Going to rip out my Lulo (sniff sniff)

[Daintree]

So, being a greenhouse gardener, AND having poor impulse control when it comes to planting seeds, is a dangerous combination.
My setup is so crowded right now, there could be a jaguar hiding in the underbrush and I would never know it.
So I have sadly decided it is time to part with my solanums - lulo, tamarillo and dwarf tamarillo. They just take up so much room, and they don't fruit.  I am guessing it is because my greenhouse is in a slightly shady location.
So today, before the weekly trash pickup, I am sending them to the big composter in the sky. Well, actually the city compost...
May they rest in pieces.

Carolyn

[K-Rimes]

I wouldn't tolerate a spiky lulo in a tight greenhouse. Neat plant(s) but I don't think real winners in the scheme of things. RIP solanums.

[Bush2Beach]

They are pollinated by big carpenter bee’s , shade is not a problem for fruit production.
No need to plant spiky Lulo with the spineless kind being easy to find.

As your greenhouse evolves, may the plants that take their place thrive and make many tasty fruits.

[Jaboticaba45]

Always in a cycle of culling trees that don't make good fruit or are taking up unnecessary space.
Even if I had the space, why on earth would I plant a muntingia tree?

[BloomAndSprout]

Always in a cycle of culling trees that don't make good fruit or are taking up unnecessary space.
Even if I had the space, why on earth would I plant a muntingia tree?

What's wrong with them?  I believe I have some seeds here I've been meaning to germinate; the description of the fruit sounds good.

[Galatians522]

Always in a cycle of culling trees that don't make good fruit or are taking up unnecessary space.
Even if I had the space, why on earth would I plant a muntingia tree?

What's wrong with them?  I believe I have some seeds here I've been meaning to germinate; the description of the fruit sounds good.

Its not that they are bad. There is just no wow! Factor to them. Kindof like the typical white Dragon fruit. The flavor reminds me of how your mouth feels after eating cotton candy but with very little sweetness.

[BloomAndSprout]

Always in a cycle of culling trees that don't make good fruit or are taking up unnecessary space.
Even if I had the space, why on earth would I plant a muntingia tree?

What's wrong with them?  I believe I have some seeds here I've been meaning to germinate; the description of the fruit sounds good.

Its not that they are bad. There is just no wow! Factor to them. Kindof like the typical white Dragon fruit. The flavor reminds me of how your mouth feels after eating cotton candy but with very little sweetness.

Oddly enough I have seen some very positive descriptions of the fruit online, which is partly why I obtained the seeds, not that they were expensive at all.  Is there possibly a large variability in the quality of fruit, or (in your opinion) are some people likely just easily impressed by something "different?"

[roblack]

There are definitely some interesting solanums, but I am with Carolyn in no longer having much/any room for them. A moment of silence for Lulo...

Bombona went nuts on me, and was a nasty thorny vine. Fruit was interesting, but couldn't see eating much of it. Lulo and others didn't like the heat, or pests got to them. So many other plant projects to work on for the time being.

[BloomAndSprout]

The nice thing about Lulos and some similar Solanums is that they fruit so fast, you don't necessarily need to keep them around. I germinated some in January or December that have fruit growing on them now, and they weren't always kept in ideal conditions or repotted properly.

[Altrexy]

Always in a cycle of culling trees that don't make good fruit or are taking up unnecessary space.
Even if I had the space, why on earth would I plant a muntingia tree?

What's wrong with them?  I believe I have some seeds here I've been meaning to germinate; the description of the fruit sounds good.

Its not that they are bad. There is just no wow! Factor to them. Kindof like the typical white Dragon fruit. The flavor reminds me of how your mouth feels after eating cotton candy but with very little sweetness.

Oddly enough I have seen some very positive descriptions of the fruit online, which is partly why I obtained the seeds, not that they were expensive at all.  Is there possibly a large variability in the quality of fruit, or (in your opinion) are some people likely just easily impressed by something "different?"

I enjoy them in a pot as a patio plant but I can perfectly understand why people don’t plant them out, they are extremely vigorous and apparently shoot up suckers yards away from the mother plant. The fruit is difficult to harvest because it never really ripens all at once and they’re very small usually. It takes a lot of pruning to keep the fruit reachable. The fruit is mildly sweet to very sweet with some varieties having slightly bitter skin (mine is very sweet with slightly bitter skin but I just spit it out, it’s not noticeable unless you really chew and I’ve had others that don’t have this issue). Some I’ve had are less aromatic and some are more (mine has a good amount of that candyish aroma). I know for a fact they grow super well and super fast from cuttings, I’ve rooted and fruited a few personally within a year. I could sell you some cuttings if you’d like

[Bush2Beach]

Muntingia are delicious. Most people seem to like them quite a bit. Way more flavor than a bland dragon fruit.

Always in a cycle of culling trees that don't make good fruit or are taking up unnecessary space.
Even if I had the space, why on earth would I plant a muntingia tree?

What's wrong with them?  I believe I have some seeds here I've been meaning to germinate; the description of the fruit sounds good.

Its not that they are bad. There is just no wow! Factor to them. Kindof like the typical white Dragon fruit. The flavor reminds me of how your mouth feels after eating cotton candy but with very little sweetness.

