The Tropical Fruit Forum

Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: lycheeluva on March 29, 2012, 01:36:11 PM

Title: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: lycheeluva on March 29, 2012, 01:36:11 PM
this is one of the less rare fruits that i have not yet tried. am i missing anything? anyone growing it in FL? if yes, when does it ripen in FL.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: NewGen on March 29, 2012, 01:46:35 PM
One of the best tasting fruits. I don't think I've seen one fresh here in CA, frozen yes, but not off the tree fresh. Must be because they're soft when ripe, not conducive to long distance shipping.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Sleepdoc on March 29, 2012, 01:49:53 PM
I have an established Caimito tree.  For some reason, mine is quite shy-bearing.  Out of the last 5 years, I have only had 3 fruits make it to maturity fully developed and flavored.  I do like it a lot, if only mine produced more ...
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: lycheeluva on March 29, 2012, 01:53:10 PM
When does it ripen Sleep Doc in your yard?
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Felipe on March 29, 2012, 02:07:19 PM
Over here it rippens in summer. Very nice sweet taste. Beautiful tree and very aromatic when flowering! But I'm not sure if it will fruit in container, if this was your next question...
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on March 29, 2012, 02:10:27 PM
Some people love this fruit. I am not a big fan.  Gelatinous flesh and gummy latex near the rind are negative factors for me.  They are sweet, but lack any real complexity in flavor. Very pretty tree and appetizing fruit.  I think it is not quite as good as its cousin, the abiu, IMO. The trees can get huge and all the ones that I have had......with the exception of the latest planting, have blown over in storms.  And I'm not even referring to hurricanes....a vigorous afternoon thunderstorm has done in one of my trees when it was fully loaded with fruit.

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: lycheeluva on March 29, 2012, 02:27:46 PM
felipe- not sure where i am going this!
really wanted to get some feedback on the fruit before deciding what next!
hopefully, i can taste one when im in florida in mid july
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: murahilin on March 29, 2012, 02:55:50 PM
felipe- not sure where i am going this!
really wanted to get some feedback on the fruit before deciding what next!
hopefully, i can taste one when im in florida in mid july

If I remember correctly, in Florida it usually fruits around March. Someone may have fruit on their trees right now for you to try.

When you say "deciding what next", do you mean possibly growing in NY? I think even the grafted trees may get too big before they start holding fruit to be able to be grown easily indoors. Maybe someone has had success growing them in a greenhouse/indoors?
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: lycheeluva on March 29, 2012, 03:06:02 PM
sheehan, want to use your incredible sex appeal to try and source one for me?
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Cookie Monster on March 29, 2012, 03:14:54 PM
Yah, I'd agree with Mr Sheehan. If you're a 'gringo', you're probably not going to instantly like it :-). And, they don't seem to be very precocious, so potted culture could be a giant game of patience :-). It does make a great ornamental though.

felipe- not sure where i am going this!
really wanted to get some feedback on the fruit before deciding what next!
hopefully, i can taste one when im in florida in mid july

If I remember correctly, in Florida it usually fruits around March. Someone may have fruit on their trees right now for you to try.

When you say "deciding what next", do you mean possibly growing in NY? I think even the grafted trees may get too big before they start holding fruit to be able to be grown easily indoors. Maybe someone has had success growing them in a greenhouse/indoors?
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Andrew78 on March 29, 2012, 03:23:34 PM
I have had one growing in a pot for three years now. Hardly any growth at all..I got mine from Top Tropicals before I really new anything about them. I wish I would have done my research! LOL.That's all I'm saying.


In the past 3 years, I have had maybe 8inches of good growth and that's about it. It is a nice looking tree. The back of the leaf is nice and shiny.

Lycheeluva, as far as fruiting goes, I think I will be long gone before this tree eber grows large enough to fruit! LOL!

Andrew
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Cookie Monster on March 29, 2012, 03:27:39 PM
Yah, though they turn into giant trees, they seem to grow quite slowly in pots - when young at least.

I have had one growing in a pot for three years now. Hardly any growth at all..I got mine from Top Tropicals before I really new anything about them. I wish I would have done my research! LOL.That's all I'm saying.


In the past 3 years, I have had maybe 8inches of good growth and that's about it. It is a nice looking tree. The back of the leaf is nice and shiny.

Lycheeluva, as far as fruiting goes, I think I will be long gone before this tree eber grows large enough to fruit! LOL!

Andrew
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Tim on March 29, 2012, 03:39:24 PM
Yah, I'd agree with Mr murahilin. If you're a 'gringo', you're probably not going to instantly like it :-). And, they don't seem to be very precocious, so potted culture could be a giant game of patience :-). It does make a great ornamental though.
We had three huge & tall trees way back when, two of which never seem to bore any fruit while the 3rd produced so much that we had to have pickers come at least 2-3 times in season.

