The Tropical Fruit Forum

Quote from: tru on January 23, 2023, 11:44:40 AM

my introduction to plants as a kid was honeysuckle, I'll never forget trying it and finding it unbelievable that it really tasted sweet like honey
I think a lot of species are invasive though

Honeysuckle has a better cousin, the Honeyberry/Haskap. Normally hardy zone 3-8, makes a blueberry-like fruit. Native to Siberia/Japan I believe, and not considered invasive. Florida (Zone 9+) trials going on for a few cultivars, a couple of which I bought and will receive sometime this Spring (Strawberry Sensation, Boreal Beauty).
Might be worth a try for something new, especially an easily manageable shrub.

I agree with every other suggestion posted in this thread too. If you need a purple passion vine, I'm digging mine up to replace with giant granadilla; let me know if you want to pick it up im in Broward.

Thanks for the offer. That'd be great, but I'm not going to be planting it until it warms up. Are you getting your giant granadilla from tree amigos? They had some in stock not too long ago.

Quote from: TheVeggieProfessor on November 21, 2022, 09:59:41 AM

Hi all. I am looking to plant a tree to the south of my house that can help to provide some shade. From my house to the fence, there is about 20'. My roof has an over hang of a few feet, plus I want to be able to walk comfortably around the tree, so I'm looking for something that can be maintained in the neighborhood of 12x12 or so (a little bigger is fine). I thought macadamia could be nice. I'm more interested in tropical almond, but am not sure if that will fruit well if I attempt to maintain it at 12x12. Any experiences? Other recommendations?

Tropical almond is a very large tree. We just cut down the one out front that had been topped repeatedly to save the neighbors view. I'd suggest something like barringtonia edulis if that is available and suitable for your location.

Jackfruit seeds are edible as well, kind of like little potatoes when you boil them. Worth a thought.

Thanks (I'm vegan too btw). I have a jackfruit tree and would plant another if the wife would let me.

Cut nut might grow here. I'm not sure. I'll have to research it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Hi all. I am looking to plant a tree to the south of my house that can help to provide some shade. From my house to the fence, there is about 20'. My roof has an over hang of a few feet, plus I want to be able to walk comfortably around the tree, so I'm looking for something that can be maintained in the neighborhood of 12x12 or so (a little bigger is fine). I thought macadamia could be nice. I'm more interested in tropical almond, but am not sure if that will fruit well if I attempt to maintain it at 12x12. Any experiences? Other recommendations?

I grow Project Tree Collard's purple tree collard both in Laguna Beach and Fallbrook.  I planted the cutting in Fallbrook out in full sun and it's taken 100+ degrees.  It does not grow as much during summer and the leaves taste stronger, but fine for cooking and making kale chips.  They grow well during fall and winter, at that time during winter rains, the leaves are very tender and even the larger leaves and stems taste good raw.  The color is a deeper purple as well.

My only complaint about the plant is the way it grows and it needs to be staked.  Staked it grows tall with a long stem and leaves are mostly at the top of the plant.  If you let it sprawl it will grow more side shoots but it still needs support to keep the leaves up.  At my home garden I've been just letting it meander and get support from other plants growing around it.  Plant is several years old.

I also like the purple tree collard sold by Wendiland
https://wendiland.com/collections/herbs-plants/products/tree-collard-ruffle
It has a better growth habit, sturdier stems and it's more compact.  The taste is good with a different flavor from the regular purple tree collard and once you have the plant it can also be propagated by cuttings.  I think it was selected from a garden in Las Vegas, it has grown fine in full sun in Fallbrook all summer.

I have my own perennial kale breeding project I have been working on for over a decade.  Hope to share that in the future.

Janet

Thanks so much for the information, Janet! I'll try the tree collard linked. Also, check out Chomolia (https://codycovefarm.com/product/chomolia/). A tree kale from zimbabwe. Mine made it through the summer, but was planted on the north side of my house. I just propagated to the south side. Will see how it does this summer.

It's says it's pyrethrum-based.

I'm thinking about what to plant immediately to the north of my house - just a few feet from the wall. Technically, it's not due north, but a bit northwest, so I get a very small amount of afternoon sun even in December. I was going to plant ginger there, but have been thinking about some other ideas. One thought I had was to plant some tropical persimmon seeds and see what happens. I figure it won't have leaves when that area gets a very small amount of sunlight. Plus they don't grow that big. What do you think? What other plants can I try? Something that doesn't grow too big and will play nice with my foundation.

I hear that ma'afala is slightly more cold tolerant than other breadfruit varieties and somewhat of a compact grower. I was thinking about giving it a try in south FL (10b). Any experiences with this, especially the growth habit? I have a spot that can accommodate a tree that I keep maxed out at 15x15 (though smaller would be preferred). Would this fit the bill, or too vigorous a grower?

You might want to consider planting Sapodilla tree. The fruits don't seem to attract any birds or squirrels or rats.  Also, the fruits don't look attractive when mature and I don't think most people recognize them either.

Besides, the tree is good looking, easy to grow, evergreen, not disease prone and partial sun ok. (my personal experience from growing it since 2015 in my yard).
Others may suggest differently, I am pretty sure. Good luck with your search...

Great idea. I'll go for it!

Groundnut (apios americana or prieceana), Jicama (pachyrizus sp.s), dioscorea sp., sweet corn root (calathea allouia), texas ebony (ebenopsis ebano), malabar chestnut. what about oil crops? such as acorns, cocoplums, oil palms, macadamia,. there have to be some many other nuts as well..

I commented earlier about oyster nuts. I'm planning on trying to find some seeds and trying it out next Spring. Sacha inchi seems like a great candidate as well, though I know it's a pain to process the nuts (as is the case for many nuts).

Off the top of my head I think of my old house that had english ivy growing up the southern wall, given that it's only a one story house what do you think of a vining plant like passionfruit? Good for your area, One vine gets up to 50 feet, fruits aren't too heavy and can be picked with those fruit picking poles pretty easily, + beautiful flowers

I was thinking about that. Did you put a trellis up to the south of your house or attach something to the house itself?

I like making baked green banana chips or fries. Cut the ends off, make a slit down, then peel the skin off (use a knife and cutting board you don't care about!). Then slice and bake at 400 for 20 minutes (flip half way through if you care to).

I like to boil them sometimes too.

Whatever you do, stay away from true yams (Dioscorea family).  They grow so easily that they are horribly invasive.  If you aren't careful, everywhere you look there will be a vine with a big edible root under it.  It would be terrible.

Good point. You have to stay on top of collecting the bulbils. There are varities (I've seen for sale on cody cove farms) that do not produce bulbils - so that would be the way if growing yams.

Cody cove also sells a variety of chayote that is thorny and tastes like a potato - not sure if it's just the flavor or if it in fact has higher calories.

I posted about this initially, but based on my research, it seems like oyster nuts are underrated as a staple crop for tropical/subtropical climates. A vining species that produces an abundance of easily stored and nutritious nuts. Cuttings would be preferred over seeds since you need a male and a female and won't know which is which for I think a year and a half, but I haven't been able to track them down. Going to figure out a trellising system and start from seed. Excited to give it a try. They produce for 20 years I think. The nuts are encased within a pumpkin looking thing, so my hope is the squirrels don't give too much trouble (especially if I plant them in the front yard making it difficult to add the squirrels as a sustainable protein source to my diet).

Another thought. Not food but I use soap every day. In the vein of sustainable living, growing my own soap would be valuable. Does anyone have experience with soapberry? I know I’ll need a male and female. I wonder how small these trees can be maintained while still fruiting?