Author Topic: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?  (Read 14310 times)

mangokothiyan

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Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« on: May 08, 2014, 12:12:57 PM »


I have a 3 gallon Rapoza mango tree ready to be planted. I've read that it is one of the most sought after varieties in Hawaii. How good does it do in South Florida in terms of production and taste? 

cbss_daviefl

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2014, 02:38:47 PM »
I planted one from a 3 gal a year and a half ago.  It has tripled in size, it is over 8ft tall.  It flowered early and set lots of fruit and currently has new flowers.   During the first flowering, we had a lot of rain so it handles the wet well.  There are 3 large mangos on the tree now, over a pound.  I was able to try the fruit at F&S Park last year and I thought it was great but did not make it into my top 5.

I took this picture 4/30


Brandon

mangokothiyan

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2014, 05:01:31 PM »
I planted one from a 3 gal a year and a half ago.  It has tripled in size, it is over 8ft tall.  It flowered early and set lots of fruit and currently has new flowers.   During the first flowering, we had a lot of rain so it handles the wet well.  There are 3 large mangos on the tree now, over a pound.  I was able to try the fruit at F&S Park last year and I thought it was great but did not make it into my top 5.

I took this picture 4/30





Thanks Brandon. I am glad you liked the taste. There are so many good mangoes here that it is hard to choose the best. Did Rapoza make it into your top 10? ;)

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2014, 06:00:50 PM »
supposedly very resistant to disease...and a great mango...

the disease/humidity tolerance alone makes it a winner in eyes.

maybe a good choice for the FL growers who want to go organic, and spray less?
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kalan

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2014, 09:31:03 PM »


I have a 3 gallon Rapoza mango tree ready to be planted. I've read that it is one of the most sought after varieties in Hawaii. How good does it do in South Florida in terms of production and taste?

If what I hear is correct, the Florida red is the Hawaiian rapoza. That said, when Robert is here unloaded a bunch of Florida reds last late June, my wife thought they were some of the best mangos she's ever tasted. I'd agree that they were a top 5 for me that year. My rapoza is about to fruit this year for the first time. bloomed twice and is a vigorous grower. No disease problems yet.

Wish I could tell you more.

fruitlovers

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2014, 09:53:39 PM »


I have a 3 gallon Rapoza mango tree ready to be planted. I've read that it is one of the most sought after varieties in Hawaii. How good does it do in South Florida in terms of production and taste?

If what I hear is correct, the Florida red is the Hawaiian rapoza. That said, when Robert is here unloaded a bunch of Florida reds last late June, my wife thought they were some of the best mangos she's ever tasted. I'd agree that they were a top 5 for me that year. My rapoza is about to fruit this year for the first time. bloomed twice and is a vigorous grower. No disease problems yet.

Wish I could tell you more.

If you compare ratings for Florida Red versus ratings for Rapoza, you will see that Florida Red will get much higher ratings in Florida, even on this forum. Never mind that they are both the same mango. ::) What does this tell you about influence of preconceived ideas in ratings?  ;)
Rapoza does very well here in super rainy east Hawaii. It has great feature of continued flowering until it finally hits a bit of a dry spell, then you get a very good flower set. It has a lot of good qualities going for it: good coloration, good production, good sized, disease resistance, and ofcourse great taste. I'm sure it could be improved upon....but then again what fruit can't? It is a seedling and improved version of Irwin, so if you don't like Irwin you may not like it? I don't know i haven't tried Irwin yet.
Oscar

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2014, 12:09:23 PM »
I really enjoyed Irwin last year at the mango festival.  Sounds like rapoza is a must for me.  I heard Irwin all ripen at the same time so rapoza is probably better.
~Jeff

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bsbullie

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2014, 12:19:18 PM »
I have had both Irwin and Florida grown Rapoza.  To me, they are different so liking the taste of one is not a given to liking the taste of the other.
- Rob

mangokothiyan

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2014, 12:35:35 PM »
I have had both Irwin and Florida grown Rapoza.  To me, they are different so liking the taste of one is not a given to liking the taste of the other.

Rob, which one do you like more? Irwin or Rapoza? Does Rapoza have a stronger and distinctive taste?

Squam256

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2014, 12:45:26 PM »
I heard Irwin all ripen at the same time so rapoza is probably better.

