Author Topic: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13  (Read 5114 times)

FloridaGreenMan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1402
  • Fort Lauderdale FL Zone 10B
    • Florida USA
    • View Profile
Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« on: January 27, 2013, 08:45:30 PM »
Tropical Fruit & Vegetable Society of the Redland

The speaker will be Julian Lara and the program will be “Mamey Sapote Propagation”.  Julian is owner of Lara Farms Nursery.

Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm in the auditorium at the Fruit & Spice Park. Enjoy monthly guest lectures on tropical fruit, vegetables and related topics, a free tasting table, plant exchange and horticultural library.



Fruit & Spice Park
24801 S.W. 187th Avenue

Homestead, Florida 33031

305-247-5727 
FloridaGreenMan

Tropicalgrower89

  • Zone 11a, Florida
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1600
    • Pembroke Pines, FL, 33024, 10b
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2013, 08:49:07 PM »
Tropical Fruit & Vegetable Society of the Redland

The speaker will be Julian Lara and the program will be “Mamey Sapote Propagation”.  Julian is owner of Lara Farms Nursery.

Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm in the auditorium at the Fruit & Spice Park. Enjoy monthly guest lectures on tropical fruit, vegetables and related topics, a free tasting table, plant exchange and horticultural library.



Fruit & Spice Park
24801 S.W. 187th Avenue

Homestead, Florida 33031

305-247-5727

Hope someone records this on video.  :)
Alexi

FloridaGreenMan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1402
  • Fort Lauderdale FL Zone 10B
    • Florida USA
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2013, 09:21:28 PM »
Julian and his father are probably the top guys in Mamey Sapote and their nursery is really impressive. They propagate many other types of fruit trees and also sell fresh fruit in season.     
FloridaGreenMan

BMc

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1740
  • Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2013, 09:22:02 PM »
Please record on video! I want to see how the pros do it as only a handful do them here and even they do it very infrequently. 😩

Cookie Monster

  • Broward, FL Zone 10b
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
  • Eye like mangoes
    • Tamarac, FL, 33321, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2013, 10:03:22 PM »
Whoo hoo! This sounds awesome!

Julian and his father are probably the top guys in Mamey Sapote and their nursery is really impressive. They propagate many other types of fruit trees and also sell fresh fruit in season.   
Jeff  :-)

JF

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6652
  • North OC California Zone 10B/America Tropical 13A
    • 90631/97000
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2013, 08:14:23 PM »
I second that! I would love to see Julian's grafting demonstration.

Tropicalgrower89

  • Zone 11a, Florida
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1600
    • Pembroke Pines, FL, 33024, 10b
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2013, 03:43:42 PM »
So, how was it?  :)
Alexi

Fruitguy

  • Zone 10b - Miami, FL
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 336
    • United States, Miami,Florida Zone 10b
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2013, 07:12:35 PM »
Well....the actual grafting portion of Julian's presentation was fairly short.  He demonstrated a cleft graft of a variety from the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) called 'Cepeda Especial' (phonetic).  Basically he indicated that the following method:  Get scionwood that is fairly firm, meaning that while the stem may bend slightly, but not to say a 45 degree angle.  The terminal bud should be closed.  Remove all but the top 3 leaves.  Make two tapered cuts, one on either side of the scion, to form a "V" at the bottom, like you would any other cleft graft.  Next make a flat cut to the stem of the rootstock, about 6 inches (15 cm) above the soil.  Then its time for the vertical inscission to the rootstock, which he makes towards the side (rather than the middle) of the stem.  I'd say he make it about 1/3 of the way across the cut stem of the rootstock.  He indicated that better cambium contact was achieved this way.  Then secure the connection tightly with either rubber bands or grafting tape.  He prefers the former as it falls off naturally, however if using the latter it should be cut off after 4-6 weeks.  Then secure a plastic bag over the top of the pot and grafted plant and place in indirect sunlight.  The plastic bag keeps the condensation on the leaves so you don't have to water the plant, and the 3 leaves left on the scion allow the scion to drink (absorb?) the condensation.  He claimed 70 to 80% success rate when done in temperatures that are less than 90F (32C).  If its too hot outside, the cells in the scion will not grow. After 2-3 leaves emerge from the terminal bud, then the bag can be removed.  At that time, he uses Miracle grow fertilizer once a week.  He also indicated that the same process works equally well for mango, but not with the Miracle-grow fert as it is too high in nitrogen. 

