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Messages - TNAndy

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26
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Small-Lot Seed Importation to USA
« on: November 12, 2019, 01:01:17 PM »
Quote from: fruitlovers on November 12, 2019, 04:52:40 AM
Very informative and well spelled out. Some important corrections.
6) You are not limited to 50 seeds or 200 grams of each species. It's just that they don't want you to put more than that in each individual bag. So if, for example, you want to bring in 200 seeds of coffee, then you would use 4 bags containing 50 seeds each. (This rule is so that the inspection agent can clearly and rapidly see through the bag if there is any problem, not to limit the amount of seeds you bring in.)

Well I'll be...  You're right.  There's no specific limitation that says separate bags cannot contain the same species.  Here's the relevant part:
"(ii) There are a maximum of 50 seeds of 1 taxon (taxonomic category such as genus, species, cultivar, etc.) per packet; or a maximum weight not to exceed 10 grams of seed of 1 taxon per packet;
(iii) There are a maximum of 50 seed packets per shipment;"

In my case, I collected 38 disease and pest free coffee seeds and was unable to locate any Bursera seeds at all.  I've had excellent germination rates with coffee as long as I plant in late May or June, but even if I get only one healthy coffee tree out of these seeds, I'll count this experience as a resounding victory.

It doesn't look like anyone can use a small lot permit to import a coconut.

Quote
7) Most small seed lot permits being issued now are ONLY for mailing seeds through the mail. Most permit issued now do not allow to bring in seeds in person on a flight. They used to allow this, but have recently changed it. Check your permit carefully to see if you can still bring seeds in person. Also if you are allowed to bring seeds in person on your permit, make sure you are flying into the USA at an airport that has a USDA APHIS PPQ inspection station. Not all airports have them. Also you will have to fly in between 8-4 if you want the seeds released to you. Otherwise they will have to be mailed to you later. Also allow at least an extra hour for the inspection if you have a connecting flight.

Here's the text in my permit regarding this:
"8. Hand carry through personal baggage without PIS inspection is not authorized under this permit. All shipments utilizing this permit must enter the United States through a USDA PIS via Parcel Post, Air mail, or must be surrendered at the terminal for movement to the PIS. All Costs are the responsibility of the permit holder."  (emphasis mine)

How recently was this change made?  My permit was approved in February 2019, so if they changed the rules, it must have been very recently.  Hopefully, the rules in my permit are grandfathered.

So if I fly through Charlotte next year (which has no local PIS) would the seed shipment need to be mailed to the Atlanta, GA PIS?  Or do you think this would be a case of "sorry, you used the wrong airport"?

Quote
8) Not all inspection stations require additional postage for remailing to you for a package being mailed for another country. For example, the Honolulu office forwards mail after inspection at no charge. I've heard that others, like Miami inspection station don't, so check with your plant inspection station.

It's interesting that different Plant Inspection Stations would have different rules.  The lady at the Atlanta, GA PIS said they do forward mail. 

Quote
In addition to country collected, name of collector, now inspection stations are asking that an invoice be included. If there are  lot of species being imported make sure your shipper lists them in latin in alphabetical order, and that none of them are in the black list (prohibited species).

Here's what my permit says:
"(i) A typed or legibly printed seed list/invoice accompanies each shipment with the name of the collector/shipper, the botanical names (at least to genus, preferably to species level) listed alphabetically, as well as the country of origin, and country shipped from, for each taxon. Each seed packet is clearly labeled with the name of the collector/shipper, the country of origin, and the scientific name at least to the genus, and preferably to the species level. The invoice/seed list may provide a code for each lot, which may be used on the seed packets in lieu of the full list of required information. In this case, each packet must at least include the appropriate code, which is referenced to the entry for that packet on the seed list/invoice."

Fortunately, I was prepared with my seed list, copy of my permit, and my properly labeled ziplock bags, all included as if I were mailing the shipment to the PIS.

Quote
12) If you are using Fed Ex or UPS for forwarding you can just include your courier account number in the information inside the box. No postage necessary.

Well, I'm just a hobbyist, not any kind of commercial grower.  I don't have an account with any shippers.  I have donated surplus plants at the local Master Gardener plant sale, but this sure isn't what I do for a living.

Quote
If you are carrying seeds in person on a flight, and your permit allows this, make sure to ask the CBP (customs border patrol) agent to escort you to the airport USDA plant inspection station.

