Starling White Guava Fruit Tree with few seeds (Less than normal)

 

Starling White Guava Fruit Tree

Some people don't like guavas because of their hard seeds. This variety is the starling white guava fruit tree and if you were to grow just this guava and your neighbours nearby didn't have a guava then you should get even fewer seeds forming than in this picture. This is due to no cross pollination. We have lots of guavas growing at Daleys and in this photo there isn't as many seeds as the usual white guava varieties. So we would expect some of our customers in the above scenario to produce guavas with far less seeds than us when growing the starling white guava. Taste is still very sweet and the fruits grow quite large with white flesh and green skin that goes more yellow and fragrant and soft when ripening. They do like warmer climates and could be kept small in a pot. Which makes them easier to protect with netting.

Birds will take the whole crop (Fruit Netting)

 

A little bit of preparation with Fruit Tree exclusion netting can protect your crop of grapes or many other fruit's ripening in your backyard. We demonstrate how to do this with our Pink Iona Grape vine.

Suitable fruit tree exclusion nets could be the.

• Exclusion Net - Extra Large (6M X 10M)
• Exclusion Net - Small Vege Net (3m x 5m)

Brown Turkey Fig Trees

Brown Turkey Figs just picked

Buying a Fig brown turkey fruit tree variety will get you hooked on Figs. Yes you
need to pick them at the perfect time but when you do you will nod
your head and say "WOW"

They can be grown in Arid, Temperate and Subtropical climates and as
they lose their leaves in Winter they can handle frosts down to -2
degrees.

Yes to growing and fruiting in pots and you only need one to set fruit.

A full sun position is recommended and make sure when planting you
mound up your planting size height 50-80cm for good drainage.

They don't need much water except when the fruit is growing in early
summer. BUT heavy rain just as they ripening can cause the fruit to
split open ruining your crop.

In the ground it will grow 2-5m but in a pot with root restriction
they should stay under 2m.

Adventurous Ideas: Espalier them :) Dry them, Make Jams.

 

Lemon Myrtle (Edible Leaves) WOW Factor

Lemon Myrtle in Kyogle NSW Australia in 2020

10/10 choice for a a specimen tree (Wow Factor) as shown in this photo in the main street of Kyogle NSW taken by our Daleys staff member Bianca this year. The lemon myrtle occurs naturally throughout coastal Qld rainforests. It is a spectacular ornamental tree due to both its appearance and the superb fragrance of its flowers and leaves. The leaves and flowers are used in sweet and savoury dishes or as a refreshing tea. However as boiling or baking often reduces the flavour. The leaves are best added to the recipe at the end of the cooking process and either left to steam with the lid on or made into a sauce or dressing. It is usually the older and fully hardened-off leaves that are harvested for use. Enthusiasts describe the distilled oil from this tree as 'more lemony than lemon' and its used extensively to scent confectionery, perfumes, aromatherapy oil and food flavourings.
* Botanical Name: Backhousia citriadora
* Can be grown further south as the climate is Subtropical, Warm Temperate.
* Height in the ground 2-5m
* Self Pollinating ( only need 1 tree )
* Yes it can handle frosts but protect them when young.
* Keeps it's leaves even in Winter ( Evergreen )
* Yes to growing in pots
* Only requires moderate watering.
* You can harvest it all throughout the year.
* Full & Part sun positions are ok.
* Negatives: is susceptible to Myrtle Rust
#daleysfruit #lemonmyrtle

Boat Shaped Pods with seeds the size of Peanuts

We like to describe The Peanut Tree (Sterculia quadrifida) like this "boat-shaped pods that ripen throughout summer. They split open to display a beautiful, bright red interior that contains shiny, black, peanut-sized seeds which have a delicious, nutty flavour. It is a fast growing highly ornamental rainforest tree. Indigenous Australians ate the nuts both raw and roasted and used the fibrous bark to make nets." Looking at this picture our staff member Bianca took of their tree at home I think we got the description just right. Great for Subtropics and grows 10m+ (large) in ground. It requires only moderate watering once established. The botanical name is Sterculia quadrifida. In winter it can look a bit shabby because it is "partly deciduous" Lots of reports of people growing them as a bonsai in a pot who were blown away when it fruited in the pot with these boat shaped pods. 

