the Macedon Ranges?
Bill G, Gisborne, Vic
Yes! I have two passionfruit vines growing in my citrus grove and over the past two years they have produced hundreds of fruit. The key is to create a warm microclimate. You’ll need to select (or create) a protected spot to grow the vines – perhaps against a water tank for thermal mass, or under some eaves, against a north facing brick wall. Check out Growing Citrus in a Cool Temperate Climate for more information on the microclimate I’ve created.
Other marginal crops from the subtropics that I’ve successfully grown in my garden in Kyneton include:
many varieties of citrus, including finger limes
avocados – I’ve already harvested two fruit. This post describes how I did it.
macadamias (more on that in my upcoming nut grove update).
I’ve killed a few babacos and pepinos. They seem to be a bit trickier to establish in this climate.
Indeterminate vs determinate tomatoes?
Should I aim to grow indeterminate or determinate tomatoes? I like the idea of a long harvest, but I’m useless at staking and pruning my plants. The bush varieties have been my preferred choice and I think they are determinate?
Martha C, Pearce, ACT