The Tropical Fruit Forum

Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: Cookie0208 on August 24, 2017, 10:51:06 AM

Title: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: Cookie0208 on August 24, 2017, 10:51:06 AM
I would like to know if I need to cover my cherimoya trees in the winter with frost blanket? I'm in zone 9B San Jose. Thanks
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: fyliu on August 24, 2017, 12:59:26 PM
I have no experience with San Jose, but knowing that people grow it there, I'd say it's fine if the tree is large and established. Definitely yes if in pots or first year. Even in SoCal, the first winter in ground is a critical time to protect them.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: barath on August 24, 2017, 01:03:49 PM
I know folks who grow Cherimoyas in the San Jose area.  It does seem to depend where you are -- parts of San Jose get only mild frosts each year whereas other parts get pretty severe frosts.  In the milder areas, you can get away with leaving them uncovered when they are mature -- they'll be damaged but grow back just fine.  In the colder parts you do need to protect them every winter, but a blanket, sprinklers, or some lights should be enough most of the time.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: joehewitt on August 25, 2017, 03:44:49 PM
Cherimoyas are definitely doable in San Jose - in some areas you might not even need to protect them. I've had Booth, Pierce, and El Bumpo for 2 winters. Booth and Pierce succumbed last year while El Bumpo was unharmed. I didn't protect them in any way. This year I have 15 different varieties planted so I will get more data on which are the best for our climate.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: spaugh on August 25, 2017, 05:24:38 PM
Cherimoyas are definitely doable in San Jose - in some areas you might not even need to protect them. I've had Booth, Pierce, and El Bumpo for 2 winters. Booth and Pierce succumbed last year while El Bumpo was unharmed. I didn't protect them in any way. This year I have 15 different varieties planted so I will get more data on which are the best for our climate.

Nice job, could you share what types you are growing?  How large are they?  Pots or ground?
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: raiders36 on August 25, 2017, 08:44:45 PM
I'm from San Jose. I got el bumpo, honey hart, m &n, vietnamese, fino de jete, and african pride (atemoya). Viet and fino are second years in the ground. others are older. None of them are cover during the winter. If you are worry, cover with frost cloth, not plastic for cherimoya.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: jbaqai on August 26, 2017, 03:01:24 AM
I think we (Bay Area residents) should get together sometime to share our experience , may be form a group for group purchases from Florida
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: barath on August 26, 2017, 06:45:13 PM
I think we (Bay Area residents) should get together sometime to share our experience , may be form a group for group purchases from Florida

If you haven't attended, you are most welcome to attend the Santa Clara or Golden Gate CRFG chapter meetings:

https://scvcrfg.wordpress.com/ (https://scvcrfg.wordpress.com/)

http://www.crfg.org/chapters/golden_gate/index.htm (http://www.crfg.org/chapters/golden_gate/index.htm)
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: JF on August 26, 2017, 06:54:20 PM
Joe
Please share your results throuhtout the years as they fruit there is little data how far North cherimoyas can succeeded
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: barath on August 26, 2017, 08:35:08 PM
For what it's worth, long time Redwood Empire CRFG member Florence Strange grew Cherimoyas in the hills of Petaluma:

http://www.crfg-redwood.org/july_newsletter.pdf (http://www.crfg-redwood.org/july_newsletter.pdf)
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: BrianL on August 27, 2017, 01:14:20 AM
Cherimoya survives in Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano, Marin, and Sonoma Counties, but not throughout the entire area.  Parts of those counties are too cold.  In my particular locality I can loose small cherimoyas, others do fine  I protect them less then other things though. 

Larger trees exist in Oakland and Berkeley I've been told.  I think the Florance Strange property also had a Jambolan I've been told.  I gave a friend a seedling Cherimoya who kept it in Santa Rosa which survived for a number of years.  It may still be alive, but I think it got burned back severely one year.   
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: joehewitt on August 27, 2017, 04:27:42 PM
Cherimoyas are definitely doable in San Jose - in some areas you might not even need to protect them. I've had Booth, Pierce, and El Bumpo for 2 winters. Booth and Pierce succumbed last year while El Bumpo was unharmed. I didn't protect them in any way. This year I have 15 different varieties planted so I will get more data on which are the best for our climate.

