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Topics - mangomandan

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51
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Fallen mangos
« on: October 12, 2012, 09:32:15 AM »
I think that most mangos, if they fall to the ground when ripe or nearly so, will bruise pretty badly. And most of the flesh will be icky.

I wonder if anyone can think of cultivars where this isn't necessarily so, where all or most of the fruit will still taste good if you pick up the mango off the ground soon after it falls.      Years ago a neighbor had such a tree, but didn't know the variety. The fruit was fairly large, like a Hayden, but a bit rounder I think.

Perhaps some of the smaller, Asian mangos might have this quality?

52
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / book on easy garden structures
« on: September 14, 2012, 02:00:35 PM »
I just came across a relatively new book that may be of interest to gardeners:
Building projects for backyard farmers and home gardeners : a guide to 21 handmade structures for homegrown harvests,  by Chris Gleason.

The projects are fairly simple (not for me, but for normal people) and include greenhouses, arbor-type items, etc. It may be of more interest for vegetables than for fruit trees.

Ask your local librarian.   :)

53
The Rare Fruit Council in West Palm Beach, FL  is presenting speaker Noel Ramos tonight (9/14)  at 7:30 p.m.
He will be talking about Artocarpus species.

54
Tropical Fruit Discussion / I buried the root crown
« on: August 24, 2012, 10:42:47 PM »
Just tried some drastic measures on my young jackfruit.  A couple weeks ago while mowing the lawn I backed into it with my foot, tearing whatever modest roots it had bothered to put out.

The leaves were starting to yellow so I dug up and planted it in another area, but about a foot deeper into the ground.  So, lots of trunk is now buried.  I'm hoping that (before the tree bites the dust) it will try putting out adventitious roots from the trunk.     I guess I'm planting it the way one might transplant a young tomato plant.     Has anyone else tried burying a jackfruit tree too deep?

I didn't want to waste the original hole, so I moved my young Mahachanok to that hole. Its root system was small, but did not seem rootbound or anything.  But it had not flushed even once since I planted it last August.    Now the Maha is close to my back door, a spot that gets more attention from me than some other parts of the yard.

55
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Is this the pride of Valencia?
« on: August 07, 2012, 10:05:18 PM »
I bought this mango a few days ago at Excalibur in Lake Worth, FL.   It wasn't labeled, and the staff were too busy for me to ask.   Does it look like Valencia Pride?
It was very tasty, sweet, touch of tart, no fiber.    The VP mangos I tasted a few years ago didn't seem to have as much flavor as this did.  Probably just a reminder to give fruit more than one tasting.




56
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Encouraging root growth?
« on: August 05, 2012, 10:30:27 AM »
Is there anything special I can do to encourage root growth?  Any magic nutrients?
Over the years the jackfruit seeds I planted turned into nice trees, with little care. Unfortunately, the fruit turned out to be really bad.
The grafted jackfruit trees I've planted haven't really thrived. In particular, it seemed that the roots never spread out much into the surrounding soil.

I tried to open up the root ball a bit before planting, maybe not enough though.

57
I'm not sure why I bought this at the Mango Festival, maybe buying two trees was more fun than buying one.

I'd like to trade it for another interesting mango tree.

My short list includes:

Edgar
MahaWhatever
One of these neat cultivars from Merritt Island
Anything else that's wonderful
Nam Doc Mai IV

I'd be open to other trades, too.  As long as it's delicious.

58
Recipes / First time drying mango
« on: July 12, 2012, 11:48:26 AM »
Yesterday I tried my dehydrator for the first time, with some very ripe mangos.

The accompanying booklet scared me a bit, saying things like: soak in citric acid or lemon juice (didn't have), use only the best fruit (I had already eaten the best fruit), and be careful to avoid scorching (WTF?!).

I need not have worried. When I turned off dehydrator at bedtime, some of the fruit was completely dried and some thicker pieces were a bit juicy in the middle. All was delicious, though.  :)     I'm guessing the slightly juicy fruit would spoil quickly, but it's not going to be around that long.

