The Tropical Fruit Forum

Anecdotal but I had a small Achacha probably about 9 inches outdoors and it looks like it didn't make it here in 10B.  Probably a combo of the cold/rain/windy winter we have had (for Southern California standards anyways) and its young age.  I did tuck it away indoor about halfway through winter but probably too little too late.  Garcinia Madruno on the other hand basically went through the same conditions and is perfectly fine.  I may try getting an Achacha again, but seems like a lot of time and work babying it here in infancy to get it going.

Really interested in hearing about the commitment in different zones to make psidiums thrive. In SoCal they are very easy to grow near the coast and inland a bit.  I keep.all my Psidiums outdoor. The regular psidium guavas I have had no issue at all basically all winter long.  The Cas guava though defoliated quite a bit with all this cold rainy winter for us but mine is young and only maybe 1.5 feet tall.  Doesn't seem to matter anyways as its already pushing new growth near the bottom and branches as well.  Cattley guava sprout that I have didn't even figure out it's winter yet.  My other guava sprouts don't really mind coming up in the middle of winter either.

My real interest is in seeing if there are any Psidiums that can pose a bigger challenge for me here (maybe one of those species coming from Cerrado region).

Hello fellow tropical geeks.

I have a few too many plants sprouting and I wanted to share the love.  This is for local pickup in San Diego area only.

Thai White guava (1 whole small tray available) - $2
These are outdoors already in a unheated greenhouse and taking the end of winter cold like a champ.



Bo Hong Star Apple - Chrysophyllum Cainito (3 available) - $3 each
Obtained from Frankies Nursery in Hawaii.  Apologies for having them in plastic bottle greenhouses for now so not the best container but they are happy for now.



Pitangatuba - Eugenia Selloi (1 available) - $4



Red Sugar Apple - Annona Squamosa germinated seeds (2 available) - $1 for both



These are inflation busting prices for some babies ready for spring and that is why I also will not ship them.  Shoot me a message if interested.

I think 9B is teetering on its habitable zone so there is that.  I would just wait and see if it bounces back when Spring warms up.

I'm talking real cherries but if anyone knows of a care free tropical that will do well unattended for long periods that would be welcome.  Mountainous area like I am referring to has mostly arid forest climate with possible hot summer days into 90s and coldest days of maybe 20F with snow and freezing rain possible (area gets light snowfall usually, don't think it got very much this season so far).

No permit I believe.  The seller has multiple retail points ebay, etsy, direct website and I didn't see anything about it except disclaimer that not responsible if confiscated/destroyed.  A small sample size but I have placed maybe a few orders or so with them in the past, like I said everything made it except one package so just be aware.  Quality from them I have had mixed results, the only thing I have left from them I am waiting on to sprout is Uvaria Littoralis (fingers crossed at least one pops up).

I have gotten some seeds from them (not this species) before and received them timely enough and in good condition.  One of them did get confiscated from USDA though so I would just say to be cautionary because I believe they are based internationally in Israel if I recall.  Fortunately that was a small order they destroyed but the others made it to California just fine.

I would say it is hard to say with Duguetia.  I have heard some that say certain species can withstand a frost, but I think there is not a whole lot of data or examples of mature trees in the US.  Until we have more people getting these to adulthood, then we could have a better idea of how tolerant they are.

I am going to have to take a second look at Opuntia. They grow naturally like weeds here.  May pick up a Melocactus out of curiosity because they are relatively cheap and endangered, though looking at some specific species I noticed a fair amount of them hardy to zone 11 so they would probably have to be brought in during winter here in So Cal.  I think the beauty of fruiting cactus is that at least here they can be mostly care free of their needs and let the sun and rain do the work.

Could be the cold.  My malaysian guava dropped a few older leaves towards the bottom. Cas guava same thing (but I believe it is more cold sensitive) and already bouncing back with new growth.  But losing all leaves sounds a little more serious.  Guava trees are resilient so you should be fine once you figure out the issue.

The Uvaia I think is okay if dried but you will want to soak and then sow.  Probably if fresh it would be better germination rate.  Just my experience so far with Rufa, still haven't seen Chamae pop up.  I also have Uvaia Littoralis seeds that I need to do this process and they are dry right now so I think dryness is acceptable.

Good to know other Pouteria are similar in that sense.  I had a mamey sapote fruit and the seed inside was already partially germinated and was cracked a bit already.  I simply used my hands and pulled it apart.  That was back in October, 70 days later and the leaves showed up and are growing slowly indoors for now (cold sensitive when young I believe).