Are there any other fruits worth growing?

[sfbay-southfacingslope10a]

I have done my absolute best to try as many fruits as possible, and have planted pretty much everything I think I can grow that's worth it. Started planting a year and a half ago. If you have any suggestions for me, I'm all ears. Thanks for reading.

What I have planted:
-bananas
-passionfruits
-sugar cane
-guavas
-dragonfruits
-pawpaws
-pineapple guavas
-grapes
-kiwis
-elderberries
-currants
-lemon
-apples
-figs
-mangoes
-russian olive
-raspberries
-blackberries
-yerba mate
-strawberry guavas
-strawberries
-herbs
-mulberry
-blueberries
-kumquat
-avocados
-lemon guava
-serviceberry
-ice cream bean
-longan
-soursop (greenhouse)
-apricot
-almond
-oak leaf papayas
-goumi
-white sapote
-cherimoyas
-blood orange
-peach
-autumn olive
-cherry
-pineapple
-persimmon
-chestnuts
-goji berry
-seaberry

Never dipped below 35F last winter. Summers only have an average high of 75F, so some of my heat loving stuff might not be successful. The almond tree is mature though and produces high quality nuts. Thank you for reading, I love finding out about new stuff I can grow.

[seng]

java plum
lychee
yangmei
wax apple

[sc4001992]

huckleberry,
loquats,
more citrus varieties like mandarins, sumo, Valentine, Melogod, New Zealand Lemon.

[Galatians522]

Plum

[BloomAndSprout]

Jujube, medlar, lingonberry, chilean guava, luma / chilean myrtle.  Some of these may not get the required heat, I am not sure but could be potted and brought indoors. Such a mild climate is not my specialty.

[Daintree]

SF Bay, I want to see some pics of your place!

Carolyn

[sfbay-southfacingslope10a]

java plum
lychee
yangmei
wax apple

You got me on those. I almost bought a lychee tree but after reading that it's more of a challenge to set fruit than some others, I decided against it (I'll probably get one eventually). The others I haven't tried, in part because I haven't heard many people rave about them. Have you tried any of these fruits? I do know of a yangmei grower about 20 miles from me with a nearly identical climate.

huckleberry,
loquats,
more citrus varieties like mandarins, sumo, Valentine, Melogod, New Zealand Lemon.

I love loquats! While I don't have a tree myself, a large tree spills over into my yard. Huckleberry is a really great choice, thanks. I have been considering getting another citrus tree, thank you.

[sfbay-southfacingslope10a]

Jujube, medlar, lingonberry, chilean guava, luma / chilean myrtle.  Some of these may not get the required heat, I am not sure but could be potted and brought indoors. Such a mild climate is not my specialty.

I am in the market for some chilean guava, thanks for the reminder. I'll look into the chilean myrtle, have you tried the fruits? Even though I've never tried medlar, I'd definitely plant one as they are quite unique and ornamental. I've looked into jujube a bit already and am pretty sure I don't have the heat, but lingonberry could be great! Thanks.

Plum

I have ~20 bitter almond seedlings that I plan to bud graft with other stone fruit soon, including plum. I really like the mirabelle variety, do you have any favorites that you grow?

SF Bay, I want to see some pics of your place!

Carolyn

Still very much a work in progress with small trees but I'll post some photos soon. I have a unique way of landscaping; I grew up in the forest and you can tell.

[MadFarm]

Atemoya

[konakid]

I'd also love to see some photos/video of what you plant! I'm in Oakland too and currently planting out similar trees, although I think you have quite a few more species than me.

I hear Jaboticaba can do ok in our area, so you may want to try that too. I have ordered two from Flying Fox Fruits. I plan to share some photos once I get my trees established

[Bush2Beach]

you could plant some Jaboticaba and Jujube

[seng]

I have eaten:
java plum
wax apple
lychee.

I have not eaten yangmei yet.

[sfbay-southfacingslope10a]

SF Bay, I want to see some pics of your place!

