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Messages - FrankDrebinOfFruits

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51
Lemon zest needs pruning a little more than other varieties. Most I prune once a year, lemon zest gets a haircut twice a year.

52
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: KEITT Mango
« on: January 26, 2018, 01:19:04 AM »
When you get tired of a tree not flowering, the best thing to do is threaten it. Instant flowers! ;D

53
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Star Apples from Vietnam
« on: January 19, 2018, 02:14:26 AM »
Last I was in Singapore there was some tourist signage in a park about the Caimito trees health benefits. The sign discussed how the leaves can be used to make a drink to prevent the sluggishness due to humidity.... that sounded interesting. Especially because there is always yard work and the hot days tend to be the hardest.

I have found lots of health benefits online, but nothing that reiterates what I read on that sign...
https://www.medicinalherbs-4u.com/star-apple-leaves.html

54
Grafting is the easiest way to propagate sapodillas. Start some seedlings are graft.

I heard seedling grows very slow. I have to buy the fruit to get the seed, but I don't see anywhere in sd sell it

Here, the seedling grows faster than a grafted tree. A seedling just started producing flowers after 8 or 9 years. I have yet to try the fruit though.  I have heard from a good friend that seedling chico is typically bad, I heard that a year ago, and being this far into it, I decided it's worth trying before giving up.

55
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado help needed.
« on: December 01, 2017, 04:58:40 PM »
As I browsed through the trees yesterday it occurred to me, sometimes there is a lack of local advice and/or the local advice is not the best.

For example, most of the avocado varieties pushed by the local nursery haven't fruited for me. As well as some Florida varieties.  The varieties that the local nursery advised won't do well are actually doing the best.  For example, I was told Hass doesn't do well here, but it's been easily the most prolific of all (with 4x more fruit than the next closest variety).  Other notes Lamb Hass, Holiday, and Ota have also done quite well. Holiday is pushed locally. 

If I was to do it again (on a larger scale), I would set up a test area planting at 7x7 ft spacing and find what fruits/when over a period of 5 years, then plant that variety out or top work an existing field. Or plant out a variety of trees and just plan to just top work the entire field. 


56
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado help needed.
« on: November 28, 2017, 02:30:44 PM »
Thanks Frank.  What part of Kauai are you?  I lived in Kilauea for several years.  Any suggestion of which varieties do best in higher rainfall areas?

I am in Kapaa. I have only 3 or 4 years experience in growing avocados. Give me another 10 years and I will have a more formed opinion :)

57
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado help needed.
« on: November 28, 2017, 01:24:58 PM »
[...]I also incorporate a lot of material that drains very well. Here we use cinder, but a lot of sand mixed in would also work well.

As soon as I changed to doing this, my avo trees started thriving in clay.

58
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Grafted Durian Cultivars in Florida
« on: November 20, 2017, 01:35:46 AM »
Whatever you do, do not bareroot a small grafted durian tree. Lost 3 expensive trees this year. I won't make that mistake again.

59
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: BBQ with tropical wood
« on: November 13, 2017, 08:14:34 PM »
I know not to use mango.

Lychee is supposedly really good.  I have a stack of lychee and guava waiting for the bbq.

That reminds me... I still haven't built an imu or the pizza oven.

60
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Great Grafting knife for under $6.00
« on: October 31, 2017, 05:50:04 PM »


Medium Duty Knife Excel #2
are your key words. This knife will hold the Schick injector blades. Personally verified.

Thanks. That is exactly what I needed.
For posterity. Excel Part # 16002

61
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Great Grafting knife for under $6.00
« on: October 31, 2017, 04:49:03 PM »
Excel knife that takes the Schick injector blades  https://www.amazon.com/excel-knife/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aexcel%20knife    I bought mine at ebay

Hi Zands,

There are two types of hobby knife collet chucks, 1/4" and 3/8". The shlick blades are 8mm, and appear will only fit in 3/8" collet. The standard hobby knife that I have is 1/4" collet (I have 2 or 3). So which model has a 3/8" collet?

Seems like this is the only one that calls out the sizes:
https://www.amazon.com/SE-813PK-16-Piece-Aluminum-Collet/dp/B0002BBYIE/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1509481953&sr=8-12&keywords=excel+knife

I may have to go with this one....

62
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Great Grafting knife for under $6.00
« on: October 31, 2017, 03:24:26 PM »
Rehashing this topic. I ended up with the schick injector pack and somehow mistook that they were scalpel blade compatible.

Reading back through there is mention of knives that are no longer available.  The schick blades are much taller than hobby knife blades and won't fit in a standard hobby knife blade holder. The collet has to be pretty wide (almost 8mm). I cannot figure out which xacto hobby knife can accommodate these blades. Does anyone have an xacto knife part number?

The one Carlos uses in the video is super thick.

Schick blades:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FOVLEA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

63
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: How to open a mango seed. . . .
« on: October 20, 2017, 08:34:15 PM »
I usually clean the flesh off the seed with a butter knife and let them dry on the counter for a day or two (or a week). One quick snip on the corner with a pair of shears, and they just crack open with your bare hands.

