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Topics - stuartdaly88

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1
Marula
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Sclerocarya+birrea
I don't think the above taste description gives this fruit justice. I really like it and the tree grows easily taking some cold(if dormant). Very heavy producers in the wild without added fertiliser and fairly drought tolerant. These seeds are from wild plants and about one year old. I have germinated many many Marula without any treatment like scarification and germination of year old seeds is far superior to fresh and I think they can stay viable a very long time but if your germ rates are bad I would be happy to resend in feb when I get fruits again:)
My plants have been happy in large pots but grow a bit slower than in ground. Male and female tree needed but nut really a fruit I would love to spread around cause as wild fruits go it's a gem:)
I have plenty seeds:)

Mongongo nut
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Schinziophyton+rautanenii
I have never tasted it as the seeds were to precious to eat but it was a staple among the koi San people and was featured in lost crops of Africa book. Not super easy to germinate in my experience and scarification is needed (wild fruits go through an elephants belly) male and female needed. It is drought tolerant too. I don't have as much experience with this as Marula and people I sent a different batch to a while back seemed to have better germ rates than me ha ha!
I don't have any seeds but if you are very interested I can possibly get more.

I want to trade for interesting tasty or cool fruits/nuts that will grow in my area. I get some frost but things like avo, dragon fruit, black sapote, jaboticaba, wax jambu, cherrimoya, pitangatuba, Lucuma, citrus, cedar bay cherry etc grow fine.

I'm really looking to trade preferably as post is expensive here but if you want to buy we could make a plan and I will just buy on headwinds or something lol.

I also don't mind if you will only send in a few months I can get Marula seeds all the time and mongongo I can get they are just pricey as a contact has to get them for me:)

2
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Aeroponic Propagation
« on: April 22, 2018, 08:25:05 AM »
I just got an aeroponic propagater. Does anyone have experience with these? Do you still use hormone and at what concentration? Do you apply to to the water or direct to the cutting?

Will this work on all woody cuttings or Will some plants just refuse to root from cuttings no matter what?

I have quite an array of PGRs. IBA, NAA, IBA-K, 6-BAP, Kineten, GA3 etc are just rooting hormones best to use or aux in, cytokinins and giberellins?
What about npk in the water?
Or something like seaweed extracts for natural hormones?

3
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / Chayote - Sechium edule
« on: March 15, 2018, 02:26:48 PM »
My wife got some of these from a colleague who said you plant the hairy ones but she put them in the fridge would this have killed the embryo?


4
I got seeds of Syzygium caryophyllatum a few years ago and have always thought this was the lone survivor but I've seen lots of species look similar so I always have this doubt. Can anyone confirm this as Syzygium caryophyllatum or have i been duped and caring for a privet last 2 or so years ;D













5
Was just wondering about this recently is there something like the opposite of a greenhouse?
There's a few fruits such as cloud berry that I wonder if there are ways to grow in places that get 30C+ summers?

Obviously it would be a pain just like tropical in areas that get frost but that's part of the fun right:)

6
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / Agave americana - Pulque
« on: January 19, 2018, 12:45:54 AM »
Anyone ever try making this?
and if so please share details of the process(I googled and it explains but not a step by step just in general)

The plant is naturalised here and is pretty common.

This lightly alcoholic beverage is apparantly an aquired taste but healthy and a potent probiotic :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulque

7
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / Tylosema esculentum
« on: October 08, 2017, 01:15:20 AM »
A friend managed to germinate some Tylosema esculentum. Edible bean/nut and root. Anyone heard of it?

http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tylosema+esculentum

"The seeds have a protein content around 30% (approaching that of the soya bean) and an oil content around 40% (approaching that of the peanut)[301
].
The immature seeds and stems may be eaten cooked as a vegetable or in soups[299
].
A coffee-like beverage can be made from the seeds[317
].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[301
]. Similar to almond oil in consistency and taste[299
, 301
]. Golden-yellow, with a nutty odour and a pleasant, although slightly bitter flavour[299
]

