Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - darkcoolboo

Pages: [1] 2 3 4
1
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What is your favorite tropical cherry?
« on: January 04, 2018, 05:43:56 PM »
Barbados cherries fruit plentifully, reliably, and is precocious. No experience with other cherries, but most Eugenia fruit need shade to do well.

2
In az, during triple digit temps, loquat leaves burn, so I would choose fig just in case you forget to water.

3
Starfruit does well under full shade at the experiments garden at our local extension (Phoenix).

4
I would go with papaya, pineapple and banana (except pineapples and bananas don't come from seed). Also, some berry bushes like Acerola fruit quickly.

5
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Grafting
« on: November 13, 2017, 02:58:02 AM »

6
It's hard to find solid info for growing tropicals in az, especially since most everyone thinks anything that isn't native will die on exposure to the sun. Jake and Shamus might get info wrong from time to time and have their own personal agendas, but they help inspire gardeners to look past the stereotype of a 'barren' desert. Shamus is one of the few tropical fruit tree sellers here. I think committed gardeners will look to other sources as their curiosity grows and are not limited to a Facebook or YouTube pages.

@ Simon - most people don't grow named mangos simply because they won't be able to try a Lemon Zest or Carrie before buying the tree. They would rather choose a better known, but weaker tree like Alphonso. Also, the lady's tree has deep sentimental and would not likely want to change that.

7
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Heard of the raw egg rooting method?
« on: March 24, 2017, 01:36:15 AM »
I was looking up ways to root plumeria cuttings, when I found a strange method. Basically, you bury a raw egg in a pot and then a cutting on top of it.

  http://www.trumpetflowers.com/experiments/egg-versus-rooting-hormone-plant-propagation.htm

8
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Grafting various fruit trees
« on: March 22, 2017, 02:28:29 AM »
Fairchild botanical gardens says summer grafting is +70 F night time lows, so May 26 to Oct 7th (in your area). This includes Mango and Citrus. Winter grafting is avocados and temperate fruit. Spring/fall (spring is of course preferred) is jakfruit, mamey, sapodilla, and most others.

Not my words
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIDc6Z5zH9Q
Segment starts around 4:30

9
Aravaipa and Don Juan probably aren't the same variety because Don Juan has a much old and larger distribution.  Plus, Don Juan is unheard of (like many texan cados) in Arizona; a similar situation exists for Aravaipa in Texas.


What sets aravaipa apart from hass is its purported salt tolerance, heat tolerance (up to 120 F), high pH and other conditions that are Arizona specific. Also, NOT only citrus grows here, but also with frost protection and shade cloth (like many 9bers do), mango, guava and most others do very well.


Just stick to your own states' avocados, which are better suited to your area.

10
Never heard of anyone eating, which probably means its not that great. As a seedling of hass, I would think it is similar but ultimately not as good. Maybe it will be used as a rootstock instead for the heavy clay soil and high temps, but even araviapa trees have Lula has a rootstock.

11
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: I need help with lychee and mango tree
« on: January 28, 2017, 08:21:17 PM »
That's not an issue; it come from not enough frost or drought to make it flower completely.

12
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Loquat relatives
« on: January 25, 2017, 12:12:09 AM »
Loquat is a relative to quinces and can be grafted onto them and vice versa.

13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Tropical fruit sorbet maker
« on: January 05, 2017, 01:53:41 AM »
I got one from walmart, and since im not too picky about the final product, it works fine. One thing ive learned to add with sorbet (or any frozen treat) is -gasp!- Karo corn syrup. It helps minimize the larger ice crystals, contributing to a smoother texture. And corn syrup isn't all that bad, as long as it isn't high fructose. Like sugar, you shouldn't really be eating too much anyway. Two tablespoons per quart recipe works great. If you ever make gelato, you've got to try cornstarch gelato. It uses cornstarch instead of eggs.

14
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Creating a Tropical Garden
« on: January 05, 2017, 01:18:25 AM »
You can try some tropical-esque things, like using black lava rock, but it's hard to emulate the sprawling, wild look of a 'tropical garden' without actual tropical plants. Most tropical-like plants die at zone 5. But, don't forget that Google is your best friend, no offense, like this website I just found. http://northscaping.com/IZArticles/IS-0096 You are better off looking for this sort of info on temperate based gardening forms, like Gardenweb. Try some Hostas.

15
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Cold hardy mangoes
« on: January 05, 2017, 12:59:10 AM »
Yeah, there isn't such thing of a frost tolerant mango. All mangoes are on the same level of frost tolerance, which is none. It has to do with their biology - most tropicals are the same. You are better off crossing your fingers with frost cloth, which I'm doing. It's easier to grow a dwarf variety because it is easier to protect with frost cloth.

16
Goldfinger is one of the fastest and is quite hardy. They will fruit in that time.

17
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Tree Spacing?
« on: October 18, 2016, 12:26:44 AM »
@ FruitFreak - I don't have a problem with moving large trees and I would like to try the newer zill mangos, not just dwarfs. If I grow dwarfs what will I do with 6 mangos that taste the same? I'm better off choosing map 2 in that case if I want dwarfs.


@ Cookie Monster - Mangos grow slower in AZ because the frost stunts the growth. If a Californian gardener can work with 8', then I am likely to be able as well. If I do 2 rows with 3 trees in a row, then it makes 8' x 16' boxes. I'm not sure I agree with lopsided trees.


