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Messages - Viraldonutz

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76
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Looking for White Pakistani Mulberry in Socal
« on: May 08, 2020, 11:16:58 AM »
I just saw one in Vista, at a place called CA Tropical Fruit Trees -- some large villa at the top of a residential hill, but with thousands of trees in the back.  They've got a lot of stuff, including lots of mulberry trees.  I sampled a white Pakistan that tasted amazing, but it was a 25-gallon tree, so way out of my price range.  I actually bought a smaller regular Pakistan mulberry while I was there.

77
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Five New Mango Trees!
« on: May 08, 2020, 11:13:14 AM »
Quote from: johnb51 on May 08, 2020, 08:42:23 AM

Very nice collection of trees, Jake.  I hope you figure out how to lighten up the soil.  Do you get lots of sun and heat in your location?  How about the damn gophers?

Hah, I was just reading Oolie's gopher thread last night... sounds awful!  Thankfully, I've never seen a gopher or any traces of a gopher tunnel in the 6 years I've lived here], so I think I'll be good.  They're just not around here at all for some reason.

Thanks for the kind words, I'm eager to grow my collection yet even more.  I'll keep everyone apprised as I do.

78
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Five New Mango Trees!
« on: May 08, 2020, 11:09:34 AM »
So I've sorta done that to an extent -- I built a huge raised planter and imported 40 cubic yards of amended topsoil and potting mix -- my avocados are loving it, after I killed a bunch of them trying to plant in clay soil.

The reason I'm asking about differences between types is because I have room in the planter and other room outside the planter, so I'm just trying to get a good idea of what's better for each of them.  Dr. Campbell said that mangoes can grow in clay soil (and I have two mangoes already planted in some clay soil that are doing okay) but I know it's not the best.

Where do you buy sandy loam?  I've never noticed that for sale at any garden center or hardware store.  Do you add organic matter at all?

Don't know much about greenhouses -- do they get enough sun while inside?  It seems counterintuitive that they'd grow better with less direct sun, but that's worth trying.

I have read a lot of what Simon has written, and I got what he was saying about turpentine rootstock -- I just bought some manila mango seedlings at the same time, but I know very little yet about grafting.  Gotta do more homework!




79
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Suggestions on what to do with 46-0-0 and 0-46-0
« on: May 08, 2020, 02:58:19 AM »
Just curious, what did you end up doing?

80
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Five New Mango Trees!
« on: May 08, 2020, 02:51:45 AM »
What's the B1 treatment you use?

81
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Where to buy rare avocado trees in fallbrook -vista- del mar -California areas
« on: May 08, 2020, 02:20:37 AM »
Atkins Nursery has a good variety of avocados as well, I bought a Kona Sharwill and a Nimlioh, and I'm on a wait list for Ardith and Jan Boyce.

82
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Five New Mango Trees!
« on: May 08, 2020, 02:01:46 AM »
No offense, but what good is that to me? I don't need a lecture, I need advice and wisdom from more experienced growers.

I did plenty of homework, and would have purchased CAC or Buttercream if I had seen them... but it's nearly impossible to know all the particular characteristics of 300+ mangoes, so I went with a short list in hand, and bought what I could find. 

I'm not worried about how well they do themselves, I'm asking if anyone else has a better sense about any slight differences between the particular varieties I already selected.  I have some areas with more clay soil, and some with none... I'm just soliciting advice.

I see you have Orange Essence and Phoenix trees, do you not like them?  What would you have done differently?

I did see a Seacrest, though, and after reading more, now I might try to make it back there next week sometime to pick one up.  I figure I can plant about 10 more trees before the wife gets too mad... ;-)

83
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Very bendy branches on Mango trees North California
« on: May 07, 2020, 10:30:40 PM »
I'm also new to mangoes, but from what I hear, that's a common problem here in CA.  We get a lot of drooping, and I was told to stake the branches up until they grow stronger.  Also, cut 50-80% of the flowers off when they're young to reduce the fruit set (if you want fruit) or even the weight of the flowers.

If anyone knows what causes this, exactly, I'd love to know as well!

--Jake

84
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: M4 or Coconut Cream
« on: May 07, 2020, 10:24:27 PM »
I tried to buy an M4 yesterday, but the owner swore that it was a Sugarloaf variety and wouldn't sell it.  I told him that I thought Sugarloaf was E4, not M4, but he just sounded confused so I gave up.  Kicking myself now for not trying harder...

85
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Five New Mango Trees!
« on: May 07, 2020, 10:22:32 PM »
I just picked up five new mango trees:

Carrie
Cotton Candy
Dot
Orange Essence
Phoenix

What considerations should I take when deciding where to plant them?  Does any one of them do better in clay soil, for example?  Which are the more vigorous growers?  Which will enjoy more sun/shade?

I'll try to figure out how to post pictures here in a bit.  Thanks in advance!

--Jake

86
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Separating Manila Mango Seedlings
« on: May 07, 2020, 10:18:43 PM »
*newbie question here*

I bought some manila seedlings off a friend to grow as rootstock for when I decide to try my hand at grafting.  He never separated them, and two of the pots I got each have three "trunks" in them.

Am I correct in saying that they're likely three different trees?  Will it be hard to separate them now that they're about 18 inches tall?  What will happen if I do or don't separate them?

Thanks!

--Jake

87
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango -- Orange Sherbet vs. Orange Essence
« on: April 24, 2020, 01:15:39 AM »
Can you compare the two, Har?  How similar do they taste? Is one better suited than the other to SoCal conditions?


