The Tropical Fruit Forum

A few more pics.


Xie-shan


Owari


Miho


Brown select

I would have to say that they had a pleasant, yet mild flavor. I did not detect any off flavors as described of some papaya. I am not a papaya expert, but I would say it was good... not mango or cantaloupe good, but still good. My wife made some papaya jam out of some of them, and it was delicious.


TFN

Containerman,  I've only had a couple from a young tree.  They were pretty good. I suspect they will get better as tree ages. Which of the Golds get ready the earliest? Usually by the first week of Jan., the temps really plummet. I can put one close to house for extra protection,( lights, heater, etc.)


TFN

I wonder why people have a low opinion of Fallglo, which Early Pride is a low seeded version of. The ones my wife and I had last fall were "tongue slap your brains out" good. Early Pride and Sugarbelle were both awesome. I have yet to try Dekopon as they were not quite ready yet. I won't give up my Meyers, as I would have to defend myself from my friends, family and neighbors, plus I like them too. I have not tasted Valentine pomelo, but I love the Hirado Butan. Did not care for Chandler. I am still testing scion\rootstock combos and will have to wait until I get to taste fruit from more mature trees before deciding which to keep \ get rid of. The Bumper did not impress me last year, but it is young. I guess I am partial to pink grapefruit, but that is what I grew up with. Is the Marsh grapefruit cold hardy at all?

TFN

Board seems slow, so I thought I would make a list of the citrus trees I have, and maybe you could tell me which ones I should think about getting rid of or which ones you think I should add. I need cold hardiness and early ripening. I have only tasted a few of these cultivars.

Caracara orange        3
Page                         2
Early Pride                 2
Red lime seedling       1
Meyer Lemon             3
Bloomsweet               1
Moro blood                 1
Sanguenilla                1
Fukushu                    1
UGA Grand frost          1
UGA Pink frost             1
UGA Sweet frost          1
Lee xNova                    1
Sugarbelle                   2
NZ lemonade               1
Giant Aust. Finger lime  1
Hirado Buntan pomelo   1
Clementine                    1
Bearrs lime                  1
Yuzu                           1
Flame grapefruit             1
Arctic Frost                    3
Brown Select                 3
Miho                            3
Bumper                       3
Xie-shan                      3
Okitsu                         3
Kishu                           3
Dekopon                      3
Owari                           3
Red clementine             1

TFN

I have one dekopon that is still throwing out blooms, even though it has fruit over golf ball size.  One kishu has put one one bloom, not yet open. I guess this is normal for young trees. This is the third time the dekopon has bloomed this year.


TFN

Mr.Texas, that sounds like a great idea. Will have to round up some nursery pots. My dekopons actually came through the winter virtually unscathed. I did wrap the trunks with pool noodles, and covered with frost cloth on cold nights, but did not have barrels of water next to them. My Xie-shan suffered more damage than the dekopon and they had barrels of water next to them. My NZ Lemonade did suffer minor damage, but has come back looking better than it did before. I am only 20 miles from zone 8b, with a southern slope with a slight western slope also. I just recently installed a BoB fence on the north side of my mini orchard to protect from the north wind. Over in Statesboro, on the eastern side of the state, zone 8b, they have planted thousands of citrus trees and some are already producing. The only protection that I am aware of, is micro sprinklers and trunk wraps.My biggest problem the last two winters, has been very warm February and then mid 20s in March. Even my temperate fruit has not produced in the last two years, because they break dormancy, bloom and then get zapped by the cold snap. I get more citrus fruits than stone and pome fruits. Of course I have to work harder for the citrus. Last year I ate Pineapple, Guava, Papaya, and Bananas from my on yard along with Lemons, Limes, Kumquats, Satsumas, and Clementines.


TFN

No, just two hands and a smart wife who barks orders and points her finger. LOL

TFN

Rare snow last winter.

    Thanks, Brian. I have over 50 trees now, so it's getting a little harder to cover all of them.

TFN

I drove 4 pieces of 1 inch pvc cut at angle on one end in the ground at four corners around tree.  Then I made a frame of 3/4 pvc pipe and fittings. I put a 55 gal. barrel with lid full of water on north side of tree, then cover all with 1oz. frost cloth held down with ground staples (6 inch).  The barrels should only be needed the first year or two, or on really cold nights.

TFN

The dekopon actually did quite well, even though it is on Cleo rootstock. It held up as well as Owari, Miho, and Brown Select. Very little damage, mainly to new growth. The one that got hurt the most was Kishu from FW. My other two Kishus held up well.

TFN

I have several toads in my orchard. A lot of red-throated anoles also. My biggest problem with leaf chewing comes from grasshoppers. My toads and lizards disappoint me. I have tried to watch and have not seen damage where I find the snails. (not slugs). I wonder if they are eating algae from the leaves, as it has been so wet. I also find them climbing my back door, that faces north...Weird...



TFN