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Messages - slopat

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1
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / Re: Biter Melon Aril Tastes like Cherry Candy?
« on: February 27, 2023, 02:05:46 AM »
I'll have to try growing this one too, it'll probably be a challenge as the nights cool down most of the time and last year I finally found a variety that finally produced and sized up decently. Not quite sure what to make of this but most of the bittermelon I've seen becomes sweet as they turn overripe orange yellow.  Even my cat used to lick them. So I never knew that term "arils" nor that it was edible so thanks for that. Flesh sliced thin and stir fry with either beef, pork, or chicken in black bean sauce is what I'm used to. Leaves for tea is soso. But arils?

Now I just had a flashback of cubed overripe orange bittermelon steamed with shrimp paste and Chicharrones!



2
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: 2022 December Yangmei (Myrica Rubra) Group Order
« on: January 20, 2023, 06:25:02 PM »
Crazy but we are just a day or two shy of the 22 Jan 2022 pickups!

Nice job and many thanks for organizing  successful group buys!

3
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: All this rain in California
« on: January 14, 2023, 05:40:35 PM »
I have some friends who worked at Paramount back in the 90s and they were already aware and working towards minimizing water usage... micro irrigation vs "flooding " etc because the costs back then per acre foot, deep wells and acquaduct, were relatively crazy. Talk about weather stations and all to figure out plant eTo requirements for optimal growth. 

The news is that the next generation farmers are opting to grow either homes or solar now. So much less risk and working every day of the year, sun or rain.

The scary part is that imported foods is more likely going forward.

Yeah, we also had tons if issues here in SLO but nothing compared to the march flooding after the highway 41 fire... for context,  Avila Valley (   https://www.google.com/maps/place/35%C2%B011'14.4%22N+120%C2%B042'40.3%22W/@35.1872342,-120.7108401,18z/data=!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d35.187341!4d-120.711199?force=pwa&source=mlpwa ). The water was flowing the "entire" valley, hillside to hillside to the ocean.

Interesting article:
https://www.worldometers.info/food-agriculture/pesticides-by-country/

4
Citrus General Discussion / Re: kishu is very much worthwhile
« on: January 07, 2023, 03:38:09 AM »
Concur on how tasty Kishus are. Locally good here but the ones I buy at farmer's market, seller from Exeter California,  are a little bit sweeter. CalPoly has enough for Upick and at Von's 'shop local' and farmer's.  I have a 10+ year old pixie that I am really considering top working or approaching with a Kishu. Normally I like to peel the segments but for the Kishu I peel and just take off the white and eat a dozen :) 

My kids like them too and daughter keeps asking why i didn't plant them. 🙃   although Owari Satsuma remains my top favorite, dried rinds for cooking too ;D 

5
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Calamansi pot size and pruning
« on: December 27, 2022, 10:37:39 PM »
There was a post here about trees in "mobile" pots a while ago within the past 2 years. One linking to an article about trees in Europe (France?) And what Kaz does with a large wheeled garbage can! Those posts might help.

6
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: YUN CHANG Pruning Shears -- Anyone tried these? The price is right/
« on: December 26, 2022, 11:36:23 AM »
Under $10 each was the trigger to buy 2 also!  So far after 18+ months, they are a good buy. One in the wife's car so it's available to trim flowers when visiting the cemetery and one to "loan" when someone wants to borrow etc. The Felco's stay safe. :)  Overall though,  the are pretty good deals for certain use cases. Too bad they are unavailable now. Thanks for the info zands, Brian,  and Al!


Quote from: pinkturtle on May 16, 2021, 01:28:11 PM
Quote from: brian on May 16, 2021, 12:48:50 PM
thanks for pointing this out, zands.  When there's such a large price difference between non-name chinese sellers and renowned quality I always try the cheap stuff first and see how it does.  Often it is just fine, and if not then I try the expensive kind.  I was just thinking I needed more pruners because I keep leaving mine all around the house and my wife uses them too.  It looks like the black color version of the link you posted is now only $8.50... I ordered two.  I'll let you know how they are

https://www.amazon.com/YunChang-Pruning-Shears-Pruner-Scissors/dp/B085T3H4NK
$16.99 & "50% off with promo code U9D4NZKY"

Thanks Brain,

I have a Felco but can't resist a deal buy one get one free.
Thanks for the promo code, I ordered 2 to give it a try. 

