The Tropical Fruit Forum

Does anyone have 3-gal. noni trees for sale?  Excalibur? How about noni seeds?

I planted my Pickering tree last Jan./Feb.  It had no growth at all until late spring, but once it took off it just won't stop!  It's now 42 inches tall by 42 inches wide, perfectly shaped and easily the largest and most beautiful of all my 2012 mango additions.  Unfortunately, I didn't allow sufficient space for it in that corner of the yard so I'm going to have to move it.  I know I have to try to get as big a rootball as possible.  However, my sandy soil doesn't cling but falls away in big chunks very easily.  Any suggestions about successfully moving this tree?

Mango trees are forgiving, and killing this tree would probably be impossible.  But it's a beauty, and I hate to set it back.  Also, if I plant it at the side of my house where it would get a half-day of full sunshine, would that be sufficient for proper growth and fruit set?

Who has 3-gal. guanabana trees for sale?   (In Broward or Palm Beach County, of course!)

In my area we've gotten over 15 inches of rainfall since April 1--a very wet spring!  I know some areas, such as west central Miami-Dade, have had flooding, and I feel bad for them, but my baby fruit trees are just loving the rainfall.  The avocados, carambola, lychees, guava, mamey sapote, and papayas are pushing new growth like crazy.   Thankfully my deep sandy soil drains very well.

I think I might have room for one more mango tree.   I've already planted Angie, Pickering, Maha Chanok, Neelam, and Beverly.  I'm debating between Mallika and Nam Doc Mai for the last mango tree.  Mid-season crop and small tree are the requirements, and, of course, GREAT (WORLD-CLASS) FLAVOR!  

Sooner or later I'll have my wife teach me how to post pictures.  (Gimme a break--I'm 60.)  But this is what I've planted in the last 3 months in my backyard, where only grass grew previously:  5 mango trees (Pickering, Angie, Beverly, Neelam, and Mahachanok), 2 lychee (Mauritius and Hak Ip), Ponkan tangerine, Viejo mamey, and Ruby Supreme guava.  In pots awaiting planting are Green Ischia fig and Triumph persimmon.  Also, I've planted seven papaya plants (Red Lady, Imroved Sunrise Solo, and some seeds from Bolivia).  In the front yard are 2 new avocado trees (Florida Hass and Miguel) and an Alano sapodilla along with 2 flower beds to keep my 3 mature Washingtonias happy.  Yes, I'm getting tired of all the hole digging!   But I have space left in the front and sides so I have several other trees in mind.

Does anyone know where I might get a Triumph persimmon tree?  Pine Island Nursery may carry it.  Any place closer to North Broward?

Which tropical fruit trees are the most attractive as far as shape and structure and leaves?   But not necessarily large, spreading shade trees.  If you wanted to plant some attractive trees in your front yard with ornamental value but not those with the most tempting (to fruit thieves!) fruits, like mangoes and lychees, what would you choose? 

If I intend to plant the smallest varieties available and/or prune heavily to keep all of my fruit trees at about 10 to 12 feet, what do you think should be the minimum distance between trees?  I'm not necessarily looking to create a solid fruit hedge, nor am I going to plant mutiple trees in one hole, as far as I can tell.  I realize how important full sunlight is to most fruits.

I guess it's been about 20 years since I visited the Fruit and Spice Park in the Redland, Homestead, FL.  I think I may have been there once after Hurricane Andrew devastated it.  How is it now?  Is it a MUST-SEE attraction for the tropical fruit enthusiast?  Are all the cultivars properly labeled?  Are the trees well cared for?  You're allowed to sample whatever has fallen from the trees, correct?  But you can't bring anything home?