Citrus greening is serious! The disease is spread by the Asian Citrus Psylid. In Asia they inter plant Guava trees with citrus and they seem to have great results. I sell Citrus trees and always ask my customers are you sure you want to grow a citrus tree?

They look at me Like... "What you want to talk yourself out of a sale?" Yes I do if that person has no clue of the amount of time and care that must go into keeping a citus tree healthy.

Besides the Greening one other less serious but often contributing factor to the trees decline is the Citrus Leaf miner. The leaf miner attacks the new growth flushes and keeps a tree from growing. This is a typical problem on young trees. The leaf miner also makes the tree more susceptible to canker due to the tunnels it creates in the leaves.

Anyway you can learn more by visiting my site. http://www.pepesplants.com/solutions-for-citrus-tree-problems.html


Hope this little bit of info helps. I grow plenty of citrus and the trees look great. I work hard at scouting and IPM etc.

You can do almost anything if you understand the challenge and use the tools!
 

My son and I will be at the North Miami Farmers Market Today and every Thursday till mid June.

Stop by and say hello.

Need Directions? http://www.pepesplants.com/visit-us.html

Jason "Pepe"

How about some Thornless Blackberries for South Florida.

These are from a friend who gave them to me. She lives in Coral Gables. Has had fruit now three years in a row both on her property and also mine in Davie. She never knew the cultivar name. My best guess is Apache or Triple Crown. Any Ideas?





Pepe's Fruit Trees
 

Is that three seeds in one pot or three sprouts from one seed? What type of mango seed?

Just curious.

Jason "Pepe"

Okay Adam, You got it! Will hold one for you! Texas Blue Giant. Texas blue holdem? That's funny, good one!

Nice to be associated with this Forum. A great group of people.

I will keep my eye on the Miracle Fruit Trees and report any and all witches flying around the trees on brooms. .

Peace,

Jason "Pepe"

I tasted one last year.  I would love to get a few of these trees. Here are some of my observations and comments.

Ilama (e lama) is the common name of this amazing fruit. The flavor is unique. I have tasted them several times and find them sweet with a rich complex flavor. This tree is for the more experienced grower.

You probably won't see many of these trees for one main reason. Even as great tasting as it is, the fruit has one major drawback. The fruit splits on the tree when ready to eat. To the average person this is an unsightly reason to stay away from the fruit. Well as far as I am concerned that just means more fruit for the more adventurous fruit lover.

Jason "Pepe"

I am hoping to get Black Jack fig. It is one of the best for containers from what I have read.

Actually I grow almost all my varieties in containers. I treat them like Bonsai and they do great!

I don't dwarf them I just keep them in a maximum size pot eventually of 15 or maybe 25 gal.

For the last 9 months I have been using Geopots/ Fabric Grow Bags. I like the ones with velcro sides so I can check the root system and it's easier to transplant than from a typical fabric bag. The fig trees seem to do very well in the bags.

Here in Dade and Broward we have lots of sandy soil,  loaded with nematodes. Those nematodes really do serious damage to the roots causing root knots and nutrient deficiency and more.

When growing in pots or bags keep the pot or bag on a concrete or wooden surface at least 18 inches from the ground if possible.

According to one of my DPI nematode inspectors the nematodes pass out if they have to climb high altitudes of 18 inches. Bad joke but that's what he said. Actually it is a requirement to grow them 18 inches off the ground if you want a nematode clearance stamp for shipping. Someone please correct me if this is wrong! No problem, man. But seriously did you hear about the nematode that climbed up a pot 17 inches and died from the altitude? Haha! another bad ( Horrible)  joke.

Rust fungi in our humid Florida is also an issue but we fig growers have learned to live with it. It comes and goes some years worse than others. So far it's not too bad.

Growing in containers restricts the roots and the figs seem to have no problem with it. Eventually you would prune and re pot with fresh soil.

I like using a balanced time released fertilizer like Florikan 13-13-13.

Good luck and have fun growing your fig trees. Be sure to obtain common figs that do not require pollination from wasps and other figs. It gets complicated so maybe we will discuss the other type of figs some other time.

Jason "Pepe"

I am wanted by the FBI so I go by the name "Pepe".

Actually, As I said earlier that was my Fathers name Jose and in Spanish culture, a Jose is also a "PEPE". I chose the business name to honor him and because he was a hell of a plant guy. He could grow anything!! He and my Grand Dad, Uncles and Cousins taught me more in the field than any classroom.

Well, hope that helps. Psssst don't tell the feds I am here!

Thanks

"Pepe"

Wow John that was quite a nice welcome. Glad all is well.

Thank you!

"Pepe"