3726
The Tropical Fruit Forum
Uniting Growers Worldwide!
News:
We are looking for Facebook editors for the forum's Facebook page.
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
3727
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Pictures from my yard in the Turks & Caicos
« on: July 05, 2012, 07:41:25 PM »
Lots of mulch.
Lots of shade cloth
Lots of work by you
A labor of love
Mulch is also very important...which also helps to reduce evaporation.
Have to keep adding organic matter via mulch or compost or what have you. Composting apparatus and schemes are more needed in cold climates. Where you are (Turks & Caicos) it is hot enough to quickly break down wood chips mulch in situ. Melting them down into black humus and skipping the composting step
In my opinion mulch buffers the NPK chemical fertilizers we like to use. Via adding that black carbon organic matter humus to soil
Lots of shade cloth
Lots of work by you
A labor of love
Mulch is also very important...which also helps to reduce evaporation.
Have to keep adding organic matter via mulch or compost or what have you. Composting apparatus and schemes are more needed in cold climates. Where you are (Turks & Caicos) it is hot enough to quickly break down wood chips mulch in situ. Melting them down into black humus and skipping the composting step
In my opinion mulch buffers the NPK chemical fertilizers we like to use. Via adding that black carbon organic matter humus to soil
3728
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: I want YOUR Opinion of Mango Varieties
« on: July 05, 2012, 07:12:59 PM »So it is very obvious most people on this Forum LOVE Mangoes. I unfortunately am not in the "Love" Boat Category (let the beatings begin! lol). I havent tasted many mangoes, so I am a bit green. One thing I think would get me more involved is texture. Can anybody recommend a local Mango (grown in South Fla) that is Not Mushy, but has a firmer texture with a bite? I think I would enjoy this more... Thanks!
You are asking only half the question. What good is it if you have 6 mangoes you planted and they all come in at the same time? Like a flood. And they come in same time as your neighbor's trees? Just as important is to extend the season. So you get early, mid and late varieties. You probably know this, then I am posting this for anyone. I like Fairchild mango which is small and firm and which came in June 4th 2012 with still fruit on July 5th and still holding some on my two trees in Broward County
recommend a local Mango (grown in South Fla) that is Not Mushy, but has a firmer texture with a bite? I think I would enjoy this more... Thanks!
Did you eat over-ripe mangoes or ones with internal breakdown? AKA jelly seed where it is firm near the skin but mushy near the seed? More prone to happen in wet springs which we had 2012
3729
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Vermiculite or pearlite for potting soil?
« on: July 05, 2012, 10:10:51 AM »You say for transplants, do you mean to supplement the Florida "soil" when digging a hole to plant ?
Which do you use?
Here is one discussion
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rmgard/msg0421444930650.html
this potting soil will be used for mango transplants, not for pot culture, but pot culture comments are appreciated too
As for pot culture, I use Racked porting mix and that has both and results have been very good.
You say for transplants, do you mean to supplement the Florida "soil" when digging a hole to plant ?
No........ I mean for potting up some mango seedlings I have sprouted. For potting them into a one gallon or less pot for ultimately planting somewhere. I'll be practicing grafting with them.
3730
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Vermiculite or perlite for potting soil?
« on: July 05, 2012, 09:40:29 AM »
Which do you use?
Here is one discussion
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rmgard/msg0421444930650.html
this potting soil will be used for mango transplants, not for pot culture, but pot culture comments are appreciated too
Here is one discussion
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rmgard/msg0421444930650.html
this potting soil will be used for mango transplants, not for pot culture, but pot culture comments are appreciated too
3731
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Epicotyl Grafting...Update.
« on: July 05, 2012, 05:34:10 AM »I think this is synonymous with "stone grafting". Here's how it's done with mangos, almost exactly the same as in the video-
http://www.development4you.org/2011/05/epicotyle-mango-grafting.html
Very useful information at that link along with JWhisperer video
Here are two more grafting videos from India. They invented the mango so they just might know what they are doing. In second video he wraps tape fast!
http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/horti_fruits_mango.html
3732
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Epicotyl Grafting...Update.
