Baobab - Adansonia Digitata - Have

[shafak]

I have seeds from these two pods/fruits to give away.   They have been placed on an A4 paper for size comparison.



I don't seek anything in return,  but I'd appreciate if you can mention if you have any seeds to share.

PS:  I'll be able to post only after 29th. 

[gnappi]

theres a baobab tree in southeast lauderdale on us1 at the se corner of the airport. its been there 60-80 years

[barath]

Has anyone succeeded in growing baobab in California?  I'm curious whether it adapts to our cool rainy winters and is deciduous in the summer.

[shafak]

I'm not sure,  but I think it might be a bit cold.  Minimum is zone 10b.  But, it'll make a great bonsai which you can bring indoor in winter.

[shaneatwell]

Has anyone succeeded in growing baobab in California?  I'm curious whether it adapts to our cool rainy winters and is deciduous in the summer.

I've read (in Daves Garden) that there's a tree in Balboa Park but I haven't tried to see it yet.

Here's a picture claiming to be a baobab in the park:
http://cowbird.com/story/105904/Giving_The_Shaka_Hang_Loose_Sign_Inside_A_Baobab_Tree_Balboa_Park_SD_Calif/

Here's another claiming to be a baobab in the zoo:
http://russelrayphotos2.com/tag/baobab-tree/

[greenman62]

i have 5 small ones
i was going to put them in the greenhouse in the winter like i did last year
but, we never really got a night below freezing.

the one night that got to 35 or so, i had forgot about them.

they are perfectly fine though.

i am in New Orleans, zone 9b.
it does normally get light frosts here a couple of times a year
but, i am thinking if i get it large enough (20 gallons?)
maybe i can put them in ground, and with  1 or 2 lucky years of warm winters
they may get large enough to survive anything after.

has anyone tasted the fruit ?
or... know how many years i have to wait LOL

[shafak]

has anyone tasted the fruit ?

The fruit itself is not palatable directly.  It's dry and has a chalky texture.  As for taste, it's tart and sour.  Many sites, list it as having a sour mango taste.

We used to have this tree at our village in down south of Tamil Nadu.  The soil there is sandy just like in a desert.  A long time ago, (probably more than 70-80 years ago) the sand was dug from one part under the base of the tree (not sure why, but I think it was used for construction purpose).  Over time, the tree buckled and fell towards the dug pit.  Even though it was completely uprooted, it was alive and was fruiting well in this fallen position.  People's greed for land saw the demise of this tree about 10 years ago.  It was chopped down completely and now there is no trace of it whatsoever.  This piece of agricultural land has 4 houses now. 

Here in Chennai, as far as I know it is growing in 5 - 6 places.  Last year, one tree was uprooted by rain.

When I was young, here's what my grand mom used to do.  She'll break open a pod, retrieve the powdery fruit and soak it in a little bit of water overnight.  Next day, she'll mix  the resulting paste with palm sugar.  Then, this paste is eaten as a snack.

[stuartdaly88]

Below is from a thread where I described the taste with same pics

They are still searching their.large farm far and wide but here is some of what I got smuggled in from Zim so far:)

Baobab-Adonansia digitata





The powder is rather tart not unbearably so like a lemon but still more tart than some would like.



Seeds after removing the Powder.

Absolutely delicious and healthy juice made from the Baobab. I just added some honey and whisked its very tasty and almost abit creamy in a way:) high vitamin C and calcium with lots of other added goodies

Vitex payos-Chocolate berries



These were abit dried out already but definitely there is something carob or chocolate like to the taste. Very staining so I'm thinking that means alot of antioxidants:)

Monkey oranges





Have to wait awhile till they are ripe

Stuart if you still have baobab fruit.They is an East African receipe of baobab sweets.
I posted it before on another thread.
[url=http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011]http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011] [url=http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011]http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011]http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011] [url]http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011]http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011]http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011]http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011] [url]http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=9069.msg116011#msg116011[/url]

Awesome thanks Mwambao!!
I will check it out, I made a couple litres of delicious juice out of this fruit but I should be getting more pods soon