The Tropical Fruit Forum

I was hoping to plant a couple LATE season Mango trees. Keitt & Kent along with Beverly were at the top of my list as likely choices.  So I was concerned to see that Tropical Acres now no longer recommends Keitt or Kent for home planting due to newer disease issues. Are the problems really that bad?  We don't have enough good late season varieties now as it is.

Hey All

Just finished off a custom variety box of early variety mangoes from Squam/Alex.   The Glenns, Duncans & PPK's stole the show.  Angie, Rosigold & Dupuis Saigon didn't appeal to to my palate, but your mileage may vary.  Avoid the temptation of eating them a day early and you'll be rewarded with a much better eating experience.  Once again thanks Alex for being a wealth of information & providing a valuable resource we can all enjoy.  Keep up the good work sir.

1. PPK'S (8.0 to 8.25) - If you eat them a day early they're a pleasantly tart & lemony (8.0).  Give them just an extra day & they take on an even better orangey sweeter flavor (8.25).  Wait an extra day for fully ripe - it's worth it.  Excellent Mango that anyone could like.  Not the perfect "10" that some people describe, but still VERY good.  Met expectations.

2. Glenns (8.25) - Great breakfast mango.  Still the #1 best heavenly smelling Mango I know of even before you cut into it. First one I ate I didn't let it fully ripen & it was a bit watery & diluted tasting as other people have mentioned about Glenns.  The other one I gave an extra couple of extra days & it was one of the best mild tasting Mango's I've ever had.  It was like a really good juicy garden fresh refreshing ice cold cantaloupe.  Strong pleasant cantaloupe flavor.  Glenn exceeded my expectations.

3. Duncan (8.0) - What a delightful mango.  Very smooth, juicy & refreshing.  Very enjoyable eating experience & under rated/taken for granted Mango.  Smooth & slightly creamy like it Edward ancestor, with a hint of Asian flavor that wasn't objectionable for those who don't care for most "one note" Asian type Mango (like me). Duncan also exceeded my expectations.

All three of these varieties were top tier & I would highly recommend & are deserving of yard space.




 

Hey Guys

Planning on adding a few more mango trees and would like input on what the top 3 EARLY, MID & LATE mangoes are for those that don't have unlimited space.  From other posts this is what I came up with.  Since this is about trees and not just fruit - fruiting reliability & disease/cold resistance are also factors to be considered.  I already have a mature Carrie & Valencia Pride.

EARLY

1. Edward (Already a lock in on planting this one)
2. Glenn  (Already a Lock)
3. PPK (Already a Lock)

Mid - Mallika


LATE

1. Venus  (I believe Alex has said this was the all-round best tasting late mango)
2. Keitt
3. Lancetilla, Cotton Candy etc.?

Thanks for your help & suggestions.


PS -  If anyone is ordering Mangoes from Alex, his Edward, Malika's, PPK, Glenn & Duncan were EXCELLENT. 

I have often been told that Washington Navels don't hold their juice & produce quality fruit in Florida due to our hot summers here, thus the reason for Florida navel varieties like Glen, Varn/Varney, etc.  which while okay don't taste the same or as good as a California/Washington navel IMO.  Despite it not being recommended I planted a Washington Navel (which can be found in Florida nurseries) a few years ago just to see for myself.  The tree has been VERY slow growing (even for a navel), but otherwise healthy.  The few fruit it has produced haven't been very good as expected, but the tree is still small.

Has anyone else grown California/Washington navels in Florida and if so what was your experience with them?  Do they taste like store bought Navels or better?  If Washington's truly don't do well in Florida what is the best tasting standard (non-red) Navel variety for Florida 9B - Glen, Dream, Late, etc.?  I have grown Varn Navels before on recommendation and while they were pretty good they weren't "outstanding".

Thanks!!   

I hear a lot of people complaining that their Mango trees haven't set fruit in several years, or their neighbor's tree has fruit but theirs doesn't, or it was a bad year for "Carrie" or some other variety for unknown reasons.  While there can obviously be more than one reason or a combination of reasons I'd be interested what people believe the biggest factor(s) are. 