I wouldn't say Irwin ripens all at once. It has a fairly normal season.

gunnar429

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2014, 12:54:19 PM »
do you prefer Irwin or rapoza?
~Jeff

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Future

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2014, 05:17:16 PM »
If and when I can get grafted trees, rapoza is high on my list for Bermuda.  All the traits discussed make it ideal for here especially the persistent flowering until fruoit set (we get wet windy winters that trash most mangoes sown from junk seed here) and ultra high humidity.  One further trait is it is ultra fiberless - even the seed lacks fibre on the surface.  interestingly, I drove out to Robert is here based on a tip from the owner of Pine Island who overheard me raving about it at Fairchild's mango festival.  Piles and piles of "Florida Red" were to be found and a huge as the fruit were, every one I got had an aborted seed in it.

Which may be a plus in terms of its abilty to set fruit - but deprived me of the opportunity to grow a rapoza seedling in bermuda...

fruitlovers

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #12 on: May 09, 2014, 05:56:16 PM »
I have had both Irwin and Florida grown Rapoza.  To me, they are different so liking the taste of one is not a given to liking the taste of the other.

And your opinion of both? Be interested to find out since i haven't tried Irwin.
Oscar

Future

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #13 on: May 09, 2014, 06:00:05 PM »
I have had both Irwin and Florida grown Rapoza.  To me, they are different so liking the taste of one is not a given to liking the taste of the other.

And your opinion of both? Be interested to find out since i haven't tried Irwin.

I've only had one Irwin and it wasn't noteworthy in my recollection.  Not horrible but not in the same league as PPK.

bsbullie

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #14 on: May 09, 2014, 10:47:32 PM »
I have had both Irwin and Florida grown Rapoza.  To me, they are different so liking the taste of one is not a given to liking the taste of the other.

And your opinion of both? Be interested to find out since i haven't tried Irwin.

Nothing bad about either however not my favorite.   Irwin had more of an almost generic mango taste like that of a really good Haden (not saying it tasted like a Haden but of just a classic mango flavor).  The Rapoza I have had have had a more distinctive flavor like that of a more intense Irwin with a citrusy component.

Again, both were good but not what I would call my favorite.
- Rob

cbss_daviefl

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #15 on: May 30, 2014, 08:45:30 PM »
Here are the first two from my tree.  I still have a good sized one that is a few weeks out and 3 or 4 fresh panicles that have blueberry sized mangos on them.




Here is the weigh in

Brandon

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #16 on: May 31, 2014, 05:28:07 AM »
Nothing like a fresh rapoza off the tree... its a really great mango, but in my opinion a rapoza and a very delicious haden or hayden mango is a very hard choice to make in taste comparison.

fruitlovers

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #17 on: May 31, 2014, 05:55:15 AM »
Nothing like a fresh rapoza off the tree... its a really great mango, but in my opinion a rapoza and a very delicious haden or hayden mango is a very hard choice to make in taste comparison.

I disagree. Rapoza is much better than Haden. Eat them side by side and see for yourself. Also Haden has fiber and Rapoza does not.
Oscar

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #18 on: May 31, 2014, 07:59:22 AM »
Nothing like a fresh rapoza off the tree... its a really great mango, but in my opinion a rapoza and a very delicious haden or hayden mango is a very hard choice to make in taste comparison.

I disagree. Rapoza is much better than Haden. Eat them side by side and see for yourself. Also Haden has fiber and Rapoza does not.

Rapoza = ultra fibreless!  even the seed has no clinging fibres.

HawaiiFruitGrower

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #19 on: June 07, 2014, 04:54:02 AM »
I said taste! Not texture!!! Hahaha  ;) but yes Oscar I do agree that Rapoza is awesome.

fruitlovers

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #20 on: June 07, 2014, 05:03:21 AM »
I said taste! Not texture!!! Hahaha  ;) but yes Oscar I do agree that Rapoza is awesome.

Texture can and does affect taste. But even if the texture was the same the flavor of Rapoza would be better. Have you ever eaten a pile of both side by side?
Oscar

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #21 on: June 07, 2014, 05:21:53 AM »
A matter a fact I have... Maybe it's just because I grew up with Haden mango, the taste is stuck with me so when I eat a Rapoza it's almost the same other then the less fiber, but the taste of the Rapoza is smoother, more creamier and the fruit is a lot larger then Haden. Just in my opinion.

JF

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #22 on: June 07, 2014, 01:26:04 PM »
Rapoza is a very good mango but out of all the big Red mangos I like Hatcher the best. Haden is one of my favorite Mangos of all time despite of the fiber.

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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #23 on: August 28, 2016, 10:42:58 PM »
Just bumping this thread to what effect 2 more years has had on the South FL perception of Rapoza mango

Mabye someone can also chime in as to if Rapoza fruit can get big like ST Maui's. Thanks :)
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Re: Rapoza mango, a champion or a dud in South Florida?
« Reply #24 on: August 30, 2016, 10:47:14 AM »
I'd like to know too - anyone?