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Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: Carlincool on February 11, 2015, 08:49:57 AM

Title: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 11, 2015, 08:49:57 AM
My in ground soursop and 2 in ground breadfruit have been going thru a lot of 49 degree mornings this winter. The soursop is 10 ft high and has blooms all over it.
My breadfruit have lost about 40% of the leaves. Both my breadfruit trees are tarped over and also have quilts added on the top of the tarps. Each has a 1500 watt heaters on them that I turn on as soon as it hits about 60. The soursop has lost about 20% of its leaves. We are suppose to have the coldest night of the year here on Friday night. The weather channel said a low Sat. morning of 40. My local said 43. I might have to tarp the soupsop this weekend. I'm in Cape Coral, Fl. (SW Fl)
Should I chance it?
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: From the sea on February 11, 2015, 09:15:19 AM
do you have fruit on your bread fruit? I have 2 on mine, here my tree has not stopped growing. I would probably cover the soursop.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: ftmyersfruit on February 11, 2015, 09:20:13 AM
How large are your breadfruit? I have a small one in a 10 gallon pot, but I never cover it. I will this weekend if it gets anywhere near as cold as they predict. My two soursop are fine with zero leaf loss so far this winter. I am just across the river from Cape Coral.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 11, 2015, 09:46:26 AM
I actually have 4 breadfruit. 2 in the ground, 2 in 25 gallon pots. No fruit.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 11, 2015, 09:47:25 AM
They are only about 5 ft high
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: ftmyersfruit on February 11, 2015, 09:54:59 AM
What is the lowest temperature you have seen there this year? I would definitely cover them or at least move the pots to a very sheltered location.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 11, 2015, 09:57:08 AM
I always bring in the ones in pots anytime it drops below 55.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 11, 2015, 09:58:19 AM
One time it got down to 49 in my location
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 11, 2015, 10:02:24 AM
From the sea, I saw the pics you posted last year. The look great!  You should post some recent pics.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 16, 2015, 01:28:14 PM
Ft Myers fruit..
This weekend they are predicting 37 to 42 along the coast. My soursop lost some leaves, not too bad.
The few blooms I have on it still hanging in there. I didn't cover it. I bought a big tarp, but it was to windy to do by myself, so I put up a smaller one to protect it from the north wind with a 1500 watt heater.the breadfruit all look ok.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: From the sea on February 16, 2015, 01:34:46 PM
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s93/Ssullivan_02/IMG_0341_zps1099bd57.jpg) (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/Ssullivan_02/media/IMG_0341_zps1099bd57.jpg.html)

This pics is a few weeks old.

I had a few fruit on my soursop, but the deer are in rut and broke the top off of the tree by rubbing on it.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: ftmyersfruit on February 16, 2015, 02:12:05 PM
Carlincool, my soursop were unscathed by the cold of last weekend. One of my cocoa is looking rough. Everything else is looking good. If it actually gets into the 30s I will have to really figure out what to do. I think my south yard hit mid 40s the coldest night the north was cold enough to damage sweet potato leaves slightly. No noticable frost anywhere though.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: DurianLover on February 17, 2015, 08:42:17 AM
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s93/Ssullivan_02/IMG_0341_zps1099bd57.jpg) (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/Ssullivan_02/media/IMG_0341_zps1099bd57.jpg.html)



How did you get your tree so bushy? Tipping and pruning early? My breadfruit about the same height, but just straight up stick with about 7 leaves on top. Growth pattern irritates me.  Don't want to end with a pine tree lookalike.  Guessing it depends on variety as well.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: From the sea on February 17, 2015, 08:55:15 AM
I haven't topped the tree or tip pruned, I just cut off all the low branches and it went bushy
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 17, 2015, 09:29:48 AM
Well the local news are all saying 39-40 degrees this Friday.. Time to take drastic measures.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 17, 2015, 09:34:05 AM
From the sea..all I can say is wow. What growth since last year. I wish mine looked 1/2 as good. My breadfruit trees have totally stopped putting out growth. It's like they are just existing right now.
Hopefully they will be able to withstand some 39 degree weather this weekend.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: From the sea on February 17, 2015, 09:55:27 AM
The first year mine was in the ground, it didn't grow all winter but it caught up over the summer. I'm pulling for you with this cold weather pushing through.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: JF on February 17, 2015, 10:04:06 AM
Well the local news are all saying 39-40 degrees this Friday.. Time to take drastic measures.

That is not enough to kill it but it will defoliated. I have a 10' soursop and we had 4 days below 40F first of the year and a week later it defoliated, it is now flushing. I would tarp it to preserve your new growth. 