Question for the pros:  do you store your dehydrated fruit in fridge or freezer or neither?    I don't have a "cool, dry place", and the freezer is jammed.   Just curious.


59
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Try, try again
« on: July 09, 2012, 09:51:12 AM »
I thought I'd reiterate what others have said -- the importance of trying a particular fruit / cultivar more than once before passing judgement.

A few days ago I tried lemon meringue for the first time at a fruit stand and it was very bland. Yesterday I tried it at another fruit stand and it was delicious: sweet and rich, a touch of lemon, no off flavors.  I bought a few and they have been excellent too. (I'm not saying the nursery was the difference, just different day, different fruit, different ripeness, who knows?)

And, now that I've had 8 or 9 Pickerings, different sources, different days,  I finally understand why others enjoy it.

I've now had a Mallika that tasted rich and sweet, like candied carrots, and one that was good and did not taste like cooked carrots.

Even my own mature Dot tree gave me fruit ranging from musky/musty sweet to good to eyes rolling back in my head, "now that's what I'm talking about."

60
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Pickering versus Cogshall
« on: June 24, 2012, 10:21:48 AM »
My sister has asked me to recommend a mango tree for her yard. She is in a borderline area just north of St. Pete, and may need to protect the tree from cold several nights a year.   She and her husband are not spring chickens.

I tasted Cogshall for the first time this year and liked it very much. I've tasted one Pickering so far, but it was not representative, coming from a tiny tree that was stressed by carrying two fruit. It was bland.

For good flavor, relative ease of care, and hopefully some precocity, which variety should I give her?   ???

61
I got an email from Erickson Farm, in Canal Point. Tomorrow is the start of their ripe mango season. They are selling Glenn, Edward, Pickering, Spirit of '76, and Duncan  now.
It sounds like they are shipping Tommy Atkins,  in fairly soon Kent, Keitt, and Southern Blush.

I've never been there, can't vouch for their fruit, but hope to take a field trip tomorrow.

62
Tropical Fruit Discussion / good mangos for shipping up north
« on: May 18, 2012, 10:03:02 AM »
Years ago when I had Keitt and Kent I had great luck picking them mature and shipping them to my favorite relatives in Michigan.  They took a good week or more to ripen, so sending them Monday via UPS was never a problem.

But a lot of new varieties have come along since then.   Has anyone had good luck with shipping these to deserving souls in the hinterlands?  Any particular varieties that have worked well?

63
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / mango fruit for sale?
« on: May 04, 2012, 04:53:04 PM »
Are any of you good Florida growers expecting to be selling mangos soon? 8)

64
Tropical Fruit Discussion / timing of topworking - mango
« on: April 27, 2012, 09:56:04 AM »
Jeff has shared some good information on how to topwork mango trees, and he suggested May as a good time to do it.

I'm wondering if there is another time of year that would also work.  Let's say, hypothetically, that someone wanted to harvest the mangos before topworking the tree. (Even though this tree produces fruit that are not especially favored by him/her)

Is there a later time, say August or September, when topworking has a good chance of success?

65
Tropical Fruit Discussion / first mango this year, yumm
« on: April 21, 2012, 03:12:41 PM »
Enjoyed my first mango of the year, a Rosigold. It looked perfect when I picked it, and I was going to give it to a friend in central FL. But as it ripened it developed a nasty spot near the stem.  So I was forced to cut it open before the icky part spread too far, and share it with my better half, after cutting away the ick. I'm trying to do low-carb till mango season, but I ate the part near the skin.  Very nice. :P

66
Tropical Fruit Discussion / April, not the cruelest month
« on: April 17, 2012, 10:21:26 AM »
A few pictures from my yard in "greater" Lake Worth, Florida.

Wacissa black mulberry




Passion cv of Surinam Cherry


J-31 gets planted this weekend -- thanks Jeff





Joellen usually has good fruit set, but these clusters are more voluptuous than in most years.



