The Tropical Fruit Forum
Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: Saltcayman on March 23, 2012, 11:07:32 AM
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Here in Uganda, my (rollinia) trees drop the leaves during the two dry seasons (this time it was two months without rain)
This quote by Soren surprised me because I did not thing rollinia was very drought tolerant. So I thought I would start a list of drought tolerant tropical fruit trees, or at least trees that will fruit in a tropical environment, that are doing well. In my growing environment, 2 month droughts are common and water is hard to get so if anyone can add to this short list, it may help water challenged growers know what they can can plant and expect to survive. Thanks in advance. Dave
Black sapote
Canistel
Mango
Nance
Sugar apple
Soursop
Tamarind
Guinup
Pomegranate
Fig
Sapodilla
Panama berry
Barbados cherry
Natal plum
Indian jujube
Loquat
java plum
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Guava
Pitanga and pitangatuba
Pera do campo
Other cerrado sp.
Marula
Sugar apple
Atemoya
Avocado
Moringa
Persimmon
White sapote
That's all I can muster for now!
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Feijoa
Most cactus
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Some of the most drought tolerant plants are:
sapodilla, cashew, pomegranate, fig, date palm, jujube, mango, acerola, imbe, monkey orange (Strychnos spinosa), toddy palm (Borassus flabelliferus), coconut, Opuntias, dragon fruit, pistachio, almond.
Oscar
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Seagrape-Coccoloba uvifera
Indian Jujube-Ziziphus mauritiana
Ciruela-Spondias purpurea
Yellow mombin-S.mombin
Umbu-S.tuberosa
Allspice-Pimenta dioica
Uvalha-Eugenia pyriformis var uvalha
Carob-Ceratonia siliqua
Kei apple-Dovyalis caffra
Ceylon gooseberry-Dovyalis carpa
Abyssinian gooseberry-Dovyalis abyssinica
Grapes-Vitis .... several species
African custard apple-Annona senegalensis
Mangaba-Hancornia speciosa
Marolo-Annona crassiflora
Pequi-Caryocar brasiliense
Baru-Dypterix alata
Cagaita-Eugenia dysenterica
Gabiroba-Compomanesia cambessedeana
Jatobá-Hymenaea stigonocarpa
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Worthy extremely drought and heat tolerant fruit trees (plus some ones that show potential)
Fruits;
Pappea capensis (drought tolerant lychee relative, reported to be tasty)
Stenocereus gummosus (cactus, reported to be one of the tastiest cactus fruits)
Opuntia ficus-indica (widespread usage as a vegetable and fruit crop, cactus with the most edibility potential)
Cereus sp. (fruiting cactus with spineless fruits, fruit is sweet and close to dragon fruit)
Polaskia chichipe (fruiting cactus fruits are reported to be close to Opuntia ficus-indica in size)
Corryocactus brevistylus (Sanky Fruit, fruiting cactus with softball sized fruits, lemony taste)
Legumes;
Tylosema esculentum (edible ground nut called Marama bean, reportedly tasty smoked hickory cashew flavor)
Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea, edible seed)
Prosopis sp. (Mesquite, edible seeds used in flour)
Ceratonia siliqua (Carob, Edible seed pods)
Vegetables;
Acacia colei (seed crop, with tasty seeds, nitrogen fixing)
Opuntia-ficus indica (pads used as vegetables)
Neowerdermannia vorwerkii (whole cactus used like a potato, reported to be high in vitamins)
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Guava
Pitanga and pitangatuba
Pera do campo
Other cerrado sp.
Marula
Sugar apple
Atemoya
Avocado
Moringa
Persimmon
White sapote
That's all I can muster for now!
Thanks! I did not know pita ga was drought tolerant. That is great news. Do you think white sapote would fruit in zone 13? Best, Dave
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Feijoa
Most cactus
Thanks Jason. I will try feijoa. Dave
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Some of the most drought tolerant plants are:
sapodilla, cashew, pomegranate, fig, date palm, jujube, mango, acerola, imbe, monkey orange (Strychnos spinosa), toddy palm (Borassus flabelliferus), coconut, Opuntias, dragon fruit, pistachio, almond.
Oscar
Thanks Oscar. I will have to try monkey Orange for sure. How is the fruit?
