Canistel 'Trompo' Growth Habit-South Florida

[mikesid]

I picked up a Canistel 'Trompo' and was wondering if anyone here in South Fl grow one. I would like to know growth speed and habit. Also are they easy to keep at a particular height, say 12-15ft???

[Cookie Monster]

Mine is over 30 feet tall, but they can be kept much smaller if regularly pruned.

[mikesid]

Mine is over 30 feet tall, but they can be kept much smaller if regularly pruned.

Do you know how the roots are? How close I can plant to a house/sidewalk?

[Cookie Monster]

I've had no issue with the roots. It's planted about 20 feet away from my house.

Mine is over 30 feet tall, but they can be kept much smaller if regularly pruned.

Do you know how the roots are? How close I can plant to a house/sidewalk?

[Jackfruitwhisperer69]

Hey Jeff,

I really enjoyed your post on ''A Better Canistel''

Here's a link if anyone want's to take a peek 
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tropicalfruits/msg1216133719946.html?17

[Mike T]

I have a small ross sapote that is due to fruit for the first time.There are many canistel varieties in all shapes and sizes locally and several very good ones that seem to be one off seedlings.One farmer has crossed and recrossed the best moist and flavoursome ones for a number of generations planting many trial seedlings.I am told by tropical fruit growers that he finally ended up with an exceptional type that is now being used as scion material amongst canistel enthusiasts and I was lucky to score a small grafted one that cost me a handful of rare seeds.I am eager to evaluate the fruit quality for myself.   

[Berto]

Mike,
I grow canistel  "trompo" aka 9681. I keep tip prunning it and I plan to have it at 12 to 15 feet max.  Growth rate?  Mine seems to grow nice and steady.  Take a look at this link http://www.fshs.org/Proceedings/Password%20Protected/2001%20Vol.%20114/3-4%20(CRANE).pdf
I also have a small Fairchild # 2 recently grafted.  I have had both fruits and both of them are excellent.  In my opinion, Trompo/9681 is a bit larger fruit and Fairchild # 2 is smaller, but the flesh is moister.

[Mike T]

I am wondering if this canistel without a name could really be a fairchild as it fits the description.It seems more moist than similar looking types being a bit better in quality than a ross sapote.I looked at the EDIS description of Ross and can say 'it's just not fair'.

[Guanabanus]

I have topped my 'Trompo' (9681) several times, to keep it under 25 feet.  It produces several crops a year.

I also have an 'Aurea' that size, which produces only one crop a year.

I consume a lot of DEHYDRATED Canistel--- it's like candy.  I don't like most of them fresh.

[Hollywood]

I have to report on my experience with the Fairchild No. 2 cultivar: something ate it last month.

Like, the entire, lushly foliaged, 3.5' tree. In 3-5 days. Probably beetles. I don't know, I never saw them. I went out and sprayed a soapicide in the middle of the carnage but it didn't slow whatever it was.

Only a stick with some branches remained. The branches had a greenish tinge to them, so I thought it would come back. But now the branches are withering and I think it is a goner.

My conclusion, based in the fact that none of my other trees have gotten wiped out by pests, is this: the fruit isn't the only tender and tasty part of this cultivar!

I am getting a Trompo now because I have heard it is pretty vigorous.

[fruitlovers]

I have topped my 'Trompo' (9681) several times, to keep it under 25 feet.  It produces several crops a year.

I also have an 'Aurea' that size, which produces only one crop a year.

I consume a lot of DEHYDRATED Canistel--- it's like candy.  I don't like most of them fresh.

I dried a bunch of canistel one year, just because the tree produced a whole box full that i couldn't possibly eat. They were indeed really great dried! Was a big surprise.

[Hollywood]

I love canistel in fried rice. I add it in while I am frying up the onion, add some chili powder, then the rice, then the chicken broth. You get spicy, bright yellow, slightly sweet fried rice. It is a big hit at my house.

[JoeP450]

I have topped my 'Trompo' (9681) several times, to keep it under 25 feet.  It produces several crops a year.

I also have an 'Aurea' that size, which produces only one crop a year.

