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1

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Is this a sign of a mango disease?

« on: April 05, 2018, 10:28:06 PM »

Hi friends,
Beside having issue with a large cracked trunk on my NDM mango - (discussed here recently: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=27710.0) -
I also notice that some leaves of the "Golek" mango next to it showing this:

Top view:

Bottom:

What is causing this and should I be concern about it? If so, any suggested remedy?
A bit of background: Bought this tree as 1 G at the same time and place where I got my NDM tree over 3 years ago in a nursery in EL Monte, Ca. Only bear a single fruit to maturity last year, no flower this year. (The NDM never flowered).

2

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Any repair on a large cracked mango trunk?

« on: April 03, 2018, 10:31:38 PM »

It's labeled as NDM, I bought from a local SoCal nursery. In the ground for about 3 years, never bloom, and had lanky/droopy branches that I had since prune them hard.

I am wondering if it's worth growing and saving this tree, if so, how? Thanks for your advice!

3

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Can we use egg shells for our fruit trees?

« on: February 15, 2018, 12:14:03 PM »

I am wondering if I can make use of these normally kitchen discards to good use?
I read more than a few times how our fruit trees need Calcium, as part of their important nutrients. Seems like Gypsum is the choice materials to use for this purpose, but I also read crushed Drywalls also work, albeit not too conveniently.

Since eggshells contain lots of Calcium, I am wondering if we can also utilize them for our fruit trees? I already started saving the shells and put them in regular blender to form a rough crushed material and spread them under the trees. (after heating it in microwave for about 2 minutes). Is there a pro and con about eggshells...? What is your opinion?

4

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Need advice what to do with this lanky mango branches

« on: January 26, 2018, 02:33:53 PM »

This is my Lemon Zest, from 3G size planted Springs 2015 purchased from TopTropicals. I didn't know at the time that Turpentin rootstock's characteristic is not desirable for Southern California area, which I suspect this tree's rootstock is. This is 2nd year flowering, didn't have any fruit that held to maturity size last season. The tree has been growing quite rapidly, but mostly long and lanky branches. It's planted next to a manila rootstock only a foot away, but this LZ seems to dominate the manila rootstock tree's growth; in fact it's hard to see the other manila tree from this photo!

I kind of able to visualize, that, as others may have reiterated times and again, that since almost all the branches are so long and so skinny (due to Turpentine's rootstock characteristic grown in S. California), so any fruits that may develop on them may well required some extra supports. If that's the case, that I have to provide the branches extra support yearly, then I prefer not to have this tree.

Is this the only prognosis of this tree behavior going forward, or is there other way to tackle this undesirable growth habit?
Or should I just start again from scratch and dig out the tree? Please advice if there is a way to live happily with this lanky mango tree...Thank you, guys!

5

Citrus General Discussion / My first Kishu mandarin harvest

« on: January 07, 2018, 08:52:42 PM »

I just want to share my very first harvest of Kishu mandarin.
I planted the tree in December 2015 from 3 G size pot or so; about 3 ft tall, it's now about 6 ft tall and seems to be growing nicely.
The last 2 seasons, the fruitlets kept dropping, until this season when they held up to maturity.

The taste test: Very easy to peel, surprisingly refreshing, juicy, with just enough sweetness and a scan of tart. And to my surprise: no seed at all! (This is a bonus, I didn't know about this when I purchased the tree). So, overall I am happy with this tree just hope and pray that HLB won't be infecting this tree that I have to cut it down...!

6

Tropical Fruit Discussion / My first taste of Dr. White cherimoya

« on: November 09, 2017, 01:37:02 AM »

Just want to share my first time tasting experience of this variety: Dr. White. (Thanks again to Simon for his generous gift of the scion). This variety didn't win any best tasting award that I can tell from reading this forum.

But, oh my, when I tasted this fruit for the first time about a month ago, it overwhelmed me: smooth "flesh" with very desirable (to me) slight chewiness..., just the right amount of sweetness, and low seed count to top it off.

The best that I ever had of cherimoya fruits, albeit my limited tasting experience of just a few varieties so far. Hmm, I am looking forward with much anticipation of what the other favorite annona varieties taste like...

Here's couple of photo of the fruit:

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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Sapodilla scion exchange, anyone?

« on: June 26, 2017, 03:20:50 PM »

Hi members,

I have Sapodilla Haysa (plenty of), and limited Alano and Makok scions that I would like to swap or buy any other variety that I don't have.
Please PM me, thanks!

Sam

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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Want to trade scions of Sapodilla Morena or Silas Wood for my Hasya?

« on: May 27, 2017, 04:44:21 PM »

Please PM me, I'll response right away...thanks!
Sam

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Is this Wax Jambu's (Syzygium samarangenses) flower buds?