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Eremocitrus glauca
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Thanks Oscar. I will have to try monkey Orange for sure. How is the fruit?
Haven't had it yet, but heard from Israeli friend that it's pretty good!
Oscar
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Hi Saltcayman,
The Monkey orange is an excellent choice!!! In Mozambique they are called Massala and in Angola they are called Maboque!
My Dad lived in Mozambique for several years and he use to harvest the fruit in the bush! he always talks about the fruit, How delicious and Juicy the fruit was!
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd365/Moonshadow69/fruit_monkey_orange.jpg)
I don't know how your climate is! But, the tree will definetely benefit from a well defined wet and dry season!
Here's some futher reading on Strychnos spinosa,
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Strychnos_spinosa.pdf (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Strychnos_spinosa.pdf)
The genus Strychnos is comprised of several species like Strychnos gerrardii, Strychnos madagascariensis, Strychnos pungens...etc with similar fruits! The tree does very well in a Subtopical to tropical Climate!
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Carissa (Natal-plum)
Carambola (once well-established)
Dovyalis hybrid
Pitomba-de-Manaus (Talisia esculenta)
Pitomba-da-Bahia (Eugenia luschnanthiana)
Soncoya (Guanabanus purpureus, aka Annona purpurea)
Mountain-Soursop
Santo Domingo-Apricot (Mammea americana)
Leucaena legumes
Urrucum or Lipstick Tree or Annato (Bixa orellana)
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Canistel
Acerola
Brazilian-Marmelo (Bunchosia species)
Chocolate-Pudding-Fruit (Diospyros digyna)
Siricote or Geiger-Tree (raw fruits not good, but delicious stewed with sugar, like figs)
Ilama (Annona diversifolia)
Mamey-Sapote
Dwarf Ambarella
Taperebá (Spondias species)
Pitanga
Coco-Plum
Jakfruit
Inga species (Cotton-Candy-Pod)
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I'm growing some monkey orange here, but don't know if it will fruit with our constant wet climate? Can you describe the taste? Thanks for luscious looking photo. If i recall correctly there was a big tree of monkey orange at the Kampong gardens in S. Florida.
Oscar
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I'm growing some monkey orange here, but don't know if it will fruit with our constant wet climate? Can you describe the taste? Thanks for luscious looking photo. If i recall correctly there was a big tree of monkey orange at the Kampong gardens in S. Florida.
Oscar
Hi Oscar :),
He doesn't recall exactly how it tastes like!, He ate the fruit like 40 years ago! But, he said that when the fruit is ripe it exuldes a spicy aroma and it has custard like flavor! sorry, not much info on taste!
Did the tree produce fruit in the Kampong gardens? have you tried to cultivate other species of Strychnos, maybe there is one that is more adapted to constant rain? I really don't know if it will adapt to your climate! is it alwalys raining there?
My uncle always goes to Mozambique and I asked him last week for seeds! Maybe, the tree will adapt here!, we have a distinct rainy season in winter and a dry season in summer!
BTW, In Brazil some people are cultivating this fruit tree with the help of a book that was published which made it famous!
''Sabor do maboque''(Flavor of the Monkey orange) by Dulce Braga it's an Autobiography on her life and also about this beloved fruit that she ate in Angola in her childhood!
Here's a brief vid of her and the fruit!
Entrevista Dulce Braga - Sabor de Maboque - RTP/Rumos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1LhtYD2XA#ws)
Jump to 02:18
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The tree at the Kampong fruited quite a bit for many years, and probably still does--- I haven't visited for around 10 years. I don't recall tasting it, but saw many rinds on the ground.
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Every damn time I think I am done getting new things someone has to post pics of something new. Guess I'll have to start my search for a Monkey orange.
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The tree at the Kampong fruited quite a bit for many years, and probably still does--- I haven't visited for around 10 years. I don't recall tasting it, but saw many rinds on the ground.
Hi Guanabanus,
If the tree is producing in the Kampong Garden, Then it will produce in a humid Sub to Tropical climate! Thanks for sharing!!!
10 years ago! Well, there's an excuse for you to go ;D ;D ;D
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Every damn time I think I am done getting new things someone has to post pics of something new. Guess I'll have to start my search for a Monkey orange.
Hi Jsvand5,
Same here ;D ;D ;D,
I have several sources for the Monkey orange seeds if you want them, just tell me!!!
