The Tropical Fruit Forum

What water are you using?
Thanks,

Doing a lot of experimenting on fruit trees in containers. I have a similar setup where I grow all my fruit trees in containers. I have been trying to figure out which fruits are high yield producers in a container compared to in ground.

So far what I gathered;

Fruiting cactus seem to do very well in a container environment. Cereus, Opuntia, Dragon Fruit, etc. I believe this has to do with large water/nutrient storage capacity of cactus cladodes.

Foliar spray seems to work out a lot better for nutrient delivery rather then root drench. This makes sense, since the root zone is restricted and leaves stomata are more efficient.

Water quality has a big effect in a container environment. Water with a high ph or excess salts/minerals can cause issues in a container plant quickly.

Soil mix is one of the most important elements to healthy fast growing trees. Fast draining ,with good aeration, and a decent amount of water retention are the main goals.

I've never had a tree ripened one. Anybody has?

Sounds like you are doing a great job already, if you want banana leaves or p-stems come by and we can tie them on the top of the car.   They make great mulch.

-Ethan

My wife would kill me if I stuff her car full of banana leaves.  Wish I had a pickup truck.
Trung

The soil has been called clay-like and alkaline by a landscape company when I first moved in. I've added different things over the years to improve it. I never really followed any schedule when I made the amendments. I've dumped many bags of "compost" (bought at Home Depot), calcium sulfate, steer manure, chicken manure. These were done at different times over the last 4 years. It must have helped some, because last month when I was planting a persimmon, I noticed there were more earthworms, and the ground was easier to dig. In addition to the "amendments" above, I also dumped grass cuttings and all the leaves that fell off from the trees where they are, to act like a mulch layer. So what do you guys think? Should I use "compost" again, or the manure, or anything else?

Thanks,

Quote from: natsgarden123 on January 28, 2012, 03:45:01 PM

Thanks for the info. Looks like something id try from seed

If I get fruit this year, I'll give you seed for free, just pay shipping....I keep u posted!

If you offer stuff like that, it's good Karma  (lol old feature), and maybe my tree will set fruit for sure now! and I will have to be a man of my word...and send you seeds!

See I'm really selfish, with my benefit in mind, even by offering you free seeds!!

Weird how that works

Please, please, can I have 1 too? 

Does anybody know if the flowers smell the same as the fruit?

All these years of devouring durian, I've never seen the flowers. 

I like Spray N Grow products.

Great topic nullzero!  I'm currently growing Halley's Comet, American Beauty, Vietnamese White, Yellow DF, Frankies Red and something I call Simon's Red.  The Vietnamese White is the easiest to grow and fruit for me. I have the most difficult time growing the Yellow DF outdoors but the easiest time growing it indoors under T5 lighting.  My yellow DF grew 3 branches, each that grew about 2 feet in about a month and a half in the winter indoors. 

I just took cuttings from each plant and I'm going to start new with a planned out set up.  Previously, I just stuck them in a pot and let them climb everywhere.  They grew and fruited well this way but it was sloppy looking.  This time, I'm going to try growing them in smart pots and grow them as a DF tree like they do in Vietnam. 

I grow my DF in full sun but they do get burned in the summertime.  This summer, I may throw some shade cloth over them during the hottest part of the summer. 
Simon

Simon,
What do you suppose is the reason that the yellow DF is more difficult to grow? I have a yellow DF branch, I stuck it into the ground next to the others, it just withered and died, while the others grew normally. Why does it grow better indoor? Humidity?

I just "discovered" that I already have a white sapote planted in the ground. I thought it was another variety, but looking at my records, it was a white sapote from Home Depot. However, they're known to mislabel plants. Can you guys tell from these photos if it's a "white" sapote?

Ethan: does this tree look like it's ready for some grafts?

I would classify that over half of the fruits were on the sweet side, the rest kinda bland. I've heard that after the fruits set, you're supposed to reduce watering to get sweet fruits. I honestly don't remember my watering pattern when I had the fruits, it was over last summer, and it was pretty hot and dry here in my area, so more than likely I didn't withhold water. Will try to leave them thirsty this coming summer. 

While I don't know the answer to your question, I think it'd be a great idea to grow things in clear containers so we can tell for sure if the plant is rootbound, or not. I haven't seen any large size clear containers.

My thoughts......flavor good....not great.....the major objection for me is seeds, seeds and even more seeds.  Very poor flesh to see ratio.  For me, not enough bang for the proverbial buck......tropical flavor notwtihstanding.

Harry

That's why I hate pomegranates. The seeds are numerous (and larger than seeds of passion fruits), and the taste is anywhere from sour to kinda sweet, poor ROI for me.