The Tropical Fruit Forum

This area was hard hit by Hurricane Irma with many down trees and broken tree limbs.  My Mango trees took a beating  from very strong east and southeast winds.   The problem here in south Miami Dade Florida is tree roots are shallow rooted because there is limestone bedrock about 4 inches below surface.  I  have tried to straighten the trees with my truck, arbor ties and stakes but they are still leaning.   It is difficult to tie the arbor tie without any slack so when I back my truck to release tension in the tie the tree leans.   Anyone else suffer loss in Hurricane Irma?


When I plant more mango trees I must figure out some way to allow the plants to develop a better anchor to the ground to prevent the uprooting problem.    Most of my avocado trees did not uproot and are not leaning with one exception.  Are avocado trees better anchored to ground than Mango trees?    My banana plants were very hard hit with P stems snapped and bunch losses.

I have a leaf sample from a possible infected Satsuma tree that appears like the classic blotchy mottle symptom of citrus greening.  These symptoms are only on leaves on one small branch and the other leaves look healthy.

I want to diversify my tropical fruit tree collection and interested in white sapote.  I already have mangoes, avocados, bananas, and  papayas. 
What cultivar do you recommend?   I only plan to plant one tree at this time.  Do they need another pollinator?   

I am very worried about potential systemic disease problems so my plan is to diversify.  Other possible plants to include are dragon fruit, loquat, and malberry.