Oddly enough I have seen some very positive descriptions of the fruit online, which is partly why I obtained the seeds, not that they were expensive at all.  Is there possibly a large variability in the quality of fruit, or (in your opinion) are some people likely just easily impressed by something "different?"

[Jaboticaba45]

Always in a cycle of culling trees that don't make good fruit or are taking up unnecessary space.
Even if I had the space, why on earth would I plant a muntingia tree?

What's wrong with them?  I believe I have some seeds here I've been meaning to germinate; the description of the fruit sounds good.

It's too sweet for me. But it does live up to the name cotton candy fruit. I definitely can taste it.
Also, in ground in tropical places, they will send a ton of suckers!

[shpaz]

Muntingias are great as a pioneer plant if you want to quickly establish a good microclimate in our exposed windy area. For some reason though, mine puts off a stinky decaying flesh scent and I am not sure why. 

[Bush2Beach]

While they root easy from cuttings , I have never seen them sucker, even in big 20’ x 20’ tree’s.

Super sweet is kinda the opposite flavor profile of bland white flesh dragon fruit.

[BloomAndSprout]

Always in a cycle of culling trees that don't make good fruit or are taking up unnecessary space.
Even if I had the space, why on earth would I plant a muntingia tree?

What's wrong with them?  I believe I have some seeds here I've been meaning to germinate; the description of the fruit sounds good.

Its not that they are bad. There is just no wow! Factor to them. Kindof like the typical white Dragon fruit. The flavor reminds me of how your mouth feels after eating cotton candy but with very little sweetness.

Oddly enough I have seen some very positive descriptions of the fruit online, which is partly why I obtained the seeds, not that they were expensive at all.  Is there possibly a large variability in the quality of fruit, or (in your opinion) are some people likely just easily impressed by something "different?"

I enjoy them in a pot as a patio plant but I can perfectly understand why people don’t plant them out, they are extremely vigorous and apparently shoot up suckers yards away from the mother plant. The fruit is difficult to harvest because it never really ripens all at once and they’re very small usually. It takes a lot of pruning to keep the fruit reachable. The fruit is mildly sweet to very sweet with some varieties having slightly bitter skin (mine is very sweet with slightly bitter skin but I just spit it out, it’s not noticeable unless you really chew and I’ve had others that don’t have this issue). Some I’ve had are less aromatic and some are more (mine has a good amount of that candyish aroma). I know for a fact they grow super well and super fast from cuttings, I’ve rooted and fruited a few personally within a year. I could sell you some cuttings if you’d like

HMMMM... let me think about that.  Seems like quite the underrated potted fruit tree.

While they root easy from cuttings , I have never seen them sucker, even in big 20’ x 20’ tree’s.

Super sweet is kinda the opposite flavor profile of bland white flesh dragon fruit.

Kind of what I was thinking by that  description, I was thinking that meant "mostly flavorless."

[Epiphyte]

jamaican cherries definitely aren't my fav fruit, but it's impressive how productive they are.  anytime anyone visits, except for winter, they can taste the fruit.  what's kinda interesting is that the fruit is now like 4 times larger than when the tree started fruiting 2 or 3 years ago. 

around a year ago i picked up a eugenia reinwardtiana in a 5 gallon pot from exotica.  fruit was smallish and just ok tasting, but it was a pretty good deal.  planted it in the ground and it started flowering in the spring and it hasn't stopped, with a few fruits ripening here and there.  i'd imagine as the bush gets larger that it will nearly always have a few ripe fruits on it. 

when i went to costa rica everyone i asked said it was the wrong season for fruit.  what a ridiculous concept.  we need a greater appreciation for all the unseasonal fruit.  non-seasonal? 

[Galatians522]

I may have to seek out some of these super sweet muntingia to try. I would be shocked if the ones I have tried were above 15 brix.

[SHV]

Apologies for derailing this thread to Muntingia, but these are awesome fruit trees that are definitely not invasive in SoCA. I can’t imagine this throwing suckers or volunteers. I have a yellow and red fruit selection and both are super sweet.  Probably the climate and not the selection.  Of course, I’m the guy that enjoys bubblegum or cotton candy ice cream, so this fruit is right up my alley.  Shared the berries with a number of people at a recent house party and they stripped the tree clean. It produces hundreds that fall to the ground for easy harvest. 
Only problem with pot growing is they fill up the pots with roots in a couple months after repotting.  They want to go in the ground.

[Altrexy]

While they root easy from cuttings , I have never seen them sucker, even in big 20’ x 20’ tree’s.

Super sweet is kinda the opposite flavor profile of bland white flesh dragon fruit.

Maybe the sucker problem only applies to seedling trees rather than cuttings?

[Jaboticaba45]

While they root easy from cuttings , I have never seen them sucker, even in big 20’ x 20’ tree’s.

Super sweet is kinda the opposite flavor profile of bland white flesh dragon fruit.

Maybe the sucker problem only applies to seedling trees rather than cuttings?

I am not sure. And have never heard of it but many locals in FL have told me they do sucker.

[Daintree]

Ooooh! Now that the lulo, tamarillo and dwarf tamarillo are gone (RIP), I have room for mutingia!!!

[roblack]

Ooooh! Now that the lulo, tamarillo and dwarf tamarillo are gone (RIP), I have room for mutingia!!!

Thread has come full circle.