Here it is pushing new growth a few days ago

(http://s18.postimg.cc/p0zxbpzit/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/p0zxbpzit/)
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Doglips on February 17, 2015, 10:11:44 AM
My soursop is a young potted one. It defoliated at about 45 when I first got it. I'm afraid to even put the thing in the garage because temps can get that low.  It is a house plant in the winter from now on.  One of the most ultra-tropical I have.  Looking good so far this year, getting AM sun only.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: JF on February 17, 2015, 10:16:49 AM
My soursop is a young potted one. It defoliated at about 45 when I first got it. I'm afraid to even put the thing in the garage because temps can get that low.  It is a house plant in the winter from now on.  One of the most ultra-tropical I have.  Looking good so far this year, getting AM sun only.

They are pretty hardy about the same as rollina in my area. The cold hardiest Annona I grow is ilama followed by sugar Apple, atemoya, cherimoya and custard apple
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: ftmyersfruit on February 17, 2015, 12:39:21 PM
I hope your breadfruit pull through the next few days Carlincool. I hope this is the last of the cold. How cold hardy is custard apple? I just bought one last weekend, still in the pot. I have seen a lot of conflicting information. I met someone yesterday who lives in South Fort Myers who had a flawless 7 foot soursop despite her having two or three days in the high 30s, I was surprised by both the condition and the low temperature.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: fruitlovers on February 17, 2015, 06:30:51 PM

How did you get your tree so bushy? Tipping and pruning early? My breadfruit about the same height, but just straight up stick with about 7 leaves on top. Growth pattern irritates me.  Don't want to end with a pine tree lookalike.  Guessing it depends on variety as well.

My guess is that is a Ma'afala, and yes they tend to do that naturally. But even with them it's good to top them at 10 feet or so, otherwise fruits will become unreachable.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: From the sea on February 17, 2015, 07:22:32 PM
That's exactly the variety! I'm planing to top it this spring after the fruit ripen.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 19, 2015, 09:31:57 AM
Tarped everything and added blankets for added protection last night. My low this morning on my property was 51. Tonight is the real test. Weather channel is saying 33. Local forecasters are saying 36-38. We shall see.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: From the sea on February 19, 2015, 09:47:22 AM
best of luck, hate the cold.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Doglips on February 19, 2015, 10:42:46 AM
Add a heat source.
Ya good luck, not fun.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Bush2Beach on February 19, 2015, 12:01:55 PM
My soursop is a young potted one. It defoliated at about 45 when I first got it. I'm afraid to even put the thing in the garage because temps can get that low.  It is a house plant in the winter from now on.  One of the most ultra-tropical I have.  Looking good so far this year, getting AM sun only.

They are pretty hardy about the same as rollina in my area. The cold hardiest Annona I grow is ilama followed by sugar Apple, atemoya, cherimoya and custard apple

How is Ilama and sugar apple more cold hearty than Cherimoya?
My Rollinia went through high 30's unprotected without defoliating. I can't see how Soursop would even still be alive. My mountain soursop seedlings are not even happy but the Rollinias have new growth .
Is it not true that many more people are fruiting Rollinia in SoCal than Soursop? I thought you had the primo soursop tree in SoCal.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: gnappi on February 19, 2015, 04:41:56 PM
best of luck, hate the cold.

I don't think I need to but I took my soursop into the house tonight. Good luck to you all
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: zands on February 19, 2015, 05:36:38 PM
https://www.skyfieldtropical.com/encyclopedia/images/id,77/ (https://www.skyfieldtropical.com/encyclopedia/images/id,77/)
Soursop growing happily in a marginal zone, facing north (exposed to winter cold). Freezes will defoliate it, but warm weather brings vigorous new growth.

(http://s28.postimg.cc/vax9dxg3d/Soursop_Tree.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/vax9dxg3d/)


Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 20, 2015, 09:31:12 AM
Well, looks like everything made it. I tarped everything and put quilts on top of that. It got down to 37 at my house and inside the tarp it was 57. The heaters did the job!!
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: JF on February 20, 2015, 10:17:11 AM
https://www.skyfieldtropical.com/encyclopedia/images/id,77/ (https://www.skyfieldtropical.com/encyclopedia/images/id,77/)
Soursop growing happily in a marginal zone, facing north (exposed to winter cold). Freezes will defoliate it, but warm weather brings vigorous new growth.

