The Tropical Fruit Forum

My girlfriend and I visited Walter Zill's house two days ago.  We went to buy Mango's but I ended up buying a Providence and Fruit Punch tree in three gallon while I was there. 

   There were four trees, two of each type, that were waiting to be picked up by people they knew.   So they weren't really for sale until I asked if they were.   Even though I didn't go to buy trees, I am not a fool and bought when I got the ok that they would sell me one of each.   

The Fruit Punch was just transplanted into the three gallon and it will have to wait and grow a bit before putting it into the ground. 

The Providence is a much bigger tree at this point.  Verna even gave me Walters first Providence mango to take home since I had never tasted one.    I can see why people are so loyal to them.    Walter wasn't home but gave his ok on the phone about the mango and trees.   Hard to take a man's first anything and my appreciation will last longer than the mango for sure.   Thanks is just not enough for some things.   

You hear how great Walter and Verna are, then you visit and find out they are even better.   We have to go back now to meet Walter.   Lisa and I enjoyed the trip to them greatly.   

Oh yeah, we got mangos also. Honey as well but it looks like they are leaving that business.   We drove 2 and half hours one way for a short visit.  It was more than worth it. 

One thing for sure.  I know these trees are legit and any earnings from my purchase will go to those the profits rightfully belong too.   The trees will also mean a lot more to me than the purchase price due to where I got them.  So I guess its two things for sure.

 

Just after I planted mine, the ex and I started our divorce.   I moved but knew she didn't even care or know about the tree.  So I got an uncle to drive me to the house, I hopped out of the truck with a shovel and he went down two blocks and turned around and I got back in after putting the shovel and fruit tree in the back. 

I cut the top half off and planted it and  never missed a crop. It fruited the first year in the ground and has frozen back a time or two, but has never failed to fruit.   

Water it and stand back.   This is one tree that will produce a lot of fruit for you.  It wants to bloom each big rain storm in season.   

use tanglefoot and they can't get up or down.  Remember to do the stake also if you use it. 

I have had to do three small mango trees so far this year.   The ants will eat on the very young buds and the leaves come out with nicks in the sides.  The tanglefoot works without having to do anything else. 

At the recent festival at the  Fruit and Spice Park.  They were handing out rambutan samples to all and sold a lot of fruit that way.  It was from Guatemala without irradiation. 

My girlfriend and I were first time visitors this year as well.   

Alex went out of his way to take care of us also.  Don't recommend doing this to him on purpose however. 

He shared a Lemon Zest with us for our first taste and it was very good indeed.  We also picked up a Maha Chanok that I thought was even better.   Have both types in the ground, now I know the taste and happy that I have them.  Big thanks for that.   

We bought Edwards that were wonderful and Duncan's.  The Duncan originated on the Property with the fruit stand, so it was even better buying them there.   The Edwards are known for their taste and they didn't  disappoint   The Duncans are pretty good on their own.   Walking among the big trees was an experience  but seeing the new types being planted is great also.   Great to see the respect for the history of the Florida mango forefathers while planting the next pages in the history book. 

Alex was up on the Cherry Picker taking on a loaded Irwin tree full of color, when we left.  He is a one man operation. Try not to waste as much of his time as we did. 

When we got home, the Pickering had "wait until very ripe" printed on it.  We did and got a great tasting mango with coconut flavors mixed in.   When you buy from someone that knows his product, it is much easier to find what you enjoy. 

We hope to go back asap.   Still quite a few flavors to try. 

I have two muscadine and a Southern Home grape.  The first two are about thirty years old.   They have never had a problem.  The Southern Home had its first crop last season.     

I just use the hedge trimmers on the muscadines  to get them out of the mango tree and back closer to the wire.     I wait until a  colder day to cut the vines.   They bleed pretty bad if you do it when it has been warm for awhile.  So I do that during the coldest month. 

The Southern Home is very tasty.  My first reaction was wow.   It is very good and has that bunch grape taste that is hard to grow here.   

Larry from Our Kids has a Heidi also.  It is planted further south of his Our Kids location, however.