Carolyn

Here are a few photos I just took:


Banana, sugar cane, passionfruit, guava


Both sides of front yard fence


Front yard raised bed


Greenhouse (plans for larger in future) with ollas I'm making


Front yard. Lot of stuff planted, including row of dry farm adapted corn and beans


Part of back yard. Part shade from massive avocado tree, lot of stuff newly planted here too.

My place is full of nooks and crannies so as a result is difficult to photograph. Also I'm a horrible photographer. Appreciate your interest!

[drymifolia]

I'll look into the chilean myrtle, have you tried the fruits?

I have a very productive bush here in Seattle. The fruit changes color weeks before it is ripe, and the seeds are large, very crunchy, and they have a strong resinous/bitter taste (the seeds, that is). However, my toddler loves them, and if you eat the fruit without crunching the seeds (roll it on the tongue and swallow seeds whole) it has a pleasant, sweet taste, sort of similar to a mild blueberry. I measured 17 brix after a week of heavy rains last week, would probably have been sweeter otherwise.

I made a batch of jelly with them this week, combined with some tart Siberian crabapples for the acid and pectin, and that is really good. But because of the bad taste of the crunchy seeds, I don't really recommend them for fresh eating. One big plus is they are ripe from September to October/November here, a time when there are few other berries around. Some photos from this week:















The jelly:

[sfbay-southfacingslope10a]

Atemoya

Thanks, I've been very interested in trying this one but have yet to find it. Good candidate for when I build out the greenhouse too, as they require quite a lot more summer heat than I have.

I'd also love to see some photos/video of what you plant! I'm in Oakland too and currently planting out similar trees, although I think you have quite a few more species than me.

I hear Jaboticaba can do ok in our area, so you may want to try that too. I have ordered two from Flying Fox Fruits. I plan to share some photos once I get my trees established

Jaboticaba would be a great one to plant, at Quarry Lakes Regional Park in Fremont there is a healthy jaboticaba tree I know of. The rare fruit orchard out there is pretty interesting and the rangers gave me the go ahead to collect scions or seeds of whatever I want.

you could plant some Jaboticaba and Jujube

Not sure I'll get the heat for jujube, but if I do, I'm interested.

[Quill]

No pomegranates?

[sfbay-southfacingslope10a]

I have a very productive bush here in Seattle. The fruit changes color weeks before it is ripe, and the seeds are large, very crunchy, and they have a strong resinous/bitter taste (the seeds, that is). However, my toddler loves them, and if you eat the fruit without crunching the seeds (roll it on the tongue and swallow seeds whole) it has a pleasant, sweet taste, sort of similar to a mild blueberry. I measured 17 brix after a week of heavy rains last week, would probably have been sweeter otherwise.

I made a batch of jelly with them this week, combined with some tart Siberian crabapples for the acid and pectin, and that is really good. But because of the bad taste of the crunchy seeds, I don't really recommend them for fresh eating. One big plus is they are ripe from September to October/November here, a time when there are few other berries around. Some photos from this week:

Ok you've convinced me. Beautiful small tree, drought tolerant, and food for birds/butterflies if I don't like it.

No pomegranates?

I would love to (along with pistachio) but I just don't think I get the summer heat here to sweeten them up. I'm going to do a little more research though, maybe find a spot on my south facing slope above the concrete.

[Galatians522]

As far as plums are concerned, you have a lot more options in California than we do in Florida. My favorite Florida Plum is Scarlet Beauty. It seems to be the best adapted to my part of the state. The best tasting plum I ever had was Gulf Ruby. However, it is susceptible to disease here even though it gets plenty of chill. I don't know what would do well in California, but Zagers have been breeding some amazing stone fruit for many years. I think that Mirabelle is a myrobalan (European) plum selection. I would imagine that other myrobalans or their hybrids might do well for you, too.

