========================================== Rare Fruit News Online - All Year for 1998 ========================================== Rare Fruit News Online January 1, 1998 RFN199801A.txt Rare Fruit News Online consists primarily of messages from subscribers. Sometimes there are questions to be answered by those with knowledge and experience (and, we are fortunate to have them among us.) Others consist of feedback to letters posted in an earlier issue. Sometimes there are references thought to be of interest, such as books, periodicals, or - more likely - web pages and their URL addresses. It works, because of the teamwork among you, and I'm pleased to be part of it. If you ever want to write about changing your email address or unsubscribing or almost anything, please include your WHOLE name (especially the LAST name) as my address book is set up that way. To see back issues of the newsletter, visit the online group, "OldRFN" OldRFN is at http://www.visto.com/j.html?g=16812838.WDY3NjdX Please keep me advised of trouble with the OldRFN webpage. How are you and your fruit trees surviving this another winter of El Nino? There are several new subscribers, usually with questions that they believe you may be able to answer or provide insights. Let's not let them down. Subject: Rare Fruit News Online Web Page Revised Subject: Ong Nursery: Rare Fruit in San Diego Subject: Chat, Use AOL Instant Messenger? or What? Subject: New Subscriber From Florida; Looking For Seeds Subject: New Subscriber (Brazil) Wants Seed Exchange Subject: Seeds from Brazil Subject: New Subscriber in Louisiana Subject: New Subscriber from Thailand Subject: New from West Indies wants help growing mangosteen, etc. Subject: New Subscriber from Exeter California Subject: New Subscriber from San Francisco, CA with problems.... Subject: New Subscriber wants Chat (and to remove gophers!) Subject: New Subscriber from Honolulu: Need help deciding what to grow Subject: New Subscriber from Florida; Interested in "Star Fruit" Subject: Supplemental copy about Jujube Subject: Re: Getting longan to flower- cultivars Subject: Lychee info needed Subject: Re: Lychee info needed Subject: Grafting Lychees, Using Mycorrhizal, Increase Lychee Fruit Subject: Don Chapman Discusses mycorrhizae Subject: Three new supplements available upon request from Leo Subject: unidentified mango cultivar Subject: Re: Thai longan cultivars Subject: Correspondence between Sainarong Rasananda and Doron Kletter Subject: Visit to CA & FL by Aussie Lychee Grower! Subject: Re: Visit by Aussie Lychee Grower? Subject: black sapote - When can I eat it? Subject: Re: black sapote - When can I eat it? Subject: Greetings & Thanks Subject: Seedless fruit Subject: Importing Fruit Trees and Quarantine Subject: Rare Fruit Web Page from Brazil Subject: The Brazilian Webpage is in Portuguese Subject: *Maybe* Bowen Isn't The Best Mango! Subject: Your mango blooming out of season Subject: Mango tree size and fruit nursery info in Aus Subject: Re: Mango tree size and fruit nursery info in Aus Subject: Quang's Place Subject: Re: Quang's Place Subject: The June plum is the spondias dulcis, or ambarella Subject: Seeds - Sapote and Sapodilla Subject: Re: Seeds - Sapote and Sapodilla Subject: Sapodilla, black sapote, carambola, and Doug Richardson ------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 13:17:55 +0000 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Rare Fruit News Online Web Page Revised I spent several days trying to communicate with my Macintosh-unfamiliar ISP, so I could upload my revised webpage. Somehow I lost my earlier notes on how to do it, and my provider has no clue how any Macintosh applications works. I used the application Fetch and finally got it to reach my provider with FTP. Anyhow, I got it up and added a link to Florida Rare Fruit Council, Intl. If you're in the neighborhood of my web page, drop by to see if you see something I don't that should be revised. I find it difficult to proof-read anything I've written. Leo ---------- From: Leo Manuel = "fruitrare" Date: December 26, 1997 Let me begin by saying that I don't know anything about Chat, Chat programs, etc. So, if you do, you're 'way ahead of me, and you should write to discuss it. A relative got me to download AOL Instant Messenger from http://dynamic.aol.com/cgi/aim-download. To use it you download AIM, pick a screen name and a password, and sign on. Then you will automatically go to AOL's home page to register. I have never used Chat programs, but it may be similar. It supposedly notifies others on your "Buddy" list that you're online, so that they can communicate in real time with you. Some of you have written about using Chat. This may be a possibility My screen name is fruitrare, and if there is sufficient interest, we can get something going in that. I'm certainly not recommending it at all. I've had it for only a few hours, so I haven't chatted with anyone yet. If you are using it and want to chat with other RFNO-ers, you can let me know and I'll publicize it here. If you have other Chat applications that work well for you, let us know. Let us know your screen names, software, etc. Also, directions as to where to get the software would be helpful. By the way, am I the only one of us with a Macintosh? Leo ----------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:37:20 +0000 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Ong Nursery For Rare Fruit in San Diego Quang Ong is a young Vietnamese university student who has started a rare fruit nursery in San Diego. At the moment, he attends school during the week and is available to show you plants on Saturday or Sunday BY APPOINTMENT. (619) 277-8167 The nursery is in the Linda Vista suburb at 2528 Crandall Dr., San Diego, 92111 The fruit he carries are: Acerola, Ambarella, Apple, Asian Pear, Canito, Cherimoya, Chinese Jujube, Citrus, Fig, Guanabana, Jaboticaba, Jack Fruit, Longan, Loquat, Lychee, Malay Apple, Mamey Sapote, Mango, Miracle Fruit, Otaheite Gooseberry, Papaya, Peach, Persimmon, Pomegranate, Plum, Sapodilla, Star Fruit, Sweet Sop, Tropical Guava, and Wax Jambu. Not all fruit will be in at all times, however. This announcement is unsolicited and Quang does not know it's here. Leo Manuel -------------------- From: Charles Novak Subject: New Subscriber From Florida; Looking For Seeds Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 18:57:40 -0500 Hi Leo, I am Charles Novak, living in Plant City, Florida, near Tampa I have over 200 different fruit trees. I'd like to also grow: Salacca Edulis, Melastoma Malabathricum, Nephelium Lappaceum, Nephelium Mutabile, Borassus Flabellifera, Myristica Fragrans, Nipa Fruticans, Morinda Citrifolia, Kundang, Kabong, Ficus Roxburghii, Garcinia Prainiana, Garcinia parvifolia, and Garcinia Cambogia. Can anyone help me obtain some seeds of the plants I want to grow? Charles ------------------------------------ Date: Thu Dec 18 10:40:16 1997 ¥From: Ricardo Barbosa Subject: New Subscriber (Brazil) Wants Seed Exchange Hi Leo. My name is: Ricardo V. Barbosa I live in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The home state of Cherry of Rio Grande and Jujuba trees. It is the southermost state of Brazil, where the climate is similar to zones 9 and 10 of USA. I am a retired chemical engineer, and my hobby is to collect fruit trees or vines. I have more than 60 kind of trees, and I would like to contact others collectors for seeds exchange. Best regards. Ricardo. ----------------------- Date: Mon Dec 22 15:37:02 1997 ¥From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: Seeds from Brazil Hi Leo. My interest is to exchange seeds of fruits I don't have. I`m not looking for any special fruit. I'm just a beginner with less than 80 trees, the majority not yet fruiting. Attached you will find the list of the trees I have. It's an excell file. The list is not ready. I will upgrade it with more informations. If you have interest in any seed, or if you need a particular information about any fruit of the list, ask me. If it's not yet fruiting, I can look for seeds elsewere. PITANGA is a very resistant tree, and it's not common the fruit to be attacked by insects. It's not a fast grower, but it fruits soon.They are not high, maximum 5 m. Anywhere you go around here you find native trees. You find them even in the cities, where they are planted in the houses gardens. They can be yellow, orange, red or dark purple colored. There are differnt sizes, from 1 cm to 1 inch. The smallers are more sweet. RIO GRANDE CHERRY fruit is bigger than pitanga fruit, and the tree can arrive to 8m high. The taste remembers pitanga, but is sweeter. The color is allways dark-red. There are two sizes. The smaller is also called MURTINHA in the North of Brazil. The tree is very resistan too, but grows wild less frequently than pitanga trees. The problem of this fruit here is the attack by the fruit fly. It happens very soon, just after flowering. It's very difficult to have a sane fruit without some cares. If I want to eat fruits from my tree, I must put some fruit fly traps on the tree at the time it is flowering. I can save 50% of the fruits this way. Another ennemy of this tree around here is the "saw bug", an insect that can cut branches up to 2 inches diameter. It's a big insect. It bites the branch while circulating it slowly. The bitten ring grows deeper until the branch falls. Do you have fruit flies in US? GUAVA is a plague. It is surelly the more abundant native fruit tree in the region. In the land where I grow my trees I had to cut two trees because I needed space. I have still four native trees possibly older than me. Frequently I cut new trees that grows under the olders, originated by fallen fruits. I planted a white cultivar two years ago and recently acquired a dark red cultivar. The fruits are severelly attacked by the fruit fly. When they rippen in the tree, it's impossible to eat the pulp because the worms inside. But the shell is kept intact. It's impossible to eat all the production. We make a kind of jam with the guavas. We call it GOIABADA. There is a goiaba relative very common here too, the ARACA. I think you call it brazilian guava. It is a smaller fruit with similar structure, but better taste. The yellow cultivar is even better than the red one. Best regards. Ricardo. -------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 20:47:16 -0600 From: "H. Allen Sylvester" Subject: New Subscriber in Louisiana Dear Leo, I am responding to your posting to the trop-bio e-mail list. 1. I am H. Allen Sylvester 2. I live in Baton Rouge, LA USA 3. My rare fruit INTERESTS: I have 2 small greenhouses here in Baton Rouge and a house for eventual retirement (15 years or so) on the Hilo side of the Big Island of Hawaii. My wife is Thai and I spent two years there in the Army (69-71). Noy is a common Thai nickname, so I was wondering if your daughter-in-law is Thai? I have containers with bearing Surinam cherries, carambola and several citrus. We went to Florida in August 96 and met several members of RFCI and got quite a few small Eugenias of various species and several other things. We were in California this past July and I was able to visit a few CRFG members. I have been a member of CRFG since I was a graduate student at UC Davis, about 1973. I have been a member of RFCI for about 3 years. I would be interested in receiving back issues of your newsletter. Thank you. Allen ------------------------------- Date: Wed Dec 24 04:26:05 1997 Subject: New Subscriber from Thailand From: Warawit Viboonpattama Sukhothai I am Mr. Warawit Viboonpattama My home is in Sukhothai/Thailand The fruit I am interested in are mango, jackfruit, banana Warawit ----------------------------- Subject: New from West Indies wants help growing mangosteen, etc. Date: Tue, 30 Dec 97 06:56:00-0400 From: "William Glover" Leo Manuel, Many thanks for your prompt response and the very interesting reading. I am William Glover, but as do all proper West Indians, I also have a nickname which is 'Pincher', deriving from my wholly organic method of dispatching caterpillars which hereabouts grow up to six inches long and are always in season. I live in Nevis, West Indies, a microdot in the northeastern Caribbean. Have four acres about 6 km (3.5 miles) north of our capital city of Charlestown and some 100 km (60 miles) due west of Antigua. Since 1984 have been growing mango, papaya, longan, banana, citrus (lime, lemon, orange, kumquat, grapefruit), breadfruit, carambola, ackee, Surinam cherry, Barbados cherry, Harpephyllum caffrum, and a few others. What I'm looking for from readers of RFNO: a. Any tips for growing mangosteen and rambutans successfully on a semi-arid island receiving about 1250mm rain/year and with an average rH of 75% would be most welcome? b. Any suggestions for defeating the depredations of monkeys, apart from shooting them, would also be appreciated. William Glover NEVIS, West Indies -------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 07:25:53 -0800 From: Martin Berghuis Subject: New Subscriber from Exeter, CA Hi, I am interested in your newsletter. Is it Email newsletter? I am also a member of the CRFG and chairman of the Sequoia chapter, which we started in Tulare county. We were tired of the traffic of Orange county and moved to this quiet area, not to far from the Lindcove Fieldstation. On the 9th of January we will have our annual fieldtrip to that station. You are welcome to attend. We must have met at one of the meetings. I was a member of the North S.D. County chapter for many years. We love this area, but we have to learn to live with this colder climate in the winter and warmer climate in the summer. My containerized Starfruit is now under plastic. Surprisingly the Jambolan plum is doing well here in the shadehouse without additional protection. I am also a bamboo grower and member of the American Bamboo Society. We have more than 40 varieties, most of them clumpers. Regards, Martin Berghuis, Exeter, CA P.S. I am interested in all kinds of fruit trees, hardy and semi-hardy. ----------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 13:10:30 +0000 From: Aaron Gilbert Subject: New Subscriber from San Francisco, CA with problems.... sign me up for the electronic newsletter. my name is Aaron gilbert and i live in San Francisco, Ca. reach me at agilbert@wenet.net. Right now i am trying to grow organic pomengranetes, apricots, mulberry, passionflowers and an assortment of berries. to some these fruits might not be rare or exotic, but for a city boy like me anything fresh out of a garden seems exotic (and rare and expensive), especially after the garbage you buy out of the stores here. i have had some luck, although i would like to get higher yields. this year i am replanting my yard. right now i looking for information about how to remove pollution from the soil, especially lead. an ongoing problem i have is with ants and the mites they raise to milk. i can keep them under control, but they always find a way to outsmart me and come back. they just love my yard and flowers. Aaron ------------------------------ From: Carl Hansen Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 17:24:09 EST Subject: New Subscriber wants Chat (and to remove gophers!) My name is Carl Hansen. I am sixteen and I grow miracle fruit(fruiting), black sapote,mango, lemonade berry, tamarind, pitanga, pitomba, grumichama, and guava. Besides fruit I also have an allspice tree. I live in Leucadia Ca. I have been a member of the crfg for a year and a half. I am interested in all types of subtropical and tropical fruits. Right now I am having problems with a gopher. I would like to see any of the past news letters deeling with the fruit I grow, or how to get rid of a gopher. I was also wondering if the members of this newsletter ever meet in a chat room. If so when? THANKS Carl ----------------------------- From: Yudhvir S. Sidhu Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 14:35:11 -1000 Subject: New Subscriber from Honolulu: Help Me Decide What To Grow! My name is Yudhvir Sidhu, and I live in Honolulu, Hawaii We will be purchasing a fruit tree or nut tree farm on the West coast somewhere in the future (4 to 5 years). We are interested in supplying a niche/specialty market for a fruit or nut. All I can think of now is either Pistacio or Neem. We have not done much research. I am hoping your mailing list would guide us in selecting what we are going to grow. Yudhvir ------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 13:59:31 -0500 From: Terry Nelson Subject: New Subscriber from Florida; Interested in "Star Fruit" I want to subscribe to Rare Fruit News Online. My name is Terry Nelson. I live in Naples, Fl 34120 and am interested in Star fruit Terry ------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 00:52:17 +0700 From: tdwesqr@infonews.co.th Subject: Supplemental copy about Jujube Dear Sir, I did received my supplemental copy of the JUJUBE with great thanks. I sincerely appreciate the information sent and find them interesting and useful. Many Thanks and Best Regards Tuaytep -------------------------- Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 11:55:27 +0700 From: sainarong Subject: Re: Getting longan to flower- cultivars There are hundreds of longan cultivars in the world, but not all that many which are popular. The three major producers of longans are Thailand, Southern China and Taiwan. The major longan cultivars originates from China, Thailand, Taiwan, Hawaii and Vietnam. The longan cultivars from China are the oldest. For various reasons, they are not very popular outside China. They are none too popular in China either. Recently, I have heard of reports of two new better cultivars from China, but I do not have much information about them. All Chinese cultivars like cold weather (but not frost, though). The areas where they are grown is colder than the areas where lychees are grown. I do not know very much about the Taiwanese cultivars. They are not too well known outside Taiwan. From what I know about the climate of Taiwan, I would assume that they do not need such cold weather as the Chinese cultivars to flower. There are only a few Taiwanese cultivars. Vietnam is a new comer to the longan scene, but it seems to have a lot of potential. A few Thai horticulturists have visited Vietnam and written about Vietnamese longans. The longans there have some strong favorable features, but, it seems that the unfavorable attributes overides these at the moment. So the present vietnamese cultivars are not all that good. There are a few American cultivars, the most well-known of which is Kohala. The original tree is probably still alive in Kohala, Hawaii. It was grown in about 1956. It seems to be similar to the Chinese cultivars in that it like fairly cold weather, and is more cold-resistant than other cultivars. The cultivars from China and from Thailand are not very compatible. For example, you cannot graft a Thai cultivar onto a Chinese tree and vice versa. Many, nay most, people outside Thailand consider the Thai cultivars to be the best. It is almost certain that the Thai cultivars originally came from the Chinese cultivars, but nobody knows when and how. Nowaday, the Thai cultivars are very different from their Chinese ancestors. They are incompatible in many ways. One cultivar cannot be grafted onto the other. The Thai cultivars are not as cold-resistant as the Chinese ones, and are generaaly grown in areas where the temperature is less than the areas where lychees are grown. This is because the Thai cultivars do not flower well in colder climate. The major Thai cultivars are Ee Daw, Haew, Shompoo and Biew Kiew in that order. The most tasty, according to my fellow longan growers, are Puang Tong, Shompoo, Biew Kiew, Haew and Ee Daw in that order. Export consists almost entirely of Ee Daw. Let's talk about Ee Daw first. I would say that well over 3/4 of the longans grown in Thailand is Ee Daw. Its disadvantages is that it is not as tasty as the other cultivars. However, its advantages are many. Longans are notorious for their biennial fruit bearing. Ee Daw hovers between annual and biennual bearing. It flowers profusely.The trees are the sturdiest and most disease-resistant. The fruits have a longer shelf-life, are larger, and are less inclined to perish during transpotation. It tastes pretty good.Ee Daw also makes better canned and dried longans The Australians have tried to grow all the major cultivars, and, most surprisingly, they reported that Ee Daw fared by far the worst of the whole lot. The other three can be grown in Queensland, Australia without much difficulty. sainarong --------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 20:48:08 PST From: Doron Kletter Subject: Lychee info needed Hi Leo, I am considering the thought of getting a Lychee tree. I've heard they can be fussy about the climate, needing cool dry winters and wet humid summers. The CRFG fact sheet says it has fruited in Santa Barbara. What do you think? At least there is plenty of chilling hours up here. How difficult are they compared with the Longan? Some of the varieties I could find available are 'Brewster', 'Mauritius' (same as 'Kwai Mi'?) and 'Bosworth'. I've read there is considerable variation in adaptability, irregular bearing, and quality. Do you or anyone else have any recommendations or prior experience? Doron --- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 06:38:41 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Doron Kletter Subject: Re: Lychee info needed Doron, I have had Kwai Mi and now have Brewster lychee trees. Kwai Mi had large fruit and was a beautiful spreading tree, but in the dozen years I had it, I harvested not many more than a dozen fruit. My Brewster is too young to bear. I don't expect any lychee will bear much here, but possibly they will where you are. I expect you'll get other ideas from reader/growers when I publish your letter. Yours, Leo --------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 00:25:35 -0500 From: rbeck Subject: Grafting Lychees, Using Mycorrhizal, Increase Lychee Fruit Hi Leo, Mario, and all. A few thoughts on previous mail... Several FL grafters use whip grafts at 1/4" caliper for lychee. Budwood must be prepped and rootstocks actively growing and yet the rate of 'take' is low, so cost is high. My limited experiences confirm that the lychee cambium is erratically active and even approach grafts are not always a sure thing. The 'Emperor' I have is on Mauritius stock and after three years has finally past 1" caliper and 4' tall. As with lychee air layers (no tap roots) these grafts need 2 years in containers before setting out. Then they begin to grow well. This year I began using Mycorrhizal products with my soil mixes and have seen better growth with jakfruit seedlings and think Lychee air layers could profit from being inoculated while still on the parent tree. I have changed my FL soil with organics and using 4-6" mulch. In Florida,' plant shallow, mulch deep'. The lychees and jakfruit trees respond well to deep mulch. Of course, keep mulch away from trunk a foot or so. Here are some latest 'tricks' growers are sharing to get more lychee fruit in S FL. 1. When harvesting trim back 24". Some say 'then allow 2 flushes of growth only. Cut off any more than that'. Some don't. 2. Control watering during dormant period. Very little. Don't force new growth in fall/winter. 3. Make sure all Nitrogen fertilzer is used up by Oct. Use only quick release fertilizers, avoid 'slow release' types for lychees. 4. If you girdle branches, do so in the first or second week of September only. Use a double cut girdle. Do not remove the wood. Don't girdle all branches. 5. In the spring, begin fertilizer and irrigation when flowers come out. 6. Provide wind breaks. When lychees are in flower it is our dry/windy season! 7. Fertilize from flower to October. Use small amounts with minors and iron regularly, say every 60 days. These are the things we can attempt to control. Some things we can't control .... chilling. Lychees need 3 months of comlpete rest. If they get it the flower buds cells of differentiation will produce more fruiting flowers, instead of vegetative growth. Regards, Bob Eck, near Ft Lauderdale, FL --------------------- Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 10:36:11 +0000 Subject: Don Chapman Discusses mycorrhizae http://www.bio-organics.com/third.html (Copied verbatim from above webpage (Leo)) In this article, I would like to look a little closer at the relationship between mycorrhizal fungi, bacteria, the soil, and plant roots. For many types of plants, the presence of mycorrhizae on their root systems is virtually a requirement for good health. Without the fungi, the plant will struggle to survive, and may not. In the thin mucus layer exuded by roots, microscopic life flourishes. Countless organisms exist in this mucus layer, where nutrient exchange takes place between the soil and outer root cells. The plant itself can be said to be a contributor to its own feeding, as the root exudes help support many types of beneficals, which help with the nutrient gathering process, which makes a more vigorous plant, which then exudes more mucus on more roots, etc. This is all an elegant system of cooperation between many life forms, typical of Nature's imaginative design. In this root mucus, a certain form of fungi (endomycorrhizae, typically in the Glomus family) was most likely a plant parasite at some time, but also had the ability to extend its own root threads (hyphae) out into the surrounding soil to gather nutrients. At some point, a symbiotic (or more properly, a mutualistic) relationship developed between many categories of plants and these fungi. The plant, which could extend up into the sunlight, allowed the fungi to partake of carbohydrates formed through photosynthesis, and the fungi brought soil nutrients into the actual cells of the plant roots. As with most symbiotic relationships, the plants gradually turned over more and more of the nutrient gathering process to the fungi and even stopped forming feeder roots, thereby becoming increasingly dependent on mycorrhizae for uptake of nutrients. This "specializing" undoubtedly allowed both organisms to succeed during droughts and other stressful situations. While most plants use one type of mycorrhizal fungi or another, some are far more dependent than others. In general, plants that have only a few thick roots tend to lack the ability to take in adequate nutrients on their own. Some examples are asparagus, citrus, avocado, melons, grapes and roses. The reason for this is fairly simple - if you picture a single long asparagus root, it only makes contact with the soil that is actually touching it. Consequently, the total root surface area exposed to soil nutrients is quite small in proportion to the rest of the plant. To a grower, this type of plant usually gains a reputation as being a "heavy feeder". Whenever you see the "heavy feeder" phrase used to describe a plant, is it safe to assume that the plant is mycorrhizae-dependent and needs luxury levels of added nutrients to yield good crops without the fungus. However, when farmers or home gardeners routinely apply synthetic NPK to crops (in recommended amounts), those salt fertilizers can eventually harm the biological, chemical, and physical properties of soil. The recognition of these damaging effects has led to the concept of sustainable agriculture, which is more biology-based in nature, rather than only chemistry-based. With the right type, or types, of mycorrhizal fungi present on the roots, a plant can effectively gain access to a hundred times more soil area. This in itself is of great value and has been widely documented, especially as a way for a plant to access Phosphorus. But the mycorrhizal benefits do not stop with the simple boosting of nutrients to its host plants. There are also important physical changes that take place within the plant root cells and in the structure of the soil outside the roots. In loose sandy soils, for example, the fungal hyphae cause the sand granules to clump together. This clumping together of granules then holds moisture and can harbor populations of beneficical microbes which fix nitrogen, solubilize organic matter, and perform other useful functions. A natural plant-sustaining system develops in the soil around mycorrhizal roots. This, then is the essence of a mycorrhizal relationship. The fungi assumes the role of an essential "bridge" or coordinating mechanism between bacteria and other biolife, and the soil nutrients needed by plants, even to the point of blocking toxins from entering the host roots. And what does all this interesting underground action mean, in practical terms, to the average farmer, orchardist, or home gardener? Is there any real difference between the human's "plant food" and the nutrients provided by biological activity. The simplest answer is that biologically-active soils give more complete nourishment to plants. No matter how many soil chemistry tests are performed, the strategy of using Nature's own seeking/screening/selection procedures for nutrients cannot be fully duplicated by man. Creating the mycorrhizal association with the appropriate species of fungi, and then providing a broad range of organic matter and trace elements in the soil for the fungi to choose from can make very significant differences in plant performance. For container growers or propagators of high-value rare plants that are "temperamental" in nature, creating a mycorrhizal root-zone environment can make difficult-to-grow plants suddenly routine. Yields of food crops can be increased - sometimes very substantially - with far less fertilizing and water, while ornamentals will bloom or bear lush foliage with little care and attention. However, it must be emphasized that mycorrhizal fungi are not simply an "add-on" to a conventional fertilizing program. If soils are made artifically rich in nutrients, especially with added Phosphorus, the symbiotic association may not take place. But, making a conversion from "feeding" plants to creating bio-active soil conditions is not always a simple or quick undertaking. Soils that have been chemically degraded for years or sterile potting mixes will need time to develop balanced biological life. An inoculation of mycorrhizal spores at planting time is certainly part of a good game plan, but taking the time to learn how to make the mycorrhizal fungi flourish, along with other plant-supportive biolife in a specific soil, is a new and different approach that won't "feel right" to some growers. The attitude "I'll give my plants the things they need" is almost universal among farmers as well as nursery owners and home gardeners and placing trust in friendly microorganisms to provide plant nutrients takes a mindset that differs substantially from that of conventional horticulture. In this regard, a few progressive growers may move out ahead of the universities. However, the booming desire for chemical-free organic produce has spurred great interest in biology-based growing techniques among many segments of our society. In most cases, this has not gone past the use of compost, but an exciting new era of bio-organics does seem to be emerging. A prediction: In coming years, we will all learn much more about Nature's elegant micro-systems, and we should be better able to manipulate those systems to our advantage, both for food production and for super-healthy ornamental plantings. --------------------- Three additional supplements available upon request from Leo: 1. Mycorrhizal FungiÑNew Findings, More Questions! by Don Chapman Tropical Fruit News 31(4): 4-5 1997 [Rare Fruit Council, Int.] 2. The Sugar Apple, extracted from Tropical Fruit News 31(11) Nov 97 3. Experiments with Mycorrhizal Fungi and Tomatoes --------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 23:26:56 +0700 From: sainarong To: mjdodgson@rocketmail.com Subject: unidentified mango cultivar Mark The unidentified cultivar could be Nam Doc Mai, but I doubt it. There are over 170 pure Thai mango cultivar, and Nam Doc Mai is one of them. As a matter of fact, there are 9 Nam Doc Mai cultivar, called Nam Doc Mai #1 to Nam Doc Mai #9, the most well-known one being number 4. Nam, by the way, means water, and Doc Mai means flower, so Nam Doc Mai presumably means water from flower. There are a few Thai cultivars which looks like the mangoes in your pic, for example Nang Klang One and Thong Ply Kan, but I do not think they are well-known enough to be exported to Australia. So those mangoes are probably, but could be, from Thailand. For your info, the Thais eats mangoes in 3 ways. One is when they are ripe like you do. The second way is when they are still green. The third way is as a sweet-and-sour mango salad-also when the fruit is still green. We are amazed that you only eat mangoes when they are ripe! It is like knowing only the missionary position - sorry... Of course, different cultivars are good for different ways of eating (pardon me, but I cannot find the proper words to express myself). Another interesting sideline. One of the reasons Thai Mangoes are not widely exported is that what we consider tasty, you do not, and vice verse, so the same cultivar cannot be produced for both export and local consumption. sainarong --------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 08:21:49 PST From: kletter@IMPACT.xerox.com (Doron Kletter) To: sainaron@samart.co.th Subject: Re: Thai longan cultivars Dear Sainarong Rasananda, Thank you for the informative review of longan cultivars. The only variety that is readily available in the US is the 'Kohala', imported from Florida. I've heard the Thai varieties are considered the best. I would very much like to try one of the better cultivars. Problem is the seeds loose viability very quickly. Doron ------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 07:24:58 +0700 From/To: sainarong To/From: Doron Kletter Correspondence between Sainarong Rasananda and Doron Kletter Doron: Do you grow Lytchee as well? Sainarong: Yes, but for fun only. I have about 150 trees. I do not know very much about lychees. The cultivar I grow is the local one called Hoang Huay. You probably have never heard of it. Doron: I am considering the thought of getting a Lychee tree. I've heard they can be fussy about the climate, needing cool dry winters and wet humid summers. The CRFG fact sheet says it has fruited in Santa Barbara. What do you think? At least there is plenty of chilling hours here. How difficult are they compared with the Longan? Sainarong: For me longan is much iseasier to take care of. Some of the varieties I could find available are 'Brewster', 'Mauritius' (same as 'Kwai Mi'?) and 'Bosworth'. Sainarong: I have no experience with those at all. Doron: I've read there is considerable variation in adaptability, irregular bearing, and quality. Sainarong: That I can confirm! Which is why I am reluctant to advise you. Fortunately for you, compared to longan, there is much much more reseach done on lychees, and there are a lot of people with pretty good experience on lychee. I am certain you will get better advice from them, but if you want any help or advice from me, I shall only be too happy to oblige. Doron: Are Lychees in Thailand propagated from seed or by air-layering? Sainarong: Almost 100% by air-layering. There are quite a lot of lychees grown in Thailand. I have visited probabably the biggest and most modern lychee orchard here. Good luck. Sainarong ------------------------ From: "Chris & Sue Hoger" Subject: Visit to CA & FL by Aussie Lychee Grower! Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 09:52:51 +1100 Hi Leo. My name is Chris Hoger and I found your name and address on the internet. I am a commercial lychee grower from near Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia. My wife and I have a lot in common with you in that we are both former teachers who have taken up fruit growing. Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to be granted a Nuffield Scholarship to study lychee and tropical fruit growing overseas. As part of my travels I am visiting Florida and Mexico, and then moving into California. I was wondering if it would be possible to visit you while I am in your part of the world. I am interested in learning as much as I can about what other people do, but also share some of my knowledge gained over the past 10 years. My wife (Susan) and son (Nicholas- 13) will be with me at this time (if I can drag him away from Disneyland), which will be around late May or early June next year. Any assistance you can give me (even if it's an hour of your time one day in your orchard) would be greatly appreciated. And if you have any other people in your area, or even Mexico, you feel I should contact, I would really be thankful for their addresses. Hope to hear from you soon. Chris Hoger Chairman - Far North Queensland Lychee Growers Assoc Inc The Big Lychee Koah Road Koah via Kuranda Queensland, Australia 4872 Tel: (07) 40937037 -------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 17:39:59 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Chris & Sue Hoger Subject: Re: Visit by Aussie Lychee Grower? Chris, it's much too far in advance of the date to be sure of what I will be doing at that time, but I would be glad to see if you if it works out. My wife and I have parents in their 80's and 90's and we could be visiting them in Kansas and Oklahoma at almost any time. I'm sure I can give you no help with lychees. I have one (Brewster) that is about 5 ft tall, and I haven't put it in the ground yet. I had Kwai Mi where I used to live, and in the dozen years I had it it had not much more than that many fruit, although they were large and lovely, and the tree was beautiful. I really like the fruit and wish I could get them to produce. I'll be all ears, when I see you, as to what varieties and cultural practices to utilize. If you'll subscribe to the newsletter, I'm sure there will be several interested and interesting grower/readers with whom you could communicate. Visit my webpage again, as I just uploaded a changed version today, for complete details. I'm sending a copy of the Dec. 15 issue of Rare Fruit News Online in a separate email. Horticordially, Leo ---------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 21:32:43 -0500 From: WALT ROWE Subject: black sapote - When can I eat it? Hello Leo, How is everything growing? I have a quick question for you or the group. This is the first year that I've had fruit on my Black Sapote and I don't really know how to tell when the fruit is ripe. Right now they are large (about the size of a hard-ball), green on the outside, and very hard. Do they soften when mature? I don't want them to rot on the tree. The "Florida Fruit" book suggests the fruit should ripen in November. Any help would be appreciated. Walt Rowe ----------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 22:06:31 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: WALT ROWE Subject: Re: black sapote - When can I eat it? Walt, here's a quick response from George Emerich: Leo: I don't know where Walt is so I will wing it as best I can. Please understand that I am not an expert but in California I am a little like the one-eyed man in the land of the blind. Few people here know even as much as I do. My hands on knowledge comes from having four trees which have been producing fruit for ten to fifteen years in Northern San Diego County in the great state of California. My Black Sapotes bloom and set fruit in July and August and ripen in June and July of the following year. The best tasting fruit is that which is checked daily during the ripening period and not picked until the shiny green appearance has mostly changed to a dull olive-drab color and they are soft. This is a little tricky because if you wait too long you may find them splattered all over the ground. Commercially, I assumed that they are picked generally by size when the crop starts to ripen. If they are really mature, they can be picked very hard and shiny and will soften in about a week or ten days and be quite good but not as good as the tree ripened fruit. Frankly, I don't know when they bloom in Florida but I know they ripen in November into January. I hope this helps. George Emerich ---------------------------- Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 22:26:58 +0700 From: Sainarong To: leom@rarefruit.com Subject: Greetings & Thanks As I shall be away next week, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for opening a brand new exciting horticultural world for me. What you have done for me has gone beyond the Rara Fruits News Online. You have stimulated me to talk to interesting people all over the world through the Net. Thank you ever so much, Have fun, enjoy yourself, don't do anything I wouldn't do(which give you a pretty large leeway!), and greetings to every member of the RFNO. Sainarong ------------------------------ From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Seedless fruit Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 14:33:47 -0800 Hi Leo, I just read an article about seedless eggplant produced by plants that have been genetically altered. Normal eggplant fruit need a hormone from the seeds to develop into normal sized and shaped fruit. They put the gene for this hormone into the plants genome, so it was expressed without seeds being present. This allowed normal looking and tasting fruit to be produced even under unfavorable conditions (low light and temperature). This technique should work in any plant that produces a fruit, you just have to insert the correct gene for the hormone and seedless fruit could be produced in the absence of pollination. Just think of the cherimoya yield one could get! And look at the savings in labor. There would be lots of fruits to try, assuming someone who could do the transfer thought it was worth the effort for the specific fruits. Of course, they have to see how stable the insertion is and what exactly it does to yields, but just think of seedless cactus fruits. Or you name it! Just thought you would like to know about this before it becomes a really big deal. Later, Bob --------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 08:50:53 PST To: Leo Manuel From: Doron Kletter Subject: Importing Fruit Trees and Quarantine It does not make much sense to have quarantine at the receiving site, does it? I would strongly recomend contacting a grower here who has done it before and has met the plant import requirements. The minimum quarantine time is varying depending on the plant, the type of pests/deseases, and the risk it may carry to the industry. As you may have already noticed, some germplazm material may be held for months. You need someone who is prepared to take care of the plant for a long period. Hope this helps, Doron P.S. Thank you for the informative OCR pages! I particulary liked the article about the lychee cultivars and yield. And it could have not come in a better time, as I am about to order a tree. BTW. Has a Dec 15 RFNO been distributed yet? If so, I did not get it. Could you please re-send? Thx. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 21:45:08 -0800 (PST) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Rare Fruit Web Page from Brazil Hi Leo Another quick note about a new rare fruit site I found: http://www.agrov.com/agrov/vegetais/frutas.htm I think it's Portuguese (or Spanish ... hell, I don't know!), so it's only pretty pictures for me. My fruit growing update The mango seeds of Winter's, Bowen, Leo #5 now range in height from 2 inches to 6 inches. My Florigon tree has just put on a growth spurt of 12 inches on the two branches, and the R2E2 has put on about 3 inches. Kind of disappointing considering the guy at the nursery said the R2E2 would perform the best under my climate. I bought the Florigon from a helpful nursery a couple of suburbs away and the R2E2 from interstate! I have added the addresses from Louis Glowinski's updated book on fruit growing under Aussie conditions to my web page. I sent away to 20 or so nurseries requesting catalogs. The best I have seen so far is from a NSW company called Greg Daley's Fruit Tree Nursery. Very cheap too: $7.90 for an ice-cream bean plant, up to $29 for a grafted pontin mamey sapote. Still waiting for the other catalogs before I decide which plants to buy. Bye for now, and merry christmas Mark Dodgson ----------------------------- From: ABILIO GARCIA Subject: The Brazilian Webpage is in Portuguese Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 00:17:43 +-100 Hello Leo Thanks for your informacion. The Webpage: http://www.agrov.com/agrov/vegetais/frutas.htm is brazilien and is very interesting is about tropical brazilien fruit agriculture. They show a map list of different plant fruits with technical and botanical cultivation information. And with the peopel or enterprise fruit producters. And have a possibility to search of supplies and machines for fruit agriculture. But they still in construction the pages. I ask by mail if they send seeds in the moment they don't give me a answer. Leo if you want to know something of this web, ask me and i translate with my poor english. Yours sincerely Abilio, Portugal --------------------------- Date: Mon, 24 Dec 1997 21:21:46 +0800 From: Clement Subject: *Maybe* Bowen Isn't The Best Mango! Hi Leo Thanks for the latest edition of Rare Fruit News Online. It's the best way of finding information on those Rare Trees. As you already know that the only place to find information was through library which can be very frustrating when its unavailable. I find the information you sent me very useful, keep up the the good work. We need more people like you around to share information and contacts that lead me to someone nearby with the same interest in which I might never know. You might like to ask Sainarong about Thailand Mango. He might be the one with better ideal because there are so many varieties over there and some of them taste great depend on you of course. To me its "One man's food is the other man's poison", you might have to taste first to compare the difference. Have you come across the new mango call R2E2? Any way I went to your home page and I like it, especially when you mention your dog Jacko. We have one too Its GIGI , also blue heeler. Excellence guard dog and very obedient. I saved her life when she was about to be put down at the dog pound. The price was A$20 for that lovely 1 1\2 yrs old dog and we enjoy having her as it goes along very well with our kids. She also like to go to beach for a swim, run around and socialize (sniff around) with other dog. I will be getting a White Sapote in 4 months time after John Sojka twisted my arm. He highly recommended it because its as easily grown over here and need the same attention as citrus tree. My Lychee (12) drops off after a heat weave (above 40s) despite that i water 4 times per day ( 10 liters each) over the top of the tree to increase the humidity. I'll be asking Sainarong for help on that. Have you got any suggestion? Chances of Charimoya having a reasonable crop was dash also due to the heat, I think. Anyway its going to be another sad year. Maybe better luck next session. That's all for the time being. Bye and take care. We wish you and your family Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Once again keep up the good work. Clement and Family --------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 08:17:32 PST To: leom@rarefruit.com From: Doron Kletter Subject: Your mango blooming out of season Leo, I have Nam Doc Mai and Edwards too. Mine did not misbehave. It must be the combination of several factors, although late fertilization can certainly encourage flowering. Most likely the warm fall temperatures, the availability of water, and a relatively long resting period from the last growth flush. Do you recall when was the last flush? But since you are already in that situation, I would recommend to not let the trees set any fruit. Do not attempt to trim the flower panicles completely, however, as this will induce more growth and the tree will eventually re-bloom. Your goal is to get the trees back in sync with nature. Please keep me posted about your trees. And please be patient with the mail - it is expected to come on and off periodically till the 28th. So here we go again.. Doron ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 18:48:48 -0800 (PST) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Mango tree size and fruit nursery info in Australia Hi The picture of my mango trees (perhaps a little optimistic on that point) on my web page (follow link titled "Fruit I grow") has the R2E2 on the left and the Florigon on the right. Since that time the R2E2 has grown only 4 to 6 inches on one branch, with the Florigon around 12 inches on 2 branches. I would estimate the R2E2 to be around 3 feet tall, with the Florigon 4 1/2 feet. As to the other mangoes, all the others are from seed, with the biggest around 4 to 6 inches tall. As we've just got miracle grow in this country, this year I thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately I used it on young seedlings of chiles/tomatoes and they've stopped growing leaves, so maybe the same has happened to the the seedling mangoes. Oh well, only time will tell I guess. At least with the organic stuff I use I don't have to bother with reading instructions: chicken poop, blood and bone, and worm juice don't have instructions! I tried removing the individual seedlings from the poly embryonic mango seeds, but they looked too tangled up to bother. I think I'll just have to pick a seedling and cull the rest. Any ideas on which one is the "bad one"? I have scanned a couple of pages from Glowinski's updated book on aussie fruit growing (follow link titled "Fruit I grow", then follow link "Fruit Information"). I mentioned in my last email the Greg Daley fruit tree nursery catalog. From looking at past RFN's it appears he's on your list. Does he still subscribe to your list, and if so has he given you a new email. I tried his gdaley@nrg.com.au, but it appears to not exist. I have made a short list of 15 trees from his nursery, from acerola cherry, babaco, cherimoya, jaboticaba, macadamia, miracle fruit, etc, and of course of couple of mango cultivars. I'll wait for the other nurseries to respond before I purchase, as I'd prefer to buy selected cultivars if possible. Some of his rarer fruit list don't appear to have cultivars as I've seen in other publications (CRFG fruit facts, etc). Mark Dodgson --------------- Greg Daley, do you still receive the newsletters at this address? Leo --------------------------------- Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 10:43:49 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Mark Dodgson Subject: Re: Mango tree size and fruit nursery info in Aus Happy Holidays, Mark! I've been able to separate multiple seedlings of mangoes sometimes, and othertimes, I've left them together until later to decide which to remove. My understanding is that sometimes they are all copies of the mother, but when not, the really vigorous one is NOT. That makes it very hard to destroy it, and I believe I would at that point try very hard to separate the most vigorous one from the others, favoring the others. I've killed and damaged so many trees from fertilizing inappropriately that I've become very conservative. I think the organic stuff is definely the way to go. Greg Daley at that address apparently either receives the mailings or aren't rejecting them with any notice to me. Happy '98! Leo ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 19:30:50 -0800 From: Jose Miguel Gallego Subject: Quang's Place (Nursery) Leo, Happy Holidays!! I went to Quang place today, it is amazing, good thing I did not bring my checkbook and I controlled myself on not asking if he accepted credit cards... sight... well I did buy a june plum and a solo papaya. I am planning on getting one of his wax jambo, golden nugget mango, Ong's guava and... I don't know where to put ALL of the others that I am buying!! He is receiving some bare roots next Sunday and I was wondering if you and Jim were interested in going. How about? Let me know. Jose ------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 10:06:18 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Jose Miguel Gallego Subject: Re: Quang's Place Jose, Happy Holly Daze to you as well! Of course I'm interested. Which Sunday? January 4? And, what is a june plum? Leo --------------------------- Date: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 12:33:42 -0800 From: Jose Miguel Gallego Subject: The June plum is the spondias dulcis, or ambarella Leo, Yes, Jan 4. The june plum is a plum that you can only eat in June. (hehehe) It is the spondias dulcis, or ambarella. It is a small, yellow plum looking fruit. It has kind of a pineapple taste (and smell), little acid and a seed pod that looks like a rambutan but hard. I know, I should have spend my money on this one, but it is dwarf version which makes more rare and since I am running out of space, I am beginning to understand the meaning of dwarf trees. Jose ---------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Seeds - Sapote and Sapodilla Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 11:42:45 -0800 Hi Leo, I got an email from John Sojka a couple of days ago saying he sent you some black sapote and sapodilla seeds. I hope they sprout for you, this is not the best time of year for sprouting seeds, but if they are fresh, then maybe bottom heat will do the trick. I would think you could get lots of black sapote seeds from George Emerich, since he has two bearing trees in front of his house. As for sapodilla seeds, there is a large bearing tree somewhere around LAX, I just don't know the exact location. I need to spend some time looking for it. My friend Jack Swords managed to get some seeds from it and gave me a seedling. I am hoping to get some caimito seeds from John Sojka and if I have any luck getting some up I'll let you know. By the way my 'Arkin' carambola has started to drop fruit, I'll report back on the taste in a week or so. Later, Bob ------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 12:18:46 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Re: Seeds - Sapote and Sapodilla Hello, Bob, The black sapote and sapodilla seeds already had a half-inch root when they arrived. I have a black sapote that hasn't borne yet, but no sapodilla. I'm trying to get them to sprout in the garage. I'll let you know. I should get graftwood from a good fruiting black sapote. What's the fruit like on a sapodilla? I don't have any carambola in the ground. They haven't done well for me in the past. I've got one in a pot, but I don't know anything about it. Good to hear from you, Leo --------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Sapodilla, black sapote, carambola, and Doug Richardson Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 15:12:02 -0800 Hi Leo, Good to hear that John sent you seeds already sprouting! He probably didn't know it, though. The sapodilla fruit is very sweet, probably with a Brix over 30. The fruit is oblong, pointed on the bottom, brown, with kiwi like fuzz all over it. The fruit texture is like a gritty pear, translucent-brownish and reminds one of brown sugar because it is so sweet. I was lucky enough to find some in a fruit market in Cancun a couple of years ago and I still have some seedlings from the seeds I brought back. They grow very slowly! Probably the best bet is to locate the tree near LAX and see if I can talk the owner into allowing some airlayers to be put on it. I have a sapodilla tree in the ground that I found at Doug Richardson's and it hasn't grown much at all in a couple of years. Speaking of Doug, he has started to move his bananas to the empty area on the east side of La Conchita. He also has started to "clear" the former banana grove with a D9 cat. On last Friday I caught the tail end of the "cat" leveling his third field of about 2 acres. It was very sad! He's under the gun to move everything by the end of February and to leave nothings standing when he's gone. It goes without saying, be careful who you pick as a landlord. As for a good black sapote, again I would direct you to George, his are pretty good as black sapotes go. He probably wouldn't say much good about them, but they were okay by my taste buds. Talk to you later, Bob >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - January 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online January 15, 1998 - AKA RFN199801B.txt We continually add new subscribers, often because they expect you can answer questions for them, and you usually don't let them down! Thank you! There's another supplement available for the asking: Ask for Annonas. It's real title is Other Annonaceous Fruits, by Har Mahdeem, from Tropical Fruit World September/October l990 Page 118-120 There were no responses to the subject of chat. Perhaps this newsletter is like a chat group, with two-week pauses between questions and responses. As I said, I haven't much experience to go on, but if you have suggestions, feel free to voice them. I stumbled across two web pages relating to mango, from which I copied large portions, at the bottom of this newsletter. Also, another web page, Bruns Lab, has multiple links to web sites of mycorrhizae and biological interest. If you have multiple email accounts and write from a different one than you expect the newsletter to be delivered, be sure to let me know whether the different address is a change of address, an alternate address, or whatever. It's confusing to me, also, when you write from an account that is not your own. Suppose you are Jim Jones writing from an account "Mary Martin" . I may assume that it's Mary who's the subscriber. Then, when I get email from Mary, signed Jim, I get confused. Actually, I'm rather easily confused, and I can spend lots of time sorting through past letters trying to figure out the correct information - time I'd rather devote to watching the fruit garden develop. And, finally, most mail I get from you does have a "relevant" SUBJECT line - one that distills the essence of your message. I appreciate that. Also, most of it has your REAL name either in the signature or imbedded in the FROM line. I appreciate that. Thanks!! ----------------------------------- From: HMHausman Subject: New subscriber, Davie FL, seeks to develop new lychees Subject: New Subscriber in Escondido, CA with a wish list From: Cat Melvin From: steve Subject: New subscribers seek hardy rare fruit for Wash. state From: Leo Manuel To: Steve Berg Subject: Re: New subscribers seek hardy rare fruit for Wash. state From: Veronica Stork Subject: New subscriber interested in Mangosteen for Arizona? From: Leo Manuel To: Veronica Subject: Re: New subscriber interested in Mangosteen for Arizona From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: New Subscriber Oregon [Leo: See His Web Page!] From: David Subject: Control of mites and such To: David Subject: Re: Control of mites and such Subject: Fruits in season, Thailand, January From: "Sainarong Rasananda" From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: AGROV site and more From: Jon Verdick (Friend of few words) Subject: mystery fruit-Sounds like "physalis peruviana" aka "Poha". From: Cucho Subject: Advice on growing Mangosteens and Rambutans From: Cucho Subject: Questions about Imbe From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Seed Exchange From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Trees for Hawaii From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Rambutan and mangosteen Subject: Re: Growing Mangosteens and Rambutans From: "William Glover" Subject: Re: Rambutan and mangosteen From: "William Glover" From: gilbert Subject: Help: I need to find number of chill hours in N. CA From: les69a@webtv.net (Les Severson) Subject: What to grow in MN (zone 4) Please respond directly to Les From: les69a@webtv.net (Les Severson) Subject: What to grow in MN (zone 4) From: Leo Manuel To: Les Severson Subject: Re: what to grow in MN (zone 4) Subject: Webpage: World Market for Mango Subject: Webpage: HOME FRUIT PRODUCTION - MANGO From: Leo Manuel ---------------------------------------------------------------- From: HMHausman Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 21:13:15 EST Subject: New subscriber, Davie FL, seeks to develop new lychees Dear Leo and Betty Manuel: I attended a meeting of the Broward Rare Fruit and Vegetable Counsel last night and one of my friends told me about you folks. Let me first introduce myself, my name is Harry M. Hausman. My wife Nancy and I live in Davie, Florida. Davie is in western Broward County, west of Fort Lauderdale. It is considered "horse country and grove country." We reside on a 2 1/2 acre tract and I have been avidly planting the acreage with every variety of good tasting tropical and sub-tropical fruits that I can find that will grow here. I have all of the fruit trees that you mention in your home page and a bunch more. My special interests include mangoes (I have 30 varieties in the ground), lychees ( I have 10 varieties in ground), longans (I have 4 varieties), carambolas (I have 6 varieities), and Annonas (I have 10 or 12 or so). I have an especially keen interest in collecting, growing, and developing new Lychee varieties in order to lengthen the fruit bearing season which here in Florida is painfully short. In any case, I'd very much like to receive the newsletter that you refer to and will be more that happy to exchange information about trees and fruit with your members. Actually, I tried to set up my own informal sub-tropical fruit network on AOL but it looks like you guys are way ahead of me. I'll pass your web site on to the others that I been talking with. Hope to hear back from you soon.......... Harry ------------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber in Escondido, CA with a wish list From: Cat Melvin Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 19:39:56 -0800 Hi, Leo! It took me a while (since the fair in June!), but here I am. Please "subscribe" me! Cat Melvin Secretary/Editor CRFG N. San Diego County Need many kinds of trees. We have 3.5 acres we are beginning to populate. So far we have planted (small, young trees): lemon; walnut; avocado (old, nonproducing); mango; banana; fig; loquat; mulberry; pomegranate; apricot; blackberry; grapes. We need: peach; nectarine; apple; citrus; avocados; plum; rose apple; passion fruit; raspberry; etc. etc. etc. I'm also looking for a good-sized weeping willow, white birch, and cork oak. Leo, please also send me the back issues. Thanks! -------------------------------- Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 15:49:13 -0800 From: steve Subject: New subscribers: Seek hardy rare fruit for Wash. state Hi. We are Steve and Jeannie Berg We live in Port Orchard, Washington, not far from Puget Sound. Steve is a retired Navy Officer and Jeannie is a Navy Officer on active duty. She hopes to retire soon. We built our home last year and this winter we have planted apple, nectarine, peach, plum, pear, cherry and apricot trees. We've also planted a number of different types of berries and grapes. We love to try some rare fruit trees but we except that many of the exotics will not grow this far north. We're really interested in gaining information about hardy rare fruit trees which could withstand temperatures in the teens occasionaly and thrive here in the northwest US. Steve ----------- To: steve Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:23:59 -0800 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: New subscribers seek hardy rare fruit for Wash. state Steve and Jeannie, I will put you on the mailing list, publish your letter, and maybe someone will have suggestions. What you can grow may depend somewhat on your willingness to protect plants. I know that some growers keep their tender plants in pots and wheel them in and out of protection when the threat of cold arises. Some use green houses. Some dig around the plants and lay them down on the ground, where they can pile insulative leaves and mulch over them. If you have a south-facing wall or west-facing wall, either of which with a roof overhang that extends out a few feet from the structure, you can provide quite a bit of protection by planting very near the wall and under the overhang. Perhaps, instead, you'll find ideas about "rare" plants that are sufficiently hardy that you can grow them without extraordinary precautions. Leo --------------------------- Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 17:59:15 -0800 From: Veronica Stork Subject: New subscriber interested in Mangosteen for Arizona My name is Veronica Peterkin We live in Yuma, AZ We have mangos, guavas, passionfruit, cheramoyas, jujubes, kiwis, etc. We are looking for a source for a mangosteen tree. I've never seen them outside of Sri Lanka. I may have once seen them in Malasia. I would like to try to grow them here. The fruit is round and about 4" in diameter. The skin is a hard maroon colored shell about an eighth of an inch thick. When opened the fruit is almost an opalescent white. The taste sweet ambrosia not at all insipid with a firm smooth texture. Veronica ------------ Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 19:43:39 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Veronica Subject: Re: New subscriber interested in Mangosteen for Arizona Veronica, Mangosteen is such a delicious fruit that everyone who can wants to grow it, but it can't be done in AZ outside of a greenhouse. If you want to be on the mailing list, let me know. There are people on the mailing list who live where mangosteen can be grown. Horticordially, Leo ----------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 07:53:08 -0800 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: New Subscriber Oregon [Leo: See His Web Page!] Dear Leo: I'd be interested in seeing your newsletter. I use my real name on my letters, I live 20miles south of Portland, Oregon, and you can find more information on my web site at http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom Thank you. -Lon Rombough ------------------------------------ From: David Subject: Control of mites and such Date: Sat, 3 Jan 98 18:19:52 -0800 One of your readers wrote in asking about how to control the mites and ants in his garden. I'm having some success with an experiment of my own (near Santa Monica) and I'd like to get some comment what I'm doing. I bought one of those hose sprayers and filled it with pine sol. I heard that ants hate the smell of pine. These types of insects breathe through their "skin." When they get wet, the water beads and they continue to breathe. If you add soap to the water, it doesn't bead on their skin any more and they literally drown. For the past 4 weeks I've been washing my citrus trees with everything from pine sol to dishwashing detergent. I set the sprayer to 3 tablespoons per gallon. I wash 'em once a week. So far, I've noticed that the trees are thriving and there are no insects setting up shop. .....of course, it could be due to the cold weather. The real test will be this spring when the insects get serious..... Anybody else has success or failure with washing their trees with soap? David ----------- Date: Fri, 02 Jan 1998 18:54:51 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: David Subject: Re: Control of mites and such David, I heard a speaker at the Festival of Fruit talking about the deadly effect of soap on insects. He was talking about "killer" bees and steps to control them. Apparently if you have a sprayer with (I believe the proportions are right) 1 Tblsp of dishwater detergent per gallon of water, and spray any colony of insects so that they are thoroughly wet, that the insects will die in VERY short order. (Very few minutes, but I've forgotten how many.) It's interesting that it's working so well. I'd expect that plain water washing the dust off would be beneficial to a slight degree, also. Leo ----------------------- Date: Tue, 06 Jan 1998 14:33:00 +0700 From: "Sainarong Rasananda" Here are some of the fruits in season in Thailand in January. Following are the prices of some Thai fruits. If you would like to get more imformation, please look in to this web site http://bday.net/tat/fruit_index.html Name Market Price(US$Lb.) Remarks (US$@48Baht) Tangerine 0.19-0.33 all year round Guava 0.19-0.28 all year round Rose Apple 0.28-0.37 end of season Banana 0.83-1.04/ comb all year round Sapodilla 0.28-0.47 middle-end of season Watermelon 0.28-0.37 all year round Mangosteen 0.37-0.47 out of season Coconut 0.29/fruit all year round Papaya 0.19-0.28 all year round Have a happy 1998. Sainarong ----------------------------- From: "Ricardo Barbosa" To: leom@rarefruit.com Subject: AGROV site and more Date: Tue, 06 Jan 1998 16:36:43 PST Hi Leo. FIRST: I hope 1998 brings to you and to your family the fruits you are waiting for. SECOND: The webpage you discovered is a brazilian one. It's a rural catalog where the fruits are a small part. It's so provisory that I could not identify who is making it, if a government or a private organ. It contains only fruits of commercial interest. You can translate almost all the fruit names with the list I sent you, where the portuguese and english names are side by side. The nurture informations are very poor. I think CRFG gives far more informations when you find the plant in their files. Can't you read spanish? It's not so far from portuguese. Your first name means lion in latin, and Manuel is certainly one of most used first names in Portugal. If you need any translation, do not hesitate to ask me. THIRD: Can americans receive seeds by mail. Is it legal? In Brazil I consulted the mail system, and they informed I can receive seeds in small amounts and with no commercial purposes. FOURTH: How and when can I get seeds of: - Pawpaw, the US native annonaceae - Blueberry, a cultivar that could grow well here - Muscadine Grape, another US typical - Black sapote. Have you any seeds available at the moment? FIFTH: I'm confused with Sapodilla, Sapote and White Sapote. I have two different kinds of sapote trees I would like to identify. Do you know any site where we can find pictures of these fruits and trees? CRFG site is very poor about this subject. I live in the capital of the southermost state of Brazil located exactly 30 degrees South. This means a climate similar to US zones 9-10. But my greenhouse is under construction, and this means no problems with winter frosts. The city is locted at sea level. I've just purchased this weekend a new pitanga tree. I took the decision of purchasing it because the size of the leaves. I never saw so big. This means big fruits. It`s not so small (1,5m) and costed me US$ 5,00. I think next year it will fruit. A portuguese called Abilio sent me a message. Thanks for giving him my address. Regards. Ricardo ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 21:58:04 -0800 From: Jon Verdick (Friend of few words) Subject: mystery fruit-Sounds like "physalis peruviana" aka "Poha". Jon -------------------------------- From: Cucho Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 15:15:01 EST Subject: Advice on growing Mangosteens and Rambutans Leo, I can give some advice to Pincher in Nevis on growing Mangosteens and Rambutans, maybe he can learn from my mistakes. I live in South Florida where we have two distinct seasons, one wet and hot and one cool and drier. Except that this distinction is somewhat blurred this year, thanks to el Nino?. My experince growing Magosteens and Rambutans was a complete disaster, but I did learn a few things about these trees. They both require the following: 1. High relative humidity. They grow well in the South Florida summers, but do not like our drier winters. In my opinion temperature drops did not kill my seedlings, the lack of humidity did. 2. Moist acid soil. Mangosteens specially require the soil to be moist at all times. 3. Magosteens develop a long tap root with very few side roots. Any damage to the tap root can be lethal. Be very careful while transplanting them, better yet, plant it in its permanent location if possible. 4. Shade the mangosteens until they are about fairly large, about 3 or 4 feet tall. This may take a few years, since they are very slow growers. 5. I would not use chemical fertilizers on these trees until they are fairly large. Only well composted manure. 6. The Rambutans are notorious for developing chlorosis, and once they turn yellow it is very difficult to impossible reversing this. I would suggest using chelated iron supplements regularly and other micronutrients, before the onset of chlorosis. Sorry, but I can't give you advice on controlling monkeys. I do have problems with possums eating my fruits, but I've decided to let them eat all they want as long as they leave me some. Good Luck, Mario Lozano ------------------------------- From: Cucho Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 16:34:33 EST Subject: Questions about Imbe Hi Leo, As always, Kudos on a terrific newsletter. Leo, maybe you or one of your readers can help me decipher what is wrong with my Imbe (Garcinia Livingstonei) tree. The tree, or maybe more appropriately shrub, is growing very nicely and is now about 8 feet tall with some spreading branches towards the base. It began flowering last Spring and it produced flowers during most of the year, it is producing lots of flowers right now (my trees are fooled by the unusually warm and rainy Winter, possibly caused by el Nino, and most of them are flushing like in the Spring). It produces small fruits, no bigger than ¼ inch and they turn orange and drop off. My question is, do I have a male tree that will never produce anything but these tiny fruits? Or is this normal behavior for Imbes and later I will get larger fruits? I know that Mamey Sapotes behave this way and after a few seasons of dropping small fruits it starts holding the fruits to maturity. I would appreciate to hear from anyone experienced in Imbes. The tree is in a very good spot on my yard and if it will never bear anything better than tiny fruitlets, I have other worthwhile trees in pots, that will be very happy to take the space. Best Regards, Mario Lozano in Ft. Lauderdale FL. ----------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Seed Exchange Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 15:54:25 -0800 Hello Ricardo, I saw your letter on the Rare Fruit Newsletter Online and would like to see if we could exchange seeds. You mentioned that you have a list of your plants in an Excel file, could you send that file to me as an enclosure? Also, could you give me the names of some fruits or some fruit families that you are interested in acquiring seeds from so I can let you know if I will be able to assist you in your search. You live in a part of the world that has a lot of interesting fruits, most of which are very obscure in the United States. I could give you a general idea of what I find interesting at this time--Annonacea, Myrtaceae, Passifloracea. As I said, let's see what you have and what you are interested in obtaining and we can go from there. Fruitful wishes, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Trees for Hawaii Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 09:14:50 -0800 Hello Yudhvir, Saw your question on RFNO. Neem may be something to try in Hawaii, but I thought that pistachios like hot and dry conditions, with some winter chill. I may be mistaken. One thing that I would recommend, though, is growing something to sell to the resorts and big hotels on the islands. In my two trips there it seemed that no one was offering interesting fruits that were in season, just the usual papaya, pineapple, guava, etc. You should do some research first to see if there would be some demand, but I would think that supplying things like mangosteen, rambutan, longan, lychee, different Annona species, etc. would be a good idea. Shipping to the states may be difficult, so determine your market size in Hawaii and anything you could ship to the mainland would be just a bonus. Good luck! Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Rambutan and mangosteen Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 09:07:40 -0800 Hello William, Just a couple observations on rambutan and mangosteen. I talked to someone growing them on the big island of Hawaii and he felt the rainfall on the Kona Coast (about 50 inches or 1270mm a year) was too little for the mangosteen and marginal for the rambutan. He was looking forward to growing them both on the Hilo side where the rainfall was over 100 inches or 2500mm a year. The fact that the humidity is at least 75% year round where you are may compensate somewhat if you can irrigate with clean water because I know from personal experience that rambutan do not like water with salts in it. A friend in California has several four foot tall mangosteens in pots in a greenhouse, so they must not be as picky about the quality of the water. Looks like you may have a chance for success, so go for it! Good luck, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Growing Mangosteens and Rambutans Date: Fri, 9 Jan 98 07:54:54 -0400 From: "William Glover" Mario Lozano, Many thanks for the tips about growing mangosteen and rambutans. Will persevere. Almost wish I had some possums as they are tastier than monkeys. Warm regards, William Glover ----------------------------- Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 14:45:59 +0000 From: gilbert Subject: Help: I need to find number of chill hours in N. CA leo- i have a question for you and/or the other readers of the newsletter. Where can i find the numbers on the number of "chill" hours in nothrn california counties for the last several years. aaron gilbert ------------------------------- From: les69a@webtv.net (Les Severson) Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 11:48:32 -0600 Subject: What to grow in MN (zone 4) Please respond directly to Les Starting out with only 2-3 acres. Looking for something profitable. would appreciate help. Would like your opinion on some of my ideas. Thank you muchly. Presently starting a few of each of these; Honeycrisp and Harelson apples and Mesabi cherries. I live in S. Mn. (zone 4) Also need marketing ideas. Thanks and regards, Les Seversom ----------- Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 17:12:07 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Les Severson Subject: Re: what to grow in MN (zone 4) Les, I doubt that this newsletter will be of much help as most of our readers either live in warm-winter climates like Southern California or Florida, or are interested in growing exotic warm-winter fruits. I would suggest talking to local farm agents or possibly post questions in the Garden Web: http://209.25.46.109/Garden_Talk/_disc7/00000032.htm where people write in from all climate zones. Don Gholston is remarkably knowledgeable about many things in fruit growing, and you might check with him about where to look for help. Don Gholston: DGholston@aol.com I wish I could be more helpful. Good Luck! Leo Manuel ---------------------------------------- Subject: Webpage: World Market for Mango http://www.milcom.com/rap/mps/mango.html September 1995, RAP MARKET INFORMATION BULLETIN, No. 9 ($10) Table of Contents Production and Exports Markets Grades and Standards Sources of Technical Information INTRODUCTION Mangoes are the fruit of the Magnifera indica tree, native to India. They are lowland tropical plants that tolerate a wide range of rainfall, although they need dry weather at the time the fruits are formed. Worldwide production, heavily concentrated in Asia, is estimated at 17 million metric tons per year. Although more than 500 varieties exist, only a few move in international trade. The mango is often hailed as the most popular fruit in the world, but until recently it was considered an exotic, specialty item in import markets such as the United States and Europe. Despite rising demand in these markets, competition is formidable because many producing countries are now growing the few varieties in demand and shipping them in large volumes. Consequently, producers cannot rely simply on volume exports to make money; instead, they must compete on the basis of appearance, quality, and price. PRODUCTION AND EXPORTS North America Mexico is the largest exporter of mangoes in the world. Varieties include La Criolla, Manila Super, Haden, Kent, Tommy Atkins, Irwin, Sensation, Van Dick, and Palmer. Production is estimated at 1 million metric tons annually, the growing season lasting from April to September. Fruits are exported to the United States, France, Canada, and Japan. Over the last five years, exports to the United States have been increasing at an average rate of 20 percent a year, reaching 108,385 metric tons (US$89.8 million) in 1994, double the volume of 1990. Exports to other countries in Europe and to Japan are also thriving, reaching 3,406 metric tons and 1,700 metric tons, respectively, in 1994Ñhigher than the exports of any year before. U.S. production of mangoes centers in Puerto Rico, with some production occurring in Florida as well (2,500 metric tons). U.S. exports of mangoes were 18,500 metric tons (US$ 21.4 million) in 1994Ñ11,248 metric tons to Canada, 4,069 metric tons to the Netherlands, and 1,176 metric tons to Japan. South and Central America More than 15 Latin American countries produce mangoes, exporting to the United States and Europe. The season varies from one country to another, but fruits generally are available from September to May. U.S. importers refer to product from these countries as off-shore mangoes because they are counter-season fruits compared with those from Mexico. Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru benefit from duty-free access to the United States and the European Union (EU). Brazil is the largest exporter with total exports of around 8,000 metric tons in 1994. Major markets are the United States, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, and Portugal. BrazilÕs season is from October to March. Brazil used to supply a quarter of the EU market, but in 1994 BrazilÕs market share dropped to 12 percent as exports decreased from 10,000 metric tons the previous year to 5,600 metric tons. Exports to the United States also dropped from 3,150 metric tons in 1993 to 2,200 metric tons. Venezuela exports between 5,500 and 6,500 metric tons each year, with peak season being in June and July. The United States constitutes the largest market, taking 2,800 metric tons in 1994, followed by the United Kingdom (1,300 metric tons) and Portugal (1,050 metric tons). According to some U.S. importers, Venezuela, Peru, and Guatemala are now supplying better product than Mexico. Peru produced 8,000 metric tons of mangoes in 1993. It is the second-largest supplier to the United States after Mexico, with exports amounting to 3,450 metric tons in 1994. PeruÕs exports to the EU are usually around 1,500 to 2,000 metric tons but in 1994 were only 821 metric tons. Major European markets include the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The Peruvian mango season runs from November through March. Guatemala grows primarily the Kent, Haden, and Tommy Atkins varieties, which are in season from March until June. GuatemalaÕs exports to the United States have risen dramatically from 622 metric tons in 1993 to 2,376 metric tons in 1994. Costa Rica produces Tommy Atkins, Irwin, Keitt, Mora, and Haden - Tommy Atkins and Irwin being the main varieties. The season runs from February to June, peaking in March and April. In 1994, exports totaled 2,500 metric tons, and in 1995 they are expected to exceed 4,000 metric tons. The main shipping destinations in 1994 were the Netherlands and Germany. Haiti, which supplied the United States with 13,438 metric tons of product in 1991, began exporting again in 1993 after a trade embargo was lifted. Exports to the United States, however, were only 2,742 metric tons in 1994, whereas exports to Europe were 206 metric tons. Ecuador exported 1,450 metric tons of product in 1994, 61 percent of which went to the United States, and the remainder to France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Many trees begin bearing this year, so exports are expected to increase considerably. Africa In 1994, South Africa became the second-largest supplier to the EU after Brazil, with exports reaching 5,256 metric tons compared with 3,647 metric tons in 1993. The South African season runs from January to May. South Africa was expected to export 1.5 million boxes (7,500 metric tons) in 1995. Its major markets are the Netherlands (taking 1,900 metric tons in 1994), France (1,270 metric tons) and the United Kingdom (814 metric tons). In 1994, exports from C(te dÕIvoire to the EU doubled, reaching 5,000 metric tons. C(te dÕIvoire is the largest supplier to France, accounting for 35 percent of that countryÕs imports last year. Production is primarily of the red Kent and the green Amelie varieties, which are fiberless and highly appreciated in the French market. The season runs from March to July, peaking between mid-April and late June. This year, some French importers blamed lack of export controls for the fact that many Ivorian loads arrived in bad shape and overripe. Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, and Kenya are other major African suppliers. In 1994, Mali exported 837 metric tons to the EU (67 percent to France and 32 percent to the Netherlands). Malian varieties are the same as for C(te dÕIvoire. Burkina Faso exported 735 metric tons to the EU, 63 percent to France and 24 percent to the Netherlands. Gambia exported 610 metric tons to the United Kingdom, up from 485 metric tons in 1993. Guinea exported 457 metric tons to the EU, including 334 metric tons to France and 94 metric tons to the Netherlands. Kenya exported 1,580 metric tons of mangoes to Europe and other destinations in 1994. Middle East In 1994, Israel exported 4,150 metric tons of mangoes. The country forecasts exports of 6,000 metric tons for 1995 and hopes to export 10,000 metric tons by the year 2000. The Israeli production season runs from July to November. In 1994, exports to the EU reached 3,178 metric tons, up from 2,975 metric tons in 1993 and from 2,514 metric tons in 1992. France and the Netherlands are the major markets, taking 900-1,000 metric tons each, followed by the United Kingdom with 461 metric tons in 1994. Egypt produced 196,775 metric tons of mangoes in 1993 and exported 2,410 metric tons, mostly to regional markets. Asia India is the worldÕs biggest mango producer (10 million metric tons in 1992) and exports primarily the Alphonso and Payri varieties. For the second consecutive year, India has suffered from substantial droughts, which have caused large decreases in production. Exports totaled 22,124 metric tons worth US$13.9 million in 1993-1994. Exports to Europe were 1,265 metric tons in 1994. The United Kingdom is IndiaÕs largest European market, taking 83 percent of all Indian mango exports to the EU. The Indian mango season runs from April to August. Pakistan produced 787,000 metric tons of mangoes in 1992. It is the largest supplier of mangoes to the United Kingdom, supplying 3,000 metric tons in 1994. Total exports to EU countries amounted to 3,277 metric tons in 1994, compared with 2,500 metric tons in 1993. PakistanÕs production season runs from June to August. Mangoes from Pakistan are generally the very sweet varieties, similar to those from India. The Philippines is the largest suppliers to Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The season runs from June to August. After four year of continuous growth, exports to Japan dropped from 8,032 metric tons in 1993 to 5,464 metric tons in 1994. Still, the Philippines retains 72 percent of the Japanese market, having invested heavily in vapor heat-treatment technology to ensure that export varietiesÑprincipally the Manila SuperÑcould be certified as fruit fly-free by Japanese quarantine inspectors. Australia estimates 1994 mango production of more than 35,000 metric tons, against 22,370 metric tons the year before. The country started to export its Kensington Pride variety to Japan this year after winning Japanese health authoritiesÕ approval of its vapor heat-treatment program. Australia also supplies other Asian markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong. Taiwan, Thailand, and New Zealand also export mangoes to regional Asian markets, the most popular Thai variety being the sweet "honey mango." Europe Spanish growers are switching to popular varieties such as Tommy Atkins and Keitt and hope to boost mango production by 70 percent over the next five years. However, growers estimate that total production will probably not exceed 10,000 metric tons. MARKETS North America U.S. imports of mangoes have more than doubled in the last five years, reaching 123,093 metric tons in 1994 (see Table 1 and Figure 1). The customs value of imported mangoes that year was US$107.4 million, up from US$65.2 million in 1990 (Table 2). Mexican mangoes have accounted for almost all of this increase in imports and represented 88 percent of the volume of U.S. imports in 1994, when no other single country accounted for more than 3 percent. However, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Brazil have also expanded exports to the United States since 1990. Mexico supplies the United States primarily from March to September, with peak supplies arriving May through July. Other shipments arrive in the United States as follows: Haitian product between March and July, peaking from April to June; Brazilian product between October and December; Peruvian product between January and February; and Venezuelan product between March and July, peaking in April and May. U.S. mango consumption is still very low (less than one pound per person) but is increasing at a rate of 10 to 15 percent per year. Mangoes are still primarily an ethnic food, and only one-third of American households have ever purchased the fruit. Mangoes are very popular in cities with high Latino and Asian populations. However, mangoes are appealing to a wider population, and demand likely will continue to grow. The most popular varieties are Tommy Atkins, Haden, Kent, and Keitt. Fresh mango prices are significantly lower when Mexican supply is highest from March to September according to 1994 New York wholesale market price reports. Early shipments of Haden mangoes from Mexico earned US$9.00-US$12.50 per carton (8s-14s) in February and March, before the price dropped to US$6.00-US$9.00 per carton from April to June. Tommy Atkins shipments from Mexico sold in New York for US$4.50-US$9.00 per carton from April to August 1994, with prices generally below US$7.00 per carton (8s-14s). Late Mexican shipments of Keitt and Kent earned US$4.50-US$6.50 per carton (8s-14s) from June to September. Prices reported in New York for Haitian Francine and Francis mangoes ranged from US$7.50 to US$12.50 (mostly US$7.50-US$9.00) per carton (8s-14s) from December to May. Brazilian Tommy Atkins, which began the season in late October and early November at US$18.00 per carton (7s-14s), fell in price to US$7.00-US$8.50 per carton as Brazilian supplies arrived later in the year. Peruvian product entered in January, at the end of the Brazilian supply period, and prices were generally US$12.00-US$13.00 per carton during the next two months for Haden and Kent varieties. Venezuela and Guatemala supplied New York from March to June with Haden and Tommy Atkins. Prices were generally strong in March but declined considerably as Mexican supplies increased in May and June. Canada Canada imported 16,372 metric tons of mangoes, valued at C$19.0 million, in 1994 (Tables 3 and 4). This quantity is a significant increase from five years ago, when only 9,714 metric tons of product (C$10.6 million) were imported. Like the United States, Canada received most of its increased supply from Mexico: Mexico supplied 69 percent of Canadian imports by volume, and the United States contributed an additional 18 percent. The remainder comes from countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, and the Philippines. Europe Total imports from non-EU sources reached 45,118 metric tons for a value of US$53.0 million in 1994, not including DecemberÕs imports by the Netherlands and Belgium, for which figures are not yet available (Table 5). Imports have increased every year since 1988, when only 27,354 metric tons of product were imported (see Figure 2). The Netherlands has greatly contributed to this growth: Dutch importers have brought in mangoes from a variety of countries and shipped them throughout Europe. Many countries ship mangoes to the EU, the largest suppliers being Brazil (12 percent of all 1994 non-EU imports, based on volume), South Africa (12 percent), C(te dÕIvoire (11 percent) and the United States (11 percent). Mexico, Pakistan, Israel, and Venezuela all provide about 7 percent of EU imports (see Figure 3). Brazil ships mainly during the winter season (November to January), whereas South AfricaÕs peak period is January to April. C(te dÕIvoire sends product to France and other destinations from March to June, and the United States supplies product primarily from June to October. MexicoÕs season extends from March to October, most of its product appearing in Europe during the summer months. Both India and Pakistan send mangoesÑmostly to the United KingdomÑfrom April to August. VenezuelaÕs main season is April to July, and IsraelÕs comes at the end of the summer, from August to October. The Netherlands imported 15,461 metric tons (US$17.7 million) of mangoes from non-EU sources in 1994 (Table 6). The United States and Brazil were the largest suppliers, accounting for 3,577 metric tons and 3,119 metric tons each. Other major suppliers include South Africa, Mexico, Israel, and Costa Rica. Almost half of all imported mangoes are re-exported, mostly to Germany but also to Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. Still, Dutch con-sumption (imports minus exports) stood at 9,456 metric tons in 1994, the second largest in Europe after the United Kingdom. Dutch consumers, like most Northern Europeans, generally prefer red mangoes, although Dutch importers said that green-colored West African mangoes have found a following in the Netherlands. Mexican exporters send Tommy Atkins, Haden, and Kent mangoes by sea container; Israel supplies mostly green-colored Tommy Atkins, Kent, and Lily varieties by sea container. During the winter months, Dutch importers receive product from Brazil and South Africa, as well as from Guatemala and Peru. Kenyan product generally arrives in December as the Brazilian season is ending and the South African one is about to begin. Nineteen supplier countries are listed in 1994 price reports published by the International Trade CentreÕs Market News Service. Average weekly importer selling prices for top suppliers are summarized in the box above. The United Kingdom imported 11,181 metric tons of mangoes (US$11.8 million) from non-EU sources in 1994, down from a high of 13,029 metric tons in 1991. Pakistan supplied 3,005 metric tons, Venezuela 1,293 metric tons, and India 1,049 metric tons. Very sweet Indian and Pakistani varieties are favored by consumers. Importers describe the U.K. market as very competitive and not short of supply. Product is currently sourced from Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Gambia, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, and St. Lucia. Kenyan mangoes are available in U.K. markets, but not consistently. In 1994, Market News Service reported importer selling prices for 20 different suppliers to the U.K. market, most of which are only occasional suppliers. Brazilian mangoes shipped by air sold for between £1.23 and £2.50 per kilogram during BrazilÕs main supply period (October-January). Prices for Mexican mangoes sent by air and for Israeli Kent mangoes were reported between July and October, earning £1.25 to £1.90 per kilogram and £1.00 to £2.00 per kilogram, respectively. Venezuelan mango prices from March to July were between £1.50 and £2.38 per kilogram. France is the third-largest mango market in Europe. French imports in 1994 from non-EU countries stood at 10,326 metric tons, worth US$13.7 million. These figures represent increases of almost 1,000 metric tons and US$1.5 million from the previous year. Mangoes are available year round, with supplies coming from C(te dÕIvoire, South Africa, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Mali, and many others. Importers report that October is the only month during which they have difficulty finding supply. C(te dÕIvoire was the largest supplier in 1994, with 3,534 metric tons, followed by South Africa, with 1,268 metric tons, and Brazil and Mexico, both supplying 1,000 metric tons. Currently C(te dÕIvoire accounts for 34 percent of French import volume and supplies the market at very competitive prices from April to June. In 1995, however, many Ivorian shipments were of poor quality, arriving in bad shape or too ripe in the market. The Kent variety is most popular in France as a whole, because of its taste, reddish coloration, and lack of fiber, but in the southern part of the country consumers prefer Tommy Atkins. Importers reported that a price drop would be helpful to stimulate demand. About 30 percent of mangoes are distributed by supermarkets, the remainder being distributed through traditional Halles, open markets, and other retailers. Market News Service reports importer selling prices for 18 different suppliers to France in 1994, with the top suppliersÕ representative prices summarized in the upper box on the left. Germany imported 10,052 metric tons of mangoes in 1994, 70 percent of them from other EU countries, mostly the Netherlands. Major non-EU sources of supply are C(te dÕIvoire, South Africa, and Costa Rica, each supplying 600-700 metric tons. German consumers tend to prefer red mangoes. In 1994, Market News Service reports importer selling prices for mangoes entering from 15 exporting countries, most only sporadic suppliers (see bottom box on page 7). Asia Hong Kong constitutes the largest import market in Asia for mangoes. In 1993, 27,895 metric tons of product were imported, worth US$27.4 million (see Table 7 and Figure 4). The Philippines is the largest supplier to this market, accounting for almost 80 percent of the volume of all imports in 1993. Thailand and Australia each supply about 6 percent, although the declared value of Australian product was twice that of Thai product (see Table 8 and Figure 5). However, customs statistics from 1994, which unfortunately combine mangoes with avocados, guavas, and mangosteens, show that imports of these commodities (of which mangoes is by far the largest) dropped by almost 2,000 metric tons. Australia and Indonesia were the only countries to increase their supply levels, although the market share of the top suppliers remained relatively unchanged. Japanese imports of mangoes grew from 5,510 metric tons in 1990 to 9,264 metric tons in 1993, but, in 1994, they dropped to 7,606 metric tons (´2.3 billion) (Table 9). This decrease is attributable to the overall decrease in the Japanese economy (the burst-bubble economy) and to increased consumption of other imported fruits, such as citrus and apples. Trade statistics show that the Philippines was the only producer to suffer from this decline. All other producers except Taiwan increased supply in 1994. Almost half of Japanese imports arrive between March and May, and another 28 percent during the next three months, June through August. Imports are at their lowest from November to January. The Philippines dominated the 1994 import market with a 72 percent share by volume. Mexico and the United States accounted for 22 percent and 2 percent, respectively. All other suppliers (including Thailand, Australia, and Taiwan) shared the remaining 3 percent of the volume of 1994 imports. Japan requires that all mangoes entering the country be treated for fruit flies. Sweet, fleshy mangoes are preferred to fibrous mangoes. Manila Super mangoes from the Philippines, and Haden, Keitt, and Tommy Atkins mangoes from Mexico and the United States are popular varieties. Singapore imported 10,300 metric tons of mangoes, avocados, guavas, and mangosteens in 1993, worth US$9.0 million (import statistics for mangoes alone are not available) (Table 10). Singaporean imports have grown by 41 percent since 1990, when only 7,303 metric tons of product were imported. Malaysian product accounted for roughly half of all imports by volume, with Thai product taking up 27 percent. In value terms, however, Malaysia accounts for only 24 percent of all imports; the Philippines accounts for 22 percent, and Australia and Thailand for 20 and 19 percent, respectively (Table 11). GRADES AND STANDARDS Minimum standards for mangoes are defined by the United Nations ECE Standard FFV-45: "in-tact, firm, fresh in appearance, sound (produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded), clean, practically free from any visible foreign matter, free from black stains or trails that extend under the skin, free from marked bruising, practically free from pests, practically free from damage caused by pests, free from damage caused by low temperature, free from abnormal external moisture, free of any foreign smell and taste. UN/ECE mango standards divide mangoes into three classes; Extra Class for mangoes of superior quality, free of defects; Class I for mangoes of good quality, with slight defects of shape or of the skin; and Class II for mangoes that do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements. In the United States, the Mexican Mango ExportersÕ Association (EMEX) decided to suspend quality inspections at the border in the beginning of 1995. Mexican and South American mangoes arriving in the United States no longer require quality inspections at the border, but some importers still require that mangoes be checked before shipment or on arrival, and some exporters voluntarily carry out inspections before shipment. Mangoes shipped in international commerce generally are packed in one-layer, 4- to 5-kilogram cartons that hold from 8 to 16 fruits per carton. SOURCES OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION Gomez-Lim, M.A. "Mango Fruit Ripening: Physiology and Molecular Biology." Acta-hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. May 1993. (341) p. 484-499. Willis, L.E.; Marler, T.E. "Root and Shoot Growth Patterns of ÔJulieÕ and ÔKeittÕ Mango Trees." Acta-hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. May 1993. (341) p. 264-270. Goguey, T. "Study of the Effects of Three Flower-inducing Substances on ÔKentÕ and ÔZillÕ Mango." Acta-hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. May 1993. (341) p. 216-224. Nunez-Elisea, R.; Davenport, T.L.; Caldeira, M.L. "Bud Initiation and Morphogenesis in ÔTommy AtkinsÕ Mango as Affected by Temperature and Triazole Growth Retardants." Acta-hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. May 1993. (341) p. 192-198. Lavi, U.; Sharon, D.; Tomer, E.; Adato, A.; Gazit, S. "Conventional and Modern Breeding of Mango Cultivars and Rootstocks." Acta-hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. May 1993. (341) p. 146-151. Yahia, E.M.; Hernandez, M.T. "Tolerance and Responses of Harvested Mango to Insecticidal Low-oxygen Atmospheres." HortScience. Alexandria, Virginia: The American Society for Horticultural Science. October 1993. v. 28 (10) p. 1031-1033. McCollum, T.G.; DÕAquino, S.; McDonald, R.E. "Heat Treatment Inhibits Mango Chilling Injury." HortScience. Alexandria, Virginia: The American Society for Horticultural Science. March 1993. v. 28 (3) p. 197-198. Mitcham, E.J.; McDonald, R.E. "Respiration Rate, Internal Atmosphere, and Ethanol and Acetaldehyde Accumulation in Heat-treated Mango Fruit." Postharvest-biol-technol. Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier. July 1993. v. 3 (1) p. 77-86. Johnson, G.I.; Mead, A.J.; Cooke, A.W.; Wells, I.A. "Stem End Rot Diseases of Tropical Fruit Mode of Infection in Mango, and Prospects for Control." Acta-Hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. October 1992. v. 2 (321) p. 882-890. Shu, Z.H.; Lin, S.L.; Lee, K.C. "Effects of Microelement-containing Pesticides on Nutrient Concentrations of Mango Leaves." Acta-Hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. October 1992. v. 2 (321) p. 553-560. Pongsomboon, W.; Whiley, A.W.; Stephenson, R.A.; Subhadrabandhu, S. "Development of Water Stress and Stomatal Closure in Juvenile Mango (Mangifera Indica L.) Stress." Acta-Hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. October 1992. v. 2 (321) p. 496-503. Roy, S.K.; Joshi, G.D. "An Approach to Integrated Post-harvest Handling of Mango." Acta-Hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. August 1989. (231) p. 649-661. Veeresh, G.K. "Pest Problems in Mango: World Situation." Acta-Hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. August 1989. (231) p. 551-565. Khedkar, D.N.; Roy, S.K. "Storage Studies in Dried and Dehydrated Raw Mango Slices." Acta-Hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. August 1989. (231) p. 721-730. Pandey, P.M.; Chauhan, P.S.; Sharma, Y.K. "Studies on Some of the Physiological Attributes of Mango." Acta-Hortic. Wageningen: International Society for Horticultural Science. August 1989. (231) p. 381-393. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Webpage: HOME FRUIT PRODUCTION - MANGO HTTP://leviathan.tamu.edu:70/0h/mg/fruits/mango/mango.html Julian W. Sauls Extension Horticulturist INTRODUCTION Mango is regarded as the queen of fruits in tropical areas of the world. Prior to the severe freezes of the 1980s, numerous mango trees were in production in yards across the lower Rio Grande Valley, including a small orchard near Mercedes. Grown for its large, colorful and delicious fruit, the medium to large evergreen mango tree is also attractive in the home landscape. Its rounded canopy may be low and dense to upright and open, with dark green foliage that is long and narrow. CLIMATE Mango is adapted to lowland tropical and subtropical areas. Winter temperature is a major consideration, as leaves and twigs, especially on younger trees, can be damaged at temperatures below 30 degrees. Flowering and fruiting are seriously affected at temperatures below 40 degrees during bloom. There is no apparent difference in cold hardiness among varieties. SOIL AND SITE SELECTION Mango requires soil having good internal drainage, but is not particular as to soil type. Trees can tolerate minor flooding, but have low tolerance for salts, boron and lawn herbicides. Because of its extreme sensitivity to cold, mango should be planted in the most protected site in the yard--within 8 to 12 feet of the south or east side of the house. The tree must receive full sun for optimum growth and fruiting. VARIETIES There are two principal types of mangos: Indian and Indochinese. Varieties of the Indian type typically have monoembryonic (single embryo) seeds, highly colored fruit and are subject to anthracnose disease. Those of the Indochinese type have polyembryonic seeds (multiple embryos), and fruit usually lacking in coloration, but they may have some resistance to anthracnose. There are some varieties, however, that do not fit clearly into either group. Varietal choices in Texas are limited. More common commercial varieties include 'Haden', a red and yellow fruit of about a pound and quarter that matures in June; 'Irwin', a red mango of just under a pound that matures in June; 'Tommy Atkins', a red and yellow fruit comparable to 'Haden' in size and maturity; 'Kent', a green, red and yellow mango of about a pound and a half in size that matures in July; and 'Keitt', a green and pink mango of a pound and half that matures in August. Other varieties may be equally acceptable; for example, 'Julie' and 'Manila' are probably of better eating quality than the more brightly-colored commercial types. PROPAGATION Polyembryonic types generally come true from seed, which is the common method of propagation in the tropics. Monoembryonic types do not come true from seed, so they must be grafted onto seedling rootstocks, using almost any available mango seeds. The fibrous stone or pit should be removed from the seed. The seed should be planted concave edge down and about 1 inch deep in any good potting soil. Germination may take two to three weeks; graftable seedlings of a quarter inch diameter take about six months. Veneer or side veneer grafting and chip budding are the most successful methods of propagation. Most propagation occurs in winter, using rootstocks grown from the previous summer's production. Cleft grafting is also practiced. PLANTING Because of frequent freezes, mango trees may not achieve maximum size, so they can be spaced 12 to 15 feet from each other or other trees. Because trees are normally grown in containers of soilless media, much of the outer layer of media should be washed off the sides and top of the root ball immediately prior to setting the tree in the ground. This practice exposes the outer part of the root system to the actual soil in which the tree must grow, thereby enhancing tree establishment. Newly planted trees should be staked for support for the first year. Build a water ring several inches high and thick atop the soil around the tree. The ring should be a little wider than the planting hole--take soil from elsewhere in the yard if there's not enough left over from planting. Fill the basin with water--after it soaks in, a little soil may be needed to fill in holes made as the soil settles around the root system. YOUNG TREE ESTABLISHMENT Newly planted trees should be watered two or three times the first week, then once or twice per week for several weeks. Simply fill the water basin and let the water soak in. The water ring will gradually erode away over four to six months, at which time the tree can be considered established. Delay fertilization until new growth occurs after planting, then apply monthly into September. Scatter the fertilizer on the ground under the tree and promptly water thoroughly. Using ammonium sulfate (21-0-0), use one half cup monthly in the first year, one cup per month in the second and two cups monthly in the third year. For other fertilizer analyses, adjust the rate accordingly. All lawn grass and weeds should be eliminated for several feet around the young mango, as the tree cannot compete for water and nutrients until it is much larger. As the tree grows, widen the grass-free area beyond the canopy. Organic mulches are excellent for mango trees. No pruning or training should be necessary except to remove deadwood. Winter frost protection is essential. Soil banks around the young tree trunk provide excellent protection--they should be put up in early December and removed in early March. Young trees can also be draped with a blanket or similar covering just prior to a predicted cold spell--pull the corners outward and anchor them to the ground. It is not necessary that the cover reach the ground. Any additional, practical heat source under the tented tree will probably save even the foliage. Incandescent lights, electric heaters, camp lanterns or stoves are good heat sources. MATURE TREE CARE Cultural practices are designed to maintain good growth and production. Irrigation, nutrition, and weed and grass control are the major practices in mature mango tree care. Irrigation is the same as for other established fruit and nut trees--water slowly, deeply and thoroughly. Repeat as needed, based on soil type and prevailing weather. Weekly soakings during the summer are more than adequate. Fertilization, using 21-0-0, should be at the rate of one to two cups per inch of trunk diameter per year, split into equal applications in February, May and August. Simply scatter the fertilizer on the soil surface under the tree, then water thoroughly. Weed and grass control under the tree is desirable to reduce competition and can be easily maintained by use of organic mulch replenished as necessary. The only pruning necessary is to remove dead or damaged branches, which will occur following major freezes unless excellent cold protection methods are practiced. Then, pruning should be delayed until the extent of freeze damage can be ascertained. PRODUCTION, MATURITY AND USE Grafted trees will begin to produce in the third year after establishment, with mature trees capable of producing three to five bushels. The mango fruit develops rapidly, as the time from flowering to maturity is only 100 to 150 days, depending upon variety. Mangoes will ripen to best quality on the tree. Mangoes can be harvested at color break and ripened in the kitchen. Color break is the change from pure green to yellow, usually on the blossom end of the fruit. Another indicator of maturity is a change in color of the flesh around the seed from white to yellow. Fresh consumption is the most important use of mango, but the fruit can be frozen, dried or canned Mango can be used in jams, jellies, preserves, pies, chutney and ice cream. Green mangoes are sometimes eaten raw in the tropics. PROBLEMS The largest problem of mango is anthracnose because it attacks all parts of the tree and is probably most damaging to the flower panicles. On maturing fruit, the fungus causes irregular black spots that may be sunken slightly and show surface cracks. A grouping of spots forms a large, damaged area. Tear streaking is common, resulting from fungal spores that wash down the fruit from infected twigs or flower stalks. The disease can be controlled with fungicides. Powdery mildew can be a serious problem under conditions of high humidity and rainfall during bloom because the disease would limit fruit set. Serious defoliation would not be expected under Texas conditions. Mites and scale insects can attack mango trees, but they rarely limit growth or production unless populations build to high levels. EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION DISCLAIMER The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and that no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied. 11-92, New HORT 2-2 -------------------------------- (Leo: The following site has links to everything biological!) Bruns Lab with web sites of mycorrhizae and biological interest http://mendel.berkeley.edu/boletus.html The BRUNS LAB 341 Koshland Hall Department of Plant and Microbial Biology UC Berkeley Links to Web Sites of Mycological Interest: British Mycological Society Forest Mycology and Mycorrhiza Research Team: Corvallis Oregon Fungal Genetics Stock Center ICOM1: the First International Conference on Mycorrhizae ICOM2: the Second International Conference on Mycorrhizae Mycological and Lichenological Collection Catalogs Mycology Resources on the Internet Mycological Society of America Mycological Society of San Francisco Mycopage Root Biology and Mycorrhiza Research Group: University of Guelph Ontario Taylor Lab at UC Berkeley The Tree of Life: Ascomycota The Tree of Life: Basidiomycota Links to Other Web Sites of Biological Interest: Entrez Browser Genome Sequence Data Base Microbial Germplasm Database MacClade Home Page Phylogenetic Analysis Computer Programs Plant Biology at UC Berkeley Plant Biology (Biosciences): The World Wide Web Virtual Library Ribosomal Data Base the rThe rRNA WWW Server The Tree of Life: A Phylogenetic Navigator for the Internet WWW Sites of Interest to Botanists >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - January 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online February 1, 1998 AKA RFN199802A.txt What's in this issue: From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Invitation to visit Thailand on a Horticulture trip(!!) From: Leo Manuel To: sainaron@ksc9.th.com Subject: Re: Invitation to visit Thailand on a Horticulture trip From: Jack Tomlinson Subject: New Subscriber, Africa, Seeks Exotic Fruit Ideas From: Ed McCluskey Subject: New Subscriber from Portland OR From: Kyle Harbert Subject: New Subscriber Seeks Help With Hydroponic Garden... From: Richard Prior/CML/Furman) & Reply by Leo Subject: New Subscriber With Questions Atemoya, etc. From: "Fielder, Rosemary" Subject: New Subscriber in search of PawPaw trees for sale! From: "Ben Poirier" Subject: New Subscriber Wants To Exchange Plant Information From: Linda Kincaid Subject: New Subscriber Wants Pink-Fleshed Apple, etc. From: Robin Shafer Subject: New Subscriber Seeks Dwarf Mango Information From: Dan Duprey Subject: Mycorrhizae and Mango Graft Time in FL From: Veronica Stork Subject: Flamboyant Tree From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Mangosteens From: Sven Nehlin (USB) Subject: Conversation About Sapotaceae From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Do you Know Of Any Technical Websites? Subject: Rasananda & Jack Fruits for South Africa From: Sainarong Rasananda & Jack From: DGholston@aol.com To: Sainarong Subject: Re:Sub-tropical & Tropical Fruits for South Africa From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: Re: Chris Rollins & TROPICAL FRUIT WORLD From: jcubero@magicnet.net Subject: waterapple From: Greg Daley Subject: Change of Email Address From: "Richard Prior" Subject: Re: atemoya - new to me! From: "Oliver Patterson" Subject: sapote/sapodilla/white sapote confusion From: Martin Nemzow Subject: Edible Dates in Miami Beach?? From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Thai frults From: HMHausman To: sainaron@samart.co.th Subject: Florida longans From/To: Sainarong Rasananda And Cucho Subject: Re: Thai Longans From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Chill hours From: Bill Burson Subject: Chocolate Persimmon Scionwood - Which Floridian Asked For It? >>From Discussion list for New Crops Reply-To: Discussion list for New Crops From: "W.J.SWART X2383" Subject: Searching for Information: diseases of crops Reply-To: Discussion list for New Crops From: Ron Bunch Subject: Re: DISEASES OF NEW CROPS Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Ben Alkire Subject: Purple Mangosteen, Garcinia - request Reply-To: Discussion list for New Crops From: Carla Casler Subject: Re: pinenuts & aflatoxins Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: crystal Subject: Hydroponic mailing list Reply-To: Discussion list From: Bob Batson Subject: Blue Honeysuckle, a Fruit for Even the FAR North Reply-To: Discussion list for New Crops From: Raquel Krach and Greg Massa Subject: New Crops for Rice Farmer From: Dan Hemenway Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 19:18:40 EST Subject: Re: New Crops for Rice Farmer >>From the Zingiber list From: paullgj Subject: cold tolerance of banana cultivars Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com To: zingiber@coollist.com From: paullgj Subject: Re: What is cavendish Choke Throat? From: Lester Kallus Subject: Re: TROPICAL PLANTS Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com From: "Miguel" Subject: Methods on micropropagation Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com From: "Jose Almandoz." Subject: RE: TROPICAL PLANTS Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 12:15:09 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Invitation to visit Thailand on a Horticulture trip Leo, an idea have struck me. Why not arrange for a group of tropical fruit lovers to make a horticultural trip to Thailand? As you know, our local currency have gone down from 26 per $ to 54 per $, so the cost of living here is very cheap for you. Moreover, Thailand is having 1998 as a Visit Thailand Year, and our Tourism Authority is actively promoting such trips. I have the horticultural connections to make to trip a good one, and would be happy to organize such a trip. BTW I am not in the travel industry, and would not dream of making any personal gain from this, I am just a contented orchardist. Sainarong ------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 06:58:20 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: sainaron@ksc9.th.com Subject: Re: Invitation to visit Thailand on a Horticulture trip What an idea! What time of year would maximize one be best, seeking to maximize the availability of "best" fruit and minimize weather discomfort? What length of time minimum would be desirable? Is there any way to get an estimate of cost, however rough an estimate it would be? Are there government gardens or experiment stations to visit? Looking forward to hearing more. (And, readers, what do you think?) Leo ------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 20:40:12 +0200 From: Jack Tomlinson Subject: New Subscriber, Africa, Seeks Exotic Fruit Ideas Leo, I would like to receive your newsletter, and if my experience could benefit anybody I would like to help. My real name is Jack Tomlinson and we farm in what is now known as the Mpumalanga Province. We are in a small town called Hazyview, it is close to Nelspruit and the Kruger National Park. We have been farming with Litchi's for 30years, Mango's for 25 years, Macadamia nuts about 25 years and avacado's for 15 years. As you know by now, we planted some Longan in Sept. 1997. We are looking for another exotic fruit that will do well in our area, we were thinking of Custard apple or Rambutan or a fruit called Kwa-Luk, if anybody can help, it will be most welcome. Thanks, Jack --------------------------- From: Ed McCluskey Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 23:26:49 EST Subject: New Subscriber from Portland OR Please send rare fruit newsletter. Ed McCluskey. Portland, OR Interest subtropicals, citrus. Current: Pineapple Guava, Figs Send earlier issues also. Thank you. Ed -------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 18:08:21 -0800 From: Kyle Harbert Subject: New Subscriber Seeks Help With Hydroponic Garden... Hi, My name is Kyle Harbert, I live in salem Oregon. I recently built a hydroponic garden, I also ordered some vanilla plants, I'm looking for a way to acquire a dwarf sweet lime tree. I'm also going to build a larger garden, and filling it up with cool rare fruits has always been my plan. This sounds like a good way to do it. Feel free to send anything concerning cultivation of vanilla, lime, lemon, and grapefruit plants, your help is appreciated. Sign me up! Kyle Harbert Kyle, see Hydroponic mailing list at ----------------------------------- From: "Richard Prior" Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 17:26:49 -0500 Subject: atemoya - new to me! Leo! Thanks for writing back! I sent the following note to you last week Friday and it boomeranged right back at me. I was very disappointed. But now I'm not! To: leom@rarefruit.com From: Richard Prior/CML/Furman) Subject: New Subscriber With Questions Atemoya, etc. Please add me to the mailing list. I'm rather new to the rare fruit game. I've been growing for a few years, not seriously, though, until now. Before I continue, here's the personal information you request on your web page: Richard E. Prior Greenville SC 29617 I live just on the 7 side of the 7/8 zone line, wishing daily it were the 10! Most of my plants are therefore container grown. I'm sure there are other people on the list who are also container growers and I hope to learn the tricks for adapting tropical and sub-tropical trees to containers (and making them happy there). Here's what I have in my collection now, with a few comments for each. AVOCADO. 6 yrs old grown from pit. Got caught outside on a cold night (mid-30s) and turned black. I've whacked it back to a 6" stick and it's coming back gangbusters. I doubt it will ever fruit in a container. Question: When I pinch it back to get it to branch, I get one small shoot that peters out and one strong one leaving me basically where I started. What gives? VANILLA ORCHID. 6 yrs old started from a cutting with 2 leaves. It grew to a length of about 10' before it got cooked when I forgot to open the vents in my cold frame greenhouse on spring day. I rescued a few sections, but them in a coco fibre bowl with the same bark dirt mix I'd used before, tied the whole mess up in a plastic bag with vent holes. They're doing nothing. Not dying, not growing. Are they still in shock? Do they need counselling? I don't know. BANANA. Dwarf Cavandish. 3 yrs old. Started from a tiny (6") mail order sucker. I originally put it in a HUGE container (20 gal?) where it appeared to do nothing for two years. Last spring I repotted it, pruning roots, in a 10 gallon. It took off and has grown to about 4". I learned that lesson. Now I'd like to put a few outside in the ground, just for foliage (I have no delusions) I want fast growing big ones whose corms will survive the winter if covered over. Musa basjoo has been suggested as the hardiest, but I can't find them for sale anywhere. Orinoco looks like a candidate too. What to group members think? APRICOT. Three trees, all different varieties, 2' tall when planted in June. They're 4-5' now. ATEMOYA. I just got this tree yesterday in the mail (bare root, moss wrapped) from Lychee Woods in Ft. Lauderdale. It's a a new graft (Bradley/Priestly), supposedly hardier, sturdier and more pest resistant (than what, I don't know). This is my first big investment in a rare fruit and want to do it right. No tree will be more doted on than this. Unfortunately, I have little idea how to dote on it! I'm having a devil of a time finding any information about caring for it. Lychee Woods sent no tips or instructions at all. The best I've got is an entry for cherimoyas in the Ortho Citrus and Sub-tropical Fruit book. Is that close enough? Here are my main questions: The tree is 2.5-3' tall with no branching. The stem was coiled in a box. Since planting (24 hrs ago), it retains that curvature. I assume it will stand up on its own soon. How old is it (probably)? One? When should it be pruned to promote branching? Given the banana saga above, I'm starting it in a 5 gallon pot. Is that good? When do I move it up? I'm using Osmacote for fertilizer. I included it when I potted it. When and how often should it get more doses? Atemoyas are deciduous, meaning they have dormant times. When? How long? What conditions do I need to create for it to think it's sleepy time (so it can come back and bloom)? At what age should it begin blooming anyway? I assume I'll have to pollinate it by hand. No biggie. As for watering, I made a good drainage promoting mix to plant it in. I know it doesn't like wet feet. But should the soil stay moist, or does it prefer to dry out good between waterings? What about light? Full sun? Diffused light? Shade? The atemoya is my main concern. If I can get the knack of it, I'd like to get another, maybe a Gefner. PAWPAW. I've sent for three, but don't have them yet. They thrive outdoors in my zone. When is better to plant them? Is now ok, or should I wait till spring? That's it for the moment. Thanks for being there! Richard P.S. I've been growing palms too. Many from seed. Everything I read suggests "palm fertilizer" but no one says what it is! Could anyone give me the composition so I could at least try to fake it? ---------------- Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 17:03:48 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Richard Prior Subject: Re: atemoya - new to me! I don't know why my email doesn't always work. I've heard from others that mail initiated at my web page sometimes bounces. There must be an error in the page.... Richard, I believe that the atemoya will be very cold sensitive, intolerant of frost, at least until it gets some size. It is a hybrid of cherimoya and an annona that is cold sensitive. The cherimoya and atemoya are "briefly" deciduous. They drop their leaves for a very short interval in the early spring, here in S. California. I'd be cautious about fertilizing, and would not use slow-release ones, as you don't want it with tender new growth during the winter, most likely. It will probably begin to bloom in a year, buy the flower has to be hand pollinated, in order to get fruit. When it shows blossoms, then get more information as to how that is done. The flowers are "complete" but the pollen doesn't shed at the same time the flower can be pollinated. The female receptive stage comes earlier, then after that comes the pollen shedding, too late to pollinate itself, but possibly another flower will be receptive then. You can store the pollen for a short time. I expect you will get mail from other reader/growers, with more useful information. Attached to another email is an introduction to the newsletter and the last issue. If you want some of the back issues, let me know. If attachments don't work for you (in a word processor, maybe?) let me know and I'll enclose your copies in email. Horticordially, Leo ----------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 14:08:54 -0800 From: Rosemary Fielder Subject: New Subscriber in search of PawPaw trees for sale! Leo, Your website is very interesting and good. My name is Rosemary Fielder. I live in Santa Clara, CA but my family lives in a small town north of Sacramento called Oroville. Mostly kiwi, oranges, olives and miles of rice grow there. While stationed in the Navy at Norfolk, Virginia I was introduced to paw paws. I understand they grow here and I'm interested in purchasing two or three trees. Have you or someone you know had experience with Paw Paws? Taking your advice at the end of your website.....I will contact CRFG and maybe get some help/info. there also. Thanking you for all your good help! "One is closer to God in a garden, than anywhere else on earth!" Agape, Rosemary ------------------------------------------- From: "Ben Poirier" Subject: New Subscriber Wants To Exchange Plant Information Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 12:26:59 -0800 Yes Leo, I would like to subscribe, and here is the info you wanted: My name is Ben Poirier. I live on an acre of land in "Avocado country" - northern San Diego county near Fallbrook and Escondido. This is a nearly frost free hilltop location which also gets some breezes off the ocean 11 miles away to moderate the hottest days. I have been collecting and propagating unusual fruits for about 20 years. I am especially interested in the Mytraceae family and have a large collection of these plants. Many varieties should do well in this area and produce superior fruits ( A Eugenia aggregata producing larger fruits and one producing large quantities of these fruits is an example) A project I am working with involves selecting a superior Carambola variety which will produce well in California. About 25-30 seedlings of the sweeter Florida varieties have been planted out and the first two have begun fruiting. The quality on both of these is superior to a grafted "Arkin" which is also fruiting. There are also a few Canistel and Lucuma planted out for the same reasons and a couple flowered last year, but set no fruit. Some propagated plants are available for sale. As far as questions go, I would like to hear if anyone has had success fruiting the above mentioned three fruits and their results and conditions. -------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 20:19:34 -0800 (PST) From: Linda Kincaid Subject: New Subscriber Wants Pink-Fleshed Apple, etc. Leo, Name: Linda Kincaid City: San Jose, CA Background: 2 years chair of Santa Clara Valley Chapter CRFG, Originated idea of Heritage Orchard at Prusch Park in San Jose - home to 250 stone fruit trees, 40 fig trees, 150 grape vines, all unique & rare. Orchard maintained as CRFG project, with support from city of San Jose. Home Orchard:Antique peaches, plums, plumcots, apricots, citrus, figs, kiwi, paw paws, white sapote, avocado, feijoa, currants, hunting for pink-fleshed apples. Garden under everything. Other activities: Flameing environmentalist, write fruit growing and organic horticulture articles for CRFG. Oh - I'm also a Silicon Valley techie. Questions needing answered: Best sources of funding for Heritage Orchard? Other sites (and groups) wanting preservation fruit collections? Who has pink-fleshed apples I don't have yet? Passion-of-the-week: Protesting deplorable new USDA Organic regs which will put an end to organic as we know it. Linda ------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 21:35:34 -0500 From: Robin Shafer Subject: New Subscriber Seeks Dwarf Mango Information Greetings from the icy north- I am interested in subscribing to your newletter- i live w/ my husband and son in waterville, Maine, born and raised in Puerto rico, and am searching specifically for a colleague who has asked about dwarf mango trees. do they exist, etc. I have had little success so far in finding info. I have an evolving garden, though not many fruit trees. One apple tree which grows and produces, in spite of me! I do not use pesticides, and consider myself a novice in the world of gardening. Please respond- My name is Robin Shafer- e-mail is arthaiss@mint.net Thank you- Robin ------------ Robin, Julie seems to be the most dwarfing of well-known mango varieties. Leo ------------------------------------- From: Dan Duprey To: Leo Manuel Date: Sunday, January 11, 1998 11:50 PM Subject: Mycorrhizae and Mango Graft Time in Florida Hi, Leo, Sorry to take so long getting back. I thought I'd find in my notes the answer to your question about when Floridians graft mangoes. But the only mentions I found said that they can be grafted whenever suitable rootstock is available. At various lectures I think I've heard that they are grafted "whenever they are actively growing." Sorry to not be of much help. The Zill family (who named the Dot and Carrie mangoes, among others) have perfected a way to graft on very young seedling turpentine mangoes; I think that implies August/September. I've never successfully grafted anything, so my memory for