The Tropical Fruit Forum

Sounds like good advice to me.

I would spend more time reading, studying mango growth in SoCal, and doing homework rather than opening the wallet (the easiest thing to do).

You can't buy your way to long-term success.  Seedlings are an excellent way to start. Most newbie mango growers mean well but don't understand the difficulties in growing trees in this marginal climate.

Johnny

 

I started germinating some mango seedling trees in the summer of 2021 and thus far they are doing well in #5 pots.

Here are a few photos as examples. The first two are Pina Colada and the last one is a Sweet Tart Seedling.

Johnny


Pina Colada Mango Seedling #1



Pina Colada Mango Seedling #2



Sweet Tart Seedling

I have some fruit in 2022 but not a lot. Sweet Tart, Cac, Nam Doc Mai, Guava, and Angie.

Many of my mango trees I trimmed to remove the lower branches and force vegetative growth upwards. I would have had more fruit on my trees but I removed some fruit earlier to refocus on growth especially on, mango trees younger than six years old.

I have come to the conclusion that most mango trees will not start to reach maximum production and high-quality fruit until reaching 8-10 years of age in SoCal. Many new mango growers in California think in a few years they can have good fruit and a productive tree. While this may be possible in Southern Florida with Sub-Tropical conditions in Socal we have much longer winters in a mild Mediterranean climate. Even inland with hot summers the long winter and cool spring temperatures tend to slow growth tremendously and extend flowering relative to Florida.

Growing mango Trees is a long and difficult process and most people are too impatient to wait for the long-term rewards. You can always force a young mango tree to produce fruit after a few years but the real rewards come years later. Just a reality check for our SoCal mango growers.

Johnny

Sounds like neglect to me. How often do you care are water your Trees? You don't give much information on what you do to take care of them. Have you done your homework regarding Macadamia Trees soil and water requirements?

As previously mentioned Mac trees love water and low ph soil.

Good Luck.

You Grafted too early. May in SoCal has a low take rate. You Should have waited until July-August when temperatures are warmer unless we have a hot spring which 2022 is not. Heat equates to mango graft success. Mild temperatures equate to primary failures. Hopefully, your grafts will make it.

Also, you don't show the rootstock. Is it vigorous and flushing when you did the grafts? The quality of the rootstock is important in long-term success. All of these factors affect grafting mangoes in Socal. 

 Live and learn.

Johnny

Interesting about your Brewster Lychee tree growing slowly. Mine also has been in the ground for almost two years and has grown quite well. The same goes for my Mauritius Lychee Tree. (See attached Photo)

I plant my trees in full sun and sandy soil. I also water frequently. Lychee Tree loves lots of water with good drainage.

Johnny


Brewster Lychee Tree (5-9-2022)

Glad to hear about Pina Colada Simon. Last year I started growing several seedlings and they have done quite well in my greenhouse (See attached photo). When they are a little bigger I will likely graft them to existing mango trees in the ground.

Johnny



Pina Colada Mango Seedling Tree (5-23-22)

Of the six varieties of Sapodilla, I grow at my location, I have the highest optimism for Butterscotch, Thomas, and Tikal.  All three are reported to taste excellent but time will tell how they grow and perform in SoCal.

The two sapodilla trees I have in the ground are now beginning to flush and one has fruit. They were planted two years ago from a #15 pot. Enclosed is a photo of my Molix Sapodilla tree for reference.

The Thomas and Butterscotch are in my greenhouse to help accelerate growth.

Johnny


Molix Sapodilla Tree (5-23-2022)

Yep Simon 0-15 is a winner indeed. Planted my small tree in the summer of 2021 after grafting and it already put on some fruit this year. I removed the small fruit from my 0-15 this year so the tree could focus on vegetative growth. Looking forward to some fruit in a year or two. (See attached photo)

On a related side note my fruit punch mango Graft I did in 2020 has grown very well on my older established rootstock and is now holding some nice fruit. Looking forward to trying the fruit this September or so.

I do adore Alphonso if you catch it at the right time without the issues you describe. The ones I had prior to Covid had an intense sweetness and a rich Indian flavor. I do like Kesar also but a good Alhonso at the peak is superior in my opinion. Can't wait to try 0-15 as it is also a good grower.

Johnny

Young 0-15 Mango Tree

At my more coastal location, Guava Mango appears to be highly productive. In 2021 I grafted guava scions onto three separate trees (Ataulfo and manila rootstock in the ground) and all three formed fruit this year. It also appears to be a good grower meaning moderately high vigor. 

I also did one guava mango graft in July 2020 onto my manila tree in the backyard and the graft union is now almost 1" in diameter and there are about 10-12 small fruit forming.

Likely this cultivar will do well in SoCal and I am optimistic. 

Johnny

Based on observations at my location, the 0-15 Mango appears to be a good grower. I am optimistic about this tree as I just planted it in the ground in 2021 and it grew well in our cooler summer that year. The 0-15 was grafted onto a manila seedling and as you can see from the photo is doing well.

As Simon has mentioned there is great variation in the growth and vigor of various mango seedlings. Some are excellent and grow robustly while others are weak and lack vigor. Having a strong mango rootstock is key for long-term success.

Also regarding Lemon Zest in SoCal here are some observations about growth. I have two grafted LZ mango trees, one at my coastal location and another in inland Alhambra just south of Pasadena. Both trees were grafted onto Ataulfo rootstock and both are good rootstock. I have noticed better and faster growth at the Alhambra location which is 15-20 degrees warmer in the summer. The Lemon Zest appears to thrive more with increased inland heat. 

Johnny

 

Young 0-15 Mango Tree (4-4-2022)

You're not alone. This is my six-year-old coconut cream mango tree and still no fruit. If flowers well each year but still no production. I have already begun to top work it.

Will be interesting to see if anything happens this year.

Johnny


Coconut Cream Mango Tree (3-25-2022)

Yea, we picked some of the fruit from the lower part of the tree already. Also, my neighbor trimmed many of the lower branches on the right side of the tree thus eliminating some fruit but new growth is already starting to form.  The Yosemite Gold does tend to grow rapidly relative to other citrus trees I have.

The tree consistently produces 250-300 fruits every year and it is not even full-grown yet. For 2022 it might be a little less because of the branch trimming but still, more than we can eat.

Rootstock is C-35. Tree age is about 10 years.

Johnny

Did not mean to reply twice just modify. Must have hit the wrong button.

Forgot to say I have to trim the YG Mandarin tree every year or it would be even bigger than it is now. I have clay soil but this thing still grows too fast at my location.