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re: Louisiana Tropical Fruit Gardening - Experiences and Updates
Posted on 7/19/26 at 7:40 pm to Loup
Posted on 7/19/26 at 7:40 pm to Loup
quote:
Did some banana cutting this morning. Thinned the grove from 14 to 5. Should i cut down two more?
Depends on your goal. If the goal is cool banana plants you've totally nailed it. If the goal is fruit I would leave only the largest stem and allow a new pup to start coming up to be next year's main stem. The multiple big trunks makes them slower and less likely to flower and will reduce rack size if one does flower. In a cold winter climate like ours you want as much energy as possible channeled into the biggest stem as quickly as possible. This is what actual banana growers will tell you. You can also just let it ride and hope for the best while maintaining the great look.
quote:
I didnt know how much fun cutting up banana trees with a machete would be.
Don't waste that mulch. Banana is the best source of chop and drop potassium there is. Excellent organic fertilizer for the remaining stems.
This dragonfruit buds are awesome. Can't wait to see those blooms.
This post was edited on 7/19/26 at 7:43 pm
2
Posted on 7/20/26 at 7:51 am to Tigerlaff
quote:
If the goal is fruit I would leave only the largest stem and allow a new pup to start coming up to be next year's main stem.
These are next year's stems
. The stem that had the bananas on it was pretty much dead so I chopped it down, the bananas didn't make it. I'll probably cut down all but two. I want the cool looking banana grove but I also want fruit. quote:
Don't waste that mulch. Banana is the best source of chop and drop potassium there is. Excellent organic fertilizer for the remaining stems.
I piled up as much as I could on the stumps. The rest of it is chopped up and in the compost bin.
Posted on 7/20/26 at 12:06 pm to Tigerlaff
Lost about half of my ruby supreme guavas (after thinning) to stylar end rot this year. Only about 10-12 left on a tree that could carry 60+ fruit. I thought I'd post photos of what it looks like in case any of you start seeing it on your guavas.
Once you see that black ring on the stylar end, it is already too late for that fruit. The internal damage is already underway. You can't just spray it with copper and hope to kill the surface fungus. Eventually the bottom of the fruit splits open revealing a spore-infested rotten flesh.
I started seeing it back in May, but I removed all the affected fruit and sprayed the tree really well. Then I stopped spraying assuming I had it eradicated. Once you see stylar end rot, you need to remove all affected fruit from the area and keep up your fungicide spraying.
Once you see that black ring on the stylar end, it is already too late for that fruit. The internal damage is already underway. You can't just spray it with copper and hope to kill the surface fungus. Eventually the bottom of the fruit splits open revealing a spore-infested rotten flesh.
I started seeing it back in May, but I removed all the affected fruit and sprayed the tree really well. Then I stopped spraying assuming I had it eradicated. Once you see stylar end rot, you need to remove all affected fruit from the area and keep up your fungicide spraying.
Posted on 7/20/26 at 12:47 pm to Tigerlaff
I listened to the Gary avocado video and in it he did mention that there was some issue with shipping his mix. Something about distribution errors and a possibility of a mixing plant being initiated on the east coast…but hopes to have it sorted out soon!
Man just catching up, been out of town. Pickering is really pushing right now. It’s such a floppy tree though!
I have good framework, but it’s like the tree pushes faster than the lignification can take place! I have it tied up some for support, but trying to wean it off the ties and just let it drop then come up from there I guess. It’s much less upright that dwarf Hawaiian.
Also my DH having some odd chlorosis maybe ? On newer leaves ?
Same nutrients on both trees as well as soil.
Used osmocote plus , azomite
Should I spray some micros ? Iron ?
Man just catching up, been out of town. Pickering is really pushing right now. It’s such a floppy tree though!
I have good framework, but it’s like the tree pushes faster than the lignification can take place! I have it tied up some for support, but trying to wean it off the ties and just let it drop then come up from there I guess. It’s much less upright that dwarf Hawaiian.
Also my DH having some odd chlorosis maybe ? On newer leaves ?
Same nutrients on both trees as well as soil.
Used osmocote plus , azomite
Should I spray some micros ? Iron ?
Posted on 7/20/26 at 1:42 pm to DickTater
quote:
I listened to the Gary avocado video and in it he did mention that there was some issue with shipping his mix. Something about distribution errors and a possibility of a mixing plant being initiated on the east coast…but hopes to have it sorted out soon!