I consume a lot of DEHYDRATED Canistel--- it's like candy.  I don't like most of them fresh.

Wow dehydrated, har can you give specifics on your process for dehydrating canistel I would like to try that myself?

Thanks

[Mr. Clean]

I have to report on my experience with the Fairchild No. 2 cultivar: something ate it last month.

Like, the entire, lushly foliaged, 3.5' tree. In 3-5 days. Probably beetles. I don't know, I never saw them. I went out and sprayed a soapicide in the middle of the carnage but it didn't slow whatever it was.

Only a stick with some branches remained. The branches had a greenish tinge to them, so I thought it would come back. But now the branches are withering and I think it is a goner.

My conclusion, based in the fact that none of my other trees have gotten wiped out by pests, is this: the fruit isn't the only tender and tasty part of this cultivar!

I am getting a Trompo now because I have heard it is pretty vigorous.

Some green catapillars with "fuzzy" skin devoured leaves of two of my smaller trees.  They were camoflaged and hard to see.  They were about 2" long and ate a lot very quickly... until I found them.

[Guanabanus]

When fruits are still at their first edible stage of ripeness--- dry-sticky ---place slices in a dehydrator (trays with small heater and fan) for a few hours, or on the window dash of a closed car parked in the sun (will make the car smelly), or in open trays in a refrigerator for 6-8 weeks.

[gunnar429]

I have a small ross sapote that is due to fruit for the first time.There are many canistel varieties in all shapes and sizes locally and several very good ones that seem to be one off seedlings.One farmer has crossed and recrossed the best moist and flavoursome ones for a number of generations planting many trial seedlings.I am told by tropical fruit growers that he finally ended up with an exceptional type that is now being used as scion material amongst canistel enthusiasts and I was lucky to score a small grafted one that cost me a handful of rare seeds.I am eager to evaluate the fruit quality for myself.

Mike T, have you had the chance to evaluate this improved canistel selection?

[treefrog]

I have topped my 'Trompo' (9681) several times, to keep it under 25 feet.  It produces several crops a year.

I also have an 'Aurea' that size, which produces only one crop a year.

I consume a lot of DEHYDRATED Canistel--- it's like candy.  I don't like most of them fresh.

Wow dehydrated, har can you give specifics on your process for dehydrating canistel I would like to try that myself?

a solar dehydrator is really easy to make.  basically a flat, class topped box with some holes for ventilation.  check your local bakery, they probably have a cake box with a clear top.  poke some vent holes, spread material to be dried, and leave it in the sun.

[gaberec]

Hi,
canistel needs to be grafted in order to have the production as soon as possible?
or from seeds behaves similar to guajava or eugenia which produce in few years ?

[gunnar429]

Hi,
canistel needs to be grafted in order to have the production as soon as possible?
or from seeds behaves similar to guajava or eugenia which produce in few years ?

I believe Adam fruited one in a pot about 5 years from seed to fruit IIRC.   grafted tree should take less.  Plus, you know the fruit quality with a grafted tree.  I would say production would be better from a grafted tree in the mid-term as the seedling works its way toward maturity

[gnappi]

My Fairchild #2 is in the ground going on 6 years now, I have not topped it and it's about 14' tall. I got it at ~5' tall, and other than some attacks by a leaf eating beetle and an occasional whitefly it's very healthy.

It's been shy about bearing and only fruits on the lower 1/3 to 1/2 of the tree. This year I have around 26 fruit on it, and one #2 I know of which is very close in age to mine has outperformed in both growth and production.

I love the fruit so even two dozen fruits is enough to keep me happy, but after I harvest the fruit, I'm going to top and tip prune it and see what it does.

[gozp]

Would love to see photos of a trompo tree

[JF]

Would love to see photos of a trompo tree

Great producer under three years..,.5' tall tree hunched over with dozens of fruitlets that will be ready June. Gonzo, the only problem it fruits like this in selected areas in SoCal we temps never drop below 32. I would go to papaya nursery and ask if they have a fruiting canistel.,,,,Alex can be stingy with his info if you don't buy.