The Tropical Fruit Forum

My red is in the ground and is in a shaded spot. It started producing nice and sweet fruit, though the seed is larger than my Sabara which I prefer.

Since 1977 this has been one of the least chilly winters here.

Even so my sweetheart lychee has exploded in blooms, it looks like the top has a chia pet on it.

Bees which have been absent for years are all over the chia :-) I have waited 14 years to see a bloom like this, but since they are so high I'll have to build a scaffold to get them.

Anyone else have a strong lychee bloom going?

I've watched a number of grafting videos from Asia and many use regular kitchen cling wrap.

My Carrie has set a lot of fruit, they're still small maybe less than a small pea but I've had a lot of fruit from it in the last several years.

Over a decade ago I grafted it onto a turpentine tree that was well established and the Carrie took over and killed its host :-)

I'm seeing two types of parafilm nowadays, Parafilm M. Laboratory tape and  Parafilm Grafting tape. Does anyone know how they are different?

This year has been an exceptionally long fruiting season (2+ months) for my Sabara. Anyone else?

My Rollinia is in fairly close proximity to my Fairchild #2 canistel. It has been in ground 4 years and has grown nicely from 6 ft. tall to about 12 feet tall and this is my third fruiting season.

The funny thing about is the fruit grow mostly on the self shaded north side when the west side gets the most sun.

So my question...

Do Rollinia prefer a bit less light to fruit?

I'd finally given up on my Mamey and since it's in a better location that where I have a ruby red Guava I'm thinking about moving the guava there. It's about 7' tall with a trunk about 1 1/2" thick and has been in ground ~2 years. Before I do, I'd like to know what a reasonable expectation of success would be.

I would prune the roots at the surface (down about 10") a month or so around the root ball, and after moving prune back the canopy. Prep the hole with a sandy loamy native soil and home made compost mix in a 70/30 or so concentration and keep it hydrated afterward and maybe screen the remaining canopy from harsh midday sun.

What would be the best time frame to do it? now while it's semi dormant or when it warms up a bit here in south Florida?

Does my plan of action sound reasonable? Or, should I not move it.

Quote from: gnappi on February 17, 2024, 12:36:29 PM

I've had abysmal luck with them. My green up and died for no known reason after 5+ years in ground. My purple flowered the second year in ground, broke in a wind and it recovered nicely but it has never flowered again in ~7 years. I'm also told it's unlikely to ever fruit if another caimito is not available for cross pollination.

My third is a seedling from a fruit I ate and it has been in ground 5 +/- years from a seedling that was 2-3 years old and I do not expect anything from it for several years to come.

So you are telling me I need to grow Atleast two seedlings and plant them in the same spot near each other's
Or I'm wrong

I did, but one died. As far as I can tell "some" "may" not need a second tree for cross pollination, some may need one.

I've had abysmal luck with them. My green up and died for no known reason after 5+ years in ground. My purple flowered the second year in ground, broke in a wind and it recovered nicely but it has never flowered again in ~7 years. I'm also told it's unlikely to ever fruit if another caimito is not available for cross pollination.

My third is a seedling from a fruit I ate and it has been in ground 5 +/- years from a seedling that was 2-3 years old and I do not expect anything from it for several years to come.

It depends on your tongue :-)

I like Lula.

I have a half dozen dwarf bananas and have great success with them. I have a Zebrina Rojo which is in ground well over two years and has given me nothing but problems.

First let me say it's between two dwarf cavendish (within a few feet) and is given the same care as the others which have no issues. Now the leaves on the Rojo come out gang busters but eventually the newest one will stop growing out and the next one to come out will get strangled by the failing immature leaf. This before a flag leaf erupts. Eventually this plant dies and more pups erupt from the ground which eventually die.

I've tried increasing / decreasing water to it as well as increasing fertilizing it (using Excalibur's fertilizer) to no avail. Funny years ago I had a couple of other Rojo which did well. What to do? Move the plant or new shoots to start a new corm? Could it be missing something that the other plants are not needing? Any advice will be appreciated.

The Rojo is an attractive plant and want it if for no other reason than to add some eye candy to the yard.

For a 2 1/2 year in ground tree my Rollinia (unknown cultivar) is having a good year with nearly a dozen fruits in various stages of development with several more in bloom :-) My tree has increased production since its first crop last year with 2 fruits and is either self fertile, or some unknown insect is pollinating it.

As it happens I picked my first fruit today and anyone who wants to PICK UP seeds in north Broward can have them. As usual EVERY year I offer seeds free and it does NOT mean I will pack and ship them... no way, no how. First come first served, PM me for address / phone though many here already know where I live :-)