The Tropical Fruit Forum

Harvey I eat Valentine just like I do a grapefruit.  I cut in half. Then I take a perry knife and cut along the edges of each section so that I can easily remove each section with a spoon. I usually eat them for beakfast. - Millet

Kumquats on their own roots die much much earlier that grafted trees.  - Millet

Its hard to argue against success.  But salt and citrus trees do not mix. - Millet

Igor, remember - good things come to those that wait. - Millet

Your rooted cutting of a Poncirus is really a special achievement. Poncirus are very hard to root successfully.  Your to be commended. - Millet

Some years ago Pernambuco pineapple was a commercial pineapple, grown by many growers.  Its fruit was widely known because of its exceptionally good flavor. Pernambuco's only sin was that the fruit brused easily, therefore was not a good shipper. This is of course is not a problem with the home grower.  With the advent of newer pineapple cultavars such as Smooth Cayenne, Pernambuco commercial life was quickly discarded, and evidently forgotten my most people of today. - Millet

Evidently, in the past Pernambuco pineapples were a rather common planted pineapple, especially in South Florida.  Today it seems almost no one has heard about them.  Both Dr. Manners, and Dr. Julian W. Sauls have told me that the Pernambuuco was the best tasting pineapple they have eaten.  So far, after a years search I am still at zero in locating a source. - Millet

Harvey you stated that you are guessing a lower taste rating of the Valentine Pummelo was due to being over ripe, did you actually mean under ripe?  My test show leaving the Valentine Pummelo hang a while longer greatly improved the taste. This is certainly true for grapefruit also.- Millet

Be careful of adding to much hard wood chips to a citrus potting soil blend. Hardwood trees, (oaks, ash, maple cottonwood and so  on) work poorly, not because hardwood decomposition is excessive, but because of the accumulation of high levels of manganese that are in hard wood. - Millet

My tree is like Toms - very upright. - Millet

Yes, gibbereilllic (GA3) acid works great.  I use it most every year, both on my citrus and grapes. Two things to consider when using GA3 acid to pollinate your citrus.  The percent of active pollination is very high, so the tree will set a LOT of fruit when sprayed with GA3.  Much more than a tree being pollinated by natural means.  Therefore, you will get many more fruit, but because of the great number, the fruit will be smaller in size.  However, if you thin the tree a little the tree will produce the normal size for the cultivar.   Use a 1 percent solution.  If you don't want to by GA3 you can use tomato and pepper set.  In most brands, the active ingredient is GA3.  To be sure, check the ingredients on the label.  Spray at full bloom.  - Millet

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