Nice job, could you share what types you are growing?  How large are they?  Pots or ground?

In ground I currently have Bays, Behl, Burton, Ecuador, Spain, El Bumpo, Fino de Jete, Pierce, Booth, M&N, Mark Lee, Honeyheart, Vietnamese. They range from 5' to 8' tall. I also have smaller Dr. White, JA and Santa Rosa in pots.

Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: bsbullie on August 27, 2017, 04:37:34 PM
Cherimoyas are definitely doable in San Jose - in some areas you might not even need to protect them. I've had Booth, Pierce, and El Bumpo for 2 winters. Booth and Pierce succumbed last year while El Bumpo was unharmed. I didn't protect them in any way. This year I have 15 different varieties planted so I will get more data on which are the best for our climate.

Nice job, could you share what types you are growing?  How large are they?  Pots or ground?

In ground I currently have Bays, Behl, Burton, Ecuador, Spain, El Bumpo, Fino de Jete, Pierce, Booth, M&N, Mark Lee, Honeyheart, Vietnamese. They range from 5' to 8' tall. I also have smaller Dr. White, JA and Santa Rosa in pots.

Vietnamese and Dr. White are the same thing.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: Bananimal on August 29, 2017, 08:42:34 AM
I brought home a few cherimoya seeds from fruit I bought  on my last trip to Barcelona, Spain.  What a flavor!!!    Got 2 to sprout at home and this year had my first fruit.  Still in pots and will go in the ground this fall.   One of the best tasting fruit in the world
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: fyliu on August 29, 2017, 01:56:11 PM
If you got it in Spain, it's likely a Fino de Jete. It makes up the majority of the Spanish market.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: knlim000 on August 30, 2017, 03:23:51 AM
at my place here in redwood city, they grow like weeds.  In the winter, no need to cover, even the seedlings.


I found out that the more you try to cover and protect, the worst they will be, or end up dying due to the heat during the winter day.

So, it's better to not to cover, at lest in my area.  even longan and lychee seedlings don't need covering either.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: Si Duong on August 30, 2017, 04:49:25 AM
Joe
Please share your results throuhtout the years as they fruit there is little data how far North cherimoyas can succeeded


[I wanted to vote Joe Hewitt is the Leader of the group for the Bay Area growing exotic fruits. I've watched his video on youtube. He can help us for sure. quote]
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: Bush2Beach on December 29, 2017, 12:14:48 PM
Cherimoya fruits currently holding and some ripe now from El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, .
Have about 17 ,15 Gallon Cherimoya tree's planted out in various locations. Ince Red, Chaffey, White , El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, Boothe,
Atemoya, Dream , Lisa , and Priestley.
Ive yet to see frost damage on Cherimoya.

Barath, Do you know if there is Cherimoya planted out at Prusch Park?
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: barath on December 29, 2017, 01:07:02 PM
Good question -- I want to say yes there are some at Prusch Park, but I actually can't visualize in my mind where they are, so maybe not.  I've definitely never seen Cherimoya fruit at Prusch Park, so if they do have any trees, they aren't producing.

I am planting many of them on Ohlone Greenway, so there'll be a good source of Cherimoya scions for some time to come, I hope.

Cherimoya fruits currently holding and some ripe now from El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, .
Have about 17 ,15 Gallon Cherimoya tree's planted out in various locations. Ince Red, Chaffey, White , El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, Boothe,
Atemoya, Dream , Lisa , and Priestley.
Ive yet to see frost damage on Cherimoya.

Barath, Do you know if there is Cherimoya planted out at Prusch Park?
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: waxy on December 29, 2017, 01:18:47 PM
Cherimoya fruits currently holding and some ripe now from El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, .
Have about 17 ,15 Gallon Cherimoya tree's planted out in various locations. Ince Red, Chaffey, White , El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, Boothe,
Atemoya, Dream , Lisa , and Priestley.
Ive yet to see frost damage on Cherimoya.

Barath, Do you know if there is Cherimoya planted out at Prusch Park?