If you're skilled enough, pot culture or bonsai is possible
(http://bachhoa24.com/images/classifieds/2010/10/13/1286963612_d0424108.jpg)
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: bsbullie on March 29, 2012, 04:23:39 PM
Excalibur had a purple caimito (yes, N in ground tree of substantial size) fruiting a month or two ago.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: bsbullie on March 29, 2012, 04:28:09 PM
Excalibur had a purple caimito (yes, N in ground tree of substantial size) fruiting a month or two ago.
Correction, forgot we are in late March...was probably two or three months ago (time is sort of a blur).
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Sleepdoc on March 29, 2012, 05:37:46 PM
When does it ripen Sleep Doc in your yard?

IIRC, it's usually Feb/March.  No fruit this year :(

My tree is pretty big, like 30ft tall with a trunk about 12 inches in diameter.  I seriously doubt pot culture is a good option, at least with an individual similar to my tree.  My fruit are green, and turn purple when ripe  ...Pretty cool fruit IMO  ... Just wish it produced more
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: murahilin on March 29, 2012, 05:45:19 PM
Hopefully Noel will chime in about his tree and include some pics. I was at his house last weekend and he has a really nice looking tree that I think is over 10 years old he said. He bought it grafted from Excalibur and it has not fruited yet. I think he said it was getting ready to flower soon.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: lycheeluva on March 29, 2012, 05:53:25 PM
well i guess i aint buying  a tree, but would love to taste a fruit- they look very cool
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 29, 2012, 06:10:19 PM
Hopefully Noel will chime in about his tree and include some pics. I was at his house last weekend and he has a really nice looking tree that I think is over 10 years old he said. He bought it grafted from Excalibur and it has not fruited yet. I think he said it was getting ready to flower soon.

Starapple, or caimito, is an excellent fruit. In my opinion it's superior to abiu, not just in taste but also in the fact that no fruit flies sting them. Also they are a much more attractive fruit inside in color and shape than abiu. Here every single abiu is stung by oriental fruit fly unless you go through extra work of bagging every fruit or spraying, neither of which i do. The starapple has a thick enough rind that fruit flies cannot penetrate. The flavor is reminiscent of milk shake. In fact in Vietnam they call the fruit something like Mother's milk, or breast milk. Latex next to skin not a problem if you know how to eat it. You cut crosswise and spoon out, not eating parts very close to exterior skin.
I'm o f the opinion that i have the best and largest cultivar of starapple. I posted photos before but here goes again. Haitian on left and mine on right. As you can see it is way larger than Haitian cultivar:. (Really don't think Haitian is a good cultivar.)
(http://fruitlovers.com/Gallery1/StarappleVarietiesCrossectionedTwoVarieties.jpg)

I have not named it yet or registered yet. I'm willing to sell budwood to anyone interested. This tree does get large, but with pruning could be controlled to small size. My trees started fruiting from seed in about 5 years. They fruit abundantly always in beginning of Spring, so i'm eating them right now! I have a couple of grafted cultivars of green types but don't recommend them as here they get easily mold growing on the fruit. They are much thinner skinned and crack easily in our rainy environment. Might be good in Florida though? These green cultivars seem to stay a bit smaller than the purple.
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: BMc on March 29, 2012, 06:56:07 PM
I've had a Haitian in ground a little over 1 year and it is flowering and setting tiny fruit from 1 branch. Its about 3-4ft tall.
The pink and green ones are smaller trees and fruit quicker from seed. Fruits are very small, just right for scooping with a tea spoon. They dont seem to have the gold velvet underside to the leaves.
The gold ones are supposed to be quite cold tolerant.
Grafting onto satin leaf is supposed to dwarf them. I'd imagine grafting onto a pink or green would also.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on March 29, 2012, 06:58:17 PM
Starapple, or caimito, is an excellent fruit. In my opinion it's superior to abiu, not just in taste but also in the fact that no fruit flies sting them. Also they are a much more attractive fruit inside in color and shape than abiu. Here every single abiu is stung by oriental fruit fly unless you go through extra work of bagging every fruit or spraying, neither of which i do. The starapple has a thick enough rind that fruit flies cannot penetrate. The flavor is reminiscent of milk shake. In fact in Vietnam they call the fruit something like Mother's milk, or breast milk. Latex next to skin not a problem if you know how to eat it. You cut crosswise and spoon out, not eating parts very close to exterior skin.

I'm of the opinion that i have the best and largest cultivar of starapple. I posted photos before but here goes again. Haitian on left and mine on right. As you can see it is way larger than Haitian cultivar:. (Really don't think Haitian is a good cultivar.)
I have not named it yet or registered yet. Oscar

As I said, some people love them. As far as the flavor being like "milk shake" I'm not really sure what you mean.  You mean like vanilla milkshake or another flavor.  Your description does not remotely express anything I've encountered and I wonder if I've been missing something in my caimito/starapple experience.  Oscar, your fruit is really quite impressive and do not doubt that it is one of the best, if not the best I have ever seen. Thankfully, we do not have flies attacking either of the two here in Florida so that negates that one serious issue you are having with abiu.  As far as overall attractiveness of the fruit, you are obviously correct.  The same goes for the foliage of the trees in comparison....caimito has the attractiveness down, for sure.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Cookie Monster on March 29, 2012, 07:08:49 PM
Gringo Bias Warning: Jeff prefers abiu to caimito :-). Not sure if the missus would agree though :-).
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on March 29, 2012, 07:11:06 PM
Hey...maybe it is because we haven't ever had Oscar's caimito.

