About Bellingen Seedsavers

We are a group of like-minded growers of edible and useful heritage plant varieties in the Bellingen area of northeast New South Wales, Australia.

Our climate varies from frost-free coastal areas to inland river valleys and highlands with frosts. Bellingen has an average annual rainfall of 1507ml.

Monday 3 June 2019

Fruiting in the Bellinger Valley in late May.

A seed grown Pomegranate fruit
"The fruit mature between March and May (in Australia) and can be picked a little before full maturity and ripened in storage. In areas where rain occurs during harvest, pick the fruit before they are fully ripe to avoid the skin becoming waterlogged and splitting." Green Harvest

Perhaps this fruit, the first from this tree, should have been picked then left to ripen.


Kumquat

Kumquats are prolific in our gardens. So are the Mandarins, Oranges and all citrus.


Mandarins

Oranges
We grow a few varieties.


Sleeping Hibiscus has an edible flower
...and they brighten up the garden.


Hog Plums up high
Stewed with sugar or curried, Hog Plums (Ambarella) are an unusual subtropical/tropical fruit.

There are some excellent videos on YouTube of villagers cooking the communal curry.


Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower) flowers lighten up late Autumn days but are often grown for a cut and drop mulch.
Growing plants that are cut and mulched to improve and feed the soil is a basic Permaculture practice.

Golden Hornet Crabapple
This Crabapple is a universal pollinator for our subtropical climate tolerating apples.

Persimmon is grown for fruit but makes an Autumn statement.

'We had a crop from our seed grown trees this year. We left them to ripen to an almost gooey mess in a sunny window. Sweet and yummy. The small tree above is actually three plants planted into one hole to help size management.' Local Gardener

The indigenous Herbert River Cherry, eat when black

"We never expect a big feed from this fruit. When the small cherries blacken they are ripe but not overly sweet Local Gardener


Cold affected Turmeric waiting to be dug.

Perhaps we need to utilise Turmeric more in our cooking.


Sword Bean flower?

Sweetleaf (Katuk) is a popular Asian vegetable.
Katuk has the taste, when raw, of fresh green peas.
Poinsettia
Poinsettia provides great winter colour in our gardens.

Miracle Fruit Bush.
Miracle Fruit Berry still ripening

According to a science report it seems that the consumption of Miracle Fruit berries temporarily restores the correct tasting sensations of cancer sufferers with affected tastes because of chemotherapy.

A mini Pineapple.






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