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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: A Very Good Looking Namwah Banana Bunch !
« on: September 12, 2015, 11:41:19 AM »
Nice, those are some good looking hands! Is this a Nawwah or Dwarf Namwah? How tall is the plant for you?
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I am also a yes on the sample table. It will never be perfect but it's much better than what currently exists on the web. At least more than one person's opinion is involved.
I'm a yes on the sample table. I like that you didn't try to summarize flavor, but just provided a handy index to all the comments available from first hand tasters who have shared opinions. I think that in the variety column it would be great if you could add a ref to the entry you've already created with the full summary for the variety that way it would be really easy to surf to more detail from the table. Nice work!
Another naturally compact tree, per the appearance of two trees at Zill's, is the 'Rapoza', originally from Hawai'i.
It can be recommended to anyone wanting a compact tree with disease-resistant fruits and very good productivity, with fruit size and color and flavor similar to 'Kent.'
A few dozen trees will be available next year. More can be grafted this year if there seems to be market interest.
A table summarizing season and flavor profile would be a great idea!
I would not make flavor profile part of it. Tastes are very subjective and are also subject to proper harvesting, ripening and care which many do not do.
A table summarizing season and flavor profile would be a great idea!
A very seasoned tropical fruit grower in Texas has pointed out a cultural factor I really need to consider and that is the length of our growing season here in central Texas. This would also apply to a few posting here and growing in greenhouses in "cold" climes, short growing climes if you will, like zone 7-8. So the question for growers in central & S. Florida would be - do your mango trees ever go dormant and if they do, when? Are they still growing Dec.-Feb.? Our growing season is about to wind down. I just topped my Mallika and it remains to be seen if it pushes new foliage, or it will wait until about March of next year to push.
Where I'm going with this is, if it takes me 10 years to get a 12' tree with a "regular" tree such as Kent or Sweet Tart, then why should I focus on a natural compact tree?
No, bigger is not better,
Mark
Starch, thank you so much for this thread. It has been very educational for me to see what the folks on here have to say on the subject. It has definitely made me think of what type of mango I may try to plant in the ground (only got space for 1 variety so gotta make it count).
Has there been any thought to ranking the list? It would be subjective and difficult to evaluate since everyone's views are different let alone some may not have experience with a number of the varieties on the list. Maybe do a top 3-5 from the list? That would seem interesting. Just a thought.
This is a great conversation with lots of good points. I feel that Genetics plays a big part in a "compact mango" but perhaps there are techniques we can use on our trees to get the desired result while overcoming some obstacles that would otherwise cause one to overlook a cultivar.
For Example, the Ice Cream mango is a wonderful, no Excellent Top Teir Mango but it is very slow growing and may not be very productive. There are reports of it being both a good and bad producer. I know some of you are sick and tired of hearing it but what if Double Stone Grafting could give you a highly productive and more vigorous growing tree that is possibly more disease resistant, use specific rootstock, and grows more compact due to grafting effects( reported from Bernie Dizon in Phillipines).
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=16549.0
Due to the ultra low nature of Double Stone Grafts, you can theoretically get branching just 6-8 inches from the ground. If you are growing in a large pot, this will give you a compact bushy plant that is elevated off the floor by about 2+ feet allowing for good air circulation in order to avoid disease and to keep the fruit off the ground. A bushy tree will have more growth points which increases the odds of more flowers and fruit. Heavy fruiting will use up much of the trees resources further reducing the growth of the tree.
I will soon be performing several DSGs on Ice Cream and maybe Julie and I will keep everyone updated. I hear the argument against growing great tasting Mango varieties such as Lemon Zest and Sweet Tart because they are too vigorous but I hope you will taste one of these mangos before deciding it may be too much work to prune and keep small while being productive. For me personally, taste is number one.
Simon
Yeppers.
Did you see the previous page? I posted a fella's 6 year old Mallika that is only 3' tall. After the harvest I removed at least 1/3 of the top of my Mallika and as soon as it starts pushing again I'm hitting it with Bonzi, a PGR.
Awesome compilation, starch!
Putting together all the observations (some of them contradictory!) about a variety will help others decide whether to venture that way or not. Yes, some mango varieties are naturally compact, others can (hopefully!!) be kept compact with a little more effort. So newbies can at least get their eyes opened a bit more before planting.
Plant and experiment and enjoy. If things get out of hand, chainsaw.
Thank you all for the advice! I will be sure not to clip any more leaves! My question now is that should I put them in a different mix? I would hate to see them die on me. I'm a little wary about new pots right away because I don't want to damage the roots. Any suggestions?
The curling issue may actually be a non-issue. It could very well grow through it.
I wanted to try to compile a list of mangoes with the following characteristics:
- Compact / Natural 'dwarf' (i.e. does not have to be in a container to be dwarfed)
- Bushy and/or spreading style growing habit
- Good producer
- Needs relatively minor pruning to keep size in check which will not adversely affect productivity
- Quality fruit (full flavor, fiberless, etc.)
Many mangoes respond well to tip pruning/training but that does not make them a compact tree in any manner. You should limit this thread to true natural compact growers.