Do you hand pollenate them all, or are they done through pollenators?
It's a struggle for me to get my fertile pollen, only my el bumpo is holding fruit.
The rest of the cherimoyas lost all their blooms, too wet this year with all the rain and flooding.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: Bush2Beach on December 29, 2017, 02:24:50 PM
Barath, good to hear your planting a bunch at the greenway! I wish the Santa Clara CRFG would focus work parties or any attention on the actual rare fruit orchard at Prusch Park instead of always focusing on the temperate orchard . I don't understand why this CRFG group ,like some others focus all their energy on common fruits , and this group has an actual subtropical rare fruit planting that recieves scant attention compared to the common fruits . It bothers me to see that old Jabuticaba unceremoniously "topped" at 4 foot and a thick bushy mess. With a little focus the rare fruit grove could look much happier.
It seems the Bob Chambers White Sapote scion collection trip was the last time anything happened when the large White Sapote tree's lower branches were multi grafted with zero follow up pruning or work to help those grafts thrive. Same story at Fremont Quarry park but not associated with CRFG.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: JF on December 29, 2017, 03:30:25 PM
Cherimoya fruits currently holding and some ripe now from El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, .
Have about 17 ,15 Gallon Cherimoya tree's planted out in various locations. Ince Red, Chaffey, White , El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, Boothe,
Atemoya, Dream , Lisa , and Priestley.
Ive yet to see frost damage on Cherimoya.

Barath, Do you know if there is Cherimoya planted out at Prusch Park?

Do you hand pollenate them all, or are they done through pollenators?
It's a struggle for me to get my fertile pollen, only my el bumpo is holding fruit.
The rest of the cherimoyas lost all their blooms, too wet this year with all the rain and flooding.

Waxy, are they any mature cherimoya trees in yr area. I didn't think cherimoyas would survive that far North.,,,,any pix of mature fruiting trees?
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: joehewitt on December 29, 2017, 03:45:41 PM
Cherimoya is marginal in the Bay Area. It can be done, but you're always one bad winter away from losing them. Folks I know who have had the most success have kept them in microclimates like the old "right up against the house" trick, or live in the few frost-free pockets in the east bay.

That said, it's worth trying, because you can get lucky and skate through a few years and maybe your trees will get big enough to withstand the inevitable harsh winters. That's what I'm doing - I planted 12 cherimoya trees in my yard last year despite losing two the previous winter.  I only got one fruit this year and it's approaching ripeness:

(https://s9.postimg.cc/d7fp6vvnf/IMG_0294.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/d7fp6vvnf/)
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: joehewitt on December 29, 2017, 04:05:55 PM
There are no Cherimoyas at Prusch Park. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some in the past and they died. Prusch is in a chilly low lying spot - I bet that Jaboticaba was topped due to dieback after a hard frost.

I'm a member of the Santa Clara CRFG chapter and I don't want to disparage them because there are some wonderful and dedicated people running the chapter. However, it's true, the current leadership is all about teaching people to care for the common backyard temperate trees. Truly "rare" fruits are never the focus of chapter meetings nor are they tested in the demo orchard. My attempts to discuss rare fruits on the mailing list are usually met with silence. It's disappointing but I still appreciate CRFG for how much they've taught me about citrus, avocados, feijoas and stuff like that.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: joehewitt on December 29, 2017, 04:12:07 PM
x
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: Bush2Beach on December 29, 2017, 06:25:40 PM
As with all of the CRFG chapters there are some great and dedicated , very knowledgeable members. Santa Clara CRFG has one of the better Nor Cal Scion exchanges, and has done great with the work parties with different companies and groups on the Temperate fruit orchard. I used to enjoy the Yahoo group emails from them but I think I was removed from the list after defending Cloudforest Axel who was being attacked by one of the "Hybridizer" group person's, in a heated exchange over the "Hybridizer" group wanting to sell tree's to other members to "trial". Comedy.
Anyways, Its all about the rare fruits in the name. I get frustrated seeing that aspect ignored by some of the different chapters that focus solely on uncommon Pome and Stone fruit varieties. Especially when there is a nice sized rare fruit planting right under the nose to focus on.  All the chapters Ive seen have individuals who are super into the rare fruits aspect though.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: barath on December 29, 2017, 10:50:37 PM
There's a good amount of interest in subtropical and (highland) tropical fruits in the Golden Gate chapter, probably because they're more viable here than in Santa Clara County.  Regarding Cherimoyas, they are pretty widely grown by folks in this chapter. Some of the long-time members here have large Cherimoya trees that they don't maintain much or at all -- some of them don't even water the trees -- and they do fine.  (I think as always fruit production improves with hand pollination.)  As Joe said, we don't really get much frost in the East Bay so I rarely see damage on Cherimoyas here.  Tom recently came across a large old longan tree in Oakland, so the range of options is much bigger than most folks (even CRFG members) often think.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: waxy on December 29, 2017, 11:26:59 PM
Cherimoya fruits currently holding and some ripe now from El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, .
Have about 17 ,15 Gallon Cherimoya tree's planted out in various locations. Ince Red, Chaffey, White , El Bumpo, Licia, Spain, HoneyHart, Fino de Jete, Boothe,
Atemoya, Dream , Lisa , and Priestley.
Ive yet to see frost damage on Cherimoya.