« on: April 25, 2017, 01:08:35 AM »

I just wanna share my first Wax jambo I planted in the ground Oct. 2015 from 3G pot; (because I am a rookie and too excited to see it's "quick" growth

) and now this small tree is showing this for the first time:

Just received delivery and placed in pot Feb. 2015

On it's 3rd flush Oct. 2016:

First flower buds(?) today:

Hope I am not too hasty to call it... flower bud?
If so, can't wait to have some crunchy bites this year...

10

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Help determining papaya flowers

« on: April 19, 2017, 12:51:32 AM »

I have a young papaya tree, standing only at about 5 ft tall, among 3 others that I planted in one hole, and only one of the four has some flowers on it.

Please advise what kind of flower (sex) do I have, I read somewhere that papaya tree can have male, female, both or hermaphroditic...

Can you tell which one do I have?
Is that baby-like fruit in the middle going to be the real fruit later on?

This is my first experience growing papayas from seeds that would grow this far for me, so any help is appreciated! Thanks!

11

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Need help shaping my young mango

« on: April 02, 2017, 06:00:45 PM »

Have a Laverne manila rootstock, with a 3 scions on it. One dominant scion turns out to be an almost 2 years old Mahachanok, the other scion is still young, and the third has not pushed yet. (but still green).
Maybe due to my ignorant, I let this scion's grew to about 45 degree to start with, then branched out horizontally; so, it's really doesn't look good, way out of balance, in my opinion. Can't believe how could this happened right under my nose...

My question is, how should I made the cut, so I can correct it's future growth to look "half way decent", and still preserving the 2 years of scion's growth? By the way, it's hard to see from this photo, but the graft's union is right by the stake's shadow; and this is the first time I see a this tree bloomed...

I am tempted to make the cut a couple of inches above the graft, but would like to hear your opinion; and also, when is a good timing to do the cut?
Thanks a lot, friends; I appreciate your help!

edit: changed to larger photo

12

Tropical Fruit Discussion / What's wrong with these Lychee leaves?

« on: February 10, 2017, 04:59:11 PM »

I've just noticed that some of my Mauritius Lychee's young leaves have "spotty rust color" on the leaves. It's been in the ground for 2 years; I've been feeding lightly with Osmocote and occasional Dyna-Grow liquid food.

Comparing with a smaller Brewster nearby, I also see some discouraging sight, the leaves don't look healthy to me...albeit it doesn't show the spotty rust...

I am including some fotos below...

I wonder what's happening on with these 2 Lychee trees, I am afraid this may affect the normal growth of these young trees, or any other adverse effect unknown to me. Got me worried..., lacking some nutrients, water issue...?
Please help, any advice is highly appreciated, thanks!

Mauritius leaves:

Brewster leaves:

13

Tropical Fruit Discussion / How to do approach grafting on 2 unequally sized branches?

« on: September 30, 2016, 08:44:29 PM »

I have a few couple candidates to do this kind of grafting, but not sure on how to do it properly.
I buried few seeds next to a more established trees for purpose of doing an approach grafts in the future; thereby making the trees essentially a double root stocking ones.

Spring is few months away, I thought I better prepare myself and do it correctly. (or, does it matter what season?). Meanwhile, the seedlings will probably be about pencil thick, while the more established trees are about large broom handle sized or even larger currently.

In short, how would one do the proper cuts in order to mate the skinny branch to the larger trunk? I've seen videos and drawings of approach graftings, but I have yet to see how to do it on uneven sized branches...?
I guess my worry is that, the cambium alignment thing... I am pretty sure is being done, would anyone share the proper technique how this is accomplished?
Your help is greatly appreciated...thanks!

14

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Fruits from Hilo

« on: September 16, 2016, 12:59:15 AM »

Just wanted to share our fruits we got from
Hilo Farmers Matket in the Big Island yesterday.

While the Durians are in the small side, but the taste
is the best to me, smooth/creamy, sweet, I can also taste
some fermentation going on too.
Now wishing I'd bought more...

15

Citrus General Discussion / Preventing Leafminers and Citrus greening

« on: February 15, 2016, 04:17:31 PM »

Hi everyone,
From the reading here and elsewhere, I understand that Citrus greening is a real pest to us, citrus growers. It's new to me, don't know if I have one affecting my citrus, but I understand they are already here -not too far from me-, some 25 miles away in Hacienda Height(?), had already been affected. In fact, my daughter's house in next city of Orange had someone hung a trap in her backyard citrus tree; I guess is to monitor the "situation".

Another pest-in a substantially lesser degree, I think- is Leafminers, they came early to my yard last year, like about now: early Spring.

If prevention is a better cure, what can we -the home growers- do to prevent these pest from attacking our citrus? Perhaps it's been discussed before, if so, my apology, I must have missed it. Thanks, everyone!

16

Tropical Fruit Discussion / What is causing annona fruit to split?

« on: January 02, 2016, 02:46:57 PM »

I have a young African Pride atemoya tree, about 7-8 feet high, planted last
Spring.
It's got few fruitlets but I only let one fruit to remain hanging.To my surprise
I saw the fruit started to split last week, and yesterday, I saw the splitting
continued. First, it split vertically, then yesterday it went horizontally as well.

