Futile effort? I want to give growing mangosteen a go S. Florida.

[nothingincommon]

I know its damn near impossible, but there have been SOME success stories outside of a green house.

Anyone know where I can buy a decent sized mangosteen tree in South Florida?

[dwfl]

Good luck! Zero* success stories outside of a greenhouse. Success story being a fruiting tree.

*outside of Bill Whitman

[nothingincommon]

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/04whitman.html

So the Bill Whitman story is fake news?


http://rfvcbroward.org/bill-whitman

[SeaWalnut]

Get seeds of seashore mangosteen( verry hardy plant,tolerates acidic and verry alkaline soil) and graft the mangosteen on it.
Grow them from seeds and learn from asians how they do it.

[nothingincommon]

Thank you for the advice. I will try this.

[murahilin]

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/04whitman.html

So the Bill Whitman story is fake news?


http://rfvcbroward.org/bill-whitman

It can definitely be grown outside of a greenhouse in S FL, but it will be very difficult. I was told by a very reliable source that they saw a fruiting sized mangosteen tree growing outdoors in Lighthouse Point. The house was sold and I think the new owner removed the tree or something.

[nothingincommon]

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/04whitman.html

So the Bill Whitman story is fake news?


http://rfvcbroward.org/bill-whitman

It can definitely be grown outside of a greenhouse in S FL, but it will be very difficult. I was told by a very reliable source that they saw a fruiting sized mangosteen tree growing outdoors in Lighthouse Point. The house was sold and I think the new owner removed the tree or something.

omg... i wish that person knew the treasure they had, if true. What a shame

[roblack]

don't waste time and tree grafting onto seashore.

there might be benefit from approach graft, maintaining the original trees root system. has been done with some success.

I read Whitman had his trees growing in large buried copper pots.

alkaline soil seems to be a problem for these trees, as are cold weather, high wind, low humidity, and salt.

order a tree from Hawaii. Already a slow to fruit tree, start as big as you can. Also, a larger tree should be more hardy, smaller trees are much more sensitive to the cold, etc.

[nothingincommon]

don't waste time and tree grafting onto seashore.

there might be benefit from approach graft, maintaining the original trees root system. has been done with some success.

I read Whitman had his trees growing in large buried copper pots.

alkaline soil seems to be a problem for these trees, as are cold weather, high wind, low humidity, and salt.

order a tree from Hawaii. Already a slow to fruit tree, start as big as you can. Also, a larger tree should be more hardy, smaller trees are much more sensitive to the cold, etc.

i checked ebay... i cant seem to find decent sized trees for sale

[roblack]

pm sent

[skhan]

I grafted it onto seashore and it pushed tiny leaves.
Two years later, those tiny leaves are still alive but nothing else is growing from the graft.

[dwfl]

I wouldn't say Whitman's efforts were fake news but he spared no expense and the tree(s) still eventually croaked. The trees in the Whitman pavillion greenhouse produced for years though I have not been there in a handful of years to see what has become of them. Arctic blasts (and/or hurricanes) are the two biggest problems. I wouldn't count the lone great Bill Whitman example as "some success stories" but he reported that it was at least possible for him on his million dollar Bal Harbour lot!

[nothingincommon]

I wouldn't say Whitman's efforts were fake news but he spared no expense and the tree(s) still eventually croaked. The trees in the Whitman pavillion greenhouse produced for years though I have not been there in a handful of years to see what has become of them. Arctic blasts (and/or hurricanes) are the two biggest problems. I wouldn't count the lone great Bill Whitman example as "some success stories" but he reported that it was at least possible for him on his million dollar Bal Harbour lot!

it wasnt just him that i heard about though - besides - you said zero examples...

granted, i know is extremely difficult (hence why i said nearly impossible) , but you have to admit - it is theoretically possible

wouldnt you like to go down as someone that was able to get it to bare fruit? dont you think that would be cool?

[dwfl]

I think rob gave you great advice above about starting with something beyond a seedling if possible. Takes a few years off. I would love for it to be probable but I'm also fine with the reality that its not as there are many other fine fruits we can grow. Good luck and I hope you do succeed and document it all here!