They didn't offer me a choice in this.  The CBP officer in the booth called the escort over and she led us directly to the CBP "stuff to declare" inspection area.

Quote
This is extremely important. CBP agents are not only misinformed, or uninformed, they also PREFER to just confiscate all your seeds under any pretense as this makes things a lot easier for them.
If you are attempting to use your small seed lot permit for the first time, i strongly recommend that you just make it a very small amount of seeds that you will not cry about if you lose. The whole procedure is more complicated than it needs to be. But after you've done it once or twice you can be more certain there will not be any snags along the way.

Yeah, I'd say that's excellent advice.  Happily, I was entirely successful on my first try.  As I said, read the rules and conditions in your permit carefully.

27
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Small-Lot Seed Importation to USA
« on: November 12, 2019, 02:44:35 AM »
I just accomplished my first legal importation of coffee seeds for planting from Jamaica and I'd like to share my experience.  Moderators, if you think this might be helpful to other members going forward, please consider making this thread a sticky.

As you might imagine, there are several steps required to import seeds for planting legally.

  • Obtain Level 1 Access with the USDA.  https://identitymanager.eems.usda.gov/registration/index.aspx  You will fill out a short application that includes your name and email address among other things.  Once submitted, they will send you an email.  When you reply to the email, this verifies that you are the owner of that email address.
  • Obtain Level 2 Access.  Same website as above.  This is a much longer form to fill out.  Again, they will email a response.  You must take a printout of that response email to a physical USDA location with a government issued ID to prove you are the person associated with the account and email address.  In my case, I had a lot of trouble receiving the response email.  For some reason, my ISP was not transmitting it to my inbox.  Fortunately, the eAuth help desk was, in fact, quite helpful.  I don't remember now whether it was Level 1 or Level 2 that requires you to create a password, but it is a time-killing ordeal trying to come up with a password that they will accept.  Even if you follow the instructions to the letter, it's likely to require multiple attempts.  Once you are successful, be sure to write it down and perhaps save it to your browser.  You will need to log in every so often or your password will expire.
  • You will need to know at least the genus of the plant seeds you want to import.  You need to consult the list of plants that are allowed/disallowed for importation.  https://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/plants_for_planting.pdf  Plants that are invasive (kudzu), parasitic (dodder, sandalwood), and other undesirable species are definitely on the prohibited list.  You may be allowed to import certain seeds from some countries and not others.  You may be allowed to import certain seeds to some states and not others.  In my case, Coffea species are prohibited from import when destined for Hawaii or Puerto Rico.  Since I'm growing my plants in Tennessee, they're OK.
  • Login to the ePermits system.  https://www.eauth.usda.gov/Login/login.aspx
  • Click "Create/Renew/Amend Application".  Follow the bouncing ball and fill out the online application form.  You can apply to import several species from different countries on the same permit.  In my case, I applied for Coffea arabica from Jamaica, Bursera species from Jamaica, Commiphora species from Israel, and Protium species from Mexico.  A permit is good for three years and can be renewed.  You can import multiple small lots under the same permit.  For instance, I could import some coffee seeds from Jamaica this year and another batch of coffee seeds from Jamaica next year.
  • If you met all of the conditions set forth in the Plants for Planting Manual, you should receive an approval within a few days.  Print and read the permit.  It will have several pages of rules and conditions for a small-lot seed importation.  For instance, small lots are limited to 50 or fewer seeds or 10 grams of seeds per species, whichever is less.  You are limited to 50 or fewer species.
  • You will need green and yellow shipping labels.  This is a separate request from your permit.  You will need to designate the Plant Inspection Station (PIS) where you want your seeds inspected.  You will receive the shipping labels attached to an email.  Since I knew I would be flying back through Atlanta, I chose the Georgia Plant Inspection Station.  The shipping labels are pre-addressed to the PIS you chose.  Again, I had some trouble receiving the shipping labels.  I had to contact my ISP in order to resolve the email problem.
  • You will need a shipping container (box) and resealable plastic bags for your seeds, one bag per species.  The box must have the shipping label attached.  You will need to include a copy of your permit and a seed list.  The seed list must include information as set forth in the permit.  The resealable bags are labeled with the name of the shipper, country of origin, and at least the genus--preferably genus and species.  You will need to include postage inside the box for the shipment from the Plant Inspection Station to your home.  I know for a fact the Georgia PIS can ship using FedEx.  I'm pretty sure they can ship UPS, and I strongly suspect they can ship USPS Priority mail.
  • I collected my coffee seeds personally.  You (or the shipper) must clean your seeds of all pulp, seed husks, other plant parts, and soil--in other words, nothing but seeds go in the bag.  Be absolutely sure to cull any seeds with any signs of insect damage or disease.  If the Plant Inspection Station doesn't like what they see, they can destroy the entire batch of seeds.  As I said above, for small lots, you are limited to 50 or fewer seeds or 10 grams per species, whichever is less.  You may import no more than 50 species at a time--in other words, no more than 50 bags of seeds.  Seeds imported via a Small-Lot Permit do not require a Phytosanitary Certificate.
  • Seal the bags.  Make sure you have included all the properly labeled seed bags, seed list, permit, and postage inside your box.  Tape the box closed.
  • I hand carried my seed box in my carry-on luggage for the flight home.  When you arrive at immigration, you must declare that you are importing seeds.  I did this at the kiosk.  When I met the CBP agent in the booth, he called over an escort.  The escort took me to the "items to declare" station.  The Customs and Border Protection agents will X-ray your luggage.  Hand them the box containing your seeds.  In Atlanta, they will hand-deliver your seeds to the PIS.
  • Hopefully your seeds will pass inspection and you will receive them within a few days.  In my case, I arrived in Atlanta Sunday evening and FedEx delivered my seeds the following Wednesday.

