The Tropical Fruit Forum

I've never managed to get any to germinate, much less get them to fruit. Trade Winds does not seem to be the place to source seeds of this species. So I cannot talk about this species from personal growing experience.

Morton says that Governor's Plum is dioecious. She also says that Louvi (Flacourtia inermis) is the only member of the genus with bisexual flowers, at least out of the four species she discusses. Janick and Paull say the same thing, though they say perfect flowers can occasionally occur on indica.

I received my plants today, and I just want to say that any and all growers out there should consider buying some of these seedlings. David is a great grower, a real asset to the Forum and rare fruit growing community. Every plant looked absolutely perfect, and all were packed securely. If you have the space for a few more plants in your collection, you won't be sorry you ordered from him.

My Psidium striatulums flowered and fruited this summer for the first time. I probably could have induced fruiting earlier, but I tend not to be as diligent in up-potting plants as I should be. Still, fruiting at three years of age is not too bad considering the shorter growing season I have in north Alabama than in south Florida or their native Brazil. Also, they do not live outside year-round; they only spend Summer (and parts of Spring and Fall) outside since my winter temperatures would certainly kill them.



Their fruits have taken a little while to develop. The above photographs were taken in late August. The fruits had started forming in July. The fruit in the first photograph fully ripened yesterday. The rest are getting close. They spent quite a while small, green, and rock-hard. All told, it was between three to four months from flowering to fruit.



My first fruit was 2.5" long. It did not develop a rich yellow color like some other ripe striatulum fruits I have seen photos of. I think this can be ascribed to the relatively cool late summer and early fall temperatures in my area; I have already had to move my plants indoors, two weeks earlier than usual. Still, the fruit had softened, developed a nice scent, and came right off the plant, so it was ripe. It's flesh did not develop the bright red coloration of nana7b's fruits; it looked like the fruits in Miguel's photos at the beginning of this topic, a nice pink color.

The taste was that of a good guava. It was sweet, though not overtly so. It had very little sourness. There was no bitterness or off-notes or strange aftertaste. The seeds, though still hard, were smaller than in commercial guavas (Psidium guajava) and did not seem to have guava's teeth-breaking quality.

I am quite happy with striatulum fruit and the plant itself. Considering that the fruit of most plants improves with age, I think I will be even happier with them in, say, five years. The plant is also more manageable as a container plant than guajava. My Columbian Red Guava of the same age has not only not produced any fruit, despite being in a much larger pot than my striatulums, but it also requires regular pruning to keep it a manageable size. The only pruning I have done with my two striatulums was on a few branches to give them a better shape. They are much better behaved container plants. Certainly ones that will stay in my collection permanently.

Hi,
Although this thread has been a little quiet lately, I still hope some of the more knowledgeable members can answer my question.

I got Jaboticabaholic since I tasted some sabara fruits, from a large tree thriving here, and been collecting a dozen or so seedlings, all around 20-30cm high. But I don't want to wait the 10-15 years required for starting to fruit. So I was planning to use the seedlings as rootstocks for older branches of sabara, and also for adding scions from other varieties.

Recently I came across an overseas vendor who has plants of several more exotic varieties, from red hybrid to grimal and plinia phitranta.
Most of them are seedlings but he also has some air-layered.

Now, as stated in his shpping policy, he ships (international) everything barerooted, and transit time is from 7 to 14 days.

My question: will jaboticabas stand this harsh treatment and still survive ?

I don't think they will survive being barerooted. Jaboticabas don't like drying out completely; everyone shipping them in the US ships them potted in soil and well-watered.

Also, there is really no reason to buy Red, Grimal, or Phitranthas (of which there are many Phitrantha varieties) from overseas. Growers here in the US have fruiting examples of those plants. Plus, Red, Scarlet (Escarlate), and Phitrantha can all fruit in under five years from seed. Grimal will take eight to ten years, but you won't decrease that time by grafting an immature seedling scion onto a rootstock. You need scions from fruiting trees to decrease or eliminate their maturation period and get fruit quickly.