I have been growing Valencia's for years for fresh juice, but have also heard the Page Orange (mandarin) is excellent for juice as well.  I have never had the chance to taste a Page.  Question:  Does the Page surpass Valencia head to head in a fresh squeezed juice taste test as a dooryard tree?

Thanks!!

Looking to obtain a small sample achacha fruit first before buying a plant.  Will pay any fair price plus shipping.  If anyone knows of a source or where they can be sampled in Florida please advise.

Thanks!!!

Hey All

Better varieties not withstanding, there are still people who insist upon a Mango with "Haden type" flavor and insist upon a Haden even tho there better varieties that would fill the niche.  Of the mango's listed which comes closest to "traditional" standard Haden Mango flavor?  Really is there any reason to grow Haden if there is a variety that tastes EXACTLY the same with less fiber & better disease resistance?

Fruit quality & flavor is the only consideration for the purposes of the poll.  If you select "other" please list your choice in the comments and I'll add it to the poll.

Thanks!!

Hey All

I have grown and eaten nearly every popular established seeded Florida mandarin (Dancy, Honeybell, Orlando Tangelo, etc), but want to add a few seedless varieties to my small grove.  There are many out there Kishu, Gold Nuggett, Sumo, etc. , but what would be considered #1 for taste & performance in Florida?

I'm especially interested in varieties that will remain seedless/mostly seedless in close proximity to other citrus trees (grapefruit, oranges, lemons, etc.).

Thanks!!!
 

Hey All

Looking for a good source for Florida Avocados such with a wide variety of choices such as ORO NEGRO, Catalina, Lula, Mexicola and other varieties who will ship small samples in-state when in season.   Will gladly pay for fruit & shipping.  Would like to sample the fruit before planting the trees and would prefer not have to drive 3 hours to do it.

Thanks!!

Hey All

I have done as much research as I can and have read all of CTMIAMI's good reviews as well as other input from across the WWW, but still a bit confused if Oro Negro is the best all around GOOD TASTING, COLD HARDY, RELIABLE VARIETY for the FLORIDA dooryard.  I get a lot of conflicting info.  Like most I prefer "CA Hass type" creamy cado's, but can also appreciate a large green Florida cado if it's a good one.

As of right now I already have 5 year old 12' Brogdon & Choquette trees that have yet to fruit.  I have heard Brogdon tastes very good and tastes better than a store bought Hass, but it has issues with a thin skin and is too sticky, creamy & messy to easily peel/slice well.  The only Choquette I have ever tried was pretty bland even by Florida green cado standards - even Carlos/CTMIAMI has said Choquette is bland to him and he likes less oily mild tasting large green cados.  Other than being more cold hardy and possibly a longer season I question my purchase/choice of a Choquette and may top work it to something else eventually.

Right now I have one spot left designated for a 3rd avocado tree in my yard.  Right now I have Oro Negro penciled in for that last spot.  I see some Florida nurseries offering CA Hass, Nishikawa, Utuado, Day, Catalina, Lula, Mexicola/Stewart and some other varieties that have been on my short list at one time or another.    Would like input on whether or not Oro Negro or something else is the best choice for that last 3rd tree spot for SW Florida 9B.    Good Hass "type" flavor & reliable production with a long hang time/extended season is my primary concern as I just need enough for myself and to give some extra to friends & neighbors.

Thanks!!!

Hey all

I'm running low on space for more trees & need to be selective. Need some educated input.

1.  I know Lemon Zest is supposedly the hottest variety going these days, but does it trump PPK for flavor as well as for reliability, production, disease resistance, etc.

2. What is the approximate size, shape, height of the tree?  Carrie size, Glenn Size, Valencia Pride Size?

3. Has the whole LZ vs. OS controversy been ironed out and are there actually two UNDISPUTED separate varieties being sold now?  Most of the comments I've seen on the issue are a few years old.

4. Does LZ trump Edward, Carrie & Maha Chanok for flavor also?

5. For those who have been fortunate enough to taste a "REAL" Orange Sherbet does LZ beat that also (yes I'm sure it's probably a close call)?

Thanks!!