The Tropical Fruit Forum

I'm starting to build a nice collection of annonas and I'm interested in any advice of good fertilizer blends, frequency, and best times to fertilize. I ran a few searches in here but haven't found much. I haven't hurt anything yet but I've just been using a very light dose of 10-10-10.

Any insight into different species preferences appreciated as well. I've got a few sugar apples, Rollinia's, soursop, atemoya, custard apple, and Guanabana de Monte. I want to treat these babies right.

I have had low germination rates from Theobroma cacao and have 2 young seedlings with 3 others that didnt make it (birds got the strongest of the second batch and the other two aborted very early). I'm hoping to try growing bicolor soon as well (I should probably make the seedling I have happy). Is there any recommendations on how to make the seedlings and seeds stronger? I've read that cacao likes very high humidity so I might start there with the seedlings. Best practices for germination and fertilization welcome and desired!
 Thank you.

Hey All,

I've always been nervous about fertilizer and under/over fertilizing. I know this is a pretty basic question since most of you have long since experimented and learned and lost, loved, and seen what works best. What are some great resources for getting acquainted with fertilizing? What are your go to books? How did/do you learn about soil building. I know the obvious answer is books, experience, searching the web, local  agricultural extensions, ect. I need to dive deeper and I'd like to start with some recommendations. What are some things you've learned potted vs in the ground? Any specific anecdotes for west coast Florida? I'd kind of like a place for all that in here, When I searched the forum I didn't find a dedicated thread. I know I'm asking a lot and if another thread exists, sorry.

Oh Great Fruit Masters, Guide Me!

                                         Or throw me a bone

Hi long time reader of the forum and occasional poster. I've been into tropical fruit for 8 or 9 years now but haven't settled in on owning property yet so I'm pretty far off from the level I'd like to be at. I've still earned a reputation among my friends as a fruit lover. I was just asked by a friend who is head brewer at a major Florida craft brewery ( despite it being true I feel like I'm coming off as pretentious) , about tropical fruit farms in Florida the wholesale or at least have some big yields for sale. I can think of a few places but overall, I've only ever worried about meeting my own fruit needs. I dont know the exact things he's interested in but I think he's open minded enough that he can build a complementary beer for most fruits. I know he's interested in locally ( In state) grown chocolate as per a discussion in the past.  Any help would be appreciated.  I feel a little weird asking in here because it seems business-y but I know some of you have farms starting up in state.  Hopefully not offending by asking.

Thank you.
 
Jonathon