I have not yet tried to import seeds from a country I did not visit.  The inbound shipment goes directly to the PIS.  My understanding is the PIS has a deal with the shipping companies so that the inbound shipping fees cover both the trip into the USA and the trip from the PIS to your home.  Having not tried it myself, I cannot confirm this.  If I succeed in having someone else ship seeds to me, I will post that experience to this thread and add a link to that post here.

This is key:  If you have any questions, ask the Plant Inspection Station people, not the Customs and Border Protection people.  CBP, especially the woman I spoke with in Washington DC, may not know what they are talking about.  In my case, I received incorrect information from CBP whereas the lady at the PIS was both knowledgeable and very helpful.

I can hardly wait for late next May when the weather here becomes ideal for planting coffee seeds.  If they sprout, I will be growing both Hawaiian and Jamaican varieties of coffee trees.  By the way, it is much easier, but yet not trivial, to bring seeds from Hawaii to the mainland.  I'll cover that in a separate post, too.

28
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What climate zone?
« on: December 29, 2018, 04:25:07 PM »
My first two cents is your average low winter temperature is probably between 7F and 12F.

My second two cents is I suggest you buy one of the thermometers that records the low temperature.  Put it outside this winter, and see what your lowest temperature is.  Record your low temperature for the next 10 years.  Average the result.  That will tell you more about your microclimate than a line on a map will.

29
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Spring 2019 is coming - we are past the Winter Solistice.
« on: December 29, 2018, 04:18:43 PM »
Quote from: igrowmangos on December 29, 2018, 08:44:48 AM
8 days in to Winter, and we are talking about Spring is near. A bunch of my mango trees are blooming.

I just bought my Pickering mango a few month ago and it's already blooming.  I'm sure I will have to prune any fruit that develops so the tree can grow stronger, but it's just so cool it's blooming already!

30
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Dried Chunk Mango recommendations?
« on: November 13, 2018, 12:57:58 AM »
I've been a big fan of dehydrated pineapple for years.  Not long ago I discovered dried mango chunks at a relative's house and tasted them for the first time.  Delicious!  Both dried pineapple and dried mango can be eaten like candy.

As with most products, I suspect there may be truly excellent brands, some that are average, and perhaps some that are not so great.  If you eat dried mango chunks, which brands do you think are better than average to excellent?  Do you buy them in your local grocery store or online?

Are there other candy-like dried fruits I need to try?  I have a sweet tooth, so I'm not as interested in sour stuff as I am in sugary fruits.

31
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: !!HELP!!
« on: November 13, 2018, 12:30:19 AM »
While I am no expert, I believe this is a fairly common thing with T. cacao.  Usually the leaves turn brown from the tip going up, but I've seen leaves on my plants just like the ones in your picture.

Logee's has a video and they talk about this "leaf burn" at about time index 3:07.

