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Started By
Message
re: Louisiana Tropical Fruit Gardening - Experiences and Updates
Posted on 7/25/25 at 9:19 pm to TimeOutdoors
Posted on 7/25/25 at 9:19 pm to TimeOutdoors
There’s still a few circulating around Central Florida. South Florida is pretty much done. I’m guessing we have a week or two left at which point the pickings will get very slim. I have only a few second crop Angie and some super late Orange Sherbet still on my trees.
Picked these up yesterday at a farm that I had no idea existed until I passed by and saw a roadside sign only 13 miles from my home.
Keow Savoy
Irwin aka Miyazaki in Japan
Valencia Pride
Kent
Mallika
Kesar
Ate the Keow along with my last homegrown Pickering today. The Keow is interesting. The Thai mangoes in general are an enigma for me. I know the Thai’s eat them green and their flavor preferences don’t match up with what most Americans want. This one was probably over ripe and had a yellow color with a honey and banana flavor profile. Not sure if I’d go out of my way for it; but, definitely unique and refreshing.
This post was edited on 7/25/25 at 9:20 pm
1
Posted on 7/25/25 at 10:18 pm to wiltznucs
I wish I had tallied how many mangos I ate this season. It's definitely too many. One Pickering left on my tree then it's adios until 2026.
And yeah the Thai mangos just don't do it for me. Green, ripe, overripe. Not saying I dislike them but give me Florida classics, coconut mangos, indochinese, and Indian types all day over another Thai mango.
Most interesting mango this year was a guava mango. Total head trip to taste that unmistakable guava flavor, which is truly unique on earth, in a different fruit.
And yeah the Thai mangos just don't do it for me. Green, ripe, overripe. Not saying I dislike them but give me Florida classics, coconut mangos, indochinese, and Indian types all day over another Thai mango.
Most interesting mango this year was a guava mango. Total head trip to taste that unmistakable guava flavor, which is truly unique on earth, in a different fruit.
This post was edited on 7/25/25 at 10:21 pm
Posted on 7/26/25 at 4:42 pm to Tigerlaff
Couple updates:
My little Silas Wood sapodilla is finally taking off. All these saps are slow growers. This variety will set tons of fruit (enough to injure itself) at a very young age, so I'm checking it constantly.
My Suebelle white sapote lost every single leaf when it arrived from Miami. Looking good now, but a good ways away from fruiting.
Dwarf guava nana has probably quintupled in size, but no sign of a flower anywhere. I suspect this one was grown from seed, so no idea when it will start fruiting.
Dwarf namwah (the real one) I transplanted last week is already pushing.
Separated my orange bird of paradise plants and chose the best one to continue. They usually sell these things 2 or 3 to a pot. Believe it or not, I had 3 about this size all crammed into a 7gal pot. Had to use bolt cutters to cut it out of the pot. They actually like being rootbound and will flower more, but when it gets too crammed (like mine) the leaves start deforming. I chose the healthiest one and put it into a 20gal.
Planted a Mexican fan palm. I figure I should have something actually rated for my zone.
My little Silas Wood sapodilla is finally taking off. All these saps are slow growers. This variety will set tons of fruit (enough to injure itself) at a very young age, so I'm checking it constantly.
My Suebelle white sapote lost every single leaf when it arrived from Miami. Looking good now, but a good ways away from fruiting.
Dwarf guava nana has probably quintupled in size, but no sign of a flower anywhere. I suspect this one was grown from seed, so no idea when it will start fruiting.
Dwarf namwah (the real one) I transplanted last week is already pushing.
Separated my orange bird of paradise plants and chose the best one to continue. They usually sell these things 2 or 3 to a pot. Believe it or not, I had 3 about this size all crammed into a 7gal pot. Had to use bolt cutters to cut it out of the pot. They actually like being rootbound and will flower more, but when it gets too crammed (like mine) the leaves start deforming. I chose the healthiest one and put it into a 20gal.
Planted a Mexican fan palm. I figure I should have something actually rated for my zone.
This post was edited on 7/26/25 at 4:45 pm
Posted on 7/26/25 at 6:58 pm to Tigerlaff
quote:I had two gigantic ones out on the deck and I forgot about them in last years freeze. I went to pull and toss them this spring and the pots were almost 100% rootball. So I guess they do like to be crowded. I replaced them with ginger…almost as pretty and they can stay outside
orange bird of paradise
Posted on 7/26/25 at 9:36 pm to cgrand
Yeah, so if you've read any of my kooky soil philosophy in this thread, BOP is one of the few plants it doesn't apply to. They will grow completely rootbound in anoxic sludge. I put mine in complete garbage cheap soil because it makes zero difference. Literally everything except this one plant is in some primo inorganic mix.
Posted on 7/27/25 at 9:44 am to Tigerlaff
I’ve gotten nice plants from Just Fruits and Exotics in Florida. Where’d you source your pawpaw trees? I have some different LSU varieties of figs I’ll likely air layer in the fall.
