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Topics - Epicatt2

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 5
1
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Grumichamas blooming now –or not?
« on: March 27, 2024, 12:53:28 AM »
My grumichama has been in the ground for three years, growing well, and is about seven feet tall, in partial shade.

I'm in 9b and wondering whether any of the others folks here on TFF in 9b who have grumi's that are showing blooms yet.  Mine isn't so far.

Fingers X-ed!

Paul M.
==

2
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Any way to tell the sex of . . .
« on: March 07, 2024, 02:16:34 PM »
. . . Melicoccus bijugatus (spanish lime or mamoncillo) using a visual inspection (as
can be done with Imbe, the leaves of the males and females of those being different). 

I ask because I have two plants and cannot see any particular difference bewteen them.

Any observation or suggestions are welcome...

TIA

Paul M.
==

3
I'm looking for suggestions for the best nematode resistant fig cultivars for my area. 
I have sandy soil in my yard that I know is likely to have root knot nematodes in it.

So with that in mind are there any fig cultivars suitable for here in 9b with sandy soil
which are also nematode resistant?

Of course heavy mulching and/or planting French marigolds (and turning the marigolds in
to the soil around the base of the figs after theMarigold have passed is also a suppressant
for those nematodes.

Are there other methods –other than keeping the figs in pots– to avoid nematodes?

The fig cultivars that I have in 5 or 7 gallon pots which are doing the best from top
to bottom are:

~Brown Turkey (7 gal) - fruits regualrly, but shyly
~LSU Purple (7 gal) - fruits sporadically, not every year for me
~Green Ischia (5 gal) - not yet fruited
~Celeste (3 gal) - most recent acquisition; has been dormant the last 3 months; just now
                          started leafing out

Okay any suggestions for better cultivar for my area of west central Florida are welcomed.

TIA

Paul M.
==

4
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Two one gallon pawpaws have shipped . . .
« on: February 23, 2024, 01:42:27 AM »
 . . . and when they arrive, how should they be treated here in west central Florida 9b?

These are two Asimina triloba cultivars 'Sunflower' and 'Mango' that I decided to try,
even though this could be a bit far south for them.  I chose them though because they
were originally found and selected from the more southern range for the species, the
first in Kansas and the second one in Georgia.

They will be 1 to 2 year old saplings, bareroot and dormant, when they arrive next WED
so should they go into a tall tree pot first 'til there is some new root activity, or just go
into the ground right away, and then be treated how?

Soliciting advice from any of our zone-pushing pawpaw aficionados. 
(I know you're out there!)

TIA

Paul M.
==


5
Tropical Fruit Discussion / When is best to plant out my mango?
« on: February 19, 2024, 12:52:35 AM »
I have a semi-dwarf mango in a 5 gal pot that has grown to about 7 or 8 ft tall and at this writing has just begun pushing out inflorescences.  There are about eight or so infloresences developing, so far.

As we are halfway through February would it be safe to plant this mango in the ground before it starts to set any fruit?

Any advice welcomed!

Paul M.
==

6
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Why doesn't my guava bloom or set any fruit?
« on: January 28, 2024, 01:44:29 AM »
Been growing a 'Ruby Supreme x Barbie' for four years now.  it grew to eight feet tall and needed to be cut back. 
It got a haircut in March a year ago, trimmed down to four feet then grew back to six feet by June but never bloomed.

It gets irrigated reasonably frequently and it was fertilized a couple times with 10-10-10 because I know they are heavy feeders.

Maybe my timing is off somehow on the watering, feeding, and pruning.  The plant grows well but why no fruit?

Also have a few Psidium catleyanum but they're not large enough to fruit.  Next year maybe....

Asking for some suggestions.  All welcomed.  I love guavas and would like to get that dumb plant to fruit.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

7
Does anyone know of a source for Xanthosoma brasiliense or X. hastifolia?  Some common names
for this edible aroid are Tanier spinach, Tahitian taro, belembe, quelembe, calalou . . .

My neighbor is searching for this for one of his customers, and I wouldn't mind trying it out, either.

