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Messages - Yook

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1
Kevin, when you say your branches are loaded, are you meaning the new branches grow fruit along their entire length? The picture you sent seems to show only fruiting at the bud break for the new branches. I’m thinking you guys are right and that I need to keep more old wood. I see so many people saying to cut back super hard but the tree really doesn’t seem to like fruiting on new wood so there must be something I’m missing. These guys did go dormant last winter but I also cut them back way far to like 10 stems so I’ll just leave them be this year instead and see if they fruit better on these giant shoots.

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Hi all. I have three mulberry plants in the ground. Two worlds best that I started from cuttings and 1 dwarf everbearing.

I have heard that cutting these guys back hard in the winter and then after the first crop is done can help spur more fruiting. Unfortunately, my trees seem to only produce a handful of berries at each bud break after pruning, and then proceed to produce tons of vegetative growth, usually as single shoots without branching. I've kept the dwarf everbearing as a central leaderish shape, and the WB more as bushes.

I have experimented with fertilizing one of the worlds best and not the other(Osmocote slow release, 15-9-12 or something I believe) and didn't see much difference. The plants seem healthy.

Any clue why these mulberries aren't loading up with fruit all along the new branches like I see in so many photos? This occurs on both the WB and dwarf everbearing so I'm not sure what it could be. I'm not getting much fruit on either the first set or when I prune afterwards.

I appreciate any help. Also would like to say thanks for helping me get going with tree growing a few years back. We have been enjoying Brogdon avocados for the last 2 months. The first crop of lula avocados is on the way. Starfruit just set and loquats have been great as well. All thanks to your guidance.




The WB are the two bushes on the right of the island in the picture. Ignore the dying tomato.



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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Hunt for the best Surinam Cherry
« on: May 24, 2021, 05:16:39 PM »
I’ve had trouble finding online listings for named varieties or seedlings of those varieties as well. They grow true from seed fairly reliably right? Anyone have tips on sourcing these high quality cultivars?

4
Lots of Eugenia species are attractive bushes with small fruits that look much like the little red berries on landscaping hedges. Might be a good bet. Loquats also look a bit like a magnolia tree and may not catch attention. They also don’t seem to drop their fruit but instead let it dry on the tree.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Thinning first crops once established?
« on: March 13, 2021, 10:41:58 AM »
Hi folks. You all helped me get off and running and I’ve managed to keep my trees alive in central FL.

My brogdon avocado is now about 12’ tall and we got 6 fruit off it last year. My Pickering mango is about 4’ wide and tall but dense, and we let it keep one fruit last year. Since then it has doubled or more in size.

Now that the trees are about established, do I still need to worry about not letting the trees hold too much fruit? Can I let the avocado hold as many as it wants to? I’m also thinking I’ll let the Pickering hold about 5 this year. If both trees can self thin from here out that would be ideal.

I see lots of discussion about mature tree yields or not letting young trees fruit at all, but not much advice on the first small crops and if they should be limited.

Thanks much

6
I'll definitely reach out a bit to try some fruit once people are back to interfacing with strangers again!

Something I value heavily in fruit trees is an extended ripening period. Would any of these Eugenia fall into that category? I imagine things may flower differently in AL as well.

7
The red growth is quite nice there.

What's your favorite Eugenia that you grow? I've got a CORG of an unknown type that is about to open flowers as well. I haven't tried the fruit before, but I really like the look of the bush. I've heard Surinam is a little more prolific but many aren't fond of the taste, except for specific varieties. I'd be open to adding more to my yard but I'd enjoy tasting some first.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Pruning Carambola
« on: February 24, 2021, 01:29:16 PM »
My carambola has been in the ground for 1.5 years and has grown decently well in that time to be about 4’ high and wide. Its branches are pretty lanky and curved, and there is one about a foot from the ground that grows parallel with the ground. I know I will eventually need to prune away the low branch at least, but am not sure on timing. Should I let the tree have one more growing season and then see how it develops, or begin to shape it now by removing the low limb and cutting back the spindly branches to encourage branching? Just worried about removing too much too early. Cutting off the low branch especially will remove about 1/4 of foliage.

I’ve heard different trees respond differently to pruning when young. For instance, I’ve heard loquats are best to let grow on their own for 3 years or so before pruning and within that time can sort themselves out quite a bit. Have not seen such detailed info on starfruit. Thanks much




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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Barbados Cherry Bloom Time?
« on: April 03, 2020, 09:24:23 PM »
Hey folks. I put a barbados cherry in the ground last september and it immediately put out about 50 fruit. When it warmed up this year it put out about 10 blooms with its first flush, but none turned into fruit and the blooming has ceased.

I feel like my first crop may have been a fluke with it just being planted. When do you all normally see your plants fruiting in 9b?

Thanks much.

Edit: While I'm at it, what time of year does starfruit or cherry of the rio grande normally fruit?


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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado thread
« on: March 27, 2020, 03:05:04 PM »
Anyone growing Monroe in the Orlando area? Carlos and Pine Island Nursery have such good things to say about it but I really don't see much else talk about it or anywhere to buy it.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Cherry of the Rio Grande - Seed True?
« on: March 27, 2020, 02:57:12 PM »
Very cool. Do CoR fruit multiple times a year in our area or is this early spring bloom the only one?