Barath, Do you know if there is Cherimoya planted out at Prusch Park?

Do you hand pollenate them all, or are they done through pollenators?
It's a struggle for me to get my fertile pollen, only my el bumpo is holding fruit.
The rest of the cherimoyas lost all their blooms, too wet this year with all the rain and flooding.

Waxy, are they any mature cherimoya trees in yr area. I didn't think cherimoyas would survive that far North.,,,,any pix of mature fruiting trees?

I think there are a few people up here that have grown them successfully, maybe they'll chime in.
Mine is still the size of an adult thumb, looks like it'll be next summer before I see a basketball sized fruit LOL
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: joehewitt on January 09, 2018, 05:28:15 PM
Just harvested my first home grown Cherimoya from the M&N tree. It was 9.5oz and extremely delicious. No more fruit on my trees but I'm going to work hard on hand pollinating this year.

(https://s17.postimg.cc/xvv86n3i3/8_B247_BBA-8_A16-40_E4-_BFD2-_DEFEBD2_A3_ED9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/xvv86n3i3/)
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: marklee on March 12, 2018, 12:55:11 AM
Cherimoyas are definitely doable in San Jose - in some areas you might not even need to protect them. I've had Booth, Pierce, and El Bumpo for 2 winters. Booth and Pierce succumbed last year while El Bumpo was unharmed. I didn't protect them in any way. This year I have 15 different varieties planted so I will get more data on which are the best for our climate.

Nice job, could you share what types you are growing?  How large are they?  Pots or ground?

In ground I currently have Bays, Behl, Burton, Ecuador, Spain, El Bumpo, Fino de Jete, Pierce, Booth, M&N, Mark Lee, Honeyheart, Vietnamese. They range from 5' to 8' tall. I also have smaller Dr. White, JA and Santa Rosa in pots.

Joe, here is a photo of one of the Mark Lee seedling fruits that just ripened. I think we need to change the name to describe it better, haha.

(https://s9.postimg.cc/xk07hfz63/marklee.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/xk07hfz63/)
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: Frog Valley Farm on March 13, 2018, 08:47:48 AM
🗯

Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: swapnil.tailor on March 13, 2018, 07:48:07 PM
We have a bay area tropical fruit grower Facebook group if any one wants to join and share their tropical fruit that are successful in bay area: https://m.facebook.com/groups/157994961507279?ref=bookmarks
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: behlgarden on March 15, 2018, 11:00:33 AM
Just harvested my first home grown Cherimoya from the M&N tree. It was 9.5oz and extremely delicious. No more fruit on my trees but I'm going to work hard on hand pollinating this year.

(https://s17.postimg.cc/xvv86n3i3/8_B247_BBA-8_A16-40_E4-_BFD2-_DEFEBD2_A3_ED9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/xvv86n3i3/)

