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Messages - nighthawk0911@yahoo.com

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26
I love Dupuis, keep in mind not a great producer. Needs a pollinator that "It likes" A long juvenile period, even if grafted. It is 100% West indies It will be susceptible to cold.  A Simonds will be a good alternative.

Carlos would you agree that Dupuis (Catalina also) will do okay anywhere mangoes do okay? I have no problems with Mangoes here in 9B.  Have plenty of cado trees I'm mostly interested on flavor....production less important. 

So do you think I can grow Dupuis and/or Catalina? I am located in 9B about 7-8 miles from the Gulf.  I had ruled these varieties out till now.  Thanks.

27
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Lula vs. Nishikawa Avocado
« on: November 16, 2019, 03:38:38 PM »
Does Nishikawa grow in cali? Anyone in cal try some trees yet ?

It is a favorite Hawaiian variety I would presume it would do well in CA.  It is one of the few Hawaiian varieties that seems to do relatively well in Florida.

28
I had been considering planting a Dupuis Avocado tree, but was warned against it as they were supposedly susceptible to the cold even in 10B and I live in 9B.  Then I read this on about Dupuis on Squam's website:

Dupuis Avocado - "CAN BE GROWN WHEREVER MANGO TREES CAN BE GROWN" 

Well I have plenty of Mango trees and they have never gotten burned or suffered from the cold YET.  So what is it?  Are Dupuis a safe bet in my area or would I be wasting my time, money & effort?  Normally I wouldn't bother, but Dupuis is supposed to be an exceptional variety.

Thanks.


29
Looking to add the #1 Best Tasting SEEDLESS mandarin, tangerine, etc that does well in Florida 9B?  Suggestions welcome. Thanks.

30
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Florida Avocado Varieties
« on: November 12, 2019, 01:24:39 PM »
We grow Brooks Late. It is a heavy producer, the fruit are round, green. Have had them ripen as late as February and some say it’s holds to March for them.

How would you rate the taste of it compared to a Reed. Mark has me really thinking about adding one. I would pick one of these two. Zone9B.

Haven’t tasted Reed, but Reed is almost certainly better.

It even looks better. I may just get rid of a Valencia Pride that I have and put a Reed instead. I got plenty of mango trees and looking to extend my fruit season.


By all means take out a good Mango tree & plant a good CALIFORNIA Avocado variety that performs poorly in Florida.   Sounds like a plan.  How about we take a look at the what the old Pine Island viewer has to say on the subject shall we?

https://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/variety-selected-name-reed-informacion-27



 

31
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: True To Type
« on: November 10, 2019, 10:18:02 PM »
1. Citrus - 90% of varieties grow true.

2. Mango - 90% of varieties do NOT grow true.

3. Avocados - No varieties grow true to the best of my knowledge.



Always buy grafted trees and just use seeds for experimenting with. Having said that all the popular varieties started out as seedlings originally. 

32
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Lula vs. Nishikawa Avocado
« on: November 10, 2019, 06:06:26 AM »
Currently have room for a 6th Avocado tree and am torn between Lula & Nishikawa.  Would welcome input as I have never had a Nishikawa before.  Thanks.  : )

33
Most red/purple muscadines taste fairly similar except one - NESBIT.  NESBIT has a distinct Concord type flavor and is the only Florida grape that I have tasted that I plan to grow.

34
1. RUTGERS & Brandywine Garden Tomatoes.  Anyone who has ever had a Rutgers will understand. True old fashioned full tomato flavor. Only way to get them is to grow your own.

2. Burpee's AMBROSIA Garden Cantaloupe.  Anyone who has ever had it will understand.  You have to grow it yourself as it doesn't ship well.  It will ruin you for all other varieties of cantaloupe.

3. STAYMAN WINESAP Apple.  Old variety of apple that is hard to find.  Very hard, fine grained & crunchy with excellent flavor. Probably need to grow them yourself or possibly an old you pick orchard might have them.

4. An ice cold peeled 5 pound LANCETILLA Mango.  When perfectly ripened there is no better Mango eating experience on a hot summer day.  Most people try to eat them too soon.

5. COMICE Pear.  Hard to find & limited season, but it's the finest eating pear there is.
 

35
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: When to pick Edward mango fruit?
« on: November 05, 2019, 12:45:04 AM »
I was wondering if the shy bearing Edward is only for younger trees? Do things pick up as it matures? I have an Edward and it is loving the spot it's in even fighting off deer bites. I have tasted Edward and it is a lovely tasting mango IMO. If you had a choice od a Valencia Pride or a Edward, which do you prefer?