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I was able to find a seed source for Strychnos madagascariensis (another type of monkey orange), however have not found current sources for Strychnos spinosa.
Strychnos madagascariensis
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/strychnosmad.htm (http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/strychnosmad.htm)
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Every damn time I think I am done getting new things someone has to post pics of something new. Guess I'll have to start my search for a Monkey orange.
Hi Jsvand5,
Same here ;D ;D ;D,
I have several sources for the Monkey orange seeds if you want them, just tell me!!!
I am very interest in some seeds. There are two "wet" seasons in the TCI. The rest is very dry so I am thinking this s a great candidate. Thanks in advance for any information. Dave
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Carissa (Natal-plum)
Carambola (once well-established)
Dovyalis hybrid
Pitomba-de-Manaus (Talisia esculenta)
Pitomba-da-Bahia (Eugenia luschnanthiana)
Soncoya (Guanabanus purpureus, aka Annona purpurea)
Mountain-Soursop
Santo Domingo-Apricot (Mammea americana)
Leucaena legumes
Urrucum or Lipstick Tree or Annato (Bixa orellana)
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Canistel
Acerola
Brazilian-Marmelo (Bunchosia species)
Chocolate-Pudding-Fruit (Diospyros digyna)
Siricote or Geiger-Tree (raw fruits not good, but delicious stewed with sugar, like figs)
Ilama (Annona diversifolia)
Mamey-Sapote
Dwarf Ambarella
Taperebá (Spondias species)
Pitanga
Coco-Plum
Jakfruit
Inga species (Cotton-Candy-Pod)
Thanks har, great list. I tried jakfruit but the seedling was stunted and eventually a cow ate it. I will have to try again and get some micros in the soil. (already made the wall higher:) I plan on planting mammy sapote in June but I was starting to doubt my choice. I'm glad to see it on your list. Thanks
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Thanks Oscar. I will have to try monkey Orange for sure. How is the fruit?
Haven't had it yet, but heard from Israeli friend that it's pretty good!
Oscar
Thanks oscar. This is now at the top of my new short list:)
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Seagrape-Coccoloba uvifera
Indian Jujube-Ziziphus mauritiana
Ciruela-Spondias purpurea
Yellow mombin-S.mombin
Umbu-S.tuberosa
Allspice-Pimenta dioica
Uvalha-Eugenia pyriformis var uvalha
Carob-Ceratonia siliqua
Kei apple-Dovyalis caffra
Ceylon gooseberry-Dovyalis carpa
Abyssinian gooseberry-Dovyalis abyssinica
Grapes-Vitis .... several species
African custard apple-Annona senegalensis
Mangaba-Hancornia speciosa
Marolo-Annona crassiflora
Pequi-Caryocar brasiliense
Baru-Dypterix alata
Cagaita-Eugenia dysenterica
Gabiroba-Compomanesia cambessedeana
Jatobá-Hymenaea stigonocarpa
Thanks Steven. Great list and many species I have not heard of. I will do some more research but mangaba seems like a great candidate. Dave
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Har,
I think we have to define 'drought tolerance'. I don't think Pouterias don't take water deficit to well, specially Mamey-Sapote. I think it is that kind of species that take heat very well as long as humidity is high. Mamey does suffer over here when humidity gets some times low, even with irrigation. The same with Ingas and other species you listed.
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Hi,
Here's the sources:
Helton Josué(Brazil)
http://www.bananasraras.org/frutasrarasingles/seedenglish.htm (http://www.bananasraras.org/frutasrarasingles/seedenglish.htm)
*STRYCHNOS BRASILIENSIS
*STRYCHNOS SPINOSA
Sunshine seeds(Germany)
http://www.sunshine-seeds.de/index.php?cPath=31_1173&sort=2a&page=3&iosCid=12bffc4e8a6c20b387c73644d0b65e66 (http://www.sunshine-seeds.de/index.php?cPath=31_1173&sort=2a&page=3&iosCid=12bffc4e8a6c20b387c73644d0b65e66)
*Strychnos gerrardii
*Strychnos madagascariensis
*Strychnos pungens
*Strychnos spinosa
Silver Hill Seeds(South Africa)
http://www.silverhillseeds.co.za/ (http://www.silverhillseeds.co.za/)
*Strychnos spinosa
Hope this is useful!!!
