The Tropical Fruit Forum

That’s right Fruitgrower,

Green sapote are very nice. We have Poamoho and Makawao ( Hawaiian selections). Finer texture than mamey, easier to ascertain ripeness as their skin turns orange. For us they start in January and we still have some on our big old tree. Unfortunately at low elevation here the texture is poor when the fruit is allowed to get fully orange on the tree so these late fruits are not so good to eat. But yes, put green sapote in for Jan-Feb. add Lara and Jamaica and we’re good for year round fruits. Thanks!

Thanks Tropicalgrower89,
You’re right. I’d swear that it wasn’t there before but thanks, I’ll get that one.

I have Naples Himalayan Mulberry from Marta (reallygoodplants.com) (along with DMOR9 and Taiwanese Long). I wonder if Naples is the same as Himalayan FSP (Fruit and Spice Park). Anyone have any info on the origins of Naples Himalayan mulberry or its relationship with Himalayan FSP Mulberry?  I’m just wondering how hard I should try to track down scionwood of Himalayan FSP. Can I get permission to take a cutting from the tree at the Fruit and Spice Park when I swing by there in the first few days of July?

Thanks!  Steph

Sorry, I don’t have any photos of Spinola. It has medium flesh to seed ratio, better than the pictured fruit.  I’m not familiar with Leahi.

Aloha, Steph

Hi J-Dogg,

Spinola is a Big Island selection by premier propagator David Frenz of Hilo. It’s named after Judge Spinola in whose yard the seedling grew.  I wouldn’t call it a summer bearing variety. It fills the gap in September between the summer varieties and the Fall. If you have room I recommend filling that gap also with Hulumanu for August.
Spinola has a smooth, thin, black skin, big West Indian seed, very poor “shelf-life”, good sweetness,and excellent flavor. We value them very highly, especially since they are often the only avocado bearing in September. Thank you to David Frenz for propagating this excellent cultivar.
Hulumanu is a West Indian type with thin, pale green skin and a big seed. Fruit can be large and have excellent flavor.
Great year round avocados!
Aloha, Steph

Here in Hawaii almost all grafted Star apples are ‘Haitian’, propagated by Plant It Hawaii.  It seems to me not to be a big improvement on average seedlings. Frankie sold some trees of Philippine Gold which is ok. Oscar Jaitt selected a “giant” seedling. Otherwise in Hawaii it’s just purple and a few green seedlings. I think it’s similar in Florida, but I’ve planted Hipolito and Burgess from Julian Lara. He also lists ‘Lara’. I see A-1, Excalibur, and Jaco Beach listed by Excalibur.

I’m inclined to plant more Hipolito and Burgess just based on Julian’s descriptions

Perhaps you folks can give your experience with these varieties or mention some that are better.

Thanks!  Steph

Wow Brian,

Amazing you and others are growing these trees in greenhouses. I’m amazed that someone has fruited marang in a greenhouse. I’ve been completely unsuccessful in controlling their size. Kwai Muk and keledang seem much easier to manage. Many folks here successfully keep breadfruit as a small garden tree that fruits but mine is huge.

Aloha, Steph

Not sure we’re part of the US but those are all great here in Hawaii. Not commonly grown but we’ve had them fruiting for 15-20 years. We’ve also planted but not fruited Artocarpus sarawakensis, hirsutus, anisophylus,and elasticus. These are all vigorous, large trees. I wonder how one could grow them in a greenhouse. Maybe lanceifolius with smaller leaves and smaller but very good fruit would be more amenable to undercover culture?

I like top mamey better but both species are great.

I don’t consider them hard to graft but I always precondition the scions by cutting the tip and removing leaves a couple of weeks before cutting just like I do for mamey

Julian at Lara Farms https://larafarmsmiami.com/ sells grafted Poamoho and Whitman. I’m aware of only three green sapote cultivars in the US. Makawao being the third. I’ve eaten those three and some seedlings. Not much selection has been done in the US and there’s not much range in quality. They are all good. All the seedlings I’ve had have been good. I rate Poamoho as slightly better than the rest. Seedlings haven’t taken much longer to come into bearing than grafted trees. Any other cultivars available in the US?

Kishu is my favorite here in Hawaii too. Okitsu Wase Satsuma also a stand out. Kishu is also ridiculously productive.

Hi Kona Fruit Farm,
Yes. Here are the varieties I’m growing in Kula. I have Mangifera species at our wet farm.
Ah Ping
(Ambika)  to propagate
Arka Neelkiran
Beverly
Brahm Kai Meu
Cac
Carla
Ceci Love
Choc Anon
Coconut Cream
Cotton Candy
Creme Brulee
Edward
Fruit Punch
Gouveia
Honey Kiss
Ice Cream
Jumbo Kesar
Kathy
Keitt
(Kinney)  to propagate
Lancetilla
Lemon Zest
Little Gem
Maha Chanok
Mallika
Neelam
Orange Essence
Orange Sherbet
Phoenix
Pickering
Pim Sen Mun
Pineapple Pleasure
Po Pyu Kalay (Lemon Meringue)
Rapoza
Rosigold
Sein ta Lone
(Sonpari)  to propagate
ST Maui
Step
Sugarloaf
Sunrise
Super Julie
Sweet Tart
Tete Nene
Venus
White Pirie
Zill 80
Zill M-4
Zill O-15

Hi KonaFruitFarm,

I assume you’re not ready to trade scionwood. I’m looking for more scionwood of M-4 and the Oahu selection Kinney. Let me know if you’re looking for scionwood of other varieties.

Here’s a photo of my main mango orchard last eve.

Aloha, Steph