The Tropical Fruit Forum

After reading several of the Kwai Muk threads plus the most recent one wondering about varieties of Kwai Muk (Artocarpus parvus) and at least one comment about the flavor of the fruits from different individuals, I'm prompted to ask if anything is known about whether culture and/or feeding of this species affects the fruits' flavor.  And even possibly the climate or soil in which the tree is being grown . . .  Or could it even be simply how ripe the fruit is when consumed?

This may be a longshot bevy of questions but still, someone may know something since there are now more folks trying to grow this species.

Just curious . . . .

Paul M.
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Gentle TFF Members,

I have one fruit hanging on my 'Gefner' right now in late October.  It had two fruits eariler this season but, sadly, my neighbor broke one off while asking me about it.

The remaining one is approximately 3-inches+ in diameter and I am wondering when it should be ripe.

What is the best way to tell?  I'm unsure what to look for to be able to know since this is the first time this tree has set any fruit.  It's in a 5-gallon pot; does that make any difference?

Any/all suggestions would be appreciated.

TIA

Paul M.
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Got to wondering whether selecting material (seeds or plants) of Annona macroprophyllata from the upper elevations of its natural habitat range would provide material which would be better suited to tolerating our cool winter temperatures here in Florida (9b).

Are there any TFF members growing such 'upper elevation' ilamas in central Florida who may have noticed better cold tolerance of theirs?

Or maybe member Raul in México will chime in here with some info since he collects seeds of this species in the wild.

¡Pura Tertulia!

Paul M.
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Could someone please point me toward a Florida nursery that is offering Kwai Muk in say, 3 gallon pots, and that is willing to ship?  So far my searching comes up 'out-of-stock' everywhere.  Not lookng for a tiny seedling and would prefer to pay somewhat less than $100.

Wanting to try growing this here in 9b.

Fingers X-ed.

TIA

Paul M.
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I bought six seeds from a TFF member in Venice, FL two years ago.  Four sprouted right away and grew like gangbusters.

Two feet tall and transplanted into 3 gal pots early last year they continued to grow well until our several cold nights in January this year (2022).

Three of the four stopped growing after those coldest days (33ºF here in Tampa) and their leaves slowly began to yellow and all fell off by February's end.  The liviing one that remains is limplng along and still has its leaves but they are half the length of last year's growth and this one remaing abiu is just sitting there.

Is this somethng cultural like are they heavy feeders or do they need to have a certain pH level to thrive?
It's getting watered weekly and gets partial sun (1/2 a day).

Any suggestions for getting this abiu to resume growing would be welcomed.

Paul M.
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Who of y'all are growing ilamas in Florida zone 9b?

Do they need or appreciate hilling if your soil isn't sandy and well draining?

As far as cold tolerance of this particular Anona (32º - 30ºF.), are they more tolerant of the cold while they're leafless?

Have you noticed any needed cultural differences between the white-fleshed and pink-fleshed varieties?

Do yours seem to like one sort of fertilizer more than another type?

Just trying to get a handle on growing this particular Annona before I take the plunge.

Regards & TIA,

Paul M.
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Recently someone mentioned a video which was a tour of a south Florida yard with many types of Annonaceae growing in it.  The tour was given by the owner of the property whose name was I think Bob, who appears to be Hispanic or Asian.  He was extremely knowledgeable about all the Anonnas he's growing.

I intended to bookmark the video but apparently did not and now cannnot locate the thread that the link was posted in, search as I tried.

Can someone point me to the post with the link in it please?  It went up within the last month in one of the TFF posts.  I'll be sure to bookmark it this time!

Fingers X-ed  &  TIA

Paul M.
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Can someone refer me to a source show me how to sex Imbe, please?

I have a number of seedlings whch have taken several years to start growing after I received them and planted them.  Now that they are finally growing they will soon need to be planted up or put into the ground.

Having read somewhere that G. livingstonei is dioecious I'd like to pair up for planting together whichever ones are male and female Imbe seedlings for better cropping, ultimately.

So, can someone please point me in the right direction to help me understand how to tell the difference between the sexes with Imbe?

Regards,

Paul M.
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I'd like to try Passiflora laurifolia and am looking for someone who might have some cuttings to offer.

And I would also be interested in cuttings from different plants (individuals) if this species is not self-fertile.

Cheers!

Paul M.
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Gentle TFF Mango Aficionados, with the recent threads about mango bloomspike initiation I am moved to ask:

Generally speaking, is there much diference between the inception time of flowering for mangoes in zone 9b vs zone 10?

Or would the flowerspikke initiation be more related to the particular cultivar of mango that's involved?

I ask because I've only had my 4 mango cultivars* for one season now and haven't been able to find anything related to my question on here or online.

Comments appreciated!

Paul M.
Tampa, FL
Zone 9b
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* BEVERLY, FAIRCHILD, ICE CREAM, IRWIN
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Hello All,

My Eugenia stipitata (araçá-boi) is in bud right now (Sept 1st).  It has been in a 7 gallon pot all this season and made it through the hottest part of the summer with only a bit of leaf-tip burn.  It's gotten plenty of water during our Florida rainy season.

If anyone else is growing this species I'd very much like to learn what is your experience with it?  Does yours bloom more than once a year?  Also I cannot find much detailed info on the culture of this species.  Does it seem to benefit from fertilization?  What kind?  How frequently?

This plant came from TT in Ft. Myers about a year ago.

Cheers!

Paul M.
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MOVED HERE TO PROPER GROUP TO GET MORE DISCUSSION . . . . .
(Sorry to have first posted this on FS & WTB)

'Mexicola Grande' Avocado ripening questions . . .  

My 'Mexicola Grande' has set a couple dozen little fruit this season finally after two abortive years.  Tree is about 16-ft tall after 3.5 years in the ground.  Tree will get pruned back to about 8- to 10-ft after this first little crop ripens and is picked.

We are getting plenty of rain right now in Tampa where I am but that is now and not in Sept-Oct when 'Mexicola Grande' fruits are supposed to start ripening. At that time there may be more or less rain when the fruit starts to ripen.

So, since this is my first crop on this avocado what I would like to know from those of you growing MG here in west central Florida is:

1]  If it is rainy still when they start to ripen will that diminish their flavor in some way?

2]  Will this 1st-time crop (with the stated size of the tree) be more or less representative of the way this fruit should taste moving forward to subsequent years' crops?  I.e., should I expect the flavor to improve over the following years?

3]  When should I expect these 'Mexicola Grande' to usually start to ripen here in Tampa?  Anyone growing it in this area care to comment on this point?  When do yours ripen?


OK — TIA

Paul M.
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Is there such a thing as a basic, decent mango 'mango flavor' that is mango alone?  Maybe that could be better termed as a true, simple mango flavor.

I see all sorts of descriptive variations on the flavors of mangoes, including cultivar names which suggest a particular flavor variation: Lemon Zest, Orange Sherbet, Cotton Candy, et al.

Also I am reading on here that fertilizing (or not) and the weather can alter the flavor of some cultivars fron year to year.

So anyway, if there is a true simple basic mango flavor then which cultivars best represent that basic mango flavor?

I ask because I have not found this as the dedicated topic of discussion in any thread here.

Curious minds and all that . . . .

Paul M.
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