The Tropical Fruit Forum

It's a little Funky over here in Temecula Valley as well. Mid 40's in the morning....Upper 80's in the daytime..almost feels like I'm back in Central Florida.

Gary,

I think at 20 trees, you have to strike gold sooner at later lol. I envy you!!!

Hopefully I'll have my own minature grove growing soon as well... Already have several mature trees growing solid here in backyard including 2 Red Barron Peach,  Saturn Peach,  Mexican Lime, Blood Orange, San Anna Plum, Pear (unknown), Anna Dorsett Apple, Cherry tree (unknown), and now for the last filler!!!! Mangos....First in Temecula with a LZ!?!?

Simon,
So you have  a few cocktail trees growing? I might need to really look into this once the trees I buy at Top Tropicals gets established.

So if start grafting some of these Florida and Indian Varieties to say a Manilla rootstalk. 1) it may grow a little better and tolerate the weather a bit more for my region? 2) I can have a nice 20 ft Monster like JF's one day with a Mango connoisseur's dream tree of LZ, Sweet Tart, Coco Cream....all on one tree?

Sorry for the Noob questions guys....But rain or shine..my case...Frost.....I will taste a  LZ from my own backyard if its the last thing I do.

Sorry guys...Yeah I meant the Maha  Chanok.

Hmm now I've been hearing  a lot of stuff about grafting and rootstock and other things. I am complete newb at gardening, brand new homeowner without any experience in planting trees.... So this root stock and grafting is like Rocket science to me....So it seems I need to start watching a few videos for grafting.

So what I'm hearing is there is a chance I can graft these Florida trees onto a more cold hearty Mango such as the Manilla? Ou Climate is a little more different here in the valley compared to say San Diego which is paradise 70-80 degrees year round..... We get extremely hot Summers of around 90-100 which can last into fall. The Winters here seem a bit scary dipping to 32 a few days during the season....However in 2007 there was that 20 year freeze where it dropped to 22 degrees....But that seems to happen every Decade or so.

So with your suggestions... My top 5 has just become LZ, Sweet Tart, Coconut Cream, Carrie, and Malika.

Mango Fang,

I'm actually in zip 92563..Not sure if my info is posted wrong in here... I'm literally on the Murrieta/ Temecula city line.

After browsing Temecula/ Murrieta  Weather records, It seems as if we get weather dropping down to 32 or a tad bit below for only a couple hours a  few days out of the winter season. However it appears we get the 15-20 year Cold snap happening every decade or so. Alltime record low happened in JAN 2007 hitting 22 degrees.

If weather drops to 22... Highly doubt my trees would survive...maybe with 4 space heaters in each tree wrapped with a 400 sqft freeze cloth....Highly unrealistic. but if i can grow these trees for 8-15 years enjoying the fine Mangos you Floridans tease us with....It would be well worth it.

Nam Doc mai was also in the top 5 battle with Malika and Miha...Clearly Malika earned its place after beating out LZ from yalls Sept sampling... So I'm thinking it's a battle between Miha and Nam Doc mai to fit that 5th spot.... Time to scour the Forums and see where they place...If only i can taste them for myself.

I've also ruled out Orange Sherbet because of it being argued that it's too similar to LZ. Also ruled out Pineapple Pleasure , another new variety just released..Not sure if I'm into a tart Mango tasting similar to Pineapple...I need sweet balance. However Mr. Professor has a variety called Pineapple Mango that i would like to try for myself.

Thanks JF!

I left Mango Professor an email and he got back with me ASAP and told me of all his great cultivars created for the valley climate we have in Southern Ca that will survive the random 25 degree snaps we can get through the years. Looks like their  in High Demand too...2 of the best selling varieties he has are on Back order until 2015 FML... Has anyone had a chance to sample Mango Professors great creations? I'm sure they taste amazing.

I still don't want to rule out LZ, Coco Cream, and Carrie...Also Malika seems to be top nothc as well considering it beat out LZ on your last mango sampling you guys held in SEPT. 

However thanks JF for bringing it to my attention.. I would be devasted paying so much for these trees investing time and money just to see them die after several years during a  cold snap.

I'm a little curious to the spacing on these trees? Seems to be a little close, but im no expert. I'm also in zone 9B Ca in Temecula Valley (dessert sun). My property is about a quarter acre and definately would like to have a few mango trees..... Wasn't sure i could space as close as these pictures shown... I plan on getting a LZ, COCO cream, Carrie, and probly ether Malika, Maha, or NAM for the last 3. However... I think i need at least 10 foot spacing. If i can squeeze it down to 7 ft spacing, I can have my own Mango Grove Paradise.

Hopefully Top Tropicals will get a 7 gallon in the Lemon Zest and CoCo Cream so I can have a year head start on the 3 gallons. I want to purchase  at least 3 trees at once so I can make the most  of the cross country shipping fee.... LZ, CoCo Cream, and Carrie seems to be the trio of the Gods based on forum feedback... Other front runners would be Nam Doc Mai, Malika, and maybe Maha.... But hands down LZ will be the first round draft pick.... "Mango Guru" Jeff said it has no contenders....most people here seem to agree.

Can anyone here give me the roundabout size of what LZ  will grow too? I'm really stretching space on my property and would rather not grow a tree along the fence line and invade the neighbors property. I was hoping I could plant contain it within 15-20 ft....is this possible?