re: Louisiana Tropical Fruit Gardening - Experiences and Updates

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but if no one grew from seed we wouldn't get all these new "varieties" right?

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Correct. That’s how new ones are discovered.

I read an article about Gary Zill’s mango program sometime back. It indicated that for every 100 seedlings he planted less than 50% produced desirable fruit. Many produced nothing at all.

By time growth habit, flavor profile, objectionable fiber, disease resistance and production was factored in only 4-5 made the cut and were propagated for future production.

So effectively; a 95% failure rate of looking to create something new and of merit. Of those that did make the cut; most tracked back to a popular parent tree. Meaning odds are it was an offspring of an already popular species and preserved many of the traits of the parent tree.

I’ve got two Bolt mango trees. One in the ground and the other in a pot.

The Bolt has proven very difficult for people to grow despite overwhelmingly glowing reviews about the quality of the fruit. They end up being chlorotic and failing to thrive. Even the guy who developed it isn’t actively selling them.

The potted one is actually doing pretty well. It’s flushed several times. Usually quite small internodes. Sometimes the new growth dies immediately. Some make it.

The one in the ground is half the size of the potted one now. Both came from the same grower and were roughly the same size when I got them a year ago.

If my experience has taught me anything it’s that some mango trees may actually be better suited to pots. I don’t know how it will play out long term; but, I can see letting this run out to 50 gallons or so just out of academic curiosity.

I think as interest continues for potted and zone-pushing mango growers we’ll see more and more varieties specifically aimed at maximizing production from pots.

Pickering seems to struggle for me. M4 flourishing

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Pickering seems to struggle for me. M4 flourishing

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A lot of mango trees are struggling in my area. I’m sure you may be dealing with the same issue. While having a hurricane free season is a blessing; the lack of tropical rains has us in a profound drought. We normally get 6-8 inches in September. We got less than 1/3 of an inch in total. No measurable rainfall in October yet either. So get after them with water for sure. My property has two sections; only one gets irrigation. Normally not an issue as we get so much rainfall this time of year. The difference between the two sections is noticeably different this year.

Definitely a bit worrisome. We ordinarily have a pretty extended dry period starting around the new year which lasts all the way until March. That’s good for managing pests and keeping powder mildew and fungal stuff at bay during flowering. Now I’m a bit concerned that next years crop will be impacted if we don’t get some significant rain in the coming months. The trees didn’t put on nearly as much vegetative growth as I’ve seen in years past. I’m afraid my proactive pruning may bite me in arse as a couple of trees haven’t flushed new growth at all.

we got no rain last 2 weeks of august. we got 0.5" total in september, two rain days. we got 0.5" on october 6. thats it for almost 2 months meanwhile it stayed mostly around 90 degrees. there is a small chance of rain here on saturday then nothing for the rest of the month. i.m not sure whats going on (doesnt appear to be a "heat dome") but it's concerning

So my Meyer is not going to do anything this year. I think I have come to that realization. LOL. Can/Should I go ahead and cut this thing back. I am in Sarasota so its still getting warm in the afternoons but the nights are starting to get cold (low 60's) for us. Is it time for me to cut this thing back? And any special "winter" things to do. I am going to give it one more year next year and if it does not give me some damn lemons, its going in the dump and I am going to try something else.









And now for a little bragging. I may have not "mastered" the lemon inside my pool cage but this damn Pothos is doing fantastic. I propragated it from 4, 1 inch long pieces I cut from a cutting on my friends plant. Let them dry out a few days, poked them in some soil and babied the shite out of it for a few months. Repotted it last week in this thing and its doing amazing. Very proud of that for a non green thumb person like myself. LOL. It stays on my lanaii where it gets plenty of indirect sun and lots of warmth. The stems now are bigger than pencils.

did you use the LA Cajun prairie seed?
I’m looking to do the same over about 30000sf but I’m not planting shite until it starts to rain again

I probably will need help so thanks. I’ve done a test patch with the LA native seed and it was full of ragweed

Some photos from the grove…

The finger lime is a citrus adjacent species found mostly in Australia and Oceania.

The University of Florida has produced several species meant to be better adapted to Florida’s climate. They have shown excellent resistance to citrus greening (HLB).

This tree is the Sun Lime variety and about two years old. The fruit is about the width of a thumb and about 2-3” long. When fully ripe it will transition from green to brown and eventually red.

Inside you’ll find a red citrus like caviar. It’s intensely tart and bursts when eaten. Some mixologists use them in cocktails. I love to top tacos with the caviar.