The Tropical Fruit Forum

I have a Cherilata on its third year. Last year I harvested the 1 fruit it held over the winter in July. It took over a week to soften and had very little flavor or sweetness. The flesh had mild red blush. Did I harvest at the wrong time? This year it is holding about 10 fruits. Anyone in Southern California getting good fruits from their Cherilata trees? The tree grows well but it will likely go to the cull pile if it does not perform.

What time of year do Alano Sapodillas ripen in the San Diego area?

Do Lucuma and Canistel trees differ enough in morphology to tell them apart without seeing the fruit?  I ask because I have 4 different varieties if you include Ross as Canistel. The Ross, Oro and Trompo have very similar growth habits leaves and flowers. The fourth Labeled Bruce is similar but the leaves are smaller, a little rounded and slightly shorter. The Bruce flowers are also pointier making me question if it might be Lucuma. None have set fruit. The Bruce is 3rd year in ground, 8 or 9’ tall with many 100s, perhaps 1000s of flowers. It bloomed less the last couple of years and did not set fruit. First year for the other varieties.

I ordered some stone fruit rootstocks and scions from separate sources. The scions look great. The rootstocks are healthy but are much smaller than I expected as in between 1/8 and 1/4” diameter. Most of the scions are thicker than that. Do most people grow these rootstocks out before grafting them? I can do that and use the scions on my current in ground trees. Actually have enough material to try grafting to the rootstocks and my tree. What have your experiences been? The scions are apricot and plum.

Does ilama require ilama pollen or will it accept cherimoya or atemoya pollen?

My property in Southern California would benefit greatly From a greenhouse if I am going to bring my orchard to the next level. I have built and used an 8 x 12 foot double walled Polycarbonate greenhouse in the past. That would be too small for my anticipated needs. I am thinking about a house with 300 to 1000 square feet. Seeing what works for our many members in similar climates would help a lot. I am open to almost any design that is not a true eyesore. Could go the DIY route to save $$ but also open to having a specialty company install. I do not have a set price limit but would get emotional as costs topped $25,000. Don,t have to worry about getting approval from neighbors. Have read a fair amount and suspect a hoop house design with really good ventilation will give the best bang for my buck. All input appreciated.

I want to start a bunch of Sabara jaboticaba seedlings for grafting experiments as they get big enough a couple of years from now. My aim is to graft mature scion wood from varieties that do not do well in the ground in SoCal on their own roots to Sabara stock.  Anyone who is now enjoying sabara fruits and tossing the seeds please consider mailing them to me so I can learn to graft. Donators will be first in line for grafted plants at very reasonable cost if I have some success. Thanks in advance for your consideration.

I am looking for a source, Nursery or forum member, from which I could get some finger lime varieties in California other than standard green. Probably a longshot but thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Been putting in an orchard at my new home in northern San Diego county. Would like to grow Canistel, Lucuma, and green sapote. Need suggestions on cultivars and suggestions on nurseries that might have those cultivars. Ross sapote also on list if it does well in this climate.