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Cherry of the Rio Grande - Seed True?
« on: March 26, 2020, 11:44:01 PM »
Mine is pretty small in a pot but made like 5 flowers a month back or so. None made fruit but the tree has grown a good deal in that time. Do CoR fruit more than once a year near Orlando area?

How big is yours achetadomestica to get 50  a season?

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Pickering Mango!
« on: March 23, 2020, 04:31:40 PM »
I've got a pickering that I had in a pot for a while and just put it in the ground a couple months back. It's pretty small. It is holding 1 mango right now but has not grown otherwise yet this year. Is it normal for mangos not to flush while growing fruit?

14
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / Zucchini Help
« on: March 20, 2020, 12:35:20 PM »
I realize squash isn't necessarily tropical, but I'm having a lot of trouble diagnosing this(other forums have been useless) and don't want to lose my plants just as society starts crumbling.

My zukes are in pots and over teh last 3 days have become ill looking. They've got extensive veining and pale sections with yellow edges. The leaves are now becoming thin in spots and dying. I saw the beginnings of this on the smaller zuke a few days ago and went ahead and sprayed an anti fungal solution. They've become worse since. I sprayed neem oil yesterday(all of this in the evening), but things are deteriorating quite fast. This doesn't look like the powdery mildew I've faced previously. Thanks much.










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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado thread
« on: February 28, 2020, 01:11:40 PM »
I've got a brogdon near Orlando FL with tons of blooms but nothing seems to be setting so far. I've read up a decent amount on setting fruit due to temperature sensitivity and flower phase overlap but nothing seems too definitive. Is there anything I can do to promote fruit set or will things work out on their own as it heats up more? I've got a lula, which I believe is the opposite flower type, with blooms about to open which should help too.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado Diagnosis Leaf Rust
« on: February 13, 2020, 04:56:49 PM »
Thanks Guanabanus. This guy is a brogdon and has been blooming for a couple weeks now but has dropped all of its flowers so far that have opened. I know they're sensitive to temperatures and you can get unlucky with the male and females not being open at the same time. Have you all had to resort to hand pollinating before? Have you had luck doing so?

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado Diagnosis Leaf Rust
« on: February 12, 2020, 10:32:11 PM »
Really appreciate it Squam. Some of the leaves near the top are falling off from damage but I'll give it a week or two before I start spraying. Tree has been really healthy otherwise so it should be able to resist I'd hope.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado Diagnosis Leaf Rust
« on: February 12, 2020, 12:01:37 PM »
Turns out the marking is from red spider mites. Seems to be getting a little worse. There is a large hedge about 30 feet away off my property that appears to be covered as well. Is this something I should try to let resolve itself or should I be worried? I’m hesitant to spray neem pr anything while flowers are open. Anyone had luck buying ladybugs? Thanks much
 

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Avocado Diagnosis Leaf Rust
« on: February 10, 2020, 12:59:08 PM »
Hi Everyone, I searched and didn't have very much luck finding anything similar to what I'm experiencing. Both my avocado trees have this brown rust on their leaves, originating from the center vein it seems. It doesn't rub off. Doesn't look to be doing a ton of damage but it is progressing and wondered if I should be worrying. The trees are just about to flower and seem healthy otherwise. I did see similar leaf markings on a avocado at a nursery down the street as well.






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Has anyone come across good references for passion fruit cultivars? I’m especially interested in yellow varieties for their supposed longer harvest.

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Follow up question. Where is a good reference for passion fruit cultivars? Have not found very much in my searches.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fruit Bearing Bushes for 9B
« on: May 08, 2019, 04:04:10 PM »
I’m hoping for something pretty low maintenance so maybe kiwi is out of the question. I wasn’t able to find that variety named after the Dr. except for in Eastern Europe haha.

Coach, do you have any varieties you’d recommend? Looks like yellow passion fruit are supposed to have a longer harvest season, though I can’t really find many sellers online.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fruit Bearing Bushes for 9B
« on: May 07, 2019, 09:59:41 PM »
That does look nice. How long is the harvest season?

Can you keep jaboticaba  as a hedge?

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fruit Bearing Bushes for 9B
« on: May 07, 2019, 08:35:53 PM »
Appreciate the replies everyone. I've already got a cherry of the rio grande and it's seeming to do well. I have a dwarf everbearing mulberry too. I had heard that the only raspberries that grow down here are the mysore variety which doesn't taste too great.

Blackberries might be too similar to mulberries though I haven't tasted my own crop yet.

I'm thinking blueberries would be the best choice or maybe a trellis with kiwi or something.

I'd love to get pomegranates to work but I've heard of too many people having a rough time getting fruit in my area:/

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Fruit Bearing Bushes for 9B
« on: May 06, 2019, 12:25:43 PM »
I’m hoping to rip out a couple bushes which hide my AC unit and replace them with something that will bear fruit. I’ve already got a cherry of rio grande elsewhere. The other shrubs I can think of are blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and Surinam cherries. Does anyone have any other ideas for something compact which will grow in 9B? Opinions on good cultivars of the above mentioned bushes would also be helpful.

Much appreciated!

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