The Tropical Fruit Forum

Hi
I am in zone 9b - New Orleans area
I am just several blocks from lake pontchartrain
which seems to keep the cold at bay.
I can plant near my house (brick) on a South facing wall.
I grow Papaya in ground, but in very cold years they die off - when it gets to mid 20s
for over 12 hours or so. - about every 5 years or so...

That said, i may want to container it for 1 or 2 years as i am thinking of moving
(thats why i have a TON of stuff in containers)
and i have a greenhouse.

- Gold Nugget, Alphonso  and Bombay were the 3 that seemed more appealing to me

I just looked at my notes and i think i made a mistake.
i had received 2 seeds... a NDM and  a Florigon
One of them died, i think it was the NDM
So, i think i have a Florigon.

So - for Florigon - PIN says...
The fruit ripens from Late May-July

and Golden Nugget - ripens late July to August.

also...
Alphonso -  highly aromatic.
tolerate the abundant rain and high humidity (New Orleans!)
 late June to July.

thanks
strange and tropical flavors dont put me off easily.
i love musky papaya and aromatic guavas too...

i just saw pine islands website...
i loved that dark gold color of this one...
http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/mango/golden-nugget-mango.shtml

The Bombay looks very appealing as well.

meant to ask...
how long is the fruiting season ?
and how long can i keep it in a pot ?

a variety with a long fruiting season would be nice.

growing on a mound is almost essential, depending on your climate.
BUT...
The problem with a mound, is that often it will mean less support.
The tree gets LOTS of very heavy fruit on it. and they tend to bend
when the soil gets very wet, that weight often can pull the tree down.
happened to me twice.
Rocks mixed in the soil helps.

Transplanting.
They are much harder to transplant, but not impossible.
Make sure the plant is watered well 20-30 mins before transplanting.
Try to keep the root-ball intact as much as possible
disturbing the roots as little as possible.

Papaya have strange root systems. or at least variable systems.
I have seen very long tap-roots with little in the way of secondary roots
and i have also seen a mess of hair-like thin roots running laterally.

Normally, they just follow the water.
if you never water and get lots of dry spells
the tap root grows long and strong.
If you get a lot of shallow waterings, you will get a lot of surface roots.
I have seen 20ft long roots 1 inch thick just below the soil line.
(another problem with mounds and trenches)

VERY LOOSE soil with large objects like pebbles and small rocks
with a coarse sand and lots of organics i find is the best soil type.

excellent drainage is essential.

Always water AWAY from the trunk, in a circle at the leaf drip line.
I keep a black plastic tarp over the roots to the drip line in the winter.

They love high organic - high Nitrogen ferts
chick poo and worm castings i find best.

mychorizal Fungi helps during the winter
glomus mosseae especially...
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030442381100046X
other studies show its better to have a wide range of fungi
some strains do not do well in containers. keeping the container cool with lots of mulch may help !!!
(i may go buy some white paint... black containers in New Orleans bake in the sun)
---------

My situation is too much water, especially in the winter.
that hate that.

i have been researching and growing them for years in Louisiana
(not easy)

I did not have  much luck with Aloha seeds
even though, everyone else suggests them.
bought from them twice. Both time the seeds looked old
small and shriveled.

Try university of Hawaii ($1 seeds)
they have a dwarf tree, but fruit is regular size.
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/seed/
Waimanalo Low Bearing  Papaya (X-77)
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/seed/seeds.asp
all UH seeds are excellent (veggies too!)

the Mexicans (maradol + Caribbean red, Red Lady etc...)
all seem to do better in cold weather.
these are actually the RED varieties.
The Yellow ones are Hawaiian

Tainung #2 is a larger /stronger tree,
but it can survive cold and high rainfall better.

 Coorg Honeydew is the least cold resistant.
solo isnt very good in the cold either.
most yellow are not (except the X-77)

Papaya Holland. supposedly is good cold resistant
but i havent been able to get seeds
(anyone have some )

i use 3 liter bottles
i get them from the 1$ store for soda

I use an exacto knife (small, very sharp)
to punch dozens of holes in it

Its worked real well for Papaya, dragonfruit, passionflower, opuntia etc...

Never used it on Mango or Pawpaw however.

Hi Rodney
what are you looking for, for the dragon ?
Ive got 1 dragon growing (Purple Haze ), and another cutting that i hope will take. (dark star)
i was looking for something to go with them.
i have a bunch of papaya, lettuce, onion, chili and bell peppers
all from the university of Hawaii. excellent disease resistance and productivity.
also, moringa, african rue, other stuff

I have several papaya - 8 mature trees...
every year the first 2-3 fruits are seedless
i have seen them with 2-3 seeds, but most , like this have NONE.

i am guessing its a female/Herm that hasnt pollinated yet.
all of my trees are self pollinating, the fruit are the same (oblong)
so i beleive they are HERMS.
sometimes the tree changes sex from F to H

if the tree goes through any kind of stress, it can change
some say to drive a nail into the trunk
one of mine changed when hurricane Isaac came through.
another changed when i cut the top off.

what variety is it ?
I might like to trade seeds
i am trying to grow as many types i can

Brad

i can send you seeds and seedlings of Papaya
i have a few different types
Ive been looking for jackfruit,

PM me if interested

have lots of these on my guava seedling
just want to make sure they are not helpful critters
i need all of those i can get. i am having problems with aphids and white fly

appreciate the info.
i am building a greenhouse that i can keep it in, for the first 1 or even 2 winters
The winters here the last couple of years has been mild, but that doesnt mean it cant freeze
every few years we get a light freeze.

I may go with a Jack instead then
Are their better tasting jacks that have some cold tolerance ?

I have several Papaya, while they looked pretty tattered by spring, they did make it over winter.
are Jacks more tender than papaya ?

Ive been looking to purchase a 1 or 3 gallon Marang / Terap.
I live near New Orleans and heard its fairly hardy.We have mild winters
but on occasion it gets below freezing for a night.
(think i am in zone 9a or 9b ?)

If i cant find that, i would like to get a Jackfruit or something similar.
If anyone has ideas of what and where to get it i would appreciate any input.
I am looking for the best tasting variety as well.
Can purchase if its not too much (or trade)

also looking for black Chilean Guava, Cacao and Lucuma
still trying to figure out if i can grow them here though

    trees i can take cuttings from... (just a few)
    Satsuma cutting
    Guava Cutting or 1ft plant
    Mulberry cutting
    dwarf POM
    Aloe Vera
    Jujube
    Moringa Olifera 1- 3 gal
    opuntia's
justicia pectoralis var. stenophylla


or something from the yard...
http://s98.photobucket.com/user/911review/library/?sort=3&page=1

    should have cuttings in a couple of months
    of these
    Calea (dream herb)
   

Hi All
Im very interested in tropical rare and exotic fruits.
i also like medicinal herbs and just about all edibles (im a vegetarian)
I liveb in the suburbs, but my backyard is full. mainly Papaya trees, but have guava, satsuma
and a few other adult treesd
but mostly i am still in the growing stages for lots of stuff
like Mamey, Baobob , Lychee, opuntia, dragonfruit,  cherimoya etc...  seedlings i have.

i keep a photobucket account of stuff here...
http://s98.photobucket.com/user/911review/library/?sort=3&page=1

I am outside of New Orleans, so it stays warm most of the year
and the winters are pretty mild. -  i think im in zone 10 (maybe 9a ?)
 not sure... i saw 2 different maps
one was hard to read.

i love to trade
and am looking for (especially) Marang/Terap - Cacao and Lucuma
or almost any exotic tropical fruit that will grow here.
(also medicinals)

Brad