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It looks live just about everything grown commonly in Florida is drought tolerant- How about drought sensitive trees?
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I did not see Strychnos spinosa at silverhillseeds available (maybe out of season?) I saw Strychnos madagascariensis however.
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Hi Oscar :),
He doesn't recall exactly how it tastes like!, He ate the fruit like 40 years ago! But, he said that when the fruit is ripe it exuldes a spicy aroma and it has custard like flavor! sorry, not much info on taste!
Did the tree produce fruit in the Kampong gardens? have you tried to cultivate other species of Strychnos, maybe there is one that is more adapted to constant rain? I really don't know if it will adapt to your climate! is it alwalys raining there?
My uncle always goes to Mozambique and I asked him last week for seeds! Maybe, the tree will adapt here!, we have a distinct rainy season in winter and a dry season in summer!
BTW, In Brazil some people are cultivating this fruit tree with the help of a book that was published which made it famous!
''Sabor do maboque''(Flavor of the Monkey orange) by Dulce Braga it's an Autobiography on her life and also about this beloved fruit that she ate in Angola in her childhood!
Here's a brief vid of her and the fruit!
Entrevista Dulce Braga - Sabor de Maboque - RTP/Rumos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1LhtYD2XA#ws)
Jump to 02:18
Hi Steven, yes the monkey orange tree at Kampong had fruits on it while i was there, but they were all green and did not get to taste it. Ofcourse it does not rain all the time here, but rain is spread fairly evenly through the year, so we don't have any dry part of the year. Also, just because it fruits in Florida doesn't mean it will fruit here. I think our rainfall ia about 2x higher than in S. Florida, we get an average of 150 inches per year (3800 mm). Still i am trying because some plants from very dry Africa can adapt, like Imbe, and grow fine here. There are even types of cactus that don't mind high rainfall and grow fine here.
Thanks for the video, but like i said i don't understand spoken Portuguese, written Portuguese much easier to decipher.
Oscar
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I don't know how mamey-sapotes do with salt spray. [In Belize some sapodillas grow in the sea.]
In Yucatán, mamey-sapotes withstand prolonged dry seasons annually, on shallow clay soils over limestone rocks, with the water table probably well over 50 feet down in most places. I don't know what the air humidity levels run there. We were not discussing desert plants.
Recently we have had several drought years here in south Florida, with little rain from November thru June. My sandy yard is 27 feet above the water table. I don't have an irrigation system, and sporadically water plants that look stressed. Many plants and trees have died in my yard, but all the ones I listed (except for mamey-sapote and carissa, which I observed elswhere) are doing just fine, some with no rain or irrigation for two months.
I did not list soursop, which has needed frequent extra waterings. I also did not list Rollinia deliciosa (mucosa) which do not survive for me unless grafted on drought- hardy rootsock. Sugar-apples just barely hold on.
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Some trees that are drought tolerant may not survive very low relative humidity. But rainfall and humidity are 2 very different things. Here we have places that have very low rainfall and still have fairly high humidity. Perhaps case is same in some places and times in Florida? But places that have both very low rainfall and also very low RH are much harder on plants. That may be the case in Canary islands?
Oscar
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Exactly, there are many aspects of drought tolerance as it as a relative term; adaption to seasonal drought (precipitation patterns), total amount of precipitation, humidity, and other factors like soil type and whether the tree is established with deep roots or not etc.
What I consider a drought tolerant tree growing in Northern Uganda (1000mm precipitation with two distinct rainy seasons) will not be considered drought-tolerant in Egypt (with 100mm precipitation or so).
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Exactly, there are many aspects of drought tolerance as it as a relative term; adaption to seasonal drought (precipitation patterns), total amount of precipitation, humidity, and other factors like soil type and whether the tree is established with deep roots or not etc.
What I consider a drought tolerant tree growing in Northern Uganda (1000mm precipitation with two distinct rainy seasons) will not be considered drought-tolerant in Egypt (with 100mm precipitation or so).
Hi Soren, I never thought of drought tolerance this way. It sounds like we have similar drought situations although the wet seasons in TCI, and specifically on salt cay, tend to vary year to year. Maybe looking at trees endemic to similar regions is a better approach. The soil is a clay silt (mainly dust from Africa) and calcium carbonate from the weathered limestone bedrock.
