Not enough Durian Discussion

[jimreevescairns]

Do you buy it locally Mick?
My sunan had its first flowers but none of them came to anything even though I hand pollinated - guess that’s not surprising for first flowers

[fruit nerd]

Yes, at the local Agricultural store. Good news about the flower, but shame about the lack of fruit set. I bought a sunan a couple of months ago which is growing well.

We had some strong winds where this morning. Offshore from here had gusts to around 60km/h. A few of my durians were getting bashed around a bit but I'm sure they'll be fine. My stakes have done a good job at keeping most of them upright.

[jimreevescairns]

Thanks Mick
Funny how it varies - We only got a few gusts in Freshwater but 5 minute drive away in redlynch there are tree branches off everywhere. A friend with a large orchard up in redlynch reckons the damage from the catabaric(?spelling) winds coming off the interior from cyclones a long way south have more damage to her trees than actual cyclones over the last few decades

[DurianLover]

Anybody has experience planting durians this size?? I wonder how thriving they will be with time given limited root system in a container? Will they be somewhat limited through entire life? Probably first year won't even grow at all, just try to adjust and establish itself?

[fruit nerd]

No experience planting trees anywhere near that size for me. They are huge . What you say makes sense to me but I'd be interested if anyone has experience planting something like these.

[DurianLover]

No experience planting trees anywhere near that size for me. They are huge . What you say makes sense to me but I'd be interested if anyone has experience planting something like these.

Yes, just trying to figure out whether to go with this size, or much smaller but initial smaller tree would be healthier and more productive long term.

[Finca La Isla]

Are those grafted or seedlings?
I think they are to be avoided but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t plant that😂.
Perhaps I would do a lot of foliage thinning and cut root tips to try and stimulate them. I’m thinking that those trees might have been in the ground, then dug out to sell??
Peter

[DurianLover]

Are those grafted or seedlings?
I think they are to be avoided but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t plant that😂.
Perhaps I would do a lot of foliage thinning and cut root tips to try and stimulate them. I’m thinking that those trees might have been in the ground, then dug out to sell??
Peter

Thank you for the tips. I have no idea if they have been in the ground. Yes, trees are grafted. No other size available at the moment. I really want this variety, hence willing to take a risk. Picture send to me by reliable guy in a nursery business who has 2 hectares of just mamey to experiment on. I would trust him with everything else, just don't trust with durian roots   Hence, the question.

[0hip]

if they are grafted just buy one and do a ton of approach grafts off it. you would definately have to do a root prune. i dug up my durian that was significantly smaller and in a pot for three or so years and even after two years in the ground it was still root bound and i could just pull it out of the ground pretty much

 This was after two years in the ground. We are not in the best climate for them so the root development won’t be the same as the idea environment but still not the best

[ben mango]

Potted durians can be big enough to fruit in a container, have seen it and posted about it before. I bet those have stayed in the pots, thinking the trees would not survive being up-potted after being in the ground but can’t be sure. Those trees still look worth planting to me, should be fruiting soon if not already

[cassowary]

Most large trees that I have bought and planted  was over taken in growth by direct seeded trees in 3 years.
I no longer buy anything that is over 1-2 years old unless it’s like the only way to get that species.
I’v seen a 2,3m durian seedling being planted. 2 years later it was almost dead with a new shoot comming from the hypercotle. Lots of money and energy wasted.
A direct seeded durian  xan reach 2m in 1, 5 years from seed sown.

It’s a good idea though to buy a grafted plant or marcott and then approach graft on it until it dies.

[cassowary]

if they are grafted just buy one and do a ton of approach grafts off it. you would definately have to do a root prune. i dug up my durian that was significantly smaller and in a pot for three or so years and even after two years in the ground it was still root bound and i could just pull it out of the ground pretty much

 This was after two years in the ground. We are not in the best climate for them so the root development won’t be the same as the idea environment but still not the best

Wow that’s a sick root system.
I’v measured durian tap roots and on average after one year from seed sown they are over 40cm long.
So I’v manufactured special long pots for them.
The common 4,5L pots are only good for a few months.
Airpruning is a good, compromise but need air pruning pots or native plant tubes with the holding tray.

