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Messages - funlul

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1
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Overhyped avocados
« on: January 29, 2023, 12:16:32 AM »
On my multi-graft tree Jan Boyce sets very nicely and consistently for years. It does NOT hang well, and skin is quite prone to cracking especially after heavy rain. But we still like its flavor and tiny seed. This year we had a lot of rain but actually see less skin-crack, idk if it has to do with age.

Sharwill on the other hand, is an extremely slow grower for me. Barely ever fruits.


Quote from: MasonG31 on May 26, 2022, 04:19:19 PM
Interesting topic Brad.  I agree with every variety on your list except Jan Boyce.  I live closer to the coast at lower elevation and Jan Boyce consistently produces big crops that hang on the tree relatively well.  The tree can get lanky yes, but seems to respond well to pruning.  The fruit tastes great, but is one step below a prime Reed, Nabal or Hass. 

Yeah it seems the UC system has produced some of the most overhyped, lackluster avocado varieties (i.e. Sir Prize, Holiday, GEM).  Out of those 3, I'd say GEM is the best.  There's so much potential with the UC system though, because they have the land and resources to develop some awesome new varieties, which they seem to be trying to do but have not succeeded yet.  And they've been at it for over 30 years.  They should be planting and testing out Nabal and Reed seedlings.  That genetic lineage seem to be really strong and adaptable to high heat, salt buildup in the soil, and produce consistently in different areas (inland and coastal).  If they planted a field of Nabal seedlings, I'm certain they would get at least a few winners. 

Your TBD list is interesting too.  I think Hellen, Nimlioh, Edranol and Pinkerton all taste great, and are definitely keepers in my opinion.  Regarding Hellen and Nimlioh, the downside is the fruits get so big, so it takes forever to mature them up to the right oil level and flavor, and then figuring out when they're ripe is a whole other task, thanks to their hard shells.  But it's all worth it in my opinion, because their flavor is outstanding.

2
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
« on: December 31, 2022, 07:25:52 PM »
Thank you very much, yes I am very happy with the multi graft. It's a very compact tree now, the harvest season is much longer than before. No more costly major pruning = steady production within picker's reach.

Mexicola grande found a chance and grew a lot again, I will see how it fits in the harvest window. (Essentially looking for very early or very late varieties.) Gem and lamb hass grafts are growing slowly and it's OK.

3
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
« on: December 31, 2022, 02:33:59 AM »
The fruits distribution is roughly like this

35% Fuerte
30% Reed
15% Jan Boyce
15% Hass
5% misc

Sharwill was grafted at the very beginning but never produced more than one or two fruits. Hass is heavily loaded as a new comer.

The tree gets trimmed every single winter to keep the height under control. It's a full day project but manageable.

4
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Is this white sapote ripe in June?
« on: August 20, 2022, 01:01:01 AM »
Most likely bug stings. They ripen ok.

5
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Is this white sapote ripe in June?
« on: August 13, 2022, 08:30:21 PM »
The largest fruits look like this now, any idea?




6
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Is this white sapote ripe in June?
« on: July 19, 2022, 02:51:46 PM »
Several fruits on the tree are quite large and light golden in color. They are, however, rather hard still.

7
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Is this white sapote ripe in June?
« on: July 18, 2022, 06:29:44 PM »
Quote from: Oolie on June 27, 2022, 07:28:29 PM
You will know it is not ready to pick if the sampler fruit never softens up well/ stays firmish, or if it is lacking in sweetness.

Many cultivars will ripen fruit throughout the year.



Finally softened up after nearly a month.
Not bitter, not sweet, definitely too early.

8
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Is this white sapote ripe in June?
« on: June 25, 2022, 08:12:34 PM »
All fruits are still hard, but I went ahead to pick a medium one. Time will tell...


9
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Is this white sapote ripe in June?
« on: June 25, 2022, 02:33:20 PM »
Socal is in the middle a heat wave, could it be sunburn?
White sapote has the reputation of almost year-round blooming, would the fruits ripen in certain months only? Or almost year-round too? Thank you so much

10
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Is this white sapote ripe in June?
« on: June 25, 2022, 02:09:51 PM »
Dear TFF family,
I'm super new to white sapotes, my tree gave exactly one edible fruit last year, but this year it's really pushing to the limits and I started to feel sorry to the yellow leaves.
Would you think these fruits are starting to ripen already? I thought they are meant to ripen around October...