I have a Valencia Pride which I bought years ago as it was wrongly labeled "Edward".  It has a number of good qualities 1 Bears heavily in alternate years 2 Grows Fast (plant it and run), 3 Large meaty fruit 3 Semi Late 4 Slightly more cold hearty 5 Widely liked but narrowly loved.  Many might place it top 10, but not top 3.  I give my VP's to the neighbors and keep most of the Carries for myself. 

Edward (9) beats VP (7.5) for flavor and is probably more consistent annual bearer than VP.  I have read than Edward's reputation as being a shy bearer might be over stated for backyard purposes as one person said on this forum he was surprised at how many fruit his Edward tree put out.  VP is a good Mango, but Glenn would be a better choice if you want a good "middle of the road" Mango.

VP is on my top 10 list, but not top 6. Edward is a better tasting Mango than VP, but both are very agreeable and have broad appeal.  My top 6 are 1. Carrie. 2  Glenn 3. Lancetilla (For flavor not size) 4. Edward 5. PPK 6. Mallika.   

Despite the hype , I have yet to taste a newer boutique designer variety that I would grow, tho I haven't tried them all.

36
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: When to pick Edward mango fruit?
« on: November 01, 2019, 05:21:01 PM »
Edward is the most BALANCED Mango I have ever had.   It is a top 5 Mango for me for flavor.  The old varieties are still the best.  A lot of the new varieties a highly over rated.

37
I realize that Glen, Varney, Robinson Navels are the preferred varieties of Navels for Florida, but the Florida Navels while good just aren't as good as the California Washington navels from the store.   I had been been told that Washington navels didn't do well in Florida and that they "didn't hold their juice" here.   Being stubborn I had to try anyway.  The Washington Navel I planed 10 years ago never got above 3-4 feet.  While it has produced fruit they has been inferior and the juice sacs are semi-dry and not filled out.  It's planted over a shallow septic drain field so water & fertilizer are not an issue.

I have grown Varney Navels before and while good they weren't as good as a California Navel.  Has anyone been able to grow Grade A Washington Navels here in Florida like the ones in the store or is  it a "fruitless" exercise.  Thanks. 

38
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: largest avocado variety (ASK)
« on: October 22, 2019, 09:24:53 AM »
I am once again reminded that Acocado is derived from the Aztec word for a man's anatomy.............I guess some Avocado trees are bigger studs than others.  : )   

39
Probably harvested prematurely like most commercial avocados. I don’t normally pick Lula’s until November and have seen them last late into the winter before. However it does seem like a lot of stuff is maturing early this year.

Should be far from bland. They have a nice rich flavor with some sweetness to them. In specimens where the oil content is high (this varies), you can even use them to make guacamole. I’ve had people who swore they hated Florida avocados rave about them.

The biggest drawbacks with Lula are the already noted huge seed, and the ridiculous scab susceptibility they have. They’re pretty productive though and more cold hardy than the West Indians and most of the West Indian/Guatemalan hybrids.


If I do plant a Lula would you recommend planting it away from my other avocado trees?  Can the fungal scab from the Lula spread to other adjacent trees? 

40
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Wal-Mart Lula Avocados from Redlands - Yuck
« on: October 16, 2019, 06:56:17 PM »
Bought a Lula Avocado in Wal-Mart a couple days ago.  After letting it soften up I just tried it.  OMG what a diluted washed out watery flavorless grassy tasting mess. 

October is just when Lula's are beginning their season.  I assume that mid October must be too early for good 10B Lula's.  Even for a store bought cado it was awful.  I can't  believe  the Lula I had was an accurate representation of what a Lula tastes like.  Diluted sweet flavor, VERY watery and no yellow color in the flesh, just green.  Aroma smelled green/grassy.  Was thinking about planting a Lula, now having 2nd thoughts.  I don't want to judge the variety too harshly based on this one store bought fruit especially when it rates high with other people.  I suspect this fruit needed at least another 2-4 weeks on the tree. Can anyone advise?

41
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Russian experimental garden
« on: October 10, 2019, 03:47:24 AM »
Hi friends, I grow dragon fruit in Russia, can someone share professional advice on how to grow it properly. I made a short video, sorry for my bad english.  :-[
https://youtu.be/KdCwq_xosp0

Rumor has it that are growing experimental dragon fruit the size of pumpkins in Chernobyl.
Chernobyl is Ukraine. You should go in for education and not write nonsense.  8)
I appreciate humor when appropriate. But in this case, your jokes look stupid and inappropriate. If you have nothing to say on the case, then better keep silent.

Actually in 1986 when the reactor meltdown occurred Chernobyl was still part of the Russian USSR before the 1991 Communist collapse.  So don't nuke me bro.......Now you know why there are no famous Russian comedians. 