If the burn occurs on old leaves and you see a new flush of leaves coming on, I would not sweat it.

32
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Pickering Mango container size?
« on: November 06, 2018, 04:27:04 PM »
Quote from: arc310 on November 06, 2018, 02:20:08 PM
have one in a 5 gallon pot for about a year now and the tree is about 5ft tall. i'll be repotting it probably into a 10 gallon pot for the next step up. and then see how that goes. i rather not have to keep on re-potting but it's prob best in the long run for the tree. also i get to amend the soil and check on the roots. i've only used dr. earth potting soil or the kellogg ones but i'll amend with worm castings, fertilizers etc. seems to be okay so far.

I have my Pickering in about a 3.5 gallon pot right now.  I might be able to pot it up into a 5 gallon pot, but going much larger than that is going to be unwieldy when it comes time for the 60+ gallon final container.

33
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Pickering Mango container size?
« on: November 06, 2018, 04:20:05 PM »
Quote from: hawkfish007 on November 06, 2018, 12:56:54 PM
I don't have first hand experience but I also bought Pickering, Cogshall, Ice Cream and Orange Essence to grow in pots (I ran out of room in my backyard). They are currently in 5-7 gallon pots, I am planning to transfer them into 15 then to 25 and finally to 65 gallon pots as they grow big. I already bought 65 gallon pots for them since they aren't easy to come by at local nurseries.

Thanks!

Do you know whether mangos are deep rooted (container would need extra height), shallow rooted (container would need extra diameter), or average (container would need a balance between diameter and height)?

You are definitely right about large pots not being easy to come by.  The largest I've found in my locale is 24 inch diameter by 15 inch height (about 27 gallons if my calculations are correct).  I definitely want something bigger for a permanent pot, but it's hard to find anything less than $200.  I found a Japi Low Linea planter on Hayneedle for $156 and free shipping.  The size is 30.7 inch diameter by 24.5 inch high which by my math is about 62 gallons.

34
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: World's most sweetest mango, Petricia..
« on: November 06, 2018, 01:20:15 PM »
Quote from: Johnny Redland on November 01, 2018, 03:58:46 PM
I own a business in Mysore India. Everytime I go (which is a few times per year) there are numerous odd ball mangos and jackfruit trees (among other things).  What is the law regarding taking items back to the US, or shipping them? Seeds, Budwood, etc.

I would be absolutely sure I had all the permits necessary for importation before I brought any plant material back.  There is such a thing as a small lot seed importation permit.  IIRC the limit is 50 seeds of a particular species.

A couple of years ago I started the permit application process for importing seeds.  I'm not sure how far I made it through the process--the USDA has no interest in making it easy.  There appear to be numerous hoops to jump through.  Each time you jump through a hoop, you're supposed to automatically receive an answer.  This automatic part never happens.  You have to follow up with an email--or several emails--in order to qualify for the next hoop.  In other words, the online applications seem to go into a round file.  It requires some "squeaky wheel" on your part for the government employee to fetch your application out of the garbage and expend whatever minimum effort it takes to get it off his desk.  They are not there to be helpful and you must hound them at each step.  Definitely a PITA.

35
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Planting trees grown in Gritty Mix
« on: November 06, 2018, 12:53:38 PM »
Remember to dig a hole three times the diameter of the rootball of the tree.  I think mixing half soil and half container mix and using that for the fill dirt is a good idea.  That way, you won't have as much of a barrier to root growth.

36
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Pickering Mango container size?
« on: November 06, 2018, 12:49:21 PM »
Does anybody have an answer for this?

If you grow a condo mango in a container, what size is the container and what size is the tree?  Is your tree healthy?

37
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango leaf damage. Cause for concern?
« on: October 24, 2018, 11:45:37 AM »
When I saw your initial photos of the leaf petioles, my first thought was "fungus".  Your description of gray/raisin weakening adds to my suspicion of fungus.

I see you have already moved the plant indoors where is it likely to be less humid.  This should help and I hope it does.  Good luck!

38
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Pickering Mango container size?
« on: October 24, 2018, 11:36:54 AM »
After years of wanting one, I finally bought a grafted Pickering mango.  I understand this variety is what is known as a "condo mango", thus suitable for growing in a pot.  Right now I have it potted up to an intermediate container:  10-1/2 inches inner diameter (ID) by 11inches deep.  The tree is now close to 20 inches tall with about a 20 inch spread.  One of the two main branches has just sprouted a new flush of leaves.

