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51

Tropical Fruit Discussion / My eight foot tall Pedelai

« on: December 08, 2013, 07:54:57 AM »

I planted Pedelai (Artocarpus serecicarpus) seeds in Aug2011 and one of those trees is now over 8 feet tall and growing nicely in a pot. It really needs to be planted in the ground but for now it will remain in the pot. I first tasted the fruit earlier this year in Puerto Rico and really enjoyed it. As I mentioned in an earlier thread, it tasted to me like annona flavored marshmallows but not sticky or gooey. They are aggressive growers in our South Florida climate but are cold sensitive. Who else is growing this tree and what are your experiences with it?

My Florida grown eight foot tree

Puerto Rico grown Pedelai

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mini Florida fruit haul 11/25/13

« on: November 25, 2013, 08:09:16 PM »

There's not a lot of local fruit right now but here is what I gathered today. The Papaya is a very sweet type that produces few seeds. The Avocado is the Jamaican Black from my neighbor's tree. They are rich and buttery. The red chiles are supposed to be fiery hot. Have not tried them yet. The sugar apple is a dried fruit that hung on a branch since August. My Big Red sugar apple has a second crop of 15 or 20 that will be ready in December.

Temperatures are finally starting to cool off here. It's been like summer this entire month but Wednesday night it will dip into the low 50s but it will still be warm during the day.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM Cacao fruit ripens

« on: November 03, 2013, 04:46:08 PM »

For the past 4 years, I have been carefully growing a potted Cacao tree outdoors in my yard in South Florida. The seed came from Puerto Rico and it grew very well from the start. It's also very important to plant seeds of fruit from trees that are self fertile since that is your best shot to produce from a solitary tree like mine. I was told that red skinned Cacao tend to produce by themselves but I am not sure if that is always true. Mine was a red fruit and actually set small fruits last year but they did not hold. This past year one finally held and I was a happy grower. For fertilizer, I mostly used Osmocote, Miracle Gro and also regularly sprayed with minor elements. I also threw some Black Cow organic stuff on there also.

During the coldest nights of the winter (under 45 degrees), I would bring it into my garage, but when it got moved to a bigger pot, I would cover it with sheets. It was grown outdoors 98 percent of the time. It's important to protect them from cold winds and not let them dry out. The fruit was picked today and the pulp was sweet and lemony! Better than other Cacaos I have tried. For all you folks that grow stuff in pots, this was a neat challenge and one of my best rare fruitings! Keep trying. Next I hope to fruit my grafted Rambutan!!!!

The first time it actually looked like it would hold

The potted tree

A real Florida grown Cacao pod.

Cacaos tend to have sparse pulp but it was sweet.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Durian Alien Embryo

« on: September 24, 2013, 06:58:32 PM »

How many forum members are growing Durian? I have several nice seedlings in pots and wanted to share a photo of a germinating Durian seed. They are among the wildest, almost Alien looking things you will find. I call them Alien Embryos. This one happens to be the Red Prawn which is the best tasting Durian I have eaten.....it now has a spot as one of my top 5 fruits, maybe first place for the time being. A gastronomic delight!

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM: Fairchild Garden visit 8/31/13

« on: August 31, 2013, 09:22:31 PM »

Visited Fairchild Garden in Miami today with some friends and found some really cool stuff...

Langsat (Lansium domesticum?) with some large fruits.

Pedelai (A. serecicarpus) is huge but did not have flowers

Ae-Ae banana bunch

Ae-Ae banana

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM Big Green & Big Green sugar apples

« on: August 25, 2013, 11:11:08 AM »

More photos of my sugar apples. These 2 trees consistently produce large fruits even though they are over 17 years old. This year I harvested over 100 pounds of fruit. My biggest fruits this year have been around 24ounces. They need to be thinned in order to get the largest fruits. If you leave too many they will not grow as large. Also, I remove poorly pollinated fruits and set at least half my crop with hand pollination.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM August 2013 yard

« on: August 24, 2013, 08:32:10 PM »

Quick tour of my yard

The last of my Marisa Abiu..average over one pound each and delicious

My first Cacao fruit in a pot to hold ! It is quite large

My Alice White Dragonfruit going crazy

Here is what I picked today

My DS-2 Jakfruit has over 20 fruit hanging on it..great quality, low latex, cold tolerant

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM: Sugar Apples & Cacao

« on: August 08, 2013, 10:26:09 PM »

Here's what I picked yesterday from my trees....

