The Tropical Fruit Forum

I never thought of that…
I’ve never heard of any problems but that’s interesting. We use a combination of chicken manure and cow manure mostly for top dressing fruit trees but I use the same mix in my potting medium. In the past I’ve blamed problems on incomplete composting of the chicken manure but…
I’m going to consider my sources. Many thanks.
Peter

I have been having some trouble posting images. But anyway you can see here what I am trying to do in shaping the young durian trees. Once you select a new leader and make your cut right above it then that branch starts to turn up and take over. At the same time the lower branches extend more.
Peter

Pretty good.
Did you say if that tree is a seedling or some grafted variety?
Peter

Copper sulphate with calcium carbonate.
The ratios would depend but I don’t think it’s very critical.  I’ve used a very C rich mixt to make a paste for treating wounds on trees.  It can be used as a foliar spray.  If you’re interested in using what’s allowed within organics this classic combination is worth experimenting with.
Peter

Your tree looks healthy. I’m not too sure if seedlings should be pruned the same as grafted trees. But what some would say is that looking at that tree you see an area near the top without many branches. Almost halfway down you get to an area where there is strong branching. You might select the top one of those branches to be the new leader by cutting off everything above it at an angle just above where that branch connects to the main stem.
I know that sounds radical and the tree doesn’t look like it needs any drastic remedy. You could just leave it and keep doing what you are doing to promote lateral branches.
However, selecting a new leader should force the lower branches to spread wider.
I’d be interested to hear what others suggest. Often, very competent pruners will have different approaches to working the same tree.
Peter

I wonder about that too. I have been waiting for a seedling to flower for more than ten years. Do you have mulchi in production?  So far only the dwarf mulchi has produced here.
Peter

To me, that doesn’t look like cherapu.  The leaves should be smoother, more mangosteen like, not with any wrinkles.
Peter

Ultimately it has to be what’s best for the consumer. I am the president of our farmers market and there is a tendency of some to favor the vendors but we need, above all, consumer satisfaction. In Australia if your customers are happy it doesn’t matter what’s happening in Thailand.
The photo is of prices at a stand in Penang last month. You can see that there are different qualities of Bkack thorn and musang king. There are at least 3 grades or qualities determined for the same durian varieties. Incidentally, these prices are about double what I saw in the production zones.
Peter

This is a very interesting subject.
First off it seems that Thai varieties grown in Malaysia can be different from those in Thailand.
Mongthong can have problems of uneven ripening in Thailand.
All this according to Lindsay.
We are barely getting started here. The D-99 we grow can be terrific, but not always. Fruits from the same tree can vary. We have had very good Chanee off a young tree here. There is mongthong and musang king in production in CR but only within the last 3-5 years!
One of these areas is marginally suitable with very dry winds. Another has its harvest during the rainy season which doesn’t help quality. In Costa Rica most durian planting occurs on the Caribbean coast where we are or near the Pacific coast in the southern section. The country is small but the climate varies considerably from one region to another.
There are some good seedlings and we are working hard on seedlings to develop our own varieties. But nobody is pulling out Asian selections. Lots of seedlings were distributed by an NGO in the 80’s.  Only a few of those would be worth grafting.  Most tree buyers desire the Asian varieties so far.

I think it’s propagated by cuttings. If that isn’t working then I would use a ground layer.
Peter

Nice, I think Ganyao has a much better reputation than mongthong. I have a grafted tree that is from a seedling of Ganyao. The seedling came very good so I imagine yours will as well.
Peter

Hi Carolyn
I have been to a farm here that grows and sells laroco. It’s not a heavy vine like passiflora or something. Your plan should work well.
Peter

We can get that much rain. Penang gets less but some parts of Malaysia get that and have good production. The videos that Jay and I have been talking about show the durians planted on steep mounds if they are on the flat. The guy also sometimes makes ditches for drainage. We are planting on hills now but have good trees where the ground gets pretty wet and water can stand in depressions. I cringe when I see that but, we’re still in business.
Peter