42
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Russian experimental garden
« on: October 09, 2019, 06:25:25 PM »
Hi friends, I grow dragon fruit in Russia, can someone share professional advice on how to grow it properly. I made a short video, sorry for my bad english.  :-[
https://youtu.be/KdCwq_xosp0

Rumor has it that are growing experimental dragon fruit the size of pumpkins in Chernobyl. 😊😊😊

43
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Russian experimental garden
« on: October 09, 2019, 06:14:54 PM »
Hi, guys. I have a lot of fruit Passiflora brionioides. Does anyone know if it's okay to eat?




As with most new garden setups I find it best to take your time and not go "Russian" into anything...........sorry capitalist Americansky smart a$$ sense of humor at work. 

Good lucksky!!! 😊😊😊

44
Citrus General Discussion / Oneco Mandarin - 95 % of fruit dry
« on: October 08, 2019, 02:41:47 AM »
12 years ago I was talked into planting an Oneco mandarin which was supposedly a popular variety around the time of the civil war.  It never got very big and the fruit it has produced has mostly been dry and pithy.  The few fruit it has produced that were good were excellent and had a flavor like "Sunny Delight" or Orange Starburst candy.  Meanwhile the Dancy planted right next to it always has good fruit.  Does anyone else have any experience with Oneco Mandarin and have any advice?  Thanks.

45
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Wildlife Decoy Fruit Trees for Avocado/Mango
« on: October 06, 2019, 11:31:07 PM »
I lost almost half my Brogdons to squirrels this year and my mangoes usually suffer a similar fate.  Would planting starfruit, sapodilla or anything else in close proximity help to reduce the wildlife pressure on my other trees?  Thanks.

46
It’s like a dream comes true!!
Zill has them in 3 gallon size only but they are only about 12-24 inches tall and very delicate
at the grafted intersection.
They only will sell them to groves because they don’t want anyone else reproducing them.
And Zill deserves that respect 100 million percent.
Now we’ll get to see if Orange Sherbert really is going to be the unchallenged King of the
United States mango family!!
This is so many years in the making it’s just sooo fabulous.


While it's very similar I think OS runs a close 2nd to PPK and I would probably choose to plant PPK over OS if I had to choose between the two.  Let the hate mail begin.  :) ;) 8)

47
Sarasota is not the best place to live when you want to take down heritage oaks, especially if you live in the city limits. I've had multiple tree removal companies come out to quote the biggest tree, most were very skeptical I could get a permit, and the quotes that did come through were each for several thousand dollars....it's containers for now.
Avocados hate pots. I have started building large fertile mounds with heavy heavy mulch at the farm where I work and just direct sow Waldin seed with a small cage around it to field graft in a couple months. Thst is on the extreme side but a more practical method in my eyes would have the oaks removed and chipped into mulch.  Build your fertile mounds and plant out the youngest 3 gal you can find after gently opening up the football. Avocados grow like weeds when properly taken care of. Don’t skimp on the mulch. You can always topwork later if you don’t like the varieties but I’m sure you will be pleased with whatever you choose.


If you want an avocado that will FRUIT & do well in a pot both DAY & WURTZ are by far your best choices.  Day can be kept small and some Wurtz I have seen look more like an Avocado Bush.  Flavor is said to be very good for both.  Fruitscapes in Bookelia carries all the trees I mentioned.  Steve there is also a wealth of good info.   They have a good selection of reasonably priced good looking trees as well as fruit to sample/buy.

48
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


I'm with Alex...............ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.   NDM is a totally over rated one note flavored Mango that I would never buy or plant.  How it ever got top billing is beyond me.  I would take a store bought Keitt over a home grown NDM. It has about as much complexity as sucking on sugar cane.  Yeah it's sweet, but not much else you can say about it. 

49
All the ones you have listed are top shelf choices.  Reed is a California variety that may not do as well here in Florida.  You have the advantage of being near the gulf.  It's been said that nearly any Cado allowed to stay on a mature tree long enough will develop good flavor.  Often negative reviews come from fruit that was picked to soon or not ripened properly or people trying to grow varieties in a region they don't do well in.  My Brogdons this year were just as good (I thought better) as any Haas and my neighbors agreed.  Most people can agree if a Cado has good flavor or not.  Pine Island Nursery says Oro Negro is their best tasting variety and what they choose to take home for themselves if available.  My advice is plant as many Cado trees as space allows.  Between the squirrels, family and the neighbors they get scarfed up quick.  Unlike zucchini and limes they are rarely wasted.  We can grow great tasting avocados in Florida.  The bad rep comes from store bought Alligator pears that are not very good..same as store bought tomatoes and mangoes. 

