601
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What soil mix are you using for your container plants?
« on: July 21, 2012, 01:00:20 PM »
So Stephen, you're not adding a squeeze of Mexican/Key Lime to the mix then?
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602
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: My Jaboticaba Collection
« on: July 21, 2012, 10:39:31 AM »
Jacob, is that one you got from me in Nipomo?
603
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Macadamia Nuts
« on: July 21, 2012, 09:12:52 AM »
Noticed a couple of months ago that the local Home Depot was selling macadamias labeled "Cate" that were just seedlings. Now Cate is a common cultivar in CA, but a seedling is ? The large commercial nursery producing these so called Cates also produces many avocados for big box stores. Had quite a discussion on Cloudforest.
604
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself
« on: July 21, 2012, 09:06:23 AM »
Howdy Robert...neighbor, sure seems like a great forum, welcome aboard.
605
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Growing Macadamia Nuts
« on: July 20, 2012, 03:28:57 PM »
Here in Nipomo, Ca (central coast) we have over 40 macadamias representing 15 varieties. Most trees are over 20 years old. They have survived with little damage a bad hit at 19 degrees. They are, in fact, much hardier than a Hass avocado. Young trees do get killed about 30 degrees. Once established they need little water, fertilizer, and have no insect pests (here). Our "soil" is 300 ft of dune sand, so quick drainage is obvious. The few commercial growers here in CA graft scions on in-the-ground rootstock as reportedly cutting grown Macs have a poor root system and have blown over in Hawaii. Scions must be girdled months ahead of cutting to have successful grafts. The CA Macadamia Society has a variety of crackers that make the chore easy. Vise grips do too. The recent CRFG tour consumed pounds of dried nuts here with just two crackers. There is quite a variability in flavor in nuts with the tetraphyllas having better flavor here in our cool climate. A beautiful tree that deserves more planting.
606
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: How To Tell When To Harvest Pineapple?
« on: July 16, 2012, 10:27:04 AM »
Just ate a "sugar Loaf" pineapple a couple of weeks ago (Thanks Ethan). I wondered the same thing as the color was uniform and no green. The greenhouse smelled strongly of the ripened pineapple so I cut the fruit off. Wow, no tartness, even the core was sweet and edible. Needless to say, I pulled all the pups off and dried and planted them. This pineapple is far better than store-bought tops that are fruited.
607
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Unusual Flower @ my Cherimoya - 5 or 6 Petals, Really!
« on: July 12, 2012, 10:23:44 PM »
I got what you were saying. It is also a means to extend the season in Spain with commercial growers. With sufficient pollen workers can spend the day pollinating female flowers and enhance the crop. Apparently early recovered female stage pollen (not female pollen, is still viable and will do its deed as it is supposed to do. Also, such recovered female stage pollen can be kept at -80 C or colder and still retain over 50% viability for months. Apparently the 300 or so carpels in a cherimoya only require about 10% pollination to create a commercial fruit. The anthers collected in the female stage flower will continue to ripen enabling more pollen availability during times when the males are not shedding. Female receptive flowers can therefore be pollinated, enhancing the crop quantity. Worth a try!
608
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Unusual Flower @ my Cherimoya - 5 or 6 Petals, Really!
« on: July 12, 2012, 08:51:47 PM »
I suspect that most of us, like me, simply collect the anthers in the male stage. The anthers of course contain the pollen. I just apply the loose anthers and pollen to the female stage. Could it be possible that these anthers at the top of the flower cone could be scraped off when the flower is in the female stage and ripen pollen in a few hours and therefore add another opportunity for pollen collection? There is that stage in the flower when it appears that the anthers are ready to shed, but don't. Waiting a few hours they become loose and ready to collect. This would require destruction of the flower, but perhaps extend the time period where pollen (anthers) could be collected. In our climate I can collect pollen (anthers) and pollinate females at the same time.
609
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: The most wasted fruit in your garden?
« on: July 09, 2012, 08:10:24 PM »
White and Yellow Sapotes make walking near 35 year old trees a hazard. The ground is covered with fruit, fruit flies abound, fermentation is in the air, and still they drop like bombs. Pike and Vernon on the big tree, most people like them, but far too many for any reasonable family. Always check the shoes before going into the house. This year the Surinam cherries are dropping ripe fruit (Westtree #369, Vermillion) and luckily there are birds that eat them. Next spring there will be lots of seedlings under the trees.
610
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself
« on: July 04, 2012, 01:13:53 PM »
I’m Jack, Nipomo. I live in Nipomo, CA on 1 ½ acres that is heavily planted with mainly subtropical fruiting trees. Having been here for 36 years, they are quite mature. I am a co-founder of the San Luis Obispo chapter of the CRFG and have been a member of CRFG from back when there were fewer than 25 members and the monthly newsletter was a few pages mimeographed. Much of what plantings are amassed here are the result of membership in the CRFG and RFCI in Florida and the generosity of fellow members. I am a retired science (biology) teacher, have lived in Mexico for half the year on our sailboat since retiring. Much time spent in Mexico and Central America has enhanced my plantings due to the stickiness of desired seeds etc. Like most afflicted with this plant thing, I cannot pass up a desired plant and have, as a result, started cutting down mature macadamia trees to create more room. Those super tropicals live in a greenhouse, but now and then get moved outside, usually to succumb to our winter when I am away in the tropics.
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