Too bad it didn't taste as good as you expected. That sometimes happens with a plant's first crop of fruit. Maybe give it a few more years to see if it develops a better flavor.

Quote from: W. on October 05, 2023, 12:52:40 PM

I knew that persimmons have long taproots, but I guess this is not common knowledge among all growers. I found out when trying to grow some native American Persimmons. I wanted to transplant some very small seedlings from one part of my woods to another. Impossible, as after digging about 18", I still had yet to find the end of the taproot for a less than 6" tall seedling. Their taproots also do not like disturbance; that is a surefire way of killing them. This is one of the reasons I have shied away from Diospyros species in my collection. The only one I have is Texas Persimmon, and they have never done well as container plants.

Interesting. I have done a bit of research into germinating Persimmon species since they can grow anywhere from freezing to tropical temperatures. But I'm surprised because never once I see a source mentioned that Persimmon species have very long taproots.

After my failed "excavation," I did some reading on American Persimmon. I should have done that reading before I tried transplanting them, as it was stated in a couple of different books that they have long taproots. In that way, they are as similarly untransplantable as buckeyes, walnuts, pecans, and hickories.

My Texas Persimmons do not have as large or as fleshy a taproot as those American Persimmons; their taproots are thinner, but that taproot shoots down, and, even after a couple of years, there is a relative paucity of lateral roots coming off of it. Even 12" tall tree pots have not been of great help in giving their taproots enough room, and they lack enough lateral roots to become rootbound even in such small containers. I would plant them in my yard, but I am not entirely sure they will survive my winters. I lack a sheltered location where I am certain they will, though at this point, planting them anywhere in my yard is probably preferable to keeping them in containers.

Bump.

Looks like GreatLakesRareFruits is a Bellamy Trees customer. I'm seeing a lot of overlap between Kameron's recent auctions and this guy's selections, as far as species. Of course, they could just be sourcing their seeds from the same places. I don't want to criticize the guy too much or wish him ill, but those prices are far more than I believe those plants are worth, and I highly doubt I will ever purchase anything from his store. That being said, and has been argued about in various threads before on this forum, if someone wants to charge those types of prices, and someone else wants to pay those types of prices, then that is really up to them.

Bump

I planted some fruit trees this spring and a week ago my nephew used the weed eater and got 2 of my 5 trees. What are the chances of their survival

Really, the question we should all be asking is, "What is your nephew's chances of survival?"

Tropical Forests and Their Crops has sold. Still two other great books for sale.

Weeding is not just for plants, it is also for libraries, and I am weeding out a few extra books from my fruit growing library.

USPS Media Mail shipping is included in the price for these books. I will consider shipping them internationally if there is no interest among any American buyers with the international shipping cost to be covered by the buyer. A couple of these books are of a reasonable weight and will not cost an exorbitant amount to ship internationally, but The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts is extremely heavy and shipping from the United States overseas would likely be prohibitively expensive. Its shipping is expensive enough within the United States.

I only accept PayPal.

These books will be securely packed and promptly shipped once payment is received with a tracking number provided after they are shipped.

I only have one copy of each of these books, so it is first come, first served.





The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts was edited by Jules Janick and Robert E. Paull and published in 2008 by CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International). It is a hardcover, no dust jacket as issued, that measures 9x11.25 in. (226x284 mm.) with xviii+954 pages plus 20 pages of plates. The ISBN-13 number is 9780851996387. The text is in English, and it is a text-heavy book, illustrated by botanical line drawings and a color plate section of photographs. For whatever reason, CABI did not give this book a table of contents, but my photographs of various pages should give you an idea of the book's contents and how they are arranged.