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: BMc on March 29, 2012, 07:41:28 PM
If I had in front of me, a plate of p. caimito and a plate of c. cainito, I'd happily eat both.  ;D
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Tim on March 29, 2012, 08:35:11 PM
(http://s15.postimage.org/dzt3ax607/tao_dan_vu_sua.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/dzt3ax607/)

(http://s15.postimage.org/y9qeq2753/vu_sua_1.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/y9qeq2753/)

(http://s15.postimage.org/nlmnr7x5z/vu_sua.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/nlmnr7x5z/)

Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: FloridaGreenMan on March 29, 2012, 08:43:46 PM
Here's my 2 cents....I have tasted Caimitos from many trees in SFLA, Puerto Rico and in Jamaica. They are a good tasting fruit but not nearly as tasty as a top notch Abiu like my Marisa tree or the Grey from Australia . It produces a delicious fruit so maybe those Hawaiian Abius produce inferior fruit.  Hard to say. We also do not have any fruit fly problems with them in my area YET.   I have a good sized Caimito that I bought from Excaliber and it has flowered heavily for 4 years in row and ZERO fruit have set. It is starting to flower again.  If it does not set any fruit this time, I am seriously thinking of renaming it "Excaliber Fruitless". 
FGM       
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 29, 2012, 09:57:28 PM
As I said, some people love them. As far as the flavor being like "milk shake" I'm not really sure what you mean.  You mean like vanilla milkshake or another flavor.  Your description does not remotely express anything I've encountered and I wonder if I've been missing something in my caimito/starapple experience.  Oscar, your fruit is really quite impressive and do not doubt that it is one of the best, if not the best I have ever seen. Thankfully, we do not have flies attacking either of the two here in Florida so that negates that one serious issue you are having with abiu.  As far as overall attractiveness of the fruit, you are obviously correct.  The same goes for the foliage of the trees in comparison....caimito has the attractiveness down, for sure.

Neither, it is like a milk shake because it is juicy, milky colored juice, and sweet. Yeah you have been missing out on something. This is an excellent fruit, most people here like it. Abius and starapples are both very common in Hawaii, very different situation from Florida. I like both fruits a lot, but am inclined to starapple because it makes a lot more fruit, never is damaged by oriental fruit fly, and it is a much more attractive fruit to eat, both in color and interior star shape. Maybe also because i happen to have a really excellent tree. I just bought some little Haitian starapple fruits in market and they don't stand a candle to these bigger and sweeter fruits. The starapple tree is attractive enough to be planted as an ornamental, unlike the abiu. Also starapple makes a good shade tree.
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: murahilin on March 29, 2012, 10:06:45 PM
Neither, it is like a milk shake because it is juicy, milky colored juice, and sweet. Yeah you have been missing out on something. This is an excellent fruit, most people here like it. Abius and starapples are both very common in Hawaii, very different situation from Florida. I like both fruits a lot, but am inclined to starapple because it makes a lot more fruit, never is damaged by oriental fruit fly, and it is a much more attractive fruit to eat, both in color and interior star shape. Maybe also because i happen to have a really excellent tree. I just bought some little Haitian starapple fruits in market and they don't stand a candle to these bigger and sweeter fruits. The starapple tree is attractive enough to be planted as an ornamental, unlike the abiu. Also starapple makes a good shade tree.
Oscar

You've just ruined it for me. I was about to email you for budwood in hopes that I could have a fruit that tasted like a vanilla milkshake. Keep on crushing my hopes and dreams...
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 29, 2012, 10:18:07 PM


You've just ruined it for me. I was about to email you for budwood in hopes that I could have a fruit that tasted like a vanilla milkshake. Keep on crushing my hopes and dreams...