Personally my top 3 picks for 9B are Brogdon, Oro Negro & Day.  All are popular varieties in our area and common back yard varieties. Lula while good is a scab magnet and has a sweet flavor that not everyone likes.  Fruitscapes Super Haas is a variety that is worth considering, but is said to have uneven ripening issues. 

By properly choosing your varieties you should be able to have cados from August to February or better.  Personally I would plant them in the ground rather than in planters unless you have a reason not to.

Once you start picking mature avocados off your own trees you will be thrilled to have them.  You will be very popular with your neighbors. 

Good Luck!!!


WI'm looking for recommendations for 3 or 4 avocado trees (I have 100 gallon containers I'll be growing them in, at first). I'm a few hundred yards from the Gulf of Mexico, we haven't dropped below 30 degrees in forever, freeze/frost is not a major consideration. I'd prefer the trees to have relatively different fruiting seasons, rather than drowning in fruit all at once. My family is partial to the rich, oily taste of Hass, but I'm sure they'd come around if it's flavorful and not too watery. Anybody know this area that could give me their recs?

I've seen varieties like Oro Negro, Weurtz, Brogdan, Lula, Day, Reed, etc., recommended and disparaged in the same threads, so I know it's neigh impossible to get a consensus. Just hoping to hear a few opinions from some people in or relatively similar to Florida's 9b in climate.

Thanks!!

50
Howdy

I am also in 9B and am in the process of adding more avocado varieties.  I have Brogdon (Hass like flavor) which is probably one of the best for our area and Choquette.

I am preparing to add more trees and these are the ones that made my shortlist.

1. Day (Must Have)
2. Oro Negro (Must Have)

3. Lula
4..Wurtz
5. Nishikawa
6 Kampong
7. Super Haas
8. Ettinger


Also under consideration

Miguel
Monroe
Marcus
Stewart
Hardee
Wilson
Bernecker
Walden
Tower2
Mexican/Winter Mexican

Reed may be a good California variety, but here in Florida it's not popular or highly rated..  Pinkerton is also California variety not highly rated for Florida. Check the reviews on Pine Island nursery. Nishikawa & Stewart probably both worth trying but wouldn't be at the top of my list.

If space is limited I would plant:

1. Brogdon
2. Day
3. Oro Negro
4. Lula

and then whatever else you want. There are many good varieties we can't grow here in 9B due to our occasional hard freezes and high humidity.

Good Luck

I have grown and or tasted most of those and was not impressed in comparison to SoCal varieties I grow now.  My Reed laughs at heat, same with Pinkerton.  Both have taken 112F for a very short time before I gave them a cooling shower.  Brogdon and a very heavy bearing ON are now rootstock hosts to GEM, Lamb Haas and Sharwil.  Lula and other varieties like Day are grown in the TX. Rio Grand valley.  it's that W. Indies watery heritage I don't care for. 

Reed can get overly rich for some.

Was sent some Monroe and Catalina by Carlos of Homestead.  For a Slimcado they were pretty damn good.

Carlos has the advantage of growing in 10B and you have the advantage of growing in a greenhouse in a climate controlled environment.  There are a lot of California and 10B varieties we simply can't grow here in Florida 9B more often more due to COLD weather not just the heat/humidity.  Record low here in SW Florida 9B is around 20 degrees.  We even had snowball fights here 25 years ago.  I have lost Haas trees to frost here back in my old stubborn zone denial days.  There are even Florida varieties that Carlos can grow in 10B 175 miles further south that likely would lost to the hard overnight freezes we get here in 9B. Both Monroe & Catalina are great varieties, but are marginal here in 9B due to cold tolerance and rarely seen in local nurseries. Choquette though less tasty is much more commonly encountered here than Monroe as it is slightly more cold hardy.  But drive 100 miles further south or live a couple of miles from the coast and it can be a different story.  Micro climates are a way of life here.  Often your ZIP code will determine if you can grow some tropicals here. Where I live coconut palms won't survive.  5 miles further west they will due to the moderating effect of the Gulf air.  Brogdon despite any perceived shortcomings (large seed/thin skin, etc) is a very popular dooryard variety in this area as it is a one of the best tasting of the cold hardy varieties.  We are highly envious of the left coasters who can grow a "Jan Boyce" in their backyard, but it's Florida 9B which comes with it's own set of challenges& limitations.  Where just a couple of degrees of sub freezing cold tolerance can make a difference. If Catalina and Monroe cold hardiness ratings were slightly better I would love to try them here. If anyone living in the INLAND 9B area has had success with Monroe or Catalina surviving to the low 20's let me know....I would love to add them to my wish list. 

Green Thumbs Up  : )


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