Author Topic: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids  (Read 2416 times)

TheVeggieProfessor

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10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« on: January 23, 2023, 11:31:22 AM »
I'm putting together a play area in the yard for my daughter. For both shade and foraging, I'd like to have fruiting trees, shrubs, and ground covers. Jamaican cherry tree is great for snacking for kids and for shade. She also loves everglades tomatoes, so I'll plant those around probably as ground cover.
What else should I consider? The plants don't have to be super productive, but I'd prefer if it's not very unproductive.

tru

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #1 on: January 23, 2023, 11:44:40 AM »
my introduction to plants as a kid was honeysuckle, I'll never forget trying it and finding it unbelievable that it really tasted sweet like honey
I think a lot of species are invasive though
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roblack

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #2 on: January 23, 2023, 12:00:03 PM »
Gotta have mulberry
Passion fruit
Loquat
Garcinia Intermedia or improved lemon drop
Jujube

Calusa

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2023, 12:39:08 PM »
Barbados Cherry bush.

FV Fruit Freak

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2023, 02:05:28 PM »
Blueberries are my kids favorite and they can pick them easily.
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bussone

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2023, 02:21:29 PM »
Figs and blueberries are pretty easy.

I try to be careful with fruiting vines because false nightshade is too prevalent, and I need to watch out for pokeweed. (They look just like edible berries and are very much not)

FloridaManDan

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2023, 02:46:19 PM »
my introduction to plants as a kid was honeysuckle, I'll never forget trying it and finding it unbelievable that it really tasted sweet like honey
I think a lot of species are invasive though

Honeysuckle has a better cousin, the Honeyberry/Haskap. Normally hardy zone 3-8, makes a blueberry-like fruit. Native to Siberia/Japan I believe, and not considered invasive. Florida (Zone 9+) trials going on for a few cultivars, a couple of which I bought and will receive sometime this Spring (Strawberry Sensation, Boreal Beauty).
Might be worth a try for something new, especially an easily manageable shrub.

I agree with every other suggestion posted in this thread too. If you need a purple passion vine, I'm digging mine up to replace with giant granadilla; let me know if you want to pick it up im in Broward.

1rainman

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2023, 08:01:05 PM »
Zone 10? Red banana though box it in somehow so it can't spread too much (like now around it, put on side of house or some barrier). Slowly over time they spread and eventually every where years later. I never saw honey suckle in Florida.

Muni

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2023, 08:32:31 PM »
Whatever fruits they are excited about.
Allow yourself to know, if you wish, that this is a multi dimensional communication.
See what happens.

Galatians522

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2023, 09:30:03 PM »
Wow, what a great thread! In my experience kids like sugarcane. Its prolific, sweet, and has a long season. They ask for it a lot when they are in my garden. Miracle fruit is also very popular, does well in shade, and is on their eye level. I would plant some even if you have to put them in a raised bed or pot because of alkaline soil. I think its important to include some vegetables, too. Cranberry Leaf Hibiscus (aka False Roselle) has been surprisingly popular with kids (especially when served with miracle fruit) and is a creative way to introduce them to leaf vegetables. Roselle would probably also work and has the advantage of having a "fruit." Sweet "snack peppers" are another good one if she likes tomatoes. Mexican Sour Gherkin makes cute "mini cucumbers" and has very few pest problems. Bok Choy stems make a good substitute for celery in the old "ants on a log" snack and it is fairly easy to grow in Florida. Purple/red mombin is an option for a very productive shade tree that has not been mentioned.

John B

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2023, 11:14:31 PM »
Each time my kids walk by my neglected kumquat tree, they grab a few. Perfect little snack for them. My daughter only eats the skin, and my son eats the whole thing. The tree receives little care, is beat up constantly by little ones, and still produces prolifically. They certainly will forage for anything, though.



Oolie

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2023, 12:19:55 AM »
I wish there were a less thorny version, but I've watched kids devour finger limes.

I grew up devouring loquats in season, and I think though it's difficult to recommend, Morus nigra.
It depends on how you feel about stained clothing.

The Barbados cherry or Acerola is a very productive tree, rare to see it without fruit on it, so it's an easy choice if planted in a warm spot.

Lucifermonkey

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #12 on: January 24, 2023, 01:07:44 PM »
Pigeon pea??

If we’re including veggies. Eat them fresh green off the tree like edamame.
Easy and fast to grow. Doubles as green mulch and shade for smaller plants. 😃

Fruitguy

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #13 on: January 24, 2023, 01:12:10 PM »
Lots of excellent suggestions on this thread. I would throw in any of the Physalis ssp. fruits (poha berry, ground cherry, winter cherry, etc.).

1rainman

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #14 on: January 24, 2023, 07:26:19 PM »
Standard sugar cane will grow wild here and tolerate the sandy or alkaline soil. Compost and fertilizer will let it grow faster. The sand doesn't hold water so it would be dry in dry season though.