« on: July 05, 2012, 05:20:34 AM »
Very straightforward video. Thanks! So this will work as well on mangoes? I like your choice of grafting knife 
What kind of plastic are you wrapping it with? Is it tape or cut from a plastic bag?
What kind of plastic are you wrapping it with? Is it tape or cut from a plastic bag?
3733
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Experience and results of different growing(in ground) environment for mango...
« on: July 03, 2012, 08:18:16 PM »Seems like mangoes have a tough time in our (phx) soil. Hard clay - slow growth.
I am thinking of filling my 5 x5 ft hole with a mixture they are selling here called Soil Blend . Basically equal mixture of sand / mulch/ dirt. It's a whole lot better than my native soil as far as looseness of soil. Would also raise this planting bed about 1 ft above natural soil level when planting.
Anyone ever created such a planting bed in the past?
How have your results been?
What happens when the plant hits my native hard as a rock soil when older, will it punch through and grow well? . Thanks for all opinions. Luv this site !
I have other problems in Florida but not yours. From everything I have read you have the right idea except no need to go down 5ft. You might create a soggy basin for water to collect. With a raised bed of 12" amend your soil with what you have mentioned (soil blend) but only down another foot or two. Aim to have your roots spread outward and not downward. Roots will take care of downward but in their own sweet time and not as extensively downward as fruit growers with lighter soils and subsoils
3734
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Just got my order from POG
« on: July 03, 2012, 12:27:23 PM »Well I planted my pickering on the ground.Had to put shadecloth for a week or so for the tree to adjust.
The Eagle has landed. "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow"
3735
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Nice Mombin trees available at "Cookie Monster" nursery, aka jacote and hog plum
« on: July 03, 2012, 11:28:49 AM »
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spondias_purpurea
LINK to his nursery Talk to Jeff's wife Elsy. She has very nice mombin trees aka jacote aka hog plum that grow a large size fruit with sweetness and no sourness. Mombin, A very nice fruit that is peaking right now in S Florida. I ate some at his place....never had any before. They are listed as a mango relative in one well known book
LINK to his nursery Talk to Jeff's wife Elsy. She has very nice mombin trees aka jacote aka hog plum that grow a large size fruit with sweetness and no sourness. Mombin, A very nice fruit that is peaking right now in S Florida. I ate some at his place....never had any before. They are listed as a mango relative in one well known book
3736
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Genuine Buddy Tape for Grafting Final Order (may be last time I do it) STOCK UP!
« on: July 02, 2012, 07:13:39 AM »looks like need to push again to get order filled for all.
COME ON! Lets Do it! Lets Goooooooo! Last Chance!!!!
Looks like this is stalling out. Why not send out all non-perforated? You have enough orders
send all non perf? and make me deal with a continuous roll ? no thanks... I don't like non perf..
Why is perforated better? Do you ever cut the perforated 6" sections if it's too much
3737
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Bradflorida Yard Tour - July 2012
« on: July 02, 2012, 07:11:28 AM »
Wish I had white sapote...very delicious. I like how you got two to lengthen odds of success. The w sapote I ate was prior to mango season, outside of the mango season which is good. Yours too probably or at least one of them
3738
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Before and After Pictures. Treating Fe deficient plants with Turfpro Fe formula
« on: July 01, 2012, 03:58:57 AM »
Do you have a link to this product. The turf pro product I found had iron in the form of iron oxide which will not work in alkaline soils
3739
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Angie Mango
« on: June 30, 2012, 07:26:54 PM »:-) A good portion of the new zill mangoes are like that, probably inherited from the Gary which many of them are crossed with. 'Chalky' mango seems to stand up to internal break-down very well. More importantly, there's something psychologically yummy about the texture -- I think because it reminds me of eating ice cream or mango sorbet. I consider the Edward to be slightly on the creamy (chalky) side too.
A lot of the haden-ish (eg, Kent) mangoes have a 'watery' texture, which I find boring. Then there are the gelatinous mangoes (eg, the lancetilla), which feel too slimy to me. Lastly there are the stringy mangoes, which are often very good but get stuck in my closely spaced teeth.Yep, very much so. I think some folks may call it 'chalky'. It's actually a very desirable mango characteristic from my perspective.
An interesting perspective. I should revisit that possibility.