Big Red & Big Green plus some Abiu

Here's my potted Cacao. So far the fruit is holding OK

Some stuff I picked last week

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM: photos from Harry's Fruit Grove Davie FLA

« on: July 19, 2013, 08:15:16 PM »

Photos from a recent trip to Harry's wonderful fruit grove in Davie Florida

Harry in his incredible grove

Katie and a Jakfruit

Mammea Americana

Harry's tasting table

More fruits

Maha Chanok

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM: 6/21 Fresh Rambutans @ Western Beef in Boca Raton

« on: June 21, 2013, 08:28:23 PM »

I stopped at Western Beef in Boca today and found a huge pile of Guatemalen grown Rambutans for $3.99 per pound. The are delicious!

23072 Sandalfoot Plaza Dr
Boca Raton, FL 33428
(561) 470-1157

Don't miss out.....

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM Yard photos 5/25/13

« on: May 25, 2013, 08:17:25 PM »

Latest from my yard

Cacao flowering again. Last year it set one fruit but it fell off after 2 weeks!

Has anybody else flowered this?...Amorphophallus paenifolious. These are some edible ones in the genus

DS-2 Jakfruit. It has set over 20 fruits. Incredible producer!

Lots of Big Green and Big Red sugar apples are setting! Awesome!

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Awesome Haa-Kip Lychees

« on: May 24, 2013, 08:29:12 PM »

Well, our South Florida lychees are starting to ripen up and I was able to snag five lbs (2.27kg) of Haa-Kips from a good friend and I proceeded to devour them in short order. These are my absolute favorite Lychee since they are delicious and all of them have tiny "chicken tongue" seeds. Haa-Kips are in very short supply so I felt privileged to get some. If you have not tried these....GET SOME

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Flamingo Gardens Trop Fruit Festival June 1st-2nd

« on: May 22, 2013, 09:47:34 PM »

Yea the festival name is a little lame but this botanical garden is awesome for plant people!
FGM

June 1-2
Rooti Tooti Tropi-Fruity Fruit Festival
9:30am - 4:30pm
$9 entrance fee adults

Flamingo Gardens
3750 South Flamingo Road, Davie, FL 33330-1614
954.473.2955

Kick off the summer fruit harvest with Flamingo Gardens' Rooti Tooti Tropi-Fruity Festival with tropical and rare fruits and vegetables plants for sale. Take a guided tour of Flamingo Gardens' fruit trees and get growing tips from the experts. Enjoy live music while eating tropical fare from Tropical Palate. Enjoy interactive cooking demonstrations with 12 year old Chazz Darby Co-author of My Own Food and his co-author Mom, Dorette Darby, author of Tropical Palate Taste of Jamaica and Tropical Palate Taste of the Islands. Delight your tastebuds with Tropical fruit smoothies and treats. Kids will enjoy the Tooti Fruity Fun Zone.

Best of all, the Festival is a Half-Price Weekend Event.

Flamingo Gardens is 60 acres of Tropical Paradise!

The Wray Botanical Collection features over 3000 rare & exotic, tropical, subtropical, and native plants and trees. The Everglades Sanctuary is home to the largest collection of Florida native wildlife including alligators, bobcats, eagles, otters, panthers, peacock, and of course, flamingos.

Established in 1927, Flamingo Gardens is one of the oldest botanical gardens in South Florida. Originally founded by Floyd L. and Jane Wray as an orange grove, the not-for-profit botanical garden is home to 21 “Champion” trees, the largest trees of their species, including the largest tree in Florida. Specialized gardens, including a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, Croton Garden, and Bromeliad Garden dot the main Arboretum. The centerpiece of the gardens is a natural hammock of 200 year-old Live Oaks dripping with species orchids and epiphytes.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mini-trip to Jeff's place Tamarac FL

« on: May 20, 2013, 09:51:36 PM »

Photos from a visit this past weekend to Jeff's place in Tamarac FL...He is a knowledgeable grower and has an awesome collection!

Jeff with his impressive Black Gold Jakfruit

Potted Sweet Tart mango with lots of fruits

Coconut Cream mango

Makok sapodilla..great producer even in a pot!

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM: Mango Haul

« on: May 13, 2013, 09:11:30 PM »

All of a sudden I am in mango heaven! Have to start freezing some. This is the time of year that I eat a couple pounds of fruit per day.

Here's part of what I picked today...Grahams...Cogshall...PSM and Glenns.

My neighbors Glenn...absolutely loaded.

66

Tropical Fruit Discussion / WE HAVE A WINNER: FGM Big Jakfruit: guess the weight, get free seeds!

« on: May 02, 2013, 09:35:51 PM »

Got home today and one of my big J-31 Jakfruits was ready to harvest. I picked this badboy, cleaned it and ate about at least a pound of delicious fruit. I got plenty more to eat and freeze.