Well wait a minute. Come to think of it i never add vanilla to my milk shakes. So i don't really know what a vanilla flavored milk shake tastes like! So maybe they do taste that way??? Buy one and find out. Too bad we can't email taste samples. Our technology is not as advanced as we like to think!
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 30, 2012, 06:11:11 AM
Here's my 2 cents....I have tasted Caimitos from many trees in SFLA, Puerto Rico and in Jamaica. They are a good tasting fruit but not nearly as tasty as a top notch Abiu like my Marisa tree or the Grey from Australia . It produces a delicious fruit so maybe those Hawaiian Abius produce inferior fruit.  Hard to say. We also do not have any fruit fly problems with them in my area YET.   I have a good sized Caimito that I bought from Excaliber and it has flowered heavily for 4 years in row and ZERO fruit have set. It is starting to flower again.  If it does not set any fruit this time, I am seriously thinking of renaming it "Excaliber Fruitless". 
FGM     
FYI we have all the good Australian abiu cultivars here, but you don't have all the good starapple cultivars in FL. In fact i doubt you have much above and beyond Haitian? Both these fruits are very common here, unlike in FL. You are lucky you don't have Oriental fruit fly yet, as soon as you do all your unbagged abius will look like this:
(http://fruitlovers.com/AbiuFruitFlyDamage.jpg)
A picture they say is worth a thousand words? Maybe now you understand my point?
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: FloridaGreenMan on March 30, 2012, 06:44:22 AM
Here's what my Florida Abiu look like....Regarding Caimito, there are several cultivars here including Lara2, Oro Blanco. Haitian is the worst in my ranking. One of my friends in Davie fruited several purple and green Caimito that produced excellent tasting fruit. Too bad Oscar that you are cursed with fruit flies on your Abiu but you are missing out!
Aloha...     

(http://s18.postimage.org/lfoyiycwl/2003_0311_Abiu_Coffee0010.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/lfoyiycwl/)

(http://s18.postimage.org/4ulxh1b6d/Fruit_Conf2011_3_Copy.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/4ulxh1b6d/)

Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: bsbullie on March 30, 2012, 07:24:18 AM
Here's what my Florida Abiu look like....Regarding Caimito, there are several cultivars here including Lara2, Oro Blanco. Haitian is the worst in my ranking. One of my friends in Davie fruited several purple and green Caimito that produced excellent tasting fruit. Too bad Oscar that you are cursed with fruit flies on your Abiu but you are missing out!
Aloha...     

(http://s18.postimage.org/lfoyiycwl/2003_0311_Abiu_Coffee0010.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/lfoyiycwl/)

(http://s18.postimage.org/4ulxh1b6d/Fruit_Conf2011_3_Copy.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/4ulxh1b6d/)
Noel - I would love to buy some of your Abiu when you harvest.  My tree is still a youngster and years away from fruiting.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on March 30, 2012, 07:44:32 AM
Defnitely see your point, Oscar, in this case your picture is worth at least 2,000 words. .  Re" Australian abius......are you confident that Australia has some of the best?  I have no idea....your comment implies it.  I would think that they have decent ones anyway.  In my view, having had Noel's abius and not being exactly sure of my experience with caimito (although I have had a bunch including I beleive the ones from the friend of Noel in Davie....a neighbor of mine), this is not like a tremendous difference between one fruit being fantastic and the other being garbage. The fruits, for me, are more or less in the same general tier of overalll fruit evaluation. Which, again for me, is far below mango and lychee. I was only expressing a preference for Abiu......which I will mantain until I get the chance to try yours.

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: GwenninPR on March 30, 2012, 07:52:32 AM
I have 2 huge trees of caimito (the 'green' type).  One tree produces loads every year (fruiting now), the other tree hardly produces any.
I like the flavor, but the sticky lip problem keeps me from eating them without a spoon!
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on March 30, 2012, 08:04:52 AM
I have 2 huge trees of caimito (the 'green' type).  One tree produces loads every year (fruiting now), the other tree hardly produces any.
I like the flavor, but the sticky lip problem keeps me from eating them without a spoon!

Yep...its the Pouteria curse.  And yes, you can get around it or not near it with a spoon....but that latex is a defintely a detracting factor for me.  There always seems to be nore fruit that should be edible as you are eating the fruit.  But, you dare not get that greedy unless you want stuck lips.

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Tomas on March 30, 2012, 08:48:17 AM
Hi,

If you live close to Delray Beach, Florida, you can visit "Truly Tropical". The owner is very nice. A few years ago I was there and he gave me a tour and I tasted many of his fruits including star apple from his large tree.

Tomas
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: bsbullie on March 30, 2012, 10:12:56 AM
Hi,

If you live close to Delray Beach, Florida, you can visit "Truly Tropical". The owner is very nice. A few years ago I was there and he gave me a tour and I tasted many of his fruits including star apple from his large tree.

Tomas
The owner of Truly Tropical is a woman.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: FloridaGreenMan on March 30, 2012, 02:34:47 PM
Harry
My other friend from Davie was Mario L. He grew some excellent Caimito that were large sized. The foto shows the green skinned version but he also grew some awesome purple ones.

Sorry Oscar but you do not have the market cornered on good tasting tropical fruits. Florida has produced many of the cultivars that you are growing on your farm whether you want to admit it or not!     
 
