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Messages - Coconut Cream

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1
I'm gonna go back next week and pick up a Molix and a jackfruit as well.

Nice haul and happy birthday! I'm waiting for a big Molix to ripen and I can't stop thinking about it!

What kind of jackfruit are you going for? I've been thinking about planting some seedlings for the upright growth habit.

2
Growing avocados presented a lot of challenges to me, as I did not have enough direct experience when I chose and planted my trees. I was overconfident and made a lot of mistakes that wasted 4-5 years. I ended up revamping the entire strategy after getting fruit from my trees and eating a lot of different varieties. There is no substitute for tasting the fruit yourself, as most people only say whether they like or don't like a variety without too much detail to help you get insight on why. I have also come to believe that many common cultivars don't taste that great.

I have my trees planted close to each other and they all bloom at roughly the same time of year, regardless of when they fruit. Bloom season is Jan-Feb generally speaking in Florida. Some trees form the fruit faster and those are the early season varieties.

I believe that Maria Black and Oro Negro are both Type B flowers. I have not tasted Oro Negro but many people speak highly of the flavor as one of the best. Some Oro Negro growers have struggled with low production or alternate bearing but I don't have direct experience. If you only have two trees, Oro Negro could be a borderline choice, but maybe you will get good production in your conditions. Again, you could pair it with Simmonds (A) or Dupuis (A) which are both early season, or Russell (A) which is slightly later.

3
I ordered some of the rhizomes, this is an important ingredient for Thai cooking and soups, and not very easy to find. It's also a beautiful plant.

Does anyone have thoughts on location, wetter vs dryer ground? Is this happier in boggy conditions or will that cause rot of the rhizomes?

4
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Cut back papaya questions
« on: Today at 01:22:17 PM »
Can you cut it at an angle so the water runs off?

5
Glad everyone is getting some value from my tasting notes, and I find it exciting to hear the impressions of others. It's always smart to plant two cultivars of any tree near each other, and Hasya is so delicious (and big) it's worth the effort for that exotic flavor.

I've had Alano and enjoyed it but it has been two years so I hesitate to make a direct comparison to my present experiences. Never tried Butterscotch and that seems like a long shot at present. Maybe Tropical Acres would have some Thomas fruit to sell? Alex grows a lot of Thomas. I have actually planted all three of those trees in the last 6 months but it will take some time before I have fruit. If anyone has any for sale I am happy to buy fruit.

I did not even know an Excalibur cultivar existed - I might be able to stop by there on Saturday.

I am actually considering replacing my Moreno tree with a Molix. I planted the Moreno as a 7 gallon in November but Molix was just a cut above! Another hundred bucks down the tubes  ;D

6
Yes, wow, Nishikawa was eye opening flavor and texture for me. That one is a Type B late season. So you would be looking for a Type A early season / mid season and I think Simmonds would be the obvious choice. Although not as creamy or oily as Nishikawa, Simmonds has excellent nutty flavor. The fruit is also different enough that you would have two distinct eating experiences. Those two trees would provide good coverage of the calendar and I think they are both lower in vigor here in Florida. While not truly dwarf trees, they will be easier to control than Choquette.

7
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Newly planted Super Hass Tree
« on: February 09, 2025, 11:10:38 PM »
Super Hass is not a vigorous growing tree for me, and it has a rather upright growth habit. Some may disagree, but for my methods, 4 feet is plenty of space, this tree is easy to prune and control in a cylindrical or conical shape.

Have you tasted Super Hass avocado? At first I was pleased but over time I have had increasing issues with unusable fruit and uneven ripening. Even avocados that turned completely black and fell off the tree have had hard spots, and some fruit never fully ripened at all. When the stars align it's a great creamy avocado, but my luck with this tree has run out, and many others have given up as well and replaced their trees.

I would suggest several other varieties that fruit around the same time as preferable options before you invest time with Super Hass. The best choice would be Maria Black which is a dwarfish avocado with fewer issues and well liked flavor that fruits when Super Hass does. You might also consider more vigorous trees like Catalina or Bacon.

If you plant Maria Black and are looking for a late season Type A to complement, then Lula or Choquette would be solid, productive selections.

I apologize for curbing your enthusiasm for Super Hass but I was warned and insisted on learning the hard way 8)

8
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Sapodilla Variety Box Tasting Notes
« on: February 09, 2025, 12:56:02 PM »
Molix Sapodilla Tasting
The Molix fruit are among the larger ones and also have a reddish tinge to the flesh when ripe. You can tell when the fruit is ready as the skin sheds it's rough texture and becomes smooth and papery. Biting into a ripe Molix Sapodilla reveals adequate firmness with some grit present. The moderately sweet flesh has a robust brown sugar taste. My palate detects lots of exciting flavors, predominantly cinammon graham cracker with a faint hint of Maraschino cherry in the sweetest/ripest parts. The taste is absolutely delightful and very similar to Hasya, I think I like the Molix just a little better. Of the four varieties, Molix is probably my top choice, just edging out Hasya. Make sure you try this one.