the details isn't that good.... Dot is indeed a very good mango, very richly flavored/fruity, and good even when very ripe. My tree, after applications of chelated iron and manganese, appears to be in good health, except for the problem with the necrotic splits on some panacle stems I mentioned before. My neighbor's Dot, which never got chelated minerals, is nearly dead from severe dieback. Of course, we both are gardening in sand that is devoid of nutrition. Perhaps in your drier climate Dot would do just fine. Or it could be that my particular speciman has some sort of chronic problem/disease that I haven't addressed, like mango malformation or young tree decline or ??? I haven't heard of a source for Kensington Pride mangoes. Since they have been in Australia for a good while, I suspect that at some time they were tried in Florida, but weren't well adapted here. As far as pronouncing mycorrhizae, when my former tropical fruit professor talked about it, he pronounced the first 3 syllables like the words: my core RYE. I think the zae has the same vowel sound as the ae in alumnae (whatever that is). Dan Duprey ------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 08:54:00 -0800 From: Veronica Stork Subject: Flamboyant Tree Leo You probably know the Flamboyant Tree as a Mexican Flame Tree. In Asia and Africa and Puerto Rico they call it Flamboyant Tree. In Arizona they call it Mexican Flame. It can be a tall graceful tree with spreading branches, very much like the trees you see animals grouped together under in the African veldt. In the spring and summer it is covered with red flowers with yellow centers that somewhat resemble orchids but are in bunches. Hence the name Flame or Flamboyant tree. Because I guess it is. It is very sensitive to cold. Once I started to look around in Yuma I realized that many of the plants we dont see very often have been growing there for years. Yuma has a large Hispanic population and theyve been bringing in Mangos and Guavas and Flamboyant trees etc for I guess many years. Recently I found a 40 foot guava full of guavas with many more rotting on the ground beneath it. Veronica ---------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Mangosteens Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 10:57:42 -0800 Hi Veronica, I saw your request for sources of mangosteen trees and also read Leo's response, which I agree with. However, if you still want to try mangosteen from seeds, there are two sources I know of: Ed Kraujalis in Florida imports seeds from Asia in the summer and is taking orders now; and you could take a trip to Vancouver, British Columbia in July, eat some fruit and take the seeds home to plant. I did the later a couple of years ago and of course the plants didn't survive for me. If you want Ed's number get back to me I have to look for it at home. A friend got some seeds from Ed a couple of years ago and the trees are 3-4 feet tall in his greenhouse. I think the key is high humidity, along with warm temps, so you would need to get a structure to keep the humidity high enough. Good luck, Bob Holzinger ---------------------------------- From: Sven Nehlin (USB) Subject: Conversation About Sapotaceae Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 09:20:11 +0400 (GMT) Hi Leo, I got an e-mail Jan 13 from Ricardo Barbosa re: SEEDS, but he forgot to put his e-mail and I don't receive as previously the path in the e-mail heading. Here it is: Hi Sven. I got your e-mail from the Rare Fruits News Online. I could see you are an expert. I'm a beginner as a fruit trees collector, and I live in the southermost state of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre town, more than 5.000 miles South of Venezuela. (almost precisely at 30'South) I'm confused about Sapotaceae (Sapotes and Abius) US, Brazilian an scientific names. Do you know any source of pictures or images that can help to identify these trees. I have three trees named in Brazil as: Sapoti, Sapoti Branco and Abiu (Pouteria Ramiflora as a Brazilian book). Is there some relation of these trees with the trees americans call Sapote, White Sapote, Sapodilla, Black Sapote, Green Sapote, Mamey Sapote, Abiu, etc? I have interest in exchanging seeds, and I have a list of my trees. Do you have interest in seeds exchange? I can read Spanish. Can you read Portuguese? Best regards. Ricardo ------------------------------------ Ok Ricardo, Thanks for the e-mail. I have got four valuable books in Portuguese: Frutas indigenas by F.C. Hoehne (Inst. de Botanica, Sao Paulo) Frutas comestiveis da Amazonia by Paulo Cavalcante (INPA, Manaus) and the Spanish-Portuguese and Portugues-Spanish dictionaries so I don't have any problem of reading either language! I have found in the first book as "Sapoti" Achras Zapota L Calocarpum sapota (Jacq.) Merrill The Achras generum may be distinguished from Calocarpum by having the sepals in two verticils, whereas the latter has got them in a spiral disposition. There is a drawing of the two species (and plenty of others in both books). Then you have Chrysophyllum cainito, Cainito and Pouteria caimito, Abio. In the Amazon area there are different other species called Abiorana. Chrysophyllum lactescens, "Casa d Anta" or "Bacupari" and Chrysophyllum Burnahem, "Burnahem", "Casca Doce" or "Imira-Eem" are two other species closely related and described as delicious fruits. As "sapoti" is also included Manilcara zapodilla and Lucuma Botyrocarpa (Kuhlm) from Espititu Santo and Lucuma torta from other locations in Brazil, which need to be revised taxonomically. Also the genus Ecclinusa is mentioned. In the "Frutas comestivas da Amazonia", published by the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Chrysophyllum cainito L. is called "Camiquie", "caimito", "caimitero", and there is another species of the Manilkara, huberi (syn. Mimusops huberi) called "Macaranduba" or "Macaranduba-verdadeira". This one is probably "only edible to survive" as I have tried the Mimusops commersonmii here. More important is Pouteria caimito (syn. Lucuma caimito), Abiu which is cultivated all over, also called "abiurana", in Venezuela "Abiu" and "Temare". To this genus you can add Pouteria macrocarpa (syn. Lucuma macrocarpa, P. venosa) "Cutite-grande", "Cutitiriba- grande"), Pouteria macrophylla (syn. Lucuma rivicoa) "Cutite", "Cutitiriba", "Tuturuba", Pouteria pairy (syn. Lucuma pariry, Eglerodendron pariry) "Pariri", Pouteria speciosa (syn. Lucuma speciosa) "Pajura-de-Obidos", Pouteria ucuqui "Ucuqui", which are found in different regions of Amazonas. I would like to add Pouteria campechiana "Canistel","Egg fruit" which I have and I will save seeds for you in the next harvest. Then of course the Pouteria viride "Green sapote" and maybe you can get seeds from the seedbank (Banco de semillas) of Catie, Turrialba, Costa Rica, if you write to them. (I did not get any answer by e-mail) This wellknown university has the "Green sapote" and many other species in their plantation. In Venezuela we also have Pouteria obovata "Lucumo", "Lucma" and the above mentioned Pouteria caimito "Abiu", "Temare", which is not the same as "Caimito" Chrysophyllum cainito. As with many sapotes they have to be ripe to avoid the latex (sticky sap). There are about 80 different species of Pouteria and we have 23 in Venezuela. To me the most important sapotes are: Chrysophyllum cainito "Caimito", "Star-Apple" Manilkara achras "Nispero", "Sapodilla" Pouteria caimito "Abiu" Pouteria campechiana "Canistel", "Egg fruit" Pouteria sapota "Zapote", "Sapote mamey" Pouteria viride "Zapote verde", "Green sapote" I should also mention the "Miracle fruit" Synsepalum dulcificum which is a curious little fruit which changes the taste from acid to sweet. The "White sapote" belongs to the Rutaceae (Orange) family and the name is Casimiroa edulis with an inferior variety Casimiroa tetrameria and the "Black sapote" belongs to still another fine fruit family Ebenaceae and the scientific name is Diospyros digyna (syn. D. ebenaster) an excellent tropical fruit related to "Kaki" and "Mabolo" or "Velvet apple". I have these except Kaki which is for a more temperate climate. My location is 66deg.52' W and 10deg.26,5' N at 3200 ft a.s.l. Yes I'm interested in seed exchange incluing edible palm fruits! Fruitfully, Sven Nehlin snehlin@neblina./reacciun.ve -------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 00:22:49 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Do you Know Of Any Technical Websites? I am at this very moment going through your RFNO. It occurs to me that, for those really deeply interested in the tropical and sub-tropical fruits, there are two very important usages of the Internet, namely: 1. Discussion groups. 2. As a source of detailed technical information. The first item should pose no problem for us. However, I have considerable trouble in finding sufficient good technical (horticultural, botanical , production and marketing) information anywhere in the world on these fruits. So, if anyone knows of any websites which have these information, I beseech you to share them with us, as Leo is doing. For my part, I shall endeavour to do the same. Sainarong ---------------------------------------- Subject: Rasananda & Jack Fruits for South Africa Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 17:54:07 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda & Jack Jack here is a professional orchardist in South Africa. He has been growing mangoes and lychees for a long time, and has recently planted longans. He is thinking of branching out to rambutan. As his climate seems to be more similar to that of California and Florida than to that of Thailand, maybe you are in a better position than I am to give him suggestions. Sainarong ---- jack wrote: Here is some info on our seasons, we consider spring to start at the beginning of September. But our rain season usually starts in August.Our average rainfall is as follows: Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May Jun Jul 19.1 32.7 71.1 138.9 133.1 165 196 73.7 47.6 22.4 0.5 0 These figures are average for the last four years. Our temperatures range form winter low of Min 5 degrees Celsius to a Max of 28. In summer we have an average Min of 19 to a Max 0f 42, humidity in the months os Oct to April is usually above 60%. Maybe this will help you in suggesting an alternative to Rambutan and Longan. What is Kwa-Luk like, do you know the fruit at all? Is there anybody doing Custard Apple in your country, if so, how do they do over there? Go well Jack ----------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Jan 1998 14:26:19 -0500 (EST) From: DGholston@aol.com To: Sainarong Subject: Re: Sub-tropical & Tropical Fruits for South Africa Sainarong said: Jack here is a professional orchardist in South Africa. He has been growing mangoes and lychees for a long time, and has recently planted longans. He is thinking of branching out to rambutan. As his climate seems to be more similar to that of California and Florida than to that of Thailand, maybe you are in a better position than I am to give him suggestions. Don says: Sainarong, Rambutans prefer a hot-wet equitorial climate with an even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. For best results a temperature range of 15 C minum to 35 C maximum is ideal. Low temperature and frost is usually not tolerated at any stage of plant growth. Shelter from wind is is recommended as it helps to create a more humid microclimate, as well as protecting trees from damage. The plants are otherwise grown successfully in a wide range of soils as long as they don't suffer from waterlogging too frequently. Rich, mildy acidic clay loams are preferred. I hope this helps. Don Gholston -------------------------------------- From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: Re: Chris Rollins & TROPICAL FRUIT WORLD Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 19:55:13 -0500 Hi, Leo: Some partial answers to a couple of your questions: I don't know if Chris Rollins has an email address. If he does, he may be reluctant to give out to his radio audience, since he could end up overwhelmed with gardening questions. Tropical Fruit World was discontinued back in 1991, sadly. I have 4 issues of it, going from July/August 1990 to January/February 1991. In addition to the annona issue, which you apparently have, there is a mamey sapote issue, a mango issue and an issue with articles about Malaysian fruit, Hawaiian mangos, and ultra-tropicals. The picture on the front of the mango issue is a gorgeous close-up of Hayden mangos--it could make a mangophile positively multi-orgasmic........ I don't know if any back issues are still available, though it seems unlikely. Dan Duprey dupreyd@gate.net ---------------------------------------- From: jcubero@magicnet.net Subject: waterapple Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 18:22:17 GMT http://www.best.com/~vtb/travel/fruits/fruits3.html I found a fruit called the waterapple on this site. Does anyone know anything more about it? I found out that the latin name is Eugenia Acquaea. Kym ----------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 06:57:30 +1100 From: Greg Daley Subject: Change of Email Leo I have changed sevice providers and my new email address is gdaley@nor.com.au Could you kindly change this. We are in the middle of summer and have just started picking our mangos. Our first soursops ripened this week. This was encouraging as were we are is not real tropical. Regards Greg Daley ------------------------------------ From: "Richard Prior" Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 09:20:43 -0500 Subject: Re: atemoya - new to me! Leo, Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! By the way, before I forget, please send me the supplement on annonae. My atemoya is in a container. About 5-gallon to begin with. If I planted it outside it would die. Richard --------------------------------------- From: "Oliver Patterson" Subject: sapote/sapodilla/white sapote confusion Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 20:42:52 -0500 It was odd to read that Ricardo--who lives in Brazil--is building a greenhouse because he has had problems with winter frost! Brazil *is* a huge country, but it is weird to imagine frost there nonetheless. Pitangas (a.k.a. Surinam cherries) are widely planted here in central Florida, despite the fact that they are among the most sensitive to cold of the Eugenia species. Somehow, they perform very well here. My young tree has flowers on it already. I plan to harvest the fruit as soon as possibly in order to avoid fruit fly infestation. Regarding sapodilla, sapote, and white sapote: The white sapote is easily identified by its palmate (hand-like) leaves (this type of leaf is very uncommon); the sapodilla has simple, glossy leaves and relatively small brown fruits that resemble pears in texture; and the "sapote" could be the mamey sapote, which has very large leaves that look like those of the plumeria, and very large fruits with red flesh. Perhaps these simple descriptions will be of some assistance. Oliver Patterson in Mount Dora, Florida (Sunset zone 26) ------------------------------------ From: Martin Nemzow Subject: Edible Dates in Miami Beach?? Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 09:15:13 -0500 I live in miami beach. Many date palms around here. Cost for buying them is about $100/ft...very pricey. I have been told that the fruit is not edible because it is too wet for proper ripening. However, it turns yellow and drops. Questions are: 1. is it edible and how are dates processed (generally) to be edible? 2. are the fallen fruits viable to germinate, and if so, how? Martin Nemzow Miami Beach, FL 33141 ----------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 14:07:08 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Thai frults Here are some of the fruits in season in Thailand in January. Following are the prices of some Thai fruits. If you would like to get more imformation, please look in to this web site http://bday.net/tat/fruit_index.html Name Market Price(US$Lb.) Remark (US$@54Baht) Tangerine 0.34-0.46 All year round Guava 0.21-0.25 All Year round Rose Apple 0.29-0.34 middle-end of season Banana 0.42-0.51/comb All year round Sapodilla 0.25-0.38 middle-end of season Watermelon 0.25-0.34 All season Mangosteen 0.34-0.25 Out of season Coconut 0.25-0.42/ea All year round Mango 0.42-1.01 Out of season Sainarong Rasananda ------------------------------- From: HMHausman Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 23:56:14 EST To: sainaron@samart.co.th Subject: Florida longans Dear Sainarong, I have received and thank you for your recent letters. I have a few comments about Florida longans and then some additional questions. You have apparently noticed the general lack of interest in longans by most Americans. The reason for this is unclear. It seems everyone has heard of, if not tried lychees but few (except people of oriental descent) have heard of or tried longans. Here in Florida there is a core of sub-tropical/tropical fruit collectors that have attempted to spread the word about this and other rare fruits. Obviously, there is considerable work to be done on this front because most of the public remains ignorant. Only oriental groceries carry longans in season and there are no dried, canned or other longan products any where else. I, like the others, first learned of and tried lychees before longans. However, once lychee season is over (usually by the end of June) longans are still not ready to be harvested. The similarity of the two fruits made looking forward to longan season a very natural progresssion. The selected varieties here in Florida are Kohala, Dagelman, Kay Sweeny, and University of Florida #1 and #2. There are many seedlings fruiting at various collectors' properties and at agriculural experimentation stations but I do not know of any that have been acclaimed superior or worthy of selection. Of the selected varieties I have personally only tried Kohala and Dagelman. The characteristics of Kohala are fairly well known. This is a fairly large fruit, with crisp white flesh and a sweet, pleasant, somewhat spicy taste. I believe this cultivar was brought here from Hawaii by Bill Whitman of Bal Harbour, Florida. I don't know the history behind the Dagelman cultivar. It was comparable in taste to the Kohala but I seem to recall it being a larger fruit. Unfortunetly, due to the rarity of these fruits I haven't tried them side-by- side and this makes comparison somewhat difficult. I am told that the Dagelman is supposedly a dwarf to smaller tree than the other longans. So far, the small tree in my yard does not seem to be following this prescription. It is growing at the same rate if not faster than my other longans. There are various potential explanations for this and the truth will only be revealed over time. The Kay Sweeny is a variety coming from the Kampong, the property which contained the home of Dr. David Fairchild. Fairchild traveled the world and brought many new plants and trees to the USA in the early 1900's. After he died, Kay Sweeny bought the property and the curator of that property, Larry Schockman, has named some of the best fruiting cultivars on the property after Sweeny. The University Of Florida selections are totally unknown to me but I am trying to procure them now. I hope to be able to make some more side-by-side comparisons this summer. I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the friend of mine who travels to Thailand each year and who has brought back so many things that I have growing in my yard. His name is Bruce Livingston and he can be reached at Santol@gate.net. By carbon copy of this letter to him I am hoping that you two can get together. I know he would be most interested in visiting you and learning from you on his next trip this summer. Bruce presently teaches the Sub-Tropical Fruit Culture class at Broward Community College here in southeast Florida. Now for some more questions: 1) Does girdling the branches of longans help in fruit production and/or prevention of alternate bearing? 2) Have you any information or experience with reducing the numbers of fruit within fruit clusters to increase the size of the fruits carried to maturity? 3) How important is wetness/dryness in obtaining blooms, fruit set, and sizing of fruits? 4) Is fertilization necessary for instigating blooms, fruit set, and/or fruit sizing? And if so what formulation and when should the fertilizer be applied? Thanking you in advance for your kind advice, I am anxiously awaiting your next correspondance. Best regards.......Harry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 23:14:36 -0800 From/To: Sainarong Rasananda To/From: Cucho Subject: Re: Thai Longans Cucho wrote: As I stated before, Lychees and longans are some of my favorite fruit trees. Longans is my principal interest. I also grow lychees. I have three Kohala Longans and two air layers of new experimental cultivars locally developed in Florida, which remain as of yet unnamed. Sainarong wrote: Most interesting. Here in Thailand, we do not try hard enough to develop new cultivars. A pity. Cucho: One of these cultivars is an extremely fast and vigorous grower, it is quite large already, but no fruit yet, the tree has large leaves and is very ornamental. A friend of mine tells me that when it fruits, I should get large fruits, his idea is that large leaved longans produce large fruits. Does your experience correspond with this? Sainarong: I have never thought of that! Come to think of it, he could well be right. I am in the city right now. When I get back to my beloved orchard, I shall take a look around and talk to people. I shall then report back to you my findings. Cucho: Also in your experince have you found a reliable way of shocking longans into fruiting, by girdling or pruning as is normally done with lychees? If so would the best time be September? Sainarong: This is a long subject. The quick short answer is no. I shall write to you about this next week. BTW Leo has a very pertinent article on this. You should ask him for it, if you have not already done so. Have fun. ------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 14:26:12 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Chill hours Greetings. This is the time of year when those of us who grow deciduous tree fruits in areas that are also mild enough to grow subtropicals start wondering which of our cultivars will bloom and set fruit this year. Prompted in part by the recent query on RFNO about determining chill received in norther California, I'm submitting my musings on the topic, which I first posted in more or less the same form on alt.agriculture.fruit many months ago. DETERMINING CHILL RECEIVED The most accurate way is to use a recording thermometer, so you know just what temperature it was each hour (or minute, if you really want to get serious). Even then, you will not be exact. Consider the following: 1. Different cultivars will go dormant at different times. When do you start assuming the tree is accumulating chill hours? 40 degree nights when the tree hasn't even gone dormant yet aren't much good. Same thing in the spring. Some bloom early, some late. When do you stop counting? I don't know the answer to this one, but it would be important in figuring accurately both how much (useful) chill you get, and how much your fruit varieties need. Late bloomers are not necessarily higher in chill (yet some wholesale growers persist in estimating chill requirements on the basis of bloom sequence, which is bogus.) A late bloomer may have accumulated all the chill it needs but not bloom for a while because it is waiting for days to lengthen or to accumulate a certain amount of warmth before breaking dormancy. 2. There are numerous chill models out there. Which one you use will determine your estimate of chilling received. The common one is to count a chilling hour for every hour below 45 (but above 32) and to take away a chill hour for every hour above 65 (some say 70, some 60). Now, if you've ever tried growing deciduous fruit trees in a low-chill environment like southern California, you know that that simple model cannot possibly be right! We can grow a wide variety of fruits with (alleged) chill requirements of 400-500 hours, even in areas that would not get even half that by the below-45/above-65 method of estimating accumulated chill. In fact, more complex chill models are used by some researchers. From various sources, including the journal Fruit South and the UC Extension Service, I have gotten models that suggest you get the equivalent of a full hour of chill (called a "chill unit") only between about 38 and 43 degrees, F. But you get between half a chill unit and a full chill unit between 34 and 38 and also between 43 and at least 48. And you get less than half a chill unit, but more than zero, up to at least 54. After 60, it turns negative, at a rate of less than one unit per hour till 65. You have to take away two chill units above 70 (and maybe -3 above 75, etc., though the models I've seen do not go that high). The Fruit South article I mentioned has a method of estimating chill received. You simply take the average temperature for the coldest month at your location. Usually that is January, although at my location it would be typically about mid-Dec. to mid.-Jan. It works out to about 400 accumulated chill units if your clodest-month average was 58. An average of 56 yields around 500. This cannot be perfectly reliable, but it will give you a good idea. For example, the model I referred to above would suggest that a higher spread between day and night temperatures would be less net chilling. The reason is that as you go high enough, you subtract more than one unit per hour, but as you go lower, you cannot add more than one unit per hour, and you get zero "chill" anytime you drop below freezing. So if you are in a relatively humid coastal area, where the temperatures for a 24-hour period are, say, 47-65, you may actually accumulate more chill units than a drier inland area, where the temperatures might be 41-71, even though both have averages of 56. So, contrary to much conventional wisdom, oastal areas may be better locations for receiving chill than near-coastal inland areas, at least in southern California. 3. To determine chill at your location, use a minimum-maximum thermometer (kept in the shade, so you are measuring AIR temperature, and not the effect of sunlight on the thermometer or its housing) and don't forget to check it at least every 24 hours! Then figure you average for the coldest month and go from there, as alluded to above. That won't help you for this past winter, of course. (Here in San Diego, we can already speak of the 1997-98 winter as "past," as far as chill is concerned!) The best way to get a history of chilling received is, first, to check with local agricultural extension offices and see if they have the information. You can also go through back issues of newspapers for nearby weather stations, and average the temperatures for January. But keep in mind that the chill received can vary tremendously over small areas, due to variations in topography, extent of built-up area and human activity (less developed areas will tend to be cooler, other things equal), and other factors. Therefore, there is really no substitute for tracking your own temperatures. 4. Don't believe chill estimates listed in nursery catalogues. Many are way off. Many are, as I mentioned, determined based on bloom dates. I find they are more often overestimates than underestimates, but both types of misestimates can be found. If you have the space, are willing to invest the time, and a sense of adventure, push the limits. Try fruits that interest you, even if the conventional wisdom says you can't possibly get enough to chill to grow whatever it is. If it remains unproductive after several years, graft it over to something else, or remove it. Matthew Shugart --------------------------------- Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 01:49:17 EST From: Bill Burson Subject: Chocolate Persimmon Scionwood - Which Floridian Asked For It? A few months ago a reader from Florida asked for some scion from my Chocolate Persimmon, I have lost his e-mail address and name, I know he was a reader of yours. He was involved with the Florida Persimmon growers. If you could broadcast this for him to contact me, I would appreciate it. My two e-mail addresses "PowayBill@aol.com" & "PowayBill@juno.com" Bill Burson -------------------------------- >>From Discussion list for New Crops Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: "W.J.SWART X2383" I recently embarked on a research program specialising in diseases of new crops - both woody and herbaceous. I am currently engaged in looking at diseases of Amaranthus spp., pistachio and Juglans spp. and Opuntia. I would appreciate any info regarding these crops specifically as well as any other relevant info on diseases of other new crops. Many thanks. Prof. Wijnand J. Swart Dept of Plant Pathology Univ. of the Orange Free State Bloemfontein 9300 South Africa ----------------------------------------- Reply-To:Discussion list for New Crops From: Ron Bunch Subject: Re: DISEASES OF NEW CROPS At 09:07 AM 1/19/98 GMT2, you wrote: >I recently embarked on a research program specialising in >diseases of new crops - both woody and herbaceous. I am currently >engaged in looking at diseases of Amaranthus spp., pistachio and >Juglans spp. and Opuntia. I would appreciate any info regarding >these crops specifically as well as any other relevant info on >diseases of other new crops. > >Many thanks. > >Wijnand J. Swart A good starting point for Opuntia is the FAO book described as follows from a previous e-mail. I will also forward your message to the discussion list CACTUS-L@TAMUK.EDU for other possible comments. I thought the cactus readers would like to know the availability of the FAO monograph on Cactus. It is 215 pages long and has chapters on History, ethnobotany, anatomy and morphology, environmental biology, reproductive biology, domestication of related varieties, propagation, tissue culture, orchard care, nopalito production, pests, biotic and abiotic diseases, post harvest managment, food manufacture and by-products, forage, control of wild opuntias, cochineal proudction, and energy jproduction. The exact citation is: Agro-ecology, cultivation, and uses of cactus pear. FAO Plant production and protection paper 132. G. Barbera, P. Inglese and E. Pimienta-Barrios (editors). coordinated by E. de J. Arias-Jimenez. Ronald A. Bunch Ph.D. Plant Breeder D'Arrigo Bros. Co. of Calif. Salinas, CA 93902 ------------------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Ben Alkire Subject: Purple Mangosteen, Garcinia - request Dear NewCROP listmembers: The following request for information concerning cultivation requirements of Mangosteen - Garcinia sp. has been recieved at the Purdue Center for New Crops. Can anyone on the NewCROP list with helpful information please forward their advice to Dr. Francisco Rodriguez in Colombia? Send email directly to him at: juanfe@cable.net.co Additionally, NewCROP has cultivation information on a closely related species: Garcinia hombrioniana: A Potential Fruit and an Industrial Crop at: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/V2-472.html Thank you very much, Ben Alkire On Sat, 17 Jan 1998, Juan Manuel Rodriguez Gomez wrote: > Dear Sir: > We are very pleased to find you in the intenet. We are very interested on GARCINIA MANGOSTANA LINN, and we would like to know if you are > kind enough to send us this information. > 1. The fertilizers (which are they) > a) For trees 7-8 years old beginning production. > b) The amount in kilograms per tree, and how many times per year. > c) other organic fertilizers? > d) If the trees dispose of individual source of water, and how much should > be given to ech one when not enough raining is available. > > 2. Countries in Latin America where there are shortages of this fruit > and, if possible, some addresses. 3. A good book or books, which could be useful to us for the purpose. > > We thank you for your time and good willing and expect your news at your > convinience. > > Sincerely yours, Francisco Rodriguez, M.D. ----------------------------------- Reply-To:Discussion list for New Crops From: Carla Casler Subject: Re: pinenuts & aflatoxins Regarding food safety, food processing, etc. there is a very good database, Food Science and Technology Abstracts or FSTA, which is produced by the International Food Information Service. There is also a new Web site that IFIS helps maintain, Food and Nutrition Internet Index, http://www.fnii.ifis.org/ at the bottom of that Web page are links to IFIS and other food research organizations. Carla Long Casler Arid Lands Information Center, OALS, UA Tucson, ------------------------------------ Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: crystal Subject: Redwood Forest & Hydroponic Mailing List Cross-posted from: Hydroponic mailing list at Crystal wrote: Aeroponics seem to require more electrical needs than the NFT or other techniques. Due to the need for the pump, can't we substitute it for sprinklers instead? I don't see how you can payback, unless yields are so good and it's a commercial. Otherwise, an rural homestead (or urban greenhouse) might need some RE source and transformers. Rob Smith wrote: Crystal - There is nothing wrong woth the concept of Aeroponics and certainly for a bit of hobby fun why not put in a simple system, however from a commercial point of view there have not been any definive examples of higher cost Aeroponic hydro systems outperforming 'well designed and operated' NFT and 'well drained' media hydro growing systems. Crystal wrote: On another topic: Does anyone have greenhouse using CO2 gas? How safe is it for human exposure inside - and for how long? Rob Smith wrote: The required levels of CO2 to promote optimum plant performance are not threatening to man. Are you sure? Crystal wrote: Can trees be grown in/out of these greenhouses? Or is there a certain stage where they must be transplanted to soil? Can an apple tree (for instance) be harvested from seedling to fruit stage entirely hydroponically? Ron Smith wrote: Trees grow fine in hydro media beds - just make sure that the bed/ media depth is sufficient to provide good drainage when the tree develops to its ultimate size! Crystal wrote: Is there a limit to the species of trees grown hydroponically? Redwood forest, cedar, oak? =) I would assume that the only running costs in such systems would be the nutrients and electric power. And perhaps the costs of the enclosure: apartment, aerodome, warehouse etc. Of coz, citing references would be helpful. Best Regards, Crystal. ------------------------------------------------------------ >>From the Zingiber list From: paullgj Subject: cold tolerance of banana cultivars Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com Ok, let's give it a try. I have a tropical agriculture page at http://www.utb.edu/~paullgj/tropicalagriculture/tropag.html. In it I detail my experiences with various banana cultivars on winter cold in South Texas. I'd like your comments. Post on the zingiber. Gene J. Paull ----------------------------------- To: zingiber@coollist.com From: paullgj Subject: Re: What is cavendish Choke Throat? Darryl Clark asked: Can anyone explain the above phrase and if it is a disease, what it's symptoms/cure is? Thanks a "Bunch" Paul says: Cavendish "choke throat" happens when the banana plant flowers during the winter months. The inflorensence does not completely emerge, it is stuck in the "throat" of the plant. Needless to say, the banana fingers can not mature. Dwarf Cavendish seems especially affected by this, more so than taller varieties of Cavendish. To avoid this, I plant the banana corms in mid-July, hoping for flower (shoot) one year later in mid-summer. This avoids the "choke- throat." The Cavendish cultivar Gran Nain, a slightly taller plant, is not afflicted with choke throat; however, its leaves seem (to me anyway) much more effected by cool/cold winds than Dwarf Cavendish. In a true tropical climate (night-time temps. rarely going below 55-60) choke throat would not be a problem. For a complete discussion of Cavendish cultivars see: Robinson, J.C. 1996 Bananas and Plantains; Wallingford, England: CAB --------------------------------- From: Lester Kallus Subject: Re: TROPICAL PLANTS Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com I'm on Long Island. It's not a 4b area, but even at a 7a level, you'd still have to bring some things in for the winter. For gingers, etc, I'm growing hedychiums outside and have managed to leave them in the ground over the winter and have them come up the next year. Other gingers and related plants I have to bring in. I have 3 banana plants; Ae Ae, Zebrina & Velutina. When the first frost is threatened, I slice the tops off, plant the corms in a large pot and bring them indoors under metal halide bulbs for the winter. ---Leo: Some of letter was omitted--- As for mail order, if you're careful, you'll find some fine sources on the web. Les --------------------------------------------------------- From: "Miguel" Subject: Methods on micropropagation Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com Hello anyone My name is Miguel, I live in Martinique (French West Indies) and I work on micropropagation of tropical plants. I am looking for methods on micropropagation of Banana, Heliconia, cane and rose. If anyone can give me a help I'll very happy. Thank ! Miguel GUITTEAUD ----------------------------- From: "Jose Almandoz." Subject: RE: TROPICAL PLANTS Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com It is my experience that old Musa basjoo clumps have a higher frost resistance than young plants, which is normal. Basjoo fruits well here, but it usually does so very late in the year, the plants having a hard time to mature the fruits most years, all depending on weather. I know a very ancient clump that produces seeds; this I was told it is uncommon; so rare that two experts were even doubting wether if the seeds were coming from a basjoo at all... I think it would be very interesting to grow some basjoo from seed, to improve the gene pool, as all the plants here are produced by division (I believe in Holland they micropropagate it). BUT as I wrote before I was not lucky with the sowing. The problem is that this very special clump grows in a municipal, city garden, and the gardeners get rid of the fruits as soon as they can because they look 'dirty'. One year I was lucky as they left them till Christmas, but for the most they are not that patient... Has anyone grown Musa basjoo from seed, I wonder??? Basjoo fruit is very small, has very little flesh and lots of seed. It smelled vaguely to banana (perhaps more the peel than the flesh) but I guess it is completely inedible... Jose Zone 9, San Sebastian (43:20N), Basque Country, coastal Northern Spain Humid oceanic climate. Very hilly, very green, very beautiful!!! :-) ------------------------ Reply-To: Discussion list From: Bob Batson Subject: Blue Honeysuckle, a Fruit for Even the FAR North Blue Honeysuckle, a Fruit for Even the FAR North The article by Dr. Maria N. Plekhanova excerpted below original appeared as "Blue Honeysuckle: A New Berry From Russia" in _Pomona_ 29(1), Winter 1996, 46-48, published by the North American Fruit Explorers, Rt. 1, Box 94, Chapin, IL 62628. NAFEX member obtained the article from a Russian friend. Sweet blue honeysuckle, a new berry plant, has currently gained wide popularity with gardeners in the Russian north, in the zone of risky horticulture. Practically in any amateur's or farmer's garden, from three to 15 plants may be found. Large nurseries are eagerly growing the blue honeysuckle bushes and sell[ing] them to the population. Commercial plantations of the crop, each covering from 10 to 25 hectares [25 to 62 acres], are concentrated mostly in western Siberia. The major advantage of blue honeysuckle that facilitated its rapid spread over Russia is its extra-early ripening. The taste and color of berries reminds one of highbush blueberry. Blue honeysuckle ripens 10 to 14 days earlier than strawberry. Ripening occurs when the orchards produce very few vitamin-containing products, therefore blue honeysuckle makes a good addition to the people's diet, as its berries contain 6-8% sugars, 2-3% acids, 40-170 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams, and from 1,200 up to 1,800 biologically active polyphenols per 100 grams. Berries can be consumed fresh or frozen. They are used for producing jam, juice, fruit and berry infant food mixtures, [and] beverages, as well as for obtaining natural food pigment or dark red color, which is used in caramel and marmalade production. By 1995, over 50 blue honeysuckle varieties had been registered in Russia. All of them were developed from Lonicera caerulea ... Among the species forms, those with bitter-tasting, hardly edible berries prevail. Good-tasting sour-sweet berries with nice aroma are characteristic only of L. caerulea var. kamtschatica that grows in the Asiatic part of Russia on the Pacific Coast, in Kamchatka Peninsula and in eastern Siberia. It is from seedlings of that particular strain from Kamchatka that the first varieties of blue honeysuckle, namely `Sinyaya Ptitsa', `Goluboye Vereteno', `Gerda', `Fialka', `Morena', etc. have been selected. All of them are noted for large fruit ... One berry reaches 1.5 to 2 grams in weight at a length of 3 to 4 centimeters. Ripe berries are easy to detach from the pedicel; they can easily be harvested both manually and with a berry-picking combine. The other advantage of blue honeysuckle is its outstanding winter hardiness, allowing for cultivation of the crop as far north as far north as agriculture in open ground is even possible, even beyond the Polar Circle. In winter, the plants can stand frosts down to -46 degrees Celsius [-51 degrees Fahrenheit] without being damaged. In springtime, flowers withstand frosts of -8 degrees Celsius [18 degrees Fahrenheit]...this crop is only suitable for cultivation in the northern temperate climates. In the south, winters with frequent fluctuations from cold to warmth will damage flowering buds.... Blue honeysuckle is a thick upright bush from 1.0 to 1.8 meters, 1.5 to 2.0 meters in diameter. These are the dimensions reached by the bush on the 10th to 14th year after planting. During the first years, the plant grows comparatively slowly, but a yield of 300 to 500 grams of berries [per bush] can be obtained in the second to third year after planting. Maximum yields of 2 to 5 kilograms per bush are obtained from 7- to 15-year-old plants. Blue honeysuckle is a long-lived plant that can be grown in a garden for 25 to 30 years. Blue honeysuckle is a cross-pollinated plant, like apple, plum, or sour cherry. A good yield of berries is obtainable only by planting two to three different varieties together. Bumblebees and bees act as pollinators, for blue honeysuckle is a good nectar plant that flowers in early May. Concerning soil requirements, blue honeysuckle is not demanding. Soil acidity may vary from acid to neutral, with pH from 5 to 7. Humus content in soil should be high; its deficiency can be compensated for with organic fertilizers. Blue honeysuckle grows well on moist land, but swamped places are inappropriate. The highest yields can be obtained in open, sunny places. The best season for planting blue honeysuckle is autumn. Spring planting is absolutely unacceptable, for plants start growing at an air temperature around 0 to 2 degrees Celsius [32 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit] when the soil is not ready for field work.... No pruning is performed on young plants. After 8 to 10 years of fruiting, lightening or thinning type [of pruning] should be applied. In order to obtain annually long shoots and, consequently, good yields, application of nitrogen mineral fertilizers is recommended in spring., and of phosphorus and potassium in autumn. Soil around plants should be mulched with organic matter. Blue honeysuckle is resistant to fungus diseases of leaves and berries. Protection from birds is required at harvest season.... The plant is propagated by green cuttings, bush division, and ... tissue culture. Seed sowing is used only for breeding purposes. The N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry (VIR), the Russian plant genebank, holds the first place in Russia in domestication of blue honeysuckle and other wild-growing fruit and berry plants. Its collection of blue honeysuckle varieties and species is the most complete one in Russia and numbers over 400 accessions.... Professor Maria N. Plekhanova (Dr. Biol.), author of the present paper, has been carrying out research on wild and cultivated blue honeysuckle for 20 years.... Currently, Dr. Plekhanova is implementing a program of blue honeysuckle breeding in Russia.... For more details, please contact Prof. Maria N. Plekhanova at this address: N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, 42, B. Morskaya Str., 190000, St. Petersburg, RUSSIA. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Reprinted with permission from the May 1996 _HortIdeas_. Copyright 1996 by Greg and Pat Williams. Bob Batson bob@sky.net Kansas City USDA zone 5b ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 08:37:32 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion list for New Crops From: Raquel Krach and Greg Massa Subject: New Crops for Rice Farmer I am a rice farmer in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. For various reasons that I'm sure many of you an guess (e.g. want to diversify to reduce risk), I am looking at alternative crops. Our soils are mostly heavy clay, neutral to slightly alkaline, and we have abundant water. We also have about 50 acres that is sandier and could probably support an orchard that could tolerate some seasonal flooding. The most promising candidates for our land that I have been able to come up with include purple vetch grown for seed, hybrid poplars (Populus trichocarpa x deltoides) for dimensional lumber and pulp, and organic rice (not a "new" crop, but a market diversification for us). I have also considered bamboo shoots, walnuts (conventional and organic), and organic chickens. So, here are my questions. Does anyone have experience with any of these alternatives? Am I missing something? Since I'm rather new to this field, can anyone provide me with other places to look for alternative crops, or tips on marketing something that is new to an area? Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. Regards, Greg Massa ---------------------- From: Dan Hemenway Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 19:18:40 EST To: leom@rarefruit.com Subject: Re: [Fwd: New Crops for Rice Farmer] Thanks Leo (Responding to a letter from New Crops list: New Crops for Rice Farmer) I'm not sure all crops listed will take seasonal flooding. The really profitable species of bamboo might not, for example. There are small diameter species that could work. We've got one on trial here, planted on a small mound just to help it get established. Bamboo takes a few years from planting to really get going. Mayhaws are my big interest as they have potential for both food and medicine (same products, even). But I keep looking. I'm buying some hybrid willow and some European elder (Sambucus nigra) this year to try out in the flooding areas. My four mayhaws planted last year are under a foot of water (the tops stick out, of course). I wish they had been a bit more established. Well I have about 50 sprigs from seed. In another year they would probably be big enough to take grafts and save the named varieties if the flooding does kill them. I've decided to give up on one Chinese hawthorn, as some members of the genus actually prefer well drained sites, and move it to a higher area. We are about 3/4 underwater. Can't take much more of this dry season. :-) Actually, it proved out my predictions about waterlines exactly,but I figured I had another year, minimum, to get ready. The organizing principle of the Universe is silliness. Dan Hemenway >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - February 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online February 15, 1998 AKA RFN199802b.txt What's in this issue? First: New Subscribers Seek Your Help Subject: New Subscriber with Annona Squamosa Pollination Questions From: Wayne A. Miller Subject: New Subscriber: Help! Banana trees won't fruit From: DAVID W VADER From: Richard Wanberg Subject: New Subscriber, N. CA, Wants To Grow SubTropicals; Advice? Subject: New Subscriber: Wants to grow tropicals on a balcony From: Fayaz Mawani From: Glenn Young Subject: New Subscriber, S. Pasadena CA Subject: New Subscriber; GA; Wants Suggestions From: Jane Rosenberg-Coombs From: Konosuke Degi Subject: New Subscriber: Okinawa, Japan --- From: Konosuke Degi Subject: papaya varieties wanted To: Konosuke Degi Subject: Re: papaya varieties [Check with NEWCROPS] From: Konosuke Degi Subject: dragon fruit or pitaya: Information needed, please From: Leo Subject: I'm Looking For Good DARK Red Guava From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Possible Horticultural Trip to Thailand-Is Anyone Interested? From/To: Sainarong Rasananda To/From: HMHausman Subject: Thai Longans Discussed by HMHausman and Sainarong Rasananda From: To: Cucho Subject: Thai Longans Discussed by Cucho and Sainarong Rasananda From: To: HMHausman Subject: Longans; More Discussion HM Hausman & Sainarong Rasananda From: To: HMHausman Subject:Longans; More Discussion HM Hausman & Sainarong Rasananda2 From: Kevin Subject: Black Sapote - Is Something Wrong? - Help! From: Darryl Clark Subject: Web resources for int'l habitat and climate? Check out: http://www.worldclimate.com From: bburson@ibus.com To: rosemary.fielder@lmco.com Subject: pawpaw trees cheaper at Northwoods Nursery? ------- Leo Manuel Subject: Winter '97/'98: Survival? From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Storm Damage From: Bill Burson Subject: Winter '97/'98: Survival in Poway, Ca From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: El nino From: Kym Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? No Problems Here!! From: Trudy Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? From: "Darla Dunigan" Subject: Re: Mango Sampling Sessions 1998 & Water Problems From: "John Sojka" Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? In Australia From: "John Sojka" Subject: Please, I'd like help finding these seeds, please! From: Jon Verdick Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? [in San Diego] From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98 & OK to crowd mango trees? ------- To: Dan Duprey Subject: Crowding trees - I done some of it (Leo) From: Doron Kletter Subject: February RFNO delivered? & How I Solved Excess Wet Problem From: SherHoudin@aol.com Subject: Dehydrator information sought Subject: Commercial Growers: This Question Is For You. From: Manuel Valdez From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Dovyalis seeds Wanted: From Florida? From: Andy Butcher Subject: President Plums Subject: The address for Going Bananas From: paullgj Subject: Rare Fruit Discussion Homepage http://24.4.65.133/rarefruits From: Jose Miguel Gallego -------- Extracted From NEWCROPS List----- Subject: Blue Honeysuckle, Lonicera caerula, where to purchase? From: Connie Kehler With Some Replies To: Multiple recipients NEWCROPS Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: "Robert H. Faust" Subject: Re: seeds of papaya Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Anna Whipkey Subject: Re: dragon fruit [Hylocereus (Pitahaya)] in Israel Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: P Lovett Subject: Re: dragon fruit [Hylocereus undatus] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber with Annona Squamosa Pollination Questions Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 14:34:42 EST From: Wayne A. Miller I am Wayne A. Miller, in San Clemente, California, on a hill facing west toward ocean, 365 feet above sea level, approx. 1 1/2 miles from shoreline. I am growing a sweetsop in my yard. The tree is surprisingly vigorous in the climate and local conditions here. The tree is currently approx. 6 feet tall by 5 feet wide. It had a few flowers last June and August, which I attempted in hand pollinate in the same manner as a cherimoya, but unfortunately I really didn't have any fresh pollen from a male phase sweetsop flower to pollinate female phase flowers because of the lack of flowers in general. Hopefully there will be many more flowers on the tree this summer, but in case there are not, I have a question. Can sweetsop flowers be successfully pollinated with Cherimoya pollen? If I do this, do I risk the chance of having a hybrid fruit (viz, atemoya or something like it?). Also, I am growing a seedling annona reticulata (Common Custard Apple, Bullock's Heart, Corazon). The available literature on this plant is very limited. Any additional information of any kind on this plant would be very appreciated (viz, anyone else who has tried to grow it in Southern California, what was their experiences with it, etc..). Please respond. Wayne A. Miller ----------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber: Help! Banana trees won't fruit Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 11:26:21 -0800 (PST) From: DAVID W VADER Hello, I am writing in regards to your website. My name is David Vader, and live in Las Vegas, NV. I am really interested in growing tropical fruit. I am origianlly from Thailand and we grow everything there from mangos, bananas, guavas, custard apples, etc. Living in Las Vegas, with a pleasant climate, I started growing tropical fruits 2 yrs ago. I have 2 Orinoco banana trees, a lime tree, pummello, kumquats, guava, sugar cane, and taro plant. In the winter the plants need babying, but they come back by the first of March and do well until the middle of December. I am particularly interested in banana fruiting, my treee is 7 feet tall, so I was wondering what to do to make it fruit. Send me your newsletter please I would be interested. Thank you, David Vader ----------------------- From: Richard Wanberg Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 16:08:49 EST Subject: New Subscriber, N. CA, Wants To Grow SubTropicals; Advice? Just saw your web site and would be very interested in getting a copy of your newsletter. Have been a member of CRFG for 4-5 years now but have just recently moved from Germany back to Northern California. Although I live in Sunset Zone 16, I am interested in growing as many sub-tropicals as possible, including: Banana, Babaco & Chamburro Papayas, Passion fruit, (heard rumors of someone growing Phillipino Mangos here too!). Thanks in Advance! Richard Wanberg San Anselmo, CA 94960 Email: mbasf@aol.com (attn: Richard) ------------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber: Wants to grow tropicals on a balcony Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 23:16:54 -0800 From: Fayaz Mawani Please sign me up. My name is Fayaz Mawani I currently live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where the winters are warm. Within the next month I will be moving to St. Petersburg Fl. My interest is tropical fruit and rare fruits, especially dwarf varieties, as I am planning to live in an apartment. (With a balcony) Over here in Vancouver, I have had success with growing Mission Dark figs, red and green grapes (fruit and leaves for cooking) cherries, and local varieties. A lot of people here also grow kiwi fruit. After I move, I am interested in starting a vainlla vine, perhaps a black peppercon vine, and if they are available a dwarf mango variety. Along with herbs, and small vegetables. I would also like to cultivate jasmine. Fayaz ------------------------------- From: Glenn Young Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 20:48:37 EST Subject: New Subscriber, S. Pasadena CA I am Glenn G. Young of 238 St Albans Avenue, South Pasadena, Ca 91030-3516, Phone (213) 257 - 9900, Fax (213) 257 - 9800, e-mail ggyoung@aol.com I have just been elected President of CRFG for the next year and would like very much to be on distribution for your news letter. I have about 170 trees of all types on 3/4 acre in South Pasadena. Leo I have the list of my trees on an Access spreasheet if you would like a copy let me know and I will send it along. Glenn Young -------------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber; GA; Wants Suggestions Date: Wed, 2 Feb 1998 00:11:55 -0500 From: Jane Rosenberg-Coombs Hi, I am interested in your rare fruit newsletter. My name is: Jane Rosenberg-Coombs I live in Roswell, Ga (metro Atlanta) I have : kiwi; 3 apples; cherry; paw paw; mulberry; pineapple guava; dwarf mango; cherimoya and I can't remember what else I am struggling and running out of space. Would love to find a place to get scions to increase varieties. Also, would love to grow chestnut (but too little space) star fruit; and black currant. Thanks, Jane ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 13:14:31 +0900 (JST) From: Konosuke Degi Subject: New Subscriber: Okinawa, Japan I would like to subscribe to Rare Fruit News Online. I interest in tropical fruit. There are mango,lychee,papaya,pineapple,citrus, passion fruit,atemoya,pitaya,acerola,guava and carambola in Okinawa. I would like get sample issue and copies of earlier issues. Sincerely yours Konosuke Degi Fruit tree breeding laboratory Nago Branch, Okinawa Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station 4605-3,Nago city,Okinawa, 905 Japan ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 11:31:32 +0900 (JST) From: Konosuke Degi Subject: papaya varieties wanted Hi, Leo, Okinawa is southern islands of Japan. We grow papaya in persistent ion framed vinyl net house. Because there are occurrence of leaf-distortion mosaic virus disease and strong typhoon. The vinyl use in winter rainy season and take off in summer. Our majour variety is sunrise solo. But sunrise has few week points,for example long internodes, small fruits,high occurrence of deformed fruits etc. We search for seeds of papaya varieties having low bearing height, high quality fruit and dwarf. Please give me any suggestions about this problem. Thank you. Konosuke Degi ------------- Date: Thu, 05 Feb 1998 08:48:12 -0800 To: Konosuke Degi Subject: Re: papaya varieties Konosuke, You might also write to the list: NEWCROPS with your question. It deals with a wide variety of crops. Leo ------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 11:32:15 +0900 (JST) From: Konosuke Degi Subject: dragon fruit or pitaya: Information needed, please Dear Leo, I introduced dragon fruit in Okinawa southern islands of Japan from Taiwan. It is very delicious and having attractive beauty appearance. Formosan said that dragon fruit came from Vietnam. I think that dragon fruit is belonging Hylocereus. Also,it may be pink pitaya. But there are two types of dragon fruit, pink fresh and white fresh. Are there same species? And I would like to get other varieties or species of Hylocereus or resemble genera. Please send me information. Konosuke ------------------------------- Date: 2/15/98 From: Leo Subject: I'm Looking For Good DARK Red Guava I'd like your recommendations about DARK red tropical guavas. Some added features (besides dark red flesh) Helpful but NOT necessary: Large in diameter Sweet flavor and good taste (latter is pretty subjective) Relatively small seed cavity Relatively small seed size Less "dirty gym-socks" odor. (Doesn't bother me, but my wife objects.) I believe guavas are under-appreciated, but there are some pretty good ones. I wait with bated breath.... Leo ------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 13:51:57 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Possible Horticultural Trip to Thailand-Is Anyone Interested? I am in the process of finding the requested info. Visit to a Government Reseach Station should not pose any problem, but I have not made any inquiries as yet. Fruit-wise the best time is April-June, which is unfortunately hot and humid. Moreover, the growers may not have time to take as good care of you as they would like to as they will be busy harvesting. Climatewise, November to January is the coolest and the most pleasant, note that I say cool, not cold. I am in the process of gathering the required info. How is the response to the idea of the trip? Sainarong ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 00:56:04 -0800 From/To: Sainarong Rasananda To/From: HMHausman Subject: Thai Longans Discussed by HMHausman and Sainarong Rasananda HMHausman: The two cultivars are called (please excuse the spelling as the transliteration from Thai to English is probably questionable) "Edo" and "See Jampoo." Supposedly, the former is an equal or better fruit than "Kohala" and is a very reliable bearer. The latter is a pink colored fruit of superb quality but an unreliable bearer. Have you heard of either of these?? They are supposed to be newly developed cultivars. Sainarong Rasananda: You asked me about Thai longans, a subject about which I know something. You may be getting more than you've bargained for. I shall be writing to you in installments. I think this willbe easier for both you and me. Here goes. Puang Thong (golden bunch) is considered the best longan by the growers. However, it does not take kindly to transportation, and the shelf-life is not long. So, outside the orchard areas, it is almost unkown, even to the Thais! But if an honored guest like yourself visit me, I would offer you Puang Thong. It is a fairly recent cultivar. The longans Thais like best are See Chompoo (color pink), Biew Kiew (green irregularly-shaped) and Ee Haew in that order. However, the growers do not like to grow them as the return is not as high as for Ee Daw. All the cultivars mentioned are probably about 30-50 years old. About 80 % (my estimate) of the longans grown in Thailand are Ee Daw. Ee is a prefix. Daw, in the local dialect, means light; even the Thais needs further clarification, in the local dialect, light means that it is inclined to bear fruits easily. More than half of our longans are exported; almost all of our exports are Ee Daw. The advantages of Ee Daw are - It bears fruits almost every year. It flowers quite heavily. It is easy to grow and to look after. The fruits are quite large, crisp and sweet. The skin is thick, which means longer shelf life, ease of transport. It can be easily canned or dried. The price is good. No wonder the growers like to grow Ee Daw. HMHausman: The next two have been in the ground for less than a year and are aquisitions from Thailand. The two cultivars are called "Ee Daw" and "See Chompoo." Supposedly, the former is an equal or better fruit than "Kohala" and is a very reliable bearer. The latter is a pink colored fruit of superb quality but an unreliable bearer. Sainarong Rasananda: Although Ee Daw is the most prolific bearer in Thailand, surprisingly it performs very badly elsewhere. The Australian researchers have tried to grow Ee Daw, See ChomPoo and either Ee Haew or Biew Kiew in Queensland. They rejected Ee Daw completely, and propagated the latter two for commercial purpose. If you want to know, I shall tell you my hypothesis why Ee Daw does not do well outside Thailand. Surprisingly few Thai consumers have heard of Ee Daw, but most have heard of See Chompoo, which they particularly like. The latter is eaten fresh , and does not lend itself to canning and drying. I myself grow mostly Ee Daw, and a few Ee Haew and See Chompoo. I have difficulties with the latter two. I am beginning to think that the latter two need diiferent methods of looking after and I am treating them like I treat Ee Daw. Puang Thong, practically no one outside the main producing area in Thailand has heard of it, yet we producing think it is the best. I air-freighted some Puang Thong to my Singaporean cousin, he thought it was marvellous. BTW be warned that all Thai cultivars were 'born' in Thailand, and are adapted to the local environment. Here we grow our longans in the less-cool climate than we grow lychees. This is in contrast to the Chinese and Kohala cultivars which are grown in colder climate than lychees. On Kohala, the Australian researchers have also successfully grown Kohala, but they consider it a distant second to the Thai cultivars. I have their report, but not with me here, so I cannot produce the quote. So long, for the moment. Sainarong Rasananda ------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 21:12:40 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Cucho Subject: Thai Longans Discussed by Cucho and Sainarong Rasananda Cucho: As I stated before, Lychees and longans are some of my favorite fruit trees. Sainarong Rasananda: Mine too. However, rabutan is my favorite fruit. Cucho: One of these cultivars is an extremely fast and vigorous grower, it is quite large already, but no fruit yet, the tree has large leaves and is very ornamental. Sainarong Rasananda: One word of warning. If you fertilize the young longan too much, especially with nitrogen, you may find that, although it grows very fast, it is quite hard to get it to bear fruit during the first few years after it has reached 2 or 3 meters high. Cucho: Also in your experince have you found a reliable way of shocking longans into fruiting, by girdling or pruning as is normally done with lychees? Sainarong Rasananda: Although such methods are supposed to help, I have not yet found anyone who can consistently induce his/her longans to bear fruit every year when other conditions, such as the weather, are unfavorable. There are orchards which bloom every year, but the particular location was perfect. I doubt if the owners of those enviable orchards could make other orchards elsewhere bloom consistently. There are, however, one or two I have met, who might just be able to do that, but I cannot be sure. I, and many academics and researchers, think that we have the theory nailed, but we just cannot put into into practice. So, it is not really theory, just mere hypothesis. I am still learning from successful longan growers in Thailand, who finished elementary school. They are my respected teachers. BTW this year, I, and most other Thais, have a very poor longan harvest. That just go to show how good I am. Cucho: If so would the best time be September? Sainarong Rasananda: The best time would be after the last vegetative flush has fully matured. Each flush takes about 45 to 60 days to mature. Sainarong Rasananda ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 20:51:34 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: HMHausman Subject: Longans; More Discussion HM Hausman & Sainarong Rasananda HMHausman: Does girdling the branches of longans help in fruit production and/or prevention of alternate bearing? Sainarong Rasananda: In Thailand, girdling or cincturing is the common practice for lychees. I have not heard of anyone in the North of Thailand (where 90% of the longans are grown) trying girdling. I think it is because our longan bark structure, unlike the lychee ones, makes girdling difficult. However, the academics still say that girdling should help. In central Thailand, we have a new cultivar, called Petch Sakorn. Most of the Petch Sakorn orchards practise girdling, and they claim good results. The Petch Sakorn bark structure is similar to the lychee one, which makes girdling easier. I grow a few Petch Sakorn for study, it has not yet flower (it should have). Maybe I shall try girdling them. I take it that you are conversant with the theory and practice of girdling. HMHausman: Have you any information or experience with reducing the numbers of fruit within fruit clusters to increase the size of the fruits carried to maturity? Sainarong Rasananda: Personally, no. But I have heard of people who have, and they claim success. If it is a bumper crop and nothing is done to reduce the number of fruits, what generally happens is this; you experience quite a lot of fruit drops, the fruit size is smaller than desirable, some of the fruits in a particularly large cluster rot, the probability of alternate bearing is increased. HMHausman: How important is wetness/dryness in obtaining blooms, fruit set, and sizing of fruits? Sainarong Rasananda: The answer to this should be quite a long one. Briefly, there are four major factors which control blooming; they are climatic conditions, irrigations, nutrients and tree canopy management or pruning. Although the climate is the major factors, all the factors are interchangeble - to a certain extent. So, the answer appears to be that you need to water-stress if other conditions are unfavorable, but if other conditions are favorable, water stress will not be required, and may even be undesirable. After fruit set, you should gradually give longan more water. In Thailand, where it is very hot and dry, longans must have a lot of water throughout the whole period, otherwise the fruits will be very small - I have bitter experience of this! I shall touch on the fourth question later this month. As I still have a lot to learn about longans, if anyone has any comments or even disagree with me, I shal be very pleased to hear them. I learn more from people who disagree with me than from people who take my words as absolute truth. HMHausman: Is fertilization necessary for instigating blooms, fruit set, and/or fruit sizing? And if so what formulation and when should the fertilizer be applied? Thanking you in advance for your kind advice, I am anxiously awaiting your next correspondance. Best regards.......Harry ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 19:09:55 -0800 From: To: HMHausman Subject:Longans; More Discussion HM Hausman & Sainarong Rasananda2 HMHausman: You have apparently noticed the general lack of interest in longans by most Americans. The reason for this is unclear. It seems everyone has heard of, if not tried lychees but few (except people of oriental descent) have heard of or tried longans. Sainarong Rasananda: According to an Australian article, longan is an acquired taste. You only like it after the third or more try. After that, you become very fond of it. How true is this, do you think? But, if you ask an Asian, he will say that Westerners like fruit which have both sweet and sour taste at the same time. Longan has only sweet taste. He will go on to say that you should forget about introducing longans to the Westerners. Here, I disagree. I have heard of many Westerners, like those our RFNO group, who are very fond of longans. I also recall my students' days in England. My English friends used to look at Thai food as if it was something the cat has brought in (an English saying - are you Americans familiar with it?). Now, there are at least one Thai restaurant in almost every English town. What I am saying is that, with globalization, people's taste changes. HMHausman: Here in Florida there is a core of sub-tropical/tropical fruit collectors that have attempted to spread the word about this and other rare fruits. Obviously, there is considerable work to be done on this front because most of the public remains ignorant. Only oriental groceries carry longans in season and there are no dried, canned or other longan products any where else. Sainarong Rasananda: Really? Canned longan is, according to this Australian article, superior to canned lychee, because it does not lose its essence. Thailand and China produce a lot of canned longans. Chinese are very fond of dried longan; it is an essential ingredient in many Chinese medicine. At present, at least half of our longan export to China is the dried stuff. It is quite delicious too, I might add. Only longans with crisp, thick flesh make good dried and canned material. I am very surprised that you cannot find any canned or dried longans. How can we correct this? HMHausman: The selected varieties here in Florida are Kohala, Dagelman, Kay Sweeny, and University of Florida #1 and #2. Sainarong Rasananda: I have heard of a few more not-well-known ones. I do not have their names right here with me. HMHausman: Of the selected varieties I have personally only tried Kohala and Dagelman. Sainarong Rasananda: Unfortunately, I have not tasted any non-Thai longans. HMHausman: I believe this cultivar Kohala was brought here from Hawaii by Bill Whitman of Bal Harbour, Florida. Sainarong Rasananda: I have an article by Bill on the origin of Kohala. HMHausman: I am told that the Dagelman is supposedly a dwarf to smaller tree than the other longans. So far, the small tree in my yard does not seem to be following this prescription. It is growing at the same rate if not faster than my other longans. I have not heard of any dwarf cultivars. Longans can be 'dwarfed' if the water level in the soil is very close to the surface. I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the friend of mine who travels to Thailand each year and who has brought back so many things that I have growing in my yard. His name is Bruce Livingston and he can be reached at Santol@gate.net. By carbon copy of this letter to him I am hoping that you two can get together. I know he would be most interested in visiting you and learning from you on his next trip this summer. Bruce presently teaches the Sub-Tropical Fruit Culture class at Broward Community College here in southeast Florida. Sainarong Rasananda: Hello, Bruce! Pleased to make your acquaintance. Looking forward to meeting you. ----------------------------------- Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 10:53:47 -0800 From: Kevin Subject: Black Sapote - Is Something Wrong? - Help! Hi Leo, I really enjoy your newsletters...I finally have a question for you if you can help. I have a Black Sapote which is planted in a container, really nice guy named Chuck mailed it to me from Florida after I became interested in trying to grow one. It about a foot tall and has dark green leaves around the base, with the new leaves being almost a yellowish, I have not given it any type of fertilizer since i received it close to 3 months ago and transplanted it to it new container, is it normal for the new leaves to be yellowish or is it lacking in some sort of fertilizer? I keep it in the newly built greenhouse now, which stays faily warm during sunny days........ Any help would be greatly appreciated...............Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 21:46:14 -0800 From: Darryl Clark Subject: Web resources for int'l habitat and climate? Check out: http://www.worldclimate.com Hello Leo: Thanks for the newsletter, as usual. I thought the letter from Chris was a potentially good question and data tidbit for the rest of the Rare Fruiters. Take Care, Darryl Chris Coleman wrote: > > Anyone know of some good web resources for world climate and habitats? I'm > aware of . While it offers good temp. and > rainfall data, it is too coarse in scale and incomplete. Ideally, I'd like > to find maps of rainfall and temperatures by month, principally for the > tropics, much like our regional climate centers do for the U.S. > > Chris ------------------------------ From: bburson@ibus.com To: rosemary.fielder@lmco.com Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 09:42:51 -0800 Subject: pawpaw trees - cheaper at Northwoods Nursery? Pawpaw seedlings and grafted cultivars are available from various sources. Examples are: Raintree Nursery, 391 Butts Rd, Morton, WA 98356, (360)496-6400 Northwoods Nursery, 27635 S. Oglesby Rd, Canby, OR 97013,(503)266-5432 Corwin Davis, 20865 Junction Rd, Bellevue, MI 49021, (616)781-7402 The least expensive place I have found is Northwoods Nursery in Oregon (just outside of Portland). Very in-expensive... Bill ------------------------------- Leo Manuel Subject: Winter '97/'98: Survival? Is it time to talk about the devastating rains and the consequences to your rare fruits? Southernmost California probably was less affected than the either coast in the United States. I haven't seen much soil erosion, but the saturated soil may show damaging effects to several trees, especially mangoes near my house. Tell me how you are coping. Leo ---------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Storm Damage Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 11:51:45 -0800 Hi Leo, Email has not been smooth the last few days for me, so forgive me if you've already gotten this message. The enclosure you sent with the latest newsletter couldn't be opened by my computer, so could you send it as just an email message as you have been doing. Hope you got a little of the rain that went through here, but not like we did. The last two days I have had 8.8 inches and since last Friday I have had 10.4 inches. I have some erosion damage to my banana area and the top part of my trail down the hill will need to be dug up and re-inforced, it's started to push out the retaining boards and slide down the hill. The only plant that looks worse for the wear, besides the bananas, is the carambola. It really doesn't do well in high winds. Later, Bob ------------------------------- From: Bill Burson Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 18:18:01 -0800 Subject: Winter '97/'98: Survival in Poway, Ca I have recently potted several plants (100+) with a 70/30 combination of "store bought" & "mulch pile" soil. This AM (it has not rained in ~ 24 hours + I noticed water standing in ~ 40% of these pots, I have since drained them but next time I will buy SuperSoil brand & see if the problem repeats itself. Bill Burson ---------------------------------- From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: El nino Date: Thu, 05 Feb 1998 18:00:27 PST Hi Leo. It's always a pleasure to receive an e-mail from a lion like you. Americans are not the only to suffer the "El ni–o" effects. We are having one of the most rainy Summers I remember. Because water saturated soil I lost two new fig trees I planted last Winter. It was a very sweet white cultivar that a friend brought from Spain. Some other trees are suffering and I hope they do not die. But the banana trees seem very happy. Last weekend I went to the beach (80 miles East from here) with my family and we could not go to the sea because the rain. We are now in vacations time and many people goes to the coast to get more cold airs. Friends of mine that are there to stay one month told me that in January it rained more than 50% of the days. Best regards. Ricardo -------------------------------- From: Kym Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? No Problems Here!! Date: Fri, 06 Feb 1998 01:36:42 GMT Personally, it couldn't be better! I haven't had to run the sprinklers since about October and we have had no frosts! I haven't had to protect any plants at all! The coldest it's been all winter was 37 degrees- for about an hour! Kym ------------------------------- From: Trudy Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 19:26:57 -0500 Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? None Here, Either! So far winter has been extra kind to me. While many have had too much rain our ground is higher than most and it's hard to saturate sand unless there is absolutely nowhere for water to run. So the excess rain has been a blessing and there has been no need to water at all. Also the temp has not dropped below 40. My only complaint would be the wind of the past few days. The banana leaves are shredded and ragged looking and some of the other plants are looking stressed. Trudy in Florida ----------------------------------- From: "Darla Dunigan" Subject: Re: Mango Sampling Sessions 1998 & Water Problems Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 15:11:11 -0800 Hi Leo, Re: water problems with mangos, water doesn't present much of a problem in my experience except when they don't get enough. If you have a problem with standing water, you may want to try mounding soil around the tree to keep water from just standing. It is important to keep the bud-union dry though. Re: The mango sampling. Darla and I usually set up the sampling sessions with about 20 different varieties at a time. The fruit is cut and placed in containers which are kept cool until the sampling. Each of the participants is given a scoring sheet, we also provide plates and plastic forks. Each container is marked, A through the apropriate letter for the number of samples. The participants are then asked to sample and score the fruit. We suggest to people that they go through once and try to determine which are their favorite 5 fruit and then zero in on the best one. The participants score the various mangos from #1 for their favorite on down to the one they liked the least. What is truly interesting, is that since the mangos from our collection are the best from around the world, you would think there would be a difficult time deciding which one people would like. The participants almost always have a clear favorite. Often one that is different from the one a spouce, kids or friend chose as the "obvious" best. Participants are told after they have completed and turned in their evaluation forms the names of each of the mangos and which ones they liked. As I said previously, we welcome participation by those with seedling fruit for evaluation. If we get serious interest, we will have to ask for help from the participants in preparing fruit for sampling as that is the most labor intensive part of the event. This year we will probably have around 60 different mango varieties fruiting in our collection (not counting our seedlings) and can expect to have perhaps around half of that number available at any one time for sampling. Some are early and some are late while most will fall in midseason. Re your questions, I was suggesting that anyone who wanted to contribute fruit of their seedling mangos during a mango sampling event would be welcome and they could get an objective evaluation of its quality. The timing is subject to weather. It could be anywhere from October to December and we won't know until we see what kind of spring and summer we have. Hope you are able to stay dry. Tim, "The Mango Man" ------------------------------------- From: "John Sojka" Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? In Australia Date: Sat, 7 Feb 1998 17:01:59 +0800 Dear Leo, Our climate seems simlar to yours and our soil type. For clay all I know is helpful is changing the gradients or slope of the soil or put in sub soil drainage and Gypsum plus lots of organic material helps. Our winters seldom see a fost and in summer our capital Perth gets hot, with days of 100 f + hovering between 34 - 43 C. We are much cooler which is a relief as I hate continually hot weather. But we do get days over 100 F. Once it gets over 40 c things cook but in Albany we don't have days in a row of these temperatures. One day however a few years back it hit 47C but thay was a freak day and it killed a lot of plants and established trees - I wasn't here when it occured and I hope it doesn't do it again. Do you grow Babaco's ? mine are starting to fruit and I can't wait till they are ready. - Nice with sugar. Chow 4 now, John Sojka ---------------------------------- From: "John Sojka" Subject: Please, I'd like help finding these seeds, please! Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 12:49:49 +0800 Hi leo, How are you and how is your new year progressing ?.What sort of soil do you have ? - it sounds like it is subject to waterlogging, is it full of clay ?- our's is shocking and in winter the water sits there so unless you do something about it plants that don't cope with waterlogging get very sad and sick and even terminal like my Babaco. So have you discovered any intersting new trees or seeds lately? I am STILL!!!!!!! looking for seed for the following fruit trees and I wonder if you wouldn't mind asking the ever increasing crew of RFO liners if anyone can send me a small quantity of any of the following. I am prepared to cover all expenses and within reason to pay for th seed as well. The following are some of the varieties I am chasing though I am interested in more if it is rare. In the next newsletter, can you ask if anyone can supply or tell me a contact for seeds of the following. The Casana - Cyphomandra Casana The Lucmo or Lucuma -Pouteria obovata The Pitomba - Eugenia Luschnathiana The American Paw Paw - AsiminaTriloba The Canistel - Pouteria Campechiana The Jelly palm - Butia Capitata The Naranjilla and Green Sapote I am also interested in new rare varieties from latin America or Asia and I will try anything as I have freinds further North of me who can grow the more cold sensetive varieties. It is summer here and everything is growing but not as well as I would have hoped for. While I am still very intersted in growing unusual fruit , it's only a hobby and I do it in my spare time as I am a Christian Pastor and life can be very hectic. It is great to get out into my garden to unwind and I marvel at the many beautiful and different things God has made. As a Christian, I am a creationst and I believe all the wonderful things including fruit trees were specially created for our enjoyment by God. As a hobby it's great to share my interst in fruit growing with people over here and around the world. I have made contact with guys in Western Australia through your news group and on my next holiday I plan to visit Clement Teng in Perth and a few guys in Bunbury. Leo, what is the climate range over there ?. Average temps, maimums - minimums etc in centigrade if possible, it would be interesting to compare it to us. Hope to hear from you some time, All the best John Sojka. -------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 18:32:59 -0800 From: Jon Verdick Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? Leo, Everything is soggy here, but not real problems yet. The rain and wind may still cause problems for my early peach trees which are already in bloom, but only time will tell. Jon ------------------------------- From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: Re: Winter '97/'98: Survival? Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 22:48:20 -0500 Hi, Leo: I think South Florida has so far been spared the worst consequences of El Nino. We're getting a bit too much rain and cloudy weather, which is especially tough on the tourist industry. And recent rainy days and cold nights may have been tough on mango pollination. I don't really know yet. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried planting several cultivars of a fruit tree in the same, large planting hole, as a way to save yard space. I've heard this suggested several times, in regard to mangos, but can't really picture how it would work. Would extensive pruning be necessary? Dan Duprey ----- Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 20:08:15 -0800 To: Dan Duprey Subject: Crowding trees Dan, I'd think that you would have to prune extensively, as you would in any fruit tree with excessive inside branches. I'd guess you'd be able to have about the same amount of fruit as with only one tree, and you might need to hack more of the more aggressively growing ones in order for the slower-growing ones to compete. It might work best when the natural maximum height of each cultivar is the same. I wouldn't want to try it with more than three trees, and I wouldn't exactly put them in the same hole, but very close - maybe 12 to 18 inches? I believe it would be better than grafting several varieties on one tree and risk losing all if one goes down of a virus or whatever. I haven't done it, exactly, but I've planted deciduous trees in a row with a foot or less of space. That's been done in England for many years with apples. It makes sense to me. Leo ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 06:48:04 PST From: Doron Kletter Subject: February RFNO delivered? Leo, Was there a February release of RNFO? The only indication I got was some correspondance from Sainarong. This time I did not even get your other message boadcasting the release. Would it be possible to re-send? How are your trees coping with the extra water this year? You have no idea how happy I am to have installed drainage pipes and pumps last year (not to mension the greenhouse). Doron ------------------------------- From: SherHoudin@aol.com Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1998 09:37:11 EST Subject: Dehydrator information sought Can any of the readers direct my wife and I to a company that sells high quality :"professional" dehydrators. We bought a simplistic one, without a fan, but it just doesn't do the job. When we will be dehydrating fruit, we want a heavy duty apparatus that will do the job well and speedily. What companies manufacture such? Address and if you know price range? Your information will be much appreciated. E-mail to me at : SherHoudin@AOL.com or call me in San Diego, California at 619 552 8576. Joel and Arlene Moskowitz ------------------------------ Subject: Commercial Growers: This Question Is For You. Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 11:34:58 -0600 From: Manuel Valdez Dear Ladies and Gentlemen: I'll appreciate if you could bring me information about importers and exporters countries and market worldwide of the following products: Guava (Psidium guajava), Wax Apple (Syzygium samaragense), Star Fruit (Averroha carambola) and Chinesse Guinda (Ziziphus mauritiana). Thank you very much. Sincerely yours, Manuel Valdez AGEXPRONT. ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Dovyalis Seeds Wanted: From Florida? Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 15:38:28 -0800 Hi Leo, I read an old issue of the Florida Rare Fruit Council, Int. that talked about a hybrid of two Dovyalis species, D. abyssinica x D. hebecarpa. It was a chance hybrid found in a USDA Subtropical Research Unit at Chapman Field. The article said that lots of people in Florida were growing this hybrid, I was wondering if anyone in the RFNO group from Florida could send some seeds to me when this plant next fruits. The main plus is that it is self fruitful, which D. caffra is not, and D. caffra is the only species of this genus that I have come across. So please post this in your next mailing for me. Thanks Later, Bob ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 00:37:53 -0800 From: Andy Butcher Subject: President Plums Leo, There must be a reason you spend so much time in front of a computer. It turns out we always are doing what we want, even when we deny it. You just have to face the fact, what you really like is doing what you are doing. It turns out there is quite a contingent of rare fruit growers here in Santa Clara County, where I was born and grew up on a Santa Rosa Plum Orchard. My grandfather was a fine orchardist. One of his crops was the President Plum. Have you ever heard of that? He grew it and shipped it by rail to New York where it was sold to Hotels for fruit baskets. It was the largest, most beatiful piece of fruit you ever saw. The reason you don't see them around, is the same reason it had such a limited market in its day. It had no flavor. What a contrast to his Santa Rosa plum, which has so much incredible flavor. Grandpas name was A.C.Butcher, and his son's name is Robert T. Butcher, who is still growing Santa Rosas in the Santa Clara Valley. Another Japanese Plum we had growing up (I dont know if this is another Burbank) was the Shiro Plum. It was yellow. If you picked it just before it was dead ripe it had a fine sweet flavor. If you waited too long, it was too sweet. I will pass your Web site to other fruit enthusiasts. Andy Butcher ------------------------------------- Subject: The address for Going Bananas Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 13:37:02 -0500 (EST) From: paullgj The address for Going Bananas is as follows: Going Bananas 24401 SW 197th Ave. Homestead, Florida 33031-1174 Send $1.00 and ask for a catalogue. They have a wide selection which they sell as corms. Most a $15.00. They have a very wide selection of Cavendish cultivars which is what I try to grow. Gene Paull Brownsville, Tx., zone 9b ---------------------------------------- Subject: Rare Fruit Discussion Homepage http://24.4.65.133/rarefruits Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 13:22:08 -0800 From: Jose Miguel Gallego Hi Leo, I finally got the time to play around with my new version of FrontPage 98, I had a good excuse, the Registration Page for the Festival. This is the first version of FrontPage that is complete and easy to use (I have copies of version 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, etc). This is one of the types of applications that I was talking about, that you should set up (http://24.4.65.133/rarefruits). The other is where your IP handles the hosting, but you may be limited to the amount of traffic you can have. Hosting it at home, it doesn't matter, as long as you have you computer on and on-line all the time (which is our case). Let me know what you think. Jose ---------------------------- Subject: Blue Honeysuckle, Lonicera caerula, where to purchase? Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 11:54:25 -0600 From: Connie Kehler To: Multiple recipients of list NEWCROPS Does anyone know where one could purchase some blue honeysuckle plants? I am in Canada. Connie ------------ Andrea Gunner says: Dear Connie, I don't know for certain but would suggest that you contact one of: Adera Nurseries 1071 Wain Rd, Sidney, B.C. V8L 5V1 (604) 656-3445 or 1-800-661-3123 Piroche Plants Inc. 20542 McNeil Rd Pitt Meadows, B.C. V3Y 1Z1 604) 465-7101 Spaargeren, W.J., b.v. PO Box 18 2770 AA Boskoop, Holland Tel 011 31 1727 17071 FAX 011 31 172 218058 Regards, Andrea Gunner ---------- Bob Batson says: Connie, Edible Landscaping used to sell Lonicera careula, but a quick look at their website (http://www.eat-it.com) just lists L. kamschatica. They do, however, ship plants to Canadian customers. Bob Batson -------------- Lon J. Rombough says: Connie, T & T Seeds in Winnepeg has the stock, but won't have them on sale for a year or so. -Lon Rombough http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom -------------- gerald creps says: Connie, page 13 1997 to 1999 catalog---800-524-4156...Edible Honeysuckle (lonceria kamtschatica...from the Czech Republic...must have at least two for cross pollination....enjoys cool temp... call or write...Edible Landscaping, P.O. Box 77, Afton, VA 22920... I hope this helps....Poppabear ------------------ Anna Whipkey says: Connie, Aubin Nurseries (PO Box 1089, Carman MB R0G 0J0 Canada, 204/745-6703) has Lonicera caerula var. edulis Anna --------------------------------------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: "Robert H. Faust" Subject: Re: seeds of papaya University of Hawaii at Manoa sell a kapoho which is a low growing papaya of the solo type which is now gaining favor. Robert H. Faust Ph.D. Agroecologist Faust Bio-Agricultural Services, Inc. Telephone exchange road P.O. Box 800, Honaunau, Hawaii 96726 ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Anna Whipkey Subject:Re: dragon fruit [Hylocereus (Pitahaya)] in Israel Mizrahi and Nerd are doing research on Hylocereus (Pitahaya) in Israel Yosef Mizrahi Department of Life Sciences Institutes for Applied Research Ben Gurion University of the Negev Israel: http://www.bgu.ac.il/life/mizrahi.html e-mail: mizrahi@bgumail.bgu.ac.il Avinoam Nerd Institutes for Applied Research Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Beer Sheva 84105 Israel e-mail: aavi@bgumail.bgu.ac.il Anna ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: P Lovett Subject:Re: dragon fruit This is an article that will be included in the forthcoming ICUC Global Newsletter (very soon!). And just in case anyone has anything else to add I may just have time to squeeze it in, if sent to me before 13/2/98 UK lunchtime Peter Lovett PNL@soton.ac.uk ICUC researcher Dragon Fruit of Vietnam A juicy, sweet-and-sour fruit occurring in the southern part of Vietnam has been overlooked for inclusion in the Prosea volume 2 Edible fruits and nuts. It is the fruit of a plant called dragon fruit or green dragon in English, oeil de dragon in French and in Vietnam it is known as thanh long or garu . Its scientific name is Hylocereus undatus (Haw. ( Britt. & Rose (synonym Cereus triangularis auct. non Haw., C. undatus Haw.) belonging to Cactaceae. Originating from Central America it is cultivated in Vietnam and in Indonesia (Java). The fruit is eaten fresh or prepared into fruit juice and also sometimes as a vegetable. The anthocyanin of the fruit is used as a dye and the fruit also has medicinal properties. Although mainly exported from Nicaragua, the export value from Vietnam was 300 tons in 1990 with a value of US$450,000 (1kg = US$1.50) mainly to Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In Vietnam the average yield of dragon fruit ranges from 20-25 tons per ha per year and a crop may produce fruits for up to 15 years. Extracted from an article by Dzuoung Duc Huyen & N. Wulijarni-Soetjipto in Prosea Newsletter No 18, April 1997. >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - February 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online March 1, 1998 AKA RFN199803A.txt From: Leo Manuel Subject: Where to buy NAA (napthaleneacetic acid) crystals? What's in this issue? New Subscribers Seek Your Help From: stephan.reeve@tdp.org Subject: New Subscriber, Maui, HI & Plans For Tropical Fruit Grove From: NickSchaefer Subject: New Subscriber, Belgium From: Gail Newcomb Subject: New Subscriber, New Zealand, Becoming Self-Sufficient From: Gail Newcomb Subject: New Zealand Kiwifruit Next: Readers Report From: Matthew Shugart Subject: dark red guava From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Searching for Lyman Hardy (In Florida?) From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Cost of horticulture trip to Thailand From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Re: Cost of horticulture trip to Thailand From: "Harry W. Mazal OBE" Subject: Papaya Plant Sale in San Antonio! From: Konosuke Degi Subject: mango variety From: moshe Subject: Re: mango problems in Okinawa From: Doron Kletter Subject: Lychee report - Lessons Learned From: Richard Wanberg Subject: RFNO From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Newsletter and Importing Seeds From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Re: What's New in Australia From: jmshoe@awod.com (J.M. Shoemaker) Subject: Re: fejoa Request for Seed Source From: sainarong Subject: Thai fruits Now From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Thailand Fruit in August Next: Readers Write To Each Other Subject: Re: tropical fruit From: "Jeff Earl" To: Richard Wanberg From: "Jeff Earl" To: Richard Wanberg Subject: attn :Richard re Tropicals From: Richard Wanberg To: Jeff Earl Subject: Tropicals From: Kym To: Paul Subject: going bananas From: Kym To: APARATMED Subject: sweetsop pollenation From: Richard Wanberg (MBASF@aol.com) To: Paul Subject: Banana Cold Hardiness From: "Ricardo Barbosa" To: Oliver Subject: From Sapote to Pitanga From: Doron Kletter To: Linda Kincaid Subject: pink-fleshed apples From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Konosuke Subject: Hylocereus species From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: David Subject: Orinoco bananas From: DAVID W VADER To: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Re: Orinoco bananas From: Richard Wanberg To: Richard Subject: subtropicals From: Matthew Shugart Subject: High-density planting Subject: Black Sapotes From: David To: Kevin From: Sainarong Rasananda To: HMHausman Subject: Re: Florida longans [Relationship of fertilizer & bloom] From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: Re: Thai Longans From: Mario Lozano To: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Re: Thai Longans From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: Dormancy in winter for Lychee and Longan Next: Extracts from NEWCROPS and Zingiber Lists Sender: Discussion list for New Crops Subject:Re: dragon fruit Sender: Discussion list for New Crops Subject:Pitaya = Dragonfruit? Sender: Discussion list for New Crops Subject:Tropical germplasm and Cornucopia: Where'd It Go? Sender: Discussion list for New Crops Subject:Fourth National New Crops Symposium Subject: Zan Moreno banana is a dwf Cavendish cultivar Sender: zingiber@coollist.com ------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 13:25:06 +0000 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Where to buy NAA (napthaleneacetic acid) crystals? Do you know where small quantities (100 gms) of NAA can be purchased? There has been some success in air-layering SOME varieties of mango, using NAA and lanolin. Do you know from personal experience whether it is likely to be successful? Thanks! Leo -------------------------- New Subscribers Seek Your Help From: stephan.reeve@tdp.org Date: Wed, 25 Feb 98 17:48:27 Subject: New Subscriber, Maui, HI & Plans For Tropical Fruit Grove Aloha Leo, I came across your web page by way of the CRFG site. I hope to participate in your rare fruit newsletter. Here's my personal info as requested. Stephan Reeve Fruition Hana Maui HI 96713 I just got my own place and am beginning to convert an 11 acre pasture, surrounded by 60' mango trees, to a tropical fruit grove. Some of the fruits I plan to grow are: Durian: I'm a durian fanatic so I'll plant many of them. Here in Hawai'i we have only the commercial Thai clones, whereas I greatly prefer the Malaysian cultivars, particularly the "red" fleshed types from Penang: Udang Merah (D175) and Khun Po Ang Bak (D164). How can I obtain malaysian durian clones? Also I'm excited to grow some of the other Durio species, particularly D. graveolens (Red-fleshed durian), D. dulcis (Red durian), D. oxleyanus, and D. kutejensis. Leads and seeds greatly appreciated. Artocarpus: We have good jakfruit cultivars here already. There are just a handful of Marang (A. odoratissimus) trees in the islands but I managed to get seed of 6 types from Sarawak for trial here; they've just sprouted. I'm looking to grow Pedalai (A. sericicarpus) as well as A. lakoocha, A. sarawakensis, and am looking for seed of Entawak (A. anisophyllus). I'm looking to grow a great variety of tropical fruits including, Atemoya, Rollinia, Canistel, Lychee, Mangosteen, Rambutan, Star Apple, Sweetsop, Pommelo, etc. I'm growing many of them just for myself (I eat all raw, mostly fruits) and friends but do plan some direct marketing. I plan a small market planting of mammey sapote and hope to get some of the recent selections from Florida. I look forward to corresponding with other fruit lovers on these and other topics. I'd love to receive seeds of those species we don't yet have here and I'm very happy to offer anything I can find here in the Hawaiian Islands. Steph ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 13:43:12 +1100 From: NickSchaefer Subject: New Subscriber & "What's Chilling Req. for Pawpaw?" Hi Leo, thanks for replying. I am Nick Schaefer, Mullumbimby Ck, NSW, near Brisbane, Queensland We have been farming on the north coast for approx 7 years, mainly Lady Finger (~sugar) bananas, mangoes, avocados, lychees, Tahitian limes, lychees and taro. A number of horticultural plants have become naturalised on our farm and in our district such as guavas (regular and strawberry), passionfruit, cape gooseberry and coffee (as an understory plant in rainforest). We are about to plant out papaya (known as pawpaw in australia), and Davidson plums (Davidsonia pruriens) (this is a local rainforest plant that is seen as having potntial as 'bush tucker'. We are also looking at the creeping cactus Pitaya or dragon fruit (which also is naturaised here). We are wondering also about the possibility for Capulin cherries, cherimoyas (known to grow in the area) and possibly american pawpaw (Asimina triloba) although we may not have enough hours of chilling. I would like to know the chilling requirements for pawpaw. I have just emailed Des Layne of the american pawpaw foundation-he may be able to help on this one? Thanks Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 08:40:30 +0000 From: Vincent Turkelboom (Pito) Subject: New Subscriber, Belgium Hello, We are interested in the "rare fruit-newsletter". Information from myself and my work: I am Vincent Turkelboom, Provinciaal Instituut Tuinbouwonderwijs, A school-teacher with the speciality fruitculture (practice) in a school for horticulture in Mechelen (Belgium) Antwerpsesteenweg, 145 B-2800 Mechelen (Belgium) (Europe) I have now trees of Malus domestica, Prunus persica, Prunus domestica Also I have Rubus idaeus, Rubus fruticosus, Ribes rubrum (white), Ribes uva-crispa, Ribes 'Jostaberry', Ribes nigrum, Fragaria ananassa. In the horticulture-school we have many others sorts of fruit: Actinidia deliciosa, Corylus avellana, Cydonia oblonga, Morus nigra, Morus alba, Amelanchier lamarckii, Castanea sativa, Juglans regia, Mespilus germanica, Prunus dulcis, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus, Pyrus communis, Pyrus pyrifolia, Ribes 'Worchesterberry', Ribes rubrum, Vaccinium corymbosum and Vitis vinifera We are interested in to grow Asimina triloba (Pawpaw), Actinidia arguta, Aronia, Hippophae, other Cydonia cultivars, Passion Fruit, Citrus, Jujube, Japanese Persimmon, and other fruitsorts and cultivars. USDA Climate Zone 7/8 Vriendelijke Groeten / Friendly Regards / Amities Vincent Turkelboom ------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 10:02:52 +1300 From: Gail Newcomb Subject: New Zealand Kiwifruit Hi Leo I am the Secretary/Editor of the Bay of Plenty Branch of New Zealand Tree Crops Association so always on the look out for information! We have an Internet site at www.nzero.co.nz/treecrops which we are hoping to update regularly - and which links to the National Tree Crops On Line page as well as our Home Page www.nzero.co.nz/ecoworks. Love your 'rare fruit' - kiwifruit! A couple of acres of our land was originally a 'Kiwifruit Orchard' We have kept 3 rows which we leave to mature on the vine and use no sprays whatever. The taste is incomparable with early picked fruit. We have a glut of it. And we now consider what we have pulled out one of our worst WEEDS! It is still coming up everywhere, through everything and is very hard to destroy! As you can tell we are interested in ALL kinds of trees and fruits as are our members so we have a great variety to look at on our Field Days. We are going to Nelson in April for the National Tree Crops Conference in combination with ACOTANC members from Australia. So looking forward to learning about even more crops. Regards Gail ---------AND--- Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 09:01:05 +1300 From: Gail Newcomb Subject: New Subscriber, New Zealand, Becoming Self-Sufficient Yes I am interested in subscribing to your news online I found your page through CFR Yes I would like to see a sample My name is Gail Newcomb Our address is "Ecoworks' (which is near the TAURANGA, in the Bay of Plenty, North Island. New Zealand. We are growing a variety of crops as a hoping to be self sustaining. Connections with NZ growers of most varieties through NZ Tree Crops Association. Would like to know more in general to pass on to members and use excerpts for our small newsletter (at present being snailed to members but hoping to do more nationally online) Any exchange of information welcomed. Gail -------------------------- Readers Report -------------------------- Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 11:14:59 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: dark red guava Leo, I have a "Red Malaysian" that might meet your criteria. Are you familiar with this variety? Mine came from Exotica in Vista (though I acually bought it at Laguna Hills Nursery in Orange County, because Exotica had sold out). It is a seedling. I was told that it is not propagated asexually and usually comes true from seed. I like it better than any other guava I've tasted. As you said, that is subjective. A co-worker, who is Vietnamese and says she really loves guavas, said she thought the Red Malaysian I gave her was among the best guavas she'd had. It does not have much of that musky flavor, except in the skin (which can be avoided). I usually let them get really soft (almost rotting) before I eat them, at which point they are very sweet. Sometimes I eat them when they are still crisp; although they have less sweetness then, they do have an interesting and--to me--agreeable flavor at that stage. The skin is very light in color, almost beige, but with some pinkish blush. The flesh is quite dark red. Seeds are very small, as is the seed cavity. The tree has borne heavily and young. It's also a very attractive ornamental, as the leaves are a very reddish purple (changing to dark green with purplish overtones as they age). Let me know if you have more questions about it. Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California -------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Searching for Lyman Hardy (In Florida?) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 07:20:18 -0800 Hi Leo, In August of 1990 Lyman Hardy gave a talk to the Florida Rare Fruit Council, Int. about a number of issues, and a summary of is talk was in the November 1990 issue of their Tropical Fruit News. One item that caught my eye was his "work" with genetic engineering. He claimed that the cold hardiness of certain fruit trees is determined by the DNA in the mitochondria of the cells of these trees. This mitochondria could be transfered to other plant cells and confer their cold hardiness to these cells, which could be grown into mature plants. I would like to know from the Florida members of RFNO if Mr. Hardy has done any further work on this subject and if he has published his findings. Why don't you through this out in your next newsletter and see if we get any responses. Thanks Leo. Later, Bob -------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 12:19:32 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Cost of horticulture trip to Thailand The approximate cost of a one-week horticulture trip to Thailand is about U$1000. The breakdown of the cost is as follows: Return air-fare from L.A. to Bangkook $680-750. 3-4 days coach trip to various orchards and research stations - $130-170. 3-4 days sight-seeing and shopping around Bangkok - $ 120-160. It appears that if there are sufficient people interested, the arrangement should be within our ability. Sainarong Rasananda (About 20 people should be sufficient) --------------------------------- Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 16:53:29 -0600 From: "Harry W. Mazal OBE" Subject: Papaya Plant Sale in San Antonio! Dear Leo, Thank you for your interesting and pertinent Newsletter. I always read it with great care and enthusiasm. I am happy to announce that the San Antonio Botanical Society, (benefactors of the San Antonio Botanical Gardens) will be having Mr. Moy's hybrid papayas for sale again this year. All proceeds from the sale will go to support research activities in the Gardens. This year we will have the already hugely successful Moy Dulce, a dioecieus hybrid that produces fruit 11 months after seeding. Our plants were started in October in our new, modern greenhouse, built exclusively with funds from our sales. Many of the females have already set fruit! This plant only requires 145 days with daytime temperatures above 70 degrees after the flowers have set to produce ripe, sweet papayas in the area around San Antonio. We have about 2,000 Moy Dulce Papayas for sale. We are usually sold out after Viva Botanica (see below). A new, experimental papaya (Carica papaya, var. Moy Aromatic), will also be available. This is a dwarf dioecious hybrid which we believe will be suitable for container growing. We only have 300 of these -- half will presumably be males -- and they too will be available during our sales days: Sunday March 1 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Saturday March 14, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (coinciding with the last sales day for the highly successful Garden Center plant sale across the parking lot from the Gardens). Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (coinciding with "Viva Botanica," our annual Spring Festival which - apart from our plant sale - also has music, entertainment, food, and fun for the whole family. Apart from papayas, we will also be offering a number of tropical and native hybrid hibiscus developed by Mr. Moy, a few Carambola seedlings, and a number of other exotics. Because the papayas are already four feet tall (or more!), we cannot ship them, although we can sell them on other dates at the Gardens by special arrangement. I will be happy to answer questions by e-mail: hmazal@txdirect.net For the record, I am Harry W. Mazal, First Vice-President of the San Antonio Botanical Society, and founder of the Plant Propagation and Sales Group at the Gardens. We are a 100% volunteer organization. Thanks, and kindest regards, Harry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 16:47:24 +0900 (JST) From: Konosuke Degi Subject: mango variety We have two problems in mango growing in Okinawa. First is mango decline problem. Because, about 50% of growing area is calcareous soil. We would like to introduce root stocks like 13-1. The 13-1 is famous calcareous soil tolarant root stock in Israel. Second is dwarf variety or root stock. Mango is grown in vinyl house in Okinawa. Because, it is rain and high humidity in mango flowering season, and heavy anthracnose disease occoured. major vaiety is Irwin. Irwin have attractive skin color and good quality and semi dwarf. But growing period in vinyle house is only 10 years. We need dwarf variety having atractive red skin fruit like Irwin or dwarf ro ot stock. Please give me any suggestion. Konosuke --------------------Moshe Supplies The Following----------- Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 05:54:49 -0400 From: moshe Subject: Re: mango problems in Okinawa hi leo! 13-1 is a rootstock that was developed in israel for use in alkaline soils, where the south african rootstock, the 'sabre' was not so good. it is propgated by seeds. for more information i can try nd get the article that was published about this rootstock. about el nino - until now we didn't have here something unusual. hope that it will stay like this. moshe ----------------------------- Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 10:12:43 PST From: Doron Kletter Subject: Lychee report - Lessons Learned Leo, I am excited to report that my young Lychee tree (a Bosworth 3) is definitely going to bloom this year. It is all covered with clusters of fresh greenish flower panicles emerging from the branch terminals. No girdling was necessary. I am very grateful to Mr. Sainarong Rasananda from Thayland. I basically followed his advice to withhold water and fertilizer throughout the winter. The plant is in a large pot, which I moved into my (unheated) greenhouse in January and put under stress; I only watered it when the soil was getting dry and in a small quantity at a time (once a week on average). My experience so far has led me to believe that the Lychee needs cool and dry winters to flower. About two months of water stress seem to be sufficient. The opposite conditions of warm and wet will promote vegetative growth. Perhaps this explains why you were having such difficulty with an outside tree that was exposed to the rain. Though I cannot say for sure, I believe El-Nino also played a significant role; The greenhouse floor is made of gravel that was providing little moisture from all the rain outside; And the temperatures were certainly more stable, cool, but none-the-less somewhat warmer than usual. The greenhouse also provided wind protection. The idea appears to be working for now, but I'm not sure what to do yet when the tree will get larger. Have you seen a similar behavior with your trees this year? I will keep you posted with regard to fruit set, if any. Doron -------------------------- From: Richard Wanberg Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:09:14 EST Subject: RFNO Dear Leo, I thoroughly enjoy my new membership in RFNO. Thanks for all you efforts to make this possible. One question for the next newsletter.... I'm looking for information / tips on building a small, INEXPENSIVE greenhouse for my backyard. It will not require heating. I've begun to sift through the myriad web sites on the web but haven't yet found what I'm looking for. Any ideas? thanks! Richard Wanberg San Anselmo, CA ----------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Newsletter and Importing Seeds Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 08:09:02 -0800 Hi Leo, I finally found out how to open the newsletter as an enclosure, so I'm okay with that format. It's good to have at least one computer geek in the office. I have asked Ricardo Barbosa in Brazil to send some seeds to me and they are slow in arriving. I said something to Ben Poirier, who has already received seeds from Ricardo, and he said he has had bad experiences in using the USDA stickers for importation. I just wonder if my seeds were held up because I had Ricardo use a sticker. It would be really too bad if I had to ask Ricardo and John Sojka and whoever else to send seeds with no identification on the package because the USDA has field representatives who don't know what they are doing. As an experiment I'll ask Ricardo to send some seeds without a sticker and see if they get through and how long it takes. I'll let you know because it may be important for other online members to know as well. Later, Bob -------------------------- Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 14:31:23 -0800 (PST) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Re: What's New in Australia Hi Leo Yes it has been a while ... but time goes fast in paradise ;-) I think I can say that here in Melbourne it has been a disappointing summer. Hasn't hit the 40 deg C like last summer, and to my recollection the mornings have been cold. For that matter, we haven't had too much rain either: you guys must be getting our allotment as well. My young mangoes are all doing well. I have an adjustable shade cloth over the top section of my glass house that constantly shades the mango seedlings. I have 5 Winters, 3 Leo's #5, 3 R2E2, 4 unknown Philippine (maybe I could name it Mark's #1), and around a half dozen Bowen. Unfortunately, I learnt that I shouldn't use slow release fertiliser on mangoes under six inches in height: I lost 4 unknown Philippines that way. One of my mango grafts has really kicked on: the Florigon is now nearly up to the height of the glass house (6 foot at the front) in it's first season. I think the current growth flush is about the 4th of the season. The R2E2 is a little slow growing though. Safeway is also offering mangoes other than the usual Bowen and R2E2: Keitt. Unusual to get fruit different than Bowen in Australia in the market. $3 for a huge mango, although I can't bring myself to fork out that much for a mango just yet. Glad to hear you've got some Bowen happening in sunny San Diego. My avocadoes are not really enjoying the direct sun and high winds they're getting in their current position. The two grafts of Fuerte and Bacon I bought from the same nursery in Spring are looking very sick. I'd say the Fuerte has no hope, while the Bacon may come back. Fuerte got burnt back to the stem on one of the rare days we've had over 35 deg C. I didn't realise until the next day that it wasn't in partial shade. Hass has slowed it's growth considerably from earlier in the season and is just starting to show signs of new growth. Reed is performing best of all and I cut back the central leader when it reached around 8 feet tall in it's 50 cm pot. Rincon is also performing well, although I'm having trouble working out which is the central leader and which is a long weeping branch. Wurtz is remaining compact, but today I think I'll send a bigger stake into the pot to train the central leader which is now weeping partially down the plant. My citrus is performing admirably considering the constraint their under: still in 40 centimeter pots. All limes have young fruit set on them. This means no more paying $1.45 for limes at the local Safeway. Lemon has just started signs of growth on the central trunk. White Sapote finally started growth down the length of it's central leader a couple of months back, and that's looking good. The dwarf peach I've harvested a half dozen fruit from in it's first season. It's now concentrating it's efforts on growth. We also had $6 a kilo for fresh Bengal lychees last month. I dined on fresh lychees for days, unfortunately I didn't eat them quick enough and some of them succumbed to mould. The lychee season aint that long though, so looks like I'll have to wait till next season for more. I would like to try longans as I've heard the taste is more pronounced than lychee. My chiles are just starting to fruit due to my lateness in starting them from seed this season. I have over 80 chiles in 20 cm pots in my glasshouse at the moment: it's getting very crowded in there currently. There are around half that number outside the glasshouse. Bye for now Mark Dodgson http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2609 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 14:42:11 -0500 From: jmshoe@awod.com (J.M. Shoemaker) Subject: Re: fejoa Request for Seed Source leo thanx for the info! Leo said: I believe FEIJOA SELLOWIANA is what you're looking for. There are several possible sources of seed. What you might try is doing an internet search for FEIJOA SELLOWIANA, if you don't find them below: http://www.johnnycyberseed.com/p2438.htm http://www.boldweb.com/greenweb/seedbank.htm http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/horticulture/sources/tropical.htm http://www.mnsinc.com/menoldre/R&D_Enterprises/Fruitnut.html http://www.cog.brown.edu/gardening/cat16/f31idx.html#starthere Leo Joe & Pat -------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 16:03:44 +0700 From: sainarong Subject: Thai Fruits Now Here are some of the fruits in season in Thailand in February. Following are the prices of some Thai fruits. If you would like to get more information, please look into the following websites. http://bday.net/tat/fruit_index.html http://asiatour.com/thailand/e-02trav/et-tr155.htm http://www.su.ac.th/thailand/fruits/fruits.html Name Maket Price(US$Lb.) Remarks (US$@48Baht) Tangerine 0.19-0.33 all year round Guava 0.19-0.28 all year round Rose Apple 0.28-0.37 end of season Banana 0.83-1.04/ comb all year round Sapodilla 0.28-0.47 middle-end of season Watermelon 0.28-0.37 all year round Mangosteen 0.37-0.47 out of season Coconut 0.29/fruit all year round Papaya 0.19-0.28 all year round Enjoy your fruits. sainarong ------------------------- Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 09:45:40 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Thailand Fruit in August Leo asked: My son and daughter-in-law are going to Thailand in August. What fruit's ripe then? Leo, the major fruit season is from April to June. In August, the sole major fruit will be longan and rambutan (the longan crop is very very bad this year). However, we can produce many fruits, such as mangoes, tangerines, etc. out of season. The price will, of course be higher than normal. BTW the weather has been very unkind to us this year, we expect pretty low production for most crops. The website below has a chart of the availability of fruits in Thailand from month to month. However, the number of fruits seems to be too few; the website belongs to a canned-fruit company, and they probably only shows the friuits which they can. http://www.malee.co.th/html/season.html This next website has many more fruits, but no chart. You have to click on each fruit to know the season, which is prominently displayed. http://asiatour.com/thailand/e-02trav/et-tr155.htm Sainarong Rasananda -------------------------- Readers Write To Each Other -------------------------- Subject: Re: tropical fruit Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 22:10:40 -0800 From: "Jeff Earl" To: Richard Wanberg Dear Richard Wanberg in San Anselmo, CA Thanks for the reply... Sorry about my web page..... I canceled my subscription to one of my ISP's.....so went my web page! The Bananas I grow are believed to be mutated dwarf orinoco. I say mutated, because they do not act like published reports say they should act. I call the new var. " California Gold" 1. The trees are stout, not thin like the orinoco. 2. The tree fruits at 4ft to 6ft. 3. The tree fruits in an area, prone to freezes. ( The fruit carries through the winter, without loss in flavor, inspite of winter daytime high temps that sometimes fail to reach 40f, during foggy periods) 4. The fruit tastes as good or better than store bought fruit! The plant fruits, even after a cold snap burns the leaves. The plant regrows rapidly in the spring and sends out a flower in June or July. With the fruit ripening in Oct. I grow a Babaco Papaya on the north side of my house. ( They don't like Modesto's hot summer sun) Fruit that is on the plant during the winter will ripen in the spring....as long as the frost dosn't get it! Some people like the fruit's taste, others don't. ( I don't, but I grow it for it's Tropical look!) Macadamia grows well here in the San Joaquin Valley!( Var. Beaumont) Yes! They fruit! Every year! They seem to be as hardy as lemon trees. I dont see any frost damage untill the temp drops below 24f. ( Slight leaf burn) I have a tree that was froze to the ground in 1990 ( 18f) That came back and produced nuts 2 years later. The Guavas I grow are "psidium guajava' (Aka :tropical guava. ) The leaves on the plant will freeze at 28f. However the plant is a weed and it recovers fast. It fruits well in mild years( " El Nino".) Jeff Earl Modesto, Ca -------------------------- From: "Jeff Earl" To: Richard Wanberg Subject: attn :Richard re Tropicals Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 14:59:37 -0800 Hello Richard, I also live in N. California- Modesto. I grow and fruit many different types without frost protection... Inc. Macadamia, Avocado, Tropical guava, Banana and Jaboticaba. Visit my web page at...... www.thevision.net/jearl or email me jeff.earl@ccc-infonet.edu Jeff Earl Modesto, Ca ------------------------------- From: Richard Wanberg To: Jeff Earl Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 16:15:45 EST Subject: Tropicals Dear Jeff, Thanks for your E-mail! I wasn't able to access your web site at the address given or via Thevision's index of sites......still, I do believe I saw an article on you in CRFG Fruit Gardener some time ago. I have a myriad of questions and my experience is limited to arm-chair reading but I'll try to limit my questions. Bananas: If I remember correctly, you had an Orinoco Dwarf growing by your house. 1). What is the fruit quality like? 2). Was it completely defoliated in the winter? 3) What other cold & wind hardy varieties have you experimented with? Babaco: This was the first plant to go into my garden and it began fruiting last fall. The fruit reach 6-7" in length before cold weather stopped their growth. They've been hanging on patiently thru the winter. Can I assume that they will continue to ripen once warmer weather returns? I also started some Chamburro Papayas by seed (Carica pubescens). They reportedly have poor quality fruit but are hardy to 28F. The little quys wilted at the first light frost however (in a raised bed under an overhang). Any experience here? Macadamia: Has your macadamia fruited in Modesto? Tropical Guava: Are you referring to Psidium guajava or Psidium cattleianum as having grown in Modesto? Last but not least, any suggestions on inexpensive mail order nurseries for sub-tropicals? Iam looking forward to CRFG's next plant sale....that may be the ticket. Thanks in advance for your help. Regards, Richard Wanberg San Anselmo, CA ------------------------------- From: Kym To: Paul Subject: going bananas Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 04:23:33 GMT I don't know if you've ever have the chance to go to the "Going Bananas" farm, but I went last summer and took some pictures if you care. Between every row of bananas is a row of lychees. The best part is that you can taste banana varieties you've only read about like "praying hands" and "red dwarf" to comparison shop. So, just for fun, if you want to see what the farm looks like, just let me know! Kym (Florida) ------------------------------- From: jcubero@magicnet.net To: APARATMED@aol.com Subject: sweetsop pollenation Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 04:23:31 GMT We had an "expert" talk to our Tropical Fruit Club last year about the annona family and he said that you could freeze the pollen to use later...since you wouldn't have to hold onto the frozen pollen too long--a couple of days at the most, right? the pollen shouldn't go "bad" before you get to use it. It's also a matter of timing, our tree sex changover is definitely about 8am, so that's what time someone has to be out there with the little "sex" brush. Maybe you're out there too early or too late? Kym (Florida) -------------------------- Subject: Black Sapotes Date: Mon, 16 Feb 98 00:41:32 -0800 From: David To: Kevin Dear Kevin, I read your letter about black sapotes and I may be able to offer some assistance. I grow black sapotes and have been frustrated in that I can't seem to get them to sweeten up at all. My tree was touch and go for the first year. I live near Santa Monica, CA, and kept it covered in a frame built out of pvc with plastic sheeting over it during its first winter. I'm happy to say that the tree is now aobut 9 feet tall and covered with large (but insipid) balck sapotes. What part of the world do you live in? There are two common sources of yellow leaves; either a lack of nitrogen or a lack of iron. In a pot, I would stick to feeding it fish emusion or some other natural fertilizer. Also try iron sulfate. Not "Ironite." That stuff doesn't work. Iron sulfate works like a charm for yellow leaves on citrus. Let me know how that works out. David ------------------------ Subject: Banana Cold-Hardiness From: MBASF@aol.com To: Paul Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 16:35:43 EST Dear Paul, I thoroughly enjoyed your tropical agriculture web site on bananas and other bits of info from you in Rare Fruit News Online. I've recently moved to California, just north of San Francisco (Sunset zone 15, USDA zone 9) and am very interested in bananas which will both thrive and produce good guality fruit here. Just a few questions for you: You stated that you don't grow Orinoco bananas and that they grow (unaffected by cold) like weeds where you live. Is it the quality of the fruit which keeps you from growing them or just their ordinary reputation? Any experience with the following varieties: Cardaba, Brazilian, Ice Cream & Pisang raja. All have been praised as exceptionally cold hardy by various catalogs but I remain somewhat suspicious. A mature Rajapuri was completely defoliated by 3 consecutive nights of light frost while the 2 baby Ensetes at its side remained undaunted. Thanks in advance for any tips you might be able to throw my way. best regards, Richard Wanberg San Anselmo, CA -------------------------- Date: Wed Feb 18 11:14:34 1998 From: "Ricardo Barbosa" To: Oliver Subject: From Sapote to Pitanga Hi Oliver. I would like to thank you for the informations about "Sapotes". And: 1) Surprised me the way you became surprised with frost problems in Brazil. And I'll surprise you again and a little more. If I lived 50 miles West of where I live my problem would not be frost only, but it would be the snow that falls some days in winter. The southermost state of Brazil where I live is placed between 27 and 32 degrees South, and the town where I live is placed almot exactly on the 30 degrees South parallel line. If we consider the latitude as a first aproach for climate reference (and it is) and if you look to the US map you will see that the 30 degrees North line passes almost exacly over New Orleans. This means that we can expect the same climate for both N.O. and my home town if they are at the same altitude (as they are). This means too that the climate of the Florida State is expected to be warmer than the climate of the southermost state of Brazil. Microclimate deviations can occour due to altitude and lack of rains, but this works as a general rule. And the most important to a fruit collector that lives 30 degrees of latitude like me, and possibly like some of US collectors: I look for contacts with people who lives in regions located over (or near) the 30 degrees lines of the globe to exchange fruit trees. These trees, as a first aproach, would not present temperature adaptation problems. On the 30 degrees South line we have South Africa, Australia, and the South of Brazil, and on the 30 degrees North line we have South US, Moroco, Israel, Northern India, between others. 2) The biggest seven. You were right when you said Brazil is a huge country. Here you have the surface and population of the 7 biggest countries: Surface Population (,000,000 sq miles) (,000,000 inhab.) 