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Messages - Johnny Eat Fruit

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101
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Wanting another mandarin
« on: March 01, 2022, 06:08:17 PM »
Yea, we picked some of the fruit from the lower part of the tree already. Also, my neighbor trimmed many of the lower branches on the right side of the tree thus eliminating some fruit but new growth is already starting to form.  The Yosemite Gold does tend to grow rapidly relative to other citrus trees I have.

The tree consistently produces 250-300 every year and it is not even full-grown yet. For 2022 it might be a little less because of the branch trimming but still, more than we can eat.

Rootstock is C-35. Tree age is about 9 years.

Johnny

102
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Wanting another mandarin
« on: March 01, 2022, 02:28:11 PM »
For the past five years, my Yosemite Gold mandarin tree has been producing consistently (no alternate bearing) even after part of the tree was recently trimmed by my next-door neighbor. (see attached photo)

Another interesting mandarin to try would be the Lee X Nova. I have a smaller one in a container but since I am out of space will likely graft scions onto my other existing citrus trees.

Johnny


Yosemite Gold Mandarin Tree (2-15-22)

103
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Meyers Lemon Tree
« on: February 28, 2022, 08:19:06 PM »
My semi-dwarf Improved Meyer lemon tree always overproduces but I don't have any of the issues you have. We have a similar climate and I also have clay soil. My tree has grown well since I planted it over 15 years ago. I apply azomite (Rock Dust) at least twice a year as well as Down to Earth citrus fertilizer every two months starting in spring. Most of my fruit trees are on drip irrigation or mini sprinklers attached to a timer I can adjust water as needed.

Enclosed is a photo of my lemon tree taken on January 18th of this year. The tree is now putting on new green grown.  I will also include a photo of my Cara Cara Pink Navel orange tree taken recently that is right next to the Meyer Lemon. The navel orange tree does not produce as heavy as the Meyer but has greener growth overall.

Johnny



Meyer Lemon Tree (1-18-2022)




Cara Cara Pink Navel Orange Tree (2-21-2022)

104
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: [Wanted] Grafted macadamia beaumont
« on: February 17, 2022, 10:48:59 AM »
I don't believe Clausen's sells grafted Macadamia trees. Every time I have gone there they only have seedling trees for sale.

Try Atkins Nursery in Fallbrook. They do their own grafting. Have to call to check availability. That's where I got mine years ago.

Johnny

105
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Best Lychee Tree in California in terms of Size and Yield
« on: January 25, 2022, 06:16:17 PM »
Based on my experience my two lychee Trees (Mauritius and Bruster) grow well at my location. They are more attractive and much easier to cultivate overall than my Mango Trees. Enclosed are a few photos as references.

The first photo is of a Brewster Lychee tree in front of OC Farm supply in the city of Orange. Chris told me this tree is 10 years old and produces well. By mid-July, most of the fruit was already picked by their customers.  The other two photos are from the two trees I planted in July 2020 from 15-gallon containers. Both of my trees in the ground appear to be doing well. I recommend these trees for So Cal Growing.

Johnny


10 year old Brewster Lychee (July 2021)


Mauritius Lychee Tree (1-19-2022)


Brewster Lychee Tree (1-19-2022)

106
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Sick Macadamia?
« on: January 05, 2022, 05:32:13 PM »
Strange Your Beaumont Macadamia Tree died. Mine grew very well here in California in 2021. Could be your climate is not as well suited for this type of nut tree. Hard to say.

Johnny

107
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Is this a Sugarloaf Mango Tree?
« on: December 28, 2021, 04:03:25 PM »
I purchased this mango tree several months ago from a seller on eBay from Florida. He indicated this Sugarloaf was grafted by a friend and he sells them at a local flea market. The seller claims the grafter is very reputable and had a high level of confidence this tree was indeed a sugarloaf.

Based on the photo and the flower formation can someone tell me if this looks like a Sugarloaf (E-4)?

Even in my greenhouse, this small tree is flowering but it does get cold (40-50F) at night. Interesting this is my only mango tree that is flowering so robustly in late December. I plan on using this tree as grafting material in 2022 on older more established mango trees already in the ground.

Thanks

Johnny


Sugarloaf Mango Tree

108
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Looking for Beaumont Macadamia Nut scions for next spring (2022)
« on: November 08, 2021, 03:11:43 PM »
If you want to come by and do the girding yourself then harvest them two months later that is fine with me. My tree is large enough that a few branches won't make much difference.

Just let me know in January if interested. No Charge.

Johnny

109
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Nov 1, 2021 Orange Sherbet Panicles pushing out in Kendall.
« on: November 05, 2021, 09:10:53 PM »
My Orange Sherbet just finished flushing in October. In 15 gal container.

Johnny

Orange Sherbet on Ataulfo (10-31-2021)

110
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: My Backyard Garden in So Cal
« on: November 01, 2021, 09:05:20 PM »
Good luck with your backyard garden set-up. It looks very nice indeed. Interesting layout out with the 16" pavers.