Grafted Apricot Bentley Fruit Trees

 The Apricot Bentley Grafted Fruit Trees are self pollinating meaning that you only need to plant one in your backyard to get these delicious fruit trees. They are golden inside and filled with flavour.

Callistemons

 

 

 

Over the fence, down the road, out the back, in the park, on the corner…

Callistemons - they can be spotted everywhere, all over Australia. You would be hard pressed to take a walk, ride or drive anywhere and not see one. They are having their moment in the sun right now, as they bloom and blossom through their many shades of red, rose, purple and orange. They can also be found with gorgeous white bottle-shaped brushes and this is another famous name for the humble Callistemon - the Bottlebrush. 

 

What’s in a name? Well, this name comes from two Greek words, ‘callis’ meaning beautiful and ‘stemon’ meaning stamens, the most striking part of the blossoms. In fact, the part we might associate being the most beautiful part of a flower - the petals - is completely missing  from the Bottlebrush. But, nevertheless, it is certainly true that their blossoms are spectacular.  Plant scientists now think the genus is very similar to Melaleuca and some of our beloved Callistemons may some day be reclassified as Melaleuca. Our experience of them won’t change - an explosion of colour and birdlife in spring. 

 

Callistemons make fabulous garden specimens. They are hardy shrubs or small trees with spectacular flowers -  nectar-feeding birds, insects, gliders and people love them. Most can tolerate wet soils for a while, having evolved in swampy areas, like the Callistemon citrinus; or along creek and river banks like the Callistemon viminalis. And then they can strive on through the toughest droughts. These two types are  commonly grown and are the parents of most of our colourful cultivars today. Originally mostly red, they are now a rainbow of white, cream, yellow, orange,  pink, red and purple. They hybridise readily.

 

Cultivars that come from the parent C. citrinus are generally more shrub than tree and have broad leaves. ‘Little John’, ‘Cherry Time’, ‘Hannah Ray’, ‘White Anzac’, 'Burgundy' are cultivars of this type. They tolerate wet, alkaline and acid soils; drought and frost 

 

Cultivars that come from C. viminalis are a little taller if let go, but look great when pruned into a hedge. Their branches hang to the ground, giving it its common name of Weeping Bottlebrush. ‘Ricks Red’, ‘Captain Cook’, ‘Wildfire’ are named cultivars. C. viminalis can be frost tender when young, but can grow at a good pace and get above the frosts in a year or two. 

 

Callistemon polandii - Gold Tipped Bottlebrush is more shrub than tree, and Callistemon salignus - Willow Bottlebrush is more tree than shrub. 

 

No need to load these plants up with fertiliser - they didn’t evolve with rich soils so  you can let them do their thing on their own. 

 

Another great, practical thing about the bottlebrush is its tenacious roots. They can be planted to stabilise steep banks, or eroding creeksides where they will hang on through flooding. This makes them invaluable pioneer  trees  in a regeneration planting. 

 

Some readers might remember several years ago the Kyogle Pool gardeners hard pruned a row of Callistemon viminalis that grew along the fenceline along the Summerland Way. They had been quite tall, upwards of 5 metres and more, but after that prune they have been a lovely dense hedge, looking fresh every year.  

 

A must for any garden.

 

September Flowers

 

Our one month of Spring is already half way done.  Hot weather could be around the corner but so far we have been blessed with some rain to start the growing off and, of course, we hope for more.  In the bush, native plants are flowering: clematis vine, orchids; and the fireflies are lighting up the twilight in such numbers this year. I do miss the scent of the native Scrub Turpentine, which rarely flowers any more due to its susceptibility to the scourge of Myrtle Rust. 

