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Messages - Triloba Tracker

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1301
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Paw Paw
« on: September 05, 2013, 04:38:39 PM »
There is also a huge pawpaw program at Kentucky State University, as some of you probably know.  They are hosting an open house on Sept 19 with several speakers, free lunch, orchard tour, and tastings.  Mr. Caimito and I are planning on going.

I have found a few fruiting trees in the wild near here, with good-size fruit, but they are not ripe yet.  I still haven't tasted a pawpaw yet - I feel very anxious to live up to my username :)

Hoping to plant some soon, but not sure if I have a good spot for it.  .. i'm afraid our soil may be too shallow in the back of our property. . sort of on a rock outcropping.
I appreciate the advice on cultivars!  There's actually a nursery in Cookeville, TN that sells several cultivars including some KSU ones. Hidden Springs Nursery.

1302
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Had my first longan!!!
« on: September 05, 2013, 04:14:18 PM »
I'm late to the party, but to me the mysterious longan flavor is "savory."  I would liken it to canteloupe as Oscar mentioned.  "Musky" I could agree with too, but "spicy," either meaning tingly/hot or "like a seasoning" doesn't register with me.

I would never buy longans just to eat them.  They're a novelty.  Lychees and Rambutans I would buy for their flavor.

1303
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Visit Grimal Grove on Jan 17-20, 2014
« on: August 27, 2013, 07:07:59 PM »
Quote from: ASaffron on August 27, 2013, 05:55:11 PM
I'd suggest planting some of the best artocarpus species and hybrids.

from what I've gathered, Adolf had a real nice pedali tree.
Yes, there's a photo of Adolf and the pedalai tree in Five Decades with Tropical Fruit. It was quite large.  Not sure if it's still there.
Also in the book, it mentions the/a rambutan tree was destroyed in hurricane Georges, among other casualties. Very sad!  As of 2000 the jaboticaba was reported alive.

1304
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Visit Grimal Grove on Jan 17-20, 2014
« on: August 27, 2013, 12:41:12 PM »
It still doesn't seem quite real, but Mr. Caimito and I are 90% in.  I'd say 100% in, but it just seems so insane that we're planning it!
Quite a trek from Tennessee. . . but as of now, we're making preparation to be there.

1305
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Durian in Iceland!
« on: August 27, 2013, 12:38:06 PM »
Quote from: KarenRei on August 27, 2013, 12:27:00 PM
I ate it as fresh as possible - I wasn't even out the door before I was opening the package, ate it almost like a firm ice cream.  Didn't even let it thaw (it thawed in my mouth).  I like cold fruit, especially creamy ones - for example, I make a "frozen fruit salad" that's to die for.  :)  The texture was great, it would have been wonderful if only it didn't have that god-awful flavor.

I like a lot of stinky foods - I love mold cheeses, for example.  But clearly not that particular stinky food.  ;)

Maybe I'll have a chance to try it again at some point in the future where there won't be anyone around for a few hours who could care about the smell eminating from the fruit or from me (so I'd only be torturing myself if it's just as bad) and if I don't have to pay 1000 krónur for the "opportunity".  But personally I hope it's a long, long time before such an "opportunity" would arise  ;)

Well shucks, I guess you may just not be destined for durian addiction :)  Though I hope you and I both have the chance to eat fresh durian someday!  That's way up there on my "bucket list."

1306
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Durian in Iceland!
« on: August 27, 2013, 11:18:38 AM »
Karen,
My first experience with a whole frozen Monthong was about like you described.  But months later I bought another one and absolutely loved it.  It did have the garlic/onion undertones and the famous smell (though not too bad, I thought) but it also had a wonderful sweet vanilla ice cream amazingness.  Not a substitute for fresh, I realize, but still super.

My quandary is this:  did I get extremely lucky on the second one?

 I crave it now, but I'm leery of the cash outlay ($2.19/pound) if the odds are great that I'll get another dud.

And did you fully thaw the durian before you had it?  My first whole one we let sit around at least a day, and possibly longer (I can't remember) at room temp.  I KNOW that was a very ill-advised move, but not sure if that alone caused the horrible experience. 
The second one I bought we opened within a couple of hours and it was great right out of hand.  then I stored the arils in the freezer and only partially thawed in the fridge for about 2-4 hours.  I found that the longer they were in the fridge, the worse the taste got.

Oh, and the freeze-dried durian available on Amazon (and elsewhere) I think is great. 

Definitely has the smell and some of the garlic-y taste, but it was nothing like the puke-bomb whole frozen one I first had.


Lastly - I do think some folks are predisposed to liking smelly things and odd-tasting things.  I seem to love these kinds of foods, while my wife is utterly repulsed by the durian smell.  I had to eat it outside!  Another example of this phenomenon is the Indian cooking spice asafoetida or "devil's dung."  My wife is nearly sickened by the smell but I absolutely love it.  It's not that I think it smells like roses - I KNOW it smells disgusting, but my brain is drawn to that aspect.

