Author Topic: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?  (Read 8684 times)

jcaldeira

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What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« on: February 01, 2013, 10:56:26 PM »
I need help deciding the most appropriate fruit to grow on my hobby farm. I want to focus on fruits that would be well-adapted to my climate and also be tasty.  The 'top fruits' poll on this forum was helpful, but I'd appreciate more suggestions. 

First, a little about the growing environment:
The farm is tropical (18 degrees south) and in an intermediate rainfall area (wet season and dry season).   Droughts in the dry season rarely last more than a month.  Soil is mostly clay/loam, hilly but with some bottom land with a shallow water table.  It is low elevation (seaside) but prevailing winds come from inland at this location so no significant salt  in the air or soil.

     

The fruit growing is mainly for my own enjoyment.  However, it is also possible that some day the land might be subdivided for residential so I've planted a lot of citrus, mango and avocado, since those are staples here and I know I can sell the fruit.  I think it's too tropical for lychee and cherimoya.

In a few weeks, I will be visiting the U.S. and want to bring fruit seeds back to Fiji.  I'll be searching the Asian and Hispanic markets around Dallas, Texas, and also plan to mail order seeds.  Unfortunately, I can't bring green wood back to Fiji due to biosecurity concerns.   I have almost everything available here in Fiji.

I've only had the farm for a year and half, so not much is fruiting.   Here's what's on the farm now:

Abiu  6
African Pride (Custard apple) 1
Avocado (Local) 44
Banana – Big  18
Banana – Lady's Finger  1
Black Sapote 1
Brazilian Cherry 2
Breadfruit 3
Bullocks Heart (American Custard apple) 2
Cashew  3
Cinnamon  6
Citrus – Cleopatra Mandarin   12
Citrus – Cutter Valencia  2
Citrus – Dancy Tangerine  2
Citrus – Grapefruit Ruby Red 6
Citrus – Harvey Lemon  2
Citrus – Kumquat (round) 1
Citrus – Late Valencia 24
Citrus – Lee Mandarin  2
Citrus – Meyer Lemon  50
Citrus – Seedless Lime  37
Citrus – Lisbon Lemon  2
Citrus – Miniola Tangelo  11
Citrus – Olinda Valencia  12
Citrus – Orlando Tangelo  2
Citrus – Page Mandarin  2
Citrus – Rough Lemon  5
Citrus – Satsuma Mandarin  9
Citrus – Fiji/Unknown Mandarin  23
Citrus – Washington Navel  18
Citrus – West Indian Lime  2
Cocoa 8
Coconut – Dwarf 10
Coconut – Tall  50
Coffee 5
Curry Tree  3
Custard Apple (US Sugar Apple) 9
Davidson Plum  2
Dawa (Fijian Longan)  2
Dragon Fruit (White interior)  2
Fig  2
Ginger 2
Granadilla  4
Guava (3 types)  6
Ivi  2
Jackfruit  3
Jacoticaba  4
Jamun – white 1
Jamun – back 2
Kavika (Rose apple) 6
Langsat  1
Lemon Grass  2
Lychee  3
Macadamia  2
Mamey Sapote  1
Mango (2 varieites) 80
Mangosteen  7
Miracle Fruit 1
Mulberry  4
Neem 2
Noni  3
Nutmeg 4
Papaya (Hawaiian & local)  19
Passionfruit (yellow and purple) 19
Pepper, black 4
Pineapple (2 varieities) 30
Plantain 4
Pomegranate  2
Rambutan  4
Sandalwood  4
Sapodilla  4
Soursop  8
Star Apple  4
Starfruit (Carambola)  5
Sugar Cane (purple) 2
Tamarind  2
Tarawau  2
Tavola   2
Turmeric 2
Vanilla    2
Vutu     3
Wi  2
Yaqona (Kava) 2

What else would be good to grow?

Thanks,  John
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nullzero

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2013, 11:20:40 PM »
I highly recommend ordering some vegetable seeds from http://rareseeds.com/. They are top notch and have great selection of varieties even from Thailand and the world. Also you should look into tropical friendly strains of potatoes, they are out there. I would add more types of dragon fruit as well. Also consider adding a Green Sapote, Peach Palms, Salacca sp., Durian, more figs?, low chill Persimmons, Another mamey sapote, Yacon, and some White sapote selections that work in your area.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2013, 11:22:37 PM by nullzero »
Grow mainly fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

fruitlovers

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2013, 12:03:57 AM »
Hi John, you should add rollinia (biriba), sugar apple, atemoya, chupa chupa (Matisia cordata), hybrid jaboticaba, white jaboticaba, rainforest plum, tropical longans (like Diamond River and Ping Pong),  Malay apple (kavika i think is malay apple not rose apple), pulasan, durian, longkong. I would also plant more different types of rambutans, maybe some yellow ones. Rambutan could be a commercial crop in Fiji if well protected from the wind.
Oscar

Mike T

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2013, 02:13:05 AM »
Is intermediate rainfall maybe 2000mm?Mission Beach NQ is 18 latitude and the fruit list from there is impressive including most of what Oscar mentioned.