I wonder what's going on? There was only a light rain a couple of times in the
last 7 days or so-maybe .5 inch max total-I even stop watering during this time.

Please see the photo below, hope some members out there would contribute their
opinion of the cause of this. Thanks! Oh, Happy New Year everyone, may this year
bring a more bountiful fruits for you...!

edit: "inch" added

17

Citrus General Discussion / What's wrong with my Bearss lime?

« on: July 30, 2015, 01:41:46 PM »

Planted this in the ground late last year from 3G pot, it was a healthy looking plant.
Now, it slowly degrades as time goes by, even though it's got enough water (tap) and nutrition--I think--, since my other citrus plants are doing OK. But it doesn't look healthy to me, it lost it's fresh looking deep green foliage, in fact some of them has some yellowing on them, and no more new growth this year.

I had a bearss lime for a long time before (from our previous house), and have no issue at all other than finding ways to prune it continuosly. Anyone would like to give advice of what seem to go wrong with this plant? Thanks?

Edit: from Bear to Bearss; and from 1G to 3G pot

18

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Question on Lychee's growth

« on: July 26, 2015, 04:46:57 PM »

I have Mauritius and Brewster lychee plants planted at the same time earlier this year, from same gallon size, having same watering and feeding schedule and only 7 feet apart.

But I am puzzled as to see they grow so differently, the 1st photo is the Mauritius, with lots of young green leafs, but the Brewster next to it has not shown any new growth at all. (Both had flowered and bear some fruits, but as of today, there are only 1 fruit left on each.)

Is this normal for Brewster?
If not, what do you think it's the problem Brewster? Thanks for the help!

Mauritius:

Brewster, with Mauritius in the background:

edit: reduced images size

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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Seeking Sapodilla scion exchange

« on: July 21, 2015, 03:47:44 PM »

I have a few young scions of my Sapodilla Hasya that I like to trade with any variety I don't currently have, preferably Makok, Alano, Molix or Silas Wood.

My young tree is from PIN originally, bought it last year, and has plenty of flowers but seems to have difficulties of fruiting, so hopefully with other varieties grafted on it, this might help. Let's trade/exchange..., thanks!

Edited: uprighted photos & removed commercials 08/17/15

20

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Is this a "Sapote" fruit?

« on: July 13, 2015, 02:10:29 AM »

My friend gave me some fruits he only said it's "Sapote" from his own tree, but has no idea what kind of Sapote this is nor the the variety of it. It's somewhat mushy and sweet, but has 2 relatively large seeds and 2 or 3 small ones inside it. I also notice, that this fruit is easily bruised as well. I have one year old seedling in 5G pot from the fruit he gave me last year, and I am curious to know what variety this one is. Does anyone know what this fruit is and it's proper name? Here's some pictures...thanks!

21

Citrus Buy, Sell, & Trade / Looking to buy Valentine Pummelo scion

« on: May 23, 2015, 12:32:15 PM »

Does anyone has 1 or 2 Valentine Pummelo scion available for me to buy? Or, if anyone knows a source where to get them?
Please send PM or tell us the source please, thanks!

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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Looking to buy/exchange Lemon Zest mango and Valentine pumello scions

« on: May 21, 2015, 02:18:06 PM »

Need to get those scion(s) if you have one or both for sale or exchange with what I have. (please see list below my signature). I can travel and pick them up if around SoCal, to minimize shipping delay/handling. Thanks for your cooperation.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Browning Lychee leaves

« on: May 16, 2015, 04:24:14 PM »

I have this young Brewster lychee, first time fruiting (albeit only a few still hanging), that it looks like it has an issue that has gotten me increasingly worried.

Seems like all the leaves show lots of excessive browning, especially in the tips area. (The slightly larger Mauritius tree few feet next to this, has some browning tips too, but "very little"-I think(?). Both has about the same amount of watering and feeding, with the Mauritius slightly more.

Please help and advice, what seems to be wrong with it? Your suggestions and advice are really appreciated, thanks!

Brewster:

Mauritius:

24

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Question on Sapodilla hasya flowers, please...

« on: May 03, 2015, 09:31:36 AM »

My Sapodilla hasya has been flowering since October 2014, but never set fruit.
The very few flowers that opened usually turned to brown, dried and fell off.
Is it common for a young hasya tree to behave like this? Is there anything I can do to
help this this tree to set fruit?
I appreciate your advice and input, thanks!

25

Tropical Fruit Discussion / Yellow leafs on Avocado seedling

« on: April 12, 2015, 01:49:58 PM »

I notice this young Fuerte Avocado seedling's leafs turned to yellowish color since the last few days..., can't figure out why? It's planted in the ground only 6 inches next to a healthy 10 feet Sir prize avocado tree. (for future multi rootstocking experiment). I also have another same age Fuerte seedling in pot that looks normal.

Anyone has any idea what causing it, thanks!

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