Tuber - cooked. The sweet-tasting tuber can be baked, boiled or roasted[301
, 317
]. Young tubers have a sweet and pleasant taste and the texture has been described as similar to that of artichoke[299
]. Tubers older than 2 years become fibrous and bitter and are usually not eaten, but they are an important emergency source of water for humans and animals"

8
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / Polianthes tuberosa
« on: October 08, 2017, 01:11:31 AM »
Anyone ever try Polianthes tuberosa?
It's pretty and apparently smells really nice with edible flowers. I saw I can get this as they are sold by ornamental bulb catalogues.
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Polianthes+tuberosa

9
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Breeding/selecting with dioecious plants
« on: August 18, 2017, 10:29:43 AM »
I plan to casually select and improve Marula a dioecious species.

How i see it is I have about fifty trees and should have space to plant them out soon. I would then see which ones were best and cull the worst say 70% and graft seedlings from the best 30% onto them. Then just keep doing this for many years and hopefully get some nicer fruit over time. This would just be for hobby reasons as I am an amateur. I don't expect professional or dramatic results but even slight improvement s would be really awesome. I am 29 now so should have quite a few years to have fun with this:)
I have some questions though for the more knowledgeable here :) :
1. Is there a better way to do this than described? I know the attributes I would want, namely: bigger fruit, better flesh to seed ratio, less cling on seed. I already love the natural wild taste so any of these attributes improving even a little would be great!

2. Is this population big enough? Would say 100 trees get me better chances?
I could do many more trees in very large containers but my assumption was in ground trees would be a better bet.

3.How the he'll do you select for the males? It must matter what males you decide to get rid of or keep but I have no idea how you would make this decision.

This is really interesting to me so any insights or advice would be cool

P.S - One last question
All my plants come from local populations would it be worth it try source seeds from far away, maybe more north into Africa for genetic diversity?
I have tried and failed to source from already improved plants but maybe I could catch a break in the future.

10
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Garcinia ID
« on: May 25, 2017, 04:06:57 PM »
Friend of mine got some seeds from these fruits. They were growing on Koh kood island Thailand. The pickers say it is sweet I think.

Anyone got any idea?


11
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mabola plum - Parinari curatellifolia
« on: October 09, 2016, 10:35:45 AM »
Got to taste some of these fresh harvested in the veld/wild.
Surprising good!


They smell abit like brandy pudding:)
Thin easy to peel skin.
I'm struggling to add the other pics I will try in a new post


12
Temperate Fruit Buy, Sell, & Trade / WTB or trade for Mesquite seeds
« on: July 07, 2016, 06:34:46 AM »
Looking for viable seeds for an edible mesquite species.
Have heard that velvet has the best pods but Im not sure?

thanks
:0

13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / South African grown Cherimoya
« on: June 17, 2016, 12:06:45 PM »
Got these sent to me from the Cape by a very awesome guy I digitally met. He grows them on his farm.

710grams and 820grams



So they are still firm like an unripe avocado do they get softer too or do you cut it still firm?

14
Looking to trade for tasty fruits I dont have that are worthwhile from seed  ;D

Mongongo nut - Schinziophyton rautanenii

A tough nut to crack but raw taste is good like a cross between Macademia and Brazil nut:)
I havnt tried yet but apparently excelent roasted.
Apparently the fruit is edible too though I havnt tasted it.

Baobab-Adonansia digitata



Interesting plant for sure!
Young leafs eadible and tasty and fruit is in a kind of powder that keeps a long time and is full of nutrients. Makes a tasty healthy drink.
(may take long to fruit though)

Vangueria infausta - African medlar


Smells exactly like an apple and tastes abit like one too. Flesh is very very soft and not juicy at all.
So it tasted like mashed stewed apples with a difference, it wasn't tart but had a definite sherbert note.
I know it may not sound appealing but I am really surprised how much I like this fruit!
Flesh to seed ratio was good and the flesh doesn't cling to the seed easily sucked off:)

Marula - Sclerocarya birrea



I love this fruit!! little pulp but extremly tasty and juicy. Sweet with complexity and a definite caramel note for me.

