The Tropical Fruit Forum

Quote from: Shovel n Seed on January 19, 2023, 09:42:45 PM

Knowing everything you've learned, where in florida would you live in order to grow sub-tropical fruits without covering for cold.  So take into account soil, hurricane damage, water etc. I just want to grow jabos, mangoes, eugenias and such without a greenhouse. And I don't want to live in a big city. The country is great.

I am a 5th gen Floridian and have lived from Land O Lakes in Pasco County, to Placida in Charlotte County. To your question I would suggest that a great location would be east/northeast of Punta Gorda, east of 17 rural and quiet, homesite acreage available.

Why do you say quality of life is no good? Seems like lots of good food can be grown, excellent recreation , multi cultural society. What is not to like?
If it's not very busy, your'e in the sticks and not much of anything happening surrounded by all the same ol same ol.

Quote from: Julie on January 20, 2023, 10:37:37 AM

I live in Miami near Homestead and the whole Miami area is very crowded.  Even Homestead is very crowded.  Yes there are farms/fields/groves, but it's still a very busy area and the city area of Homestead is very busy as well.  The quality of life here isn't good but the weather is amazing. 

Jaboticaba, I know last year was horrible but overall is Miami/Homestead still too far south to get good mango blooms?  Summer 2021 was still a great year for mangoes, I had many Glenn & Pickering mangoes.

Surest way to avoid the worst impacts of a hurricane is to not be near the coast, waterways connected to the coast, in a trailer, or in the midst of a bunch of tall trees.

Mangoes are probably the most cold sensitive of the fruits listed. How far north are people growing without cold troubles, and what varieties fare best?

I liked Merritt Island and the surrounding area when living in Melbourne for a few years. Good surf, great restaurants, and beautiful ecosystems. Vero may have some cool areas to grow, more inland. Will ask my friends near Okeechobee and Clewiston how the fruit trees are holding up and producing. West Palm Beach area or a little north of there might be worth looking at.

Down here in the burbs south of Miami, only cold protection needed is for small seedlings so far. But the most tropical plant I grow is g. mangostana (and just added breadfruit). But, lots of mangoes and lychees are appearing to flower and fruit less over the years. When you do pick your spot, pick some mangoes wisely based upon how far north or south you are, and also zone push your favs.

Homestead and the Redlands are agricultural areas south of Miami.

Hialeah has great soil, at least at my mother in law's. Digging a hole for her reticulate was like spooning butter.

Meritt Island is a good option. It is further north to encourage cooler temps for a good bloom, but the water all around moderates the lows from what I hear. It would not be a country setting. If you want country, you might have a look around the south side of lake Okeechobee. They used to say that to get any effect you had to be able to see the water. That land is pretty jealously guarded, though, I think. Maybe some other people have more recommendations?

It's all relative. There was Eugenia seeds going for $350 a seed 2 years ago that are now $5 a seed.



In 2 years, grafted Yangmei plants will start tanking too as supply increases from the literal 1,000 grafted tree's imported over the lest year.
It's pretty good fruit.

Quote from: Shovel n Seed


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Geez! Last I looked today that was at $500! Is the fruit that good?