The Tropical Fruit Forum

Hi Harry, my maprang is flowering now as well.  Actually this is the second "wave" of flowers (I hesitate to call the first attempt of 2 inflorescences a wave! lol) this year.  It also flowered last year however not a single fruit set.  Mine was imported from Thailand and labeled "sweet" maprang, which I believe is translated as "Wan", though I am not suggesting that it is the cultivar 'Wan'.  With a little luck, we can have a blind taste test in a few months!   

Hi Oscar,  I did take a couple of pictures, which are attached.  I was with Chris Rollins at the time and he said he didn't know what it was and that what it came labeled as, it was not.  Its located near the jaboticaba grouping if anyone is in the area and wants to get a closer look.  I'll try to get more (better) pictures.  The taste was not really sour, at least when overripe.

Top 5 in no particular order:

Durian
Pulasan
Cherapu
Mango
Watermelon

That said, I'll eat almost any fruit (and there are LOTS of other fantastic fruit - tropical, subtropical and temperate) however two exceptions immediately come to mind:  Surinam-cherry and Noni!

I hate having to protect anything from the cold. If it can't handle the cold, it deserves to die.

Bite your tongue!  It's crowded enough here.  We do not need all those Northerners moving down when you take away their protection from the cold!   

My sweet maprang ('Wan'?) flowered a month ago, but nothing set.  Do these plants only flower once a season, or like mango, multiple waves?

Murahilin mentioned on Harry's farm post about purchasing a refractometer to measure sugar content.  This got me to thinkin (you're shocked, i know)... where does everyone buy their scientific instruments?  Which places have a good reputation for quality?

Thanks,
Warren

Ah...fond memories!     I recall that a few years ago Dr. Richard Campbell was trying something with the trees at the Whitman Pavillion.  Not sure how it worked out.  Noel, did you notice any corky bark when you were there? 

Regarding cocoplum, since they are planted locally mostly for their ornamental value, the chances of running across a great(?) tasting fruit are somewhat reduced, similar to all the Surinam-cherries planted all over south Florida as hedges.  (Don't get me started on those!)  However, I do find that the seed of the cocoplum has a nice, nutty flavor - much better than the fruit.

Regarding Noris' description of black sapotes, keep in mind that they are promoting the fruit to get people to come to the festival, so some embellishment is to be expected. (Hopefully they never have a Surinam-cherry festival!  lol)

Harry, thanks for sharing that there is a Possum Trot carambola and black sapote.  I'd never heard of those, only the Possum Purple passion fruit.  I learn something every day! 

As to Gene Joyner's "everbearing" variety, have you ever got fruit other than the normal season?  I've got (or had) a piece grafted onto my tree and not only were the fruit nothing special, they only bore at the same time as my other grafted variety on the same tree.

The best fruits in the entire picture are those mombins. Delicious. I could eat those every day.
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Why, are you out of mamoncillo? 

Noel, do you know if it is a vine like the Uvaria rufa we saw at TARS? 

There is a church located conveniently across the street.  Coincidence?  I'll be there volunteering Sunday from 10am to 1:30pm at the Tropical Fruit & Veggie Society table should anyone be there at that time.  Don't be shy.  No petting offered.