Al

7
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Tropical Fruit Forum Annual Fundraiser 2022 (Please Contribute If You Can!)
« on: December 19, 2022, 10:31:38 AM »
$20 donated

Thanks and happy holidays!

8
Citrus General Discussion / Re: Citrus Fruits - Ripe in SoCal December
« on: December 14, 2022, 04:56:55 PM »
Not speaking for Teds ideas,  my thoughts would be how they taste? ( at least #11 and #20 would be interesting and different use case?  )

 
Quote from: sc4001992 on December 14, 2022, 04:48:11 PM
"Digital taste comparison"

Do you mean what is the brix readings of all the different fruits?

9
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Parkinson's in the setting of PawPaw consumption (and other Annonaceaes) article
« on: October 25, 2022, 03:43:50 PM »
Most items should be consumed in moderation. 

Even drinking too much plain water can be hazardous( lookup radio station water contest Sacramento,  ca). FWIW, I know of at least 5 people who have Parkinson's, tremors,  or ALS who have never knowlingly eaten pawpaws or cherimoyas.

30 lbs is a lot, how would one not suffer from IBS symptoms?

But still,  good to know the repercussions of.

10
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Finally, a Red Finger Lime that grows well in So. Florida
« on: October 08, 2022, 04:06:56 PM »
Nice!

Btw: I just saw some at farmers market this morning.  Calpoly SLO's horticulture,  $5/lb. The ladies were constantly explaining what they were and uses to people.


11
Temperate Fruit Discussion / Re: source to buy rootstock
« on: September 04, 2022, 06:51:17 PM »
Brad likes Burn Ridge. https://www.burntridgenursery.com/mobile/searchprods.asp?val=11&pagenumber=1&searchstring=Rootstock

I've ordered from one green world and   raintree

https://onegreenworld.com/?s=Rootstoc
https://raintreenursery.com/collections/rootstock

Or get in on a local CRFG group buy, saves on shipping!

12
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fig Trees Recommended to grow in Fresno County cal ???
« on: September 04, 2022, 06:41:53 PM »

Former fig paradise.  The fig garden area has been supplanted by homes and other development!

I was visiting some relatives out in Sanger last month, Academy and Shaw/Ashland,  and it's no longer the "boonies" allright. Probably better than west Fresno at least. Just too freaking hot and foggy cold out there for me.

Perhaps calimyrna figs if the wasps are still around?


Quote from: hammer524 on September 03, 2022, 11:23:15 PM
check out ourfigs.com. you are located in fig paradise.

13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Anyone making small batch avocado oil?
« on: August 20, 2022, 10:58:18 PM »
That's all there is to it?

Dang, great idea to make our own! Considering it's $10+ a liter at Costco, if there's extra fruit falling off the tree!

Have you noticed variations between say Reed and Mexicola etc?

14
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: CENTRAL COAST CA Fruit Get Together Sept 3, 2022
« on: August 18, 2022, 02:16:39 AM »
I'll second this idea!

Quote from: ScottR on August 17, 2022, 12:39:50 PM
Kevin, maybe a late Winter early Spring get together could be fun time to exchange scion's and all :o
Will see I guess ::)

15
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: How close can I plant avocado trees?
« on: July 26, 2022, 04:23:34 PM »
Would a Finger lime and jujube hedge as living fence work?

16
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Recommendations: Pruning tools
« on: July 01, 2022, 07:29:33 PM »
The Milwaukee M12 looks nice!  Btw, speaking of Milwaukee,  the Sawzall works great for roots.

Last Christmas,  I scored on woot for a corded pole saw for ~$50+tax, free prime shipping. Have mowed down a dying narly 30 year old weeping willow , only the trunk and some 6+inch limbs awaits the chain saw. Spent more time being careful on the cuts vs sawing.  The 12awg cord is a hassle but a lot easier than the manual pole saw that ironically cost more 15+ years ago.

Sun Joe Electric Multi-Angle Pole Saw https://sellout.woot.com/offers/sun-joe-electric-multi-angle-pole-saw-1?utm_medium=share&utm_source=app

Felco and 2 if the $8 pruners Zands posted about last year. $8 to prune sappy stuff, as "loaners" or left in the truck for as needed.

I keep eyeing the Cordless chainsaws but if I didn't already have both red and yellow lines , they'd be even far too expensive. Maybe a good black friday deal this year?