9
I am interested in buying your Whitman green sapote.  What is the best way to contact you for purchase? Thanks

You can just send me a private message through the forum.

10
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Sapodilla Variety Box Tasting Notes
« on: February 07, 2025, 05:53:10 PM »
Morena Sapodilla Tasting
I'm not a native Spanish speaker, but I'm pretty sure that Morena refers to a woman with brown hair, a brunette. And the Morena fruit has brown skin and mostly brown flesh (with some red), although I don't know if it's that much more brunette than the others. Nevertheless, it's a very tasty Sapodilla cultivar.

The ripe texture is slightly less than firm with some grit present. I'd prefer a firmer texture and I don't mind the grit, but it is more noticeable than the other varieties and might put some people off. Moderately sweet but not candy sweet. The sweetness takes on the exciting characteristics of sugar caramelizing with hints of roasted marshmallow highlighting a distinct brown sugar and honey foundation. This is classic Sapodilla flavor but I wish it was more intense. For my palate, I prefer more spice and complexity. As an everyday Sapodilla with wide appeal Morena is an excellent choice and I don't think you can go wrong if you choose to plant this variety. While not my top choice I would happily eat it every day.




11
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What causes jelly seed in a mango?
« on: February 07, 2025, 04:54:20 PM »
The soil here in Kalopa HI is lacking in boron, zinc, calcium and Magnesium. If I don't do foliar sprays 4x a year I get jelly seed. Leaf analysis is a good way to measure nutritional health.

The typical solution in Florida is to apply pelletized gypsum to the ground around the drip line ever year. I do this for all my trees, not just mango.

12
Anybody grafting these on Pond Apple rootstock? I am looking to buy a couple trees if you are, get in touch  ;D

13
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Sapodilla Variety Box Tasting Notes
« on: February 07, 2025, 01:27:25 PM »
I love Sapodilla. I have eaten a lot of them and already have 5 young trees in the ground (Thomas, Morena, Silas Wood, Alano, and Butterscotch) so my decisions are made. While I wait for those trees to start producing, I couldn't resist ordering a sampler box from Lara Farms. The box contained the Tikal, Morena, Hasya and Molix varieties, an excellent selection. The fruit varied in size from baseball down to chicken egg.

When I eat Sapodilla, I am looking for sweetness with tropical dimension, the way that rum or caramel develops sugar's flavor into a complex and exciting taste. Sweetness level should be moderate but not excessive, and rounded out with some spice. I like a firmer texture when ripe, plus a little grit to complete the illusion that I'm eating a tropical pear. My favorite way to eat them is to peel off the skin with a paring knife and then eat it like a pear. I will start off with Tikal & Hasya.

Tikal Sapodilla Tasting
The first Tikal I tried was overripe with a soft, watery texture. Even when ripe the fruit has less body and bite than the others - it doesn't stand up well to chewing. Tikal lacks much texture but on the plus side for some, it also lacks grit. Moderately sweet with no acid component. The flavor is uncomplicated, tasting almost like granulated white sugar or maybe "sugar in the raw". In a generous mood I might say it reminds me of a weak, low quality maple syrup flavor. Tikal lacks spice and complexity. For most serious tropical fruit growers, Tikal will be a letdown on both texture and flavor. However, the mild flavor might be good for kids or others who avoid exotic tastes? Although decent and enjoyable, there are better options than Tikal.




Hasya Sapodilla Tasting
Cutting open a Hasya Sapodilla reveals a much redder flesh than other varieties. The redness increases with ripeness, as does the flavor. The texture provides some bite and firmness when ripe, along with a satisfying fine graininess. Not soft, squishy, or gritty. The moderate sweetness comes with caramel overtones, adding dimension to the sweetness. The flavor is full of tropical spice with cinnamon, floral notes and even hints of Mamey Sapote. The complex taste is both memorable and outstanding, and not overly sweet. I want to eat more and it has been a struggle to wait for the rest of them to fully ripen. The large fruit has small seeds and I consider this a top selection. I have heard some concerns about low production on trees.

14
I just ordered a lot of seeds for the red stem Malabar Spinach. I am going to give that a shot as my main ground cover in my food forest. The Perennial Peanut essentially failed, it just can't propagate quickly enough to out-compete the weeds and grass.

I'm also going with a lot of lemongrass to establish some borders.

15
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Has the M-4 Mango been named "Candy Sweet"
« on: February 07, 2025, 12:05:35 PM »
I actually like the name M4. Sound like a weapon 😂😂

M4 does have a certain charm about it, and I think it's too late to change.