Tropicalgrower89

  • Zone 11a, Florida
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1600
    • Pembroke Pines, FL, 33024, 10b
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2013, 07:16:55 PM »
Well....the actual grafting portion of Julian's presentation was fairly short.  He demonstrated a cleft graft of a variety from the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) called 'Cepeda Especial' (phonetic).  Basically he indicated that the following method:  Get scionwood that is fairly firm, meaning that while the stem may bend slightly, but not to say a 45 degree angle.  The terminal bud should be closed.  Remove all but the top 3 leaves.  Make two tapered cuts, one on either side of the scion, to form a "V" at the bottom, like you would any other cleft graft.  Next make a flat cut to the stem of the rootstock, about 6 inches (15 cm) above the soil.  Then its time for the vertical inscission to the rootstock, which he makes towards the side (rather than the middle) of the stem.  I'd say he make it about 1/3 of the way across the cut stem of the rootstock.  He indicated that better cambium contact was achieved this way.  Then secure the connection tightly with either rubber bands or grafting tape.  He prefers the former as it falls off naturally, however if using the latter it should be cut off after 4-6 weeks.  Then secure a plastic bag over the top of the pot and grafted plant and place in indirect sunlight.  The plastic bag keeps the condensation on the leaves so you don't have to water the plant, and the 3 leaves left on the scion allow the scion to drink (absorb?) the condensation.  He claimed 70 to 80% success rate when done in temperatures that are less than 90F (32C).  If its too hot outside, the cells in the scion will not grow. After 2-3 leaves emerge from the terminal bud, then the bag can be removed.  At that time, he uses Miracle grow fertilizer once a week.  He also indicated that the same process works equally well for mango, but not with the Miracle-grow fert as it is too high in nitrogen.

Cool. Thanks! Did he mention anything about fertilizers for in-ground mamey trees?
Alexi

Patrick

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: I am a geek!!
    • USA, Palm Beach, FL 33467, Zone 10a
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2013, 07:26:52 PM »
Then its time for the vertical inscission to the rootstock, which he makes towards the side (rather than the middle) of the stem.  I'd say he make it about 1/3 of the way across the cut stem of the rootstock.



Almost like a cross between a cleft and bark graft like this?

Fruitguy

  • Zone 10b - Miami, FL
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 336
    • United States, Miami,Florida Zone 10b
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2013, 08:28:45 PM »


Almost like a cross between a cleft and bark graft like this?

Yes, pretty much like that. 


Cool. Thanks! Did he mention anything about fertilizers for in-ground mamey trees?

No, I don't believe so.  He did show a couple of videos that are available on line that he and his father (Pablo Lara) did, one in English and the other in Spanish.  They focused mainly on mango cultivars.  They intend to do more in the future. 

He discussed a few of the mamey cultivars:  'Pantin' - gets soft/slimy after a few days in the refrigerator.  Best mamey rootstock as it produces a thicker stem on the seedling.  'Magana' has ripening issues, where sometimes it will ripen on one side of the fruit and not the other.  He suggested that many people scratch the skin on the end when they should scratch it at the middle for 'Magana', and on multiple sides. 'Pace' is a hybrid between Tazumal (sp?) and 'Magana' that was developed by his father. The name is derived from the first two letters of his father's name, and the first two letters of his mother's name (Cecilia?). It ripens at the same time as 'Magana', but ripens evenly, and is precocious.  He mentioned 3 cultivars from the Yucatan Peninsula (spelling may be off): 'Cepeda Especial', 'Akil Especial', and 'Vidal Redondo'.  All were said to have a very good flavor and a reddish flesh.  He may be selling those at Lara Farms (Homestead). 