(http://s7.postimage.org/u3x7vsewn/2006_0805_Sapotes0010.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/u3x7vsewn/)


Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 30, 2012, 03:37:06 PM
Defnitely see your point, Oscar, in this case your picture is worth at least 2,000 words. .  Re" Australian abius......are you confident that Australia has some of the best?  I have no idea....your comment implies it.  I would think that they have decent ones anyway.  In my view, having had Noel's abius and not being exactly sure of my experience with caimito (although I have had a bunch including I beleive the ones from the friend of Noel in Davie....a neighbor of mine), this is not like a tremendous difference between one fruit being fantastic and the other being garbage. The fruits, for me, are more or less in the same general tier of overalll fruit evaluation. Which, again for me, is far below mango and lychee. I was only expressing a preference for Abiu......which I will mantain until I get the chance to try yours.

Harry

I mentioned Australia because they did the most breeding work on Abius, coming out with cultivars like Grey, Z1, Z2, Z3. One of the people involved with this breeding lived here in Hawaii and introduced them all long time ago here.
About taste of caimito, it is not a simple sweet taste, as you mentioned in previous post, it has complex berry like tones in it. Hard to explain tastes but that's closest i can describe. Also you describe starapple negatively as gelatinous, but abiu has very similar texture in my opinion. We have plenty of fine tasting abius here and i eat them all the time. Like i said before i like abius very much. Also they are available for sale in farmer's markets. It's just a pain to go through extra work of protecting them against fruit flies. Here is a photo of some fruits w/o fruit fly damage:
(http://fruitlovers.com/Gallery1/AbiuCrossection.jpg)
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 30, 2012, 03:38:20 PM
I have 2 huge trees of caimito (the 'green' type).  One tree produces loads every year (fruiting now), the other tree hardly produces any.
I like the flavor, but the sticky lip problem keeps me from eating them without a spoon!

I find this sticky lip problem much worse with abius.
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 30, 2012, 03:40:02 PM
I have 2 huge trees of caimito (the 'green' type).  One tree produces loads every year (fruiting now), the other tree hardly produces any.
I like the flavor, but the sticky lip problem keeps me from eating them without a spoon!

Yep...its the Pouteria curse.  And yes, you can get around it or not near it with a spoon....but that latex is a defintely a detracting factor for me.  There always seems to be nore fruit that should be edible as you are eating the fruit.  But, you dare not get that greedy unless you want stuck lips.

Harry

Yes, but let's face it, if you want to put a fruit down you can always find ways to do it. Like many people say they don't like mangos because they are too messy to eat!
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: FloridaGreenMan on March 30, 2012, 08:26:32 PM
If you let your Abius fully ripen, the latex is minimal. However if you are an Abiu pig like me and eat 3 or 4 at a time, the latex can build up. One time I gave a  chunk of a ripe Caimito to a "fruit-neophyte" friend and before I could say anything he had chewed and swallowed the entire thing skin and all. He remarked that it tasted like a melted rubber ball. I laughed like heck...Live and learn           
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Guanabanus on March 30, 2012, 10:13:31 PM
When collecting in the state of Yucatán, México, I have purchased several caimito fruits at least as big as Oscars, in markets.  I liked them a lot.

I have never been favorably impressed with any I have eaten here in Florida.  Nor with abiu I've eaten in Florida.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 30, 2012, 10:25:01 PM
Harry
My other friend from Davie was Mario L. He grew some excellent Caimito that were large sized. The foto shows the green skinned version but he also grew some awesome purple ones.

Sorry Oscar but you do not have the market cornered on good tasting tropical fruits. Florida has produced many of the cultivars that you are growing on your farm whether you want to admit it or not!     
 
(http://s7.postimage.org/u3x7vsewn/2006_0805_Sapotes0010.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/u3x7vsewn/)

The only Florida cultivars i have on my farm are mangos and a few avos. Can't think of a single other tree i have that was developed in Florida. I'm one of the few here growing these Florida mangos to trial them out and see how they perform here.
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: bsbullie on March 30, 2012, 11:11:18 PM
Harry
My other friend from Davie was Mario L. He grew some excellent Caimito that were large sized. The foto shows the green skinned version but he also grew some awesome purple ones.

Sorry Oscar but you do not have the market cornered on good tasting tropical fruits. Florida has produced many of the cultivars that you are growing on your farm whether you want to admit it or not!     
 
(http://s7.postimage.org/u3x7vsewn/2006_0805_Sapotes0010.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/u3x7vsewn/)

The only Florida cultivars i have on my farm are mangos and a few avos. Can't think of a single other tree i have that was developed in Florida. I'm one of the few here growing these Florida mangos to trial them out and see how they perform here.
Oscar
Oscar - I may be wrong but I think Noel was saying that the cultivars you are growing are also grown here in Florida and have produced crops equally as good...of course, I could be wrong in my interpretation.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Jacob13 on March 31, 2012, 04:01:29 AM
Geesh!!! You guys in Florida are so lucky!!  Is there anyone that is willing to sell and send me some Abius and/or Purple Caimitos, please let me know.  I would love to buy some.  Otherwise, I fear it may be a long long time before I get the pleasure of tasting any.  Please PM me or send me an e-mail if you are willing to sell me some fruit.