I'm voting for stringy in 2012. All fibrous mangoes I had this year have full flavor meaning not watered down in this 2012 year of (some) watered down mangoes for SE Florida. Plus stringiness mangoes have a more moderated sweetness for me. More palatable to me than eating one big lump of juicy mango sugar.
- Smaller mangoes verge towards stringiness and are more fibrous around the seed than the larger claimed, acclaimed, known variety mangoes
- Smaller mangoes have less chance of internal breakdown.
- Small mangoes have higher seed to flesh ratio.
ZZZZZ
3740
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Just got my order from POG
« on: June 30, 2012, 05:37:14 PM »
Pickering in ground for reasons that have been mentioned here---
- Pickering is a slow bushy grower and will grow even more slow in a pot. Though there are guys out there who know how to juice up pot growth
- All mangoes grow more slow in arid California (compared to Florida) so plant it
- Despite your tall good looking Pickering, this variety still has a bushy, slower growth tendency. The upside being that it puts more resources into fruiting.>>>>>>
- So don't worry. If planted, it is not going to hijack a section of your yard
3741
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Have anyone got steal one of his potted plants?
« on: June 30, 2012, 01:12:58 PM »I have never put my potted plants in front of my yard not sure why, but I would like too put them there now. I just wanted to know if someone got one steal by somebody?
No fruits on it no one will steal the plant
With fruits...... You are taking your chances
I once had a small potted banana stolen from the front yard. Other than that people leave my potted stuff alone
3742
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mangoes in SoCal
« on: June 29, 2012, 01:40:18 PM »Alright a little update on my mango trees. I have had these for almost two months now. They are all in 15 gallon pots.
Edward flowering.
I think all these plants internal clocks are messed up from the shipping and change in weather from Florida to Calilfornia. I think this is what is causing the late season flowering. I also read that dry weather can cause mangos to flower. So the dry SoCal air is also making them flower. I would really rather have them having growth flushes instead of flowering. So my questing is on the trees that I think are big enough to hold fruit should I let them? If I let one fruit hold on the Pickering will it mature before the winter stops it from maturing? I don't want the plant to put 4-6 months of energy into a fruit only to have it stop ripening when winter hits and I have to remove it. Any advice? How long do these fruit take to mature in SoCal?
Bill
Mango trees do flaky things in pots unless you are actually growing them in pots....With proper potting mix and fertilizer etc.
For some fun remove the pot on one mango and see if it is root bound. This makes them bloom and do funny things
Once you plant them they will stabilize. The mango then does not feel confined. It can relax
Are you going to plant them? All or some? Pickering is precocious. Now you are seeing it first hand. Others know the best time to cut off the panicles. You could grow and get one fruit maybe. Even so it would not be so good. Next years will be better. If you have the discipline don't keep any Pickering. Let it spend resources on growth and rooting in
3743
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fairchild --- The perfect perimeter mango. No one will take them
« on: June 29, 2012, 01:31:06 PM »I have had theft from my "honor" fruit stand in front of my house. Seems to have gotten worse lately. A year or two ago, a woman in a Hummer pulled up and carted off 8 mangoes without putting any money in the money box. I was standing just off from the area in the trees, and didn't see her put money in the box.....which I confirmed after she left. Luckily, I glanced at her tag and remembered it. I called the police and they came out to the house. The officer asked me what I wanted to do. He located the woman as living in an adjacent, rather affluent neighborhood. He suggested that he go over and scare the heck out of her. I approved and I never saw the woman again. I have a new thief that is cleaning me out quite regularly after dark. I am on a mission to get her.
Harry
What color was her new Escalade? She's been making the rounds. Have your camera ready with flash ready. Seeing a few camera flashes may get rid of her or him
3744
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fairchild --- The perfect perimeter mango. No one will take them
« on: June 29, 2012, 01:27:17 PM »
Stolen mango score for the last three days
- zero Fairchild taken while 8 were harvested ripe
- four Haden stolen
- both trees are near where the people can steal
- I will admit the Haden's were left completely alone until the end of the harvest. The mango rustler stole my last 4 Hadens except for one still hanging in there
3745
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Genuine Buddy Tape for Grafting Final Order (may be last time I do it) STOCK UP!