Saltcayman

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2013, 02:14:24 AM »
Hi John , Ross sapote/ canistel could be a good addition I think.  If you are in Texas, check out http://www.riversendnursery.com/index.php/online-store/view/category/virtuemart_category_id/210
They may be able to hook you up with fresh seeds.  Dave

jcaldeira

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2013, 04:35:19 PM »
Thanks for all the suggestions.    I'll research which seeds are available for delivery during the March timeframe.  Others will have to wait.   

Does anyone know a source of durian seeds (or fruit) in the U.S.?

John
PS:  What I called 'Custard Apple' on my list is really sugar apple  in U.S. terminology.  Is 'Rainforest Plum' teh same as 'Davidson's Plum'?
« Last Edit: February 02, 2013, 04:51:46 PM by jcaldeira »
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FloridaGreenMan

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2013, 06:34:24 PM »
Oscar' list is the best so far. Green Sapote will not likely not grow in your climate. 
FloridaGreenMan

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2013, 07:37:12 PM »
How about mammee apple, caiimitto, indian jujube, macadamia nut, Brazil nut, and paradise nut.

fruitlovers

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2013, 12:45:04 AM »
Thanks for all the suggestions.    I'll research which seeds are available for delivery during the March timeframe.  Others will have to wait.   

Does anyone know a source of durian seeds (or fruit) in the U.S.?

John
PS:  What I called 'Custard Apple' on my list is really sugar apple  in U.S. terminology.  Is 'Rainforest Plum' teh same as 'Davidson's Plum'?

Rainforest plum = Eugenia candolleana
Davidson Plum = Davidsonia pruriens.
The first is from South America and very nice to eat out of hand. The second is from Australia and is an extremely sour fruit, best made into jam/jellies, etc.
Oscar

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2013, 05:02:34 AM »
What about longan? Would fill a gap between lychee and Dawa in many cases.
Wampi is a good one and will fruit fairly quickly while you are waiting for lansiums to fruit.
Mabolo?

Jackfruitwhisperer69

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2013, 07:35:58 AM »
Hi John,
I have a blank now...so i will maybe comment later ;D I reckon you should make a living fence with kei apple...to keep fruit thieves out ;) 
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You cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again.
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Mike T

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #11 on: April 19, 2013, 02:38:01 AM »



Icecream,yogurt and sauces are common ways to eat davidson plums.

MangoFang

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2013, 06:12:43 PM »
Wow what a project, John.  Have fun putting it together.....

Fang of the U.S. Southwest Desert....

gunnar429

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #13 on: January 01, 2015, 06:17:04 PM »
Jcaldeira, how is the farm coming along?  updates?
~Jeff

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gnappi

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #14 on: January 01, 2015, 07:08:57 PM »
WOW! It looks like you have it pretty well covered! But if you can grow them there, Canistel and persimmon are top fruits!

Regards,

   Gary

jcaldeira

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #15 on: January 03, 2015, 12:11:28 AM »
Jcaldeira, how is the farm coming along?  updates?

The farm is coming along nicely, but not without some unexpected bumps in the road. 

In 2013, during the dry season, approximately one-quarter of my farm burned in a grass fire started by neighbor burning his cane field.  I lost over 100 trees.  Survivors were retarded a year or two in growth. 

Last year, 2014, there was a severe drought, with nearly no rain for 6 months.  I learned a lot about the drought resistance of the popular species.  Mango does great, avocado and mangosteen are okay, citrus not so well. 

During the first few years, I focused on planting a very wide variety of fruits.  Now I am focused on planting more of the ones with the most potential, based on taste, marketability, and success in my climate.  That means I will be planting more mangosteen,  longan, mango, and a few others.   I need to take a trip to tropical Australia to obtain planting material, as not much is available locally.

I've become much better at grafting during the past year.  The biggest 'light bulb' learning on grafting is to time it correctly - good mechanical technique is only half of it. In the tropics, we don't have as distinct seasons, but my mango grafting at the beginning of this rainy season is near 90%.

I've decided to top-work a 'Fiji Mango' tree in my yard.  It's a high fiber variety that is favoured for making mango pickle, but not a good eating mango so I'll put several good eating mango varieties on it.  Earlier this week I cut two of the three main branches to top work it.  I'll cleft graft onto the shoots that emerge rather than bark-graft to the main trunk.  The cleft grafts are much stronger; resistant to high winds and birds landing on them.  It is so disappointing to see a good graft broken by wind or a bird!  After these grafts have enough growth, I'll cut the one remaining limb and graft it.

