re: Louisiana Tropical Fruit Gardening - Experiences and Updates

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How tall do the tall and dwarf varieties get? Lots of online info says 12-15’ for the tall, and 8-10’ for the dwarf, but I’m skeptical of those numbers.

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This is a Namwah I purchased as a single 3 foot tall tree in 2021. Put it in the ground in 22’. I think 12-15’ feet is an accurate number.

Gave me two bunches last year. Separated off a cluster of pups last year and replanted them on the other side of the house. That single tree has turned into 8-10 trunks now.

Hasn’t produced fruit this year; this time last year it was holding fruit. They took a beating during Hurricane Milton so it feels like everything is a bit off.

So I need some help w/ my Joey avocado tree.

It has been in a 25 gallon pot for the last year and was doing great. I bought a bunch of new trees and matching pots so I decided to move the Joey to a new matching pot in basically the same size. I may have lost some dirt which I replaced with masonry sand.

Since the move, my tree has been having leaves turn yellow and drop. Did I screw something up when I transferred or is it just shock?

It was doing REALLY well before I transferred. Had a bunch of new growth.

2-3 weeks ago

Thanks!

Yeah the dwarf is hard to find. I've got more tall namwah than I know what to do with.

I should also mention that if any of y'all only care about foliage, get the Musa basjoo. Most cold hardy banana in the world. Great foliage and laughs off freezes. Mine got zero protection in the snow and is already 8 feet tall again. The namwahs that I didn't protect are just coming back up.

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I bought from Louisiana Nursery


Is that the one on Perkins by Bowie's?

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Yes, but you should call first to see if there are any left.

I bought mine on Mar 13. Last spring they sold out quickly. When I called this year, there were 21 left so we hustled out there to make sure we got one.

Ruby supreme guava taking off and loquats finally getting sweet.

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Having some trouble with the Lychee. Leaves are turning brown after about 2 weeks after transferring to the new bigger pot.

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Honestly; in my experience that is almost inevitable. They are notorious for going into shock after being transferred or planted. Many times they are sold with somewhat weak roots after being air layered.

Don’t give up hope yet, keep the soil moist and apply citrus type fertilizer after a few weeks. They are temperamental and need a lot of TLC.

Nice. Yeah my 2 lychees are by far the most difficult thing I have going. One I am treating for the erinose mite and the other so far shows no signs of infection and has flushed new dark green growth. Test your soil pH. Lychee stands no chance without pretty acidic soil. Like pH 5-6. I water only with rain and distilled water. It hates chlorinated alkaline city water. Make sure to check for signs of the lychee erinose mite. If you have it you need to take action immediately.

Today was a day I've been dreading. Had to thin the fruit on my Pickering. I left 5 of the largest fruits but I really need to take at least 3 of those off as well. I need the tree strong for its first winter more than I need the fruit.



First round of scotch bonnets also ready today.

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Picked up a Blue Java banana from LA Nursery, there were two left when I got there. Hopefully it's a Namwah but from what I've read I'll enjoy either.

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It would be utterly shocking if a Louisiana nursery actually had a real blue java but again, for my money, namwah is what you actually want. Only somewhere specializing in rare things like Almost Eden would have blue java. Plant it somewhere with plenty of room.

Yep, can't say enough good things about namwah. Can't wait to see how the dwarf goes this summer.