The Tropical Fruit Forum

OK, so I know you all thought I died, but I have been waiting for a date and other information.  So our date to visit the Grimal Grove will be January 17-20, 2014, which for many is a 3 day weekend as it's the MLK holiday.  As a national day of service, Patrick was kind of interested in doing something on this weekend.  Also, it seems the November date didn't work so well for him, despite his willingness, as apparently his wife is due to give birth that month.  (I'm sure we can give him a pass for this one, no?!) 

Anyway, now we need to know how many of you want or will require accommodations?  As stated, there is a church in Big Pine Key that offers something akin to a "youth hostel" experience, but it will be really, really inexpensive (+/- $30 per night).  It's no frills, but very clean and of course it's CHEAP.  Patrick is also working on a group rate at a local hotel for those who'd like something a little more "hotel like."  I do not have more information on this yet, but it will be forthcoming.  If you want, you also have the option of managing your own accommodations in the lower keys, i.e. Key West (30 mins. south) if you so choose.

In addition, there will be a small fee that we each will be asked to pay (not very much according to Patrick because we are coming to help out) that goes toward the purchase of the grove and the sponsorship of its program.  Apparently, the current owner had amassed some terrible fines for allowing the property to fall into such disrepair and Patrick and his non-profit are trying to clear up the mess so that they can get clear title to the grove for ownership.  It'll be nice to see the grove saved from disaster and Monroe County wants that to happen.  I will pin him down on this amount this week.

Also, if any of you are flying in, you can fly to either Key West or Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale on Friday, the 17th and Patrick is willing to assist you with transport to the Keys.

So save your nickels folks.  We're going to the grove!  Questions?  Comments?  PM me!

loquat loquat loquat  ---- Adam Saffron here lives in N Florida has a line on some super loquats that Larry Schatzer bred...new varieties

 http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/582/     (loquat man Larry)

Oh yeah, here's a photo of my loquat tree:)  It took 6 years to fruit, and while it was sweet, there was way more seed than fruit.  Kind of a letdown IMHO.

Thanks guys!! My worst enemy of course is the yearly freeze and Critters that eat my fruits (but that's a whole different story,lol...)

The Conduit Poles are for protection...when I first planted the tree "wind protection" is highly recommended so I used those poles to attach shade cloth all the way around it...it worked out great for "winter protection" so it served me well.

Newgen, my yard is not that big...1/3 Acre...I still have room to plant more trees...but its very difficult to protect them during our freeze so I've gone with just a few...some of the yard you see belongs to my neighbor...

Luis, I cover mine with frost cloth, blankets, tarp, whatever I can...I also add a light source for heat...something like this!

That's a lovely "warm" house!  Next year, you might want to add some christmas tree lights wrapped around the tree.  Not the new LEDs, but the old kind that have heat.  They work well.

My goodness those lychees are beautiful!  OK, so do I really need to make a trip to PIN to get them or is there a grower who'll ship air layers?  I'd even prefer to support a small grower here on the forum if at all possible.

Airlayered lychees.

Ethan:  I'm afraid of these air layers!  I've heard conflicting advice on them as to heartiness and so I have shied away.  I know someone who is a serious grower and he spent a small fortune on air layers only to watch all of them die.  I'm of the idea that everything needs a taproot, but I'm willing to be re-educated. 

And by the by, I do have lychees growing:  Emperor and Hak Ip, both from year old seedlings.  Once again, I'm watching paint dry.  Help me out here...

Hey, this is interesting to me.

Despite living in FLorida, I'm so far north, that most of what I read and see available in terms of fruit doesn't apply to me.  I just recently heard about an Asian Market not far from here that has produce.  Will check it out this week.  If it pans out, we might be able to work something out.

Fingers crossed!

Asian Mega Mart?  Where is this wonderful Oz?

No need for therapy, just a larger wallet and perhaps a call to a real estate agent to help you source a larger place with more space for planting.  Perhaps you could downsize your house in favor of more land?!  

Take photos next time for those of us who can't be there in person.

It's aweful being so far north.  I feel like I'm missing all the fun.  My husband found 7 - 25 gal pots laying in the road one day.  The county had planted some trees in and threw them down but didn't pick them up and they were a hazard.  Now I am plannimg on saving 2 for my Pulasan trees but have no use for the others.  And I need 3 gals!  Ugh!

Sorry I'm so late to this post. I'd like 10 if it's not too late and I'm in FL.
-Tamara

This afternoon I had a wonderful discussion with Patrick Garvey, who is the coordinator of the Growing Hope Initiative in charge of the project to restore the Grimal Grove located on Big Pine Key in Monroe County, Florida.  I mentioned to him that I was interested in visiting the grove, and moreover that possibly there were other members of the forum who might also be interested in visiting and willing to assist with the cleanup and restoration of this beautiful property.

Right now, I'd like to know if there are other members of the forum who might be interested in participating in this opportunity before formalizing anything specific.  Partick offered two potential visitation months:  November 2013, when kids from Americorps would be there and also in January 2014 when we could also plan to do our own visit/cleanup project.  Those who can help with cleanup of the grove and/or identification of the specific plants would be a huge help.  Patrick hasn't specifically asked for any monetary donation, but whatever we wanted to contribute either individually or collectively would be deeply appreciated as GHI is a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization.

This might be a once in a lifetime opportunity.  The property is home to hundreds of tropical and exotic fruit trees and plant species, many of which are unidentified and remain so as no examples exist elsewhere in the US for comparison.  Grimal built this place mostly alone by dynamiting and then hauling in topsoil.  When he died, the property fell into ruin until Patrick and his group happened upon it.

So if you are interested in participating, please shoot me a message with your preferred month to visit.  Once I have a general idea of when people would like to go, I will coordinate with Patrick and prepare a specific plan.  You'll need to provide your own transportation to the grove, but very low cost accommodations will be available 30 minutes away in Key West if you are interested in partaking of them.

Sorry this is so verbose.  And I know you'll have lots of questions (hopefully) but I'll answer as best I can and as timely as possible.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Grimal Grove, you can find out the history of Adolf Grimal and what Patrick and GHI are all about here:  http://growinghopeinitiative.org/grimal-grove/

Droshi:  Pulasan has a special place in my heart too.  I am determined to fruit them successfully.  As for soil, what I use isn't anything fancy (in fact, I list my "mix" at the beginning of this post.)  Hopefully I can start grafting them next year, so that I can aim for fruit within the next 4-6 years.  Fingers crossed!

Hollywood:  I could probably come up with a really great cocktail using that name!

Patrick:  any idea when Zill's might release this new mango?