The Tropical Fruit Forum

Pickering is joining the party. Hard to believe these were scions April 2024. 70 year old Haden rootstock works 💪 well.

I'm growing 12 from the list.

Hopefully it doesn't get too cold down here in Cape Coral.  The predicted low is 43-44 the next two days and I have lots of trees flowering.  So far the weather has been so good its overcoming some fall vegetative growth caused by Milton.  Several trees are flowering on relatively new flushes that are still lime green.

Flowering trees planted in ground:

Pineapple Pleasure
Wise
M4 (x3)
Dwarf Hawaiian
Sugar Loaf
Peach Cobbler
Pickering (x2)
Cotton Candy
Spirit of 76
Lemon Zest (only one branch so far)
Karen Michelle

Flowering in pots:

All Summer (Marlys)
Butter Cream
Coconut Cream
Sweet Tart
Ice cream
Julie
Orange Sherbet


The only things not flowering yet are:

Glenn (signs of budding though)
Seacrest
Pina Colada (budding)
Orange Essence
Maha (in pot)
Spirit of 76 (in pot)

That is an impressive collection Bill!

I love going there. I'm waiting until spring to put my latest additions in the ground. Lately, I've been losing the little ones to root rot. Good luck with yours!

Alex recommends when we step mango trees up into larger containers we use 33-50% course "builder's" sand. I've extrapolated that advice to use 2 70 lb bags of that sand when I plant in ground. It seems to work for me. My earlier attempts I had the root rot issues as well.
Killed Orange Sherbet,  Pineapple Pleasure, Dwarf Hawaiian, Cecilove and Beverly

This is a hard one to find in a 3 gallon size.






Another that fits our criteria. Slow grower, disease resistant, reliable fruiting habit. It's supposed to be a direct descendant of the tree at the Kampong, which is about 5 miles south of our property.

After much talk about fruit trees, I was loaded and ready to head back down south.



I love this place, it's a shame I'm over 90 miles away.

I love the multilevel garden idea. Maybe you could just knock out the bottom of the pool, amend whatever dirt or limestone is there, and plant some tropical trees and other plants. You could create a microclimate for harder to grow stuff.

She's located In Miami. 6 ft down is pure limestone in the rest of her garden. Hammer drill 50 ⅝" diameter holes in the bottom and your done.

My observations of Cecilove is that she is a very slow variety. Tiping her branches increases her vigor. There are long rest periods between leaf flushes. More leaves are like adding more solar panels. Three leaf flushes per year. You have to tip her.

Burn barrels might be an easier solution

Quote from: Coconut Cream on January 02, 2025, 08:38:29 PM

Sometimes I wake up unexpectedly in the middle of the night, and the reason is, um... powdery mildew paranoia.

LOL

https://youtu.be/fW64WPL_8kM?feature=shared
Hear what Har says ...

There is a rat problem in the barn I live in, at least in the lower storage area. I do not look forward to this being a bigger problem than I already have it ay my current place...


This is a two type mulberry: pakistani and himalayan, I had to saw off at least 6' from the top to get it into the truck.


Here it is, pre-decapitation


In the bed


I found this newt under a 65g pot, hadn't seen one of these before 


All the plants with fresh soil around them were transplanted from my yard to this orchard


My mulberries have all been moved, which were the biggest trees in my yard. Persian, the 2 type, and a king white.


I was gifted this ice cream bean which had been in a pot for way too long, roots circling like crazy, but oh well, in it went. I did a hack job after planting to the top to bring it down in height and reduce its water needs while acclimating.


Hole for the ice cream bean. This soil is so awesome. You can dig forever and it is the same consistency the whole way, real nice and fluffy and free draining.


Orange flesh guava and ice cream bean in the truck, it's an 8' long bed for scale


This pitangatuba somehow survived the trip.


This bobcat visits all the time, and lays down the biggest turds I've ever seen. Seriously, foot long dookies the size of a human. I could not believe how docile it was, it was just staring at me 6' away from my truck. 
Dookie packed with squirrels and gophers.


My potted orange CORGS and CORGS in the orchard for now, that was just where I found easy hose access. There was already one from the original owner of good size, and I planted two beside it in ground which I yanked out of ground at my current place. I don't really know where I will be putting my potted plant collection yet.

ALL my mango trees are blooming (Sebring) which is a great thing...the Lychee should be next, maybe a couple of weeks? This will help push my Lychee to bloom but worried it might affect the mango blooms  ...fingers crossed the winds stay to help stir the frost around 

🤞