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Messages - John B

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1
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Forcing dragon fruit to bloom ?
« on: August 16, 2022, 04:48:48 PM »
Plantinyum, I think you should return the 0-10-10. It's usually used in conjunction with a micronutrient or grow solution to create custom NPK ratios. I'm not a chemistry expert. But you can do more harm then good if you apply too much of individual macro nutrients because of nutrient lockout or burn. Even using the floranova is fine. I've used maxibloom with great results as well and it is cheap.

If your shade cloth is ~50%, that certainly is way too much. Cherimoya do just fine with a hard prune, so maybe try that next grow season and see how it does (with the shade cloth removed).



2
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Forcing dragon fruit to bloom ?
« on: August 13, 2022, 10:45:36 PM »
Be careful with the AH bloom, I believe that is just an isolated macronutrient of P-K. No micros, so can throw your ratios out of equilibrium. It is typically added with their micro portion. As Janet mentions, micro's are really important.

Different varieties of DF are sensitive to light changes. Growing vs bloom are two different things. More light typically means more blooms. Not saying you won't be successful, just may not get as many flowers under limited light.

3
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / 3 gallon S-8 (sugar dragon) and Physical Graffiti
« on: August 13, 2022, 03:23:38 PM »
Have one extra 3 gallon S-8 and PG for sale. Both are from 2 year old vines and are blooming age. The PG has a bloom on it now. S-8 measures 5' from soil to tip and the PF measures 7'. Can get multiple cuttings from them.

$20 each or both for $30. Local pickup in San Diego. I'm in central SD.




4
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Forcing dragon fruit to bloom ?
« on: August 13, 2022, 02:31:14 AM »
Janet always provides great advice, but I do agree with K-Rimes on this one. Floranova is an overpriced marijuana fertilizer. Go with the cheapest bloom fertilizer; dragon fruit are not picky! There are of course differences between organically grown vs. not organically grown. On top of what K-Rimes mentioned (follow those), a few suggestions based on your greenhouse growing.

1. Your plants can use more light. If you can provide that, great, if not, try boosting them with a 0-10-10  to bloom. I typically provide a 0-10-10 from June to October in my climate. The plants get less early blooms, but have multiple summer/early fall bloom flushes. My plants do get a bit yellow with heat, but I am growing for fruit, not to sell cuttings.

2. Df LOVE organic material, I mentioned that I only provide the 0-10-10, but I still provide chicken manure every other month. This provides additional slow release nitrogen and soil microbe development.

3. No to very little watering in the fall/winter. Then zap them early spring with a balanced fertilizer to really wake them up. Again, any cheap complete fertilizer or compost. This usually always guarantees a good bloom in the spring.

Your plants look great. Time to get them to fruit!

If you want to watch a true pro, start watching this guy: https://youtube.com/c/FerryMan

5
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Leo Manuel's Mango Notes
« on: August 11, 2022, 09:33:12 PM »
Quote from: johnb51 on August 11, 2022, 05:12:27 PM
It's valued at over $1million.

Most are over here. Kinda crazy. I agree though, hopefully someone who appreciates it will get the property.

6
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Vent Session - Tree Trimmers
« on: August 08, 2022, 04:42:41 PM »
Quote from: agroventuresperu on August 07, 2022, 07:19:07 PM
That dragon fruit looks sunburned. Did they cut down its shade tree too?

Every July/August we get hot humid weather and the top exposed branches turn yellow. Then they go back to green when it cools down. I grow for the production of fruit, not to keep the green vegetative color on every single vine. I've grown them under various plants/shade but full sun significantly increases fruit production. We have intense sun here and I'm rewarded with more flowers.

Are these green enough for you? Too bad because they are cut off!😆







7
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Leo Manuel's Mango Notes
« on: August 07, 2022, 05:29:30 PM »
Thank you very much!

8
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Wanted: California Pepper Tree (Schinus molle) Cuttings
« on: August 06, 2022, 01:29:06 PM »
I have some very large trees and can send you some cuttings.

9
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Advise on Germinating Annonas and Eugenias
« on: August 06, 2022, 12:30:06 PM »
You may want to be specific on the annonas and Eugenia's you bought. Some need very little help, while others use GA3 and/or leave seeds dormant for months to assist with germination.

10
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Any one near Vista, Cali in here? Need some help with a rare fruit tree.
« on: August 05, 2022, 06:25:26 PM »
I assume Clausen?

11
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Vent Session - Tree Trimmers
« on: August 05, 2022, 06:09:38 PM »
Quote from: spaugh on August 05, 2022, 04:26:44 PM
Quote from: John B on August 05, 2022, 12:06:47 PM
Quote from: spaugh on August 05, 2022, 01:56:09 AM


Sorry my dry humor doesn't come accross electronic media well.