I have a nursery guy in Cali that ships to me. The company that mixed the soil got bought by an east coast company that did not know that California is a regulatory hell-hole and that every bagged soil has to be certified by the state yearly. They recently got Acid Mix recertified but are still working on Top Pot. My guy thought the shortage would be over by now, but I'm about to start ordering Acid Mix and amending with perlite and sand.
quote:
Pickering is really pushing right now. It’s such a floppy tree though!
I have good framework, but it’s like the tree pushes faster than the lignification can take place! I have it tied up some for support, but trying to wean it off the ties and just let it drop then come up from there I guess. It’s much less upright that dwarf Hawaiian.
Yep. Luckily it takes pruning like a champ. Just build that structure upright and remove anything growing down/out. Those fruits are heavy! Looks great too.
quote:
Also my DH having some odd chlorosis maybe ? On newer leaves ?
Same nutrients on both trees as well as soil.
Used osmocote plus , azomite
Should I spray some micros ? Iron ?
Yeah this is definitely an nutrient issue. Probably not your soil pH if it's in a Top Pot like mix. I would give it a micro spray or a kelp/seaweed feeding and see if that clears it up. Maybe water with some fish emulsion once or twice too. You're crushing it though baw! Good work!
This post was edited on 7/20/26 at 1:43 pm
Posted on 7/20/26 at 2:05 pm to Tigerlaff
quote:
Lost about half of my ruby supreme guavas (after thinning) to stylar end rot this year. Only about 10-12 left on a tree that could carry 60+ fruit. I thought I'd post photos of what it looks like in case any of you start seeing it on your guavas.
Damn, I'll make sure to check mine.
Posted on 7/20/26 at 3:25 pm to Tigerlaff
Okay I’ll give that a try with the micros.
You mind sharing a source on who will ship out to us ? I had got some from Amazon before, but that dried up
You mind sharing a source on who will ship out to us ? I had got some from Amazon before, but that dried up
Posted on 7/20/26 at 3:58 pm to DickTater
Same source, just direct from the vendor instead of Amazon.
In fact, I had to mix up a Top Pot blend myself today. Significantly more expensive than getting it shipped. Pumice ain't cheap. Made about 20g and still have a massive amount of peat left.
Repotted another Chamaedorea radicalis and my Christmas palm.
In fact, I had to mix up a Top Pot blend myself today. Significantly more expensive than getting it shipped. Pumice ain't cheap. Made about 20g and still have a massive amount of peat left.
Repotted another Chamaedorea radicalis and my Christmas palm.
This post was edited on 7/20/26 at 8:45 pm
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:39 am to Tigerlaff
Rajapuri banana development over one month:
6/21/26
7/21/26
We're making good time here. But I'm losing sunlight every day and it's going to slow down significantly once nights get cooler in September. I think we can make it especially if we have a warm fall. Rajapuri takes a notoriously long time to ripen. Hoping to cut it down in November.
6/21/26
7/21/26
We're making good time here. But I'm losing sunlight every day and it's going to slow down significantly once nights get cooler in September. I think we can make it especially if we have a warm fall. Rajapuri takes a notoriously long time to ripen. Hoping to cut it down in November.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 8:48 am to Tigerlaff
Do NOT order mango fruit from Fruit Farmacy on Etsy. They don’t know how to pack or ship their fruit and when it arrives inedible they say it’s fine and just ripe. Won’t honor refund or send replacements. Opening a claim with Etsy.
Took 7 days to arrive in mail and arrived like this:
Took 7 days to arrive in mail and arrived like this:
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:25 am to Neauxla
Yeah that is pure garbage. Sorry they screwed you. I know they are expensive, but this is why I only order from Mina Iskander and Tropical Acres. They are the only ones that consistently get it right every time and ship with FedEx 2-day.
Fairchild Botanical Gardens has been the best balance of quality for price. About $100 total, but probably 3 out of 10 fruits were picked too early and they took forever to ship after payment. For my money, I'm going with Mina and TA and enjoying the experience.
Fairchild Botanical Gardens has been the best balance of quality for price. About $100 total, but probably 3 out of 10 fruits were picked too early and they took forever to ship after payment. For my money, I'm going with Mina and TA and enjoying the experience.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 12:25 pm to Tigerlaff
we just got home from a week out of town and I don’t think it rained once while we were gone. I just gave everything an emergency soaking and I don’t think I have any casualties.