Tree cut for top working


Waiting for shoots to cleft graft:
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DurianLover

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #16 on: January 03, 2015, 01:51:52 AM »

Last year, 2014, there was a severe drought, with nearly no rain for 6 months.  I learned a lot about the drought resistance of the popular species.  Mango does great, avocado and mangosteen are okay, citrus not so well. 

That goes against conventional wisdom.  What was frequency of waterings?

jcaldeira

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #17 on: January 03, 2015, 02:17:49 AM »

Last year, 2014, there was a severe drought, with nearly no rain for 6 months.  I learned a lot about the drought resistance of the popular species.  Mango does great, avocado and mangosteen are okay, citrus not so well. 

That goes against conventional wisdom.  What was frequency of waterings?

It surprised me too.   Not much watering of mangosteens at all.  Half a 20 liter can on each 1 or 2 year old plant each week during the worst part.  The ones in 90% shade are growing a lot faster than the ones in 50% shade.
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starling1

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #18 on: January 03, 2015, 04:43:34 AM »
John, be careful with lemon grass. If you let it it will go totally feral. very invasive.
« Last Edit: January 03, 2015, 05:37:26 AM by starling1 »

Mike T

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #19 on: January 03, 2015, 05:14:31 AM »
John I would ditch and replace pomegranates,purple passionfruit and many citrus like page,Orlando,Lisbon,satsuma,navel,Minneola,cleopatra should just go.Emperor,honey murcot and Ellendale are way better for your climate. Macadamia and lychees will not produce well either and the same goes for many avocado varieties.The north queensland experience between 16 and 18 latitude would have relevance for you as you are not that far away and due east.
Why not try a range of South american garcinias, various Eugenias and Artocarpus,sapodilla, longkong,salaks,cambuca,ilamas and many south americans.?

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #20 on: January 03, 2015, 09:45:40 AM »
not a fruit, but check out baker creek seeds for "seminole pumpkin."  easy to grow, insect/disease resistant, produces many pumpkins from grapefruit size to volleyball size.  hard shell makes it keep and ship well.  it might be very marketable, and it could be grown in the spaces between your trees.  you would have to watch to keep it from climbing your trees.
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jcaldeira

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2015, 02:01:30 PM »
John I would ditch and replace pomegranates,purple passionfruit and many citrus like page,Orlando,Lisbon,satsuma,navel,Minneola,cleopatra should just go.Emperor,honey murcot and Ellendale are way better for your climate. Macadamia and lychees will not produce well either and the same goes for many avocado varieties.The north queensland experience between 16 and 18 latitude would have relevance for you as you are not that far away and due east.
Why not try a range of South american garcinias, various Eugenias and Artocarpus,sapodilla, longkong,salaks,cambuca,ilamas and many south americans.?

Mike, I wish I had access to planting material for many of the fruits you listed.  Unfortunately, getting planting material into Fiji is difficult due to biosecurity concerns.  Most of the fruits I have came from the Department of Agriculture stations here after they field-test them, a few from other farms, and a few from imported seeds.  We're just a little country (less than 1 million population) in the middle of the ocean, and not much economic incentive for anyone to bring in new fruits.

My plan is to visit tropical Australia sometime in the next year or two to acquire more planting materials, including the citrus varieties you suggest.  I'll also search for seeds when I'm visiting the U.S.

I did get rid of the lychee.

I have two varieties of avocado, one purple and one green (West Indian type).  I don't know the variety names, but I obtained my scion wood from trees that produced higher quality fruits according to the growers here who have many trees.  I saw my first flowers on one tree a month or two ago, but I don't think it held any fruit. 
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Mike T

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2015, 05:09:44 PM »
John talk to Oscar and some of our Brazilian forumites as they know what to do and what you can grow and even better, how to get them to you.While WI avos and Hawaiians might be good if you want Guatemalans Reed and especially Shepard would bear fine in your climate.
Cultivating arrangements with SE AsIan suppliers would be fruitful but you need to provide instructions on how to send seeds.

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2015, 05:28:59 PM »
grumichama, surinam cherry...
i would think of cacti also, besides dragonfruit.
opuntia is very trouble-free.
3 types of guava ? you can add to that easily.
i have a ton of seeds from my Mexican Cream.

gunnar429

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Re: What to grow in tropical wet/dry climate?
« Reply #24 on: January 04, 2015, 01:47:05 AM »
sorry to hear of the fire.  I would've been pissed.
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