I certainly not serious that he should go to court or call la mgra.  That was a joke. 

I picked up on it. Never thought you were serious 8)



When you speak with their insurance company you can tell them this one is the ultra rare variegated one that people pay 500$ per cutting for on ebay. 



I'm going to post one for sale right now! 😆

In all fairness, the company was really apologetic. They cleaned up the mess and said they'd make sure I was home next time so they could cover with plywood.

12
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Ilama
« on: August 05, 2022, 01:53:13 PM »
Do you have experience or knowledge of grafting ilama on established cherimoya tree? I have a one and half year old growing in a pot, but would like to graft a scion to the cherimoya. Wondering if it can keep up with growth of other cherimoya branches and die back.

13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Vent Session - Tree Trimmers
« on: August 05, 2022, 12:06:47 PM »
Quote from: spaugh on August 05, 2022, 01:56:09 AM


Sorry my dry humor doesn't come accross electronic media well.

I certainly not serious that he should go to court or call la mgra.  That was a joke. 

I picked up on it. Never thought you were serious 8)

14
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Wanted: Hass avocado scions
« on: August 04, 2022, 05:51:31 PM »
Quote from: boticarioa62 on July 29, 2022, 10:34:53 PM
Quote from: John B on July 29, 2022, 10:02:23 PM
Quote from: boticarioa62 on July 29, 2022, 08:43:18 PM
Quote from: John B on July 29, 2022, 12:51:27 PM
You can buy a Hass avocado tree from Walmart for $26 and take the scions you need. Then you'll still also have a tree 8)
[
Quote


I understand you need to collect a scion from a tree that already produce fruit in the past, I haved two young avocado plants

Hmm. Not really. The trees are grafted themselves, typically from Laverne nursery. You can also stop by Atkins nursery in north county.


I want to graft both avocado plants myself see if i can do it,  thank you for the information.

I don't think you quite understand what I'm saying, but anyway, don't pay for Hass scions. If I had some of give them to you. Post this on NextDoor app in your neighborhood. About 1 in 5 houses have a Hass tree by where you live. Same as over here.

15
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Vent Session - Tree Trimmers
« on: August 04, 2022, 05:46:26 PM »
Quote from: roblack on August 04, 2022, 01:18:30 PM
I used to get really upset, and then angry. It still bothers me when stuff gets whacked or damaged, but I try to accept it. Also, it gets me more upset when I think of how stupid or disrespectful they must be to have done something so obviously wrong. So, I tell myself they are doing the best they know, and rationalize that I am probably one of their more particular and challenging clients. Whether true or not, feels better thinking this way.
Well said. We're still healing...ha, ha, ha. My 3year old is positive as well. She said at least the pomegranates and cherimoyas weren't damaged!
Quote from: spaugh on August 04, 2022, 01:35:31 PM
Small claims court, 5000$ compensation for mental anguish, pain, and suffering. 
Brad, it was Atlas tree service. You've probably heard of them. I think when you factor in all the cuttings and fruit loss, it is in the $1000s range... But we know how that goes. They're coming out to clean the mess tomorrow. I'll see if they annoy me to ask for their insurance carrier.

16
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Vent Session - Tree Trimmers
« on: August 04, 2022, 05:37:14 PM »
Quote from: Epicatt2 on August 04, 2022, 12:03:25 PM

You mentioned rats also bring palm seeds over into your yard.  What are you using for rat control, if anything?
==

Paul, my cat used to love hunting them when she was younger. Now she just chases them around. We have a healthy kit fox population that does a good job at managing the population. I haven't needed to do more, yet.

17
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Vent Session - Tree Trimmers
« on: August 04, 2022, 10:48:32 AM »
Quote from: pagnr on August 04, 2022, 06:29:04 AM
So the Tree Trimmers entered your yard, without your consent to remove the fallen fronds ? and possibly to trim from your yard ?
Any palm seed or fronds normally fall or blow into your yard ?

I used to do some casual work with a tree trimmer a while back.
Sometimes things went a little pear shaped, but most often it was very well controlled.

They probably used the long pole cutters to grab them from our yard while they were still in the tree. That's what they did a couple years ago. They grab the large pieces but leave the small stuff. This time around was an absolute hack job. We normally only have a few seeds fall in our property plus the ones the rats bring over to eat.

18
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Vent Session - Tree Trimmers
« on: August 04, 2022, 12:30:00 AM »
Came back from a camping trip with the family and proceeded to go check on some of my trees. It was dusk and I was anticipating about 20-30 blooms from my dragon fruit plants, so went to see if flowers were going to open. Well, instead I find 2 of the plants were severely damaged.