1307
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: what is an organic/natural way to feed our trees potassium? homemade recipie?
« on: August 24, 2013, 04:05:43 PM »
Such a coincidence - I was just mulling this exact question in my head earlier today. 

How do y'all use the banana peel?  We have a small Cogshall in about a 2 gallon pot.  And for the ash - do you just sprinkle on the surface and maybe lightly water-in?

Thanks

1308
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself
« on: August 24, 2013, 04:02:14 PM »
Welcome, Tony.

1309
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Cherimoya season right around the corner
« on: August 22, 2013, 08:36:38 AM »
Quote from: msk0072 on August 22, 2013, 02:35:04 AM
One note about your plants. I think you need bigger pots because of the taproot of cherimoyas

Thanks for your advice, Mike!!  I was actually afraid I had them in too big pots - they look awfully silly to me, and I was thinking it might promote root rot (from my limited reading on the subject). 

But I hadn't thought about taproots. ..I will definitely look into that. 

1310
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Cherimoya season right around the corner
« on: August 20, 2013, 04:30:20 PM »
Here are Mr. Caimito's and my cherimoyas!

Grown from seed from a commercial fruit.  At one point earlier in their lives we tried having them outside, but they didn't seem to like it.  Plus I read about their native habitat being a little milder, so we brought them inside and have them in our south-facing window.  They've grown in spurts ....a few months ago they seemed to shoot up, then they stagnated for a long time.  We added some 13-13-13 about a month ago and they have put on lots of new, big leaves as you can see.  Not sure if it's the fertilizer or ??

I do wonder what the best approach is for us in Middle Tennessee - summers can get pretty hot and humid.  This summer has been very mild, however, but VERY rainy. 

Any tips?  Or maybe that's another post/thread. ...





1311
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself
« on: August 20, 2013, 04:00:47 PM »
Welcome, Canadian Tropics! 

What size are your potted plants, and what can you tell us about your greenhouses?

1312
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Pugging
« on: August 18, 2013, 02:15:18 PM »
Quote from: puglvr1 on August 18, 2013, 12:58:39 PM
Quote from: Triloba Tracker on August 17, 2013, 07:11:36 PM
Thanks y'all!
This summer has been quite odd in Tennessee . . . very wet and not very hot.  A couple of nights ago, the low was 55, today the high was 75.
So my main concern from what puglvr1 mentioned is the fact that it's not likely to be very hot between now and winter. 
Still okay to pug now, do you think, or should we wait?
We'll be bringing the tree indoors to overwinter, of course.


It's probably okay to pug it now...but its hard to guess how quickly the new growths will appear ? Especially if your temps have not been as warm...it might take a little longer (its even possible the tree won't flush till next spring unless you have a lot of direct sun and warm conditions...Just a guess?

As long as it won't harm the plant, i'm fine to do it now and wait until Spring to see the new growth.

Last question: is it necessary to re-pot it after pugging it, or can it stay put?   I guess inherent in this question is how to know when to re-pot.  I had been waiting until I saw evidence of roots in the pot drainage holes, per the folks at Excalibur, but perhaps that's too late. ..

1313
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Cogshall ready to pug?
« on: August 17, 2013, 07:11:36 PM »
Thanks y'all!
This summer has been quite odd in Tennessee . . . very wet and not very hot.  A couple of nights ago, the low was 55, today the high was 75.
So my main concern from what puglvr1 mentioned is the fact that it's not likely to be very hot between now and winter. 
Still okay to pug now, do you think, or should we wait?
We'll be bringing the tree indoors to overwinter, of course.


1314
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Cogshall ready to pug?
« on: August 17, 2013, 02:37:28 PM »
Hoping for advice on pruning our Cogshall.

We bought it in June from Excalibur.  It's still in the pot from the nursery.  About 3 weeks ago or so, it started putting on vertical growth. It's added about 4 inches in height.
It's now 27 inches high including the pot, and 18 inches measuring from the top of the soil.  From the graft to the tip is about 13 inches.

Since this tree will remain in a pot its entire life (sadly, no plans to move to a warmer climate!), I'm thinking it's probably ready to pug/tip/head back (not sure if all those are synonymous).  We want to keep the total height, including pot, I'd say to a max 6 feet.

What does everyone think? 

And is there a preferred point at which to make the cut?  Just below a node, just above, only the very tip? etc.
And is now an okay time to do it? (instead of waiting until the spring, etc)







1315
Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade / Re: For sale: Mangoes!
« on: August 17, 2013, 02:22:36 PM »
What mangoes do you have for sale right now?

1316
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself
« on: August 16, 2013, 04:32:02 PM »
Quote from: Sanddollarmoon on August 16, 2013, 04:17:00 PM
Quote from: Tim on August 15, 2013, 12:30:12 PM
Congratulations, normally it's the other way around.  Very refreshing to hear kids getting hooked on tropical FRUITS rather than many other things, then converting parents to make great duos.

Quote from: Triloba Tracker on August 13, 2013, 09:11:45 PM
I'm here because my teenage son - "Mr. Caimito" - has gotten me hooked on rare/exotic/tropical fruit.