1) Russia 6.59 147 2) Canada 3.85 25 3) China 3.69 1,133 4) USA 3.62 250 5) Brazil 3.28 150 6) Australia 2.97 15 US(*) 3.03 249.5 7) India 1.27 844 (*) Without Alaska 3) Fruit flies and Pitangas You said you will harvest your Pitangas as soon as possible because fruit fly infestation. First: I can tell you that the taste of Pitangas matured out of the trees will never be the same taste of Pitangas matured on the tree. Second: Here in Brazil the fruit flies infest the fruits very soon when they are still green, so, soon harvesting does not work here. We use fruit flies traps for Pitangas and for Cherry of Rio Grande. (Rio Grande do Sul is the southermost State of Brazil and is the homeland of both fruits. Small native Pitangas are very cold resistent. Large cultivars are more cold sensitives). You can find how to make the fruit fly traps in an old 1997 issue of Leo's RFNO. Best regards. Ricardo -------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 13:33:47 PST From: Doron Kletter To: Linda Kincaid Subject: pink-fleshed apples Linda, Pink Pearl is an outstanding pink-fleshed apple variety. Have you tried it already? Doron -------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Konosuke Subject: Hylocereus species Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 13:18:30 -0800 Hello Konosuke, A few quick notes on Hylocereus, which may or may not clear up your question in the RFNO. The common Hylocereus found around here is H. undatus. The fruit skin is red and the flesh is white. The flowers need to be cross pollinated. Another species that has been fruited in southern California is H. ocamponis. The skin and the flesh of this fruit are deep red. This plant is also in need of cross pollination, but is different in that it can take direct sun. A third species is H. polyrhizus. The skin is red and the flesh is white to pinkish. I do not know about it's pollination needs. There is another Cactaceae member worth mentioning--Selenicereus megalanthus. This fruit is yellow skinned with white flesh and is self fruitful. It unfortunately has spines on the skin of the fruit. I found the above information in Cornucopia by Steve Facciola and in a CRFG article by Dave Silber. All of the fruit listed are supposed to be good to eat, i.e. sweet and juicy. I have only tasted H. undatus. Hopefully this information gives you some direction for growing one species or another. Take care, Bob Holzinger -------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: David Subject: Orinoco bananas Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 13:05:42 -0800 Hello David, I read your question in RFNO about fruiting your 'Orinoco' banana. Just be patient, the 'Orinoco' bananas I grew years ago fruited between 10 and 12 feet, so yours should do something this summer. I have been told be a banana authority that bananas put out a set number of leaves then flower. You just have three feet of leaves to go. With any luck the fruit will ripen before the weather gets cool again, because that really slows the process down. Good luck! Best wishes, Bob Holzinger -------------------------- Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 11:19:43 -0800 (PST) From: DAVID W VADER To: Holzinger, Bob Subject: Re: Orinoco bananas Bob, Thanks for your advice on my banana tree. The only problem is that I lost my leaves during a freeze. The trunk and insides are perfectly healthy and green. In fact a new leaf sheath is slowly coming out. Will the fact that my leaves are gone alleviate my chances for fruiting? The trees grow really rapidy once it hits March and we get in the 70's. Right now we are supposed to be in the mid 60's, but with the El Nino and rains we have only been in the upper 50's to around 60. We have not gone below 40 in a while, but hit 38 two days ago. Our average high for the year is 80 so we are uniformally warm except in the summer, when Vegas can get in to the 100s! I know my tree will grow rapidly soon, but like I asked before, will I be able to fruit? I have one tree in the front and tree in the back. Th eone in the back is facing south, so this one is a rapid grower. The one up front looks its best becase it is under a roof overhang that keeps it protected. I am planning to plant a Chinese dwarf, any advice for that? Well thank you so much. Also have you ever lost your leaves and produce fruit, and what is the climate where you are from? Sorry for the length, just excited someone can help me out. I am the only one growing banana trees in Las Vegas, and everyone thinks I am crazy for even trying, but I have had them for 2 years and they are beautiful! Thanks again! David, Las Vegas, NV -------------------------- From: Richard Wanberg To: Richard Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 11:32:04 EST Subject: subtropicals Dear Richard In the last RFNO you requested a lead on where to purchase Musa basjoo. Below is the least expensive source I know of: Tropic to Tropic Plants P.O. Box 1136, Pt. Roberts. WA 98281 Tel: (604) 943-6562 Fax: (604) 948-1996 ctc: Ray Mattei Plants start at $15 and come with complete instructions. I enjoyed 10 foot tall bananas in the summer months of Germany (zone 7) while ice skating on the frozen lake for weeks at a time in the winter. They have a catalog of other "cool" tolerante plants which would also do well in your area. Another excellent catalog for your zone is: Oregon Exotics Rare Fruit Nursery 1065 Messinger Road, Grants Pass, OR 97527 Tel: (503) 846-7578 The catalog is a gem! They don't sell Musa basjoo but just about everything else you can imagine. They are also in Zone 8a...right up your alley. Good Luck! Richard Wanberg San Anselmo, CA -------------------------- Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 15:10:16 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: High-density planting Some comments on Leo's reply to Dan Duprey's queries on high-density planting. Most of my deciduous fruit trees are planted in groups of three or four. I second Leo's point about ensuring that they be the same ultimate height. That can be done best by using the same or similar rootstocks. Most of mine are on Citation, although a few trees on pixie are included along with some Citation. I have a couple of groups that involve trees on Nemaguard or Lovell. Those two are similar enough that planting them together should be OK, but I would not mix Lovell and Citation, or Nemaguard and Citation. It could be done, but you'd be pruning the Lovell (or Nema.) trees so much more that it would probably not be worth it. My trees in such groups are usually 18-24 inches apart. Where I have four in a group rather than three, I will tend towards the 24 inches end of that spectrum, or even put one of them up to three feet from any other tree in the same group. I use a minimum of 8-10 feet between any one tree in such a group and any other tree in a nearby group. This sort of planting can be done for citrus or avocado, too, though I have only one citrus group (and it has only two trees). This practice is sometimes called "Backyard Orchard Culture." Dave Wilson Nursery has a very useful handout on how to do it. There are two documents that can be accessed from the following page: http://www.sonnet.com/davewilson/Ed.html Matthew Shugart ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 22:16:37 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: HMHausman Subject: Re: Florida longans [Relationship of fertilizer & bloom] HMHausman wrote: > Is fertilization necessary for instigating blooms, fruit set, > and/or fruit sizing? And if so what formulation and when should the > fertilizer be applied? Before going on to fertilization, it is important to remember that the time between harvesting and blooms is very short, only about five months or so. As longan generally have heavy crops, after harvesting, the trees are not in a very fit and healthy state. You have a pretty short period of time to bring the trees to a fit and healthy state. Many believe that this is the reason for the tendency to the biennial cropping phenomenon. This is not an easy task. Many people cannot do it. Frequent fertigation is SUPPOSED to help. Now to fertilization- As with most fruit trees, longans generally need the full complements of all the nutrients. Three nutrients deserve special mention. Nitrogen: after harvesting and pruning, you need to have longans grow very fast. So, a lot of nitrogen is required, otherwise longans will not grow fast enough. The trouble is that nitrogen encourages vegetative growth. So about a month or two before bloom, longans should have almost no nitrogen, otherwise you will get vegetative flush instead of blooms. The question is when to stop applying the nitrogen. In Thailand, at this moment, there is no scientific method, only experience. This is one of the hardest acts for us. Phosphorus: the academics keep telling us that there is absolutely no research evidence that a lot of phosphorus will stimulate blooms. However, most tree growers regularly apply foilar fertilzers with a lot of phosphorus about a month or so before blooms. Potassium: this stimulates production of carbohydrates, which is necessary for blooms, so the academics tell us. So they advise the application of a lot of potassium about a month or so before blooms. The tree growers here follow this advise. In brief, the academics advise the growers to to the carbon/nitrogen ratio high, carbon being carbohydrates. However, I attended a seminar recently in which a researcher told the audience that he tested many mango trees during blooming, and found no evidence that that mango trees which bloom have higher C/N ratio than those which do not. So, is this yet another unproven hypothesis? What is the truth? I do not know. I, however, can positively state that the longan harvest in Thailand this year will be very very very low due almost entirely to unfavorable weather conditions - it has not been cold enough. So, weather seems to be more important than fertilizers. A respected PhD tells me that he is sure there is a hormone which can instigate blooming in longan, and that one of these days he will find it. Fruit Set: in Thailand, we do not apply any fertilizers until a week after pollination has taken place. I heard of a case in which a grower applied fertilizers during the flowering period, and he lost most of his heavy crop. Fruit Size: about a week or two after pollination, when the fruit is about the size of the head of a matchstick, it requires more than normal amount of nitrogen. 100 days after pollination, it regularly needs increasing amount of potassium. The above advice is given by academics. However, the most important factor is regular and heavy watering throughout. The last sentence is me speaking from experience. If you want to hear more of my thoughts, please tell me. If anyone disagrees with what I write, you will be doing me a great favor by telling me. Have Fun. Sainarong ------------------------- From: Mario Lozano Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 09:47:23 EST Subject: Re: Thai Longans Dear Sainarong: Thank you very much for your reply. It does not seem like my longans are going to produce any fruit this year. I have three trees that are of fruiting size, including the one with the large leaves, subject of my question. Two of these trees are over 20 feet tall. I plan to prune them, topping them off at about 15 feet in July (which would be the time of harvest if they had fruit). Do you think that this is advisable, and would encourage fruiting next year? This year's wheather conditions here in Florida, and probably worldwide, have been to say the least unusual, lots of rain, with very few cool dry days. Our normal winter conditions are cool nights with very little rain and lower humidity. These conditions induce dormancy on Lychee and Longan trees, however, this year all of my trees, except for one Brewster Lychee which is now in bloom, have been growing all winter long. I hope we go back to normal winter weather patterns next year, and this naughty child (EL Nino) goes away for at least a few years. Best Regards, Mario Lozano -------------------------- Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:11:05 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: Re: Thai Longans Mario Lozano wrote: > the longan tree has large leaves and is very ornamental. A friend > of mine tells me that when it fruits, I should get large fruits, his idea is > that large leaved longans produce large fruits. Does your experience > correspond with this? I have taken a look around and talked to various people. The concensus is that there are some longan cultivars which agree with this theory, but there are also a few which do not agree. So, maybe his theory is correct, but certainly not 100% correct. If the tree is healthy and well-fertilized, especially with nitrogen, the leaves will obviously be larger than an underfed tree. However, over-fertilization with nitrogen is undesirable, but you already know that. Sainarong Rasananda ------------------------------- Date: Fri Feb 27 07:34:30 1998 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: Dormancy in winter for Lychee and Longan Mario Lozano wrote: Our normal winter conditions are cool nights with very little rain and lower humidity. These conditions induce dormancy on Lychee and Longan trees.... Mario, can you, or anyone else, elaborate on 'dormancy'? I am interested. I do not think that winter in Thailand is sufficiently cold to induce dormancy. The trees seem to be growing all the time - admittedly a little slower in winter -, and we sometimes get undesirable vegetative flushes in December or January. Is dormancy similar to hibernation in animals? Shall reply to pruning question later. Have fun. Enjoy yourself. Sainarong. ----------------------------------------- Extracts from NEWCROPS and Zingiber Lists ----------------------------------------- -------------------------- Sender:Discussion list for New Crops From: Konosuke Degi Subject:Re: dragon fruit Major variety of 'dragon fruit' belonged to Hylocereus undatus Haw till 1994. This species has white fresh. Jean Bourdeaut (CIRAD-FLHOR) introduced new two species into Vietnam in 1995. There are Hylocereus triangularis(yellow fresh) and H.ocaponis(red fresh). This is an article of TROPICAL FRUIT IN VIETNAM (Tropical Fruit Trees and Fruits). Konosuke -------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NIckSchaefer Subject:Pitaya = Dragonfruit? I recently bought a yellow pitaya (Hylocereus triangularis??) that was in bud. Despite only being a small plant in a 6 inch pot it grew a 13" stalk with flower in 10 days. The supporting stem began to wither slightly and turned a bit yellow. An 8" diameter white scentless flower opened during the night which I helped pollinate with a paintbrush several times thru the night. There were lots of small black ants on the flower but most of these seemed to be on the outside, not on the stigma or anthers. Its now 3 days since the flower opened and the flower stalk has shrunken quite dramatically. What's going to happen now?? Has anyone any experience with fruiting in pitaya? Do they have to be grown in partial shade? Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby NSW Australia -------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 13:49:16 -0500 Sender:Discussion list for New Crops From: Ben Alkire Subject:Tropical germplasm and Cornucopia Dear NewCROP List Devotees, Two related topics for discussion: Our much-used Source Book for Edible Plants -Cornucopia - by Stephen Facciola, is now 8+ years old and many of the seed & germplasm sources are out of date. It seems that the book is no longer available. No one seems to know if a second edition (not a 3rd printing) is in the works; and new information about Stephen Facciola and Kampong Publications has been hard to come by. In the past, for tropical seeds we have often cited Southern Seeds (Florida) and Ron HurovUs (in California) as sources - but it seems that they are no longer doing business. 1. Does anyone on the list know the situation with Cornucopia? 2. At the NewCROP Center we get many requests for sources of tropical germplasm. Does anyone know some good current sources for tropical crop legume seeds, especially the lesser known ones? Advance thanks for any information concerning these subjects... Ben Alkire --------- Note: I heard that Stephen Facciola's excellent book has just been revised and will be available very soon, if not already. You probably should have this book! Leo ------------------------- Subject: Zan Moreno banana is a dwf Cavendish cultivar Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 08:29:33 -0500 (EST) From: Glenn Stokes VIA: zingiber@coollist.com Dear GPaul, The Zan Moreno is a dwarf Cavendish cultivar. Similar to the what is termed dwarf cavendish or dwarf chinese, but not same. Height is 5'-6'. Excellent fruit quality. Sincerely, Stokes Tropicals http://www.stokestropicals.com -------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Anna Whipkey Subject: Fourth National New Crops Symposium The following information is also available on the web at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/announce/symposium.html New Crops & New Uses: Biodiversity & Agricultural Sustainability November 8-11, 1998 Sunday November 8 Poster Session, Exhibits and Welcome Reception Reception speaker I. Miley Gonzalez, USDA, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics Concurrent AAIC Division Sessions Kenaf and Fibers, General Crops, High Erucic Oilseeds, Meadowfoam, Epoxy Oilseeds, Jojoba, Guayule Natural Rubber, and Oilseeds Monday November 9 Keynote Addresses: World Biodiversity Update Trends in Agricultural Biodiversity Vernon Heywood, University of Reading, England Strategic Opportunities in New Crops and New Uses Policy Challenges in New Crop Development Robert Myers, Jefferson Institute, Missouri Economics of New Crops vs. New Uses Donald Van Dyne, University of Missouri New Uses from Existing Crops Paul Caswell, Archer Daniels Midland, Illinois Commercialization of Genetically Engineered Crops William Hiatt, Calgene, California Biodiversity and Industry Opportunities Ornamentals: Where Diversity is King Abe Halevy, Hebrew University, Israel Herbals and Pharmaceuticals: Competitive or Complementary Dennis Awang, Mediplant Ontario, Canada Who will Commercialize New Industrial Crops John Gardner, AgGrow Oils, North Dakota Processes and Strategies in Commercializing New Crops Replacing Tobacco Barclay Poling, Coordinator, Specialty Crops, North Carolina State University Replacing Illegal Drugs Eric Rosenquist, USDA, Office of International Programs, Washington D.C. New Crops for Canadian Agriculture Ernie Small, New Crops Program, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa Tobacco Settlement Fund as Related to Crop Diversification Congressional Staff Representative Panel Discussion and Reception at Desert Botanical Gardens Perspectives on the Uses of Plant Introductions Non-Governmental Organizations View of Plant Germplasm Collections Gary Nabhan, Native Seed Search, Arizona Plant Intellectual Property Rights and Exchanges Neil Hamilton, The Agricultural Law Center, Drake University, Iowa Future of Plant Exploration Peter Bretting, USDA,ARS, Plant Introduction Station, Iowa Trends in Community Conservation Hope Shand, RAFI, North Carolina Tuesday November 10 Status of New Crops and New Uses (Two Concurrent Sessions) New Products from Renewables Paper Products and Absorbents from Kenaf Tom Rymsa, KP Products, New Mexico and Bo Buress, KenGro, Mississippi High Performance 4-cycle Lubricants from Canola Duane Johnson, AgroManagment, Colorado Flooring Wood for Transport Vehicles from Trash Trees Jack Jackson, EnviroComp, North Carolina Paraffin Enhanced Mesquite as Charcoal Replacement Doris Carter, Indian Creek Mesquite, Texas Fruit and Nut Crops New Arid Land Fruit Crops Yosef Mizrahi, Ben Gurion Univ. of Negev, Israel New Berry Fruits Chad Finn, USDA, ARS, Oregon New Temperate Fruits Ross Ferguson, Hort+Research, New Zealand Oilseeds and Industrial Crops: Industry Approach Latex Glove Industry Perspective on Hypoallergenicity Microflex, California Epoxy Oil from Vernonia for Paints and Coatings David Trumbo, S.C. Johnson Polymer, Wisconsin Vegetables and Nutriceuticals New Alliums and Their Relatives Michael Havey, USDA, ARS, Wisconsin New Vegetable Crucifers James McFerson, Tree Fruit Research, Washington New Solanums Charles Heiser, Indiana University Oilseeds and Industrial Crops: Genetic Approach The Future of New and Genetically Modified Oil Crops Dennis Murphy, John Innes Centre, England Transgenic Oilseeds Transition from Basic Research to Commercial Products: Michael Lassner, Calgene, California The Development of Novel Oilseed Crops Steven Knapp, Oregon State University Floral Crops New Cut Flower Crops Abe Halevy, Hebrew University, Israel New Protaceous Crops Ken Leonhardt, University of Hawaii New Arid Land Ornamentals Jimmy Tipton, University of Arizona Fiber and Energy Crops Overview of the Department of Energy Biomass Program Janet Cushman, Oak Ridge Nat'l Lab., Tennessee Switchgrass Project at Department of Energy Sandy McLaughlin, Oak Ridge Nat'l Lab.,Tennessee Agronomic Research on Fiber Hemp at Manitoba Jack Moes, Manitoba Agriculture, Canada Aromatic Spices and Medicinals Antidepressants: St. Johns Wort and Other Prozaics Varro Tyler, Purdue University, Indiana Immune Boosters and Antiviral Botanicals: Echinacea and Ginseng Dennis Awang, Ottawa, Canada Antimicrobials: Goldenseal Maurice Iwu, Bioresources Development and Conservation Program, Maryland Tuesday Evening Banquet Speaker Jackie Vieh, Director, Arizona Department of Commerce Wednesday November 11 Panel Discussions Registration $250 US before August 30, 1998. Includes Book, Sunday Reception, Monday evening Desert Botanical Gardens Reception, Tuesday Banquet, coffee and refreshment breaks. $280 US after August 30, 1998. Students $75 US before August 30. Make checks payable to AAIC. A registration form can be printed at this site http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/announce/symposium.html or contact the organizers at AAIC 1998 Conference c/o US Water Conservation Laboratory 4331 East Broadway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85040-8807 View our Home Pages for conference and membership information and links to other sites. AAIC: http://www.aaic.org PUCNC: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop NUC: http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/NUC/NUCHome.html >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - March 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online March 15, 1998 AKA RFN199803B.txt ------ Leo says: I MAY make supplements of the information contained in the NEWCROP webpages cited just below. Can I trust you to check them out for yourself NOW in the meantime? See if you don't find that at least some of them contain invaluable information. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/V2-486.html Development of Cereus peruvianus (Apple Cactus) as a New Crop for the Negev Desert of Israel http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1990/V1-355.html Introduction and Domestication of Rare and Wild Fruit and Nut Trees for Desert Areas http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/newcrop_names.html New Crop Name Make-Overs; The same plants are known by several names. Index to Crops - Crops are listed alphabetically by genus and common name http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/indices/index_ab#A (A-B) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/indices/index_cd#C (C-D) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/indices/index_efghijkl#E (E-L) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/indices/index_mnop#M (M-P) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/indices/index_qrst#Q (Q-T) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/indices/index_uvwxyz#U (U-Z) -------- From: Leo Manuel Subject: Rare Fruit News Assembly Message Board Let me tell you what I had in mind when I created the Rare Fruit News Assembly Message Board. If you don't know what I'm referring to, let me know and I'll send you the information. I thought that it might be an alternative to a chat room. It will in no way affect the way I distribute the newsletter. So, if you wonder whether you can afford to take time to go to the Assembly message board, just forget about it. I don't think you'll be missing much. So the newsletter continues and the Rare Fruit News Assembly Message Board is there in case you want to use it, but it won't affect the newsletter in any way that I can imagine. There have been about a dozen postings to the Rare Fruit News Assembly Message Board. So it will get some attention from some of you. Leo ------ What's in this issue? New Subscribers Seek Your Help Readers Have Questions or Comments Readers Write To Each Other Extracted From NewCrop List Extracted From Zingiber List ---------------------------- New Subscribers Seek Your Help From: Rob Thompson Subject: New Subscriber with question on fruiting Illama From: Lynne Des Rivieres Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Wants Help In Indoor Rare Fruit Gardening From: Bruce Livingston Subject: New Subscriber, Hollywood, FL ----------------------------- Readers Have Questions or Comments From: Harry Hausman Subject: A lychee mystery From: Harry Hausman Subject: A lychee mystery continues. Can you help? From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Australian climate data site and What about same for US? From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: Pitangas From: "Duryan Bhagat" Subject: cherimoyas From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Informal Importations ------------------------------ Readers Write To Each Other From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Nick Schaefer Subject: Seeds, capulin cherry, etc. From: Nick Schaefer To: Bob Holzinger Subject: Foreign Imports From: Mario Lozano To: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Re: dormancy in winter From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: Re: Pruning Longans From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: Re: More Thoughts on Pruning Longans From: Kym Javier Cubero To: Nick Schaefer Subject: paw paws From: Nick Schaefer To: DAVID W VADER Subject: bananas-How many leaves before fruiting? From: Nick Schaefer To: Tim Thompson Subject: Mangoes in Australia From: Nick Schaefer To: Tim Thompson Subject: Mango Varieties From: "George F. Emerich" To Leo & Duryan Bhagat Subject: Re: Wanna ship cherimoyas to New York City? From: Bert Dunn To: Connie Subject: lonicera edulis ------------------------------ Extracted From NewCrop List Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Acid in Carambola etc Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Ben Alkire Subject: Tropical Tree Seed Search Service Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: William Evans Subject: Re: Tropical Tree Seed Search Service Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Monstera maturity and seeds Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Re: Monstera maturity and seeds Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Doug English Subject: Re: Monstera maturity and seeds Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Re : Monstera and Seeds Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: "George \"The Grower\" Mannoe" Subject: Re: Cashew (Annacardium occidentale) Nut Question Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Jules Janick Subject: Re: Pitaya = Dragonfruit? Sender: Discussion list for New Crops To: Jules Janick From: Nick Schaefer Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Jules Janick Subject: Is dragon fruit called dragon eye or Longan? Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Jules Janick Subject: Re: dragon fruit Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Gerry Kregor Subject: Re: Pitaya = Dragonfruit? ---------------------------- Extracted From Zingiber List To: zingiber@coollist.com From: Keith Benson Subject: Banana Tissue Culture - Failed This Time! ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- New Subscribers Seek Your Help From: Rob Thompson Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 22:43:56 EST Subject: New Subscriber with question on fruiting Illama hello Leo, My name is Rob Thompson i am from Whittier, california (13 miles south of Los Angeles.) I grow a small variety of fruits mostly usual stuff Longans, papaya , starfruit plus a few odd balls: jaboticaba, allspice, etc. please send me some past issues if you can and enter me as a subscriber. Has anyone been successful in fruiting Illama (a. diversifolia) in California? Thanks Rob Thompson ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:09:29 -0500 From: Lynne Des Rivieres Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Wants Help In Indoor Rare Fruit Gardening Hello everyone, My name is Lynne Des Rivieres, I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (zone 4b) I'm an indoor gardener trying to branch out into unusual things. I envy those of you with warm weather and a long growing season. I've tried my hand at avocado, pomegranate, orange and lime with no major problem, but I'm sure that I could do better. I've had some trouble finding information that I can trust. The big wide web, has a lot of conflicting info. I would appreciate any information re above, concerning seeds, pollination etc... I'm also trying to start mango from seed, as well as cherimoya. I don't know anything about them at all. I look forward to hearing from you, Lynne ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 07:26:19 -0500 From: Bruce Livingston Subject: New Subscriber, Hollywood, FL Hello, I only found out about your newsletter last night, and I would very much like to begin receiving it. My name is Bruce Livingston, Hollywood, FL I am a professor with Broward Community College here, and my specialty is tropical fruit. I have an extensive collection of trees on my property, too numerous to list here. Each summer, after I finish teaching my tropical fruit class, I go on plant collecting trips to tropical countries. Lately I'm concentrating on southeast Asia. There are many new introductions to the United States, including new species and new varieties of species we already have, for which I am responsible. I am always happy to diseminate information through a newsletter such as yours, and am hoping to gain useful contacts and useful information. Thank you very much, and I look forward to reading this newsletter. Bruce Livingston ------------------------------- Readers Have Questions or Comments From: Harry Hausman Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 22:02:03 EST Subject: A lychee mystery Dear Leo: Thanks for your efforts in putting together another great news letter (3/98). Two years ago, I took a course in Sub-Tropical Fruit Culture at Broward Community College here in South Florida. The class took several field trips to private nurseries and gardens. Bill Whitman, a gentlemen in his 80's, who has devoted his life to fuiting rare fruits here is Florida, hosted a visit from our class. We were treated to a lychee he called Bosworth III. It was an average sized fruit with a marvelous flavor, firm juicy flesh, a small seed (not a chicken tongue) and the outside skin was kind of a rusty yellowish/greenish red (nothing like the flaming red of Brewster). We were told that this cultivar came from Australia. Since tasting this lychee, one of my friends and fellow classmates have been on a quest for this tree. We found it to be in the possession of only two other nurseries locally. The two were Zill's High Performance Plants in Boynton Beach, FL and Tree Tops Nursery on Pine Island, off the coast of Ft. Meyers, FL. Neither had it for sale. This week my friends and I went on a mini fruit tree safari and we visited Don and Katy Chafin at Going Bananas Nursery in Homestead, FL. They are developing quite an impressive lychee cultivar collection aside from an exqisite banana collection. When we asked about the Bosworth III we were told (after he consulted a reference book or set of notes) that the Bosworth III was the Australian name for the Hawaiian Kaimana lychee. Frankly, we were dumbfounded.....you see I greatly respect Don Chafin's knowledge on the subject but...........two things have left me wondering. The first is that I had visited another nursery in Homestead called Pine Island Nursery. The owner of that establishment had recently returned from Austrailia with many lychee cultivars, among which, she said were the Kaimana and the Bosworth III. In addition, I took the same class last year and when we visited Bill Whitman's house he had just added a new lychee tree to his collection. Previously he had the Bosworth III (which we had tasted) and a tree called The Emperor (which was his pride and joy). Guess what the new tree was????? Yes, the Kaimana. I guess if a retake the class again this year and we go to visit Bill Whitman and both trees fruit we may be able to solve this mystery. The only problem is, with the El Nino affected winter weather pattern very few Florida growers have any lychees. It has been too warm and too wet. So......perhaps there is a reader of this newsletter who has tasted these lychees side by side and who can put this mystery to rest. Is Kaimana and Bosworth III one and the same.....or not???? Best regards.......Harry Hausman ------------------------------- Date: Tue Mar 3 07:02:07 1998 From: Harry Hausman Subject: A lychee mystery continues. Can you help? Dear Leo: I wrote a few days ago about a my dismay and confusion about the relationship of the Kaimana lychee with the Bosworth III lychee. Tonight I attended the Broward County (Florida) Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council meeting and had the opportunity to discuss this confusion with Crafton Cliff. Crafton is a well known local fruit and plant expert who works at Four Fillies Farm, the home of Frank Smathers, Jr (this is ground zero for mango madness in the known universe). According to Crafton, the Kaimana and Bosworth III are different and distinct but......the Bosworth lll is also known elsewhere as the Kwai Mai Pink!! Is this another piece of the puzzle or more confusion?? I still don't know which. Hopefully, there is a reader who has tasted and observed these cultivars and can help me resolve this apparent conflict.. Awaiting help patiently.........Harry Hausman ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 07 Mar 1998 19:56:19 +1100 From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Australian climate data site and What about same for US? Hi Leo A couple of issues ago Darryl Clark echoed a question from Chris Coleman re world climate data. For Australia the main source is the Bureau of Meteorology http://www.bom.gov.au This provides maps and monthly averages of rainfall, min/max temps for many places across the country along with elevation, lat. and long. What's the best site for such data for the US (esp California and Florida)? Have a fine day Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby, Lat S 28deg 34min; Long W 153deg 31min New South Wales, Australia. --------------------------------- From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: Pitangas Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 22:10:56 PST Hi Leo. You asked me about Pitangas and I will tell you what I observed about this matter. Native Pitangas. The native Pitanga trees we have in the South of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul State, from 27' to 32' South) is: Tree: small, 9 to 12 feet Leaves: small, 1" long maximum Fruits: small, from 1,0 to 1,5 cm. red or dark red colored almost rounded, almost not grooved very sweet when mature I never saw worms inside them, even when growing wild These trees are very cold resistant because they grow wild all over the State. In some regions of the State the temperature reaches -5'C and it snows. Domestic & bigger cultivars. I never saw big Pitangas growing wild around here. The big cultivars that grow here were always planted by human hands. When I lived in Rio de Janeiro, 900 miles North from here, I saw a wild Pitanga tree with red-orange fruits that had more than 1" diameter, and were deeply grooved. The tree, the leaves and the fruits of these cultivars are bigger. The temperature in Rio de Janeiro rarely drops below 15'C in Winter. I have some trees of big cultivars. As I could observe the fruits never reach 1" diameter and are easily attacked by insects. It seems that the attack to the fruit is done very soon, just after the flower, because the green fruits present scars very soon. These scars deform the fruit as it grows. I do not know what kind of insect does this. It could be the fruit fly, but I never saw a worm in a Pitanga. It seems to me that the big cultivars are best adapted to warmer climates. But I can be wrong because I am not a botanical. I am just a chemical engineer that begun to collect fruit trees it does less than one year. About metallic taste. I think it is related to cultivars and to maturing. The big cultivars I have are never so sweet as the native ones. They are more eye pleasants than mouth pleasants. About seeds bartering. Seeds bartering is the main reason (not the unique) of being in contact with your group. The problem with Pitanga seeds is that the Pitanga trees are no longer fruiting. The Summer is going and the wild cultivar is the first to fruit in December/January. Best regards Ricardo PS: Chat(1) and to bart(2). Two new words to my English vocabulary. that's good. ------------------------------------ From: "Duryan Bhagat" Subject: cherimoyas Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 18:25:02 -0500 Hello - My name is Duryan Bhagat. I found your page through a search for Cherimoyas on Infoseek. I am a HUGE fan of the cherimoya and am truly addicted. When I was five years old my parents took me to India where I was introduced to the "custard apple." I loved them and have been waiting for the cherimoya to take off in this country so they would be more readily available. I am looking for a distributor who might be able to ship me a case of cherimoya. I currently live in New York City and the price of the fruit from the gourmet fruit shops here is outrageous. As their season is limited, I am currently paying the blackmail price but am interested in circumventing the middle man. Is there anyone you know who might be able to help me? Perhaps, yourself? I am more than willing to give you any information you might need and a credit card if this form of payment is acceptable. I can be reached at duryan@juno.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Duryan Bhagat ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 03 Mar 1998 21:52:30 +1100 From: NickSchaefer Subject: Informal Importations Hi Leo Does the newsletter have a policy on moving plant material around the globe without the necessary quarantine inspections? I couldn't help being concerned at Bob Holzinger's suggestion to import seeds from Brazil without the necessary clearances. I know that bureacracy can be a pain in the backside but the kind of informal importation advocated by Bob can have devestating consequences. Even 'legitimate' importation is potentially risky. In Australia we have had a prickly pear infestation that covered thousands of square kilometers, blackberries, camphor laurel, giant sensitive plant, lantana, madiera vine etc etc. Even some crop plants can get away and in our area we have coffee, guavas and elswhere pitanga is becoming a problem. In Florida I believe australian paperbarks or tea-tree are beginning to choke up the Everglades. We need to exercise extreme caution when we introduce new plants. Plants which have become properly introduced as crops hopefully will not have also brought in diseases or pests. Again the risks/consequences with backdoor methods are enormous. Maybe this issue has been discussed before, but I think any idea of undeclared test importation needs to be strongly repudiated. Nick Schaefer - Mullumbimby NSW, Australia PS I love the newsletter. PPS When are they going to get rid of those eucalypts in wild west movies? ------------------------------- Readers Write To Each Other From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Nick Schaefer Subject: Seeds, capulin cherry, etc. Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 11:58:35 -0800 Hi Nick, I got your comments on importation without permits and I agree wholehartedly with you when it concerns plants and plant material other than seeds. I do not and will not import plants because I don't have the proper post-quarantine facility for them. I do have an importation permit for seeds and do use the system so far. My concern was with people in the system who withhold seeds when they are perfectly legal. Ben Poirier has had some problems with the USDA and a supervisor admitted to him that seeds that were withheld were legal and that the field imspectors made a mistake. Granted one shipment of seeds will not make or break a person's collection, and I do grow only for myself, but I have a problem with people in the system not knowing the rules. I plan to work with the rules as long as the system does the same. Enough about philosophy, now about plants. You asked about some trees to try in your area and I have a few comments on them. The pawpaw (A. triloba) seems to be successfully grown only in the cooler areas of California. Whether it's the lack of cold chilling or just the daytime high temps the pawpaw has not been a success for anyone in So. Calif. The capulin cherry, on the other hand, should do well for you as long as you have two varieties to cross pollinate. My large tree has flowered profusely but only set a few fruit. I have since learned that a cross pollinator will solve this problem. As for cherimoya, the people in Florida do not have much luck fruiting cherimoya and I suspect that the lower temperatures in So. California are needed for fruiting. Cherimoya is a wonderful fruit, so go ahead and give it a try, but don't bet the farm on it fruiting. There are several very knowledgable people here that could tell you more about these fruits and some are on the mailing list for RFNO. Hopefully they give you a response also. Take care, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 04 Mar 1998 15:21:03 +1100 From: NickSchaefer To: Bob Holzinger Subject: Foreign Imports Hi Bob Thanks for your experience with Capulins, A. triloba and Cherimoyas. Pawpaw seeds are not going to pose a problem once I find a supplier, an inspection this end is enough. For Capulins I'm going to need a phytosanitary certificate from the US. In our case whole plant importation requires quarantining for two years. This probably explains why we have hardly any cultivars except for the major crops. BTW If you have any friends down in Brazil who have any knowledge of madeira vine AKA potato vine (Anredera cordifolia) I'd appreciate hearing. This plant is perhaps the greatest threat to the few remaining remnants of rainforest in NE NSW. CU later Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby NSW, Australia ------------------------------- From: Mario Lozano To: Sainarong Rasananda Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 23:33:07 EST Subject: Re: dormancy in winter Sainarong: Your comparison of hibernation in animals, such as bears, etc. with dormancy in fruit trees is very accurate. By the way, dormancy can be induced by various factors or combination of factors, which may affect some plants more than others: 1. Cold or cool temperatures. 2. Change in daylight hours, (in Miami winter days are shorter than summer days). This effect diminishes as you get closer to the equator and increases as you go further from it. It may not be a significant factor in Thailand given your proximity to the equator. 