Since he had no ripe mameys, he brought in some ripe caimitos.  He had two types (seedlings), one with purple flesh and the other with half purple/half white flesh.

A few of other tidbits that he shared (general, for all fruit trees) that are probably familiar to most of us:
 
"Fruit trees will not drink old water."  Translation: Use a well drained soil and let them dry out before re-watering. 

"Don't use black soil or potting soil in the planting hole."  To clarity, you should leave the potting soil that was attached to the roots from the pot, just don't add any additional.

(Specifically for mamey) - Prune larger trees to let more light in, or else you will only get fruit on the tips of the trees.

"Leave circling roots when planting potted plants."  This was a new one on me, but I'm assuming that he believes that it is more important to NOT disturb the roots.

On a side note, Chris Rollins shared one of the first fruits of Psidium acutangulum (or a very similar sounding species) at the Fruit & Spice Park.  Flavor was similar to Cas guava.  Nice.


Tropicalgrower89

  • Zone 11a, Florida
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1600
    • Pembroke Pines, FL, 33024, 10b
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2013, 09:20:39 PM »


Almost like a cross between a cleft and bark graft like this?

Yes, pretty much like that. 


Cool. Thanks! Did he mention anything about fertilizers for in-ground mamey trees?

No, I don't believe so.  He did show a couple of videos that are available on line that he and his father (Pablo Lara) did, one in English and the other in Spanish.  They focused mainly on mango cultivars.  They intend to do more in the future. 

He discussed a few of the mamey cultivars:  'Pantin' - gets soft/slimy after a few days in the refrigerator.  Best mamey rootstock as it produces a thicker stem on the seedling.  'Magana' has ripening issues, where sometimes it will ripen on one side of the fruit and not the other.  He suggested that many people scratch the skin on the end when they should scratch it at the middle for 'Magana', and on multiple sides. 'Pace' is a hybrid between Tazumal (sp?) and 'Magana' that was developed by his father. The name is derived from the first two letters of his father's name, and the first two letters of his mother's name (Cecilia?). It ripens at the same time as 'Magana', but ripens evenly, and is precocious.  He mentioned 3 cultivars from the Yucatan Peninsula (spelling may be off): 'Cepeda Especial', 'Akil Especial', and 'Vidal Redondo'.  All were said to have a very good flavor and a reddish flesh.  He may be selling those at Lara Farms (Homestead). 

Since he had no ripe mameys, he brought in some ripe caimitos.  He had two types (seedlings), one with purple flesh and the other with half purple/half white flesh.

A few of other tidbits that he shared (general, for all fruit trees) that are probably familiar to most of us:
 
"Fruit trees will not drink old water."  Translation: Use a well drained soil and let them dry out before re-watering. 

"Don't use black soil or potting soil in the planting hole."  To clarity, you should leave the potting soil that was attached to the roots from the pot, just don't add any additional.

(Specifically for mamey) - Prune larger trees to let more light in, or else you will only get fruit on the tips of the trees.

"Leave circling roots when planting potted plants."  This was a new one on me, but I'm assuming that he believes that it is more important to NOT disturb the roots.

On a side note, Chris Rollins shared one of the first fruits of Psidium acutangulum (or a very similar sounding species) at the Fruit & Spice Park.  Flavor was similar to Cas guava.  Nice.

Oh okay. Thanks for the info! Glad to hear that there are going to be even more mamey cultivars available for us in the future.
Alexi

fyliu

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3216
    • Burbank/Covina, CA 10a
    • View Profile
Re: Mamey Sapote Propagation Lecture 1/30/13
« Reply #12 on: January 31, 2013, 09:24:20 PM »
Then its time for the vertical inscission to the rootstock, which he makes towards the side (rather than the middle) of the stem.  I'd say he make it about 1/3 of the way across the cut stem of the rootstock.



Almost like a cross between a cleft and bark graft like this?

I think that's what you do if you want to graft a smaller scion to a larger rootstock. Make the cut where it's exactly as wide as the scion.

Interesting explanation about the leaves drinking the humidity. It sounds right. It's good practice to plastic bag tropical and fleshy plants, as they tend to dry out faster.