Has anyone messed around w growing tropical fruits down here in Louisiana?

You see the odd papaya tree here and there, mature and producing fruit, in protected locations around NO. Ditto for avocados.

Dragon Fruit nursery in Acadiana

I live on the lakefront in Mandeville. It is definitely warmer than areas of Mandeville that are farther away from the lake, but we do still get below freezing more than I’d like. I keep waiting for global warming to hit. That would be nice.

I really want a Mango tree but hear they are impossible to keep alive

How are they vastly different? I know there are TONS of varieties of mango, but how are they so different?

I know that the local vietnamese population on the westbank and in nola east have found ways to grow excellent gardens full of these tropical varieties that are of interest to me. Dragonfruits, papaya, etc. Nor sure if anyone has successfully gotten a jackfruit tree to grow here. I currently have a cheapo greenhouse on the south side of my house, w 250 watt heat lamp for cold nights. I am growing dragon fruit in a 30 gallon container in there, and have about 10 small pots waiting for papaya seeds to germinate. I will transplant most of the papaya’s Into large containers that I can dolly inside when needed, but will experiment with some in the ground, protected by a micro climate. I have been waiting on this global warming to get here for years with fingers-crossed. That would be glorious!