I did a Google search but all I could find for sale was in Australia or India.  Need domestic sourcing,
if anyone knows of a seller.

TIA

Paul M.
==

8
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Problem with 'Sabará' . . . .
« on: January 12, 2024, 01:26:13 PM »
I have a 'Sabará' in a 5 gal pot.  I set it in a saucer because It kept wilting from the Florida heat this past summer and that seemed to be the only way to provide it with enough water.  It also sat under a shaded pergola with 1 gpm misters (4) up above the pergola area that I could  run for it and the other plants under the pergola.

But the 'Sabará' eventually wilted and its leaves turned brown and dried up, and later fell off.

I checked it yesterday because it has shown no regrowth so I scraped it with my thumbnail at the base of the trunk, which is about 1 in' in dia., and it is still green under the bark.

So . . .   Looking for advice for how to get this 'Sabará' to 'come back to life.'

Any and all advice and suggestions welcome.

Fingers X-ed!

Paul M.
==

9
I just discovered that the Goodnature Squirrel trap  (model A18) for gray squirrels and rats
is now available for sale in the US from Automatic Trap Co. in California.

It is $249 normally, but as of this writing is on sale for $199.00.  I just ordered one in the
hope that I might get to eat some avocadoes off my tree this coming season.  Trap was
delivered to me in Florida from Cal. in about three days, very well packed, complete and
ready to use (free shipping, too). However you wlll need to get peanut butter or hazelnut
butter to bait the trap with.

Here's a link:
https://www.automatictrap.com/products/a18-squirrel-trap-kit

BTW, I have no monetary interest in mentioning this item.  It just looks to be humane and
effective.

OK — HTH

Paul M.
==

10
Tropical Fruit Discussion / White sapote roots — are they invasive?
« on: January 02, 2024, 05:06:45 AM »
I've read that white sapote's (Casimiroa edulis) root run can reach a good ways out from the tree's base.  The suggestion was to not plant a white sapote within 25 feet of one's house or a concrete sidewalk because the roots might buckle the concrete, etc.

Mine is in a 5 gal pot (for over 3 yrs, now) and while it's kinda scrawny it's about 15 feet tall and has finally branched from just the top third, upwards.  It definitely needs to go into the ground this season.  I'm guessing that it should be planted while we're still in the cooler parts of the year.  I have mostly sandy soil. 

Once planted and established this season I'm thinking that it should probably be toppped at about 4 to 5 feet and lthen let it regrow from there.  Or would that be too drastic of a prune?

Could some of our TFF members who have experience with growing white sapote comment on these questions, please?

HYN All,

Paul M.
==

11
I have a 'Mexicola Grande' avocado that will at maturity be some 25 feet tall and
which has shot up to about 18 feet tall.  Is this a good time to prune it during our
twoor three colder months here in west central Florida?

I'm wanting to take the top out (and shape it) to about 8 or 9 feet tall to help make
it easier to pick.

Also have a seedling 'Mexicola' avocado which will only get about 15 feet tall at
maturity.  Can that (eventually) be pruned during the same cooler months here
as the 'Mexicola Grande'? 

I'm guessing that the 'Mexicola' could be kept pruned to 7 to 8 feet satisfactorily. 

Or is this too short to cut back both cultivars?  Anyone on hee growing these two
cultivars have advice?

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

12
I have two Kwai Muks planted out in the yard since July/August of this year.  They were planted in full sun and have started to grow now and have added at least a foot in height since being planted out, just now breaking 4 ft tall.  I bought two for cross pollination, hoping for better fruit set.

When they begin to fruit if one is tastier than the other I'm wondering whether this species is amenable to taking cuttings and rooting them.  Or maybe it's better to root a branch while still on the plant, before removing it to plant out.

Anyone here who's growing Kwai Muk with ideas about this to share?

Comments, suggestions, advice, all welcomed.

Cheers!