Kiwano Melon - Cucumis metuliferus


Balanites maughamii
Wild plum - Harpephyllum caffrum

May add a few other species later




15
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Fruit tours or tour guides in Thailand?
« on: November 20, 2015, 07:40:34 AM »
Im going on honey moon to Thailand next year on 9 May for about 10 days.
I will be going to Phuket, Krabi, phi phi island and Bangkok.(I will find out the exact locations in these areas)

Im very excited to go and try all the fruit I have been dreaming about and my future wife is really amped too!
Iv read so so many blogs and website but still feel like dont know enough :(

Are there any tips to finding and eating the best fruit? Where are the best places to go? What kind of prices can I expect(and will I have to bargain? Iv never haggled in my whole life!)

Does anyone know of a fruit tour or tour that features fruit that I could go on? Iv seen food tours but couldnt find any for fruit.

Im really excited to try durian and mangosteen as well as a host of other things!
Am I right in that most things will be in season during mid may?

Thanks for any tips or tricks!

16
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Strange canistel seed shoot growth
« on: October 25, 2015, 05:25:35 AM »
I'm not sure if this is common but the shoot emerging from the seed is shaped like a wing and appears to be multiple shoots fused weirdly together?





This is a very slightly older seed from another source under the same conditions. It emerged and grew as you would expect.


17
Temperate Fruit Discussion / Hovenia dulcis
« on: October 17, 2015, 11:01:36 PM »
Anyone growing this?
Interestingly you eat the rachis not the fruit! Meant to be a good substitute for dates and science has recently found a substance in it can massively reduce hangovers, ha ha might be handy to have  ;) ;D
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovenia_dulcis


18
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / WTB SEEDS: Inga/Ice-cream bean
« on: September 09, 2015, 03:12:52 AM »
Im looking for Inga seeds not to fussed on the species long as it is considered one of the ice-cream beans and edible:) but more subtropical cold hardy would be a preference.

Im very interested to taste these but will also want to use as a chop and drop/Nitrogen fixer:)

I can trade but only have Marula and Baobab seeds at the moment so happy to buy if thats not to your fancy ;D

Thanks

19

"the fruits are usually only eaten in small or moderate amounts since large quantities can cause nausea because of the excessive amount of sugar they contain" Now this sentence actually prompted me to start the thread as Iv read it for a few species and always wondered.
Do fruits with very high sugar make you nauseous? I thought that people were trying to breed more sugar in to fruit, does it really make you feel sick or is it just if you actually stuff yourself and overeat?



http://www.plantzafrica.com/planthij/hoslundop.htm
Besides my main sugar question, anyone try this fruit before?

It is apparently hardy anywhere is South Africa meaning it will take some frost.

20
http://hoepen.blogspot.com/







Translate revealed it is apparrantly from a disused family "theophrastaceae", originates in South America, fruit is 4-6cm and has a common name of mount tribute fruit in China.

Very aesthetically pleasing plant

21
A friend is sending me seeds for this very strange fruit of the Southern African region.
All parts of the fruit are chewed like gum except the seeds. When chewing it produces a sweet edible slime for lack of a better word.It is chewed until it stops producing this and then the dry part is spat out. I suppose many might think this sounds unpleasant but come on weird=awesome IMO ;D
High in calcium, potassium, iron and vitimin C. The slime it produces is also said to be very conducive to healthy gut bacterial growth.
It is also used in making jellies and a thickening agent in soups/stews etc.
Flower is beautiful and reminiscent of hibiscus +-6cm long(well it is malvaceae!)