64
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mosquito fruits??
« on: October 19, 2017, 04:11:17 PM »
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/native-american-mosquito-repellent-76112.html

I know it's not fancy... and its probably not something the average user will do, but I do this quite frequently in the field.

Quote
Mud
Although it may not seem fancy, mysterious or something a medicine man might whip up, mud provided American Indians protection from mosquitoes when they applied it to their exposed skin. A thick layer of mud is seemingly less attractive to mosquitoes than plain old skin, potentially masking some of the aroma that attracts mosquitoes in the first place.

I will say it works quite well, its cheap, natural, and no odor (which is important when hunting). I plan to shower anyways when I come back in.  Sometimes I pretend I am Arnold in the movie predator...  ;D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktVqsBgOvBI

65
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: 2017 SoCal mango tasting
« on: September 30, 2017, 10:21:59 PM »
Other top tasting varieties at the tasting was Ice Cream, Bombay, Leo Keitt seedling, Leo #2, Nam Doc Mai, Kesar, Carrie, Peach Cobbler, Juicy Peach, Peach Cobbler, Leo Z.

Leo’s Keitt seedling was really top notch with excellent sugar acid balance. The balance of sweet and sour was reminiscent of Seniorita and Sweet Tart but on a more toned down level.

Simon

From the previous posts of similar events, the Aloha one sounds really good.

I really enjoy these side by side comparisons (both reading and performing).

66
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Want to Buy/Trade Mango Scions
« on: September 29, 2017, 05:26:29 PM »
I have Kesar, Anwar Ratol and ST Maui if you can wait till spring :-)
I only got Carrie and Zinc, I can send some to you next spring if you like.

Cool. Thanks! Yeah, I can wait.





67
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Want to Buy Mango Scions
« on: September 28, 2017, 01:45:06 AM »
Looking for the following varieties:
  • Kesar (or jumbo Kesar)
    Zinc
    Carrie
    Bangnapali
    Rasalu
    Anwar Ratol
    St Maui
    Neelashan
    Neelkiran

Let me know what you have and the $$

Thanks!

68
Quote
SAPODILLA
Flowers are bisexual and may require insect visitation to set fruit. Flowers produce nectar.
http://rfcarchives.org.au/Next/CaringForTrees/Pollination1-88.htm

I would agree too.  I have an Alano that fruited this year. There isn't another flowering/fruiting sapodilla for at least a half mile around, maybe over a mile.

69
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Procuring mulch from storm vegetative debris
« on: September 20, 2017, 02:52:59 PM »
Signed up for chip drop. I have been dragging my feet on mulching.  I need a mini backhoe to help move stuff.

70
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Star fruit juicer
« on: September 20, 2017, 01:05:58 AM »
The blender works for like 10 or maybe 20. I have a few hundred from a young tree (and I have a couple trees). How can they be juiced efficiently? The biggest problem is pressed straining. Has anyone used a press?

Note: I don't have any kidney issues, and I wait until yellow/orange (no green parts).

71
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango flowering times?
« on: September 18, 2017, 07:55:48 PM »
From my experience, it depends on location and environmental factors.

The best way to get a fairly good idea is asking people in your microclimate.

We have a variety for sale here called "Brooke's late". Supposed to be late season. I found it comes right in the middle of the season, so I know refer to it as "Brooke's On Time". Recently planted a "Zill Late", yet to be seen if it shall be renamed by my farm as "Zill On Time".  :D

72
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Post Irma Satellite Image of Keys
« on: September 16, 2017, 02:09:22 AM »
That was really interesting to see. I probably scrolled and zoomed for several hours. I shared this with a friend who sent me this map https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/7000/7079/tropical_cyclone_map_lrg.gif

I don't think the news covered the damage enough.

73
Are you doing anything to prevent the leaves from blowing into the pool?

74
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Atemoya splitting
« on: August 24, 2017, 04:14:46 PM »
I have noticed my moya family loves consistent watering. If it goes dry and then gets super wet, it quickly ripens and splits.

What is your watering interval? Do you notice the problem after a heavy rain?

75
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: 1st successful mango graft?
« on: August 11, 2017, 06:01:25 PM »
Thanks everyone!! I've been noticing the same thing stated by others about the parafilm & have not yet invested into BuddyTape yet.



Thank You guys!  :D😁 ;D Har helped teach me how to prep the scions "out in the field"

Please elaborate!

I went from 0% success about three years ago, to 90% success 2 years ago, to 0% success last year. Found my knife was the main culprit (bad sharpening).  I switched to the bics razor a month ago, now back at 30%. Hoping to get better.


So Har showed/told me how to keep the branches/limbs healthy until I was able to get them home & wrap them in the parafilm. 1st any plastic bag or garbage bag will be needed. & 2nd a source of water. Then choose your branches for grafting, cut them down, & either completely drench or submerge in water, & then place your branches in the plastic bag.(darker bags work better for keeping direct sunlight off of them.) Whenever you get ready to wrap your scions make sure to take the branches out of the bag, cut the leaves off & dry the budwood off with papertowels & let them dry for 15mins. before wrapping up the budwood for grafting. I've then sanitize my grafting with rubbing alcohol and now I have everything ready for grafting.

Thanks for replying. Going to put these notes in my journal.

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