Whoever comes closest to guessing the weight is welcome to a free pak of seeds including shipping anywhere in the USA.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / (UPDATE 4/30) Broward Rare Fruit Council Tree Sale 5/4-5/5

« on: April 27, 2013, 08:39:35 PM »

Broward Rare Fruit Council Annual Spring Sale....

It's time for our Spring Sale again and it's open to the public! The sale will be held at our 208 research garden. 5105 SW 208th Lane Southwest Ranches, FL 33332. Now is your chance to buy those rare fruit trees & vegetables that you've been looking for all year! Jams, Jellies & Breads featuring tropical fruits will also be available.

Dates are Saturday, May 4, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM & Sunday, May 5, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Don't forget we also have a sale in the Fall, dates TBA. Cash & Checks and Mastercard & Visa Accepted.

http://www.rfvcbroward.org/

FGM Disclaimer:
Not all trees on our "dream list" will be available. Don't drive over 50 miles thinking that every tree on the sale list will be waiting for you! They do sell out! You can expect to find an excellent selection of fruit trees in every range and hard working volunteers that will try to make your experience as good as possible.

68

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Earliest Cogshall mango EVER!

« on: April 27, 2013, 07:23:15 PM »

Today I picked my earliest Cogshall mango EVER.... April 27th. Usually they are ready in June at my place anyway! WOW. Weight was 16ounces. It has not ripened yet but should be ready in a few days, My tree is about 15 feet high (5 meters) and has over 100 large fruits. My best tree this year! My others are showing poor results compared to last year.

69

Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM: Fairchild Fest photos 4/20 (More photos)

« on: April 20, 2013, 09:10:27 PM »

Some photos from today's garden festival at Fairchild Gardens in Miami. There were lots of tropical fruit for sale at very good prices. Those Miami locals that did not attend missed a great event. I went to Richard Campbell's lecture-tour and Noris Ledesmas's presentation on Mangifera species and both were excellent!

The RFCI had plenty of nice fruits for sale

RFCI Mamey for sale includes Pantin and Magana. I checked them for ripeness and they were perfect

Local Bananas for sale included Goldfinger and my favorite...Nam Wa

Fairchild Farms had several cultivars of mangos for sale including Joellen, NDM, Thai Everbearing, Florigon, Ono and Jean Ellen

Joellen mangos

Nam Doc Mai mango

JeanEllen

Purple Caimitos

E-11 Canistel (Fairchild Farms)

Nice Sapodillas for a buck....you can't beat that!

Jakfruits were $10. I tasted one and it was very good. Not sure of the cultivar.

Sign for the upcoming Mango Festival in July....a great event!

Here's my fruit haul for the day. The Rollinia was mine and the Red Custard is from my friend George. All the other fruits were from Fairchild and were all purchased for under $20

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / 4/20-21 FAIRCHILD FOOD & GARDEN FEST MIAMI

« on: April 14, 2013, 02:44:18 PM »

When: Saturday, April 20, 2013 - Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Where: 10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables, FL 33156 • Phone: 305.667.1651
Free for members. $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up and $12 for children 6-17. Free for members
Web: http://www.fairchildgarden.org/Events/?date=04-2013&eventID=747

Come see what's cooking at Fairchild during our annual celebration of local foods and the gorgeous gardens they grow in, then take home spectacular plants from our 34th Annual Spring Plant Sale.
•Gather new tips and recipes from our popular culinary and gardening demos taught by top chefs and gardeners.
•Shop our Farmers’ Market! Local vendors showcase the best fruits, vegetables and herbs available in South Florida, as well as honey, jams and fresh baked goods and spices.
•Celebrate the season with crisp and refreshing spring brews and summer ales in our Beer Tasting Garden.
•Discover Fairchild's Edible Garden, lush and delicious with herbs, vegetables, fruits and ornamentals that can be grown in your home garden.
•Hear Random Acts of Gardening, ‘pop-up’ lectures in the plant sales area covering South Florida gardening, edible landscaping and more.
•Enjoy special hands-on and culinary kids' activities in the KidWay.
•Shop the 34th Annual Spring Plant Sale with thousands of plants from Fairchild's nursery and local plant vendors.