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Hi Dave,
I can see the total precipitation for Turks and Caicos Islands average 600mm per year - is that correct? With temperatures of 25-30c. So if you are not planning to irrigate, you need to select your trees carefully - that is fairly tough conditions.
Which trees are you growing or have tried to grow?
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I don't know how mamey-sapotes do with salt spray. [In Belize some sapodillas grow in the sea.]
In Yucatán, mamey-sapotes withstand prolonged dry seasons annually, on shallow clay soils over limestone rocks, with the water table probably well over 50 feet down in most places. I don't know what the air humidity levels run there. We were not discussing desert plants.
Recently we have had several drought years here in south Florida, with little rain from November thru June. My sandy yard is 27 feet above the water table. I don't have an irrigation system, and sporadically water plants that look stressed. Many plants and trees have died in my yard, but all the ones I listed (except for mamey-sapote and carissa, which I observed elswhere) are doing just fine, some with no rain or irrigation for two months.
I did not list soursop, which has needed frequent extra waterings. I also did not list Rollinia deliciosa (mucosa) which do not survive for me unless grafted on drought- hardy rootsock. Sugar-apples just barely hold on.
Har - I noticed you listed Annona purpurea. My A. squamosa and A. muricata does better than my A. purpurea which drops all the leaves and kinda dries up a bit during the dry seasons.
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I did not see Strychnos spinosa at silverhillseeds available (maybe out of season?) I saw Strychnos madagascariensis however.
Hi Nullzero,
I sent them an e-mail in January about the Doringklapper-Strychnos spinosa! They told me that it will be available this season!
If I'm not mistaken, The season for Monkey orange in South Africa is September!
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Hi Dave,
I can see the total precipitation for Turks and Caicos Islands average 600mm per year - is that correct? With temperatures of 25-30c. So if you are not planning to irrigate, you need to select your trees carefully - that is fairly tough conditions.
Which trees are you growing or have tried to grow?
Black sapote
Canistel
Mango
Nance
Sugar apple
Soursop
Tamarind
Guinup
Pomegranate
Fig
Sapodilla
Panama berry
Barbados cherry
Natal plum
Indian jujube
Loquat
java plum
Hi Soren, these are doing well with some hose irrigation. The trees that do best on island are tamarind, Guinup, sapodilla, neem and date palm. Rainfall is about 20 inches per year. I introduced the rest and of those, nance and black sapote, indian jujube and natal plum are doing the best. Many have failed in the past including longon, jakfruit, a mango, dwarf ambarella, Any advice or suggestions you have would be great. Thanks, Dave
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Can't add much to the list already mentioned apart from some African species, but they will be difficult to get a seed source from.
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Does anyone know how many years does Strychnos spinosa take to produce?
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Hi Oscar,
WOW, that's alot of rain!!!! Here we are having the driest winter in about 120 years! :( Luckly, The Government gives the irrigation water for free during droughts :)!
I hope your trees produce soon for you! ;) Keep us posted! BTW How old are your trees?
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This thread made me order some Strychnos pungens seeds! :P Should have them in a week or two, after reading up on the Strychnos spinosa, Strychnos, Strychnos cocculoides, and Strychnos pungens from http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11879&page=309 (http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11879&page=309) and an Israeli agriculture report, which had a section about it; http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-378.html (http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-378.html)
It seems that Strychnos cocculoides is reported to have the best tasting fruit upto 12cm in width.
Strychnos pungens, is reported to have the least amount of toxins in the seed (of the three) and has fruit upto 12cm in width. "least in Strychnos pungens not even the seeds seem to contain toxins."
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11879&page=310 (http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11879&page=310)
Strychnos spinosa, has fruit close to cocculoides in quality. More adapted to drought and heat then the other two.
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I ordered some of the different Strychnos species from Silverhill seeds in South Africa. They did a very good job of sending and i would like to recommend them.
Oscar
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I ordered some of the different Strychnos species from Silverhill seeds in South Africa. They did a very good job of sending and i would like to recommend them.
Oscar
I have seeds coming in from Silverhill, marula seeds :).