[sfbay-southfacingslope10a]

As far as plums are concerned, you have a lot more options in California than we do in Florida. My favorite Florida Plum is Scarlet Beauty. It seems to be the best adapted to my part of the state. The best tasting plum I ever had was Gulf Ruby. However, it is susceptible to disease here even though it gets plenty of chill. I don't know what would do well in California, but Zagers have been breeding some amazing stone fruit for many years. I think that Mirabelle is a myrobalan (European) plum selection. I would imagine that other myrobalans or their hybrids might do well for you, too.

Thank you, as I mentioned earlier, I have about 20 bitter almond seedling trees growing wild all over my parcel that I hope to bud graft this fall. Gulf Ruby is definitely on the list now. If you know of any other plum varieties worth growing, I'd love to hear it!  Thanks.

[Galatians522]

As far as plums are concerned, you have a lot more options in California than we do in Florida. My favorite Florida Plum is Scarlet Beauty. It seems to be the best adapted to my part of the state. The best tasting plum I ever had was Gulf Ruby. However, it is susceptible to disease here even though it gets plenty of chill. I don't know what would do well in California, but Zagers have been breeding some amazing stone fruit for many years. I think that Mirabelle is a myrobalan (European) plum selection. I would imagine that other myrobalans or their hybrids might do well for you, too.

Thank you, as I mentioned earlier, I have about 20 bitter almond seedling trees growing wild all over my parcel that I hope to bud graft this fall. Gulf Ruby is definitely on the list now. If you know of any other plum varieties worth growing, I'd love to hear it!  Thanks.

I don't know if its available in California. Don't get stone fruit bud wood from Florida or anywhere in the South East--too much risk for disease. Gulf Ruby is not self fertile and needs a pollenator, by the way.

[ScottR]

you need many eugenias surinam cherry, cherry of the rio grande, orange fruit cherry of the rio grande, guabiju=myrcianthes pungens and many other eugenias check-em out.

[drymifolia]

you need many eugenias surinam cherry, cherry of the rio grande, orange fruit cherry of the rio grande, guabiju=myrcianthes pungens and many other eugenias check-em out.

Guabiju is definitely hardy enough there, I planted two small seedlings in 2021 and they've grown very slowly but have only had very minimal dieback with some pretty cold winters the last two years. I've heard some mixed opinions about fruit quality, but mine are still probably at least a few years from producing, so I've never had the fruit.

[BloomAndSprout]

Jujube, medlar, lingonberry, chilean guava, luma / chilean myrtle.  Some of these may not get the required heat, I am not sure but could be potted and brought indoors. Such a mild climate is not my specialty.

I am in the market for some chilean guava, thanks for the reminder. I'll look into the chilean myrtle, have you tried the fruits? Even though I've never tried medlar, I'd definitely plant one as they are quite unique and ornamental. I've looked into jujube a bit already and am pretty sure I don't have the heat, but lingonberry could be great! Thanks.

Yes and no.  I actually received a plant last week with some berries on it, but alas they were underripe with a resinous taste and the rest fell off soon after.

[ScottR]

I love guabiju they have a spicy flavor skins are pretty tough though I have big fruited variety from Oscar @fruitlovers.com and a smaller fruited one from Ben Poirier in Fallbrook, Ca. Both taste the same but big one has more delice flesh to eat.

[sfbay-southfacingslope10a]

you need many eugenias surinam cherry, cherry of the rio grande, orange fruit cherry of the rio grande, guabiju=myrcianthes pungens and many other eugenias check-em out.

Guabiju is definitely hardy enough there, I planted two small seedlings in 2021 and they've grown very slowly but have only had very minimal dieback with some pretty cold winters the last two years. I've heard some mixed opinions about fruit quality, but mine are still probably at least a few years from producing, so I've never had the fruit.

Do you enjoy eating any eugenia species? I don't think I've met anyone who has tried them. I've been considering a Cherry of the Rio Grande but I'm on a suburban lot so going for stuff I know I'll like. So far as the Guabiju, I have a Myrciaria vexator - Blue Grape seed germinating, had read it was the best of the myrciaria species.