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Messages - shafak

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251
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Request to admins: Seeds photos - sticky.
« on: February 20, 2016, 09:02:35 AM »
Have you grown jaboticaba, DimplesLee? 

The admin's job is only to stick the thread to the top :)

Quote from: DimplesLee on February 20, 2016, 08:07:06 AM
Ah okay so the works then? fruit, fresh seed and dry complete with perhaps a measuring thingamajig to measure size or for scale?

I believe if you bought from a reputable seller there is an almost lottery winning ticket odds that the seeds are the right kind, properly labelled, the works - and a seller usually sends a piccie pre-shipment, you know that the seeds were cleaned and packed properly prior to getting sealed in a padded envelope/box.

There will be too many variables IMHO even within seeds from the same tree - factor in fruit size and seed maturity add in the possibility a seller will prob be growing several trees of each type?

To help the admins perhaps we can all participate in an ongoing thread posting our own detailed pictures of seeds plus seedlings (cotyledon stage, first set of mature leaf, etc) as the mods and admins have their own day jobs as well?

#justmy2cents :)

252
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Suggestion for plants to grow, please.
« on: February 20, 2016, 09:00:25 AM »
Thanks for the suggestions, DL.  Are you in Ceylon or US now?


Quote from: DurianLover on February 20, 2016, 08:32:18 AM
Have you considered getting improved varieties what already grows well there? There are good number of high quality jackfruits in Kerala. One of them is ever bearing. You could probably make it ever bearing with irrigation in Chennai
 Also certain nursery in Kerala has authentic  Dang Surya and J-33. Arguably best jackfruits originating in Thailand and Malaysia. You can get really high quality chempedak grafted on jackfruit in Kerala. Jackfruit rootstock should impart considerable advantage to chempedak for Chennai climate.
High quality grafted rambutans available ain Kerala as well. My understanding they are not as fussy about humidity as durian and mangosteen. 
There should be Hasaya sapodilla available in few years in India, I helped to introduce it. It's much better than any sapodilla i ever tasted in India.
If you insist on South American fruits i really like chupa-chupa, but you must get seeds from very high quality fruit. I don't know enough about humidity tolerance although it does originate in humid parts of Western Amazon. Mamey is another good American fruit. Top quality grafted trees should be available in India in about 2.5 years.  We are getting pretty close having this species available to general public in India. I think it grows in drier parts of Central America as well, but you will need irrigation in Chennai.

253
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Suggestion for plants to grow, please.
« on: February 20, 2016, 08:57:23 AM »
DL, the mention of this tree is only an indication of what plants would grow and fruit in Chennai.  I've not said anywhere it was a useful tree.

Quote from: DurianLover on February 20, 2016, 07:41:16 AM
As far as I know even pigs won't touch cannonball fruit. It's not for human consumption.
I actually find tree unattractive because its overused in tropics trying to make some sort of botanical curiosity out of it. Perhaps its a little bit mental thing as well knowing that tree produces useless fruit.

254
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Request to admins: Seeds photos - sticky.
« on: February 20, 2016, 07:32:24 AM »
Quote from: bsbullie on February 20, 2016, 07:22:24 AM

...assuming the correct photos of seeds were given the correct ID.  As the old saying goes,  "garbage in, garbage out"

Only verified photos to be allowed.  That's why I suggested the reputed vendors here to take time out to click pictures.  This would dispel any doubts.

255
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Looking for Canonball tree or Quararibea
« on: February 20, 2016, 07:29:25 AM »
Yes, how to know when the fruit is ripe?  There is a tree here in the museum which is fruiting.  I would like to pluck a few (with permission of course).  Or does it have to fall from the tree first?  Thank you.

The fruiting tree:

256
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Request to admins: Seeds photos - sticky.
« on: February 20, 2016, 07:19:49 AM »
Quote from: DimplesLee on February 19, 2016, 06:54:37 PM
From wikipedia:


https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQlW5i6WqezF4X8SBBhRZvi2It8J1VhQ8uGI2LAaCiDzuXpHdxg


Jabos are polyembryonic - if you are going to plant each seed in its own jiffy pot or coir disc - once it sprouts and you get more than one seedling - chances are its a jabo alright.


Also if the seeds were shipped in a moist medium and its been a week or so since it was posted, it should have been sprouting already when you received it? I hope the seller didn't sun dry those seeds!

The seeds I received were packed in vermiculite and shipped on the 20th of January.  I received them on 2nd February, but the vermiculite was dry by then.  Also, I don't doubt the seller would sun dry the seeds as he is a long time member on this forum and so far, I have not read any negative comments about him. 



These are the seeds I received.  Why are they not even in size?

