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Messages - spencerw

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1
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: question about planting banana pups
« on: June 06, 2023, 04:00:02 PM »
If they fall over then its corm weevils. If the roots are deformed its nematodes. Banana bunchy top virus is spread by aphids and is a systemic virus, once one pseudostem gets the virus the entire clump gets it. No cure and it doesn't kill all varieties, so its just persists and propagates. So you need to kill the entire mat if a single pseudostem gets it. Because of this we need to keep our clumps small so we can easily kill them if they get banana bunchy top virus. Unfortunately the virus is very prevalent here. I have had to kill a mat per month at this location due to our neighbors negligence. Doesn't matter the variety, all are susceptible. Its very hard to grow bananas here in Hawaii due to the humans

We probably have more tropical pests. Fortunately we don’t lose the plants. What happens is that they fall over from disease in the roots but that is mostly confined to cooking bananas. Leaf spot diseases are a problem for some but you still get fruit, just not very much.
Our main go to banana is gros michel. But we have a decent collection beyond that and we get huge racimes without re planting. Only the plantains give a problem.
Peter

2
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Spice trees
« on: May 27, 2023, 05:13:29 PM »
Clove smells great when in flower. Nutmeg is very hard to find a hermaphrodite here, bay leaf is easy to grow. Bouillon plant is great, makrut lime smells awesome. Don't forget curry leaf berries are very tasty!

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: question about planting banana pups
« on: May 27, 2023, 04:24:15 PM »
I remove the roots and shave the corm and cut off the pseudostem everytime I propagate bananas. They will not use the dead roots, so remove, we need to check for weevils so carve the corm, without roots the plants cannot support the water loss from the pseudostem, so remove it.
Then wait 2-3 days once carved for the cuts to heal, then plant deep and fertilize heavily.
I regularly get 80+lbs racks. We also dig them out after every harvest and reset the entire mat, we have lots of pests to combat here, so this is the only way to keep rare bananas healthy. Check out my YouTube for a video showing the process. https://youtu.be/hhsGDcKWUPM

Interesting will keep this in mind! Do you do the same to pups?
Every single pup gets the same treatment. We dig entire mats, then separate, then carve, then replant. This is the only way for us to keep our rare varieties alive, we have weevils, nematodes and banana bunchy top virus to combat. Even our "native" varieties who have been here over 1000 years cannot persist without these treatments


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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: question about planting banana pups
« on: May 27, 2023, 04:18:20 PM »
I remove the roots and shave the corm and cut off the pseudostem everytime I propagate bananas. They will not use the dead roots, so remove, we need to check for weevils so carve the corm, without roots the plants cannot support the water loss from the pseudostem, so remove it.
Then wait 2-3 days once carved for the cuts to heal, then plant deep and fertilize heavily.
I regularly get 80+lbs racks. We also dig them out after every harvest and reset the entire mat, we have lots of pests to combat here, so this is the only way to keep rare bananas healthy. Check out my YouTube for a video showing the process. https://youtu.be/hhsGDcKWUPM

Thanks, that is good information. Removing roots and shaving also removes most of the nematodes that would have burrowed into the roots and corn. I would never have thought of this. There were some recommendstions years ago for hot water treatment, but this looks like it would be easier on the corm.
If you're worried about nematodes i would either boil or use bleach solution after carving down. Thats the common practice here. Bananas are very hardy

5
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: question about planting banana pups
« on: May 26, 2023, 02:25:26 PM »
I remove the roots and shave the corm and cut off the pseudostem everytime I propagate bananas. They will not use the dead roots, so remove, we need to check for weevils so carve the corm, without roots the plants cannot support the water loss from the pseudostem, so remove it.
Then wait 2-3 days once carved for the cuts to heal, then plant deep and fertilize heavily.
I regularly get 80+lbs racks. We also dig them out after every harvest and reset the entire mat, we have lots of pests to combat here, so this is the only way to keep rare bananas healthy. Check out my YouTube for a video showing the process. https://youtu.be/hhsGDcKWUPM

6
Congrats on your first female flowers! Commonly here the first female flower will hold and become a full sized fruit. We hand pollinated ours for better fruit content inside. ours is holding two fruits on a single stem, with a tiny trunk. They can do it just fine.
Champedak has wiry hairs on the stems. And jacks are fuzzy . Here is a full champedak







7
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Not enough Durian Discussion
« on: December 07, 2022, 01:47:44 PM »
I'm surprised your clients want the largest fruits available! Your prices must be much lower and your quality better. Our current highway robbery market prices are $10 per lb. No one would want to buy a 12lb montong where half of the fruit isn't edible and lots of weight in skin. But our genetics are inferior so the montong is always unproperly ripened. I'd rather sell a 4lb fruit where every bit of flesh is delicious. We don't have a major durian market yet so its still hard to sell when people haven't even tried durian yet. So interesting how different markets develop!

