Show Posts

1

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Laurel Wilt on Day Avocado?

« on: March 21, 2015, 09:33:46 AM »

Does this look like laurel wilt. Its a Day Avocado beginning to push flowers. Several branches are wilted and the leaves don't fall like an annual molting tree. I dont see any signs of the beetle. Some of the branches look perfect, others not so much. The flower buds are dying on the wilted branches.

2

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Stubborn Mango Trees this season?

« on: February 03, 2015, 06:55:30 AM »

In my neighborhood and many parts of NE Palm Beach County (Florida) most mango trees have been in full bloom and starting to set some fruit during the past couple of weeks. However, I have seen some stubborn trees in partial bloom or no bloom at all. Hopefully the recent cool weather in 40s - 50s and the forecast 50s can stimulate the stubborn trees to bloom, I'd love to see an extended harvest season.

My stubborn trees this year are Pickering, PPK, 1/2 of Southern Blush, 1/2 of Coconut Cream, 1/2 of Valencia Pride, and about 1/2 of Brahm Kai Mea. (For the record they are only 3-4 years old, 8' to 10' tall, no where near mature) The other 12 trees are either in full bloom or too small to worry about.

For comparative purposes, what other stubborn trees have yet to bloom completely thus far and what's their location? If the tree pushed out flush growth in lieu of bloom I'm curious about that too.

3

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Foliar Feeding for the Mango Bloom

« on: November 11, 2014, 05:03:08 PM »

I know a lot of us are interested in increasing our mango production. This is the time of year I cut out all the nitrogen and make sure I spray all my fruiting trees, especially mangos, with 0-0-26 Fruit Maker and Plant Doctor. I just follow the label concentrations and add a sticker. I try to hit the undersides and tops of the leaves once per month until the bloom and after fruit set. I don't know if it works but I've had decent bloom and fruit set on my young trees so far.

I order my FM and PD from http://thelandscaperstore.com/page/plant-foods

Now I just want to see some cold stress to get the mango bloom started. Good luck!

4

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Coco Cream after one season of growth

« on: October 07, 2014, 05:02:36 PM »

August 26, 2013 (mulch circle 3.5' diameter)

October 7, 2014, 9.5' x 10+' (mulch circle 6' diameter)

Hopefully it fruits next season.

5

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Beverly Mango and Qs

« on: August 15, 2014, 05:59:11 PM »

Just picked the first my first of three Beverly mangos this year.

I'm guessing it's about 2lbs or so, nice shape.

Since I only have three, my question is how do I determine proper ripeness for this cultivar, what are the best indicators? I've had plenty from local groves but I never felt that I cut them at the appropriate time.

6

Tropical Fruit Discussion / mango seedling needs to be top worked for $

« on: May 17, 2014, 11:45:44 AM »

I suck at grafting! I'm 1 out of 50+ attempts.

I'd like to pay one of our mango grafters to turn this VP seedling into a 3 in 1 tree. Any takers? Name the price...

7

Tropical Fruit Discussion / 100 year old Pantin Mamey

« on: May 11, 2014, 11:19:47 AM »

Just got back from the Keys. While in Key West I visited the historic Key West firehouse and saw their massive Pantin Mamey. The museum is holding a 100th birthday party for the tree on June 7, 2014. Their collecting fruit for mamey ice cream and mamey shakes. Very cool place, did the museum tour too. If you're ever in KW I suggest checking the place out.

8

Tropical Fruit Discussion / J 31 Jak seedling placement

« on: May 04, 2014, 10:39:42 AM »

I'm trying to decide if there is enough room to plant a J 31 seedling. On the left is a Dot, 15' away. On the right is a Rosigold, 12' away. And in the low center is an Angie, 15' away. The property line is 4' above the proposed site.

Obviously I plan to prune annually. Good enough or too close?

9

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mango chip bud graft

« on: March 09, 2014, 05:36:03 PM »

Back in January, I attempted 8 chip bud grafts. After six weeks one sweet tart graft is still green.

What is my next move? Do I top it just above the graft, let it callus, ...?

10

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Kaimana Lychee

« on: December 22, 2013, 08:29:06 AM »

I'm interested in planting out a Kaimana lychee. I'm curious if anyone has any experience, good, bad, or otherwise, with this cultivar in the Treasure Coast (southeastern) area of Florida. Are there any folks that are growing it in eastern Palm Beach, Martin, or St. Lucie county? (Dry, sandy soil.) How are the growth and production characteristics?

I know PIN says it doesn't produce well in FL but I understand King Harry has Kaimanas that produce well.

