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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: first fruit from Eugenia spp. "aff Arvensis"
« on: December 02, 2025, 10:54:32 AM »
I should be getting a ripe fruit here in CA for the first time. Not very high hopes
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Yang Mei grown as hedges
« on: December 01, 2025, 01:20:04 PM »
I'll give it a shot and report back in a couple years how well it turns out. It should be interesting what fruit the seedlings make.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Yang Mei grown as hedges
« on: November 30, 2025, 08:20:25 PM »
I have 10 or so 1 year seedlings growing. I have a strip of ground that I pulled bushes out of that were next to our house. Would Yangmei be good as hedges? If I planted them like 2-3 feet apart in a line and kept them pruned when too high, would that work? I have heard of Yangmei just randomly dying and being sensitive. I am worried that pruning them will be detrimental.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Fertilizing and Rain for next weekend!
« on: November 16, 2025, 09:20:20 PM »
Santa Barbara has already received a lot of rain. My old place was directly beside the "San Marcos Pass" weather station, which has received 8" of rain already.
Wish I'd gotten more fertilizer down in the yard, but rain alone seems to juice plants up pretty good in comparison to well or city water.
I’m always amazed at how much more rain you guys get in SB than we do on the coast in LA. There’s orographics for you I guess… (PV averages 13 inches per year! Last year we only got 6…)
It is certainly an anomaly in California for how south it is. Even just 40 min north, the totals can be half. I see why the Chumash natives did so well here. This is a really great start to the rain year, but I am cautious to say this will be a great year overall. Can't recall which year it was when it was hot and heavy with the rain to start and then stayed dry all the way till March
How useful to trees is rain late fall/early winter? When they are dormant, is water even useful? I would think only Spring showers are useful leading into active growing periods. I am not an expert, so I am quite curious.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Yangmei (Morella/Myrica rubra) thread
« on: November 14, 2025, 05:59:04 PM »All of my group order yangmei are dead now. I agree Kevin, I purchase 2-3 larger cerifera in 3 gallon pots, mail order. They all died on me in 3 months. Even the smaller cerifera from Etsy all died, almost like the bare root yangmei, dies when it feels like it. I better just plant all my seeds from the fresh fruit orders.
All mine are seed grown. Got 20 or so growing, now about 2 feet high. I've lost way too much on grafted trees.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Taste testing some rare passion fruits
« on: November 09, 2025, 02:00:38 PM »I've had Frederick's passion fruit as sweet as both Quinmi #9 and Taiwanese purple, but my Frederick's vine is over 20 years old. I've heard that what it being propagated as Frederick is not the same as the original variety, but age of my vine and the fertility of my garden may also be contributing factors. I have many Quinmi #9 fruit hanging now as well as fruits from seedlings that I started from Quinmi #9 fruits.
Janet
20 years old for a passion fruit vine is crazy. I am curious about the longevity of seed grown vs cutting grown. I have always heard 5-7 years is typical
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Qinmi #9 passion fruit cold hardiness
« on: October 29, 2025, 01:06:24 AM »
I'll let you know after this winter!
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Passion Fruit seeds and other fruit trees (guava, surinam, Corg, Grapes)
« on: October 21, 2025, 03:31:35 PM »
I do all my seed germination and seedling growing under grow lights with heat mats at my work which is temperate controlled at like 74 F. Once things get big enough, then they go outside under shade clothe depending on the climate, and then acclimated to full sun. This allows me to get a head start during winter. Right now I am growing all my Luc's Garcinias inside, and they are doing fantastic. I will transplant them spring time.
For germination soil, it just do peat + perlite + sand/DG
I use the seed starting trays from Epicgardening. They are durable and re-usable.
For germination soil, it just do peat + perlite + sand/DG
I use the seed starting trays from Epicgardening. They are durable and re-usable.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Taste testing some rare passion fruits
« on: October 14, 2025, 09:17:49 PM »
Here is a picture of my Qinmi loaded with fruit. Here is a also a picture of my DennisxQinmi which is looking pretty big. I also built a living shade structure to train passion fruit vines up.
I don't know what the secret is. I guess lots of mulch and plenty of water.
I don't know what the secret is. I guess lots of mulch and plenty of water.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Taste testing some rare passion fruits
« on: October 14, 2025, 05:09:38 PM »
My qinmi #9 is making crazy amounts of fruit. It is a year and a half old from being a stick. It made hundreds of fruit this summer. Very sweet and flavorful, even when not totally ripe. Very happy with this variety.
I crossed Qinmi #9 with Dennis, and grew out 10 or so seedlings. 4 of my seedlings have produced fruit so far! One of them is large like Dennis. We shall see if it is sweet like Qinmi!
I crossed Qinmi #9 with Dennis, and grew out 10 or so seedlings. 4 of my seedlings have produced fruit so far! One of them is large like Dennis. We shall see if it is sweet like Qinmi!
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Can someone help to Identify Younghan's Gold's White Sapote Leaf?
« on: October 05, 2025, 02:11:11 AM »I got one from Kaz and it is slightly fuzzy on bottom. My other white sapote has much fuzzier leaves.My other one Vernon is just like a paper no fuzzy bottom, good to know Younghan's Gold has slightly fuzzy bottom side ...