Seemingly it has some popularity in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and other Southern African countries. Problem in Africa is that wild fruits have a massive stigma for being "poor peoples food" and people are embarrassed to eat it or admit to eating it :'(
My aim is to crack the nut of African fruit wide open and lifted from obscurity! These plants deserve their time in the sun and rather than being looked down upon should be the food de jour of all the happening hipsters  8)








Picture sources
http://zambianeye.com/archives/10397
http://thesovereignstate.org/indigenous-fruits-of-zimbabwe-3/
http://www.africanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?page_id=78&id=2868

22
Temperate Fruit Discussion / Mespilus germanica
« on: July 08, 2015, 07:21:27 AM »
Does anyone grow Medlar?
It apparently needs to be bletted but then has a delicious apple butter cinnamon taste if properly ripe:)
Im interested to try this tree in a cool part of my garden. It is very hardy and attractive plant.
The fruit is not the prettiest but its not boring and taste is the most important thing at the end of the day!
pear and hawthornes can be used as root stock apparantly.

Here are some pics I found on google:








http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/376/

http://www.leereich.com/2013/12/ugly-but-tasty-old-fruit.html

23
Most of these come from this website: http://theseedsite.co.uk/latin.html

It is really useful to understand these Latin words that are commonly used in the species name for taxonomy.
It gives a better understanding of the plant and especially when you encounter new plants with one of these terms used:) sometimes the species name may be a combination of two words to describe characteristics of the plant eg micro = small & carpa = fruit so a species could be 'microcarpa' = small fruited
Also note that sometimes a species name is based on who found it eg Livingstone=livingstonei
Please add anymore you know and I will edit this list and keep it alphabetical :)

abyssinica = from Abysinnia (Ethiopia) (North Africa)
acaulis = stemless
aestivalis = flowering in spring
alba = white
alpestris = from mountains
alpicola = from mountains
alpina = from the alps
altissima = tallest
america = from America
angustifolia = narrow-leaved
annua = annual
antha = -flowered (e.g. micrantha = small-flowered)
arboricola = living on trees
arctica = from the arctic
arenaria = from sandy places
argentea = silvery
armata = prickly
arvensis = of the field
aurantiaca = orange
aurea = golden, yellow
australis = from the south (not necessarily Australia)
autumnalis = of autumn
azurea = blue
barbata = bearded, hairy
bellidifolia = with leaves like those of a daisy
borealis = from the north
bulbifera = bearing bulbs
bulgarica = from Bulgaria
caerulea = blue
caespitosa = dense
campanulata = campanulate, like a bell
campestris = of the field
canadensis = from Canada
canariensis = from the Canary Isles
capensis = from the Cape, South Africa
chilensis = from Chile
chinensis = from China
chrysantha = yellow
clivora = from the hills
coccinea = red
compacta = compact
decidua = deciduous
densiflora = dense-flowered
digitata = (leaves) like a hand, with five lobes
edulis = edible
esculenta = edible
farinosa = floury, powdery
ficifolia = like a fig leaf
flava = yellow
flora = -flowered (e.g. viridiflora = green-flowered)
flore plena = with double flowers
florida = floriferous
foetida = with an unpleasant smell
folia = -leaved (e.g. tenuifolia = narrow-leaved)
foliosa = leafy
fruticosa = shrubby
gigantea = giant
glabra = smooth
glacialis = from cold areas
glutinosa = sticky
graeca = from Greece
graminifolia = with grassy leaves
grandiflora = large-flowered
grandis = big
helvetica = from Switzerland
hirsuta = hairy
hispida = bristly
humilis = short
hyemalis = of winter
incana = grey
inodora = unscented
integrifolia = entire, undivided (leaves)
japonica = from Japan
lanata = woolly
lanceolata = lance-shaped (leaves)
latifolia = wide-leaved
livingstonei = named by Livingstone
longiflora = with long flowers
longifolia = with long leaves
lutea = yellow
macrantha = large flowered
macro- = large- (e.g. macrorhiza = large-rooted)
macrocarpa = large-fruited
macrophylla = with large leaves
macrorrhiza = with large roots
maculata = spotted
magellanica = from the south of South America
magenta = magenta
magna = big
majus = bigger
maritima = maritime, near the sea
maxima = biggest
mexicana = from Mexico
micrantha = small flowered
microphylla = with small leaves
millefolia = with many (thousands of) leaves
minima = small
minor = smaller
montana = from mountains
multiflora = many flowered
muralis = growing on walls
nana = small
nocturna = nocturnal
ochroleuca = cream
odorata = perfumed
officinalis = with herbal uses
ovalifolia = with oval leaves
pallida = cream
palustris = from marshes
parvi- = small- (e.g. parivflora = small-flowered)
parviflora = small flowered
parvifolia = with small leaves
pauci- = few- (e.g. pauciflora =few-flowered)
pauciflora = few-flowered
paucifolia = with few leaves
pendula = hanging
perennis = perennial
phoenicea = purple
-phylla = -leaved (e.g. macrophylla = large-leaved)
pinnata = with pinnate leaves
poly- = many (e.g polyantha = many-flowered)
polyphylla = with many leaves, leafy
praecox = early, of spring
pratensis = field
procumbens = creeping
prostrata = prostrate
pulverulenta = dusty
pumila = small
punica = red
purpurea = deep pink
pygmaea = small
quercifolia = oak=leaved
rediviva = perennial
rivalis = from near rivers
rivularis = from near rivers
rosea = rose pink
rotundifolia = round-leaved
rubra = red
rupestris = of hills
rupicola = of hills
russica = from Russia
sanguinea = blood-red
sativa = cultivated
saxatilis = of rocks
scaber = climbing
scandens = climbing
semperviva = perennial
sibirica = from Siberia
sinense = from China
somnifera = inducing sleep
spicata = spiked
spinosa = spiny
stellata = starry
sulphurea = yellow
sylvestris = of woods
tenuifolia = with thin, narrow leaves
texensis = from Texas
tomentosa = tomentose, woolly
trifoliata = trifoliate, with three-lobed leaves
umbellata = unbellate, with flowers in an umbel
velutina = velvety
vernalis = of spring
villosa = hairy
violacea = violet
viridis = green
viscosa = sticky
vitifolia = with leaves like a vine
volubilis = twining
vulgaris = common