 

And when I head into the garden there are flowers galore too. Citrus trees are covered in blossom and the scent is heady, petals rain down constantly and bees buzz loudly. Macadamia blossoms hang and compete well for attention above the clamour of the citrus blossom scent.  Pomegranate, Jaboticaba, and Lychee are all showing the promise that flowering fruit trees give. Mango, Jakfruit and some varieties of Avocado too. Early low-chill  or ‘Southern Highbush’ blueberries are well on the way to setting their first fruit, as well as low-chill stonefruit and mulberries. 

 

Well, mulberries… they are well on their way into bowls and recipes and tummies already. This fruit  has to be eaten fresh from the tree. The fruit is soft and juicy and easy to bruise so you’ll never find this in a supermarket. This means it's the perfect tree for your backyard. I remember times spent gorging on this fruit as a kid, eating and spreading the magenta stains all over hands, face and clothes. Today’s varieties are cutting grown or grafted females, all  clones with fantastic eating qualities and being only female, they won’t set seed to be spread throughout the bush. For our area, the Dwarf Black and the Dwarf Red Shahtoot Mulberries are great for small backyards, with flavourful berries. The Shahtoot, a long thin fruit,  has more of an aromatic flavour to it too, and is very sweet. These trees are well suited to throwing a net over to prevent the birds making off with them. Mulberries can be beautiful large shade trees as well . This includes the White Shahtoot mulberry -  it is delicious, and a large spreading shade tree for big backyards. 

 

Flowers can be enjoyed for eating and cooking too. Nasturtium and violas can be added to salads, banksia and macadamia flowers can be used to flavour drinks. And orange blossom can be used to make a scented water used in baking, much like rose water. The flowers of the Seville orange are traditionally used but any orange variety will do, really. Obviously, don’t pick too many or you’ll limit how many oranges you’ll have next winter.  The orange blossom water can be distilled even without fancy equipment, but there is a simple method you can use, it just won’t keep as long.

 

Pick the flowers in the morning before the sun has dried them out.  Pick off any insects or dirt, or browned flowers you can see, you can  then put them in a colander to rinse them under the tap. Crush the orange blossoms in a mortar and pestle until they are a paste. For the next step you will need distilled water. Put the petal paste in a glass jar and cover with distilled water. Let this sit for a couple of weeks and then strain through a cloth. Keep your orange blossom water in the fridge.

Regeneration

 I'm walking through country burnt in last summer's fires. Different areas are affected in different ways, with some having had relatively cool burns and others that burnt quite hot. Where eucalypts were burnt right to the crown of the tree, they are sprouting bunchy  epicormic growth all along their branches. In these areas, small trees are killed outright, so what's called the midstorey is gone, these can be wattles, leptospermum and young casuarinas and an array of other species. But everywhere, everything is pushing forth new growth. There is an extraordinary abundance of grass trees in flower and all sorts of flowering shrubs - boronia, broom, hovea, and ground orchids too. We tend to think of this rebirth as some sort of Australian exceptionalism, but really every ecosystem around the world will do this in its own way. The only other outcome is desertification.

Desertification proceeds apace around this country. In areas of high rainfall like Kyogle Shire, the degradation that has occurred with land clearing and overgrazing is often masked, but with a keen eye, you can spot the bunchy epicormic growth of gum trees under great stress, or the erosion on hillsides causing a terraced effect. Creeks and rivers become muddy with rain and weed species like lantana, camphor laurel and privet predominate. Bare earth rings  alarm bells to those who see. And remember, this is not just a world of plants, native wildlife seek to live here too. Even in urban backyards, we can see these processes happening. And we can choose to be a part of this regeneration if we want.