Out of these, the one in the top left broke into two.  Another floated and a third I lost due to my clumsy handling them.  So far, none of them have sprouted. 

257
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Request to admins: Seeds photos - sticky.
« on: February 20, 2016, 07:11:06 AM »
Thank you for the replies, everyone.  Actually, this post is not a request for pictures of jaboticaba seeds, but rather a request to have a sticky on seeds.  There are lots of vendors active on this forum.  If each could take a little bit of time to click decent photos, it would be of great help for novices. 

258
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Suggestion for plants to grow, please.
« on: February 20, 2016, 07:06:51 AM »
Here's another S. American tree which fruits well here.  Just for your information to guide me.

Cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis) with lots of fruit.


259
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Suggestion for plants to grow, please.
« on: February 19, 2016, 12:47:35 AM »
Thanks for the suggestion, barath.  2 years back,  I tried to grow store bought yellow/golden passion fruit  (passiflora edulis?).  Germination was successful, but the seedlings grew too slow.  Grown in pot, only reached a height of about 2 inches in 6 months.  I remembered reading before that these plants are rapid growers.   So, I abandoned growing them.  I don't think it's the heat, as these plants have been grown successfully by my mom's friends in Southern hotter region  of  Ramanathapuram.

Beginning of this month,  I've started to germinate seeds of the same fruit again.  Keeping my fingers crossed.   Will definitely try Passiflora laurifolia in the future.

260
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Request to admins: Seeds photos - sticky.
« on: February 18, 2016, 11:06:36 PM »
I had recently received seeds of jaboticaba.  Since, I've never seen the fruit or seed before,  I tried searching online.   But, to my disappointment,  I couldn't even find one picture.   This got me thinking - how about a sticky with pictures of seeds for easy identification.  Thank you.

261
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Recommendation for fruit tree that fits the environmental conditions
« on: February 18, 2016, 08:31:41 PM »
Take a look at this thread :

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=8408.0

Hope it helps.

262
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Suggestion for plants to grow, please.
« on: February 18, 2016, 08:27:43 PM »
I think humidity plays a role in flowering and fruit setting.   A few had tried growing mangosteen and durian in Chennai.   The trees grow well with irrigation like you mentioned,  but never bore fruits even after 10-15 years.

How much average humidity qualifies for wet tropics?

263
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Suggestion for plants to grow, please.
« on: February 18, 2016, 09:57:52 AM »
Thanks for the quick reply, Tropheus76.  I'm wondering what actually is humid tropical?  Highest humidity here is below 80%.  Given the climatic condition (Tropical) is humidity the factor for mangosteen/durian not fruiting here?

I just received jaboticaba seeds in the beginning of this month.  Still waiting for them to germinate.

264
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Suggestion for plants to grow, please.
« on: February 18, 2016, 08:38:45 AM »
Below is the climatic condition for Chennai.  Based on this, I'd like to know what all can I grow. 


I'm especially interested in jaboticaba, cassabanana and other S. American tropical fruits not available here.

Just for your idea, jackfruit, mango, sapodilla, guava are few plants that grow well here.  Mangosteen, durian won't.  Just to give you an idea.  Thank you.

265
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: is this Borassus flabellifer palm?
« on: February 17, 2016, 11:22:26 AM »
Quote from: DimplesLee on February 17, 2016, 05:02:39 AM
Not exactly Borassus jelly but in the Phils we are already canning Arenga "jelly"
http://www.pinoybisnes.com/food-business-ideas/how-to-make-kaong/
I believe the process to make Borassus jelly in Bangladesh is similar, will look thru my laptop bookmarks later this evening and update.

Thanks for the links, DimplesLee.  Will have to do some more research on feasibility of canning.

Here's another mouth watering recipe from the same author in the previous link:

http://www.sailusfood.com/2015/05/24/nungu-recipes-rose-nungu-sharbat/

266
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: is this Borassus flabellifer palm?
« on: February 17, 2016, 11:12:56 AM »
Quote from: DimplesLee on February 17, 2016, 06:10:15 AM
http://herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com/2011/07/sugar-palm-and-toddy-seeds-nutritious.html
When the fruit is young the toddy seeds are hollow, translucent and soft. They have a jelly-like consistency and are translucent. They are extracted from the fruit by roasting then breaking open the fruit, and peeling the pale brown skin from them.

There is a dessert recipe in the blogpost :)


A similar roast then slice entry found via web:
http://www.fao.org/livestock/agap/frg/ECONF95/HTML/TODDY.HTM


Maybe the canning process is similar to Arenga's Kaong preserves method?