I've done some searching on the forum but can't seem to get any info specific to my area, Treasure Coast.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

11

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Pink and red fungi that grows in my mulch...

« on: November 21, 2013, 05:56:16 PM »

Any ideas? Good, bad, indifferent?

12

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Wurtz Avocado, thumbs up!

« on: November 21, 2013, 07:12:48 AM »

I've had several Wurtz avocados this season and last and its definitely a winner for me. Very good full bodied avocado flavor, not watery at all, texture is Haas like, and plenty of oil content. To me the Wurtz provides that soft mouth feel associated with avos with high fat content. Perfect guacamole avo.

My Wurtz tree has definitely been a slow grower compared to my other avo trees. I've only tasted Wurtz grown in pots at Excalibur, but hopefully my tree appreciates its location and puts out fruit of similar quality.

13

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Lisa, Gefner, or Phet Pakchong

« on: November 11, 2013, 08:53:26 PM »

I want to put in an Atemoya. Which one and why? North Palm Beach County, 30+ ft of elevation, and sugar sand. Well irrigation.

14

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mango root growth

« on: March 26, 2013, 06:50:15 PM »

Today, I put in some irrigation for the red jabo I planted this past weekend. In doing so, I tapped into some funny pipe that had running to my Brahm Kai Mea (BKM) mango. When I tried to pull back the mulch I was surprised to see significant root structure woven amongst the deeper mulch. The tree has only been in the ground since the end of summer 2012. Seems like a good thing.

Notice the light colored roots running the ought the darker mulch.

15

Tropical Fruit Discussion / "Effin'" deer are eating my trees

« on: March 20, 2013, 09:24:22 PM »

Deer Suck!

Notice the ends of some of the branches...

This Lula just pushed out a ton of new growth. The tree is half as full as it was about a week ago. I put the fence up after the fact.

The Oro Negro was full of panicles and just starting to flush.

16

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Shady trees

« on: March 03, 2013, 03:10:26 PM »

I have some shady spots that get little or no sun except in the summer. What fruit trees/plants can I put in those spots?

17

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Palm Beach RFC plant sale April 20, 2013

« on: March 03, 2013, 10:06:22 AM »

@ South Florida Fairgrounds.

I went last year. I'll go to this one too. Pretty good selection.
I'm probably going to need a wagon for all the stuff I'll buy.

Anybody else go to these sales?

18

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Cocktail Mango Tree by T-budding

« on: March 01, 2013, 06:14:29 AM »

I have a potted Lancetilla mango that I want to top work it into a cocktail tree. I am going to try T-budding 3 other cultivars onto the 3 green scaffold branches. I successfully T-budded some citrus last spring but I'm definitely not a pro.

What time of the year is the bark slipping on Florida mangos?

I've heard that budding should be attempted during certain lunar phases, any suggestions?

Is any one in Palm Beach, Martin, St Lucie, or Broward,willing to sell me a few bud sticks? If so, please advise what cultivars are available.

Thanks!

19

Tropical Fruit Discussion / My yard

« on: February 24, 2013, 09:16:16 AM »

I took some pics of the yard. I'll take another set in late fall and compare the two.

Panoramic view from above
North

East

Sweetheart Lychee

Biew Kiew Longan coming back to life

PPK Mango

Oro Negro Avocado

Southern Blush Mango

Mysore Banana

Maha Chanok Mango (on pause since 09/2012)

Neelam Mango

Valencia Pride Mango

Beverly Mango

Dot Mango

Pickering Mango

Rosigold Mango

Gary Mango

Lula Avocado

"Honeybell" Tangelo

Brahm Kai Mea Mango on dwarf rootstock

Dragon Fruit, red/purple flesh from Excalibur

Tahitian Lime

Miricle Fruit, Unknown Banana, and Ghost Pepper

Pantin Mamey

Bunch of stuff in pots

Wurtz Avocado and "TREC" White Sapote

Pickering Mango in 25 Gal and an Angie Mango in the 1 gal

Ice Cream Mango in 5 gal bucket

Mallika Mango

Bell Carambola

Some seedling Avos and Mangos (going to try my luck at grafting)

I think that's all of it...

20

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Catalina Avocado

« on: February 13, 2013, 07:09:04 PM »

Does anyone know the cold tolerance of a Catalina Avocado? I'm considering planting one.

21

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Gary Mango

« on: February 08, 2013, 07:46:39 PM »

Gary Mango, I'm interested. I've talked to a couple of people about it, but I'm curious if there are any other opinions/experiences with this fruit and tree. I've heard that the fruit taste like pina colada and that the fruit are fairly small.

How about precocity, fruit and flower disease resistance/susceptibility, growth habit, worth planting, etc.

