My coconut cream, which was purchased and planted the very day that it was released, hasn't been what I would consider productive. However, the tree is barely 3 or 4 years old -- way too young to make a judgement call. Last year, it set a couple dozen fruit, but a percentage fell. I think I ended up with about 15 fruits, which is actually more than my Carrie produced at that age.
Ultimately, one would want to wait until the tree is mature (ie 6 to 8 years old) before making the final judgement on productivity. I'm not opposed to yanking or topworking a tree; I just want to give a fair chance to show me what it's made of :-).
Nutrition also plays a big factor. I've noticed that now that Har is taking care of my trees, the ones that were underproductive for many years are now going berzerk with mangos. My giant carrie, which normally only produced about 40 mangoes per year, has probably 200+ mangoes on it this year. The other difference I note is that the little manglettes aren't dropping as they usually do, despite those 50mph winds we had last week.
I don't know whether the trees at Fairchild Farm are getting properly fertilized, but every time I've been out there, I"ve noted that a good portion of the trees look really anemic and unhealthy. I don't think all mango trees are amenable to Dr Campbell's growing regime, especially considering the challenge of that nasty oolitic limestone. Here in Broward, I"ve noted that trees in the Julie line (except the pickering :-) tend to be really aversive to high ph growing conditions.
Jeff has very good points. Some trees may take a good 6 - 8 years to show their production. Different locales may cause trees to act differently. And care or over care...keeping in mind too much "care" could advance growth and production but sacrifice taste, and vice versa, or any combination thereof.
I will disclose that one of the "original" Coconut Creams is old enough that it should be showing what it can do.
and if people care, while I am disclosing information that may or may not be accurate over a longer term and may or may not be what peoplecwant to hear, I myself have the following: coconut cream, peach cobbler, ugly betty, sweet tart and juicy peach...