24
Temperate Fruit Discussion / Lardizabalaceae
« on: May 08, 2015, 04:22:24 PM »
I think a few species are edible in this family and three genuses in particular have interesting plants:

Boquila trifoliolata-chameleon vine
Monotypic genus
This plant is for me a holy grail, it has a unique ability to mimic the leaves of the plant it is growing on even to the extent of having completely different leaves on the same plant if it grows over two different trees.
"Boquila’s leaves are extraordinarily diverse. The biggest ones can be 10 times bigger than the smallest, and they can vary from very light to very dark. In around three-quarters of cases, they’re similar to the closest leaf from another tree, matching it in size, area, length of stalk, angle, and color. Boquila’s leaves can even grow a spiny tip when, and only when, it climbs onto a shrub with spine-tipped leaves."
Edible berries apparently appreciated in Chile to boot!



Akebia
Five species in this genus
Taste reports for some species has not been bad at all interesting looking fruit and pretty chocolate coloured flowers giving the name chocolate vine:)






And lastly this families namesake
Lardizabala biternata
Also a Monotypic genus
Also a vine and considered a delicacy in Chile and sold in some markets. Calledcoguil or cógüil in Mapuche language. 7-8cm long purple sausage shaped fruits sweet and pulpy. Beautiful flower!






25
Temperate Fruit Discussion / Pear thread
« on: May 07, 2015, 11:22:45 AM »
I have never been a huge pear fan but decided to try a kind that i hadnt seen in the shops before because it looked totally different to the varieties I had seen before.
It was called Beurre Bosc it's a dirty brown looking pear with a very thin neck but it has converted me And I think I would possibly choose it over an apple even!
All the.temperate fruit.in the high end supermarkets is pretty good quality here(if in season) they have never named the varieties before much but are slowly starting luckily:)

What cultivators do you find are your favorite?

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