22

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Biew Kiew Longan Comeback

« on: January 24, 2013, 07:24:15 PM »

What is it?

23

Tropical Fruit Discussion / "Bulletproof" Mango List

« on: January 07, 2013, 07:51:27 PM »

I'm looking for a list of Florida's most disease resistant, aka "Bulletproof," mangos that are good producers and are considered very good (or better) flavor. I've come to the realization that I don't want to deal with chasing anthracnose around in hopes of getting a few fruit from a large tree. I don't mind feeding and watering but if the tree doesn't set fruit well in South Florida's humid, rainy, and unpredictable weather I'd rather not fight with mother nature.

PPK, Southern Blush, Maha Chanok, Brahm Kai Meu, Pickering, Duncan, ... what else?

Eventhough I love a Dot, I am strongly considering replacing it with something that doesn't turn black everytime it rains... I don't have the yard space to collect trees that are not producing.

Harry,

Did you ever post your list of most disease resistant, aka "bulletproof," mangoes that still produce well?

Quote from: fruitlovers on March 18, 2012, 04:57:44 PM

Quote from: HMHausman on March 18, 2012, 08:30:02 AM
Quote from: fruitlovers on March 17, 2012, 09:19:53 PM
Whcih mangos would you describe as bulletproof?
Oscar

Your question has caused me to re-think my use of the word "bulletproof" as it relates to mangoes. I think it would be better to class mangoes by level of resistance.....as I think there may not be a mango that is truly bulletproof. And, what is highly resistant here may not be somewhere else to some disease pathogen that is more prevelent elsewhere or that takes a slightly different form.

That being said, there are many mangoes that enjoy very high resistance to disease here in Florida. And when I use the word resistance, I mean not only that the tree doesn't get the disease at all, but that even if it gets the disease, it still sets a full crop. I think all mangoes have some susceptability to powdery mildew and anthracnose. It just comes with the territory. But, with a nice helathy tree, the more resistant will not be adversley afftected overall.

Most of the SE Asian culivars show very high disease resistance. One that sticks out in my mind is Brahm Kai Mea (or Meu) depending on who you ask and have the name translated by. I think I did a list or responded to a list labelling the relative disease resistance that I have expereinced with various cultivars. Maybe someone has that post from Garden Web......or maybe I can find it and post it here. Of the Indian type mangoes, of course, Tommy Atkins is as resistant as they come. I have only a small token tree grown in a shady spot that barely produces. I have it just to say I have a complete collection. However, my neigbhbors have 7 or 8 trees and they produce faithfully and without any need for spraying beautiful, but unfortunately inferior fruits. I am very impressed with the disease resistance of Pickering and also of Tebow/Young (despite its flavor being overhyped). Carrie and Florigon are some others that do have high resistance here. I am sure I am forgetting a particularly resistant mango or three as I sit here this morning. I'll update later after I check for that list I was referring to.

Harry

HI Harry, thanks for the info. Yes would be nice to see your full list of resistant mango cultivars. With our heavy rains they can really take a beating here. BTW, there is no correct english writing for Thai words, as they are all transliterations from Thai pronounciations. That is why there will be many different versions. Also in different areas of Thailand they will pronounce the words differently.
Oscar

24

Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / thelandscapersstore.com / Landco Enterprises

« on: December 02, 2012, 07:28:47 PM »

Is anyone familiar with http://www.thelandscapersstore.com/? They have an ebay store too, http://www.ebay.com/sch/thelandscaperstore_com/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686. They are a sister company of Landco Enterprises located in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. They have a decent selection of products and free shipping. I'm pretty stoked about it, I'm going to start a foliar feeding program similar to Patrick's.

Do any of the S. FLA members know if they have a store front or is it online only? I know I can call them tomorrow, but . . . my impatience once again has got the better of me.

25

Tropical Fruit Discussion / I now see winter in a new light.

« on: November 24, 2012, 05:40:11 PM »

Wandering through the yard, I now have a greater affinity for the transition from hot and humid Florida to the dry and crisp cold/cool fronts that come with a Florida winter. As a rookie fruit tree grower, this year I have planted about two dozen trees since this past summer. As a result, I am just beginning to see the "flowers" of my labor.

My Brahm Kai Meu mango, Dot mango, and Wurtz avocado are pushing out bloom. Pretty cool.

Perhaps it's a blessing, perhaps it's curse, but I'll let the BKM and the Wurtz take their chances. Ms. Dorothy, on the other hand, will likely have to wait until next year. I think she needs another year of growth before throwing down some fruit.

I like this hobby, but the waiting is a bitch!

News: