The Tropical Fruit Forum

I shared many rare seeds for a number of reasons and didnt want to get into the commercial side of things. I didnt mind if people sold anything from me. Where there was only a few known trees of something I was keen for there to be more when it was something worthwhile. Having an example or two in a new place for say Durio macrantha, Russell sweet Garcinia or even a yellow pulasan or one of the last known examples of an abiu type is a good thing. Almost lost old varieties, new varieties and rare stuff should be shared. I also paid back people who sent me seeds and swapped so I could grow what I liked and what was hard to get in my area. I wanted to benefit the plants, the wider fruitloving community, myself and the person receiving seeds.

Quote from: Soren on August 25, 2022, 07:55:40 AM

Quote from: pineislander on August 24, 2022, 08:45:23 AM

This one has been the best for me, but the Red Maradol has also been good. If you are growing commercial be absolutely sure to plant the professional level hybrid seeds. I believe they are specially grown so that the seeds are "Feminized". The advantage of that comes because when you plant them you never get useless male plants, plus some hybrid vigor and known fruit characteristics of size, flavor, and flesh color. As I understand it, the growers of these seeds force a female plant to make pollen which fertilizes a female flower and results in seeds produces no males. By doing this, you can reliably produce seedlings which will all make fruit when transplanted. Commercially you need to be sure there is no chance of standing water around the papaya, full sun and high fertility. Try to avoid leaning trees they bear heavy loads and can easily be lodged over or break off in wind. Pick fruit at first color stripe for shipping.

This shows a fine example of what can be achieved:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6ooVX7icbY

The main problem of growing fruits on a commercial scale in most African countries is getting quality propagation material. I have been collecting since 2003, and most need to be carried into Uganda by hand. So hybrid seeds will - at least in the beginning - be a one-time off, after which we need to propagate, select and try to stabilize a lineage, which we can use. Results will obviously not be optimal, but compared to the current situation - a big step up.

Unless you learn to feminize the seeds you will waste half of the acreage growing male trees. Wasting half of the planting can't be commercialized. That is why no commercial farmer would plant open pollinated papaya seeds.

I grow Sunrise aka Strawberry papaya.  No musk smell, and it's very sweet.  I recommend

Waimanolo 77 variety I hear is top tier. I'm growing this one out.

Heya Soren its great to see you rounding out this thread after commenting a long time ago.

Mine fruited. I liked the taste, was just disappointed that they are small and not so much to eat. But the taste was kind of like passionfruit.

I’ve had this plant for 5 years in Nor Cal and no flowers whether in ground protected or open , or in a pot. Curious about the spice from seeds flavor like the leaf smell?

the aframomum seeds i got from Soren are flowering now, after about 6-7yrs...hoping they set fruits!