The Tropical Fruit Forum

Quote from: Coach62 on December 26, 2017, 06:58:09 PM

A popular tree in my area is called a Snowbird citrus tree. It is a single tree that On one branch will grow grapefruit on another branch will grow an orange and on another branch grow a lemon. Again this is all on the same tree three different branches three different fruits.

You can graft many different types of trees onto one rootstock.

Yeah I think you made my point better than I did. Obviously what I meant, you just stated it better

 A popular tree in my area is called a Snowbird citrus tree. It is a single tree that On one branch will grow grapefruit on another branch will grow an orange and on another branch grow a lemon. Again this is all on the same tree three different branches three different fruits.

I'll double check today, but I believe my Cara has thorns. The tree is an excellent producer of very high quality, low acid fruit.

OK - looked at both of my Caras, one older, one only 4.5' tall.  Both are consistent, both give great fruit.

Older woody growth = no thorns.
New flush growth = no thorns.
Older green sticks = thorns.

I had never paid much attention before, it appears that before they make the transition from older green sticks to woody branches, they grow, then drop the thorns.  Again, both of mine are Cara Caras. 

Mulching under a citrus tree is both good and bad. Clean organic material can be applied around trees for erosion control in the area of the sprinkler pattern.  Mulching 2 to 4 inches deep reduces weed growth, conserves moisture, and improves soil tilth.  Do not incorporate the mulch into the soil.  Mulch must be kept about 8 inches away from the trunk to avoid wetting the lower trunk for long periods of time.  Mulch laid against the trunk has been known to increase the infection rate of Phytophthora gummosis and other trunk diseases.  The presence of mulches on the orchard floor can interfere with heat transfer from the soil to the tree which is especially important during frost events. Recent research in a Kern County orchard during a frost episode where a thick layer of shredded orchard prunings was present on the orchard floor demonstrated that lower nighttime temperatures occurred in the mulch areas than in areas free of mulch.  Mulch free soil releases more heat to protect the tree during frost events.   All things considered if it was my citrus tree I would refrain from using mulch, and keep the soil under the tree free of all vegetation.

Millet, what is your thought on mulching in SW FL?   As you probably know, we have several months where it rains pretty much every day, followed by a few months of no rain. If it makes a difference I don't have true soil I basically have beach sand.  Thanks in advance

 I would recommend a Satsuma for early oranges, a navel orange for midseason oranges, and a Valencia for late season oranges. . That would give you citrus from November through June

Mine is about 2 years old now and has barely grown. It looks nice and healthy, just hasn't grown much. I think I might have been over fertilizing it?  Irma didn't do it any favors, that's for sure.

Yes, I'll take one Del Monte Pink Pineapple and one leg of salmon.

I call the wing!!

Thank you, I'll try them out for sure

Wow, I can't believe I just found this forum.  I have a large selection of trees and such, but lost some in Irma.  I lost all 3 of my peach trees, both plumb trees, my soursop, 3 apple trees, passion fruit vines, half of my blueberries and my carambola, which was a prolific producer, fruit quality was just OK.  Would like a better tasting variety, it was a big box store tree.

It wasn't the storm itself that killed my trees, it was the 2 weeks of foot-deep water that did them in.

Can someone recommend a nursery, preferably in SW FL, (I'm in Naples) or I can go to Ft Lauderdale area, that has a good selection of Carambola?  I'd like to get one of the varieties listed in the thread below.

Oh, my favorite tree is my Barbados cherry.  That thing just grows and grows and produces TONS of cherries that get better as the tree matures.

I mostly have citrus, and hope to get a 360 day fruit supply eventually.

Thank you!