We too make that recipe here in Tamil Nadu.   Also, a few other recipes we have using plain and rose flavored milk.

http://www.sailusfood.com/2015/05/21/nongu-paal-taati-munjalu-dessert/

267
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: is this Borassus flabellifer palm?
« on: February 17, 2016, 03:19:43 AM »
This topic got me thinking.  There are lots of this palm here.  Any suggestions on the feasibility of canning the "fruit"?

BTW,  I really don't understand why the jelly part is referred to as a fruit, when it is actually the seed in its initial stage.  This jelly is what later on becomes the seed surrounded by a fibrous deep yellow layer.  Even Wikipedia refers the jelly portion as fruit.

268
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Poll: Meliponiculture
« on: February 15, 2016, 11:53:54 PM »
Quote from: Grapebush on February 12, 2016, 08:15:23 PM
These bees, are normaly smaller than the Appis genus right???

Can anyone tell me if these are stingless bees? They're about 1cm long.


I'm no expert,  but it looks like apis bee.  Did you take the pictures in Portugal yourself or are they pictures taken from the net?

269
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Poll: Meliponiculture
« on: February 12, 2016, 02:11:56 AM »
Thanks for enlightening me about the Australian doubt.  Australian members could get more useful information at this group https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ANBees/info

Luisport, these are tropical bees, but I have read articles before about these being imported into Japan to pollinate greenhouse crops.  So, I don't see any problem in you trying, provided it is allowed in your country.

270
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Meliponiculture
« on: February 11, 2016, 08:39:10 AM »
Quote from: druss on February 10, 2016, 09:06:04 PM
Oscar posted this once:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKbtihBdjAI

Id like to try them but they're only above the Kennedy ranges and aqis had movement controls on them.

I have seen many seed and plant sellers from Australia who won't or cannot post to certain parts within the country itself.  Why is there such restrictions within a single country?

271
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Meliponiculture
« on: February 11, 2016, 08:37:38 AM »
Quote from: Finca La Isla on February 10, 2016, 08:54:02 PM
Yes, we rely on melipona bees for lots of pollinating.  they really do the job with introduced species like salak.  On the forum I read about people having to hand pollinate flowers of fruits that always seem to get pollinated by nature here and in many cases it is the melipona bees.
Peter

Please specify the species of melipona bee you rely on, Peter.  Are they feral or boxed colonies?

272
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Meliponiculture
« on: February 11, 2016, 08:36:23 AM »
Quote from: DimplesLee on February 10, 2016, 07:14:57 PM
We were told that stingless bees are good if you are a beginner as it takes the pain out of any mishandling but that the honey production of Kiwot (Trigonas) is lower than apis cerana.

Phl Govt giving away colonies of both types for free to boost Coconut pollination which translates to increased copra production.

Actually, it's not true, DimplesLee.  As a beginner, I used to keep apis cerana and I was only stung once due to my carelessness.  And, I never used a bee veil or smoker with them.  The colony abandoned the box due to frequent disturbance from ants.  Stingless bee don't just up and fly away.  BTW, Which species of stingless bees is the govt giving away?

273
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Poll: Meliponiculture
« on: February 10, 2016, 07:08:35 PM »
As meliponiculture involves tropical regions and since this forum is for tropical fruits,  I was wondering how many of the members here actively practice this?  I specifically mentioned melipona species  (Stingless bees) as these cannot tolerate temperate zones.  Meliponiculture is a win win situation for the bees as well as the keeper.  There is the double benefit of increased fruit yield due to pollination as well as a good source of unadultrated medical honey.  And best of all, no stings.

Though I don't have much plants in my home garden,  I have 3 colonies of the local Stingless bees - Tetragonula iridipennis and am sure other members from Kerala, Australia  and S. America would be practicing it as these are areas where melipona bees exist naturally.

274
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Heaviest jackfruit.
« on: February 10, 2016, 01:11:55 PM »
The current Guinness world record for heaviest tree fruit is held by a jackfruit from Hawaii at 34kg / 75lb. 

But, in Panruti in India, fruits as heavy as 60kg are not rare.  The heaviest weighed over 70kg.

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/news/jackfruit-paradise-panruti-tn-breaks-all-records-terms-production

Does it make any difference whether Guinness acknowledges it or not?   

PS:  For those not familiar with Indian numbers - lakh = 100 thousand and crore = 10 million.

275
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Horned melon without trellis.
« on: February 09, 2016, 08:29:44 AM »
I am thinking of growing horned melon in pots on the rooftop.  The idea is to let the plant grow over the parapet and then hang down freely.  Is this advisable?  Will the plant hang freely or try to climb onto any available grip it could get hold on to?

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