Finger Limes
Finger limes are small leafed evergreen shrubs that produce a fruit in summer. The fruit is in the shape of a finger and is a native lime. The fruits skins can be red, yellow or green and contain acidic juice and tiny beads. Finger limes can be used in salads, stir fry, drinks like iced water and gin and tonic or even spread on top of vanilla ice cream.
Finger limes naturally grow in the sub topics and topics of Australia. Can be grown in temperate areas. They can grow to about 2 or 3 metres and are prickly bushes.
Bananas
Bananas are naturally an understorey plant. That means they grow naturally in the shade. Bananas are good in water logged areas of a garden as they will suck up water. In temperate and cool temperate zones lady finger bananas are best as they are the only bananas that will tolerate the cold.
Bananas can be grown from a sucker and from the time of planting to the time of harvest it will be about 18 months. Once the banana fruit has been harvested cut the stalk back to ground level and the process will begin again. Usually bananas are planted in what’s called a banana circle. Each section of the large circle should only contain 3 or 4 stalks with each stalk at a different stage of development. Otherwise you can just have a couple of stalks growing in the corner of the garden.
Bananas like organic fertiliser, apply monthly and water during dry periods. When a bunch of bananas form, a bell flower will develop at the front of the bunch. Over time that flower will grow away from the fruit, when this occurs cut the flower off, that will then result in the plant putting its energy into developing the fruit.
grown by Ben and Jamie
@ Eco Garden – Fagan Park
If you have any questions on Finger Limes or Bananas please email