Outdoor Gardening Demonstrations

Saturday, April 20

10:00 a.m. The Fairchild Edible Garden
Todd Walton, FTBG

11:00 a.m. Mulching in the Garden
Bob Brennan, FTBG

12:00 p.m. Making Magic with Tropical Fruit
Leila Werner, FTBG

1:00 p.m. Organic Methods for Vegetable Gardening in Florida
Melissa Contreras, Author of Organic Methods
for Vegetable Gardening in Florida

2:00 p.m. Growing Beautiful Edible Landscapes in South Florida
Dylan Terry, Ready-to-Grow Gardens

Sunday, April 21

10:00 a.m. The Fairchild Edible Garden
Todd Walton, FTBG

11:00 a.m. Fairchild Edible Landscapes
Jason Lopez, FTBG

12:00 p.m. Making Magic with Tropical Fruit
Leila Werner, FTBG

1:00 p.m. Edible Palms
Sara Edelman, FTBG

2:00 p.m. The Secret to Beautiful Gardens is the Soil
Lanette Sobel, Fertile Earth Foundation

Spring Beer Tasting Garden

Join us all weekend starting at 11:00 a.m. Magners and Brown Distributing Company will be bringing us Magners Original Cider, Magners Pear Cider, Woodchuck Amber Cider, Woodchuck Spring Cider, Blue Point Summer Ale, Blue Point Toasted Lager, Nectar Ale Hemp Ale, Nectar Ale Red Nectar, Nectar Ale Nectar IPA, Palm and Steenbrugge Tripel. The Miami Brewing Company will be bringing us their Caramel and Coconut Blonde Ale Big Rod and Guava and Chocolate Brown Ale Gator Tail. Gold Coast Beverage and Whole Foods Market will be bringing us brews from Abita Brewing Company, Brooklyn Brewery, Crispin, Strongbow and more.

Activities in the Edible Garden

Discover Fairchild's Edible Garden, lush and delicious with herbs, vegetables, fruits and ornamentals that can be grown in your home garden. Learn more about our Edible Garden here. We will have fruit tastings all weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Walking Lectures beginning at our Edible Garden

Saturday, April 20

12:30 p.m. Bee Smart, Bee Cool with Bees, Noris Ledesma, FTBG
Learn all about honeybees, their importance in our
ecosystem and how to have a safe bee hive at home.

2:30 p.m. Gardening in South Florida, Todd Walton, FTBG

Sunday, April 21

12:30 p.m. Worm Composting, Todd Walton, FTBG

The Fairchild Farm Fruit Market located at the Edible Garden

There will be fruit smoothies, fresh fruit and delicious honey. We will also have seeds and starts of luffa, which has exceptional tolerance to pests and diseases.

75th Anniversary Walking Tours

Saturday and Sunday (Meet at the Tropical Fruit Pavillion)

11:30 a.m. David Fairchild's Legacy: The Tropical Fruit Program
Led by Dr. Richard J. Campbell, FTBG

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Rollinia Porn

« on: April 12, 2013, 07:04:30 PM »

My Rollinias are ripening! Here's some of the latest annonaceous activity from Coral Springs.....

This bad boy weighed a tad over 3 lbs. Not bad for fruits that grew during the winter. My next crop produces the biggest ones. The branches are loaded with new flowers.....

The smallest one weighed 16 ounces.

For those who are unfamilar with Rollinia flowers, they are tri-lobed. Have not had success with hand pollination

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Taste test: Mexican Ataulfos Whole Foods

« on: April 07, 2013, 03:40:25 PM »

This past Friday I was in Whole Foods and spotted Mexican Ataulfo mangos on sale for 50 cents each. The last time I bought some they were medicore but I asked one of the produce guys for his opinion and he swore they were actually good. Being that they were so cheap, I took a chance and bought ten. I found a couple that were very ripe and tried them when I got home. They were decent, not great. On a scale of 10, I would rate them 5 to 6 which is real good for a store bought mango. For the first time, I noticed that the label says "hot water treated". Has any body tried these recently?

sw

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM: Annona fruit haul

« on: April 03, 2013, 09:47:12 PM »

Here's a mini feast that I had today. Sarteneja Red Custard, Amazon Rollinia, Alano & OX Sapodilla plus grapefruit. Good eating!

Mod edit: Sarteneja

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FGM: local fruit photos 3/24/13

« on: March 24, 2013, 06:45:26 PM »

Here's what's fruiting this past week in my area

Borneo Red Jakfruit. This tree must have 25 fruits

Beautiful BIG Sarteneja Red Custard apple

Duncan Mango with a huge clump of fruits. Will need to brace these two branches!

Cogshall Mangos with large fruits and new blooms. This looks like a bad year overall for mangos!

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / FL Gulf Coast Fruit Tour March 2013

« on: March 14, 2013, 08:29:25 PM »

Last weekend I took a two day trip over to the Gulf Coast of Florida and visited a few nurseries and also toured some incredible backyard fruit collections. I traveled between Ft Meyers and Naples including the largest island in the state. It's called "Pine Island" (not associated with Pine Island Nursery in Homestead) and the island is loaded with tropical fruit farms and fruit trees nurseries and they have almost frost free growing conditions. I will not mention the names of the private yards I visited to in order to allow them their privacy but they were awesome folks! These places are only 2.5 hours from my house so I plan on returning back soon. Great seafood over there also!