From a previous post, Kaz says, "I just wondering myself why some varieties such as Younghan's Gold has yellow flesh when ripe but the leaves have no fuzz underneath it."
So now I am pretty confused too.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Can someone help to Identify Younghan's Gold's White Sapote Leaf?
« on: October 04, 2025, 11:14:20 AM »
I got one from Kaz and it is slightly fuzzy on bottom. My other white sapote has much fuzzier leaves.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Consortium of Cacti and all things spiny! - thread for Cacti lovers
« on: October 01, 2025, 02:53:05 PM »Yes, I dipped the cut end using light Hormex #1 Rooting Powder on cacti to help get things going and develop a better root system. I tried many things to get that species rooted and nothing worked. Shade, semi-shade, sun, soil media swap, straight pumice and perlite, cacti soil, rooting hormone, and even a recut. Nothing I did seemed to coax the roots out for that species unlike the others. I had talked to some other more experienced Stenocereus growers and basically had the same thing to say about Thurberi, it's not impossible probably but just not anywhere as easy as the others.
Some cacti species are very easy to root like dragonfruit, others not so much. It is the reason why you do not hear anyone discussing rooting saguaro cactus because it is near impossible or very extemely low % success rate.
Yesterday I just went out and grafted my thurberi cuttings to an opuntia stump based on what you said. Hopefully it takes!
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Consortium of Cacti and all things spiny! - thread for Cacti lovers
« on: September 30, 2025, 03:30:15 PM »Thurberi is a pretty difficult one compared to the others for some reason. I had no success in rooting the subspecies Littoralis after nearly 2 years.
Wow that is insane. Good to know
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Consortium of Cacti and all things spiny! - thread for Cacti lovers
« on: September 30, 2025, 11:59:26 AM »Very happy to report the little stellatus pup I got from SDpirate had a much bigger than expected clump of roots and has now received its first watering. The much larger quaretaroensis has still put out no roots as of now. I’m hoping the grow lights I put them under help pick up the pace for these slow pokes. I definitely did the right thing getting them out of the rain though, my opuntia have stretch marks/mini fractures from the amount of water they’re getting outside
Waiting for cacti cuttings to root has to be the most excruciating process a gardener can endure lol. 2 of my 3 quaretaroensis still have not made roots. I have heard of it taking over 1.5 years for some people depending on how large the cutting was. I have tried to buy stenocereus thurberi cuttings, but each time something goes wrong. Usually the seller tries to unpot and sees that it doesn't have roots even in a pot for a long time. Another time I bought one from someone who had it in a pot for a year, I went to repot it and there was tons of rot with no roots! Stellatus have been quick for me. Same with gummosus. My fricii has started to pup in 3 places, which I am taking as a good sign? Hopefully roots follow soon. I have a large tarp over my cacti in preparation for this winter to prevent water getting on them.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Consortium of Cacti and all things spiny! - thread for Cacti lovers
« on: September 26, 2025, 04:13:58 PM »I'd rather have a sour (but good) tasting cactus fruit than the bland mealy things I usually get
I have the same mindset. Also, that is why I am growing out Eulychnia Acida and Stenocereus Gummosus, they are supposed to have some level of sour in the flavor. Even the spanish common name for Gummosus is Pitaya Agria meaning sour pitaya so that is why I am eager to cultivate these ones among others.
I have heard high praise of gummosus, I am also trying to grow it out. I have 5 cuttings from mature plants rooting, 20 seedlings, 4 seedlings grafted onto hylocereus and 1 grafted onto opuntia.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Consortium of Cacti and all things spiny! - thread for Cacti lovers
« on: September 25, 2025, 10:49:01 AM »Cross posting for visibility/record
Corryocactus spp. - Sanky
I cannot understand how this cactus isnt better known. This is the best cactus fruit I have tasted hands down- roughly the size of a baseball and good out of hand or juiced and made into a Sanky-ade. More tolerant of cold and aridity than lemons, deserves much wider cultivation.
From reports that I have seen, it is hardly sweet at all, mostly sour. Is this consistent with your tasting?
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Yangmei (Morella/Myrica rubra) thread
« on: September 24, 2025, 03:52:50 PM »This in ground Rubra is tearing it up!!
My in-ground seedlings look similar. They are so tall and floppy. I might top it to make it branch out.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Best fruiting plants for an office
« on: September 18, 2025, 11:22:12 AM »
At my work I have a miracle berry tree. It appreciates the climate control that never drops below 65. It produces taste-changing glycoproteins that make sour things sweet for an hour. Allows you to snack on "sweet" things without the calories. Limes are my favorite. It also is an interesting conversation starter and a popular favorite around the office where you can have "flavor tripping parties".
It would probably need an additional grow light though. I don't think there are any options for plants making fruit under low light conditions.