(http://s28.postimg.cc/vax9dxg3d/Soursop_Tree.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/vax9dxg3d/)

Zands, same thing happens here but went it warms up it start to push. How long before it fruits in the ground?
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on February 20, 2015, 12:07:10 PM
Mine is about the same size as Zands. This is the first time it has blooms. It has lost about 20% of it leaves from nights in the 40s, but when it starts warming up, it put out a flush of new growth. I have been feeding mine with miracle grow for flowers. It promotes blooms.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Bush2Beach on February 20, 2015, 12:27:31 PM
My soursop is a young potted one. It defoliated at about 45 when I first got it. I'm afraid to even put the thing in the garage because temps can get that low.  It is a house plant in the winter from now on.  One of the most ultra-tropical I have.  Looking good so far this year, getting AM sun only.

They are pretty hardy about the same as rollina in my area. The cold hardiest Annona I grow is ilama followed by sugar Apple, atemoya, cherimoya and custard apple

How is Ilama and sugar apple more cold hearty than Cherimoya?
My Rollinia went through high 30's unprotected without defoliating. I can't see how Soursop would even still be alive. My mountain soursop seedlings are not even happy but the Rollinias have new growth .
Is it not true that many more people are fruiting Rollinia in SoCal than Soursop? I thought you had the primo soursop tree in SoCal.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: ftmyersfruit on February 20, 2015, 02:17:22 PM
Awesome your trees made it Carlincool. I hope they fruit for you soon. It reached mid 30s here but no frost and definitely no freeze thankfully.
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: JF on February 20, 2015, 02:53:06 PM
My soursop is a young potted one. It defoliated at about 45 when I first got it. I'm afraid to even put the thing in the garage because temps can get that low.  It is a house plant in the winter from now on.  One of the most ultra-tropical I have.  Looking good so far this year, getting AM sun only.

They are pretty hardy about the same as rollina in my area. The cold hardiest Annona I grow is ilama followed by sugar Apple, atemoya, cherimoya and custard apple

How is Ilama and sugar apple more cold hearty than Cherimoya?
My Rollinia went through high 30's unprotected without defoliating. I can't see how Soursop would even still be alive. My mountain soursop seedlings are not even happy but the Rollinias have new growth .
Is it not true that many more people are fruiting Rollinia in SoCal than Soursop? I thought you had the primo soursop tree in SoCal.

I grow all 5 annonas, in ground, in 2 different location in my area and get the same results. Rollina are super hard to grow in an arid climate . They do better in 10B coastal areas like chula vista. How are sugar Apple and ilamas more cold hardy than cherimoya. I have not notice much leave burns on those annonas and they have never defoliated. You can clearly see that cherimoyas stress once the temps drop below 40F. They don't defoliate but some leaves turn black. Behl has talked about how low temps affect the fruits. I have never heard or seen a fruiting soursop in socal but several poster have pix of fruiting rollinas. Here is a pic of Cangrejo's sugar sugar which I have try all through the winter months


(http://s9.postimg.cc/idaee4gmz/image.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/idaee4gmz/)
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: gunnar429 on April 08, 2015, 09:45:52 PM
My car is in the shop so I have been getting a ride to work...and it's crazy what you see when you're not driving.  I saw a house the other day with some clearly visible fruit trees, and as I scanned the property from left to right, I thought to myself: this person is from the islands....then, BAM!  There was a huge breadfruit tree, at least by FL standards.  It appears to be 15-20 ft tall and 10-15 ft wide!  Seems to be in the ground, and no protection was noticeable.  I haven't been able to investigate further, but as soon as my car is ready again, I will attempt to stop and talk with the grower to find out their secret.  The house is on a main drag (4 lanes of traffic) so maybe it is somehow protected from the cold...BUT we just had upper 30s like 2 months ago!!  ???
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: Carlincool on July 17, 2017, 08:16:05 AM
Going around my yard and what do I find? A breadfruit on 1 of my trees. It's about the size of a softball now.
This past winter we had a couple of days down in the mid 40s. I used no protection. Spring came and boom a flush of new growth. After years of no luck, finally fruit. Its now about 15-18 ft tall and doing very well.
Same with my soursop. It lost a crapload of leave and now has blooms all over it.
I dropped my phone and the screen cracked so no pics until its fixed.
Who said you can't fruit one in Sw Florida?  Lol
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: dwfl on July 17, 2017, 10:29:35 AM
There's one fruiting at Fruitscapes. Also a couple 20+ ft trees I know of in Naples
Title: Re: Soursop and breadfruit protection
Post by: OCchris1 on July 18, 2017, 01:37:05 AM
I find this to be an odd discussion. Are we saying that breadfruit and soursop are in the same league of cold hardiness? I grow both and I find that I notice immediate leaf damage on breadfruit in the low 50's, conversely, I have a soursop in a pot on my porch for 2 years and it didn't lose a leaf last winter or even winter before. Unprotected. I will say, that I have a 7' soursop in the ground and it was doing great buy seems to have hit a snag...not sure what happened yet but it is growing again. Thanks. Chris