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Not enough Durian Discussion
« on: December 02, 2022, 02:08:59 PM »
If that tree is a lone producer I would plant as many of those seedlings out as possible. When I'm looking into starting and growing out seedlings there are a few things I'm after. A lone tree who produces well. So its genetics will be reliable. It seems durians like to outcross. Which can be interesting, however most of our common durians here are very poor quality. So most of the time the fruits come from mixed durian orchards where the genetics will be very crossed. So that one good tree will be pollinated with the poor quality ones. So loners that produce well are intriguing. I also prefer smaller fruits for marketability. Also reliability of fruit production and fruit quality. And also that the tree is very strong and healthy. Luckily I know of a single tree with all of these traits. This is the only genetic I think is worth growing out seeds that I've come across.. I would also prefer to utilize that cultivar as root stock as it has all the desirable traits and I assume the rootstock will also effect the graft on top. So may as well graft that tree onto its own seedlings as well.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Commercial fruit production in your area?
« on: November 11, 2022, 02:02:05 PM »
Hello everyone. I'm trying to ponder some additional commercial crops for my systems. So im wondering what are common ommercial fruit crops in your region?
Here in Hawaii we grow lychee, mangosteen, rambutan, longon, macnuts, papaya, and dragonfruit.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Not enough Durian Discussion
« on: October 06, 2022, 03:44:22 PM »
cassowary your tree companion comment reminded me of a conclusion I made a couple of weeks ago. As far as I can tell our best fruiting durians on the island are grown on sites where huge mangoes worked the soil previously. Every good durian had a mango work the site for 50-100 years. Looking at the soil that mangoes create i can see the fertility is very high in comparison to where mangoes were not grown, these are inferior wild mangoes so most of the fruit just rots under the tree, creating massive amounts of fertility. And some mangoes are native to borneo, where durians are also native. Most of the mangoes here are indica but I can assume the genus works the soil similarly. I've yet to take a soil sample under the massive durian tree. But I do want to soon to compare to the soil on my site.

11
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: 10b (south florida) perennial staple foods
« on: September 20, 2022, 02:25:56 PM »
I agree with Spencer that cooking bananas/plantains are the best carb source you can grow in the tropics/subtropics.  I'm still looking for the perfect variety for my house.  I have a hua moa plant since I've heard that is very good, but I'm looking for a regular plantain variety as well.  How do you normally prepare them? 

For me thai basil is amazing.  I know it's not a source of carbs but it grows year round very well.

Huamoa is a great variety, however its a bit of a novelty. I've only had the banana for one cycle and it made a 15lb rack and only 4 hands. As a food source other popo'ulu are more productive. However if you got a huamoa to make a normal type rack then it would be a good food source. But I personally prefer the red trunked popo'ulu as food. Mine made a 50lb rack in a non fertile spot. My next generation is about to flower in a much more cared for location. I'm hoping to get a rack over 65lbs. We shall see. But I love the quick cycle of popoulu. From planting to harvest in 9-10 months. My maoli take 2 years, but give 100lb racks.
I prefer all my bananas cooked, I don't even care to eat them sweet at this point.
Utilizing green: We cut off the tips, slice superficially through the skin, then peel. Then cut into sizeable chunks and boil for 20 minutes. Then take it out, split lengthwise into quarters and then its prepared. We usually freeze them at this point. Great for fries, or mash, or Currys and soups. Use like a potato

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: 10b (south florida) perennial staple foods
« on: September 20, 2022, 02:18:01 PM »
Nothing beats cooking bananas. 20% of my diet is cooking bananas, I eat them daily. I do need to grow about 1000lbs for me and my partner though. Its doable here with 10 maoli mats. Breadfruit is the next most logical. They are amazing if you know how to pick and cook them. Very filling, not sure if that will work in your climate though. There is colocasia and xanthosoma and true yams, sweet potatoes  that are filling too. Check out my blog for other options but sounds like you already know a lot of your perennial vegetables. Peach palm, fruits and palm hearts, and edible bamboos. Beans, canna, cassava, Sacha inchi, and squash too
https://tropicalselfsufficiency.com/

By the way Spencer, I have enjoyed reading your website in the past. There is lots of good information, especially your post in bananas. The pictures showing the various deficiencies are very helpful.

Thanks! Trying to spread information as I learn

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: What's wrong with these bananas?
« on: September 14, 2022, 02:52:24 PM »
Probably more water for the plants. How much are they getting? My plants get over 150 inches of rain per year. They need at least 100 to make full sized racks. Probably irrigate
The black peduncle on the other mat looks like a fungal problem. Probably remove the trunk and see what the next one does.
I let my mats grow freely for 2-3 years then I dig the entire mat and reset it. I consistently get 100lb racks but from different varieties. But my namwah more like 50lb racks normally