Rispa

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #15 on: January 24, 2023, 07:29:58 PM »
Blackberries. My daughter and husband are them all before they were ripe and I could eat them.
Phlox paniculata. Not a fruit, but they have a nice taste.
Marigolds. Also boy a fruit, but tasty.
Cucumber berries. Pick them and pop them in your mouth while passing by or pickle them. Very tasty.
Mutinga Calabera. I didn't get to eat many because my daughter enjoyed them so much.
Kumquat. My daughter and husband were fighting over the ready ones. I can only imagine what they'll be like once I find and plant a Meiwa.
Okra. You can pluck it and eat it raw. It might produce year round for you depending on your temperatures. You can have beans vine up it as a bonus.

ryanscion

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #16 on: January 25, 2023, 12:27:08 PM »
Would recommend the following:
•Jaboticaba (Tree/Shrubby)
•Mulberry (Tree)
•Strawberry (Groundcover)
•Fig (Tree/Shrubby)

Have fun!

Kevin Jones

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #17 on: January 26, 2023, 08:21:31 PM »
I would plant Kishu Mandarines... EZ peel... seedless... sweet and delicious.
Bright Leaf Citrus has them for $25 each and well worth it!
I grow the in containers and they produce the second year after planting.

https://www.briteleaf.com

Kevin


Fishinsteeg234

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #18 on: January 28, 2023, 07:05:19 PM »
Great thread. I am also doing this exact thing for my three boys, ages 4,2,1 month:

I am in zone 9b, in a shaded position I highly recommend #1 Carambola,#2 red Jaboticabra, #3 avocado. Then the more sun the better for mulberry, mango, dragonfruit, peanut-butter fruit, sapodilla, banana, pineapple, sugarcane, lychee, papaya, atemoya.

Honest Abe

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #19 on: January 28, 2023, 09:51:40 PM »
Mulberries
Pakistaní is my favorite but doesn’t matter they are all sweet enough

TheVeggieProfessor

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #20 on: January 29, 2023, 06:39:12 AM »
my introduction to plants as a kid was honeysuckle, I'll never forget trying it and finding it unbelievable that it really tasted sweet like honey
I think a lot of species are invasive though

Honeysuckle has a better cousin, the Honeyberry/Haskap. Normally hardy zone 3-8, makes a blueberry-like fruit. Native to Siberia/Japan I believe, and not considered invasive. Florida (Zone 9+) trials going on for a few cultivars, a couple of which I bought and will receive sometime this Spring (Strawberry Sensation, Boreal Beauty).
Might be worth a try for something new, especially an easily manageable shrub.

I agree with every other suggestion posted in this thread too. If you need a purple passion vine, I'm digging mine up to replace with giant granadilla; let me know if you want to pick it up im in Broward.

Thanks for the offer. That'd be great, but I'm not going to be planting it until it warms up. Are you getting your giant granadilla from tree amigos? They had some in stock not too long ago.

happyhana

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #21 on: January 29, 2023, 03:30:30 PM »
Blackberry jam fruit, not sure about zone

FloridaManDan

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #22 on: January 31, 2023, 02:24:36 PM »
my introduction to plants as a kid was honeysuckle, I'll never forget trying it and finding it unbelievable that it really tasted sweet like honey
I think a lot of species are invasive though

Honeysuckle has a better cousin, the Honeyberry/Haskap. Normally hardy zone 3-8, makes a blueberry-like fruit. Native to Siberia/Japan I believe, and not considered invasive. Florida (Zone 9+) trials going on for a few cultivars, a couple of which I bought and will receive sometime this Spring (Strawberry Sensation, Boreal Beauty).
Might be worth a try for something new, especially an easily manageable shrub.

I agree with every other suggestion posted in this thread too. If you need a purple passion vine, I'm digging mine up to replace with giant granadilla; let me know if you want to pick it up im in Broward.

Thanks for the offer. That'd be great, but I'm not going to be planting it until it warms up. Are you getting your giant granadilla from tree amigos? They had some in stock not too long ago.

I purchased my giant granadilla awhile ago, just some cuttings, fast grower. I've been hacking away at it though taking cuttings to trade and share. Currently have a few going now, if you need one or two (given that they root in the next couple weeks). I didnt see anything at tree amigos.

1rainman

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #23 on: February 06, 2023, 11:40:05 AM »
Blackberry jam fruit, not sure about zone

They grow anywhere in the eastern united states. But even though we have native blackberries in Florida the domestic southern ones were bred around Alabama and less tropical places. They do better outside of Florida even though they grow here.

FloridaManDan

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Re: 10b - best snacking fruits for kids
« Reply #24 on: February 06, 2023, 11:51:10 AM »
Rainman, I think happyhana was referring to the Blackberry Jam Fruit (Rosenbergiodendron formosum - zone 10+), not blackberry as in the Rubus spp.

I personally prefer mulberry over blackberries, the trauma of brambles tearing me up is too much lol. although I am starting some mysore blue raspberry seeds from Brian Laufer, just out of curiosity.