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Topics - DimplesLee

Pages: [1] 2
1
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / feedback on seedman?
« on: June 25, 2017, 08:36:06 PM »
any positive/negative experiences with seedman.com? I am planning to buy nectar-heavy plants and trees from their catalogue but just want to make sure their seeds are good and that it's not an exercise in futility? Need more bee friendly perennials and trees

2
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / Pond edible plants
« on: June 24, 2017, 08:18:38 PM »
Can you all suggest bog/pond plants that could survive extreme heat (in the 40C range) most days with occasional drought without dying off?


I already have the edible taro both green stem and red stem types growing slooooowly in a natural pond (more like a huge rainwater puddle actually) and would like to add more plants to take advantage of all that water and nice soil). TIA


Also have sweet myrtle but it seems to keep dying must be the heat.

3
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Anybody heard from Don? From Queensland?
« on: June 18, 2017, 01:56:40 AM »
Just checking up on him and family.

4
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Star Apple drought stress?
« on: March 18, 2017, 10:17:06 AM »
Fruits from same tree that started bearing last year (green star apple) - last year's crop was milky (lots of latex) but this batch is just as dense as my RCF Morado? Is this from too little water?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B243PG1m4bJtOEJhY2RqX0tJNFk


https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B243PG1m4bJtZFRqZ2xfYmlsUFE



5
Preferably able to obtain a phytosanitary certificate from their local plant quarantine or agriculture office. I'd rather deal with Indian sellers for this one versus Thai sellers - no offence meant just need the authentic seeds. EU studies show it's good for epilepsy and other seizure / involuntary spasms (lewey bodies dementia  , Parkinson's etc) not as medicine itself but as a complementary supplement, pref taken as tea so will be needing to plant some.


PM please, thank you!

6
Tropical Fruit Discussion / RCF Morado season
« on: March 12, 2017, 09:23:13 AM »
I'm back just in time for Caimito season - which is no fun at all! Large fruit but almost no latex, jelly too dense somewhat like macapuno in texture except this one is too Caimitoey flavoured - sickly sweet in fact. Seedy, 5-7 seeds per fruit.  :'(  I like the green ones better


https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B243PG1m4bJtYlVDUGpmbU9NcG8


https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B243PG1m4bJtRFhfVVJwak55VE0





7
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Porcelana or Maracaibo cacao
« on: February 23, 2017, 02:21:31 AM »
Anybody know of a legit source of seeds/pods of porcelana (Phil term) / Maracaibo (Venezuelan) cacao? The people I have been emailing with somewhere in Mindanao were unable to find any from the old abandoned cacao farms there, there was a rumor that  some of the old farms had a few trees but the areas they looked into were now banana plantations.


EDIT: also trying to find a source of amelonado subtype (Forastero). Only have experience growing Trinatario and newer hybrids but want to try to preserve the old (albeit disease/pest prone) varieties.

8
Temperate Fruit Discussion / Sassafras root suckers
« on: February 22, 2017, 08:50:17 AM »
Hi! Has anyone had any successful experience trying to cut off and replant sassafras root suckers? How did you go about it? I have tried taking cuttings from someone's mature coppiced stand and it does not matter if I take them during the "dormant" period or active growth - they die eventually? Is sassafras propagated by seed only?


Have also tried airlayers - no luck. I am looking into growing root suckers because I am having a hard time growing them past a couple of months from seed.


Thanks for any advice!

9
Hi! Anyone using growtents or other mini greenhouse seed starting kits? Can I repurpose reptile UV lamps? Those that mimic light and heat from the sun? I've been asked if I wanted a few of them (freecycle group) and I said yes  - because I was thinking I'd use them for seed trays indoors or even for beans and microgreens sprouting? Is it doable or I'm just going to rack up outrageous electricity bills for so-so results?

10
Hi! I have air layered kumquats, a couple of ponderosas and a yuzu lemon all attempting to flower - each one is less than 5 months old from the time I cut them off the mother tree and put them in their own 3 gal pot. Should I pinch the flower buds off now or wait til they form microscopic fruits and then pinch those? Mother plants are all 6 years and upwards (owned by a friend) and I was told by the owner that his plants are setting fruit about now.

11
Hi! I've been using cactus mix with lots of perlite added (50/50) and my DF cuttings (segments actually) have been treated with sulfur and the end has pretty much callused over but when I plant them they still end up getting mushy rotten within a week or two. Should I avoid watering them when I stick them into pots? I'm using 4 inch pots only for cuttings almost a foot long. Just enough to let them root? And I only watered them during planting and no more water after.


I put up a cardboard "shade" for them from 11am to 2pm but they get all the sun they before 11am and after 2pm. Daily temps in the greenhouse are a constant 28 to 35C always a few degrees warmer than outside! So don't know what the hell is happening.


