The Tropical Fruit Forum

To obtain a large clean looking fruit suitable for competition, here are a few hints. After the bloom has set small fruitlets, wait until you are sure that they will be retained by the tree, because 60 percent of the first small fruit are normally dropped from the tree in the first month.   When the remaining fruit reaches the size of a large marble;, or ping pong ball, it is time to select what fruit to remove/prune from the tree.  A citrus fruit draws its entire required nutrition to grow from its beginning to maturity only from the closest 3-4 leaves to the fruit.   Therefore, go around the tree and prune the crop so that there is only one fruit per every 4 leaves.   For in ground trees, if your citrus tree is 3 years old you will need to fertilize the tree 5 times  per year, 4 year old tree fertilize 4 times and for trees 5+ years of age fertilize 4 times a year.  Careful tree maintenance for insects (mites, mealy bugs, scale and aphids) must be maintained to prevent peel scaring.  When the competition  nears select the largest fruit from the tree, one having the deepest coloration and cleanest peel.  This may or may not  be a fruit from the south side of the tree.  Before entering the fruit into competition, polish it it with a high quality food grade oil.  Good luck. - Millet

The University of Florida's  Lake Alfred breeding program has found several rootstocks that appear to tolerate greening better than existing trees, Grosser told several hundred growers at a Thursday morning seminar in Bonita Springs.

A commercial citrus tree is a combination of two varieties. A rootstock is designed primarily for the soil conditions in an area. A scion produces a specific fruit variety, such as a Valencia orange or a white grapefruit, is grafted onto the rootstock.

Tolerance means the rootstock has a lower frequency of greening infection or, if infected, the disease has less an effect on tree health, Grosser said.

The greening-tolerant rootstocks are ready for widespread field tests, at least an acre of plantings in various parts of the state, he said. That's the next test before one or more of the rootstocks can be released to growers for general use. - Millet

Originally posted by Starling 1 - Very Fresh; has the outer appearance of lime, tastes like lemonade (devoid of bitterness/sourness). Cross of lemon/mandarin. Picture included. Over 25 seeds. Will ship in sphagnum to minimize rot/drying.  Not asking anything in return other than a willingness to post certain seeds/items from the US to Australia at some point in the future

I am searching for a source of propagation slips for the pineapple variety Pernambuco. Thank you for your help.

Not long ago the University of California's Citrus Clonal Protection Program (CCPP) released the Valentine Pummelo to the public.  If I correctly remember, I think I got them from Harris Citrus.   Last Spring both trees fruited for the first time, and we ate the fruit for breakfast last January and into February.  On the advise of Housherquilt, I let them hang on the tree for a couple months after I believed they were mature to sweeten up.  The fruit is about the size of a soft ball with sweet dark red flesh.   If you love pummelos I urge you to purchase a Valentine tree, they are really, really, REALLY a great tree.. - Millet

My name is Millet.  To the owners of this forum.... I was an administrator on The Citrus Growers Forum, a 9 year old large forum.  The owner of The Citrus Growers forum has abandoned our forum, and he was the only person authorized to activate new potential members. Therefore, no new members can join, which will mean a slow death of the forum.  I am here to ask the owners of this forum if they would consider adding a citrus sub forum to the Tropical Fruit Forum.  If a citrus sub forum would be considered, I would ask all the current membership of The Citrus Growers Forum to consider joining this forum.   Thank you - Millet