« on: June 29, 2012, 08:34:16 AM »looks like need to push again to get order filled for all.
COME ON! Lets Do it! Lets Goooooooo! Last Chance!!!!
Looks like this is stalling out. Why not send out all non-perforated? You have enough orders
3746
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: My new Pickering mangos - gone!
« on: June 27, 2012, 10:30:18 AM »Screening was nylon. Hardware cloth sounds fail safe but what about lots of fruit?
Dan
How about aluminum window screening. Easier to use than hardware cloth. Easier to bend and shape. Puglvr might be using aluminum...or nylon I don't know??
3747
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: My new Pickering mangos - gone!
« on: June 27, 2012, 05:42:37 AM »sorry Dan,
But I feel sorry for whats about to happen to your squirrels
Maybe a peanutbutter and plaster sandwich will satiate their ravenous appetite for unripe mango
Here is a rat bait recipe. I'll bet squirrels would go for it too
http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/livestock-forums/poultry/341651-rat-bait-recipe.html
Willowynd, I make small batches at a time.
Stuff you'll need:
1 Cool Whip or similar plastic container
1/2 to 3/4 cup of plaster of paris
1/2 to 3/4 cup of peanut butter
chicken feed, bird seed or ground corn (optional, but effective)
rubber or latex gloves
Pour the plaster of paris in the container. With gloves on, work enough peanut butter into the plaster of paris until you get the consistency of cookie dough. If it's too dry it will harden fast, so you want it pliable and slightly sticky. Form small balls (about 1 inch) and roll in the feed/seed mix. My experience is that the cracked corn was much preferred by the rats. Your mileage may vary.
I placed about 8-10 balls on a bucket lid or feed sack and placed it in areas of the coop/barn where the birds would not access it. You could put them into a critter cage if it makes you feel more comfortable. You will be amazed how fast the rat balls disappear. I made fresh ones every few days and added more as they ate them up. We've had VERY cold temps here (near zero) and freezing was not an issue. I think most of the rats die in their little rat holes. I only found one or two dead, fat rats. And no, they did not have peanut butter breath!
Time for Rats to Party
Good luck! This was VERY effective for me...
3748
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mangoes in SoCal
« on: June 26, 2012, 07:17:52 PM »
My big Manila
The other side of Big Manny - see them starting to turn color?
The Godzilla from Manila
3749
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fairchild --- The perfect perimeter mango. No one will take them
« on: June 26, 2012, 06:04:44 PM »Not speaking from experience, but how about Mallika, since it is picked green and allowed to ripen inside? Carrie and NDM also come to mind as less colorful mangoes...
I'm glad the thieves are clueless about your Fairchild tree. I am interested in planting one myself. Do you have a pic of the whole tree you can post? I read Campbell's article on the variety which talked about it being a very attractive with dark green foliage and dense, compact growth that is easily maintained at a modest size through pruning. Then I see the PIN variety viewer (so reliable, I know...) give the tree a 3-star (out of 5) rating, and I was wondering why.
Here is a photo from January 25th or so 2012. It was pugged April 2011 so is small but growing. You can see it is planted right by the street. The fruit has high seed to flesh ration. I like the taste, a little piney tasting. Just a little. This had 16 fruits this year
Fairchild mango can grow big if you want but lends itself to pruning to maintain at condo-mango size
3750
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fairchild --- The perfect perimeter mango. No one will take them
« on: June 26, 2012, 03:45:47 PM »
bendersgrove--
We go through this every year,truth is we lose more too the squirrels and possums than the thieves,just all part of it,in fact CBS4 news had an article of a retired atty in Miami that was selling mangoes from his house and was violently mugged this past sunday,as the story went,some woman came by his place sunday looked at his mangoes and didnt buy any,she came back a while later and said she wanted to buy more than he had out,so he invited her and her boyfriend into his yard to pick more and thats when they attacked him,he was very lucky not to get hurt real bad.
Here is more on this story>>>>>>
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/06/25/miami-dade-man-mugged-while-selling-mangoes/
SOUTH MIAMI-DADE(CBS4) – A prominent, retired South Florida attorney is recovering after being attacked outside his South Miami-Dade home Sunday.