Thanks,

Jacob
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: FloridaGreenMan on March 31, 2012, 06:58:43 AM
Harry
My other friend from Davie was Mario L. He grew some excellent Caimito that were large sized. The foto shows the green skinned version but he also grew some awesome purple ones.

Sorry Oscar but you do not have the market cornered on good tasting tropical fruits. Florida has produced many of the cultivars that you are growing on your farm whether you want to admit it or not!     
 
(http://s7.postimage.org/u3x7vsewn/2006_0805_Sapotes0010.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/u3x7vsewn/)

The only Florida cultivars i have on my farm are mangos and a few avos. Can't think of a single other tree i have that was developed in Florida. I'm one of the few here growing these Florida mangos to trial them out and see how they perform here.
Oscar

Oscar
How many Hawaiian cultivars can you readily find? The only one I have ever seen here is the Alano Sapodilla and I have one. After growing it for several years it is getting yanked out because it is slow growing and the fruit quality is lousy compared to Hasya or Molix (Mexican cultivars).  Pls tell me which other Hawaiian developed cultivars of any type are worth growing because I am not aware of any.








     



Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on March 31, 2012, 07:06:18 AM
Plants originating in Hawaii:  Kaimana lychee comes to mind immediately.  I am also growing Kau Dwarf and Rapoza mango that I am sure are Hawaiiian.  There must be others.  Checking.

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: bsbullie on March 31, 2012, 08:04:04 AM
Plants originating in Hawaii:  Kaimana lychee comes to mind immediately.  I am also growing Kau Dwarf and Rapoza mango that I am sure are Hawaiiian.  There must be others.  Checking.

Harry
I believe there is another Hawaiian dwarf mango but I am currently drawing a blank on the name.  I have had the Rapoza and at least one of the "dwarf" fruits and I can honestly say it was ok but nothing spectacular (a lot of mangoes would be grouped in the category, especially the Florida cultivars).
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 31, 2012, 03:11:53 PM
Plants originating in Hawaii:  Kaimana lychee comes to mind immediately.  I am also growing Kau Dwarf and Rapoza mango that I am sure are Hawaiiian.  There must be others.  Checking.

Harry

Plenty of mango, avocado, banana, papaya, and a few citrus cultivars developed here in Hawaii. Main problem is we don't have a very active breeding program as govt. allots very little money to this.
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on March 31, 2012, 03:18:30 PM
And what about Kohala longan?  Then there is some question about the ST Maui mango......more to come I am sure. I know there were many Hawaiian mangoes reviewed by (well, perhaps panned by is more acurate) Crafton Clift.  There was a refutation of Crafton's not very complimetary reviews by one of the growers over there....I forget who. Oscar, you know to what and whom I am referring? I may have it somewhere in an email or file.

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 31, 2012, 03:24:53 PM
And what about Kohala longan?  Then there is some question about the ST Maui mango......more to come I am sure. I know there were many Hawaiian mangoes reviewed by (well, perhaps panned by is more acurate) Crafton Clift.  There was a refutation of Crafton's not very complimetary reviews by one of the growers over there....I forget who. Oscar, you know to what and whom I am referring? I may have it somewhere in an email or file.

Harry

Don't like to take credit for Kohala because like i said before, while it may be a good longan for Florida and California, it is simply terrible over here. No i don't know what you are referring to about Crafton?
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 31, 2012, 05:20:54 PM
When collecting in the state of Yucatán, México, I have purchased several caimito fruits at least as big as Oscars, in markets.  I liked them a lot.

I have never been favorably impressed with any I have eaten here in Florida.  Nor with abiu I've eaten in Florida.

There are excellent abius here, some are the size of a softball. It's hard to find good ones at the markets though. There used to be someone here growing them in large quantity but he bailed out.
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 31, 2012, 05:39:27 PM


Oscar
How many Hawaiian cultivars can you readily find? The only one I have ever seen here is the Alano Sapodilla and I have one. After growing it for several years it is getting yanked out because it is slow growing and the fruit quality is lousy compared to Hasya or Molix (Mexican cultivars).  Pls tell me which other Hawaiian developed cultivars of any type are worth growing because I am not aware of any.


