The Tropical Fruit Forum

Quote from: Rob From Sydney on August 28, 2024, 08:40:30 PM

Here in Australia, Kensington Pride is the preferred variety, and is the most planted.
Is Kensington Pride (Bowen) a thing in Florida?

Rob to answer your question no KP is not a thing in Florida, Americans don't rate KP mostly if you read through this forum. There is a huge cultural element here and Aussies generally like our mangoes and the Thai SE asian ones Maha, NDM etc

Do American Mangoes taste different?
If so, how?

I would cut off the side growth on the left if I were you - It isn't erect at all and I would reckon it is compromising the tree's structure.

I have read that although Bardados Cherry are self fertile, they benefit from a pollination partner.
Also, apparently Barbados cherry are one of those species that like to flower for a year or few before actually fruiting...

I assume it's a grafted tree due to the trifoliate suckers sprouting from the base of the tree.

I'd agree. This is certainly the case.

if you arent growing lucuma, you're doing yourself a disservice

Best Pouteria I have had out of

P. viridis
P. campechiana
P. sapota
P. caimito
P. hypoglauca

I have sapota, caimito & hypogauca (or glomerata),
Viridis is on the list, I may have access to fresh fruit in January next year, and I have a campechiana tree near me that should fruit soon.

Which Mamey variety are you growing? Could add another that ripening a different season, and/or Green Sapote which is similar.

Could consider Ross sapote (a close canistel relative).

I got the seeds from an (unfortunately unripe) fruit about 20cm long. I'd guess it's Magana.
Would like to get ross sapote seeds, Anderson Tropicals has them in stock at the moment.

I did the same thing but cracked half of my ilama seeds lightly with pliers (squeeze carefully until you hear the quiet pop of the seed coat cracking open) and found some of those cracked ones germinated quickly, even within 2-3 weeks. Others it’s been months with nothing.

I'll give cracking my ilama seeds a go - I don't want to wait several months for germination - is this a practical method for other annonas, too?

I bought some seeds from trade winds fruit. Still waiting on them to germinate. For reference, here is the description:
"A rare, cloud forest Annona with oval, orange-brown colored fruits. The interesting fruits may be edible, though little information is available. It naturally grows in cooler, mid-elevation areas in the Andes mountains making it a great candidate for subtropical zones. May withstand some frost."

On the Anderson Tropicals website, there is some good information in the description:
"It is a very aromatic fruit, similar to the smell of guanabana, smooth texture. Its taste, not too sweet and a little sour, nice. Its taste in juice and sorbet is very good."

I'm very excited for this specie. Sounds tasty and likely has good cold tolerance.

Wow!

Seedlings are true enough.
Trees should self pollinate, however, hand pollination is always beneficial.

Hello,

For some years now, I've been trying to acclimatize white sapote in France (Nîmes, zone 8b/9a). There are some very old specimens of Casimiroa edulis on the Riviera (the one at the Hanbury villa was planted 130 years ago). But these Casimiroa have not been as popular as in California, probably because Riviera gardeners have not made the effort to select fruit. In fact, these old trees produce almost nothing.

After watching Tom Addison's video on the subject, I realized that seedlings were often of poor quality: they produce mediocre fruit and the upright trees made them difficult to pick.

I try to get some Californian budwood. Do you know anyone who might be able to sell me some (Marta does not send to Europe)? I've found some varieties in Italy and Spain like Mc Dill, Suebelle and Vernon, but the characteristics of these trees (especially the fruits) don't seem to match those in the United States. I have the impression that nurserymen here provide us with what we're looking for without really making the effort to obtain the real varieties...

I'd like to know what you think of Florida varieties like Younghan's Gold and Campbell, do they do well in Mediterranean climates?

I'm also very interested in Casimiroa pringley, I have some 2-year-old seedlings. In Tom's conference, he mention the possibility of hybridizing this species with other Casimiroa. Does a Casimiroa hybridization program exist in the United States? From institutions or amateur gardeners?

In its video, Tom consider Casimiroa tetrameria as a fruit of inferior quality. However, on the tropical fruit forum, some people say that species can give very good fruit. I do not know what to think ?

There are other casimiroa species such as casimiroa sapota. Do you have any idea of the hardiness of this species and do you grow it in California for its fruit?

By the way, I seem to have successfully cut white sapote (Casimiroa edulis).


At the beginning of May, I cut some 15 cm cuttings with a good diameter (5 mm minimum). I put them in a pot, half-buried. No protection (no smothering cuttings), just shade. The above-ground part of the plant got off to a fast start, but due to lack of regular watering, it didn't grow much, but after three months, there were roots!

Here is a video of my Sapote :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZCuwEuzkXw

Hello, Just some questions/comments...
Firstly, don't forget that all grafted selections came from high quality seedlings. A little off topic, but I've heard that the hass avocado was just someone's backyard avocado seedling some time back, and it produced high quality fruit, and ended up being grafted and going commercial.
The point is, seedling can very well produce good fruit, that is equal to or surpasses the parent tree.

My other comment is that I have read Casimiroa Edulis and Casimiroa Tetramera are hybridized in the case of some white sapote cultivars.

My question is about where to buy rare Casimiroa. You mention Casimiroa Pringley and Casimiroa Sapota. Where did you buy them?
Cheers.

I'd transplant them right now.
From my experience, jackfruit aren't very fussed about being transplanted, provided they are well hydrated. Once transplanted, keep them out of direct sunlight for a few days.
Cheers.

Although I've only tried Soursop and Atemoya, I have a bunch of seeds and have been researching good species.

Ilama (Annona Macrophyllata/Diversifolia) is supposed to be very good, with some varieties apparently tasting like strawberries and cream.
I bought my seeds from Anderson Tropicals. They have an excellent sellection of annonas, notably Ilama & Mexican Custard Apple. Over 20 varieties of each.

Mexican Custard Apple or Bullock's Heart (Annona Reticulata). Said to taste very good. As with Ilama, I have red and white fleshed varieties. Some say this is the best annona.

Soncoya (Annona Purplea). Very fibrous and big fruits, can be up to 20/25 cm wide. Information on flavour varies but is said to be like mango.

Sugar Apple (Annona Squamosa) is the most widely grown Annona. From what I have read, very popular in Florida. Crossed with Cherimoya, it brought birth to the Atemoya, which is okay, but I reckon other annonas are much better.

Marolo (Annona Crassiflora) is said to have a delicious, sweet flavour. It looks odd, has good size, and stores well. Hard to get hold of seeds.

Poshte (Annona Scleroderma) is one of the best annonas, with an incredible taste.

Annona Nitida var 'Amazonas Pera' is a newly disovered species that bellamytrees has, that is said to have a really good pear taste. Only bellamytrees and hapajoe have information on this species, so very rare. I'm about to order seeds. Quite excited about this one.