The Tropical Fruit Forum

Hi to everyone,

I know most of you  live in subtropical climate, where all Avocado trees can live...

So, this question is addressed to those who live in relative cold climate, where light frost is common during Winter..

I read Avocado Mexicola is the most cold-hardy and can Withstand 15° F...anyway I don't trust and I think that this is only a way to sell more.

Did somone try mexicola in cold climate ? What's the lowest temp recorded ? Could you make comparison with other trees (not only tropical)...for instance, Mexicola vs Lemon after cold spell, or Mexicola vs Tangarine etc...


Thanks for sharing...

U.S.119 is an hybrid of 2nd generation having 1/4 of Poncirus t., 1/4 Grapefruit and 1/2 of Sweet Orange...

It should be pretty cold hardy and give sweet fruits...

Did someone grow it? how does it taste? when does it ripen its fruits?

Thanks

I've eaten this fruit more times....but the taste is always the same. It's not sweet, it's not bitter or acid....but it doesn't have a strong flavour.

I always bought it in the market.

Are there difference among cultivars? are there sweet Starfruits? Did i eat always fruit from a "not-sweet" cultivar?


Second question :

How cold hardy is Carambola? I know that in winter can lose the leaves without dying....is it true? Is it cold-hardy as a Mango?

Few days ago I spoke in an Italian forum about the differences for a plant between survive and ripe a fruit....
What do I mean?

In Tropical or Subtropical regions this is not a problem....temperatures are high throughout the year. But in other parts, for instance the warmest part of Europe, the average Temp can be lower than 13° for 4-5 months.

Until few months ago I considered only the temperature that a plant could take without die....and i believed that it was the only "problem" for a subtropical plant in a mediterranean climate.

So a subtropical plant, to ripe the fruits in a frost-free zone, MUST:

- Ripen the fruits before November (so Flowering must occur not too late and fruits must ripe in 4-5 months)
- Fruits must not rot or fall if temperature drops under 10°C


Obviously there are difference between area...French Riviera (or Italian Riviera) and Sicily are two frost-free zone, but the max temperature can be different, especially during Spring or late Fall, but in general i noticed that:


- MANGO : Flowers in May and maturing in Sept-Nov (and so it has enough time to ripe)
- GUAVA : Flowers in early summer and maturing the fruit in October
- LITCHI : Flowers in Spring and maturing in August
- ANNONA : Flower in summer, ripening from end of October to December (do you know if it can ripe fruits also with low temperatures?)
- WHITE ZAPOTE : Flowers more times, mutaration in early fall and fruits from other flowers can resist the low winter temperature and maturate in the next spring
- AVOCADO : It depends on cultivars...some can ripe the fruits in early spring and fruits don't rot with low Winter temperatures
- LACUMA : I read about a plant that fruits in Spain...since the fruit takes one year for ripen, I guess it can withstand low winter temperatures
- Coldest-HARDY BANANA : Sometimes they can block the maturation of fruits in Winter and start it again in Spring without problems


- TAMARIND: Few minutes ago I read in the Tamarind Topic that it fails in maturating fruits in Algarve because it flowers too late and in Winter the fruit rot


What about other subtropical fruits??


- BLACK ZAPOTE??
- JACKFRUITS?
- JUBUTICABA?
- CARAMBOLA?


Which are your experiences??

Thanks

I was wondering if some of you grows Durian in South Florida...is possible?
As i know it's strictly tropical but I saw that in Winter in Florida you can have 60 F (Min) and (75 Max)......did someone try? what's your experience?


P.s.

On the Hawai i think there are not problems...

I'd like to know something about Coccoloba uvifera....how does it taste? i read it can be eaten...is it worth? I saw it only in tropical region...can it thrive also in not tropical frost-free area?