Not sure what your question is? Thread started with abius, then it was starapple, now you bring up sapodillas? Are you asking about cultivars in general or of only one kind of fruit? If the first then most of the cultivars here for the above mentioned three were imported into Hawaii from elsewhere. As i already mentioned most of the abiu cultivars here came from Australia. The sapodilla cultivars came mostly from Phillipines and other parts of Asia. The starapples we have several cultivars but most promising in my opinion are excellent seedling trees. Our trees don't fall over in hurricanes or freeze, as you mentioned so often happens in your location. So they are very long lived trees. Most of the named Hawaiian cultivars bred here are avocados, mangos, papayas, pineapples, and a few citrus. I think Florida could really benefit by planting Hawaiian avocados: ones like Kahaluu and Malama are far superior to any Florida avocado i've ever tasted, and i would guess they would grow well in Florida. As for the introduced cultivars here, like abius, this fruit has been here at least 3+ decades and we do have have a lot more named cultivars than exist in Florida. There is also a good gene pool of seedling abius planted here. Abiu and starapples volunteer and grow wild here below mother plants. As for starapple, it seems that a lot of Florida forum members have never tasted this fruit, or if they have never tasted a good one, so it seems it also is not very common in Florida yet. Starapple has been here much longer than abiu, but not sure exact date of introduction, i'm guessing starapple has been here over a century.
Oscar
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: stressbaby on April 01, 2012, 07:28:01 PM
We had lots of star apples a couple of weeks ago in Jamaica.  There is the purple kind, also one which they call a white star apple which is green with white flesh and with fewer seeds.

LL, I have some seeds of both :-X and will be attempting some seedlings if interested.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on April 01, 2012, 08:53:12 PM
We had lots of star apples a couple of weeks ago in Jamaica.  There is the purple kind, also one which they call a white star apple which is green with white flesh and with fewer seeds.

Ok, Robert...what the heck.....no description of your Jamaican star apple eating experience??  This will never do.  What did you think of them? And where would place them in the pantheon of tropical fruits you've tried thus far?

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: stressbaby on April 01, 2012, 09:53:53 PM
I agree with comments above.  They were quite sweet, with a somewhat berry-like flavor.  Texture-wise they were gelatinous as has been mentioned above, but quite juicy, some nearly watery.  Apparently it is a breakfast food in the rural area of Jamaica where we were.  I preferred the white to the purple; the purple had 4-6 seeds as compared to an average of 2 seeds per fruit in the white variety.  There were so many seeds in the purple ones that you could not cut straight through the fruit, you had to cut most of the way through and sort of tear it in half.  Also, the pulp was adherent to the seeds in the purple ones, while the seeds popped freely out of the white ones.

All that said, the one abiu I had a Ian's was better than any of the star apples I had a couple of weeks ago. It would definitely not beat a good mango or lychee in my book.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on April 01, 2012, 10:06:11 PM
Thanks, Robert.  Your thoughts are pretty much what I expected you to say.  I am not going to say anything more about Caimito that could be construed to be neagtive until I get to try Oscar's.

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Tomas on April 01, 2012, 10:18:36 PM
Hi,

I think the original question was if anyone in Florida grows star apple. I have one in a pot or should I say I had one in a pot. It was finally planted in the ground earlier today. Here is how long the root was:

(http://s13.postimage.org/h2lqb6n0z/IMG_4837.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/h2lqb6n0z/)

Tomas
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on April 01, 2012, 10:31:08 PM
Thanks, Robert.  Your thoughts are pretty much what I expected you to say.  I am not going to say anything more about Caimito that could be construed to be neagtive until I get to try Oscar's.

Harry

Oh mine isn't the only good starapple out there. I just think it's one of the better ones. Did you note that Stressbaby likes abiu better than mango Harry, or better than lychee Lycheeluva. Double blasphemy! Abiu is a good fruit, but i've never seen one person put it in their top 10 list as is lychee and mango.
Oscar
 
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: bsbullie on April 01, 2012, 11:17:20 PM
Thanks, Robert.  Your thoughts are pretty much what I expected you to say.  I am not going to say anything more about Caimito that could be construed to be neagtive until I get to try Oscar's.

Harry

Oh mine isn't the only good starapple out there. I just think it's one of the better ones. Did you note that Stressbaby likes abiu better than mango Harry, or better than lychee Lycheeluva. Double blasphemy! Abiu is a good fruit, but i've never seen one person put it in their top 10 list as is lychee and mango.
Oscar
I have seen it in some top ten lists.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HMHausman on April 02, 2012, 06:32:12 AM
It would definitely not beat a good mango or lychee in my book.

Oscar...you misread the comment about lychee and mango.  That little NOT, I think you missed.

Harry
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: lycheeluva on April 02, 2012, 08:26:16 AM
you guys are all too funny-- i post innocuous questions and get to watch all manner of bedlam break loose!!

thanks for the  offer of a seedling but after conquering mango and lychee, ive decided to go for something easy like a jakfruit!
but tasting a star apple is definitly high on my list of priorities. if anyone ever hears of some available by mail order, please let me know.
great pic thomas
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on April 03, 2012, 02:04:13 AM
It would definitely not beat a good mango or lychee in my book.

Oscar...you misread the comment about lychee and mango.  That little NOT, I think you missed.