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I'm growing some monkey orange here, but don't know if it will fruit with our constant wet climate? Can you describe the taste? Thanks for luscious looking photo. If i recall correctly there was a big tree of monkey orange at the Kampong gardens in S. Florida.
Oscar
Hi Oscar :),
He doesn't recall exactly how it tastes like!, He ate the fruit like 40 years ago! But, he said that when the fruit is ripe it exuldes a spicy aroma and it has custard like flavor! sorry, not much info on taste!
Did the tree produce fruit in the Kampong gardens? have you tried to cultivate other species of Strychnos, maybe there is one that is more adapted to constant rain? I really don't know if it will adapt to your climate! is it alwalys raining there?
My uncle always goes to Mozambique and I asked him last week for seeds! Maybe, the tree will adapt here!, we have a distinct rainy season in winter and a dry season in summer!
BTW, In Brazil some people are cultivating this fruit tree with the help of a book that was published which made it famous!
''Sabor do maboque''(Flavor of the Monkey orange) by Dulce Braga it's an Autobiography on her life and also about this beloved fruit that she ate in Angola in her childhood!
Here's a brief vid of her and the fruit!
Entrevista Dulce Braga - Sabor de Maboque - RTP/Rumos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1LhtYD2XA#ws)
Jump to 02:18
A tough one to grow for me , killed a few by over watering ( probably ) and the ants just love the leaves defoliating the remaining bush time after time . Also dead slow growing here.
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I'm growing some monkey orange here, but don't know if it will fruit with our constant wet climate? Can you describe the taste? Thanks for luscious looking photo. If i recall correctly there was a big tree of monkey orange at the Kampong gardens in S. Florida.
Oscar
Hi Oscar :),
He doesn't recall exactly how it tastes like!, He ate the fruit like 40 years ago! But, he said that when the fruit is ripe it exuldes a spicy aroma and it has custard like flavor! sorry, not much info on taste!
Did the tree produce fruit in the Kampong gardens? have you tried to cultivate other species of Strychnos, maybe there is one that is more adapted to constant rain? I really don't know if it will adapt to your climate! is it alwalys raining there?
My uncle always goes to Mozambique and I asked him last week for seeds! Maybe, the tree will adapt here!, we have a distinct rainy season in winter and a dry season in summer!
BTW, In Brazil some people are cultivating this fruit tree with the help of a book that was published which made it famous!
''Sabor do maboque''(Flavor of the Monkey orange) by Dulce Braga it's an Autobiography on her life and also about this beloved fruit that she ate in Angola in her childhood!
Here's a brief vid of her and the fruit!
Entrevista Dulce Braga - Sabor de Maboque - RTP/Rumos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1LhtYD2XA#ws)
Jump to 02:18
A tough one to grow for me , killed a few by over watering ( probably ) and the ants just love the leaves defoliating the remaining bush time after time . Also dead slow growing here.
Hi Luc,
Sorry to hear about that :( You should take care of those ant's...Spray the tree with garlic extract(to repel them) or make a fire on the mound and get rid of them for good. I truly hate ant's...Latest development with them ants....they intoduced aphids on my Abiu seedling :'( I will take care of them ASAP ;) Don't give up on Maboque :) I got a few running my self ;)
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Hi Dave,
I can see the total precipitation for Turks and Caicos Islands average 600mm per year - is that correct? With temperatures of 25-30c. So if you are not planning to irrigate, you need to select your trees carefully - that is fairly tough conditions.
Which trees are you growing or have tried to grow?
Black sapote
Canistel
Mango
Nance
Sugar apple
Soursop
Tamarind
Guinup
Pomegranate
Fig
Sapodilla
Panama berry
Barbados cherry
Natal plum
Indian jujube
Loquat
java plum
Hi Soren, these are doing well with some hose irrigation. The trees that do best on island are tamarind, Guinup, sapodilla, neem and date palm. Rainfall is about 20 inches per year. I introduced the rest and of those, nance and black sapote, indian jujube and natal plum are doing the best. Many have failed in the past including longon, jakfruit, a mango, dwarf ambarella, Any advice or suggestions you have would be great. Thanks, Dave
@Dave
Didn't realize how dry those Islands were, from what I understand the soil is very sandy also. how is your soil ? have you considered/tried drip irrigation?
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Judging what grows in the dry tropics here and knowing your min temps I say persist with mangoes and jackfruit, forget longan and lychees.
