The Tropical Fruit Forum

Here's a few images of some of my Mulberries starting to push fruit.
These are growing in pots in my greenhouses.

Thai Dwarf:






Pakistani:






Kevin

I enjoy being outside working in my garden and with my plants... but being very fair skinned... I don't need the sunlight exposure.
I decided a long time ago I would eschew fashion for protection.
I wear this hat to protect my face, ears, scalp and neck:

3CERA® Outdoor 360 UV protection Sun block hat Folding visor fishing Nylon Cap hiking (milk)


Around $7 on Amazon and worth it!

I also wear long sleeves, long pants, sunglasses and gloves.
This also prevents mosquito bites, blisters and nuisance scratches.

Kevin

Cooler weather is here and I need to be thinking about keeping my plants alive for the winter.
I'm building a new greenhouse in my backyard (to add to my plant menagerie... this make 3 GHs so far!) and was hoping to get some suggestions for an electric heater.
Here are the basic facts:
Location: Tuscaloosa in West central Alabama...Zone 7B - 8a... we get some temps in the teens every now and then.
The greenhouse is 240 sq ft.
I am not trying to create a tropical climate all winter... just keep temps above freezing on those really cold days/nights.
Needs to be electric.
For now... Service is provided with extension cords from garage/house back porch.
In the past I have used a couple of milk-house style heaters in my other GHs to keep the temps above freezing.

They work OK.

This is basically an inner-city neighborhood... so there are a few zoning restrictions I have to obey.
Primarily height, square footage and property-line setbacks.
But the city has been pretty helpful.

It's not a huge GH... 20ft X 12. Still under construction as time allows
Shed style pitched roof - 12 ft on high north side - 8 ft on low south side.
PT lumber - Screws - Simpson Strong Ties.

Here's a few construction pix:
 
Pre fab wall units:


Now with roof rafters and end-walls:


Today I start working on the doors.

Thanks for any input.

Kevin

Finger Lime/Key Lime Cross Fruit For Sale
24 Hours Only!
I have 5 Finger Lime/Key Lime Cross fruits to sell.
$60 and FREE Priority shipping.
FRUITS...Not Plants or Seeds!
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!





You may contact me here:

kevin@bamatv.com

PayPal and USA only please!

Here's what the ripe fruit look like on my Finger Lime/ Key Lime cross.
Weird Pinkish-Red Peel coloration:



Kevin

I have several Thai Dwarf Mulberries in pots and was considering setting out 2 of them in my backyard.
Anyone know if they are hardy in zone 8b? Tuscaloosa...Central Alabama?
I have one larger mother plant in a 25 gallon nursery bag which I plan to move into my greenhouse this fall.

Thanks for any input!

Kevin

STARFRUIT PLANTS
Example of the fruit harvested from Mother plant this spring:








Flowers:



Green Fruit:





Typical Seedling:



GOING FAST!
I have 5 plants left... - first come first serve please.
Original seed stock is from Hawaii.
Very sweet and large fruit.
Easy to grow!
My Mother plant lives happily in a 15 gallon nursery pot!

Seedlings are $35 with FREE USPS priority Mail 2-3 day shipping

PayPal only please.
US and PR only please.

For more information:

kevin@bamatv.com

I noticed an aberration on one of my Eugenia Calycina 'Nelita' plants - grown from seed I received from Miguel in Portugal a couple of years ago.
Looks like the growth tip has triple the number of stems growing as one:



By comparison... Here's a normal one from the same plant:



Mutation?

Kevin

My Na Dai “Easy Peel” has been blooming for a few weeks now and I resorted to hand pollination to hopefully set some fruit.
I noticed a couple of likely candidates this morning:







Does this look like fruit set to you?
If you have any anecdotes or info about this variety to share I would appreciate it.
Thanks.

kj

First Red Jaboticaba blooms and fruits.
3 year old plant from Adam Shafran at Flying Fox:

Several people have expressed interest in obtaining scions from my Black Star Suriname Cherry.
It's finally stopped blooming and I need to prune it back some.
I assume the less time between cutting them, shipping and grafting the better.
What size scions are best for grafting... and what is the best way to ship them for maximum survivability?
Thanks.

Kevin

I have some space available along the street in my front yard and I was thinking of planting Mulberry trees. There used to be 3 ancient Hackberrys trees there... but Alabama power in their infinite wisdom pruned them to death to keep the branches out of the lines overhead. Now I have 3 positions open.
I have several specimens of Pakistani and Shangri-la available. Are these suitable in your opinion?
Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks.

Kevin