I've been getting cuttings for free but I don't think my colleague would be willing to keep cutting back his DF plants everytime I need more planting material coz they keep going mushy.


So should I just skip watering until they start growing? Add sand instead of perlite? Grow in pure sand not cactus mix?

12
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Fruit picker ID
« on: December 29, 2016, 09:23:25 AM »
Also, has anyone come across this fruit picker? Is it something found online/in store or a DIY thing? If it's DIY can someone provide the link please?


https://goo.gl/images/6YooaC

13
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Calathea allouia (Lairen)
« on: December 29, 2016, 09:02:20 AM »
Anyone have rhizomes of Lairen available for trade or sale? Please PM me. Thanks!

14
Citrus Buy, Sell, & Trade / Flying Dragon seeds - planning to order
« on: October 05, 2016, 09:01:50 PM »
Hi! I've put in a request for some flying dragon seeds certified disease free from Auscitrus - current minimum order is 1kg - which is about 4000-5000 seeds!!!


If anyone within Oz needs some and can wait until November (when my order will be sent to me) please send me a PM - so I will remember to ask for prepaid Auspost envelopes by then). I only need to sow about approx 200-500 seeds for rootstock (including buffer for seeds that might not grow or turn out to be runty seedlings not fit for rootstock).


I will also do a bit of research regarding interstate shipping of seeds from a private individual versus Auscitrus direct as my permit might only be good for NT or worst case for my personal use only.


I'm not too fond of holding onto seed (long term storage) esp citrus so if you're within Oz and would like the extra seeds let me know.

15
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Medusa pineapple from kindly neighbour
« on: October 04, 2016, 07:42:11 AM »
goo.gl/UCVaih


I had been yakking with the elderly couple/graziers whose property I pass by on the way home. They gave me that Medusa pineapple. I have now found the secret to hydra headed pineapples. Grow in beds composed of pure woodchip mulch, spoiled hay and aged cow patty. Most of their pineapples on their kitchen garden had multiple plantlets on top. It was not overly large as seen on photo (grande cup for comparison) just very plump round. I will be cutting it up for brekkie. Hope it tastes as nice as it smells.  :D  I will also have to beg hubby to let me borrow the ute to haul free cow poop!

16
Temperate Fruit Discussion / Sugar maple belong on this part of TFF?
« on: October 03, 2016, 02:25:26 PM »
Hi! Just wondering if anyone has tried growing canadian sugar maples from seed and can recommend a reliable seed source and tips on growing them?


Thanks!

17
For all the TFF members who have to grow certain things inside greenhouses - either for weather protection/zone pushing or simple mollycoddling of sensitive/slow growing species - do you have insects and other small critters inside the greenhouse? What are they?


I'm planning on introducing some regular mantis and bolbes (brown, ground mantis - habitat is decaying leaf matter/mulch) but I haven't decided if I should go save up for some ladybirds (ladybugs) as well? Esp the fungus eating type - I think I'm going to need that particular one. I don't think I can introduce enough flowering annuals to support a stingless bee colony but a few carpenter bees might be an option.


How about birds? Opinions? Positive/negative experiences with them? I am back to square one so will be trying to rebuild a citrus and banana collection (bananas will eventually be moved outside once grown large enough) and want to try grow annonas in the space that will be eventuallly get freed up once bananas go outside.


We're currently in the middle of working on levelling ground for a gravel pathways in between foot high beds but an 18x8 (metre) area will have to be concrete slab flooring where I will position anything that can grow long term (and fruit albeit in limited amounts) in large pots along the sides. It's a compromise between the husband and I as he wants some private outdoor chillax area else I will be building the entire greenhouse on my own! So I've still got a bit of time to think about what insects and other small critters can also occupy the space once built.

18

Botanic and Rare Plant Fair
When
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October 2016
10am to 4pm


Where
Observatory Precinct, Melbourne Gardens


Cost
$10 - Entry cost
$30 - Exclusive Panel Discussions and Tours (includes entry to the fair) - Pre booking only


Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Friends and The Diggers Club are hosting the new and exciting Botanic and Rare Plant Fair.
Indulge your passion for rare and unusual plants at Melbourne’s NEW celebration of all things botanic!


Stalls
Exclusive opportunity to purchase rare bulbs, seeds, plants, books and artisan gardenware


Experts
Access to specialist knowledge and tips direct from growers


Panel discussions
Join in lively debates with industry leaders


Pop-up talks
Hear about hot topics and emerging trends from industry professionals


Behind-the-scenes tours
Discover the inner workings of the Herbarium and Nursery


Growing Friends' Plant Sale
Buy plants propagated from Melbourne Gardens stock


Plant Creche
Planning on purchasing plants? Let us keep your plants hydrated whilst you peruse the fair. Upon departure simply bring your car to the plant creche pick up zone directly in front of the event site for collection!