Not sure I agree with you in regards to covering up the feeder roots in your sub-tropical fruit trees. Keep us posted in the years to come with the growth and production of your fruit trees. Here are are few of my concerns about your layout.

I don't know of any farmers that cover up their expanding and growing feeder roots in the dirt for fruit trees to keep the grower's feet clean. Growing plants in my opinion are about providing the best environment to maximize growth and quality fruit. Please don't take offense but I wonder when I am watching your video how are these various trees going to cope long term with the environment you placed them in. In drought years how is the expanding rooting going to get enough water.? The paver blocks prevent oxjgen and water from getting to these expanding roots. If we have good heavy rain in winter the water will soak thru your sand in between the pavers but what happens after the soil dries up? What effect will that have on growth and the quality of fruit? I guess time will tell. I see our Florida Growers planting in open spaces with plenty of water. Your situation is exactly the opposite. Not something I would do personally.

Hear in Socal rainwater only occurs 3-4 months a year at the most, (Dec-March). What's your long-term plan to keep the expanding root system healthy. Sorry to be skeptical but I see major flaws in your strategy. That being said I hope it works out for you. Do a video in 2026 and if your trees are flourishing I will adopt your Philosophy.

Best Wishes

Johnny

111
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango: my first taste of Sweet Tart
« on: October 28, 2021, 07:36:47 PM »
Yea I had a few standard Sweet Trart mangos earlier in the month and they were excellent but until you experience the Sweet Tart Nubbins you have yet to understand how great this fruit can be. Much smaller in size but super-concentrated in flavor and sweetness. I don't believe our Florida Mango brothers have had these fruit yet as the conditions for this fruit development are unique to California (incomplete pollination in the spring). I only had a few but they were a remarkable experience.

Sweet Tart Nubbins are supreme indeed. 

Johnny

112
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Val-Carrie Mango Tree - Sold
« on: October 22, 2021, 04:33:36 PM »
Hey Everybody, I decided to part with my Val-Carrie mango Tree I grafted two years ago onto Manila rootstock. The tree is healthy with a very nice lower rootstock. It is in a (7) gallon container. My intention several years ago was to plant this in the ground but I have since run out of room in my yard and I have already grafted this excellent variety onto sever other older existing mango Trees. The key is this has been grafted to the right rootstock and should do very well once in the ground.

Sold

113
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: October 13, 2021, 03:44:45 PM »
After numerous grafting failures this year from Florida purchased scions I finally broke down and bought a Sugarloaf (E-4) mango tree (See 1st photo) which will go into my greenhouse and provide many fresh scions for 2022 grafting. I Will graft E-4 to my Coconut cream and other mango seedling trees already in the ground. Being able to prepare and graft fresh scions from your own tree has given me a much higher success rate for grafting. I am really looking forward to trying this fruit in a few years.

Also just purchased two Pina Colada Mango Seedling plants that germinated earlier this summer from a seller on Ebay (See 2nd & 3rd photo). They are sold out now but as soon as I saw the new ad I jumped on it. These should also grow well in my greenhouse and the seeds are Poly. The original cost for the small seedlings was $25 each including shipping to California.

Johnny

<br /><br />
Sugarloaf (E-4) Mango Tree

<br /><br />
Pina Colada Mango Seedling

<br /><br />
2nd Pina Colada Seedling

114
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: October 11, 2021, 11:48:08 AM »
Hey Simon,

I will let you know in the future regarding the 0-15 mango. In 2020 I grafted it onto two mango seedling trees, one inland in Alhambra and another to my manila seedling rootstock at my HB location. I just planted my 0-15 in the ground this summer and it completed its first growth flush and is doing well. Planted it to the West of my Coconut Cream mango tree. (See 1st photo)

My Orange Sherbet mango tree on altaulfo, in 15 gallon, is just now finishing a fall flush. I Will likely have to move this to a 30" tree box since I am now out of room at my location for planting in the ground.

Johnny

<br /><br />
0-15 Mango Tree (10-4-2021)

<br /><br />
Orange Sherbet Mango Tree on Ataulfo (10-7-2021)

115
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Seedling Mango tree thread
« on: October 06, 2021, 07:56:32 PM »
Simon,

Your description of the Sweet Tart nubbins is consistent with my eating experience with this fruit.

Just ate a larger standard sweet Tart fruit grown more inland in Alhambra and it was excellent with a viable seed which I am starting to germinate indoors. In contrast, the nubbins I had last month had even a more intense sweeter flavor with excellent complexity. Between the two the nubbins were superior in flavor and sweetness in my opinion. Just more supercharged and condensed. The nubbin sweet-tart fruit was much smaller in size though so there is a trade-off.

Johnny

116
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango placement opinion, Riverside California
« on: October 02, 2021, 10:43:41 PM »
The Mango feeder roots have a limited amount of oxygen and available nutrients due to close proximity of concrete.

Not something I would do but let us know how it works out in 3-5 years. Will be interesting. The health of the mango root system determines, to a large extent, the health of the tree.

