When hunting for new avocados, Campbell and Ledesma browse such outdoor markets in search of fruits with outstanding physical features. “We basically want trees that have unusual fruit—whether long, big, purple-skinned, without a seed, whatever,” Campbell explains.

If the local market lacks interesting fruits, Campbell and Ledesma may work a trick that has many times drawn great avocados out from hiding: They drive slowly through the dirt streets of a village and, using a bullhorn, invite all the locals to bring their homegrown avocados to a weekend fruit competition, at which the best avocado will win its owner a new bicycle, previously purchased at a local shop on the expedition’s expense account. A small crowd of locals, Campbell says, is almost sure to gather at the appointed place with samples of their backyard fruits.

The next step is tracing an interesting fruit back to the tree from which it was picked—an often challenging feat that may depend on the assistance of a local guide familiar with the region’s geography and its farmers. Even after the collector has pinpointed the location of a tree, another hurdle may be convincing its owner to allow branches to be cut. “They’re often worried that we’re trying to put them out of business or that they’ll lose their income if they give us any wood,” Campbell says. Sometimes, befriending locals in the village bar over several rounds of beer can do the trick. And to quell any lingering suspicions, Campbell usually provides written assurances of royalties on fruit sales should the tree ever become a cultivated commercial variety.

Through their many expeditions and negotiations, Campbell and Ledesma have brought some knockout avocados back to the Fairchild Garden. There is one they found in a backyard garden in Rivas, Nicaragua called the Pura Vida. The Pura Vida bears gourd-shaped fruits averaging 18 inches in length, with some growing as long as 3 feet. Then there’s the Juan Jose, an avocado Campbell and Ledesma found growing on a tree in Costa Rica and whose fruits contain no seed at all—just light, creamy flesh within a soft, green skin. Campbell and Ledesma dubbed another the “car wash avocado” after the rural outpost where they found the tree growing in Guatemala. Similarly, there are two “truck stop avocados,” each collected from a roadside truckers’ café in Guatemala.

Is anyone growing the seedless “Juan Jose”?  Wait...an avocado with NO seed?! Yes please!!!

Just a quick update. Since planting in late April all the fruit fell off except one (see picture). There has been a big flush of new growth the past couple months with the warming of the weather. This tree proves what all the experienced members on his forum talk about, which is, removing the fruit when the teee is small will boost vegetative growth. Almost all the branches are flushing new growth except the one holding fruit. Thanks again for everyone’s advice, I’m happy I put it in the ground based on your folks recommendations.

Bummed I missed out on this one. That fruit looks sooooo good. IF ANYONE HAS EXTRA SEEDS and would like to sell/trade, please let me know. Thank you.

If you’re looking for a sweet cherry this is NOT for you. Bush2beach was a pleasure to buy from though, he sent me fresh fruit and was very quick to respond to my questions. I would DEFINITELY buy from him again, just not capulan cherries...always happy to get to try new fruit though!

I damaged 2 of the 3 seeds trying to get them out. I assume these are too damaged to germinate?

You don’t need to damage the husks by using a knife to pry them open. Just find the “fibery” part that runs  along the length of the husk, is you use your fingernails (or butter knife) and scrape along that fiber, you can usually find a small opening in the husk. Once I find that small opening/hole, I can usually jut pull the husk apart and open with my fingers without ever having to insert a knife into the husk.

Very interesting small fruiting bush that produces blueberry sized orange fruits. Member if the greater citrus family. Also known as Gin Berry, Orange berry, Rum berry, etc.

5 seeds for $3 plus shipping.

Please inquire via PM.

Thanks!

What makes it “very interesting”? Thanks.

My grumi is flowering very well right now but keeps dropping flowers, ughh...Do they need the same amount of water during flowering, extra water, or less water? I can’t figure it out. About half the flowers in this picture have dropped. Thank you.

I would. I accidentally snapped my leader branch over the winter while moving it and was initially bummed. But this spring it grew better than anytime before. You’ll just have two main shoots instead of one, but that just means more fruiting branches. Be careful with it near the foundation of your home,, it has shallow roots that can become invasive.

Peach cobbler trees SOLD OUT.

Hi JF,
I noticed these peach cobblers you were selling it March were on Manila. The peach cobbler i got from
you last week is on turpentine, should I try to graft it onto Manila? I believe you said it would grow well on turpentine.
Thanks,
Nate

Quote from: spaugh on July 22, 2019, 12:40:19 PM

Yes of course, theres no husk in that photo.  Eat the mango, dehusk, toss in pot of dirt.

Thanks, I have 6 organic mangoes from Costco. Just checked and they are kent from mexico that were hot water treated. Hopefully they should work.

Almost all my Kent seeds from Costco that have been planted over the last month or so have sprouted, FYI.

PM sent

Thank you again Frank for a wonderful day! I had the taste of mango on my tongue the whole car ride home, and dreams of mangos swirling in my head all night...That canistel smoothie was incredible and I need that recipe ASAP. I hope you liked the pluots, and as a reminder, the seeds I gave you are myrica rubra and they are very fresh.

The tastiest and sweetest mango of the day for me was the Coconut Cream. The sugar bomb of flavor seemed to last forever in my mouth, I just drooled a little thinking about it. Peace.

What’s the best month to pick Valencia oranges? I have a tree that’s giving me its second harvest since I’ve had it in the ground. I live about 3 miles from the beach in Southern California. I made orenge juice with some of the oranges about 2 weeks ago and unfortunately it wasn’t sweet at all.