Author Topic: My in ground Ma'afala breadfruit (Read 11718 times)

Sleepdoc · « **on:** January 01, 2013, 12:59:04 PM »

I purchased this Ma'afala breadfruit earlier this year from Pine Island in a 3 gallon. I knew it was doubtful that it would make it through our south florida winter, but so far so good. I have given it no cold protection, and I don't plan on doing so... Very little cold damage thus far..

Thoughts?

Ethan · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2013, 01:18:11 PM »

So far so good, the leaves look fine, hopefully the roots do too. Cute kid also.

good luck!

Zambezi · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2013, 01:23:45 PM »

It seems like it's holding it's own. I doesn't show any signs of leaf damage,

looks nice and healthy.

Give it a few months and hopefully spring will bring a new spurt of growth... Good Luck.

Carlincool · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2013, 02:12:35 PM »

Looks very good. I cant wait to go over their and buy one!

cbss_daviefl · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2013, 03:35:12 PM »

Wow, it really grew quick. I wonder at what age it would fruit and I would love to know how it tastes. If it would fruit at two years in the ground, I would go through the trouble to protect it. I think next year I am going to try to get some chempadak and marang going too.

Sleepdoc · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2013, 03:59:34 PM »

Quote from: cbss_daviefl on January 01, 2013, 03:35:12 PM

Wow, it really grew quick. I wonder at what age it would fruit and I would love to know how it tastes. If it would fruit at two years in the ground, I would go through the trouble to protect it. I think next year I am going to try to get some chempadak and marang going too.

Yeah, if it makes it through this winter, I might put up some posts to drape plastic over it for winter protection ... Not into all that work, but if it makes it to summer unprotected, I agree it might be worth it..

FloridaGreenMan · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2013, 07:17:19 PM »

Beautiful tree! They have been several fruited in SFLA outdoors in the ground so there is hope! If I were you, I would make an effort to protect it during the coldest nights. Keep us posted.

red durian · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2013, 08:10:12 PM »

Is the Ma'afala particularly suited to Florida? Why this variety?

Sleepdoc · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2013, 05:06:44 AM »

Quote from: red durian on January 01, 2013, 08:10:12 PM

Is the Ma'afala particularly suited to Florida? Why this variety?

I picked it up at a local nursery (pine island) . They had a large number of them that they were preparing for export. The tree was a beauty, so I decided to give it a try ...... Sort of an impulse buy ..

red durian · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2013, 05:20:03 AM »

Breadfruit is a beautiful tree, I agree. In rapid succession I happened to live in a place with the largest breadfruits I had ever seen followed by a place with the smallest, most miserable looking breadfruits I had ever seen. The big fruits were in Dominica, where breadfruit is loved and the job of roasting it, almost sacred. The miserable little ones were in supermarkets in Oman, imported from India for the Indians working there. My Dominican friend, upon seeing a pile in Oman, did not realise that they were breadfruit. Here in Sabah, they are on the smaller side of average as well.

fruitlovers · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2013, 08:27:21 AM »

Quote from: FloridaGreenMan on January 01, 2013, 07:17:19 PM

Beautiful tree! They have been several fruited in SFLA outdoors in the ground so there is hope! If I were you, I would make an effort to protect it during the coldest nights. Keep us posted.

Sleepdoc, I agree with FGM, you should protect the breadfruit when small. They are lot more cold sensitive when little, once they get bigger they're a bit less cold and drought sensitive. Your tree has a LOT better chance of surviving and producing well if not stressed when little.
Ma'afala is a very good breadfruit, and the tree is a lot more compact than most breadfruits. Some call it dwarf, but compact is a better description. It also happens to be the first cultivar the breadfruit institute is tissue culturing in large quantities.

Mike T · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2013, 04:08:58 PM »

It sounds like a polynesian name do you know what was the origin of the type? In a past thread I suggested some varieties from the cooler south of polynesia may be able to survive in Florida.As I recall there was much scepticism.I wonder if seedling breadfruit would handle the cold better?
I have seen them fruit at 4m high.

Sleepdoc · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2013, 05:47:33 PM »

Quote from: Mike T on January 02, 2013, 04:08:58 PM

It sounds like a polynesian name do you know what was the origin of the type? In a past thread I suggested some varieties from the cooler south of polynesia may be able to survive in Florida.As I recall there was much scepticism.I wonder if seedling breadfruit would handle the cold better?
I have seen them fruit at 4m high.

I believe it's Samoan ..

Mr. Clean · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2013, 05:52:32 PM »

Looks good! Good luck! I heard a rumor that there is a fruiting breadfruit in Mounts Botanical (West Palm Beach), but I haven't confirmed the rumor.

cbss_daviefl · « **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2013, 05:56:40 PM »

4 meters is within the realm of possibility to keep this protected. Mike, you keep my zone pushing delusions alive.

Mike T · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2013, 06:51:43 PM »

http://groups.plantbiology.northwestern.edu/artocarpus/Images/mapbig.jpg

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59617/

4.5c is quoted as the lower temp.tolerance in a few places but little has been done with tolerances of different cultivars.I would hate to encourage false hope.There are alot of samoan cv's but I have not heard of this one.

FloridaGreenMan · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2013, 08:05:55 PM »

Quote from: Mr. Clean on January 02, 2013, 05:52:32 PM

Looks good! Good luck! I heard a rumor that there is a fruiting breadfruit in Mounts Botanical (West Palm Beach), but I haven't confirmed the rumor.

I visited Mounts several times last year but have not seen any Breadfruit there. They do have a beautiful collection of other fruit trees.

fruitlovers · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:50:11 AM »

Quote from: Mike T on January 02, 2013, 04:08:58 PM

It sounds like a polynesian name do you know what was the origin of the type? In a past thread I suggested some varieties from the cooler south of polynesia may be able to survive in Florida.As I recall there was much scepticism.I wonder if seedling breadfruit would handle the cold better?
I have seen them fruit at 4m high.

Ma'afala is a Samoan type of breadfruit. Sometimes it gets called Samoan dwarf. Gets 20-25 feet tall instead of the usual 40-50 feet tall, and is more umbrella shaped rather than upright, so easier to pick fruits.

Carlincool · « **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2013, 07:46:41 AM »

Sleepdoc.... How did your breadfruit make out from this last cold snap? Did you end up protecting it?

HMHausman · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2013, 08:32:22 AM »

I was wondering the exact same thing. I haven't seen any recent posts from him. I'm going to text him.

BENDERSGROVE · « **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2013, 08:48:41 AM »

My own experience growing breadfruit here they seem to decline rapidly after the cold front passes and weather heats up,I grew one in a big container that got to about 8ft, I gave away to Erik at PIN,he keeps it protected in a 45gal pot,it is now over15ft tall,beautiful,never had success with one in ground though,I gave up after loosing quite a few of a Puerto Rican variety.

Sleepdoc · « **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2013, 09:09:37 AM »

Yesterday afternoon the tree looked to be in great shape. I am hopeful, but I suppose we will have the true answer in the next few days or weeks. I'll try to snap a pic or two tomorrow and keep the thread updated.

Sleepdoc · « **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2013, 05:41:54 PM »

Picture of the breadfruit tree this afternoon:

Looks good so far

ofdsurfer · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2013, 05:45:05 PM »

Looks great! What was your low temp? Did you protect it at all?

Sleepdoc · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2013, 06:33:53 PM »

No protection. I suppose the low temps on Sunday morning were the same as Harrys place ... Mid 40's.

This morning the low was about 49.

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Author Topic: My in ground Ma'afala breadfruit (Read 11718 times)