Johnny

117
Citrus Buy, Sell, & Trade / Re: Yosemite Gold Mandarin Tree For Sale - 7 Gal (SOLD)
« on: October 01, 2021, 07:31:50 PM »
The Root-stock was Rich 16-6. It worked well on two Yosemite Gold trees I grafted. Also worked well on other Citrus.

Enclosed is a photo of the 10-year-old Yosemite Gold Mandarin mother tree on C-35. Wish I would have used a smaller root-stock in retrospect. Consistently productive the last four years. in 2021 we got over 200+ fruit.  No major alternative bearing tendencies.


Johnny


Yosemite Gold on C-35 on 8-28-2021

118
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Practicing grafting as a newbie (aka gittin gud graftage)
« on: October 01, 2021, 07:28:08 PM »
Try Apples and Cherrys in Feb-March in dormancy. They are the easiest to graft successfully with the highest take rates. Cleft grafts work well.

Johnny

119
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: September 24, 2021, 10:11:16 PM »
Thanks, Simon. I know E-4 is a great mango. Will try to graft again next year. Luckily I still have many top-tier mangos growing on my property. Glad you were able to get fruit and give us your opinion on the E-4 fruit grown in SoCal.

Johnny

120
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: September 24, 2021, 01:07:41 PM »
Hey Simon,

My Coconut Cream has to fruit over the next year or two. I do have patience but I don't want to wait 8-10 years after grafting to get a few mangos. Not worth it to me when other varieties are much more productive at an earlier age. I have already top worked 1/3 of the CC tree to Seacrest and Guava Mango. The manila root-stock appears vigorous so what I graft to this tree should do well. Will keep you posted on what happens in 2022 and 2023 regarding fruit formation on this tree.

One good thing about CC is that from June to October the tree is always flushing somewhere. Always getting new growth and branch formation. I wish all my mango trees grew this well. This year I have been trimming downward and side growing branches forcing new vertical growth on my coconut cream. Hopefully fruiting soon.

Johnny

121
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: September 23, 2021, 08:57:28 PM »
Thanks for four detailed explanations of droopyness on mango trees, Simon.

If my Coconut Cream mango tree produces next year I would be excited to taste this variety. In 2021 it bloomed heavily but no fruit. Five-year-old tree.  Enclosed are a few photos of my Coconut Cream mano Tree with a few Seacrest Grafts which are growing more vertically.

My E-4 grafts failed this year to my older and more established mango seedling trees. Likely due to a lack of heat and a very cool and mild summer at my location.

I guess Seedless mango fruit is becoming more common here in SoCal. My Sweet Tart fruit was that way but still excellent tasting. The hype is justified on that variety. Until you tasted a Sweet Tart you have yet to experience a truly top-tier indo Chinese mango. 

Johnny


Coconut Cream Mango Tree on Manila Root-stock


Coconut Cream & Seacrest

122
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: September 21, 2021, 03:12:43 PM »
An excellent report on your Sweet Tart. Eating mine was an awesome experience too. I have another one ripening now on the counter and will be picking up (2) more at my Brother-in-laws house next week.

If I can solve the pollination issue in 2022 and should have over 40+ fruits on my tree next year.

Good Luck with your tree.

Johnny

123
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: September 15, 2021, 09:01:20 PM »
The best time to start growing Mango Seedlings is April-June in SoCal based on my experience. I usually start them in 5-gallon pots. Move them up to seven-gallon containers a year later. Never tried to start mango seeds this late in the season. We are heading into the cool months soon and growth will stop by late November. Not sure how they will work for you. Pots are easier as you can move the small plants inside if necessary to keep them warm during the coldest periods. Greenhouses are better yet. Let us know how they work out. Hopefully, you will have some survivors. 

Johnny

124
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: September 15, 2021, 10:58:31 AM »
Hey Victoria,

Unfortunately, the Sweet Tart seeds are not viable. Underdeveloped embryo. Actually, I was lucky to get any fruit this year considering the poor pollination in early spring. Changing my micronutrient application for all of my mango trees and as previously mentioned pulling early flowers off my ST next year. If I can ever get this tree to consistently produce this tree would be worth its weight in gold for me.

If I was growing from seed good candidates are Cac, Seacrest, and Guava. All three grow fast at my coastal location and would even do better in your area. I would contact some of our Florida mango munching friends in June-July next year to see if you can get some seeds. I would get at least 6-8 of each and select the best one or two for planting in the ground.

Johnny

125
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: September 14, 2021, 07:13:50 PM »
Just a quick update on my Sweet Tart Mango Tree. Only (3) fruit made it without major cracking issues in 2021. I picked one fruit three days ago and let it ripened off the tree. Just ate it today. Fantastic tasting mango even if it was slightly on the overripe side. Deep orange color with a rich and complex taste, juicy. I did not detect any tartness likely due to the overripeness but never the less it was a great tasting mango. I could eat these all day. This and the Indian Grown Alphonso tie as the best tasting mangos I have had. Now I can see why this cultivar is hyped and mine was not even likely at peak flavor. A great mango indeed. I hope for a better crop in 2022. I applied some calcium to the root system of my tree and hopefully, this will help next year.

Johnny

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