The Tropical Fruit Forum

Anybody know what can be causing the leaves of my caimito and sapodilla trees to fold and turn brown (in South Florida), and how do I treat this?
I think it is a bug laying eggs, as some contain a bunch of hard, black pellets that look like chia seeds, but smaller.

Thanks

CAIMITO





SAPODILLA

Bobby and others have some opinions on growing Champedak in South Florida, starting at the 8:50 minute mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4CX6BSj7Vs

Maybe there is a little spring there diluting the salt, like this?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/590837305096578/posts/1737524480427849/

I bought a Honda self-propelled gas push mower 13 years ago. On sale under $400.
I'm pretty lax (lazy) on oil and filter changes.
I've changed the blades once, don't remember why, and I changed the wheels because they were worn smooth.

It has not failed me for even 1 second in all that time.

I'm a bit jealous when I (don't) hear my neighbor mowing with his whisper-quiet electric, but I don't envy him when he eventually has to buy a new battery or has to wait to charge if he only has one battery.
If I run out of gas, I just fill and go.
And manufacturers are constantly changing battery chemistries and form, so who knows if a battery will be available for a new electric in a decade.

Some people will spend the $$$ on the luxuries that going electric affords, and they are happy with their decision.
The more frugal need more convincing and may benefit from estimating how often they will need a new battery, how much they cost and compare this to how much gas and ICE maintenance will cost. 

Maybe my current setup is more $$$.
I haven't done the math because I don't need to spend the money right now, but I know I'm more happy when I spend a few bucks at a time on gas throughout the year than a big chunk on batteries.

Your leaves are THAT clean in Coral Gables?
I'm about 15 miles away, not far from the ocean, and mine don't look like that.

Coffee at sunrise - checking out leaf flush on Zill 40-26.  ❤️

Kaz,
You make some good points.

I have not given up on white sapote.  I don't have much access to the fruit, and very few cultivars, so I still don't know what they are capable of, but I've had a few that made me realize they are worth growing. I planted two small trees in my front yard, and I plan to graft several cultivars to them when they get a bit bigger.  They don't like it there, too windy, or something else, so they've been slow growing.  I hope to have enough cultivars to explore their different tastes.

Something else happened to us at FMF 2025:

There was a booth near the entrance that advertised a chance to win a $250 Publix card if you entered your info into some tablets.
Just as many others were doing, my girlfriend entered her info. I was too distracted to focus on the situation.
Everyone must have been too focused on the "Win $250!" to realize it was not a Publix booth.

She got a call from a number with no caller ID asking how she liked the Mango Festival and mentioning something about Publix (not sure exactly, this is second-hand info).
They then tried to sell her a discounted rate at a resort near Disney - all she had to do was give them a credit card number so they could charge her around $120-150 for the privilege.
She declined, but then they started to pressure her, saying that she had signed up for it.

Maybe the FMF organizers would like to know this so they can vet the vendors better.
Even if it was our fault for being so gullible, there is no place for a vendor like that at a Mango Festival.
I didn't feel I had to be on constant guard at last year's FMF.

I find the Orlando Gardener's youtube posts to be theraputic, plus he's nearby enough to me that I can learn from his central-florida techniques, and what does well here - even how to prepare for weather events! In a recent video he outlined plans to plant 12 LZ seeds to see if a new variety results, similar to how LZ itself came from Lemon Meringue.

Video link: https://youtu.be/U4v53lO3yY4?si=x3ZD3DyoiL_Kyu5U

My question is: how do you get new varieties? Some of the commenters to the video suggest grafting instead, but doesn't grafting ensure you get the SAME variety? And also: doesn't growing from seed risk you growing something completely different than the fruit the seed came from?

The answer I'm sure has something to do with mono vs. polyembriotic seeds, but does cross-pollination play a role also? Basically: do you agree with the methodology of the OG's experiment?

The commenters are saying to let the seedlings grow a bit and take cuttings from these seedlings and graft them onto a mature mango tree.  The seedling material will grow probably grow and fruit faster due to the mature root system supporting them.  And yes, he may "risk" growing something different, but that's his point, as the page says: "lemon zest is good let's see can we create something even better"

Limited opening times Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday:

https://www.themangoplace.com/

Quote from: Julie on March 04, 2025, 12:18:47 PM

Quote from: MadFarm on March 04, 2025, 12:26:17 AM

Quote from: Julie on March 03, 2025, 10:06:48 PM

Quote from: Greater Good on March 03, 2025, 03:36:56 PM

Wish I lived closer. 😪

They have something like this in miami

There are Rare Fruit Councils designated to most counties in Florida...this is of no relation. First official meeting of a new group!

I understand it's of no relation but aren't you doing similar activities?  Just curious

From my understanding the intention is to facilitate an improved, more inclusive, modern venue.

Maybe Julie was thinking of this, which is near Miami and also not a Rare Fruit Council:

Tropical Fruit & Vegetable Society of Redland
https://www.facebook.com/TFVSR/

deleted

I've read about corn gluten based rat poison (like Rat X) that is safer for predators.
I've never had to use, so don't know if it works.

Quote from: dm on October 21, 2024, 12:39:55 AM

Beware:
That monthly "in season" list is a generic list of fruits that MIGHT be in season in the selected month, but I went this past week and saw very few of the fruits on the October list.  Maybe you should call them in November before you go.

What did you see when you were there? Thinking about going once it cools down.

I did not have time to explore every corner of the entire park, so I may have missed some, but I did not see much on the ground, and nothing that was close to ripeness and edible.  This is a slower season for fruiting.

I did see these on the trees, but not ripe yet:
Sapodilla
Fig
Blue Grape (vexator)
(I think I saw few a Mamey.)

Strawberry Tree fell over (from wind?) but still had some fruit close to ripe.

They were cutting a red jackfruit for samples, but I did not see any on the trees (did not go by any jackfruit).

I definitely did not see any of these, that are listed for October:
Hog Plum
Jaboticaba
Mulberry
Olosapo
Persimmon
Rollinia (don't think I saw any Annona)

There were lots of Candle fruit! (LOL)