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I don't know how mamey-sapotes do with salt spray. [In Belize some sapodillas grow in the sea.]
In Yucatán, mamey-sapotes withstand prolonged dry seasons annually, on shallow clay soils over limestone rocks, with the water table probably well over 50 feet down in most places. I don't know what the air humidity levels run there. We were not discussing desert plants.
Recently we have had several drought years here in south Florida, with little rain from November thru June. My sandy yard is 27 feet above the water table. I don't have an irrigation system, and sporadically water plants that look stressed. Many plants and trees have died in my yard, but all the ones I listed (except for mamey-sapote and carissa, which I observed elswhere) are doing just fine, some with no rain or irrigation for two months.
I did not list soursop, which has needed frequent extra waterings. I also did not list Rollinia deliciosa (mucosa) which do not survive for me unless grafted on drought- hardy rootsock. Sugar-apples just barely hold on.
My grafted mamey sapote trees don't like prolonged drought. In fact, they start to droop a bit after 2-3 days of hot, sunny, dry weather. Maybe it's because they are young and sandy soil doesn't tend to hold moisture well?
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Yah, mamey is not at all drought tolerant. I have a well-established tree that's been in ground for over 3 years, yet it stresses if we go a week or two without rainfall. Potted mamey will droop its leaves if it just thinks about sun.
I don't know how mamey-sapotes do with salt spray. [In Belize some sapodillas grow in the sea.]
In Yucatán, mamey-sapotes withstand prolonged dry seasons annually, on shallow clay soils over limestone rocks, with the water table probably well over 50 feet down in most places. I don't know what the air humidity levels run there. We were not discussing desert plants.
Recently we have had several drought years here in south Florida, with little rain from November thru June. My sandy yard is 27 feet above the water table. I don't have an irrigation system, and sporadically water plants that look stressed. Many plants and trees have died in my yard, but all the ones I listed (except for mamey-sapote and carissa, which I observed elswhere) are doing just fine, some with no rain or irrigation for two months.
I did not list soursop, which has needed frequent extra waterings. I also did not list Rollinia deliciosa (mucosa) which do not survive for me unless grafted on drought- hardy rootsock. Sugar-apples just barely hold on.
My grafted mamey sapote trees don't like prolonged drought. In fact, they start to droop a bit after 2-3 days of hot, sunny, dry weather. Maybe it's because they are young and sandy soil doesn't tend to hold moisture well?
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Well, I can't say that we ever see much in the way of drought here :-). We call drought when it hasn't rained in 2 weeks. Try planting the trees you grow here in Florida in so cal where it's not uncommon to go 6 months without rainfall :-).
It looks live just about everything grown commonly in Florida is drought tolerant- How about drought sensitive trees?
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Well, I can't say that we ever see much in the way of drought here :-). We call drought when it hasn't rained in 2 weeks. Try planting the trees you grow here in Florida in so cal where it's not uncommon to go 6 months without rainfall :-).
It looks live just about everything grown commonly in Florida is drought tolerant- How about drought sensitive trees?
Soil composition in SoCal retains moisture for a longer period of time (higher clay content). There are plenty of older avocado trees that thrive with no irrigation. Water table averages around 30-40ft to water in most areas of La County and Orange County. Once the roots make it down to the water table chances of survival are very good for any moderately drought tolerant tree.
Its tough for most fruiting plants in SoCal, with the exception of Figs, Pomegranates, Loquats, Opuntia, etc. to establish themselves without irrigation and care.
Having been to South Florida many times, I love the extra moisture and warm night temps which are great for growing. There is a trade off for the plants though... pests, excess rain, and diseases. Mild drought stress can also enhance taste of fruit and sweetness.
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Hi Dave,
I can see the total precipitation for Turks and Caicos Islands average 600mm per year - is that correct? With temperatures of 25-30c. So if you are not planning to irrigate, you need to select your trees carefully - that is fairly tough conditions.
Which trees are you growing or have tried to grow?