Harry

Oh good! Now he doesn't need to go to fruit purgatory for saying what i thought he said!!!
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Jackfruitwhisperer69 on April 03, 2012, 07:39:41 AM
Hi,

I think the original question was if anyone in Florida grows star apple. I have one in a pot or should I say I had one in a pot. It was finally planted in the ground earlier today. Here is how long the root was:

(http://s13.postimage.org/h2lqb6n0z/IMG_4837.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/h2lqb6n0z/)

Tomas

Hi Tomas,

what did you do with the long roots? do you prune them?
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Tomas on April 03, 2012, 08:23:40 AM
Hi Jackfruitwhisperer69,

Kept the root as is. I just dug a hole as deep as the root.

Tomas
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Jackfruitwhisperer69 on April 03, 2012, 08:36:24 AM
I would've done the same! Because, some trees are really sensitive to root pruning!

Good luck with the Star apple tree!!! BTW keep us posted when it fruit's ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HawaiiFruitGrower on March 10, 2013, 06:59:31 PM
I know this topic was from last year but oscar, i wanted to tell you that starapple was real'ly here in hawaii for over a century. In Hana,Maui we went to a friends house which was a property of the Hana Ranch Bosses from the 1850-1920 really old property, we were actually there digging for old bottles which is another hobby of mine, but anyways on the property there was a 50 to 60 ft tall starapple tree the fruit was small and green, our friend said it has to come a little brown when ripe and taste like a coconut haupia whic i found really tempting only thing is the fruits were all the way at the top! He said he uses the Hana ranches cherry picker to harvest fruit. This tree must have been about 100 yrs old it was taller then most of the common mangos in that area which were already 60 ft tall. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 11, 2013, 01:32:20 AM
I know this topic was from last year but oscar, i wanted to tell you that starapple was real'ly here in hawaii for over a century. In Hana,Maui we went to a friends house which was a property of the Hana Ranch Bosses from the 1850-1920 really old property, we were actually there digging for old bottles which is another hobby of mine, but anyways on the property there was a 50 to 60 ft tall starapple tree the fruit was small and green, our friend said it has to come a little brown when ripe and taste like a coconut haupia whic i found really tempting only thing is the fruits were all the way at the top! He said he uses the Hana ranches cherry picker to harvest fruit. This tree must have been about 100 yrs old it was taller then most of the common mangos in that area which were already 60 ft tall. ;D ;D ;D

Thanks, i know starapple has been here a long time. I have somewhere a chart i made with years many tropical fruits were introduced into Hawaii. Will try to scan it at some point and post it.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: HawaiiFruitGrower on March 11, 2013, 01:51:24 AM
oscar ive been meaning to ask what other fruit trees do you have available at this time, that are grafted or air layered? Lookinf for any different kinds of that taste good even if you have any seedling that produce really fast from seed. I will be up there next week on the 17th which is a sunday and will be at makuu market later on in the day. Thanks
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Sleepdoc on March 11, 2013, 08:42:36 AM
I picked this Caimito yesterday.  It's the first of the season.  Did I pick it too early?  It has a little "give" but as you can see the color change is not yet complete..

(http://s22.postimage.org/5fpcpl6st/image.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/5fpcpl6st/)
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: roboto212 on March 11, 2013, 12:43:14 PM
I find they are the sweetest when the skin has just wrinkled a tad.... or the skin is no longer glossy and shiny, but matted
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 11, 2013, 05:31:46 PM
I picked this Caimito yesterday.  It's the first of the season.  Did I pick it too early?  It has a little "give" but as you can see the color change is not yet complete..

(http://s22.postimage.org/5fpcpl6st/image.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/5fpcpl6st/)

Yes, you picked it way too early, and they won't continue to ripen once picked. The fruit should be purple colored all the way around. Sometimes tricky to pick them like that because the stem end on top is last to turn color, so if the fruit is way up high you won't see the color at the top, and from bottom it looks totally purple. It's very common that people pick them too early because of this reason, and they will have lots of latex and sugar content will be low. Use a ladder if necessary and really check color on top of fruit. Skin should be shiny, not flat dull as once that happens fruit is over mature and will start rotting. Starapples don't fall from tree when ripe, so if you let them get flat colored dull they will start to rot and then mummify on the tree.
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: Sleepdoc on March 11, 2013, 05:37:59 PM
Thanks Oscar.  That's exactly what happened.  The fruit was high in the canopy and looked totally purple from below. 

How long is the proper picking window time?  From turning totally purple to turning dull and being over ripe?
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: fruitlovers on March 11, 2013, 05:40:41 PM
Thanks Oscar.  That's exactly what happened.  The fruit was high in the canopy and looked totally purple from below. 

How long is the proper picking window time?  From turning totally purple to turning dull and being over ripe?

I haven't really timed it, but they are pretty forgiving of non diligent lazy people like myself. I usually manage to get to eat lots of fruits at prime stage. ;D
Title: Re: caimito fruit- star apple
Post by: BENDERSGROVE on March 11, 2013, 07:23:08 PM
I just picked a bunch of them today at PIN,to put out to sell,they taste great,never had one before, I like it! I have one in my place that has not fruited yet,hopefully this coming year!! can't wait.