What size of container will I need if I want to harvest fruit and not to see the tree moisture stressed when it is mature?  I have some 23 inch ID by 14 inch deep containers and one that's 22" ID by 17" deep, but if necessary, I will buy an even larger one.  I have a range of smaller sized pots.  My plan is to repot the mango into the recommended size of larger container which will be its permanent home.  I don't think I'm in any hurry to repot again, but I thought I'd start asking now.

I mount my large plant containers on heavy duty casters for ease of movement, so that won't be any issue.  I live in Tennessee, so I grow my tropical plants in my sunroom from mid fall through late spring.  I move them outdoors for the summer.  I think our summer weather and rainwater help keep them healthy.

I have decided that commercial potting mixes contain too much peat moss.  My current potting mix is one-half Sta-Green potting mix and one-half ground coconut coir with a generous helping of Espoma Plant-tone organic fertilizer, mixed well.  This mix drains very quickly yet retains plenty of moisture.  Coconut coir is supposed to be highly rot resistant.  If you have a soil mix that has met with great mango success, please let me know what it is.

Thanks!

39
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Where to buy(plant/seeds) incense and precious woods: Myrrh,Agarwood,ebony,tonka
« on: July 02, 2018, 08:33:58 PM »
I don't know if it's too late for this to help, but the Miniatree Garden on ebay sells seeds and plants in the incense tree family.  Earlier this year I bought 100 Frankincense seeds.  A week and a half ago I planted them.  They have an abysmal germination rate (~ 10%), but the few that sprouted seem to be doing well.  100 seeds costs $25 plus shipping.  If you do everything right and the stars all align, you will end up with about 10 plants.

I believe Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) and Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) are their top sellers.  When they have some plants for sale, they sell out quickly.

https://www.ebay.com/str/The-Miniatree-Garden

Good luck.

The reason I resurrected this thread is I am hoping to find some Myrrh seeds and it turned up in my Google search.

40
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Space Mangos ......
« on: July 10, 2017, 08:52:18 AM »
The plants in the jars would look right at home in the Little Shop of Horrors.  :D

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091419/mediaviewer/rm1271843840

41
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Starting over after a housefire
« on: July 09, 2017, 04:31:27 PM »
Thanks, Simon.

I've grown one pineapple.  I don't remember the variety, but I think it was variegated with red streaks in the leaves.  The only problem was once it grew large, walking past it was like trying to dodge a buzz saw.  But I love pineapple fruit, especially the dried stuff.  I eat it like candy.  the white ones sound very interesting and tasty.

42
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Starting over after a housefire
« on: July 09, 2017, 03:25:03 PM »
In fact, it was a double-whammy. 

My house caught fire February 5, 2016.  After the fire department put out the fire, I was able to rescue a few dozen plants from the freezing weather; mostly coffee tree sprouts.  My wife and I moved into my Mom's condo...in Gatlinburg, TN...

...Where we got burned out again in the wildfires on November 28, 2016.  This time I lost every plant except a tiny cutting of vanilla orchid which I happened to take with me when we left for Thanksgiving.

(As an aside, if you don't KNOW you have "Replacement of Contents" coverage, call your insurance agent ASAP and get it.  We had it, and they even paid on my tropical plants!)

I'm trying to remain positive, which is why I'm looking at this as an opportunity to grow some different things in addition to replacing the plants that did well in the old sunroom.  The good news is my new house has a larger sunroom with a higher ceiling than the old house did.  While we were able to salvage and reuse much of the old plate glass, it is now being used in a more efficient way.  In the old house, a foot and a half of the glass was overhang and was thus wasted for light transmission.  Now almost the whole pane is open to the sky.

Barring further delays (delays are likely because of the massive amount of reconstruction in the county--contractors are swamped) we should be able to move back in within a month.

I'm not asking for pity, but I certainly would appreciate suggestions for sources of replacement plants as well as recommendations for new plant varieties to try.  Everything must be suitable for containers because without the shades, the south-facing sunroom turns into an oven in the summer.  With the shades, the sunroom is too dark for plants.  Plus, I like to roll everything outside so it can enjoy the humidity, natural sun and rain.  (I mount my huge and large pots on casters.)