every summer from June thru Aug my neighbors think I am molesting my trees   ;) ;)  Its a lot of work. Collect pollen in AM and PM, continue to pollinate flowers AM and PM, keep overnight in refrigerator for next day use too. Note that if you pollinate between 3-5 PM those female turn to male before sunset, you take pollen out from them.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: aaronn on December 14, 2021, 11:27:51 AM
Just starting my cherimoya adventure. Grew some seeds last year, entering my first winter with them here in Napa, CA, zone 9b, and planning to graft them in the Spring.
For some reason, I never believed these would be doable in my climate and am now extremely hopeful for success. I may even be delusional. I have enough seedlings to leave some in unprotected areas and evaluate hardiness in my yard (at least under this years conditions). The yard is north sloping, frost tends to collect in a park behind my house. There’s pretty heavy oak coverage for some protection. I can (and probably will) pull some into the crawl space this year, or at least against the house, maybe I’ll experiment a bit.
Super excited to grow cherimoya here!
I’m brand new on this forum. I’m disregarding the warning that this is an old thread. But I don’t think I have enough to say to start a new thread so I’m just seeing if Bay Area folks want to chat cherimoyas here. If that’s frowned upon, my apologies.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: Bush2Beach on December 14, 2021, 12:36:02 PM
Seeing where your seedlings over winter best is a good tactic.
They will lose their leaves in March and maybe not big enought to graft.
Generally speaking getting that first of the day sun with some overhead protection from an awning or oak tree’s will help alot.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: aaronn on December 14, 2021, 01:20:28 PM
@Bush2Beach thanks. I feel even more encouraged that my little microclimate will be a success!
Most of the seedlings I potted to #5 pots look ready to graft. I’m planning to do cleft grafts as I’ve had a lot of success with those on even smaller caliper pawpaws.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: K-Rimes on December 14, 2021, 03:49:28 PM
@Bush2Beach thanks. I feel even more encouraged that my little microclimate will be a success!
Most of the seedlings I potted to #5 pots look ready to graft. I’m planning to do cleft grafts as I’ve had a lot of success with those on even smaller caliper pawpaws.

Cleft grafts work great on annona. I had great success with paw paws as well, cherimoya is the same. I had best success grafting in early Spring, around March or so. I am in 9b as well, probably a touch colder than you at 2200'. It snows or hails almost every year a touch. My cherimoyas do fine and don't even get burnt during those periods albeit, the 26f kinda stuff only lasts for 2-3 hours.

You'll do well.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: aaronn on December 14, 2021, 04:21:45 PM


Cleft grafts work great on annona. I had great success with paw paws as well, cherimoya is the same. I had best success grafting in early Spring, around March or so. I am in 9b as well, probably a touch colder than you at 2200'. It snows or hails almost every year a touch. My cherimoyas do fine and don't even get burnt during those periods albeit, the 26f kinda stuff only lasts for 2-3 hours.

You'll do well.
[/quote]

That’s great to hear! Sounds like you definitely get colder there than here. Did you protect your trees when they were very young?
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: K-Rimes on December 14, 2021, 04:35:24 PM


Cleft grafts work great on annona. I had great success with paw paws as well, cherimoya is the same. I had best success grafting in early Spring, around March or so. I am in 9b as well, probably a touch colder than you at 2200'. It snows or hails almost every year a touch. My cherimoyas do fine and don't even get burnt during those periods albeit, the 26f kinda stuff only lasts for 2-3 hours.

You'll do well.

That’s great to hear! Sounds like you definitely get colder there than here. Did you protect your trees when they were very young?
[/quote]

At first I put them under a frost cloth with some lights strung up inside 2 years back. I kept a few of them in the greenhouse last year but mostly kept them outside. This winter they are in the ground, even 1 gallon plants, and they seem totally fine. I do not intend to cover them. Live or die, they have to make the choice.
Title: Re: Anyone here from the Bay Area grows Cherimoyas?
Post by: aaronn on December 14, 2021, 04:52:36 PM


Cleft grafts work great on annona. I had great success with paw paws as well, cherimoya is the same. I had best success grafting in early Spring, around March or so. I am in 9b as well, probably a touch colder than you at 2200'. It snows or hails almost every year a touch. My cherimoyas do fine and don't even get burnt during those periods albeit, the 26f kinda stuff only lasts for 2-3 hours.

You'll do well.

That’s great to hear! Sounds like you definitely get colder there than here. Did you protect your trees when they were very young?

At first I put them under a frost cloth with some lights strung up inside 2 years back. I kept a few of them in the greenhouse last year but mostly kept them outside. This winter they are in the ground, even 1 gallon plants, and they seem totally fine. I do not intend to cover them. Live or die, they have to make the choice.
[/quote]

Good to hear!
(Let’s see if I can get this quote procedure squared away here…)