Can Cherry of Rio Grande fruit in a hot wet climate?

[Mike T]

I have two cherries of rio grande around 5 years old and kept down to around 7 feet tall that have never flowered or fruited. They wilt whenever the UV rating hits 13 or higher and I suspect they need chill and a cooler climate to fruit. I am considering chopping them down if they are slower bearers from seed than durian or mangosteen and the space could be better utilised. Can anyone advise on whether chilling is needed and if they go poorly in more tropical areas?

[Guayaba]

My climate isn't that warm but my Cherry of the Rio Grande gets leaf burn every time it reaches the upper 90's and has only given me 4 flowers over two years.  The plant is 10 feet tall and was a 7 gallon when planted.  If it likes cooler temperatures in the winter to fruit that would be this year.  We had about 160 hours of chill at my location and many of the stone fruits are flowering like crazy.  My Cherry has flowered around May in past years, so I guess I'll see what happens.  If it doesn't start to flower and fruit in the next year, I am thinking of replacing it with something else.

[shot]

I have one left growing sort of sentimental reason have not seen much fruit for 10 years ,it also suffers from tip die back common in florida,up to you if you want continue to grow for very little gain ,especially in your climate.

[palmcity]

I suspect they need chill and a cooler climate to fruit. Can anyone advise on whether chilling is needed and if they go poorly in more tropical areas?

http://www.australia.com/en/facts/weather/cairns-weather.html
Winter (June – August) there is low rainfall.
Spring (September – November)In spring average temperatures range from 20.5 – 29°C (68.9 - 84.2°F). This is the end of the dry season

It sounds like you have a dry winter to spring. Late winter to early spring would be the time to water for bloom and fruit set.

from Sep. 2016 to today we had no weather below 0C = 32F . I noticed about a week ago a few flowers but I had watered it some. I have only noticed no fruit set in dry years in which I did not water the tree. I am not a big fan of it but one of my kids likes it. No known fruiting problems to me at least if watered at the correct time.

[Mike T]

http://www.bom.gov.au/uv/index.shtml
Thanks for all the advice guys and that is correct about he climate.I look at today's attached UV chart and while not at summer levels it is still extreme and the CoRG seem to struggle more in the strong sun than other plants.
I am now convinced that they must go and mulch patrol is their destiny.

[merce3]

Reading this makes me wonder if they would grow better in North Florida... Anyone know? Sorry for the thread jack

[palmcity]

pics from today. I pruned it this winter in 2016 as too tall and need for sunlight in center.

[merce3]

Fond my answer in another thread. http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=1919.msg26386#msg26386

Cherry of the Rio Grande can handle down to -6C

[greenman62]

i just bought a 3 gal and put it in a raised bed.
the roots were very fine and all at the top of the container.
with the raised bed, i was worried it would dry out quickly when it starts getting hotter.
the soil is high in organic matter, and there is a ton of mulch.
so far, it just started putting out new growth
and i havent seen any water stress on it.

While it does get very hot here (New Orleans)
we are also humid and it rains a lot.
one of the top cities in the lower 48.

I dont really water it much (so far)
i will hit the mulch with the hose for around 10-20 seconds,
if it hasnt rained in several days.
which just wets the mulch layer and stops the evaporation.
I want the bottom roots to start growing downward to look for water there.

[Fruittylife]

So if my temperature doesn’t get lower than 70 f should I even bother planting them?

[achetadomestica]

There are many types of cherry of the rio grande found in different areas.
Get a type from a warmer area. I think Luc has several that fruit for him?

[Fruittylife]

I have 4 pretty big ones in pots. Not sure which varieties they are

[achetadomestica]

No Flowers?

[Kevin Jones]

I have a 3 year old in a 15 gallon nursery bag I got from Adam Shafran at Flying Fox... it flowered this year (4 blooms) and every bloom set fruit.
Ate my first one today. 
Wife declared it "Sweet!".
It does droop a little under very intense direct sunlight... even when watered well.
Does not seem to hurt it though as it bounces back by the afternoon.
We've been in the upper 90s for 2 weeks.

Kevin

[FlyingFoxFruits]

it is not the heat that makes them unfruitful, it's the lack of cold.

Mine regularly see temps over 100F, but they always get their chill hours.

the less chill, the less the bloom and fruit in my experience.

Heat and wet is ok, as long as there is eventual drainage (they like good drainage, but my lot is wet), and the heat must go to chill, as the winter approaches.

[WGphil]

They like steady water from just before blooms through fruiting