Paul M.
Tampa, FL
...in the 'new' zone 10a (with fingers crossed!)
==

13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Feijoa hardiness in Concord, NC , , , , ?
« on: November 13, 2023, 12:00:58 PM »
I'm wanting to gift a friend in Concord, NC (zone 7b) a couple of early cropping feijoa cultivars for her yard. 

I would prefer to get a couple of New Zealand cultivars, ones which would be more cold tolerant since Concord, in zone7b, is close to the top end of their hardiness range.

Wanting ideally self-fertile cultivars, but with two cultivars planted near eaach other that's not necesary.

Any suggestions for early season ripening NZ cultivars that may be more cold tolerant?

All suggestions welcomed as well as for US sourcing!  (I've searched a bit online already w/o real success.)

Paul M.
Tampa, FL
==

14
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Overwintering Eugenia stipitatum in FL 9b . . .
« on: November 08, 2023, 07:21:15 PM »
Just replaced my deceased araça-boi (E. stipitatum) which died after this past spring's cold temps in Tampa.

The new one is small but healthy (about 12-in tall) and has gone into a 2 gal pot beause I understand that this species is a fast grower.

Apart from protecting this one from the cool weather, is it going to want any kind of dry-off during DEC or JAN?

Any suggestions welcome.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

15
Wanting to find sources to buy Asimina triloba grafted named cultivar saplings.

Not having any luck googling this info so am hoping that some of our TFF members might know some places they could share on here.

Fingers X-ed!  & TIA

Paul M.
==


16
I'm sorely tempted to try a clone of Asimina triloba hoping to discover one that requires minimal chilling hours which might set fruit here in Tampa (9b).

I suspect that there are a few TFF members in 9b who've tried growing A. triloba and maybe someone has found a cultivar that has set fruit for them in central Florida.

Fingers X-ed!

Paul M.
==

17
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Pawpaws (fruit) for sale and/or to ship . . . .
« on: September 27, 2023, 04:11:19 AM »
[Sorry I should have posted this on the Buy, Sell, Trade forum –PM]

Pawpaw season is starting up and I'm wondering whether there are others who have or
will have pawpaws to sell, besides the one or two TFF members who earlier on here
mentioned that they have pawpaw fruits for sale to ship.

I'd like to try some of the different named varieties of pawpaw since it is unlikely that I
could ever grow Asimina triloba here in Tampa (9b) and get it to set fruit.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

18
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Banana cultivar availability . . . . ?
« on: September 21, 2023, 04:43:42 PM »
Just was looking for a couple banana cultivars on Going Bananas of Homestead's website and noticed that they no longer do any mailouts of product.  Apparently they are only cash & carry now.

So where should one look for a decent selection of banana cultivars here in Florida that do ship?  Or is it mostly a scatter-shot effort?

Ssuggestions welcomed . . . .

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

19
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Article Re-Post on COFFEE research . . .
« on: September 17, 2023, 08:45:27 PM »

Gentle TFF Members,

Coffee is a tropical crop/product and so of interest to some of us TTF members on here who grow it.  That coffee may soon be going provide us with certain unexpected medical benefits should make this article from the Tico Times, a Costa Rican online newspaper, very interesting to some of our TFF members.  So despite it being not directly on-topic to TFF, I have included it here below for those who may be interested.     –Paul M.
-  -  -  -  -

Beyond the Bean: Costa Rica’s Coffee Antibiotic Breakthrough

Researchers from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) have shed light on an unexpected potential of a coffee by-product, coffee mucilage.

Historically overlooked, this substance has demonstrated significant antimicrobial properties, building on the already known ability of certain coffee components to inhibit bacterial growth.  [ snip ]


[The rest of this Tico Times article is available at the link below for anyone interested in it.]

https://ticotimes.net/2023/09/12/beyond-the-bean-costa-ricas-coffee-antibiotic-breakthrough

Comments, anyone?

20
Found this blurb in the "Tico Times", a Costarrican Online Newspaper and thought that it might be of interest on some level to our TFF members:

The Del Monte Zero pineapple, grown exclusively in Costa Rica by Fresh Del Monte has become a finalist in the New Launch category of the 2023 World Sustainability Awards, to take place this coming October in Amsterdam. This category highlights innovative products or services unveiled in the past year that have an instantaneous positive societal effect.