Beautiful Mallika from Brooks Nursery, where everyone on staff is good to his mother.



67
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Pruning mulberry
« on: April 11, 2012, 11:58:23 AM »
Does anyone prune their mulberry trees to produce a more bush-like shape?  My trees have a lanky growth habit, that has put most fruit out of reach rather quickly.
Years ago a wise man told me not to prune trees unless I actually knew what I was doing. I've gladly followed that advice except for some cautious tipping of mango trees, in the spirit of Dr. Campbell.

Perhaps something similar would work for mulberries?

68
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Green scale on mango and carambola
« on: March 25, 2012, 09:45:43 PM »
This evening I found my young Lemon Zest covered with a green scale;it's the part of the trunk that hasn't hardened off that is covered.  This tree was treated with a systemic insecticide a month ago to try to kill the weevils.   Should I try horticultural oil?  Or Neem?  Or ???     I want this tree to live.

I had seen this same scale last fall on the ridges of some carambola fruit, and on a couple ripe mangos.  Until now I've only seen false oleander scale, which never got out of hand.

69
Tropical Fruit Discussion / lemon zest vigor or lack thereof
« on: March 12, 2012, 08:07:41 PM »
I'm wondering if lemon zest mangos are weaker growers than some of the other mango varieties.   That seems to be the case with mine. The leaves aren't deep green, and it's the only new tree that hasn't flushed since it was planted last summer.
Also, when I was at the Bonita Springs fruit tree sale, there were lots of very healthy looking mango trees for sale.  But two trees labeled Orange Sherbet were somewhat more pale in color.

The situation has me looking at my WWJD bracelet.       What would Jeff Hagen do?

70
It's raining, and my thoughts turn to July....

Several mango varieties that have come highly recommended are new to many of us. I'm thinking Pickering, Coconut Cream, Lemon Zest, Maha Chanok, etc.

To members who have had some experience with these, could you tell us how to determine the best time to pick them?
Some varieties are flexible, i.e. you can pick mature green, or you can let ripen on the tree.    I guess Mallika is an example of one where it matters a lot when you pick it.

Pickering, for example.  Can it ripen on the tree?  Should it be picked at the first hint of yellow?

Any hints would be appreciated, especially by those of us who may be harvesting only two or three fruits this year.

71
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Worst mango blooms
« on: February 19, 2012, 07:21:57 PM »
My Rosigold bloomed a bit before the other varieties (but much later than in prior years).

I had considered Rosigold pretty disease-resistant, but that isn't the case this year. Most of the older panicles look awful. I'm hoping the newer ones won't be as bad.  I sprayed with Daconil once and with copper a couple times.

In prior years the fruit-set was outstanding. I should have thinned the fruit, but didn't much. Maybe that left the tree a bit stressed?





72
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Phytofos
« on: February 09, 2012, 11:27:40 PM »
I'm curious about spraying with Phytofos. I used to hear that Florida sand had so much phosphorous that it was unnecessary to have any in one's fertilizer.
For those who use it,  where did you hear about it,  and what effects do you see from its use?

Thanks.

73
Tropical Fruit Discussion / How-to question
« on: February 04, 2012, 11:13:31 AM »
On this board is there a way to "save" particular postings?

There are already quite a few topics that I would like to refer back to in the future.  Even if I forget they exist in the meantime.

I'm going to try the feature of emailing a link (to myself, in this case).   I was just curious if there is another means.

74
Tropical Fruit Discussion / fruit pics
« on: January 31, 2012, 10:23:33 PM »
We had a couple cool nights in November, enough to confuse my baby Florda Prince peach tree into fruiting.

If a mamey hits you in the head, is that a natural hazard, or an attractive nuisance?




75
Thank you to CoPlantNut for mentioning these, as I had not heard of them.
Has anyone had good (or bad) luck growing tropical fruits in these?
I'm thinking of trying a Pickering mango in one.  Would it be important to start with a smaller pot and gradually step it up?

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