1) Coffee.  My Hawaiian seed vendor has moved to Georgia and was unable to suggest an alternative.  I would like to buy a hundred or so Kona Typica seeds from a very recent harvest, still in parchment and not too dry.  Right now there's still time to get them to sprout, but past experience has shown that August is too late.  I'd love to find some Jamaica Blue Mountain seeds or plants, but I'm not holding my breath.  By the way, my previous coffee trees were surprisingly productive, and I was able to process, roast, grind, and brew some of the best coffee I ever tasted from my own plants.  It will be 4-5 years before I'll be able to do that again, but I'm REALLY looking forward to that day.

2) Banana.  Due to the old ceiling height, the only variety I was able to grow to flower and fruit was Super Dwarf Cavendish.  I'm pretty sure I want another SDC because of previous success, but I could now also grow something a bit taller.  Can you suggest a particularly tasty banana that is under, say, 10 feet/3 meters tall?  Does anyone endorse Dwarf Jamaican Red?

3) Allspice.  I had to top my allspice tree each year to get it to fit through the old door.  That could be why it only flowered once.  The new doors are 8 feet high.  It would be so cool to get some allspice berries.  Allspice is native to Jamaica.

4) Jamaica Cherry.  I think I'd like to try this one for the first time.  Are there any opinions to the contrary?

5) June Plum.  This one was recommended in a previous thread as good for container gardening.  June Plum was introduced into Jamaica in 1782.  (Anyone sensing a theme here?)  Are there any particularly sweet varieties?

6) Mango.  I never had room for a mango before, but I had been considering a Pickering if some space ever opened up.  Space has opened up.

7) Papaya.  I had grown a TR Hovey, but it didn't fruit nearly as much as I had hoped--and the plant looked nothing like the pictures!  Try that one again or something else?  Maybe I didn't fertilize it enough.

8 ) Citrus.  I had a Meyer lemon, a Key lime, and a Satsuma orange.  All three produced well when fertilized properly, but tended to get scale over the winter.

9) Acerola.  I seem to recall having varieties named Florida Sweet and Manoa Sweet.  I have a sweet tooth, so the more sugar and less acid, the better.

10) Olive.  I think I had an Arbequina.  I've read olives must be cured, or pickled, or something before they are edible, but my wife and I love olives in marinara sauce on spaghetti.  If not Arbequina, what do you recommend?

11) Surinam cherry.  Are there any particularly sweet varieties?

12) Other spices:  I'd love to try cloves and nutmeg again.  Unfortunately, they are both incredibly tender and even moderate temperatures will kill them.  Hopefully I will have better climate control in the new sunroom.  I'll monitor the temperatures over the winter and decide next year.

Please feel free to suggest any other tasty tropical or sub-tropical fruit.

Thanks!
Andy

43
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Wanted: Less than 3 Gallon Pickering Mango?
« on: August 23, 2014, 11:01:33 AM »
Does anyone offer Grafted Pickering Mango trees for sale in a size less than 3 gallons?

1.  I'd like to save money on shipping--if not on the plant itself.  What's the total price, including shipping?

2.  A smaller plant is easier to transplant.

3.  I think it's cool to watch them grow up from a tiny sprout.  If Pickering came true from seed, I'd plant the seed instead.

Its permanent home will be a 24 inch diameter X 14 inch deep half-whisky-barrel liner.  Is this big enough for a mango taproot?  I've got bigger pots.

Everything I know about Mangoes is only what's written on the internet, so if this is a bad idea, please let me know.  Thanks.

44
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Hose End Filter For Salts
« on: April 07, 2014, 05:03:52 PM »
Quote from: socal10b on April 07, 2014, 02:54:37 PM
Hey Jeff have u try reverse osmosis? It might help u getting rid of salt.

I thought reverse osmosis ADDS salt.  Yes, it gets rid of many other chemicals, but I know you have to add salt to the machine every so often.  (I don't have one.)

In order to get rid of everything, you need to distil your water.

45
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Large Tree Containers
« on: April 07, 2014, 04:27:49 PM »
I tend to buy containers for trees in the big-box stores.  Home Depot carries 22 inch diameter by 15 inch tall plastic pots that resemble half whisky barrels.  They were about $20 the last time I checked, but that was a while ago.

Since my trees in containers must move at least twice a year, I mount them all on 2-by-* stock and screw casters on the bottom.