It would probably need an additional grow light though. I don't think there are any options for plants making fruit under low light conditions.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Lima Trip - 2025
« on: September 17, 2025, 01:48:54 AM »
Sanky has me very intrigued! I wonder where I could get seeds
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: My Yard 2022
« on: August 27, 2025, 03:02:10 PM »
I think I will take your advice on pitangatuba. Mine are in full sun and I think I will dig them up and put them in a shadier part of the yard. They fruited a ton, but look a little sad and are dropping fruit prematurely.
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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: August 26, 2025, 06:26:52 PM »I am a few years into attempting several mango trees in Visalia. I am not the individual who has a youtube channel out of Visalia who grows mangos and all sorts of sub tropicals though lol. I know it is not Southern California but my results may be of interest in a few years. I have a handful of the top tier Zill varieties on turpentine (M4, E4, LZ, Sweet Tart, Fruit Punch, Pickering) planted throughout with mostly Kent seedlings mixed near and around them in case I need to graft over at a later date. I am crossing my fingers that I have good luck with the turpentine trees as I am lucky to be on prime farmland soil and I get plenty of heat units. I also have a few Keitts that I believe should be grafted on LaVerne (Everde) Manilla as well as something Everde labeled as a "square mango". Not sure what that variety is as I have had zero luck finding anything about it online or through the Nursery that I bought it other than at some point they did stock a "square" variety lol. The oldest of the group and not by much is a 3-4 year old Kent Seedling and a couple of Laverne Manilla seedlings that are a few years in the ground now. I just wanted to thank everyone who has provided so much wonderful information to this forum discussion as it has been incredibly helpful and thoroughly enjoyable.
I used to live with my wife in Visalia. It is definitely hot there! We met up in the Sierra Nevadas working together at a camp. I love following Tropical Central Valley. My front yard is inspired by him with packing as many trees into a small space. I have 8 or so mangos growing incredibly well that were grown from seed, mostly sweet tart. With how windy it gets here, I think having a dense canopy is good for protection.
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Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Raul's seed group order for Luc's Garcinia and Ilama
« on: August 20, 2025, 10:38:48 AM »We've started a group order to import by permit Raul's amazing sounding Ilama,
List and description found here. All Ilama seeds are $2 each other than Sangre de Toro which is $2.50 each.
https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=59623.0
In addition Raul has a variety of Luc's Garcinia seeds. Price is perfect seed. Got 100% germination from his Luc's seeds by the way and have planted over 50 so far.
Regular $2
Jumbo $3
Mango $8
Orangey $3
Description found here for the Mango Luc's
https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=59001.msg563977#msg563977
Please PM if interested in joining the order.
Still waiting on my Garcinia seeds to sprout. Crossing my fingers!
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Citrus General Discussion / Re: Very bad potted citrus year
« on: August 20, 2025, 10:37:15 AM »I have really been struggling this year with my potted citrus. Very nearly lost my kumquat but it struggled back (and is now in full bloom) after repotting. Repotted one of my three meyer lemons about mid-July as it was going to die if I didn’t. Last ditch effort but it does look like it has new growth now. Lime was doing well but now seems to be dropping leaves. Late bloom because I uppotted it in early spring and still has small fruit but worried. The other lemons almost died but I adjusted pH and they bounced back. Now stalled again. Noticed new growth was sagging/wilting on one so that is also concerning. All the rest (two oranges and a grapefruit) are doing… ok… not great but every single plant except lime has dropped all its fruit. It does seem like this year has been either all out rain or blistering heat so maybe just a bad year. But makes me want to throw in the towel. Just complaining, mind you… sometimes I just gotta, you know. Btw, my lemons and kumquat are around 10 years old or so and usually produce fairly well. Virginia 7a.
I would guess the issue is the soil. I have made the change to avoid organic matter in my soils after learning from Gary Matsuoka and watching videos from the channel Grafting man and Grows Gone Wild ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM3LTmyv_yM&t=186s ).
My citrus are in basically rocky soil with decomposed granite, pummice and other stuffs like sand. I might have put some peat moss in.
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Citrus General Discussion / Re: Finally got citrus grafts to take! My mistakes
« on: August 18, 2025, 06:12:17 PM »I have had lousy luck with grafting. I just started learning.
All six attempts back in early June failed. I tried doing all as whip and tongue graft.
I tried again with six new grafts (the rootstock are all still alive so I figured I'd just shave a bit more off and keep trying...). One is sort of hanging in there--perhaps half of the scion has died back, but I grafted it about two and a half weeks ago (most died much quicker if they failed) so I'm hoping some of it continues to hold.
All I want is one Xie Shan...
I don't particularly enjoy grafting so if anyone sold a Xie Shan I would just but it at a nursery. But unfortunately they're not sold anywhere I can find in CA.
If my last graft fails I'll order more budwood and see if the third time is a charm.
The rubber band sounds like a good idea.
What kind of buddy tape did you buy?
Did you ever get your Xie Shan graft to take? I just attempted my first graft a week ago trying for xie shan as well. I really hope it takes first try. I'm switching up a young tango tree I have to hopefully a Xie shan because of its early ripening, which hopefully will be more successful in the sunlight I get.
I found my most successful graft type is bud grafting in early spring. I did like 12 bud grafts, and I had all 12 take, including one that looked pretty bad. I did 7 Xie Shan and 5 Yosemite Gold.