Of course, every backyard should have a fruit tree or three in it, but we can also plant habitat for wildlife. Tufty grasses make great homes for skinks to live under and fairy wrens to nest in. Provide a log feature for bigger skinks to live in. Spiky shrubs, like fingerlimes can be great for slightly bigger birds' nests to protect them from the crows. Bottlebrush and grevillea will feed the raucous honeyeaters, but remember the little ones too. A smaller hidden-in-the-shrubs bird waterer is good for  these fellas in summer, so they can drink in peace. And remember, if you don't lock up your pet cat, you will never see the wrens, finches and robins nest in your yard. 

Further afield, grass, shrubs and  trees play the same role on a large scale. Tufty grasses are loved by bandicoots for shelter, the little piglets of the bush,  turning over soil to find grubs and roots. And small pademelons or wallabies will sleep amongst them in the day too. Fallen timber can be a fire hazard but it's important to leave something for small creatures to shelter in. Skinks like the black land mullet and native rats too,  appreciate their cover. Shrubs provide shade, shelter and food for an array of species. Old trees are needed to provide the hollows that so many of our mammals, owls and parrots need to nest in. And all plants shed leaves, bark and twigs to cover the earth, providing habitat for small invertebrates that recycle all of it back into the soil. 

Rich river flats are at their most beautiful, in my opinion, when they are dotted with forest redgum. This species is loved by koalas, but if the tree is under stress it can be less than tasty for them and they do need choices in their diet. Our older Richmond river flat redgum do need young recruits planted to replace them as they age,  if you are seeing epicormic growth on them it is a sure sign of this. Think about planting other species too that koalas love, like tallowood and grey gum. Keep in mind, to connect planting areas to each other, as animals need hectares available to them to find everything they need throughout the year. For a full list of suitable trees for koalas, this is a great site and has a listing based on shire areas for the best species to plant around the country https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/trees-koalas

So now is a great time to plant something to provide shade and shelter for your garden wildlife for the summer to come. And also for the wildlife and plant communities eking out an existence, within and beyond our fences, for the decades to come.

Magical Compost

 

Bins, piles, bays, mounds, heaps..all the places we make and do compost. We bring our scraps, garden waste, manures and grasses together and make something special. If we don’t produce enough on our own- we can buy it in bags, trailer or truck loads. Someone, somewhere is always making compost.

Even birds can do this. Recent research has shown that the Superb Lyrebird scratches and moves up to 11 tip trucks’ worth of litter and soil a year, more than any animal on the planet. That’s 155 tonnes per hectare! As they search for food, they turn over leaf litter and soil, shifting it downhill, helping it to break down and feed the forests they live in. That’s a busy bird. Locally, the scrub turkey makes itself unpopular with its mounding of  backyard  litter and scratching up of people’s garden beds for their nests. Now that’s an enthusiastic composter.

I have good intention and healthy enthusiasm towards my own compost making abilities. It’s a proud moment when you have a moist chocolate brown earthy brew emanating a sweet earthy scent. After turning, and waiting patiently the pile is done and you can set to using it in the garden freely and abundantly.

I’ve never met a plant who didn’t like to get dressed up with a bit of compost. It’s the perfect accessory for poor and tired soils. It pretty much goes with everything in the garden and if you don’t have it- you should really get it. At our retail nursery store we are now happily stocking 20L bags of compost from a local producer 'Living Farm Australia'.

I myself have the classic black plastic bin- in go the greens, in go the browns then mix it all up and pop the lid back on till next time. I build it high and as it all breaks down a concentrated mix develops full of nutrients, micro organisms and organic goodness.

Another approach is to compost in situ. Prune your garden and create layers of leaves, twigs, branches, spent vegetable matter and any other natural material you have lying around. The smaller the  pieces, the faster it will break down and the quicker you will build up soil in that area. This method will also act as a mulch to protect the earth from hot drying suns and heavy rains that can wash bare soil away. It will provide habitat for insects and small critters and worms, which will take to the spot with great delight. The depth of layers will also help to create more humidity close to the ground, in turn helping plants to battle through those hot summer days where the moisture can literally be sucked right out of them. Save a trip to the tip or the burn pile and use the waste right where it is- joining in the cycle of life.