Instead of buying individual casters, I buy moving dollies at Harbor Freight.  Casters cost around $7 individually.  Or you can pay $8 (with coupon) for four casters bolted to the bottom of a moving dolly.

46
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Northernmost.... (by zone)
« on: April 07, 2014, 04:13:54 PM »
I'm interested in growing tropical spices and fruit in my sunroom.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to keep it warm enough out there for some of my plants.  I've lost clove, nutmeg, chocolate, coconut, all due to cold.

As we collect tropical plants, we are introducing them into environments they are not used to.  If there is any chance to breed cold tolerance into plants, it sure isn't going to happen in the tropics.

If you have non-native tropicals planted outdoors:
1)  What plants do you have outside braving the cold?
2) How far north do you live?  If you live in Hawaii, how far up the mountain do your plants grow?
3) What zone?
4) What is the coldest temperature they have survived?
5) What is the average night-time temperature in winter OUTDOORS?
6) Do they make viable seeds?

If you have tropicals in containers:
1) What plants do you have?
2) What is the coldest temperature they have survived?
3) What is the average night-time temperature in winter INDOORS?
4) Do they make viable seeds?

I'll start.

I've got a Super Dwarf Cavendish Banana, Kona Coffee Trees, Dwarf Pomegranate, and various Citrus.  All are in containers.  They survived upper 30's--40 degrees F briefly, and 45 degrees on a regular basis.  All have flowered and made fruit.

I've got a an Allspice (Pimento) tree, Barbados Cherry (Acerola), and a Surinam Cherry (Eugenia) that have flowered but not fruited.  My Jelly palms are much too young to flower.

If you think you have a more-cold-hardy clove, nutmeg, or chocolate tree, please let me know.

47
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fruiting Potted Plant Recommendations
« on: April 04, 2014, 05:12:35 PM »
Agreed.  Citrus does well.  My Satsuma Oranges tasted as good as store-bought.  Not bad for Tennessee.  On the other hand, they get scale bugs.

None of the Starfruit (Carambola) I've tried tasted all that great.

I finally found some 'Manoa Sweet' Acerola plants (and bought two).

I would like to try June Plum.  I'm a big Jamaica fan, and it's a fruit they use a lot down there.  While I'm on the subject, I'd like to try some Jamaican Cherries, too.

My TR Hovey Papaya got too tall to bring inside.  I cut the trunk at about 4 feet.  We'll see if it survives.

I'm not that big a fig fan, either.  It's the seeds.

I would like to eat a Sugar Apple before I commit to growing one.  Ditto guava.  Ditto Hylocereus.

I'm getting over the whole pomegranate thing.  Way too much work for way too little juice.

I love Mangoes.  After all this discussion, I may end up choosing a dwarf Mango.

Thanks for all the responses.

48
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Companion Fruit Trees?
« on: January 31, 2013, 09:49:25 AM »
All my tropical plants must roll indoors for the winter, so they live in 20 to 24 inch diameter pots.  Since I have such limited space, I've tried to grow more than one plant in some of the containers.  I tried matching tall and prostrate plants for a fuller look in the pot.  Most of the time I chose plants based on names--Allspice and Savory, for example. 

For the most part, these experiments did not produce desired results.  Things were fine over the summer, but when I crowded them all together in the sunroom for the winter, the lower plants tended to get shaded out.  The Savory didn't last.  My Meyer lemon and lemon thyme are still doing OK together, but they're about the only ones.

Unless someone can suggest a nitrogen fixing plant that is short, fragrant, and shade tolerant, I may just try planting clover.

49
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: How To Tell When To Harvest Pineapple?
« on: January 30, 2013, 02:38:15 PM »
I received a pineapple plant for Christmas.  It came with a fruit already growing.

Regarding the comments above about sunburn, should I cover my fruit (only, not the green top) with some shade cloth for best quality and sweetness?  Thanks.

50
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: When should I harvest these satsuma oranges?
« on: October 17, 2012, 12:51:48 PM »
I had heard that citrus fruit tastes sweeter after a frost before.  Unfortunately, I've already brought all my tropical plants into my sunroom for the winter.  It gets cool out there, but it certainly won't get any frost because that would kill my coffee trees.

Next year, I'll rearrange the plants so I don't have to bring the citrus trees inside until last.

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