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