What makes Del Monte’s Zero unique? “This pineapple is the world’s first to achieve carbon neutral certification,” noted Michael Calderon, a Del Monte spokesman. “The accolade signifies a harmonious equilibrium between emitted greenhouse gases and proactive endeavors, and constant monitoring of our transportation fleet’s emissions to minimize the carbon footprint”. Other areas contributing to the nomination showed the company has curtailed greenhouse gases by a whopping 22.64%, purchased six new fuel-efficient transportation vessels and initiated renewable solar and wind energy installations in California and Costa Rica."

(Source: TicoTimes)

¡Pura Vida!

Paul M.
==

21
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Kent mango with green skin . . . .
« on: August 16, 2023, 02:20:09 AM »
I recently wrote that I bought two mangoes from a Publix here in Tampa.  The stickers code them to Kent.

One is greenish-yellow  (mostly yellow) with a nice red blush on its cheek.  Ther other is mostly with a dark green skin and a slight red blush.  Both are hard but just starting to soften, but only very slightly.  And both are heavy weighting about two pounds each.

Oddly the dark green skinned one has more mango odor thatn the greenish-yellow one.

Is it possible that the one with the dark green skin could ripen and be edible ahead of the greenish-yellow one?

They both still need a few more days to soften up a bit more, but to know if they are ripe should I go more on softness or on smell?

Advice welcomed . . . . .

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

22
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Garcinias in shade.... Eugenias, too???
« on: August 12, 2023, 08:51:32 AM »
The Garcinias I know from here in Brazil are all shade loving forest species. They actually grow taller in extremely shaded conditions and less in full sun. They rise from he forest floor across a decade or so before fruiting. My false mangosteen and true mangosteen seem to act the same and it’s all a similar climate (equatorial pluvial forest). This is a feature of the garcinias because you can plant them together with other big trees and they’ll happily grow.

The recent thread mentioning that Garcinias tend to like some shade is interesting and illuminating (no pun intended).

This has prompted me to wonder whether much the same may apply to certain Eugenia species, and if so which ones in particular.

I'm sure that there are TFF members growing various Eugenia species who can comment on whether they seem to do better when provided more shade, or.....?

Some shade is surely inportant for many tropicals, especially with the intense heat and strong sun that so many of us have been experiencing this season.  [whew!]

Comments invited!

Paul M.
Tampa — 9b
==


23
My 'Mexicola Grande' has been in the ground now for five years and seems healthy and is pushing 20' tall now.

Last spring (of '22) I pruned the top out of it to keep it smaller for easier picking, shortenng it to about 8' to10' tall.  But it has already jumped back up and needs to be pruned and shaped again.

So how late –it's the start of August at this writing– can I prune this avocado without interrupting the bloom cycle for next season ('24)?  I want to bring it back down to 8' to 10' again for easier picking.

Suggestions welcomed . . .

Cheers!

Paul M.
Tampa — 9b
==

24
Tropical Fruit Discussion / NDM vs NDM#4
« on: July 26, 2023, 03:54:43 AM »
Are 'Nam Doc Mai' and 'Nam Doc Mai #4' the same or are they different?

If different then how, exactly?  And how does one know the difference?  Are there visible ways to tell?

I'm still mostly novice with mangoes so help is appreciated . . . .

Cheers!

Paul M.
Tampa — 9b
==

25
Just potted up the several pineapple crowns/cultivars that I received from one of our kind TFF members.

Now how are they best treated 'til they become reasonably well extablished in the (recommended) potting mix?  They have been immobilized with bamboo sticks so that the roots can get a good foothold.  I am starting them in one gallon pots and will move them to two gallons when a good root system is established.

I'm guessing 50% sun/shade 'til they have a good root system put down and they can them be moved to brighter light.

Or should they get bright sunlight right away to begin with??

Cheers!

Paul M.
Tampa — 9b
==

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