Exotica Lottery

[Oolie]

This year I needed some rootstock for grafting, and happened to be near enough Exotica to grab some rootstocks.

They sell small seedlings for pretty cheap, around 10 dollars.

When grafting, I noticed a few of them had pretty interesting sap smells, some had strong indochinese aromas (like a parsnip), others had strong citrus aromas. One in particular had a orange/vanilla smell, the graft failed, so I will grow this one out.

If you have space and want to gamble Gary Zill style, you might try crushing some leaves the next time you are at exotica, and picking some seedlings to try out.

[shaneatwell]

are we talking about mango?

[nullzero]

Yes its mangoes seedlings I believe he talking about. They had them poorly labeled and it became untraceable. I got supposed White Prie, Tong Dam, and another seedling I inspected and found tags on most of the area this was back in July. I am assuming it became more of a mess later in the summer. I am hoping that Steve's mango seedlings are from the actual fruit.

[Oolie]

Yes, it's the mango.

I only realized that some of the seedlings had interesting sap aromas when cutting into them for grafting, but by sorting through the trays of seedlings using the Gary Zill method of crushing leaves of a fresh flush and evaluating the aroma, I think we could quickly acquire some decent selections, even without grafting. It's a gamble, but if you want something with a flavor that you find in the seedlings, it's an option.

I think for as little as 10 dollars a shot, it's an enticing opportunity. And if it turns out the fruit isn't good, you get an established tree ready to top-work.

[FV Fruit Freak]

What’s up Oolie! Hope all is well my friend. What did Mr Steve have on the tasting table?! Just curious.

[behlgarden]

I was at Exotica last week, they had jujubee and figs for tasting.

[FV Fruit Freak]

Right on, thanks Behl.

[Oolie]

Last time I was there I found a very good tasting white sapote on the table.

I also picked up a seedling mango with a sap smell very similar to 'Kesar' with a very broad leaf.

I think it was an 'Itamaraca' seedling, which are supposedly 'True to type'.

[Mikey]

I originally ask for a cherimoya that taste like a chewy sugar apple.  Steve produce a 20 dollar seedlings and it fruited this year.  And guess what?  It tasted like a chewy sugar apple (Dai Na)