Thank you so much,

11
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Best Lychee for Southern California
« on: March 21, 2021, 09:25:54 PM »
Quote from: funlul on May 05, 2020, 03:03:28 AM
Idk my lychee tree has flowered consecutively for 6 years and I'm yet to see a fruit that really sets. What is your secret in making the lychee tree produce? I have several friends growing lychee and none of us successful.

Coming back to report that in 2020 I took time to spray the tree with water whenever I remembered, and maybe the increased humidity helped the tree to finally set a few fruits. (Or maybe it was finally TIME.)

I was very disappointed by the huge seed and mediocre quality though. Guessing it's a Brewster. First time fruits...

12
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
« on: January 16, 2021, 03:04:27 AM »
Besides mom complaining on-and-off about less production (well the tree IS much smaller compared to before), I am really happy with what I have after nearly 6 years. Thanks to everyone's great tips and my friend's generosity with scions.

This year reed had less production, poor tree probably tried to distribute energy.
Jan Boyce on the other hand is fully loaded and cracked much less.
Sharwill has exactly one fruit, not able to keep up with other varieties at all.
I trimmed off Mexicola's large branch and left only a little bit of it, no fruit formed from flowers.
Good news, I finally grafted hass last spring and it shoots for the sky, successfully filling the center void. Let's see if it will flower soon.
I also grafted 2x gem branches but they are really shaded by hass thus barely growing.

13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
« on: June 12, 2020, 12:42:39 AM »
Quote from: JustenGlad on June 01, 2020, 10:49:18 AM
Do you hire any tree trimming expert to trim the branches or you have done it on your own?
Major trimming definitely done by tree companies.
Nowadays I could keep the tree at the same height by myself.

14
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Passiflora Ligularis / Sweet Granadilla
« on: May 20, 2020, 03:19:17 PM »
Quote from: shaneatwell on May 16, 2020, 12:29:03 PM
Mine has been throwing a couple flowers every night for just over a week. I’m getting fruit set with ‘Constance elliot’
And less consistently with ‘Frederick‘

Amazing! Have you observed any fruit setting without cross pollination?

15
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Best Lychee for Southern California
« on: May 20, 2020, 03:17:55 PM »
Quote from: sc4001992 on May 05, 2020, 11:13:57 AM
No secret or anything special that I do. I think it is because my tree is old (30+ yrs). I only water it 2x a week.
Here's some photos of my tree from 2019. Must have had about 50-75 lbs of fruit last year.

Sooooooooo impressed. How big is the tree? (approx height width?)

16
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: The Reed avocado thread
« on: May 15, 2020, 05:10:31 PM »
I let my avos thin themselves.

When is everyone picking the reeds? I was told to wait until end of June, but have started seeing mature size fruits on the ground with sunburn.

17
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Black Sapote (Diospyros digyna) grafted onto American Persimmon (D.virginiana)
« on: May 15, 2020, 05:02:47 PM »
Quote from: barath on May 25, 2018, 11:59:47 PM
I'd be curious as well about long term compatibility of grafting something evergreen like black sapote on deciduous tree roots and whether that affects sap flow and fruit viability over the winter.

Quite curious here, as I have a fuyu persimmon tree to experiment with.

I have once grafted an evergreen variety of green jujube to my deciduous li jujube. It fruited heavily the next year. In the winter the whole tree is bare except this evergreen branch. I eventually removed it because 1) I did not like the green jujube's taste and 2) I was worried it would eventually hurt the rootstock for losing dormancy.

18
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Passiflora Ligularis / Sweet Granadilla
« on: May 13, 2020, 08:37:38 PM »
Quote from: fyliu on April 11, 2018, 07:02:34 PM
It does fruit in LA. The fresh fruits first became available last year in LA, so most of the seedling growers wouldn't be getting flowers just yet, except for a few like barath and the guy that fruited it in LA.