 

Note:  At Daley’s we’ve changed the way we run our local shop in Geneva. If you’d like to buy plants, please order and pay at www.daleysfruit.com.au and give us a day to prepare your order. We will send you an email once it is ready for collection. We also have a few plants that are too tall to send as mail order that are discounted and, of course, our bargain bin is where you can pick up some handy ideas for your coming harvest. We are open Tuesday to Friday 9am to 3pm. Closed Saturday, Sunday, Monday and public holidays. 36 Daley's Lane, Geneva.

Glorious Grevilleas

 Glowing, glorious, grand and gorgeous. Grevilleas are blooming and they are quite the
spectacle when spotted gracing the landscape. The range of colours, shapes and sizes is as
impressive as it is varied. Do you like yellow, red, orange, pink, purple or white flowers? Do you
need a ground cover, hedge, bush, shrub or a tree? Take your pick as there is a Grevillea for
one and all and blessed are we to have such a beautiful group of native plants that can fill our
garden spaces in so many ways.

I planted a lone Sandra Gordon a couple of years ago. My great surprise was the speed at
which it grew. I planted it to create some summer shade over a sandpit and in a short space of
time and through the drought conditions it has risen tall, strong and generous with its shade and
beauty. I watered it extremely sparingly and I fertilised it even less. Now, with its large bright
golden blossoms, I wish I had planted more of them at the time. Such little work required for
such a great return- the birds are also delighted.

A few Grevilleas have 'Gordon' in the name such as Robyn Gordon- possibly the most famous
and widely planted of all. Does it ever stop flowering? I don't think so. Then there's Sandra
Gordon, who we've met and Dorothy Gordon.
It is David Gordon, from whom the 'Gordon' stems. He was a visionary of Australian flora. The
founder of Myall Park Botanic Garden in QLD, he was an extensive native plant collector,
researcher, developer and conservationist. Through his passionate work with native plants, the
hybrids of Robyn, Sandra and Dorothy were created - which are the names of his daughters and
wife respectively. When you plant these acclaimed varieties you are connecting to a rich history
of Australian horticulture. David passed in 2001 at the splendorous ripe old age of 102.

"Grevillea" originates from the botanist and co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society,
London - Charles Greville (1749-1809). This wondrous group of plants are named in his honour.
Whether you are a beginner or seasoned professional, Grevilleas are a fantastic addition to any
garden. They are fast growers, require little maintenance, can handle our harsh hot and dry
conditions, provide food and shelter for wildlife and the cherry on top is the enjoyable
abundance of blooms they produce.

At a lovely local campground this week, once my garden eye shifted into gear, I spotted
Grevillea after Grevillea decorating the grounds with a variety of blossoms and forms. It was
inspiring to be amongst a purposeful collection of colourful, healthy natives.

The choice can be overwhelming when you are in a nursery or online shopping for your garden
needs. How do you pick a winner?
Suggestions for ground covers would include the classic Royal Mantle, Forest Rambler or
Bronze Rambler. With their fast growth they are helpful to cover open areas, rockeries or
garden beds.

For hedging an easy choice can be Robyn Gordon, Ned Kelly or Superb which all keep
themselves 1-2m in height.

For shrubs to small trees go for Moonlight with its moony coloured blossoms, Sandra Gordon-
golden yellow or Honey Gem- orangey/yellow.

For a stately tree go for Grevillea robusta the grand Silky Oak. Of the 360 Grevillea plants to
choose from- this is the tallest, growing 10-30 meters. 

Our wonderful little village of Grevillia knows these trees well, as early surveyors noted the abundance of them growing in the area.
I'll be making more space in my garden to grow some more Grevilleas…The best time to plant is
always

now!