June 24th 2012
Police are looking for two men and a woman who robbed Leland Stansell, 77, in front of his house on Schoolhouse Road.
“His clothes were all ripped up,” Stansell’s son Jim said. “He kept screaming ‘help, help’.”
Jim Stansell says his father’s jaw was broken in the attack. He’s scheduled to have surgery Tuesday.
“He was pretty bruised up and shaken,” Stansell said.
Leland Stansell was once the President of the Miami-Dade Bar Association. The retired attorney now enjoys fishing and spending time with his dog. He spends some of his time tending to his property, where mangoes fall by the dozen this time of year.
“Right now the mangoes are everywhere,” Jim Stansell said. “So constantly people are knocking on his door to buy some or take some or steal them. He just wants to get rid of them.”
Neighbors say the mangoes were the catalyst for a crime.
Friend and neighbor Eddie Santos says it was midday Sunday when a woman stopped by Stansell’s home to ask about the fruit.
“She returned and said I want to buy some mangoes but you don’t have enough on the street,” Santos said. “So he managed to go into the garage and pick up more mangoes and had them in a box.”
When he returned, two men attacked Stansell.
They snatched his keys, his cell phone, and money from his wallet.
His son says the thieves went inside the home but left quickly. The locks have since been changed.
“It was 2 guys and a girl” Jim Stansell said. “They sucker-punched him. He went down and got back up.”
Jim Stansell believes his elderly father was targeted because of his age, but he says the thieves messed with the wrong man.
“He’s very active,” Jim Stansell said. “He’s not a frail 77-year-old man just sitting home alone.”
Police say the woman and one of the men are in their 20s. The other man is in his 40s. Neighbors say they were seen driving a red van, possibly a Dodge or a Chrysler.
We go through this every year,truth is we lose more too the squirrels and possums than the thieves,just all part of it,in fact CBS4 news had an article of a retired atty in Miami that was selling mangoes from his house and was violently mugged this past sunday,as the story went,some woman came by his place sunday looked at his mangoes and didnt buy any,she came back a while later and said she wanted to buy more than he had out,so he invited her and her boyfriend into his yard to pick more and thats when they attacked him,he was very lucky not to get hurt real bad.
Here is more on this story>>>>>>
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/06/25/miami-dade-man-mugged-while-selling-mangoes/
SOUTH MIAMI-DADE(CBS4) – A prominent, retired South Florida attorney is recovering after being attacked outside his South Miami-Dade home Sunday.
June 24th 2012
Police are looking for two men and a woman who robbed Leland Stansell, 77, in front of his house on Schoolhouse Road.
“His clothes were all ripped up,” Stansell’s son Jim said. “He kept screaming ‘help, help’.”
Jim Stansell says his father’s jaw was broken in the attack. He’s scheduled to have surgery Tuesday.
“He was pretty bruised up and shaken,” Stansell said.
Leland Stansell was once the President of the Miami-Dade Bar Association. The retired attorney now enjoys fishing and spending time with his dog. He spends some of his time tending to his property, where mangoes fall by the dozen this time of year.
“Right now the mangoes are everywhere,” Jim Stansell said. “So constantly people are knocking on his door to buy some or take some or steal them. He just wants to get rid of them.”
Neighbors say the mangoes were the catalyst for a crime.
Friend and neighbor Eddie Santos says it was midday Sunday when a woman stopped by Stansell’s home to ask about the fruit.
“She returned and said I want to buy some mangoes but you don’t have enough on the street,” Santos said. “So he managed to go into the garage and pick up more mangoes and had them in a box.”
When he returned, two men attacked Stansell.
They snatched his keys, his cell phone, and money from his wallet.
His son says the thieves went inside the home but left quickly. The locks have since been changed.
“It was 2 guys and a girl” Jim Stansell said. “They sucker-punched him. He went down and got back up.”
Jim Stansell believes his elderly father was targeted because of his age, but he says the thieves messed with the wrong man.
“He’s very active,” Jim Stansell said. “He’s not a frail 77-year-old man just sitting home alone.”
Police say the woman and one of the men are in their 20s. The other man is in his 40s. Neighbors say they were seen driving a red van, possibly a Dodge or a Chrysler.
SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk