The Tropical Fruit Forum

Cant answer the negative temp question and I am not sure many here grow citrus in areas where the temps get that low. In fact I would be more worried about the end of the world if we got negative temps here in Florida and even more worried about everyone else losing their minds, I might turn the heater on though for the first time in years.

As for CLM in cooler weather, I definitely see a difference in CLM during the winter and the summer(Yay Mr. Obvious!). My first year in my house we had a fairly cold winter overall and I noticed CLM really didn't strike heavily until late summer. Last year we had a very mild winter with only two very light freezes(one was a surprise and I didn't cover up and still only lost my banana to the ground) and I noticed CLM in heavy amounts far sooner. So far its looking like another mild winter but I will keep my hopes up.

I have two large plant grow lights that keep the temp in their container at 80ish degrees full time. I use an old flat bed John Deer cart with walls with the lights mounted on either end and a thermometer in the middle. I keep them in my garage. It works fairly well. On nice days which are few and far between for seeds these days I bring them outside into the sun for a few hours.

Im with you Pug, weather has been great so far and I have only brought my tree cart in the garage once. If this keeps up I might be willing to try some slightly colder variety apples since I think I have already hit my chill hours for almost all of my apple varieties. Lychees are loving life I think.

My grafted lychee, pretty sure its grafted anyway sat under a foot of water for about a week this summer. It got covered in new leaves soon afterwards. Hoping for blooms this spring. I keep hearing that black sapote is more cold hardy than the internet hive mind gives it credit for. I might try a tree in the near future. I have a good spot in mind for it.

A couple hours shouldn't bother any tree. More than that just depends. Also depends on how wet the ground itself stays. I had a lychee sit with water a foot high on its trunk for 5 days over the summer. It not only survived just fine but two weeks later is had massive new growth started which is hardening off now.

I grow Graham in a pot. in the colder months I keep it on a cart so if we have bad weather I can bring it in the garage. No leaf die off on mine here in Central FL, in fact I have a lot of new growth, spurred on by that brief cold spell a couple weeks ago I guess. I might in ground it at some point in a protected spot if I can find one.

Cassio, since you have one there, what's a pitangatuba taste like and do you just eat it straight off the tree?

Looks good. Is that totally homemade  or is it a kit you added to?   I find it odd you went with plastic, over glass or plexi-glass living in hurricane alley, then again I guess its much cheaper to repair if its still standing too.

My next comment, ready for winter? Dude you live in Miami. You guys probably turn your heaters on when it hits 70 don't you?

And note that Cyprus trees the one guy talked about cutting down, those are protected trees in most places and you will need a special permit if it is even given. Where I live in Central FL, good luck, even if it isnt a tree wetland and just a rain collection spot during the rainy season. If it has a Cyprus, you get to build your property around it, no ifs ands or buts. Oh and don't think the Dept of Natural Resources doesn't know where every bloody Cyprus tree is in occupied areas. My friend made that mistake, it was a very expensive mistake.

I grow 3 kinds here in central florida and while I have had no fruiting yet, I can at least comment on growth rates. All are in the vicinity of each other and get watered on the same circuit and receive the same sprays and ferts. I have two sweetheart, a Mauritus, and a Bengal. The Sweethearts are by far the best growers, followed by the Bengal and lastly the runt Mauritus. Sweethearts have tripled and doubled in size, the Bengal not far behind and catching up with the number two sweetheart. The Mauritus is very slow growing and even though in the ground for two years fifteen feet or so from the biggest sweetheart, it still hasn't picked up.

One thing I did notice that I found interesting, the bigger sweetheart is in a low spot in the yard, and during the rains we had a few months ago which overwhelmed the sandy ground's ability to absorb it, it sat for a week in knee deep water. I expected it to die off, but no, every single branch shot up new shoots. Now if I could get rid of the slender scale bugs which inhabit the lower branches I would be a happy camper.

We are in the low 40s. Didnt even make it to 40. Low 40s is perfect though. Nothing I have is that sensitive and its cold enough to benefit a good portion of my trees and not cold enough to turn the heat on.

Aint that the truth. Was in San Antonio for training(2001) and I got up before dawn and my vehicle locks were frozen shut. Got out for lunch and there was a massive wind thunder, and rain storm and still pretty damn cold. Got out of class at around 3ish and bright sunny 75 degrees, threw on shorts and flip flops and went and washed my car.