Are you Visiting us?

Our Kyogle shop only stocks plants too big or not suitable for mail order which are all discounted.

All stock in our Kyogle Shop are discounted from 15% to 75%. You are welcomed to browse and purchase any of our Shop Specials. Plants are not price labelled. To find price, information about each plant you will need to Scan the QR code on each plant label. This is very easy, all you need is your phone to scan each plants label to show you Pictures, Descriptions and what other customers feedback is.

To order plants available online you must place these orders the day before you visit us. We will not be able to gather a list of special request plants unless they are successfully ordered and paid for in advance. 

This is our current stock available online https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/Plant-List.php

Erin and Sarah show you what to expect at our new Daleys Outlet Store with lots specials.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HEBg9doIqE

How Pickup Works

• Place your order online
• Under Freight options choose: Pickup: 36 Daley's Ln Geneva NSW 2474
• Choose a Pick up Date
• Pay Using Paypal, Card, Direct Deposit.
• Wait... for our staff to prepare your order. (1-2 business days)
• Drive to 36 Daley's Ln Geneva NSW 2474
• Press the red staff buzzer when you arrive.

New Opening Times (Day Light Saving Times)

Open Tues-Friday (9am-3pm) 

Closed Sat, Sun, Mon and NSW Public Holidays

Can I use Cash in-store?

Since Covid we prefer not to accept Cash in store and we dont have a Cash Till with change.

However if its the only form of payment you have, we will accept cash as long its the correct amount as we dont have change to give.

Can you deliver to my door?

Yes

Current Online Stock Availability List 

https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/Plant-List.php

SMS Offers by Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery

Daley's SMS Offers - Exclusive releases.

When we have exclusive offers we will let you know with an SMS. So you know it is us. Daley's SMS mobile is from

Please add to your contacts

You can turn sms offers on and off by logging into your My Account You can also reply "STOP" to turn off this feature.

In Stock Notifications
If you have asked for "in-stock" alerts by sms. These will still be sent to you as you have given permission on a plant by plant basis for each in-stock notification. If you wish to turn off these notifications please login to your My Account and turn these off individually.

Internship Job - Work at Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery

Would you like to do an Internship with Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery, with the possibility of
long term employment with eventually a shared management role.

The 3 Daley Brothers and their nephew Correy are looking at succession planning in the next
5-10 years. Hence we have an opportunity to train up the right person to take over a shared
management role and continue to build on what we have achieved at Daleys.

If interested in this opportunity to work in a very positive workplace and live in the best
address in Australia (well we think so), then please apply for this position.
The Internship would be for 12mths working full time at the Nursery Award.
These are the skills and attributes we are looking for in the successful applicant.

• Honest with an enthusiastic work ethic, that is motivated and genuinely interested in establishing a long term career with Daleys
• Ability to contribute to a positive team environment
• Excellent communication skills with good English language.
• Strong organisational and management skills
• Ability to supervise and motivate employees.Physically fit and have the capacity for physical outdoor work. Work would include all aspects of the Nursery from Propagation, Potting, Dispatch, Fruit tree maintenance, Irrigation management., Machinery Maintenance, Liaison with Suppliers and customers, Pest and weed Control,
• A passion to read, learn and research. With over 500 different varieties we sell, so very important for the right applicant to want to educate themselves.
• Ability to work full time (38hrs per week) and also be available for weekend work looking after Irrigation, Maintenance etc.

You may not have all these skills now, but if you genuinely think you have the ability to
develop these skills then please apply. After the 12mth Internship we will look at the
opportunity to move into a full time position with Daleys.
We have a profit sharing incentive with all permanent staff after they have worked with us for 12mths. If you feel this Internship is right for you, please send in your Resume and cover letter why you think you would be right for this position please contact us by email.

Remember to watch our Youtube on who we are and what we do. It's our 40th Year Anniversary this year. https://youtu.be/wta_nKS1GVo