I live in Lakeland and have a pretty good size food forest going on. We should have a pretty similar weather conditions. I have my journey documented here: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=22838.0 .. There are links posted to my youtube videos in that thread as well. You might find some ideas in them. Good luck with your plans!
Thanks McCain, I’ll be interested in how your forest turns out.
New updates:
For sure:
Still want to try 1 pomegranate. Looking like parfianka is good.
2 avocados: still stumped, thinking brogdon and Monroe
Loquat: going to stop my our kids nursery or a natural farm in early spring to look around
Ever bearing mulberry
Cherry of rio grande
Either muscadine or Jaboticaba
Potentially:
Carrie/Fairchild/ Pickering/ manilika mango
Non astringent persimmon?( want to try one first, accidentally bought an astringent one when I saw them at grocer)
Lychee
Which of the above trees would you characterize as “thirsty” trees which I should plant closer to the pond?
Also, when people say to plant trees close to buildings for warmth, how close are we talking? I am imagining anything over 5 feet away isn’t going to do much besides break the wind.
If anyone has any more experience with specific avocado/loquat/ persimmon cultivars which work in the area I would appreciate it.
You have all been a tremendous help