I'm sure there'll be lots of people fruiting it from seed in a couple of years.

Have we heard of any success yet?

19
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Best Lychee for Southern California
« on: May 05, 2020, 03:03:28 AM »
Idk my lychee tree has flowered consecutively for 6 years and I'm yet to see a fruit that really sets. What is your secret in making the lychee tree produce? I have several friends growing lychee and none of us successful.

20
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Avocado ID help: two crops in spring / fall
« on: February 06, 2020, 11:18:31 PM »
Help to ID this avocado please? Owner says it produces two crops, spring (now) and fall (Sep-Oct).



21
Citrus General Discussion / Top working mature citrus trees - do you keep a nursing limb?
« on: February 06, 2020, 11:03:47 PM »
Question on top working mature citrus trees. Do you keep nursing limbs? Or cut down to stump?

I have two citrus trees whose flavor is less than satisfactory -- I prefer sweet seedless and easy to peel. The 15ft orange tree is currently loaded with fruits, and 6ft mandarin tree is done fruiting for the season. I kind of plan to graft 3 varieties to each tree.

I removed the orange tree's left limb (old picture below still shows it) last spring and grafted onto new shoots. Most of them grew very slowly, and I suspect the tree directed most energy to fruits??

My main concern is how RISKY is it to not keep any nurse branches at all, for larger and smaller citrus trees. Both produced heavily this season.

Interesting read https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/.../Reworking-citrus-trees.pdf
Quote
Nurse branches:
- provide sun protection to the recently exposed
parts of the tree;
- reduce the effect of strong winds on the graft
area;
- maintain sap flow in the tree to allow the grafts
to establish and grow rapidly.

Tips, precautions, ideas please!! Thank you very much!



22
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado thread
« on: January 28, 2020, 02:54:02 PM »
Quote from: ricshaw on December 02, 2019, 02:00:51 AM
November 30, 2019

2 hour long interesting video on Avocados.

First half on Avocado roots, rootstock, and why Brokaw trees are better.

Second half of the video is a discussion on Avocado varieties, pollination.

https://www.youtube.com/Growing Avocados

Thank you very much, informative discussion. Interesting that he has a no compost in soil approach.

23
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Trimming overgrown avocado tree then graft?
« on: January 22, 2020, 05:16:55 PM »
Here is the tree after latest trimming, trying all I could to keep fuerte from overgrowing again.
Trimmed Mexicola (?) in half as I don't have much faith in its super thin skin, got exactly one fruit this year.
The center of the tree is still mostly empty, I grafted a few hass to see if it could fill in (both the space and harvest season)



Harvest report:
- Fuerte: off year with 1/2 production, which I understand as last harvest season was all fuerte (2018 summer heat wiped out everything else)
- Reed: big year, another 6 months away
- Jan Boyce: decent harvest, skin still cracks in rain season
- Sharwill: I really want to remove it. Barely grows and exactly one fruit

24
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Avocado thread
« on: July 05, 2019, 04:45:18 PM »
Quote from: jtnguyen333 on April 03, 2019, 11:20:11 AM
My dad has an avocado tree that he grew from a seedling 15 years ago.  He brought the seed back from his trip in VietNam. I remembered it fruited a couple of times in year 4th or 5th.  However, it has't produce any fruit since then.  It is quite a vigorous and healthy tree.  Every year it would flowered but wouldn't fruited.  This year, it shed all the leaves and right now there is nothing but flowers.  See attached.  I know it is a crapshoot in getting fruit from seedling but is there any trick or anything he can do to get a some fruit from this tree?  It is quite beautiful.




If it's in good health, top it down to 3-4 ft tall and graft onto new shoots. I did it to mine and can't be happier. Mix and match different varieties if desired.

25
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Probability of seedling avocado fruiting at year 5?
« on: March 23, 2019, 10:18:45 AM »
I know it's possible, just wondering about probability. Say 1/3 or more like 1/100?

Quote from: Cookie Monster on March 23, 2019, 09:19:38 AM
Here in FL, fruiting in 5 years is common. Have seen a tree fruit in less too.

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