The Tropical Fruit Forum

Beginning flowers here.  I'd use a much smaller softer brush.  I collect the anthers in a small container in the AM and evening.  I pollinate when the petals open up mid day and simply use the anthers on the brush to pollinate as they contain the pollen.  If a flower has not opened yet completely, I still put the anthers on the stigma.  I pull one petal off each flower pollinated as an indication of my efforts.  I do use anthers from any other cherimoya.

No fruits currently on C. tetrameria, some flowering.  C. tetrameria on C. edulis works and dwarfs the tree also.  Grafts were done many years ago and trees are doing well.  Potentially perhaps an interstock of C. tetrameria could be used.

If size matters, here Vernon fruit is much larger than Suebelle.  As mentioned, Suebelle is a much smaller tree than Vernon (and fuzzy underleaves and possibly a hybrid between Casimiroa edulis and Casimiroa tetrameria-yellow sapote) 

Have been using C. tetrameria for rootstock for almost 50 years.  It is compatible with C. edulis and produces a very dwarfed tree of C. edulis (some less than 5 ft tall, normal sized fruit)  C. tetrameria on its own roots is the size of a large mature peach tree.  C. tetrameria on C. edulis produces a 7-8 ft tree with normal sized fruits.  I have not noticed any production differences on these trees, but they are well advanced in age and maturity.  Possible restrictions at the graft union both dwarfs the tree and encourages fruit set.  I have too many C. edulis trees dropping fruit to ascertain production numbers.  C. edulis here in Nipomo are virtual giant weeds coating the ground with fallen fruit.  Still, the giant C. edulis is tamed down to a much smaller tree by using C. tetrameria as rootstock.  Now somebody needs to try different lengths of interstock as is done with apples to see if the degree of dwarfing can be controlled.

Pinkerton is great too.  Julie Frink suggested Hellen.

Don't remember my source, but we'll get back to the subject in a few years (hopefully).

Just to join the "size matters" group, I went out and measured my big white sapote tree.  It is 26-27 inches at ground level.  It is a Vernon tree mainly, but with Pike on 1/2 and  several others grafted on also.  It is by itself so roots are not a problem.  It is a massive tree and fruit fall is huge.  About 45-50 years ago when I planted it, I was told to keep it far away due to the fruit fall.  Found that to be very true.

Zone 9B, Nipomo, CA.  White and yellow sapotes are weeds here.  Fallen fruit everywhere, sprouts, etc. Black sapotes have flowered, no fruit set (have 3 in ground).  Green sapotes (3) grow well, sometimes flower, no fruit.  Lucuma (Silber) has fruited for years.  Cut down by frost years ago, regrown.  We had 17 degrees years ago and many were damaged, none killed, all regrown.  With apparent global warming all are doing well.  Still waIting for fruit on black sapote (Mexico) and green sapote.  Maaaybe this year.

We are in Nipomo (S San Luis Obispo Co) and are members of the central coast CRFG and have many sapotes, macadamias, avocados growing on 1 1/2 acres over the past 50 years.  Freezes have not inhibited our mangro growing(even tho they are now a rare occurance), but the typical low temps during the summer and spring.  I have two small mangos remaining (3 ft tall) that are not protected in the winter, however our 40 degree nights, even in the summer, induce repeated flowering.  Flowering greatly reduces any further growth.  Cutting off flowers results in more flowers, exhausting the plant.  Don't experience this with other tropical or subtropical plants.  Of course, limited heat during the day (78-80) does not help.  Harvested one mango a couple of years ago, picked too soon.  Having been told macadamias etc. would not grow here, I would never say that it is not possible to someone trying mangos. Our 45 macadamias, 52 avocados, and 24 white sapotes, among others, would probably provide incentive for others to try mangos.  I hope to be informed of someone's success.

Best part of the Orton cherimoya is the originator Orton Englehart.  Interesting early member of the CRFG and cause of -hart added to name of many fruits.  Good info on Google.

Sure looks like C. edulis.  The fuzz on a C. tetrameria is very apparent, even so C. edulis "Suebelle" has some fuzz on the leaf underside.  Sometimes called "wooly leaf" sapote due to the very apparent "wool". My mature tetrameria trees on tetrameria rootstock (#6 and #7) are small like a peach tree.  The several mature edulis trees on edulis r/s are giants with corresponding base and height.  One trunk base is over 26 in diameter and 35 ft tall.  That tree has several grafts done years ago.  A Vernon edulis grafted on tetrameria R/S  that is over 20 years old is less than 6 ft tall.  The seeds on tetrameria fruit are roundish and much smaller than edulis (1/3 to 1/2) even on same sized fruit.  Many edulis and tetrameria fruits have a yellowish interior, all tetrameria (here) are yellowish.  Most edulis have white interior (here).  Flavor is distinctively different between the two.  #6 and #7 tetrameria were selected by CA CRFG group as having best flavor.

Kevin, might have been the Lattarula “Italian Honey” Fig.  Next to greenhouse is large tree that is Spangler's Jelly Fig.  Hope you enjoy them and pass them on (saw post that Exotica is closing down)  Both of the above are my favorites, but we are in a cool climate.  Jack

If it is a Suebelle it is a much smaller tree, like a peach tree.  Check for fuzzy leaf undersides.