The Tropical Fruit Forum

Much of the perennial vegetables for leafies. What about options that are more robust? Like something that can be used in cooking where a vegetable like broccoli would be used?

I've planned on purchasing a cochin jackfruit to occupy a smallish space for a jackfruit tree. I've been looking around for sources and came across another variety that I've never heard of for sale by everglades farm in homestead. It's called vietnam dwarf and apparently sets two crops per year: https://everglades.farm/products/vietnam-jackfruit-tree-grafted-2-3-feet-tall-for-sale-from-florida?_pos=2&_sid=83a6a166a&_ss=r&variant=42626321285365

Any information on this jackfruit?

I just planted a curry leaf tree today and smelled some of my friend's lemon bay leaves. Amazing. I know of allspice as well. I've been planning on planting a hedge and was going to go standard and do clusia. But a spice hedge seems pretty fun. Are there any other options?

I have a thai dwarf mulberry and pumpkin pie mamey planted about 28 feet apart from each other (running east to west). If I could fit a jackfruit between them, I would be happy as can be! The ones referenced in my subject are the only easily available slow growers (aside from J-31, which I love, but is super latexy). I haven't had the chance to try any of the referenced fruits and I don't know if I will have the possibility. No one here in broward growing a wide assortment of jacks that I know of. I like a classic juicy fruit flavor. I don't care about soft vs. crunchy because I generally freeze. Any recommendations concerning which of these slower growers is productive, makes a nice tasting fruit, and is relatively easy to clean?

Hi all. I've been trying to select a second jackfruit tree to plant (I currently have a Mai-1), but there is very scant information online about the newer varieties. I am looking for a tree that forms an open canopy and produces fruit with little latex. Off-season bearing tendencies are a major plus. If it weren't for the fact that it has so much latex, I would go with J-31 (and am still considering it). I eat 2 or 3 J-31s a season and it's always a chore breaking it down. I would also like a tree that complements the Mai-1, in that the fruits are harvested at a different time in the season. For the life of me I cannot find online when Mai-1s fruit. I am in Broward county, so should be able to find many top tier cultivars between miami-dade and palm beach. I am willing to drive to the west coast as well if needed. Thanks so much for your time and insights.

I'm trying to figure out more uses for tropical fruits. I know many are cooked with. With annual vegetable season winding down (here in south FL at least), how do you incorporate tropical fruits into your recipes?

What varieties of sugarcane are good for peeling and eating, or peeling and throwing into smoothies? Bonus points if they don't tip over. Thanks!

Hi all. I'd like to plant some dwarf fijis on my property, but I only have so much space. I have a spot where I could put one that is just south of my pickering mango and black sapote. 10 feet south east of the pickering and 10 feet south west of the black sapote. Would this cast too much shade on my fruit trees? It seems to me that palms let a lot of light in. I could probably put it more to the south if needed. Thanks for your input.

I'm putting together a play area in the yard for my daughter. For both shade and foraging, I'd like to have fruiting trees, shrubs, and ground covers. Jamaican cherry tree is great for snacking for kids and for shade. She also loves everglades tomatoes, so I'll plant those around probably as ground cover.
What else should I consider? The plants don't have to be super productive, but I'd prefer if it's not very unproductive.

Hi all. My neighbors use this perimeter mosquito repellent: https://mosquitonixsouthflorida.com/
It goes for 45 seconds 3x per day. I get considerable drift onto my property. What would you do if you were me? Plant fruiting plants along the fence and accept that the pesticide will affect the fruit, or plant a non-productive hedge to block the spray?

I hear that ma'afala is slightly more cold tolerant than other breadfruit varieties and somewhat of a compact grower. I was thinking about giving it a try in south FL (10b). Any experiences with this, especially the growth habit? I have a spot that can accommodate a tree that I keep maxed out at 15x15 (though smaller would be preferred). Would this fit the bill, or too vigorous a grower?

I have a mamey sapote planted in my front yard just outside the drip line of a large oak - to the east. It gets about 4.5-5 hours of sun per day. The mamey just doesn't seem happy there. I have lots of trees planted all around the mamey and it's the only one experiencing any substantial pest pressure. Maybe it's not getting enough sun, or maybe the roots of the oak are making the soil too acidic. I'm thinking about moving the mamey and replacing it with something else that might like those conditions better. I don't want to do a jabo, because it's too far from my spigot to care to run irrigation. I don't want to do carambola either. I'm interested in something that is attractive and where the fruit is not likely to be stolen. I though maybe rolinia. Macadamia could be good, but I won't be able to shoot squirrels in the front yard. Maybe a bird feeder in the back would be enough - I could knock them out back there and then won't have them in the front either. Maybe a tropical persimmon? Any other ideas for a tree that would be happier there? Preferably a nut or off-season tree.