Haha! I am also a teenager, but cannot seem to get my parents fully interested. Any suggestions, triloba tracker?
Ha!  Well, I will see if Henry can comment too, but my answer is: talk about rare fruit all the time, bug your parents to let you mail-order fruit, constantly beg to go to the nearest international grocery store, and start growing plants all over the house :):):):)

1317
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What's your least favorite fruit and why????
« on: August 16, 2013, 12:08:49 PM »
Quote from: plantlover13 on August 16, 2013, 08:12:20 AM
To be absolutely honest, i think that they did do that already, and put on the big show for the sake of the television.
I don't know if that's the case or not, but it would not surprise me in the least, based on my experience with the media/showbiz. 
Surely the folks at Fairchild have tried every legally possible solution.

1318
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself
« on: August 16, 2013, 11:33:43 AM »
Quote from: fruitlovers on August 15, 2013, 07:52:53 PM
Before the onset of agriculture everything humans ate was handed out by nature.

So true!  With today's industrial agriculture machine, you have to sorta wonder if we've ruined it :)

1319
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What's your least favorite fruit and why????
« on: August 15, 2013, 04:26:55 PM »
Quote from: BMc on August 12, 2013, 08:54:51 PM
My first durian was truly awful. I tried eating it all, but gave up half way through. Might as well have kept going as the taste lingered for hours. The taste was what I imagined a NY Chinatown gutter tastes like in mid summer. Hints of rotting cabbage, sauteed onions, curdled sour cream, extra aged brie. I actually like fermented cabbage, sauteed onions and very mature cheeses, but this was much worse and does those a diss-service. The good news is, there are really nice ones out there, so dont give up after one bad experience. Having said that, a bad durian is probably the worst of the bad fruit you can try.
That sounds like my first durian experience.  A whole frozen Monthong.  We didn't really know what to do with it.  The cashier at the Asian grocery said to leave it out for a day or so.  Big mistake.  It tasted just like you described. ..completely inedible.
Fortunately, I tried another one and opened it after a couple of hours at room temp.  YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM

I have limited tropical fruit tasting experience, but so far I'd say my least favorite is Bilimbi.  So sour!  Maybe it's used for something else, because not sure why anyone would want to eat it raw :)

1320
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What's your least favorite fruit and why????
« on: August 15, 2013, 04:14:58 PM »
Quote from: plantlover13 on August 15, 2013, 01:06:43 PM
Quote from: durianwriter on August 15, 2013, 11:44:57 AM
I hate wanis (stinky white mango). They smell like rotting corpse mixed with overly strong perfume. Disgusting. Especially when my husband eats them and then wants to kiss me.

Wani? They are among the more coveted fruit on this forum, especially after that fruit hunters documentary, lol.
That's blasphemy in these parts!  ;D

1321
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What fruit is this?
« on: August 15, 2013, 11:39:03 AM »
That's some amazing recall, Thao!   :o What a cool example of the power of the forum.

Now if I can just figure out how to stowaway on one of Durianwriter's excursions. .....

1322
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself
« on: August 15, 2013, 08:46:27 AM »
Quote from: phantomcrab on August 14, 2013, 07:39:58 PM
Welcome Triloba Tracker. I grew up in N GA and am quite familiar with pawpaws although I never found a really good one in the wild. It's hand to hand combat with the wildlife to get them when ripe. KSU has many cultivars - http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/

Thanks!!  Yeah, I've heard similar things about how hard it is to beat the 'possums and such to the fruit.  I guess since I'm new at it, I haven't become jaded yet!  I did learn about the KSU pawpaw program and have spoken with them a little.  I would like to take a trip up there to see their operation and maybe get some trees.

I just love the feeling of foraging in the wild for fruit. ..it's such a cool feeling that nature is just handing out free, delicious, nutritious food!  Of course, cultivating food has its own rewards too.

1323
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Today's fruit basket
« on: August 14, 2013, 06:19:39 PM »
Jealous!  I, too, was not aware that the rag was really edible, or at least desirable.  Learned something today!

Gary, hope you can get some jackfruit sooner than later.  I really enjoy it, though my experience is limited.
I had one from an Asian grocery store in Nashville a few months ago.  The flesh was very deep gold in color and had a texture between crunchy and squishy - in my mind, perfect.  The Jaks I had in south FL in june were much paler in color and too crunchy for my liking.  To my surprise, everyone I talked to in FL said they only like crunchy jackfruit!  I guess I'm in the minority :)

1324
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself
« on: August 14, 2013, 04:23:45 PM »
Quote from: plantlover13 on August 14, 2013, 09:35:43 AM
Hello! zone 7a, huh. Looks like we're in the same situation  ;) (i'm 7b)

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks!!  I'm gonna have to work hard to overcome my brown thumb if we're gonna get these plants to grow!

1325
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango Surprise
« on: August 13, 2013, 09:21:47 PM »
I wish I had such awesome friends!  Enjoy

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