It’s interesting to see what new plants can deal with a little drought and what can’t. The banana plants all look fine. They didn’t grow as fast as they were when I watered every day but everyone seems happy. The Barbados cherry didn’t miss a beat and even flushed out some new growth. The Rio Grande was a little droopy as was the guava. Citrus unaffected.
the vegetable garden is another matter entirely but I’m ready to break it down anyway. Bring on Bertha (just the rain)
It’s interesting to see what new plants can deal with a little drought and what can’t. The banana plants all look fine. They didn’t grow as fast as they were when I watered every day but everyone seems happy. The Barbados cherry didn’t miss a beat and even flushed out some new growth. The Rio Grande was a little droopy as was the guava. Citrus unaffected.
the vegetable garden is another matter entirely but I’m ready to break it down anyway. Bring on Bertha (just the rain)
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:05 pm to Neauxla
quote:
Do NOT order mango fruit from Fruit Farmacy on Etsy
Saw this on another forum. USPS Priority usually is guaranteed to arrive in 2-3 days tops. Not sure that it would have made a difference here. Sorry that you had a bad experience. I’ve had people ask me to ship them mangoes so many times. It’s stories like yours that keep me from doing it.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 10:48 am to wiltznucs
quote:I get it that things can happen in the mail. I take issue with the fact that when you've been provided evidence that it took 7 days (tracking) and photos of the damaged box and mushy fruit, you shouldn't pretend like the fruit is fine, or worse, blame the customer. Contact the shipper and make a claim for your customer.
Saw this on another forum. USPS Priority usually is guaranteed to arrive in 2-3 days tops. Not sure that it would have made a difference here. Sorry that you had a bad experience. I’ve had people ask me to ship them mangoes so many times. It’s stories like yours that keep me from doing it.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 12:03 pm to Neauxla
quote:
I get it that things can happen in the mail. I take issue with the fact that when you've been provided evidence that it took 7 days (tracking) and photos of the damaged box and mushy fruit, you shouldn't pretend like the fruit is fine, or worse, blame the customer. Contact the shipper and make a claim for your customer.
If you are not already a member, join the fruit 4 sale facebook group. All vetted sellers, great prices, and these people will always make it right if a package doesn't arrive correctly. If they don't, they get put on blast and banned from selling in the group.
I can also vouch for Serendib Farms, but he only ships Thai and Indian style mangos. His sapodillas and other fruits are great.
This post was edited on 7/22/26 at 12:04 pm
Posted on 7/22/26 at 3:05 pm to wiltznucs
quote:
USPS Priority usually is guaranteed to arrive in 2-3 days tops.
Unfortunately they have backed away from that lately and are not even quoting it anymore. My fishing tackle that I product gets shipped via usps priority most of the time. I use the flat rate priority boxes a lot due to the weight of my products. Ive got things that are taking 10 days or more lately. They are just not doing a good job anymore
Posted on 7/22/26 at 3:37 pm to Tigerlaff
quote:
We're making good time here. But I'm losing sunlight every day and it's going to slow down significantly once nights get cooler in September. I think we can make it especially if we have a warm fall. Rajapuri takes a notoriously long time to ripen. Hoping to cut it down in November.
I absolutely had no idea it took that long to make bananas.
Wow Posted on 7/22/26 at 6:05 pm to Tigerlaff
quote:Hell yes now I’m getting excited. Reminds me I need to fertilize
Rajapuri
Posted on 7/22/26 at 6:41 pm to LanierSpots
quote:
I absolutely had no idea it took that long to make bananas. Wow
Well... I might actually be in luck! Because as this fruit develops it looks less and less like Rajapuri everyday. So now I'm investigating to try to source a legit Rajapuri pup and to determine what this one is. Once again, as always, this is why you don't shop for specific banana varieties at commercial nurseries (even really good commercial nurseries). Only individual private sellers who have a track record. My plant came from Willis Orchard Company in Georgia, which is otherwise a fantastic nursery. But even they can't get bananas right.
My banana:
True Rajapuri:
Right off the bat you can see that Rajapuri has longer fruit and a shorter, stouter pseudostem. Disappointed but that is what this thread is for: experience.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 7:26 pm to Tigerlaff
that banana guy on Etsy is who I got mine from he had a few to sell. Will be interesting to see what you wind up with
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