The second option certainly provides more options, since I can remove the dwarfs if they're not getting enough sun and pot them up easily. In addition, if I end up not being able to being my larger trees with me, I can still bring my dwarfs.
But If I can grow large trees like in option 1 without it being an issue, then I'm going to do it. I might just get some pots if I want to grow dwarfs.

18
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Tree Spacing?
« on: October 17, 2016, 01:07:45 PM »
I have a 20' x 25' area and I'm using MS Excel to map it out the spacing between trees. I'm having difficulty deciding between a 8' and 16' spacing map. Each square represents a square foot in real life. I'll growing my trees at my backyard for about 5 years, after which I will pack up my trees and moving away, which makes the 8' spacing possible. Here are 3 possible maps (click on them for a bigger image):

8' spacing - Will the trees out grow this quickly?

Sort of a middle ground - The shading issue isn't a problem in sunny AZ.

Conservative map - 16'



19
In AZ, its more about how much water you can give it. I'm a newbie myself, but other AZ growers have good success even at 122F as long as there is daily watering. I'm sure this only applies to gardens that are so strong to the point of humus is forming naturally.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivNgciZsSSo

20
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Subtropicals for California Zone 9
« on: August 09, 2016, 01:00:16 AM »

I am unsure how often it reaches 29F in you area and how much sun you have, so the list may not apply for all 9b climates since they are so diverse. For example, your 9b and wetter 9bs like Louisiana or FL are wetter and so are a dealbreaker for plants like avocado and cherimoya. 


I have made a similar list, but it is for Arizona. If Arizonans are reading this, don't
quote me on this list, because most of the info has come from Arizona tropical fruit websites. It doesn't include more of the rarer stuff you find in CA, but it gives a good idea. Each one respond to harsh sun to a different extent and to right write about the topic would require another list. Also this list has some herbs, so dont freak out.

Easy:
 No frost cloth (nfc), small size as in can be brought indoors (ss) OR fast growth and can regrow for the next fruiting season (fg)
 Loquat (nfc)
 Passionfruit (fg)
Jaboticaba (nfc)(ss)
 Peach (nfc)
 Cherry (nfc)
 Almond (nfc)
Prickly pear (nfc)
 Apricot (nfc)
 European pear (nfc)
 Asian pear (nfc)
 Mulberry (nfc)
 Fig (nfc)
 Grapes (fg)
 White sapote (nfc)
 Persimmon (nfc)
 Allspice (ss)
 Pandan (ss)
 Indian curry leaf (ss)
 Lemongrass (ss)
 Pineapple guava (nfc)
 Banana (fg)
 Pomegranate (nfc)
 Kumquat (nfc)
 Orange (nfc)
 Blood orange (nfc)
 Grapefruit (nfc)
 Kiwifruit (nfc)
 Jujube (nfc)
 Goji Berry (nfc)
 Moringa (fg)
 Apple (nfc)
 Bamboo (nfc)
 Dragonfruit (ss)
 Jacaranda (nfc)
 Sugar cane (fg)
 Magenta (ss)
Guava (fg)
Acerola (fg)
 (ss)
 
 
 
Medium
 With frost cloth and/or one complication; small size (ss) and must be potted (mb) when indicated:
 Starfruit - wind
 Royal Poinciana
 Tipu
 Cherry of the Rio Grande - salt
 Tamarind - slow
 Guamúchil
 Michelia Figo (mb) - salt, soil
 Sapodilla (ss) - slow
 Foxtail Palm - slow
 Longan - salt
 Mango - salt
 African Tulip Tree - slow
 Mexican Garcinia - slow
 Achachairú – slow
 
 Hard
 With frost cloth, one or more complications, high humidity and/or dislikes soil. Do not attempt unless years of practice:
Papaya – drainage (it’s a hit or miss)
Jackfruit - humidity, cold
Miracle Berry – pH and salt
 Cherimoya – humidity, sunburn
Canistel - salt, humidity, sunburn
 Sweetsop - humidity
 Soursop – humidity

21
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: what mango variety is this ?
« on: July 29, 2016, 06:56:40 PM »
maybe for rootstock, since mono seeds produce stonger seedlings.

22
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mangos from Walmart
« on: July 18, 2016, 08:20:17 PM »
I got these for 0.25 each and they aren't half bad, considering I mostly bought them for their seeds. They are Kents so they don't have the amount of fiber that Tommy Atkins has and although they aren't fiberless it's not enough to affect my eating experience.



23
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: what mango variety is this ?
« on: July 18, 2016, 07:20:21 PM »
The red ones should be Haden since the flesh is not as stringy as Tommy and because Hadens are usually redder than Kents. If the other mangos in the same crate at the store are mostly red then you can be sure that it is a Haden.


Haden


vs.

Kent





These links might help:
http://www.mango.org/en/Choosing-Using-Mangos/Mango-Varieties

24
Here's a link from over at the phoenix fruit forum. The owner said that after the winter, the entire tree defoliated, but it wasn't because of the frost. The leaves turned dried green instead of the dried brown leaves characteristic of frost damage. The plant usually restarts from the base of the tree, which is the rootstock. I've also seen it happen before, so what do you think is the problem.


What's wrong with my mango tree ? - http://phoenixtropicals.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=667



25
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Amazing Annona fruits from JF
« on: June 01, 2016, 08:54:22 PM »
How does Calostro atemoya compare to Dream atemoya?

Pages: [1] 2 3 4