Posted on 7/27/25 at 10:24 am to Caesar0153
Pawpaws all came from Willis Orchards in GA, Edible Landscaping, and Etsy. Tried to find cultivars that will tolerate our summers.
This post was edited on 7/27/25 at 11:42 am
Posted on 7/27/25 at 11:58 am to Tigerlaff
Thank you. I’ve ordered persimmons and plums from Edible Landscaping and Willis Orchard. I’ll have to check out their pawpaws.
Posted on 7/27/25 at 6:58 pm to Caesar0153
They say you need 2, but the people who really know this stuff say you actually need 3-4 trees in close proximity to get fruit. If your 2 trees happen to not bloom at the exact same time, no fruit.
Sunflower is allegedly somewhat self-fertile. I have my doubts but I did get one just in case it's true. I've got 4 and will be planting them in pairs and hoping for the best.
Willis Orchards was also the only place I could find Collins Select. Recommend taking a look at that cultivar and the mango cultivar. Both selected in the deep south by the same guy.
Sunflower is allegedly somewhat self-fertile. I have my doubts but I did get one just in case it's true. I've got 4 and will be planting them in pairs and hoping for the best.
Willis Orchards was also the only place I could find Collins Select. Recommend taking a look at that cultivar and the mango cultivar. Both selected in the deep south by the same guy.
This post was edited on 7/27/25 at 7:03 pm
Posted on 7/28/25 at 2:33 pm to Loup
quote:
Man they have 1 pickering mango left in stock for $100. So damn tempting
And you just made me buy it. 
Posted on 7/28/25 at 3:01 pm to Neauxla
quote:
And you just made me buy it.
at least I won't be agonizing over it anymore!Posted on 7/28/25 at 4:06 pm to Neauxla
Just a warning, that seller sent me a very healthy plant but the soil mix it was in was garbage. Almost pure bark with very little sand. I recommend getting it out of that soil and into something good a week or two after it arrives and recovers from shipping.
Posted on 7/28/25 at 4:07 pm to Tigerlaff
Man your pool area , decking and pots are all so clean. It rains so much here, it is hard to keep things clean.
Looks so nice
Looks so nice
Posted on 7/28/25 at 4:26 pm to LanierSpots
quote:
Man your pool area , decking and pots are all so clean. It rains so much here, it is hard to keep things clean.
Looks so nice
It takes a lot of upkeep pretty much daily. Having someone recognize it is a rarity so thanks for making my day, boss.
Posted on 7/28/25 at 4:51 pm to Tigerlaff
Thanks!
Posted on 7/28/25 at 6:32 pm to Neauxla
I have a problem. I just ordered an M-4 off eBay so I could have a later season harvest. That makes 4 Pickerings. 1 died. The 2 I got last week looked like they won’t make it. Ordered one from the lady you linked earlier. And I got a Nam doc Mai #4 in the spring
This post was edited on 7/28/25 at 6:33 pm
Posted on 7/28/25 at 8:18 pm to Neauxla
Yeah that's not sane. Plenty have the addiction. Just ask wiltz. Worrying about your "late season" harvest before you've had any harvest whatsoever in the wrong climate for a crop that doesn't want to be grown in a container to begin with. I love it. That's what this thread is about. Full speed ahead on things that others would find foolish just for the hell of it. Because when some of it works...
I felt foolish last week when I saw a 15 foot starfruit tree growing in the ground in Metairie. You just can't really know know until you try.
Posted on 7/28/25 at 10:11 pm to Tigerlaff
quote:
I felt foolish last week when I saw a 15 foot starfruit tree growing in the ground in Metairie
The single tropical fruit tree that you need exactly one of. If they take off you’ll be up to your ears in Carambola. They are incredibly prolific in the right environments.
quote:
Yeah that's not sane. Plenty have the addiction. Just ask wiltz.
My 13yo son told me just this week that I cannot buy any more mango trees until we plant a Coconut Cream mango tree. Guilty as charged. LOL.
Ate a Lancetilla mango today. Fricking huge. Almost 4.5lbs before cutting.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 6:45 am to wiltznucs
Nice looking lancetilla. Didn't get one of those this year. Coconut cream however was awesome but inconsistent.
Found out what's been eating all my lemon guavas (and probabaly mangos):
Second one in as many days. Feel like I'm finally making some progress.
My Mexican cream guava on the other hand lost about 75% of its unripe fruit to squirrels, but I think this may have actually been a good thing. The tiny tree was overloaded and I couldn't bring myself to do the first year thinning it really needed.
Found out what's been eating all my lemon guavas (and probabaly mangos):
Second one in as many days. Feel like I'm finally making some progress.
My Mexican cream guava on the other hand lost about 75% of its unripe fruit to squirrels, but I think this may have actually been a good thing. The tiny tree was overloaded and I couldn't bring myself to do the first year thinning it really needed.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 7:27 am to Tigerlaff
where'd you get that trap, i have one in my barn that i cant catch
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