Live entertainment, food and beverages!


Proceeds from this event assist the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to advance the understanding and appreciation of plants.


Bookings


BUY TICKETS HERE
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/botanic-and-rare-plant-fair-tickets-27318631763


Enquiries
03 9252 2429

19
Tropical Fruit Discussion / General question - repotting
« on: August 31, 2016, 09:35:25 AM »
For most seedlings can I repot two to three sizes up right away? Say right after purchase or such? I don't have a lot of smaller pots but I do have heaps of large ones -5 gal, 7 gal, 10 gal so on. I will try to mix more perlite to my usual homemade potting mix so it won't get too waterlogged once the pot gets supersized - is that enough?

20
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Acacia NT Region - need advice
« on: August 27, 2016, 12:41:55 PM »
Hi! For all the Oz members - esp those who have experience living in NT - I just need some advice if a hoophouse like this will last at least a few years given the NT climate? My grandparents used to tell me about how they lost their house and all of their livestock because of Cyclone Tracy - and yes, I know building standards have changed a lot since then but you never know.


https://www.noble.org/global/ag/horticulture/poly-pipe-hh-plans/nf-ho-12-02.pdf


21
Tropical Fruit Discussion / best way to clean mangosteen seeds?
« on: August 22, 2016, 08:56:34 AM »
Hi! What's the best way to remove the pulp clinging to mangosteen seeds? I've asked my cousin to ship some seeds from the Phils all the way to Oz and the only way it will get thru Auspost is if the seeds are totally clean - no pulp at all. I don't think eating it off will work as he bought 10 kilos of mangosteen - eating 10 kls of mangosteen in a day will prob land him in the hospital for emergency stomach flushing  :D
Thanks!

22
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Aikoh mango
« on: August 01, 2016, 08:27:18 AM »
Anyone been to Japan (hopefully Western area) recently? I can't get any info on the Aikoh mango except it was from Kinki (now Kindai) University.  Just need to know whether it's another Irwin cross or its parentage is something radically different from the usual "red" Japanese mangoes. TIA!

23
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Graft paste
« on: July 27, 2016, 04:00:36 AM »
Okay I planted out about 270 jackfruit seeds and managed to graft 50 Eviarc sweet onto the most vigorous seedlings - only 11 grafts made it.

Would grafting paste make any difference for these seedlings that have lots of latex? I'm hesitant to try again as the eviarc tree I have in the ground is barely 2 years old and I don't all 5 trees would take kindly to another round of extreme pruning just so I can get more scions for the remaining seedlings. I did an Omega cut and yes I did not push the scion into the cut - I slid it in carefully from the side. I grafted about 20 ponderosa lemons at the same time and they were all in the same shadehouse all the ponderosas are doing just fine so I don't think the grafts failed because of plain inexperience?

24
Tropical Fruit Discussion / ColdAg
« on: May 31, 2016, 12:57:32 AM »
Seems interesting - for all those trees needing chill hours
http://www.energinat.com/dow_cold.shtml

25
Hi! I was thinking I'll try some Plinia for bonsai - first guinea pig is Jabos  - Sabara and Branca (as I am already growing a couple of less than 5 year old seedlings).


Since growing a decent sized trunk means I have been growing them in terracotta pots half buried in the ground (so they can grow out roots from the holes at the bottom of the pot and help them grow a larger trunk a bit faster) and I am assuming since Jabos as are supposed to have generally shallow root systems they would probably end up in the plant ICU when I lift the pots out of the ground and trim roots (and crown) a year from now and move them into bonsai pots - but hopefully won't die(!) - what other Plinia species would make a good bonsai candidate?


Anyone have any experience root (and crown) pruning other Plinias and how did it go? Which ones ended up needing TLC for a year (or two at most!) and which ones made a decent rebound within a year and which ones kicked the bucket?


More info:
I usually give trees a year or two to recover from a drastic root and crown pruning before I start training branches and shaping the tree into a presentable bonsai.


Regarding crown training - I'm going for the easiest and most natural form - either a Chokkan (normal round crown) and Hokidachi (upright  broom style) - this will be the least fussy training wise (less wires and clamps and twisting growing limbs and so on).
For size - I'm going imperial, the largest bonsai class - 60 to 80 inches max height-wise. I'm thinking this would mean I don't have to cut off too many branches given the size of my current seedlings and this will let me use pots large enough to give them enough space to regrow roots...


And the most important question - any chance they will still fruit a few years after being given the bonsai treatment (even a handful of fruits will do!) as being able to grow a fruiting/blooming bonsai would really be nice :)


TIA for tips and advice.  8)


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