The Tropical Fruit Forum

Ferrets are not an option in California, and in El Cajon, we have many birds of prey. The property has some of the tallest trees in the area, so the owls and hawks (Mostly Redtail) use them as perches for hunting and nesting.

Even with all of the birds, the gophers reproduce too quickly for the birds to really knock down the population.

In zone 8 Alabama where temps get down to 19 F consistently, I do still see loquats bloom and fruit.

Thank you!

Since this thread contains most of the info about this cultivar on these boards, I thought I'd ask the question here.

Anyone ever checked to see if the seed is mono or poly?

As a Californian, I'm sure you know you need to pick the most vigorous varieties. I'm eager to hear how vigorous SA is for you.

What flavors of mangoes are you interested in planting? Are you interested in fresh eating only, or do you need ones with a significant shelf life? Multiple crops? Specific sizes?

There are quite a few new varieties, with diverse qualities.

Even though Pineapple Pleasure is not the most vigorous, it is a poor fruiter in Florida, which is a favorable characteristic for California growers.

Other newer varieties that have drawn praise when grown in California are Sweet Tart, Lemon Zest, Venus, Val-Carrie, and Honey Kiss.

Might as well plant seeds now and let them get established while you decide what you want to graft.

If you graft the tree to a different variety it's not a waste, the established rootstock gets the new variety up to speed quickly.

"Sandy loam, sandy loam! My kingdom for some sandy loam!" 

The grass is always greener.

I have silty loam (similar to sandy), but it drains so well, water costs are high, also gophers. With softer soils, you get gopher activity in the extreme, and it's certain that you will lose trees each year, even established ones.

If you're really worried you can add lots of gypsum to the soil to help loosen the clay up, but it's probably going to grow through it either way.

That said the gypsum can only benefit the fruit quality, so it's your call.

The mulch will break down eventually, for good drainage things that can't break down like biochar have more favorable results, but that's only if you feel like replanting the trees. I wouldn't bother, once established the trees will take off.

I wasn't in Alabama for it, but the day before Christmas was a low of 16 and a high of 30 https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/@z-us-36360/historic?month=12&year=2022. All first year unprotected citrus defoliated, and many branches died. I may be looking at a few trees that are now rootstocks.

Either way, I suspect Keraji will rebound, as well as Meyer lemon, but 88-2, and Shiranui look pretty poor, and I don't think the limequat will return either. Loquat lost tender new growth and is flushing again. Butias have no damage. Feijoas are perfect.

Nice Peruviana. Really good depending on the cultivar. If you found them insipid, try them earlier/ more blue.

I've not seen leaves like that before, but the quick guide indicates potassium deficiency.

Usually when planted close to cement though you see micronutrient deficiencies, but I'm not seeing the obvious ones.

I like the taste of it, but it does vary greatly tree to tree. It's subsistence fruit, a bit gritty like a pear. It's a snack.

It's a slow grower and the blooms are less prominent and mainly present in the springtime, but Cherry of the Rio Grande is pretty. Any kind of Syzigium may fit the bill as well.