[Finca La Isla]

What do you think about cutting the taproot?  I think there is a case to be made that encouraging more lateral root development the tree can feed easier.
Peter

[fruit nerd]

I use deep pots and will cut the tap root where they hit the bottom of the pot. I've pulled a few durian out with root problems (bought, not grown myself). Planting durian with a curled up tap root is a bad idea I think. I wonder sometimes if people up pot durian which are root bound which masks the problem.

[Three Green Generations]

I found a page on FB called Florida durio growers.

[ben mango]

Hi all. Here are some young durian trees at a new client’s farm. The trees have been In ground for 8 years and some have started to fruit. I will get a list of the different varieties planted but wanted to show some pics of the trees. If anyone has a recommendation on how to deter the pest that’s eating the leaves I would appreciate that. There are a few more trees not in the photos. One tree that’s been in ground for around 15 years is a grafted monthong with around 15 fruits on it. It was the first tree they planted on the land to see how they would do. Elevation is around 1200’ location is Kona, Hawaii. There are also fruiting rambutan and mangosteen on the land. I am suggesting the owner plant some marang as well.

[Finca La Isla]

Hi Ben
I would think that the trees look like they’ve grown nicely but should, at this point, be cleaned up by removing interior branchlets and maybe some branches that might be crossing or too close to each other.
Do you have any idea what the pest is.  If you can’t see anything maybe they come at night and the guy needs to go out there with a flashlight.  If it’s caterpillars it’s easy to spray BT.  If it’s grasshoppers that’s another story. 
Peter

[ben mango]

Thanks, Peter. Very true, they need to be pruned. I may start on that soon. Then maybe I can add before and after pictures. The mangosteen tree are in need of a good pruning too. It’s possible the pest are rose beetles but I haven’t gotten to the bottom of it yet

[Bush2Beach]

Yah Ben, Looking good at 1200’. Do you know of any higher elevation plantings in Hawaii? You seen Kona fruit bro’s durian plant out lately? I wonder how those are doing.

[ben mango]

Jeff’s place is probably the highest durian planting I know of at around 1500’. Last I saw those trees have been pretty slow growing thus far.

[Finca La Isla]

Obviously Penang is closer to the equator but you see durian planted up to at least 800m.   I have also seen 800 m in Pahang on the Malay peninsula.  So, we’re talking about more than 2500’. My limited experience tells me the fruit quality suffered but the fruit was from very young trees.
Peter

[Gone tropo]

Peter a kradumthong was fruited here recently at 760m In nth qld think that’s about 2500ft pretty impressive at 17 south

[Finca La Isla]

Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me.  There’s an old seedling here in CR that fruits profusely at 600m.
17south should be fine. I think Hawaii is further from the equator than that but it is maritime with warm water all around.  I wouldn’t discourage anyone from planting durian at 800m in a proper tropical zone.
Peter

[BigIslandGrower]

Hi all. Here are some young durian trees at a new client’s farm. The trees have been In ground for 8 years and some have started to fruit. I will get a list of the different varieties planted but wanted to show some pics of the trees. If anyone has a recommendation on how to deter the pest that’s eating the leaves I would appreciate that. There are a few more trees not in the photos. One tree that’s been in ground for around 15 years is a grafted monthong with around 15 fruits on it. It was the first tree they planted on the land to see how they would do. Elevation is around 1200’ location is Kona, Hawaii. There are also fruiting rambutan and mangosteen on the land. I am suggesting the owner plant some marang as well.

I can't see the leave damage.  If they're holes then it's probably the chinese rose beetle.  They are only active at night.   Are these durians irrigated at all?

[Mike T]

At Cairns latitude 400m is ok as some durians fruit around Kuranda. I have heard of others between Kuranda and Mareeba and even on the Atherton Tableland in the towns above 750m but thought it was just loose talk amongst durian enthusiasts. kradum is the most likely I would have thought for that. The mention of Sunan brings back memories of sitting around Colin Gray's shed at Cape Trib swapping lies and tanking up on them. He claims he brought them to Australia and I know they hate the cold btw. I think cutting the taproot of papayas is great but not durian.