Book description from the rear cover: “This major reference work provides comprehensive coverage of botanical and horticultural information on temperate, subtropical and tropical fruits and nuts of economic significance. Coverage is also given to palms, cacti and common fruit often thought of as vegetable crops. Containing almost 300 entries, topics covered include history and origins, ecology, breeding and genetics, distribution, uses and nutritional composition. Arranged alphabetically by family and species, each entry is followed by a selected bibliography to aid further reading on the topic. Entries are illustrated with figures, tables and graphs as well as colour photographs accompanying the major fruit crops. Drawing on the expertise of over 100 international specialists, this encyclopedia will be an invaluable and informative reference source for students and researchers in horticulture, pomology, botany and plant ecology.”

Condition: This book is in overall good condition. The hardcover boards have some corner bumping, particularly at the base of the spine, which has caused creasing and small surface tears, as well as there being a 1.25 in. (30 mm) long surface cut on the edge of the spine and rear cover, but the boards have no stains or other major damage. The binding is strong and intact. The interior is clean and unmarked with no writing, highlighting, or underlining and has no tears, dog-eared pages, stains, mold, or other major damage. The page edges have no remainder mark, foxing, stains, or any major damage.

The price for this book is $150 $135. SOLD

My opinion: An excellent book. The reason I’m selling this copy is because I have another copy. Although somewhat geared towards agricultural professionals, it is not a difficult read, no different than Julia Morton’s Fruits of Warm Climates, which I would put it on par with as far as essential fruit books to own. The major fruits get more coverage, and you are not going to find any obscure Eugenias in it, but at nearly 1000 pages, there isn’t a more comprehensive fruit book that has ever been published. Its comprehensiveness is matched by its original price tag of $390, though CABI let it go out-of-print a few years ago, content to sell eBooks at an even higher price. Although this copy is not in perfect condition, it is still a great reference copy from a reliable seller at a price lower than other comparable copies.



Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics: An Inventory was written by Franklin W. Martin, Carl W. Campbell, and Ruth M. Ruberté and published in 1987 by the United States Department of Agriculture. It is Agriculture Handbook No. 642. It is a softcover that measures 8.5x10.875 in. (215x275 mm.) with 247 pages. No ISBN number. The text is in English, and it is a text-heavy book, illustrated by black-and-white photographs. Photographs of a few pages will give you an idea of the book's contents and how they are arranged.

Book description from the inside front cover: “The edible fruits of the Tropics are many in number, varied in form, and irregular in distribution. They can be categorized as major or minor. Only about 300 Tropical fruits can be considered great. These are outstanding in one or more of the following: Size, beauty, flavor, and nutritional value. In contrast are the more than 3,000 fruits that can be considered minor, limited severely by one or more defects, such as very small size, poor taste or appeal, limited adaptability, or limited distribution. The major fruits are not all well known. Some excellent fruits which rival the commercialized greatest are still relatively unknown in other parts of the Tropics and should be promoted. Introducing new fruits into a country is often difficult, however, and must be done legally. Obtaining information on the fruits and their sources is a first step, and this publication provides much of that information. This publication also lists minor fruits as completely as can be done with the present state of knowledge.”

Condition: This book is in good condition. “Weed Science Lab” is written on the front cover, but there are no other signs that this was a library book. The softcovers have the aforementioned writing, light soiling to the rear cover, a light cup ring to the front cover, and light edgewear, including very light creasing to the front cover along the spine and at the fore edge corners, but the softcovers have no tears or other major damage. The spine is not creased; the binding is strong and intact. The interior is clean and unmarked with no writing, highlighting, or underlining and has no tears, dog-eared pages, stains, mold, or any major damage. The page edges have no remainder mark, foxing, stains, or any major damage.

The price for this book is $45 $40.