Some of these people trying to name mangoes with silly or crazy names must be stopped! Candy Sweet? Wasn't she the "lady" who brought down the governor of Louisiana?  8)

16
I was thinking about planting this too. Looks like it would make a great stir fry with some sliced pork and oyster sauce.

Is the crop pretty much an all at once type deal? Or is the harvest spread out over a few months?

17
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: ‘Tikal’ sapodilla cultivar
« on: February 06, 2025, 09:34:22 AM »
Hasya has truly excellent eating quality, lots of spice and large fruit. I have heard some people have production issues with their trees. Incredible Edible Landscapes in Loxahatchee has Hasya in stock now.

18
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: is this front yard jackfruit fair game?
« on: February 06, 2025, 01:46:56 AM »
I always said I would put in a fence later.

A few options for you. I have a row of mango trees along a walking path behind my house that gets light foot traffic. I have trained and pruned those trees to remove the lower branches and put the fruit out of arm's reach. Yes, it's not the ideal way to prune the trees, and I need to pick them with a pole but that shuts down 99% of would be thieves.

You could install a cheap fence that's easily removed if it's in the wrong spot. Get a roll of cattle panel from Home Depot and some of the big green stakes you hammer into the ground. You could fence the entire front in an afternoon for a couple hundred bucks. Then grow passion fruit vine on or Seminole pumpkin on the fence.

I have been using Canna Lilies to establish borders and visual walls in the garden. Some Cannas are 8 feet tall and they can be planted in a row where they will spread and fill in the gaps to form a wall within about 2 seasons. Plus you get year round flowers. So think about a wall of Canna Lilies to visually and physically block fruit pirates.

19
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Id needed, green or mamey sapote?
« on: February 06, 2025, 01:39:42 AM »
Most likely Mamey Sapote, their leaves are larger (and usually lighter color / more chlorotic) than the Green Sapote. Also Green Sapote is very hard to find even in a place like Florida. I would be shocked if someone in Bulgaria had one!

It looks like it might be slightly iron deficient, which is very common for these. If you buy it, make sure not to overwater. Good luck.

Here's a photo of my potted Green Sapote:

20
I should also throw in ground cherry, or goldenberry, or cloudberry or whatever people are calling it these days. They are so easy to grow and so delicious.


21
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Painters Cherilata.
« on: February 05, 2025, 08:03:08 PM »
I am growing this one too but haven't tasted it - very hard to find the fruit. My understanding is that Painter's is supposed to be one of the most delicious fruits in the game, that's why I put it in the ground. Maybe give it a couple more seasons to improve the flavor and production?

22
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: ‘Tikal’ sapodilla cultivar
« on: February 05, 2025, 07:50:50 PM »
From my experience, the combination of having a ‘Tikal’ and ‘Hasya’ sapodilla varieties near each other is a real winner.

I think even as a general rule of thumb, planting fruit trees in pairs (different cultivars) makes a lot of sense. Some species may not require that for pollination but it certainly won't have negative effects. Then you have two cultivars of the same type of tree within about 20 feet and if you lose one tree there's a backup tree already in the ground, plus the cross-pollination benefits and observing them in slightly different microclimates.

23
I have a few very healthy 7 gallon trees that are ready for a new home. They are duplicates in my collection. Local pickup in Port St. Lucie.

7 gallon Sweet Tart Mango: grafted by Zill, will soon be ready to put into a 15 gallon pot. Nice and tall, flowering. $75


7 gallon Sugar Loaf Mango: grafted by Zill, nice low branching structure, flowering. $75


3 gallon White Piri Mango: grafted by Tropical Acres, ready for a 7 gallon pot soon. Rare variety. $50


7 gallon Whitman Green Sapote: impossible to find right now, a nice healthy 7g with a strong graft union and branching nicely. $100


24
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Star Fruit Variety Box Tasting Notes
« on: February 05, 2025, 02:04:44 PM »
How do you compare these to Kari?

I liked Kari's flavor, I had some excellent tree-ripened ones, but it's challenging to compare a memory to present sense impressions and give a real opinion.

Star Fruit should fruit multiple crops per year. Once they turn mostly yellow you can pick them and let them ripen inside. Or just let them turn fully yellow on the tree and start darkening to orange, some will fall off but then you are getting maximum ripeness on the tree.

25
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: ‘Tikal’ sapodilla cultivar
« on: February 05, 2025, 02:49:10 AM »
If you havent tried Excalibur I think it ranks right next to Butterscotch. More of a complex flavor with notes of caramel.

I'm growing Butterscotch but haven't tasted it. Also have in the ground now Thomas, Alano, Silas Wood and Moreno. I wonder if Excalibur is still producing the Excalibur variety? The last few times I've been there it looks like they've given up. It's a graveyard of 25 and 45 gallon pots rooted into the ground with very few small trees available. Everything I asked about was out of stock, and the trees I bought were heavily discounted because they were pot bound.

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