14
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: 10b (south florida) perennial staple foods
« on: September 14, 2022, 01:47:34 PM »
Nothing beats cooking bananas. 20% of my diet is cooking bananas, I eat them daily. I do need to grow about 1000lbs for me and my partner though. Its doable here with 10 maoli mats. Breadfruit is the next most logical. They are amazing if you know how to pick and cook them. Very filling, not sure if that will work in your climate though. There is colocasia and xanthosoma and true yams, sweet potatoes  that are filling too. Check out my blog for other options but sounds like you already know a lot of your perennial vegetables. Peach palm, fruits and palm hearts, and edible bamboos. Beans, canna, cassava, Sacha inchi, and squash too
https://tropicalselfsufficiency.com/

15
Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles / Re: Taro ID Question
« on: August 24, 2022, 03:18:00 PM »
Did you fully identify it as x. Brasiliense? I have that plant growing and its actually my favorite leaf vegetable. The plants are very small compared to regular xathosomas. They only get about 2.5 feet tall. They are technically edible raw, but we always cook them 10 minutes. Much better than regular kalo that can take 2 hours to cook. Bun long is much shorter at 30-45 minutes but that belembe really has them beat with cook time. Slugs love them though. They don't last long so keep fertilizing them and separating them and replanting. I plan to write up an article for my website but haven't gotten to it yet

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: My first mabolo
« on: August 24, 2022, 03:10:03 PM »
To me the flavor is exactly like red vine licorice. Consistency was good, but can't quite remember. I couldn't decide if it was good enough to grow haha. Beautiful fruits though

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: A Mini Jack Fruit?
« on: August 23, 2022, 02:02:44 PM »
Flies are the pollinators. The male flowers fall to the ground get all moldy, attract flies and they fly back up to pollinate the female flowers. Yes the plant is monoecious but the flowers are separate male and female on the same plant. Give the plant time, it will make females. I've noticed seedlings here usually flower a whole year just males before they make females.

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Banana leaf defformation
« on: August 16, 2022, 03:29:38 PM »
When I do my sprays ill use a little dr bronners soap to help adhere the nutrients to the leaves. But ill do it later in the day before sunset. I've found if I do it in the morning it can burn leaves

19
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Banana leaf defformation
« on: August 13, 2022, 08:56:47 PM »
Haha very cool! Deficiencies are a real thing! I'd be careful with adding too much boron. A little every so often is ideal. And for calcium it depends on your soil or soil mix. You don't want to make it too basic. I think if your spraying the calcium you'll never get a build up though

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Not enough Durian Discussion
« on: July 26, 2022, 03:37:33 PM »
Ingas do grow from cuttings. But they grow just as fast, with a better root system via seed. Also seems like a poor take rate for cuttings

21
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Not enough Durian Discussion
« on: July 24, 2022, 02:31:03 PM »
Looks great Peter. I use Inga and acacia the same way as you with the gliricidia. Our site is a bit too wet for them gliricidia. Seems only 15% of the cuttings take, and I've had some of my larger 2 year old cuttings fall over in a small wind storm. But we do have a few doing really well. Anyway I plant out my trees every 5' and then put my desirable cropping trees in the middle of them. Yay plant friends and easy biomass

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango alongside Durian
« on: July 18, 2022, 01:12:39 PM »
Sorry I should have been a bit specific as tarps isn't quite the right way to describe it. So the extension office was doing an experiment where they keep the mango tree very small. Six feet tall and wide. Around the tree is a structure we here call pipe tents. Similar to an easy up, but more permanent. People use them for car ports or nurseries or temporary structures. So utilizing a 10x10' structure around the tree. During flowering season they will place a clear roof over the structure very similar to a nursery greenhouse without any sides. This prevents the rain from hitting the flowers as they are forming and opening. I believe this may also prevent anthracnose from forming at this time. I'm not exactly sure how long they keep the tree out of the rain. Is it the full fruit production? So the anthracnose doesn't form on the fruits? I only saw the trees during non flowering season. I'd like to try with one tree maybe. But its not for commercial production as it would be too much effort, so just good for the home grower

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mango alongside Durian
« on: July 17, 2022, 01:56:41 PM »
It takes me an hour and a half to get to the dry side of hawaii. Everyone grows mangos in east hawaii, they just don't fruit well. In most of the parks there are 100 year old mangos that produce. Just they are very small, very fibrous and always end up with anthracnose. A lady I work for has a 100 year old mango next to her 40 year old durian. They both produce, but mangos aren't very good. And the durian is amazing. You can always tarp your mango during the flowering season so buds don't get knocked off. Our county extension office does that with their mangos

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Banana leaf defformation
« on: July 13, 2022, 08:22:24 PM »
It may take them a little time since its a rock. What I've found is that when I propagate new babies the youngsters will show deficiencies for a while before they start doing their thing. During this period I like to hit them with micronutrients and calcium 3-4 times a week. Once they get going i hit them once a month. I use down to earth products. Their liquid calcium and micronutrients are great in spray form. I've grown 110lb racks. Keep on feeding and watering them

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Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Banana leaf defformation
« on: July 13, 2022, 02:29:57 PM »
Probably fine, but it will be hard to get a cup full to feed your banana!

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