My opinion: Still a nice resource, despite it being an older book. A few names and taxonomic relationships have been changed over the years, but I was surprised how much is still unchanged today, at least 99%. The minor fruits get a short shrift, with those just getting a scientific name, common name, location, and use. The major fruits get terse but valuable descriptions. The value of this book is in browsing and discovering new plants to add to one’s collection, something I’ve done many times. I’m not adding much to my collection currently or for the foreseeable future, which is why I’m willing to let this book go. Although this copy is not in perfect condition, print copies of this title are very rare, and it is still a great reference copy from a reliable seller at a price lower than any other copy online.



Tropical Forests and Their Crops was written by Nigel J. H. Smith, J. T. Williams, Donald L. Plucknett, and Jennifer P. Talbot and published in 1992 by Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press in Ithaca, New York. It is a hardcover that measures 6.5x9.625 in. (164x244 mm.) with xvi+568 pages. The ISBN-10/ISBN-13 numbers are 0801427711/9780801427718. The text is in English, and it is a text-heavy book, illustrated by black-and-white photographs. Photographs of the table of contents and a couple of pages will give you an idea of the book's contents and how they are arranged.

Book description: “The tropics are the source of many of our familiar fruits, vegetables, oils, and spice, as well as such commodities as rubber and wood. Moreover, other tropical fruits and vegetables are being introduced into our markets to offer variety to our diet. Now, as tropical forests are increasingly threatened, we face a double-fold crisis: not only the loss of the plants but also rich pools of potentially useful genes. Wild populations of crop plants harbor genes that can improve the productivity and disease resistance of cultivated crops, many of which are vital to developing economies and to global commerce. Eight chapters of this book are devoted to a variety of tropical crops―beverages, fruit, starch, oil, resins, fuelwood, fodder, spices, timber, and nuts―the history of their domestication, their uses today, and the known extent of their gene pools, both domesticated and wild. Drawing on broad research, the authors also consider conservation strategies such as parks and reserves, corporate holdings, gene banks and tissue culture collections, and debt-for-nature swaps. They stress the need for a sensitive balance between conservation and the economic well-being of local populations. If economic growth is part of the conservation effort, local populations and governments will be more strongly motivated to save their natural resources. Distinctly practical and soundly informative, this book provides insight into the overwhelming abundance of tropical forests, an unsettling sense of what we may lose if they are destroyed, and a deep appreciation for the delicate relationships between tropical forest plants and people around the world.”

Condition: This book is in good condition. Ex-library with some library markings: a spine label, library stamps on the top page edge, and library stamps and barcode remnants on the inside covers. The dust jacket is missing (though there seems to be some dispute whether this book originally had one). The hardcover boards have light rubbing at the corners but no tears, creases, stains, or any major damage. The binding is strong and intact. The interior is mostly clean and unmarked with no writing or highlighting but with some pencil underlining in the mango section (as well as the aforementioned library markings) and has no tears, dog-eared pages, stains, mold, or other major damage. The page edges have the aforementioned library stamps but no remainder mark, foxing, stains, or other major damage.

The price for this book is $15. SOLD

My opinion: A great look at the ecology and anthropology of tropical fruits. It is not a growing guide in any way, which is why I am willing to sell it. However, the very detailed chapters on cacao and avocado (nearly 70 pages combined on various aspects of history, breeding programs, uses, etc.) are worth the purchase price alone to those interested in those fruits. Many other major fruits are also discussed at length. Although this copy is not in perfect condition, it is still a great reference copy of an interesting out-of-print book from a reliable seller at an affordable price.

You might want to go ahead and bring in your Spanish lime, since, based on one of your other posts, it is struggling slightly already (as soapberries are wont to do). I can't definitively remember whether any of mine have been left out for nights in the 40s. Perhaps once or twice, but I want to get as much winter growth out of my plants as possible, so I try and move all my plants in before they get temperatures below 50. I don't always succeed, though.

If Malay apple is like rose apple, 40s should be fine. But, Syzygium is a huge genus, and one probably shouldn't place complete faith that because one plant in it is somewhat cold tolerant, they all share a similar level of cold tolerance.