Quote from: Guanabanus on April 23, 2020, 10:41:36 PM
I have seen a lot of unproductive, large trees that were identified as Orange Sherbet.  Considering that the original tree, and some large topworks nearby, were extremely productive, I don't know what to think.

88
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango Reviews
« on: April 22, 2020, 05:27:16 PM »
Thank you for this awesome thread, you've opened my eyes to so many more possibilities than I'd imagined before.

Where can a SoCal guy go to try some mangoes this time of year?  I don't know if I can stand reading any more of these reviews without partaking!

89
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango -- Orange Sherbet vs. Orange Essence
« on: April 22, 2020, 05:15:14 PM »
I'd LOVE to plant both... as well as about 30 other varieties!!! ;) ;) ;)

But I was hoping to pare that 30 down to less than a dozen.  :-\

90
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Using Horse Manure Compost (esp. on Mangoes and Avocados)
« on: April 22, 2020, 05:13:06 PM »
Yeah, I guess that's my biggest question, still.  This stuff doesn't look like manure at all, it's just gorgeous black dirt.  I assume Oolie's right about the salts, but there's very little heat left in the compost, so I know it's been aged well.

I'm sorta too late with my question, I guess, since I sorta already used a bunch of it under most of my trees... I'm just now wondering if I should rake it back.

91
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Using Horse Manure Compost (esp. on Mangoes and Avocados)
« on: April 22, 2020, 03:18:07 AM »
Wow, Oolie, thanks a bunch -- this is exactly what I needed to know.

Some more background:

Yes, my backyard is extremely clay-y, and drainage is poor in most places.  I killed several avocados before I figured that out. 

Since moving in 6 yrs ago, I've completely transformed the backyard.  I've completely covered the ground with cardboard (for weed protection) and woodchips (for aesthetics, as well as the addition of organic matter and all the other benefits of compost).  My stone fruits, mangoes, and (especially) avocado trees are on mounds and/or raised planter beds I built myself, filled with a 50/50 amended topsoil/planter mix.  Doing this, I have managed to keep 7 avocado trees healthy enough to start to bear fruit -- I expect to enjoy my first ones this summer (two gorgeous Lamb-Hass).  Five of the avocado trees are flourishing and the other two are rebounding. 

My citrus trees are planted in the clay soil, but they seem to flourish no matter what I do.  Except for a little leaf curl here and there, and some dry grapefruit, it seems I can do no wrong. 

And yes, I'm on Helix water.

So I'm not too worried about weed seed, since there's not a lot of viable places it can root (but I'm already fighting Bermuda grass in my front yard). 

Do you still think the horse manure compost is a bad idea?  How would I test the soil for salts?  And why would you not use it for citrus?

I'm very appreciative of your help -- I'm learning so much as I go...

92
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mango -- Orange Sherbet vs. Orange Essence
« on: April 21, 2020, 08:12:50 PM »
Can anyone explain the difference between the two?  How do they compare in taste, production, vigor, etc.?  I've read about each, but I'm having a hard time keeping them straight...

Which do you prefer?

93
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: Looking: Cherimoya 5 gallon tree southern california
« on: April 21, 2020, 06:02:16 PM »
Quang Ong in San Diego is an expert in Cherimoyas and Atemoyas.  PM me if you want his email, or google Ong's Nursery for his phone number.

94
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Using Horse Manure Compost (esp. on Mangoes and Avocados)
« on: April 21, 2020, 03:53:41 PM »
I'm not "concerned" per se... I just don't want to unknowingly damage anything by piling up too much around my trees.

It's very fine compost, and has been turned and aged for over a year.

How would you recommend I do nutrient analysis?

95
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Using Horse Manure Compost (esp. on Mangoes and Avocados)
« on: April 21, 2020, 03:21:12 PM »
I recently found a virtually limitless supply of 18-month-old composted horse manure that I can use for composting my orchard.  Is there such thing as too much compost?

How will it affect various trees differently?  I have a dozen citrus trees and 20-ish stone fruits, in addition to my 7 avocados and 7 mangoes.

96
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Does the location of the graft matter on a mango tree?
« on: April 21, 2020, 03:01:24 PM »
I'm heading over to Walter Anderson Nursery in a couple hours -- I have been eyeing their mango trees from LaVerne for about a month now... the high graft (with little scion growth) was the only thing that put me off.

Planning to pick up an Alphonso, Glenn, and Gold Nugget... They also have Haden, Manila, and Timatoy (sp?).  Thoughts?

97
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Does the location of the graft matter on a mango tree?
« on: April 20, 2020, 09:58:33 PM »
I was at Walter Anderson Nursery, and I saw a bunch of mangoes from LaVerne that were about 2ft tall, with the graft right at the top.  This is the first time I've noticed encountering that...  Will that make any difference down the road?  Why do they graft it there?

98
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Mango trees in Southern California
« on: April 20, 2020, 09:55:28 PM »
Wow, I just read this whole thread, and I can't even begin to comment.  So much useful stuff!  Thanks everyone -- I hope to be able to contribute to it myself, soon enough!

99
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Anyone growing Glenn, LZ, or Peach Cobbler seedling in So-Cal?
« on: April 20, 2020, 09:53:52 PM »
How do you know it's a seedling?  I just looked at the website, and I don't see that stated anywhere... I might have missed it?

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