Author Topic: my carambolas are flowering !!  (Read 2112 times)

Dirt Diva

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • Houston, Tx 9A
    • View Profile
    • YouTube Channel for the DivingTemptress
my carambolas are flowering !!
« on: July 14, 2020, 02:02:05 PM »
We had a hard winter 3 years ago and both trees froze to the ground ...
I am thrilled - starfruit coming !!





P J, the DivingTemptress and Dirt Diva

Kevin Jones

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2172
    • Alabama - USA
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2020, 08:12:35 PM »
I am definitely happy for you!
Good luck!

Kevin Jones


Dirt Diva

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • Houston, Tx 9A
    • View Profile
    • YouTube Channel for the DivingTemptress
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2020, 10:03:52 PM »
Thanks Kevin,

I am doing something right  ;D and God does the rest

Happy Gardening
P J, the DivingTemptress and Dirt Diva

Pokeweed

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 345
    • Houston TX
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2020, 07:33:37 AM »
That's awesome! I didn't think they would survive long enough to make fruit here. Good job! D

Kevin Jones

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2172
    • Alabama - USA
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2020, 09:06:36 PM »
DD,
Here in west central Alabama we are not exactly in the citrus zone... but this past winter was so mild that an Owari Satsuma I had planted on the south side of my house bloomed and set fruit for the first time... so I know how you feel!

Kevin Jones

quesofreshcoh

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 38
    • Sanford FL 9b
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2020, 09:46:12 AM »
Wow! My Kary starfruit just produced a flush of growth but it only put out one little flower cluster. When I first bought and planted it last fall it was loaded with blooms and little fruits! Doesn't seem to be a summer fruiter in my area I guess. I definitely hope it blooms again in fall because I want fruit LOL!
-Gabe

Dirt Diva

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • Houston, Tx 9A
    • View Profile
    • YouTube Channel for the DivingTemptress
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2020, 02:19:48 PM »
And now ... baby fruits !





P J, the DivingTemptress and Dirt Diva

Jaboticaba45

  • Check out TN Tropical Fruits!
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2355
  • Tropical Fruit Tree Connoisseur
    • Chattanooga TN 7b
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2020, 02:21:45 PM »
My tree flowered 3 years ago and hasn't flowered since due to bad soil in the pot. Did a soil swap so hopefully I get some fruits this year. Good luck with your tree!

Dirt Diva

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • Houston, Tx 9A
    • View Profile
    • YouTube Channel for the DivingTemptress
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2020, 09:18:43 PM »
Hi Ryan

My 2 trees lived in pots for years before we put them in ground 4 yrs ago. This is our fruit since freezing to the ground several yrs ago (3?)

I am looking forward to tasting again !

I hope you get fruit too ... Happy Gardening !

P J, the Dirt Diva
P J, the DivingTemptress and Dirt Diva

GFC

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 97
    • High Springs Florida Zone 8b
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2020, 12:20:57 AM »
I have a honey bell setting flowers.

Giannhs

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 145
    • 9b zone
    • View Profile
    • friendly group
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2020, 03:38:02 PM »
Hi! Let the fruit fully mature on the tree. How old did they get to produce fruit? Did you grow them from seed? Are all the carambola trees fertile?

Dirt Diva

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • Houston, Tx 9A
    • View Profile
    • YouTube Channel for the DivingTemptress
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2020, 04:24:03 PM »
Hi! Let the fruit fully mature on the tree. How old did they get to produce fruit? Did you grow them from seed? Are all the carambola trees fertile?

Hi Giannhs,

Yes, we will not pick the fruit till we are ready to eat !! Unlike store bought that have very little flavor, these will be sweet and juicy.
We bought mature trees with fruit on them at the time of purchase so I don't know how old. The tags are long gone. I remember one is kembangan but I don't remember the other and now not sure which is which.

Happy Gardening !
P J, the Dirt Diva
P J, the DivingTemptress and Dirt Diva

Dirt Diva

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • Houston, Tx 9A
    • View Profile
    • YouTube Channel for the DivingTemptress
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2020, 04:28:29 PM »
Hi GFC,

Do you get freezing weather there in zone 8?  I would love to taste a honey bell, have not heard of that cultivar ...

Enjoy the bounty and Happy Gardening!
P J, the Dirt Diva
P J, the DivingTemptress and Dirt Diva

Giannhs

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 145
    • 9b zone
    • View Profile
    • friendly group
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #13 on: July 25, 2020, 01:07:08 PM »
i found all needed information here: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Averrhoa+carambola It was a good choice for a tree to grow.

gnappi

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1974
    • South East Florida (U.S.A) Zone 10A
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #14 on: July 25, 2020, 11:57:57 PM »
Carambola can make a decent shade tree too if you keep up pruning them. Also my two experience a lot of branch die back which I clear by swishing a shovel through the branches.




Regards,

   Gary

pineislander

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2199
    • Bokeelia, FL
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #15 on: July 26, 2020, 07:20:34 AM »
Try the bending trick it really works. Wait till you see a Carambola which has gotten a hard whipping in a storm they "go off" with a load of fruit. I actually bend them till I hear them crackle just before breaking, best in afternoon when branches are supple not in the morning when they are crisp.
 
Quote
Pruning to Produce Off-Season Fruit
Carambola trees are unique in that once a shoot and limb develop the ability to flower, they can flower repeatedly. Shoots gain the ability to flower after about 3 months of age. Pruning the willow-like long shoots (“whips”) or selecting a small diameter limb and removing all the lateral shoots from this limb to their branch collars will induce flowering in about 21 days and fruit approximately 70–80 days later. Pruning during August may result in fruit during October. Pruning during November–December may result in fruit during February–April or June. This delay in fruit production is because cool temperatures during the fall and winter may prevent fruit set during January to March; however, generally the shoots will continue to flower until fruit is set.

Flowering and fruiting may also be induced on whips by bending them from an upright position to a lateral position, clipping off the last 12 to 18 inches of growth, and clipping the leaves off but leaving a small (1/3 inch) piece of the petiole (leaf stem).

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg269
« Last Edit: July 26, 2020, 07:23:47 AM by pineislander »

bsbullie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9621
    • USA, Boynton Beach, FL 33472, Zone 10a
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #16 on: July 26, 2020, 07:22:48 AM »
I have a honey bell setting flowers.

I think you mean a Bell.  A Honeybell is an orange, well a tangelo to be precise.
- Rob

Yorgos

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 306
    • USA, Houston, Texas USDA zone 9a
    • View Profile
Re: my carambolas are flowering !!
« Reply #17 on: July 30, 2020, 01:46:28 PM »
Good info on pruning to induce flowering. I gonna try it this weekend. My tree froze to the ground 4 or 5 years ago like Dirt Diva's did.  It has come back  from the roots and is now 10+ feet tall.  It was a Kary, I assume grafted, so am curious as to what type of fruit it will produce.  I will be interested in how the the fruit is from Dirt Diva's regrowth!
Near NRG Stadium, Houston Texas. USDA zone 9a

Dirt Diva

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • Houston, Tx 9A
    • View Profile
    • YouTube Channel for the DivingTemptress
Re: my carambolas are flowering !! UPDATE
« Reply #18 on: August 22, 2020, 05:01:00 PM »
Here is an update on Hurricanes and my starfruit ... I have lots of fruit, but now Hurricane Marco or Laura or both are heading my way, so at least I will have good pics to share. With some luck, Marco with go further east and Laura will peter out on her way




P J, the DivingTemptress and Dirt Diva