Black sapote
Canistel
Mango
Nance
Sugar apple
Soursop
Tamarind
Guinup
Pomegranate
Fig
Sapodilla
Panama berry
Barbados cherry
Natal plum
Indian jujube
Loquat
java plum
Hi Soren, these are doing well with some hose irrigation. The trees that do best on island are tamarind, Guinup, sapodilla, neem and date palm. Rainfall is about 20 inches per year. I introduced the rest and of those, nance and black sapote, indian jujube and natal plum are doing the best. Many have failed in the past including longon, jakfruit, a mango, dwarf ambarella, Any advice or suggestions you have would be great. Thanks, Dave
@Dave
Didn't realize how dry those Islands were, from what I understand the soil is very sandy also. how is your soil ? have you considered/tried drip irrigation?
Hey William, Yes, very dry! They made salt there for three hundred years because of how dry it is. Drip could work but I am on cistern water and would not want to risk a broken fitting which would quickly pump the cistern dry... Soil is a red laterite clay on top of limestone. Better than sand but low organic content and lots of iron but very high PH that locks up everything:( I have been adding as much organic material as I can get my hands on and I have a guy who waters with a hose twice per week. Also started adding sulfur and dried humates as per a soil analysis I had done to try and bring down the ph. Dave
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We use a Cistern, which gets its water from a well.
Using drip will save you on water big time. you can put it on a timer, to run at evening, or early morning when its cool.
drip kits are pretty cheap. as for possible leaks, usually not a problem, heck they are even used on plantations with thousands of trees.
there are also hoses with built in emitters , that cant be knocked out.
I have never had problem like you, with Ph. so have no experience with that. but adding all that organic bio mass, will do good for sure. eventually you will get your Ph down.
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I don't know how mamey-sapotes do with salt spray. [In Belize some sapodillas grow in the sea.]
In Yucatán, mamey-sapotes withstand prolonged dry seasons annually, on shallow clay soils over limestone rocks, with the water table probably well over 50 feet down in most places. I don't know what the air humidity levels run there. We were not discussing desert plants.
Recently we have had several drought years here in south Florida, with little rain from November thru June. My sandy yard is 27 feet above the water table. I don't have an irrigation system, and sporadically water plants that look stressed. Many plants and trees have died in my yard, but all the ones I listed (except for mamey-sapote and carissa, which I observed elswhere) are doing just fine, some with no rain or irrigation for two months.
I did not list soursop, which has needed frequent extra waterings. I also did not list Rollinia deliciosa (mucosa) which do not survive for me unless grafted on drought- hardy rootsock. Sugar-apples just barely hold on.
Har - I noticed you listed Annona purpurea. My A. squamosa and A. muricata does better than my A. purpurea which drops all the leaves and kinda dries up a bit during the dry seasons.
Soren , that is normal for A. purpurea , here in it's natural environment ( No rain from October till end of June ) it looses most of its leaves also except when growing close to water.
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Dropping leaves to hunker down during annual droughts is a bona fide adaptation for survival. Annona purpurea is an example.
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Dropping leaves to hunker down during annual droughts is a bona fide adaptation for survival. Annona purpurea is an example.
I am aware and agree; that adaption also makes it possible for the Rollinias to survive here - but both A. squamosa and A. muricata do not exhibit this strategy in my climate though at least A. squamose is semi-deciduous - it continues which is why I do reason it has a higher water-stress level.
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I don't know how mamey-sapotes do with salt spray. [In Belize some sapodillas grow in the sea.]
In Yucatán, mamey-sapotes withstand prolonged dry seasons annually, on shallow clay soils over limestone rocks, with the water table probably well over 50 feet down in most places. I don't know what the air humidity levels run there. We were not discussing desert plants.
Recently we have had several drought years here in south Florida, with little rain from November thru June. My sandy yard is 27 feet above the water table. I don't have an irrigation system, and sporadically water plants that look stressed. Many plants and trees have died in my yard, but all the ones I listed (except for mamey-sapote and carissa, which I observed elswhere) are doing just fine, some with no rain or irrigation for two months.
I did not list soursop, which has needed frequent extra waterings. I also did not list Rollinia deliciosa (mucosa) which do not survive for me unless grafted on drought- hardy rootsock. Sugar-apples just barely hold on.
Mamey-sapotes do well here with salt exposure. A. Muricatas seem to do far better with some shade and I have noticed that A. squamosas do struggle and produce small fruit when receiving no care. My Guillermo Ilama seedlings are growing like wild fire despite being the tree of choice for hungry iquanas.