17
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Proper plant packaging to endure the abuse and delays
« on: June 29, 2022, 07:12:26 PM »
UPS is great most of the time, just be aware that during the Christmas holidays it may be different.  Loaders are super rushed filling the trailers at night and if a small package slips closer to the bottom,  a larger and/or heavier package may end up on top.  Not a pretty sight at all when the trailer is unloaded.

All of them have issues occasionally,  USPS sent a package in a detour to Boise last year,  before going up 101 for a "short" ~180 mile trip and arriving a week later. A bicyclists would have been faster. Regarding damage, UPS decided to see how flexible a package was a few months ago... good thing it was a grape vine, but the bamboo support stick broke! Ever try breaking a 1/4 inch bamboo?




Concur that good packing helps a ton.

Quote from: Polypterus on June 29, 2022, 06:18:53 PM
For anything larger than seeds or seedlings, I tend to go with UPS for this reason. They're generally cheaper for larger packages, and usually always handle them better.
...


18
Cold Hardy Citrus / Re: Fukushu grafted to Flying dragon
« on: June 28, 2022, 09:32:41 PM »
Nice!

Looks like the rooftop been working out well for you.

19
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Free- Peluche Loquat scion wood (Contest) # 7 UPDATED
« on: June 24, 2022, 02:15:57 PM »
I didn't pay attention to this thread at all... can I get a raincheck? The KT1 used up my rootstock or existing tree space and seedlings are tiny toothpicks.

Date Registered:June 05, 2020, 19:26:06

This is my 2nd year anniversary month

20
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fruit party?
« on: June 22, 2022, 03:51:51 PM »
LOL, even after another 11 years, you'll still be busy! :)   As a parent I now kind of know what my parents had to deal with, kids never grow up and house projects are forever!

One of these days, too bad I didn't find this forum before COVID when I was travelling down to San Diego monthly for work!

Quote from: spaugh on June 22, 2022, 10:53:44 AM
... Ive been extremely busy with house projects and homeschooled 1 kid through 1st grade this year.  Things are finally almost settling down and I have time to relax a bit...

21
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Papayas don't thrive
« on: June 15, 2022, 03:45:32 PM »
My sister in Hawaii just buries the seeds in a corner of the yard and a few months later, papayas magically appear. They get chopped down when the fruits get picked or grow too tall and the cycle repeats. No real effort as they seem to grow like weeds there  So nice to pick some papayas and a lemon or two at the same time.  Served chilled and splashed with lemon juice,  good stuff! 


Quote from: roblack on June 15, 2022, 01:47:40 PM
Papaya can be tough to repot and plant; roots tend to be sensitive. Might just need some time to recover, or not. Best papaya plants for me tend to be from seeds that sprouted out of the ground.

22
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Overhyped avocados
« on: May 28, 2022, 09:06:14 PM »
I like making guacamole with my bacon avocados more so than hass,  mexicola/stewart, reeds , and definitely zutano.  Add pressed garlic and fresh ground pepper to a creamy smooth mash. My tree is so much happier now that the neighbors gigantic eucalyptus is gone. Btw, seems to freeze ok as guacamole too.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the various trials.

23
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Trying Barbados cherry in 8B
« on: May 26, 2022, 08:10:37 PM »
Had purchased 2 last spring and growing nicely until winter. Left them unprotected next to a small mango, avocado seedlings, nate's yangmeiseedlings,  and grafted persimmon.  Also dead as Kevin's but everything else is happily green and growing.

Maybe it needs to be protected until larger ?  At least they were cheap and an experiment.

Quote from: K-Rimes on May 26, 2022, 05:45:25 PM
It died for me in 9b, but I also wasn't protecting it.

24
Temperate Fruit Discussion / while reading an article about planting apples
« on: May 13, 2022, 11:58:38 PM »
I think I've identified a source of my diminishing writing skill, I can't blame the years of talking to my kids since they were born..

https://www.justagric.com/how-to-prepare-soil-for-apple-trees/amp/

See if you find what I read.

Reading the article U of Minnesota helped straighten my thoughts.

https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples

25
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fertilizer and other increases. How is it affecting you how are U adapting?
« on: May 12, 2022, 02:06:25 PM »
Isn't there some warnings about some herbicides that may not be adequately brokendown? Sprayed hay eaten by horses and composted that still has residuals?

And after reading the other thread about septic tanks, precautions should be taken to "test" municipal stuff before applying or simply avoiding for edibles.




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