I noticed that my neighbor had his rat hotel palm trees trimmed, and that either the palm tree seed pods and/or palm fronds had fell on the plants ( one of my S8's and Physical graffiti). Unfortunately, about 40-50% mass was damaged or broken. Tree trimmers appear to have picked up the heavy stuff but crap everywhere. Lost a years growth. Neighbor didn't care but I'll call the company tomorrow.

Think this is the only place where people understand how much time we invest to grow...so it goes...













19
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Wanted: Hass avocado scions
« on: July 29, 2022, 10:02:23 PM »
Quote from: boticarioa62 on July 29, 2022, 08:43:18 PM
Quote from: John B on July 29, 2022, 12:51:27 PM
You can buy a Hass avocado tree from Walmart for $26 and take the scions you need. Then you'll still also have a tree 8)
[
Quote


I understand you need to collect a scion from a tree that already produce fruit in the past, I haved two young avocado plants

Hmm. Not really. The trees are grafted themselves, typically from Laverne nursery. You can also stop by Atkins nursery in north county.

20
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Largest Fruit - Mandarin/Tangerine (maybe Guinness record)
« on: July 29, 2022, 06:58:20 PM »
I was surprised this late Tahoe Gold was over 1/2 pound. I originally weighed it on my small 200g scale, but had to get the big scale out! 265g

Had to pick it a couple days early, too. Bottom was getting soft.





21
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Wanted: Hass avocado scions
« on: July 29, 2022, 12:51:27 PM »
You can buy a Hass avocado tree from Walmart for $26 and take the scions you need. Then you'll still also have a tree 8)

22
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 25, 2022, 12:07:40 PM »
Quote from: sc4001992 on July 24, 2022, 12:47:24 AM
Question on hand pollination of my Asunta 3 dragon fruit flowers.
This is from a cutting from Brad, it is about 2-1/2 years old and it's the first time it has flowers.

The DF plant has 3 flowers, I didn't hand pollinate the first flower, can you tell from this photo if it will set fruit or drop the flower?

I just took some photos tonight at 8pm, this is the second flower that is blooming. Does it look ready to hand pollinate or should I wait until moring?

Thanks.

I did pick my first yellow DF fruit yesterday, it was small (Home Depot plant) but it tasted sweet.


Too early to tell if the bloom will turn to fruit (IMO). You'll know soon enough. Asunta 3 is in the super model category of DF's. As such, they are a bit more demanding. The flowers tend to stick together and the anthers stay closed until night. You can hand pollinate it but will need to manually open that anther. It would be best at night, though. No harm also pollinating in the morning. When I grew it, the bees struggled to break into the semi closed flowers, and they did not set fruit on their own (without hand pollination), probably because of the delayed and shortened daylight bloom time for the bees. Early morning, the bloom seemed to wilt earlier than the other DF's as well.

23
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Dragon Fruit thread.
« on: July 25, 2022, 11:50:02 AM »
Quote from: irun5k on July 02, 2022, 08:29:31 AM
Hey all! I'm growing a Haley's Comet, Delight, and American Beauty here in Pinellas Co, FL.  First year getting blooms so far- the first round of blooms is complete.  I hand pollinated everything and most nights I was able to cross pollinate.

So far American Beauty is the overwhelming winner.  It looks like it set fruit on virtually every bloom.  From studying the blooms I also feel like American Beauty is the only one that I'd say is self pollinating. I'm not sure a single fruit set.on Delight or HC.

From what I've read, a lot of other folks have had great luck with American Beauty as well.  How about HC and Delight?  It seems like I've already done about all I can do short of cross pollinating with a better (?) pollinator that I don't have.

I am happy to at least have some fruit growing in the garden. The only slight bummer is Delight, because ignoring the fruit production issue, this is a much stronger grower for me than the other two and it is also already putting out a.second round of buds.  I will keep hand pollinating, maybe success will improve in round two.



I can only comment on HC since I have grown that. Definitely not self pollinating. I also found that cross pollination was a pain. Try early evening cross pollination with AB and/or delight. I got rid of mine, I don't care to do hand pollination anymore.

24
Citrus General Discussion / Re: HLB Spreads In California
« on: July 12, 2022, 01:24:01 PM »
Yeah, I've been noticing more psyllids on my citrus. I'm pretty good about checking them daily but figure it's a matter of time before they carry HLB. Especially since my neighbor has neglected citrus trees he won't chop down!

25
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: OFF-TOPIC: How/Can you kill Mosquito Larvae in water for your plants?
« on: July 09, 2022, 07:02:20 PM »
That's great to hear. I've never been scientific about it but they seem to work effectively for about 2 months. After that, I just add another batch during the summer/early fall months.

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