3. Drought conditions. There may be other conditions that affect individual trees, such as injury to the roots or the major limbs, etc. I hope this helps. Best Regards, Mario Lozano ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 01 Mar 1998 17:22:26 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: Re: Pruning Longans Mario Lozano wrote: I have three longan trees that are of fruiting size, Two of these trees are over 20 feet tall. I plan to prune them, topping them off at about 15 feet in July (which would be the time of harvest if they had fruit). Do you think that this is advisable, and would encourage fruiting next year? Mario, assuming that that this is one question only, the short answer is 'no'. The longer answer is much more complicated. No doubt, you are aware that the academics now consider pruning such an important topic that they decide to call it 'tree canopy management' instead of mere 'pruning'. For my answer, I shall assume that you are interested in pruning as a mean of getting longan to flower the coming year. I would like to add what my comments here are based on experience and talking to others only, not on any research results. Yes, we have noticed that pruning tends to encourage flowering in the next season. If the foilage is too thick, then thinning the foilage encourages blooming. The branch terminals where the blooms appear should be cut or snapped off, even if pollination does not occur; this encourages blooming. However, some people noted that very heavy pruning can delay blooming by about one year. This includes cutting off a few large trunks of a tree; reducing the diameter or height of the tree considerably. It could be that the tree does not have sufficient time to recover. Some say that if you apply regular frequent fertigation, the tree should have sufficient time to recover, even from heavy pruning. Do not take what I say as gospel truth. Nobody knows for sure yet. The thinking appears to be 'if you can bring the tree to a proper healthy state about a month or so before blooming time, that should be perfect'. However, weather appears to play an overiding role on blooming. If you decide on heavy pruning, I would advise pruning in May (at the same time as lychees), this would enable three vegetative flushes before winter sets in. The tree should have a better chance of recovering. Good Luck whatever you decide to do, and do not forget to tell me the result. Sainarong Rasananda ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 06 Mar 1998 09:24:43 -0800 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: Re: More Thoughts on Pruning Longans I have discussed this subject with my friends, and they provided the following thoughts. OUR longans have a strong tendency to break off at the v-junctions between the branch and the stem or other branch (unlke mangoes and other trees). If you prune off about 5 feet or more, the new branches may be very small compared to the supporting branches or stems. As longans have pretty thick foilage and heavy crops, the new crop may break out when the fruits are almost ripe, which would be a disaster. Others say that if you prune very heavily and leave only a few feet of main stems and branches, the new stems and branches should be strong enough not to break off, provided that you select the new branches carefully. I myself have seen a neighbor prune off a 7-year-old tree to only 4 or 5 feet. That was 3 years ago. The new branches and stems seem to be doing very nicely. Of course, the purpose of very heavy pruning is not to get longan to flower the coming year. All the above are merely opinions If ypou do not try, you will never know for sure, I say. Most of my experience are based on our local Ee Daw cultivar which, in some aspects, may be quite different from Kohala, which I, unfortunately have never seen - I would like to get hold of one, though, just for experience. More thoughts on longans later. Enjoy yourself; have fun! Sainarong Rasananda ------------------------------- From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Mario Lozano Subject: paw paws Date: Mon, 02 Mar 1998 03:40:12 GMT Here's an old site I keep around because people are forever convincing themselves here in Orlando that they can grow paw-paws. http://www.bhglive.com/gardening/pawpaw/pawpaw.html Hope you have better luck! Kym (Florida) ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 02 Mar 1998 21:56:03 +1100 From: Nick Schaefer To: DAVID W VADER Subject: bananas-How many leaves before fruiting? Hi David My name is Nick Schaefer and I grow bananas commercially in Mullumbimby, north eastern NSW, Australia. In the right environment bananas are a rather simple plant to look after. The main rule is to keep them growing as fast as possible ie lots of sunlight, warmth, water and nutrients (esp nitrogen and potassium eg urea, or chook manure if your organic). If you can keep them coming along fast they can out grow many disease and pest problems. However as Nevada is not a commercial banana growing area most of these should be absent any way, unless they've been brought in on the plant material. I'm not quite sure of the exact number, but basically a banana plant will throw a bunch after it has produced a fixed number of leaves. Its possible in your case that your plants are still too 'young'. If they are still making new leaf growth it should be just a matter of waiting. A healthy plant should have at least a dozen or so green leaves. If new growth is not occurring from the throat and no flower is emeging (and the 4 conditions above are met ) then you may have a problem. If you have just come thru winter its possible that the growing point (meristem) has been damaged by cold. Another question in your desert environment would be the possiblity of toxic levels of salts in the soil. BTW when you do get a bunch thru make sure you protect it from excessive sunlight - banana fruit and inflorescence stem can be badly damaged by high temperatures coupled with high solar radiation; so cover both the bunch and inflor. stem with insulated reflective material. Finally keep the number of suckers to one or two, otherwise the resulting bunch on the parent stem will be small, fingers not properly filled, and flowering possibly delayed. By the way, the banana is actually a giant herb, it is not woody and therefore not a 'tree', the whole plant is referred to a 'stool' and the main stem is actually composed of leaf bases wrapped around each other and so called a 'pseudostem'. Good growing Nick ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 04 Mar 1998 22:36:59 +1100 From: NickSchaefer To: Tim Thompson Subject: Mangoes in Australia Hi there Tim We have about 50 large mango trees that were planted long before we arrived on our property in Mullumbimby. They are Bowens (= Kensington Pride). They grow on a very steep rocky slope and in good years produce abundant excellent fruit. We do have a slight problem with 'jelly seed' ie when very ripe the flesh around the seed becomes very soft. As most of us here like our mangoes underdone this does not matter - but it is a negative. It has been suggested that in some areas this is related to low calcium levels. On average Mullumbimby has a good climate for growing mangoes ie a dry spring with wet summer during fruit formation. Traditionally we start picking mangoes on 26 Jan (australia day). This last season has been absolutely abyssmal for mangoes (but phenomenal for lychees which we also have) - from what I've seen on the web the whole world's weather patterns have been back to front : for us a moist mild spring and dry summer - el nino, who knows! We are not far from the coast (12km) and are not really in the most ideal location for mangoes. Dedicated growers have plantations somewhat further (70km) west and so avoid more leaf/fruit disease such as anthracnose + later season. Southern California seems like an excellent spot if you can get the water and heat. We are pretty well on the southern most limit for good commercially reliable mangoes; of course in the right site individual trees have been grown 1000km further south. Unfortuneately for us our mangoes were planted with a norherly aspect and so ripen about 2 weeks too early, we just miss out on the end of season kick up in prices (approx 2x). We are still thinking of putting in more mangoes - but in australia we are hooked on the flavour of Bowens (or similar such as Irwin or R2E2), other later varieties such as Kent, Keitt, Palmer and Tommy Atkins don't command the same respect or price. Another problem is that mango plantings have increased astronomically (esp in the Northern Territory and QLD) over the last decade and with the down turn in the asian economies we are likely to be in for a real glut, at least in the short term. I'm sorry I can't really help you on varieties, but if you find one that is bowen flavoured, anthracnose resistant and late maturing let me know. Research is being done on new varieties, if I come across any I'll pass it on. Cheers Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby NSW Australia ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 21:46:40 +1000 From: Nick Schaefer To: Tim Thompson Subject: Mango Varieties Hi again Tim We are thinking of planting more mangoes on our plantation and were interested in a variety known as Julie. Apparently this comes from the West Indies, but is also grown in Mauritius and Indonesia. It is a small (~250g) mango and not really considered for commercial plantings in Australia as it also lacks the Kensington flavour. Nevertheless we think it may have potential for the organic market as it is resistant to both anthracnose and bacterial black spot. I have discussed this with the Queensland Dept Primary Ind. but they feel that Julie is more suited to the tropics and will bear inconsistently at our location. Have you had any experience with the variety Julie in subtropical environments? Or can you suggest another variety that might be grown without spraying? Regards Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 09 Mar 1998 08:44:43 -0800 From: "George F. Emerich" CC: Duryan Bhagat Subject: Re: Wanna ship cherimoyas to New York City? Leo: I am not anxious to ship Cherimoyas although I have done it as a special favor for special people. They are so perishable that I ship "next day" UPS to the East coast and that runs the cost (not including my labor) up so much that it is about the same as the retail price there. I wonder what Mr. Bhagat ate in India called "custard apple". Most places that is a name for Atemoya and seldom for Cherimoya although not unheard of. Some places call Annona Squamosa "custard apple" but more often it is called "sugar apple". Most people from the tropical lowlands of Asia are familiar with Sqamosa and confuse it with Cherimoya. Of course, in my prejudiced opinion, Cherimoya is by far the best of all of the Annonas. George ------------------------------- From: Bert Dunn To: Connie Subject: lonicera edulis Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 08:21:22 -0500 hi connie if edulis is the 'blue' you are looking for, i bought mine at Golden Bough Nursery, Marlbank, Ont regards bert dunn, zone 4B, Ontario ------------------------------- Extracted From NewCrop List Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Acid in Carambola etc Does anyone know whether the major organic acid in Carambola (Starfruit - Averrhoa carambola) is oxalic acid? I believe Carambola belongs to the family Oxalidaceae. If so to what extent are the fruit toxic? Years ago I read that lychees contained an amino acid analog for I think leucine. If so what are the consequences for the consumer. Is it incorporated into proteins and what's the effect on biological activity? More generally does anyone know of good references for biochemical composition of foods (eg essential amino acids, types/concentrations of soluble sugars, organic acids, cholesterol, fatty acids etc)? Or is this kind of info still scattered across the literature? Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby NSW Australia ------------------------------- From: Ben Alkire Subject: Tropical Tree Seed Search Service Dear List members, This URL might be useful to some new crop specialists: I've found a company Hawaii that offers a rare seed search service (not free, at US$50 for three species). If they can't find a source for you in one year, the money is refunded. http://agroforester.com/agfor/seedlocator.html "this service is primarily for researchers, collectors and professionals who are looking for hard-to-find seed collections" Does anyone have any experience with this company and their services? Sincerely, Ben Alkire Purdue New Crop Center ------------------------------- From: William Evans Subject: Re: Tropical Tree Seed Search Service Trying to locate seed????????? try (it's free) http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov:90/pmc/plant_info.html This site is c/o USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and probably isn't as exotic as the other site, however, it is free and very helpful. Was able to locate Acacia mangium seed from a number of suppliers "down under" Gday Bryan Evans ------------------------------------- From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Monstera maturity and seeds The season for Monstera deliciosa is just beginning here, and to my mind this is one of the most tropically exotic tastes. When I first tried them I found I ended up with a tongue like a pin cushion, because of the many tiny needles embedded in the flesh. I believe (but may be wrong) that these are raphides - small elongate spindles of calcium oxalate. The plants had been growing on calcareous soils in a much colder temperate region than where I now live. Here in Mullumbimby the soils are far more acid (~pH 4.5 CaCl2). Does anyone know the reason why some Monsteras contain these needles and others not? I would like to propagate Monstera from seed. But what does the seed look like and where in the fruit is the seed(s)? Last year I ate half a monstera fruit and threw the rest out the window. Now there is a baby Monstera plant growing. Has anyone had any experience in growing Monstera from seed? -- Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby, Lat S 28deg 34min; Long W 153deg 31min New South Wales, Australia. -------------------------------- From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Re: Monstera maturity and seeds I've only tried Monstera from a greenhouse here, but I was told to cut the fruit with several inches of stem and stand it in water for a couple of days before eating it to remove the acid crystals. It did seem to work as I didn't have any problems with crystals in the fruit. The plants here were always started from cuttings, since even a short piece of stem with one leaf could be rooted very easily, just by planting it. Many people grow the vine as a houseplant without ever knowing it produces fruit. (the plant is usually sold as giant split-leaf "philodendron", folks) Lon --------------------------------- From: Doug English Subject: Re: Monstera maturity and seeds Monsteria seed occurs sporadically in segments and is round, hard and easily recognised, but not every fruit has seeds, and only two or four occur in fruit that do. I thought that only unripe segments have crystals? We let the fruit sit until the green "cap" parts drop to indicate ripeness and then use a fork to remove the ripe segments up to the section that is not ripe - it might take three days to eat a whole fruit. The amount of oxalic acid could be a worry because it can combine with calcium in blood and the calcium oxalate crystals filtered through the kidneys can damage kidney tubules. The calcium oxalate crystals in the fruit, as such, are probably not a concern, but I am not sure how they are digested. I was also interested to hear comments regarding oxalic acid in Fivecorners (Starfruit, Carambolas). I thought that the major acid in these fruit was oxalic. The possibility of a slow toxicity from calcium oxalate destroying kidney tubules is a major concern. It is a fact that about 66% of kidney tubules can be lost before any symptoms are evident - ie too late. So far there have been no postings to this subject. Regards, Doug English Smithfield Veterinary Surgery Cairns ---------------------------- From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Re : Monstera and Seeds Thanks Lon and Doug. I have just found six hard, greenish, ~5mm seeds in one of 2 monstera fruit, the other fruit was completely barren - exactly as you described. All seeds are now safely planted. Regards Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- From: "George \"The Grower\" Mannoe" Subject: Re: Cashew (Annacardium occidentale) Nut Question This may help you to start out, but may not be the final word. Cashew=Annacardium occidentale. The fruits are harvested ripe or allowed to fall from the trees and the nuts collected fruim the fruit. The nuts are outside of the fruit or hang from the bottom of the fruit.The fruit cashew apple,itself is astrigent edible and can be preserved. Watch out when hanling it, it contains indelible oils which may stain fabric permanently Nuts are dried in the sun and or on barbeque. After this the nuts are roasted in the shell (just like peanuts). After roasting the nuts are shelled, by hand, and the testa which are the edible part, collected for consumption. The yield of nuts per tree can varie from a couple of punds upto 100lbs. Approximately 120 trees per acre, when mature may yield upto a 1000 kg of nuts. Cashew's native range is mexico-peru the amazone basin and the guyanas and it is interesting to find cashew in Africa where I hope it may be an exellent tree for intercropping or mixed cropping. Cashew is also very draught resistant, grows best on sandy soils with 100-400 mm precipitation. If you need more detailed information please let me know, i can mail that to you or directly to the Sisters. George Mannoe. ------------------------------- From: Jules Janick Subject: Re: Pitaya = Dragonfruit? For information on pitaya check Horticultural Reviews 18:291 (Cacti as Crops by Mizrahi, Ned and Nobel.) and Reproductive Biology of Cactus Fruits Crops. I suggest you contact Yossi Mizrahi mizrahi@bgumail.bgu.ac.il for information. Jules Janick -------------------------------------- To: Jules Janick From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Pitaya I recently bought a yellow pitaya (Hylocereus triangularis??) that was in bud. Despite only being a small plant in a 6 inch pot it grew a 13" stalk with flower in 10 days. The supporting stem began to wither slightly and turned a bit yellow. An 8"diameter white scentless flower opened during the night which I helped pollinate with a paintbrush several times thru the night. There were lots of small black ants on the flower but most of these seemed to be on the outside, not on the stigma or anthers. Its now 3 days since the flower opened and the flower stalk has shrunken quite dramatically. What's going to happen now?? Has anyone any experience with fruiting in pitaya? Do they have to be grown in partial shade? Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby NSW Australia ------------------------------- From: Jules Janick Subject: Is dragon fruit called dragon eye or Longan? Is dragon fruit called dragon eye or Longan? no. dragaon fruit is sometimes called pitaya. Jules Janick -------------------------------------- From: Jules Janick Subject: Re: dragon fruit Also info is on newcrop website http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop under pitaya etc. Also check two articles in Horticultural Reviews 18: 291-346 (1997). Jules Janick -------------------------------------- From: Gerry Kregor Subject: Re: Pitaya = Dragonfruit? Yes, Pitaya do have to be grown in partial shade. I think that the Israelis are using 60%. Last year I travelled to Israel and visited with Yossi Mizrahi's research group. They are doing some fascinating work on production systems, breeding and fruit quality of a range of cacti. I think that they are the "world experts" in this area. They are growing several species of Hylocereus, Selinicereus, Cereus and Opuntia. Apart from Yossi Mizrahi (who is very busy), You might try Avinoam Nerd or Yossi Mouyal. By the way Avinoam Nerd is coming to Australia for sabbatical at the University of Queensland, gatton College in the second half of this year. I am sure that he would like to get out and about to meet cacti growers in Australia, so send me your contact details and I will keep them on file for when he arrives. Gerry Kregor University of Queensland, Gatton College ---------------------------------------- Extracted From Zingiber List To: zingiber@coollist.com From: Keith Benson Subject: Banana Tissue Culture - Failed This Time! Zin-listers Well - the experiment was a bust. I did not get any shoot developement though the meristems I had placed intoculture turned green and plumped up. I will be shelving the project for a while (I am moving to CA) but hope to find someone with practical experience at UC Davis when I get there. If I can't, I will make a go of it again this summer and will keep the list informed as to my progress. To date I have only spent about $120, and have had minimal contamination of my cultures - therefore I think anyone will be able to do this at home with little expense. I think my biggest problem is that I am not trimming the meristems correctly. When things are up and running I hope to post pics and instructions to the webpage. I doubt it will ever come close to the commercial operations - they make 100,000's of plants for pennies, but producing a few clones of interesting varieties to trade with others is a reasonable goal - and there would be no disease transmission!! Keith Benson DVM >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - March 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online April 1, 1998 AKA RFN199804A.txt ------What's in this issue?------- New Subscribers Seek Your Help Readers Have Questions or Comments Readers Write To Each Other From Discussion list for New Crops -------------New Subscribers: Can You Help Them?--------------- From: Barry Densa Subject: New Subscriber Out For Fun and Profit! From: Subrata Paul Subject: New Subscriber in Rochester, New York From: Dan & Katri Snyder Subject: New Subscriber, San Diego, Seeks Advice From: Anthony Granatelli Subject: New Subscriber Asks: Lychee in Santa Barbara, Possible? From: David Harles Subject: New Subscriber, Oroville CA, Wants Pecan Tree From: "Marcio Enrique Valenzuela Pastor" Subject: New Subscriber, Honduras, Wants Mangosteen Advice/Help From: Jody Haynes Subject: New Subscriber, Miami; Look Where She Works! From: Alberto Hauffen Subject: New Subscriber, Highland CA, Seeks Your Help From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: New Subscriber - FL ------Readers Have Questions or Comments--------- Subject: http://www.gate.net/~santol/index.html From: Bruce Livingston From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Rare Fruit News Online is on its way - Why? From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Any Good Florida Mulberries? From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: asimina triloba From: Harry Hausman Subject: A lychee mystery From: Harry Hausman Subject: A lychee mystery continues. From: coskona@aloha.net (Roger Coggburn) Subject: kaimana means diamond in Hawaiian From: Bill Lady Subject: Assembly Site Inactivity From: Kym Cubero Subject: rare fruit assembly From: Harry Hausman Subject: Lychee mystery solved!! From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: New Publication From: Leo Manuel (Withdrawn at request of Doreen) Subject: Mycorrhizal Fungi: http://www.tgn.net/~doreen/fungi.htm Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Cherimoya varieties From: "George F. Emerich" Organization: Emerich Gardens Subject: Re: Cherimoya varieties Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Gail Newcomb Subject: Re: Cherimoya varieties From: Naly Nguyen Subject: Rose Apples; Possible In San Jose, CA? From: Clement Subject: Rare Fruit News Assembly Message Board From: Norm Rohrabaugh Subject: Assembly Rare fruit news - Unused? From: sainarong Subject: Price of fruits in thailand -------Readers Write To Each Other--------- From: Doron Kletter To: Harry Hausman Subject: Re: A lychee mystery From: MBASF To: lfenter@om.com.au Subject: Climate data source for the USA From: Doron Kletter To: HMHausman@aol.com Subject: Re: Lychee cultivar answers From: Harry Hausman To: Doron Kletter Subject: Lychee cultivar answers From: Sainarong To: Kym Cubero & Greg Daley Subject: Getting lychees ana longans to flower From: kletter@IMPACT.xerox.com (Doron Kletter) To: Sainarong Rassanda Subject: Experimental Thai Longan in CA From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Duryan Subject: Cherimoyas From: kletter@IMPACT.xerox.com (Doron Kletter) To: Sainarong Subject: Re2: Experimental Thai Longan in CA From: Sainarong To: Doron Kletter Subject: Re: Experimental Thai Longan in CA From: DAVID W VADER To: NickSchaefer Subject: Re: bananas From: "Ben Poirier" To: Bill Burson Subject: waterlogged potted plants ---Discussion list for New Crops --- From: NickSchaefer Subject: Re: Living Mulch for Crops and Trees From: Eligio Bruzzese Subject: Weeds used as a replacement, or mistaken for vegetables From: Nick Schaefer Subject: Cashews - Figure of Merit? From: "George \"The Grower\" Mannoe" Subject: Re: Cashews - Figure of Merit? From: NickSchaefer Subject: Pitaya/Hylocereus/DragonFruit from seed? From: "Robert H. Faust" Subject: Re: Pitaya/Hylocereus/DragonFruit from seed? From: NickSchaefer Subject: Chocolate Pudding Plant From: NickSchaefer Subject: Tree Tomatoes From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Re: Tree Tomatoes From: Gail Newcomb Subject: Re: Living Mulch for Crops and Trees From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Re: Living Mulch for Crops and Trees From: Gail Newcomb Subject: Re: Tree tomatoes, C. betacea, 'Tamarillo' From: Barry Densa Subject: Macadamia nuts grow well in S. Florida?? From: Margaret Basile Subject: Re: Chocolate Pudding Plant - What Is It? From: Margaret Basile Subject: Re: Cashews - Figure of Merit? From: NickSchaefer Subject: Ilamas From: "Robert H. Faust" Subject: Re: Ilamas Subject: Re: Ilamas From: Margaret Basile ----------------New Subscribers: Can You Help Them?---------------- Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 10:47:06 -0800 From: Barry Densa Subject: New Subscriber Out For Fun and Profit! We live in Loxahatchee Groves in Palm Beach County, Fla. We've been here almost three years, after seven on Maui -- boy, do I want to grow protea. We live on 5 acres, about three of which is waiting to be put to good use. It's been cleared, but I have to dig a pond and use the fill to raise the land; it's low and holds water in the summer. For a long time we've been hearing how more and more Floridians are taking to growing Lychee nuts. And we've been intrigued. It's supposedly a perfect ornamental and cash crop for Florida, though I'd like to find out where I can read some actual figures. And then we'd also like to try our hand at carambola, passion fruit, mango, macadamia nuts, there's Hawaii again, and maybe even kiwi. So to that end, I've been cruising the web, picking up sites, like yours and learning everything I can about becoming a tropical fruit farmer. I'm currently a real estate agent. I've got a ton of questions but I'll wait to ask until I can't find the answers by flipping what web pages I find. But I'd glady accept any voluntary advice. Thanks, Barry A. Densa ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 12:47:00 -0600 From: Subrata Paul Subject: New Subscriber in Rochester, New York I am Subrata Paul in Rochester, New York (USA) I have citrus and pomegranate right now, I'm growing a grapefruit seedling right now. I am just interested to learn what others have grown from seeds and how they have dealt with growing things in a nontraditional area. Subrata Paul ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 16:44:57 -0800 From: Dan & Katri Snyder Subject: New Subscriber, San Diego, Seeks Advice I'm interested in your newsletter. The name is Dan Snyder and I live in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. I joined CRFG last month, so you might see me at the San Diego chapter meetings. The fruit I currently grow: Feijoa - Pineapple Guava Passion Fruit Citrus (Satsuma Mandrin, Blood Orange, Lemon, Lime) Apple (Anna, Golden Dorset) White Sapote (McDill) Carambola - Star Fruit Banana (Dwarf Orinoco, Mysore) Grapes Plants I might like to try: cherry (warm weather variety of course) Yellow Passionfruit Tropical Guava Jabitocaba Grapefruit - maybe grafting a branch onto one of my trees A good street tree that also provides fruit or nuts Dan & Katri Snyder ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 17:19:20 -0800 From: Anthony Granatelli Subject: New Subscriber Asks: Lychee in Santa Barbara, Possible? I am Anthony Granatelli, from Santa Barbara, CA. I am interested in all rare fruits, including all of the ones you grow. I grow all off these on my property in Santa Barbara. What has been the history of the Lychee tree in California? What California cities have producing trees? I live in Santa Barbara. I have a small Brewster Lychee (3 feet). It seems happy, but is growing very slow. What is the probability that it will reach production? Anthony Granatelli ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 17:19:27 +0000 From: David Harles Subject: New Subscriber, Oroville CA, Wants Pecan Tree I would like a sample of your newsletter, I would like passion flower caerulea. I have one Australian bush called nitre bush that is supposed to be so good that you wont stop until every fruit is gone. Also I have 3 guavas and a few assorted seeds local and exotic. I would like a pecan that gives huge nuts. I live in Oroville, Calif. also have three guavas will cataloge and send if you want like to have all your back letters, also wish to say hello. Dave ------------------------------ From: "Marcio Enrique Valenzuela Pastor" To: "Leo Manuel" Subject: New Subscriber, Honduras, Wants Mangosteen Advice/Help I am Marcio Valenzuela, from San Pedro Sula, Cortes, HONDURAS I'm looking for information on mangosteen. Cultivation, harvest, maintenance and so forth. Does anyone out there work with garcinia mangostana? we currently have 6 trees but ive germinated something like 25-35 seeds from our last harvest we have some problems with the yellow resin stuff and we would like to have some sort of mangosteen farm management (from planting and caring to harvesting and exporting) if at all possible can you help? sincerely, marcio valenzuela ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 10:23:07 -0500 From: Jody Haynes Subject: New Subscriber, Miami; Look Where She Works! Please add my name to the Rare Fruit News Online e-mail list. My name is Jody Haynes. I live in Miami, FL and work at the Tropical Research & Education Center in Homestead, FL, which currently houses germplasm collections of mangos and mamey sapote. We must have several dozen species/varieties of rare fruits--I learn something new about them every day. Although I only have a Keitt mango in my yard now, I am interested in a lot of rare/tropical fruits. Thank you for your time and consideration. Jody ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 11:50:52 +0000 From: Alberto Hauffen Subject: New Subscriber, Highland CA, Seeks Your Help Hi Leo, I saw your page in the links section of California Rare Fruit Growers Association webpage and I want to receive your newsletter. I want to grow the following trees: Avocado (any kind), mango, papaya and tamarind. Thanks for your help. Alberto Hauffen ----------------------- Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 06:39:16 +0000 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: New Subscriber - FL I would be interested in receiving your newsletter I am Margaret J. Basile, of Southwest Ranches, unincorporated Broward County, Florida (zone 10) I have about 60 trees, inc several cvs lychee, macadamia, avocado and mango, also jaboticaba, black sapote, white sapote, mamey sapote, mamaey americana, bunchosia, surinam cherry, grumichama, guiana chestnut, malabar chestnut, etc. Also collect artocarpus and spondius, various. My neighbor collects eugenias. Margaret Basile ------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Puerto Rico Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 19:55:45 AST From: "Brett Portman" I am Brett Portman, living in San German, Puerto Rico I am interested in growing Durians, Mangosteens, Jaboticaba, araca-boi Brett Portman ------------------------------------Readers Write---------------- Subject: http://www.gate.net/~santol/index.html Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 23:49:59 -0500 From: Bruce Livingston Leo Manuel wrote: > Bruce, will you write a letter for publication in the next newsletter > describing the contents of your webpage(s)? I believe it will be of interest > and utility to the readers. > > Sincerely, > > Leo Sure.... Dear Readers, I'd like to introduce my new web page, called Tropical Fruit Home Page, obviously devoted to tropical fruit. I believe that this website is quite comprehensive, and takes a somewhat unique approach. Many websites devote much space to descriptions of fruits. My pages will link you to those sites, but I decided not to simply put a web site online that repeats what is already available. My web pages concentrate more on the practical side of growing tropical fruit trees, and I hope all of you will take a few minutes to have a look. This page is new, and I am open to suggestions as to what else to include, links that you feel ought to be included, articles you would like to see, etc. The website can be found at the following URL: http://www.gate.net/~santol/index.html I hope to see you there. Bruce Livingston ---------------------------------- Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 08:13:28 -0800 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Rare Fruit News Online is on its way, Why? For some reason, the message that the Rare Fruit News is on the way always arrives AFTER the News has already arrived. I have no problem with that, but it seems redundant. Just thought you'd want to know. Lon Rombough (Newly updated web site at http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom) [Leo's note: Most of you receive your newsletter with no problems, but almost every issue will miss someone, and the best way to catch that someone is to tell them that it has been sent. If you get the notice that it's been sent but don't receive it, you will probably want to tell me so I can send it again.] -------------------------- From: Dan Hemenway Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 17:58:46 EST Subject: Any Good Florida Mulberries? I'm looking for someone in the Florida area who has a good selection of mulberry cultivars. We are in North Central Florida, but any mulberry that makes it in any part of Florida is probably good here. I guess we can expand that to the Gulf region in general, from Eastern Texas on over as the climate is fairly similar. I'm also interested to hear if anyone has any experience with mulberries and flooding. We have most of our open land flooded this year and with global warming continuing to increase, and the rate of increase itself increasing, I see little liklihood that this will be a rare occurance. The present degree of flooding is at least a 50 year maximum. In general, as a matter of fact, I'd like to hear about fruit (and nuts, I suppose, if any) that tolerate flooding. We are marginal for tropical stuff, but of course with all the water around we don't get frosts when others nearby do. No frost on any banana variety, for example this year. (It is our first year here.) To put the increase in water table in perspective, our taro got drowned out. We are looking for a reliable source of mayhaw seed, also. Dan Hemenway P.S. A list by topic of all Yankee Permaculture titles may be found at http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/ypc_catalog.html ------------------------------- From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: asimina triloba Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 07:50:11 -0500 hi john i obtained seeds from frank henny, 229 reaville rd, flemington., NJ., usa regards bert dunn, ontario canada zone 4b ------------------------------- From: Harry Hausman Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 22:02:03 EST Subject: A lychee mystery Dear Leo: Thanks for your efforts in putting together another great news letter (3/98). Two years ago, I took a course in Sub-Tropical Fruit Culture at Broward Community College here in South Florida. The class took several field trips to private nurseries and gardens. Bill Whitman, a gentlemen in his 80's, who has devoted his life to fuiting rare fruits here is Florida, hosted a visit from our class. We were treated to a lychee he called Bosworth III. It was an average sized fruit with a marvelous flavor, firm juicy flesh, a small seed (not a chicken tongue) and the outside skin was kind of a rusty yellowish/greenish red (nothing like the flaming red of Brewster). We were told that this cultivar came from Australia. Since tasting this lychee, one of my friends and fellow classmates have been on a quest for this tree. We found it to be in the possession of only two other nurseries locally. The two were Zill's High Performance Plants in Boynton Beach, FL and Tree Tops Nursery on Pine Island, off the coast of Ft. Meyers, FL. Neither had it for sale. This week my friends and I went on a mini fruit tree safari and we visited Don and Katy Chafin at Going Bananas Nursery in Homestead, FL. They are developing quite an impressive lychee cultivar collection aside from an exqisite banana collection. When we asked about the Bosworth III we were told (after he consulted a reference book or set of notes) that the Bosworth III was the Australian name for the Hawaiian Kaimana lychee. Frankly, we were dumbfounded.....you see I greatly respect Don Chafin's knowledge on the subject but...........two things have left me wondering. The first is that I had visited another nursery in Homestead called Pine Island Nursery. The owner of that establishment had recently returned from Austrailia with many lychee cultivars, among which, she said were the Kaimana and the Bosworth III. In addition, I took the same class last year and when we visited Bill Whitman's house he had just added a new lychee tree to his collection. Previously he had the Bosworth III (which we had tasted) and a tree called The Emperor (which was his pride and joy). Guess what the new tree was????? Yes, the Kaimana. I guess if a retake the class again this year and we go to visit Bill Whitman and both trees fruit we may be able to solve this mystery. The only problem is, with the El Nino affected winter weather pattern very few Florida growers have any lychees. It has been too warm and too wet. So......perhaps there is a reader of this newsletter who has tasted these lychees side by side and who can put this mystery to rest. Is Kaimana and Bosworth III one and the same.....or not???? Best regards.......Harry Hausman ------------------------------- Date: Tue Mar 3 07:02:07 1998 From: Harry Hausman Subject: A lychee mystery continues. Can you help? Dear Leo: I wrote a few days ago about a my dismay and confusion about the relationship of the Kaimana lychee with the Bosworth III lychee. Tonight I attended the Broward County (Florida) Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council meeting and had the opportunity to discuss this confusion with Crafton Cliff. Crafton is a well known local fruit and plant expert who works at Four Fillies Farm, the home of Frank Smathers, Jr (this is ground zero for mango madness in the known universe). According to Crafton, the Kaimana and Bosworth III are different and distinct but......the Bosworth lll is also known elsewhere as the Kwai Mai Pink!! Is this another piece of the puzzle or more confusion?? I still don't know which. Hopefully, there is a reader who has tasted and observed these cultivars and can help me resolve this apparent conflict.. Awaiting help patiently.........Harry Hausman ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 13:19:24 -1000 From: coskona@aloha.net (Roger Coggburn) Subject: kaimana means diamond in Hawaiian Only comment I can add is that kaimana means diamond in Hawaiian. The tree is the best here in Kona, Hawaii. Roger Coggburn ------------------------------- From: Bill Lady Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 22:49:50 EST Subject: Assembly Site Inactivity Hi, Leo: I am very surprised there is no activity on the Assembly site. Perhaps not enough people know about it yet?? I think it's a great idea, and hope it picks up soon. Regards. Bill Lady ------------------------------- From: Kym Cubero Subject: rare fruit assembly Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 15:25:44 GMT I started to post on the assembly but it won't let me without an email address. There's no way I'm posting my email address anywhere on the internet---I get spammed enough. So, if that can't be fixed, I'll just be reading it not posting there. Sorry. Kym (Florida) ------------------------------- From: Harry Hausman Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 22:56:33 EST Subject: Lychee mystery solved!! Dear Leo: My confusion about the lychee cultivars Kaimana, Bosworth 3, and Kwai Mai Pink has been overcome. Several of your readers wrote me to advise that the Kaimana and the Bosworth 3 were indeed separate and distinct. However, it does appear that the Kwai Mai Pink is the same as the Bosworth 3 I received a totally unsolicited call today from Don Chafin from Going Bananas. It was his comments that started this whole lychee mystery. He apparently went back and rechecked his notes or other sources and advised that his original statement to me had been erroneous and that the Bosworth 3 was, in fact, the same as the Kwai Mai Pink. This was further verification of what your readers had written to me. This was just a common mistake, an apparent mis-read of his notes. The folks at Going Bananas are generally very reliable on the issue of correct ID of fruiting plants. They have a great and respected reputation in this regard. Of course.....they are still only human! Anyway, mystery solved......thanks!! Regards, Harry ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 16:21:06 -0800 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: New Publication Doreen Howard and I are assembling a web site as a means of gauging interest in a new publication we want to start. It will incorporate, among other things, use of unusual or underused plants, emphasis on soil flora, as well as elements of sustained agriculture, and more, but for home gardeners. We need feedback and are looking for financial support as well. For a view of the web site (which is still under construction) go to http://www.tgn.net/~doreen/ Lon J. Rombough http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 05:53:53 +0000 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Mycorrhizal Fungi: http://www.tgn.net/~doreen/fungi.htm Mycorrhizal Fungi: http://www.tgn.net/~doreen/fungi.htm The quoted material has been removed, at the request of Doreen. ------------------------------- Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Cherimoya varieties Does anyone have information on the following cherimoya varieties (fruit quality, cultural peculiarities, synonyms etc): Fino de Jete; Spain; Balwin; Deliciosa; Anderson; Andrews; Bronceada; Burtons Favourite; Campa; Contra; Loma; Mossman; Reretai. I can't find them listed at CRFG. Thanks Nick Schaefer, Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 10:18:15 -0800 From: George F. Emerich Emerich Gardens Subject: Re: Cherimoya varieties Nick: This is an interesting list of 14 cultivars of which I have some knowledge of only 5. I don't believe that any of the other nine have ever been registered with any US entity (CRFG, Avocado Society, or several Horticultural Societies). The five with which I any familiarity are: Fino de Jete, Deliciosa, Spain, Bronceada and Loma. I grow the first two. Fino de Jete is the principal cultivar of the Spanish Cherimoya industry (probably the world's largest) and in my opinion is very nearly the best of all cultivars. It is a very smooth fruit, larger than average, Conically shaped, with a high high sugar content. The Deliciosa is rough fruit and generally modest in every way. Our interest in it is as a possible source of a cold tolerant gene. It is said that many years ago, out of large collection at UCLA, it was the only survivor after a severe freeze. Spain is a cultvar which is said to have come from Majorca and is thought to have been lost in the transfer of the collection from Westwood to South Coast in the 1950's. There are a number of trees around with that name which are probably erroniously labeled. The only thing I know of Bronceada is that it is one of the principal cultivars grown in Chile. Loma is in the South Coast collection and beyond that I am totally ignorant. The South Coast Annona collection (Univ. of Cal. South Coast Research and Extension Center, Irvine, CA) contains 80 trees representing 33 cultivars including 5 Atemoyas which we believe is largest collection in the continental US. It contains most of the cultivars which have been registered as well as some unregistered ones. The following is a listing of the cultivars which are presently included in the collection: CULTIVAR UNITS 1 AFRICAN PRIDE*-----1 2 BAYS---------------3 3 BIG SISTER---------1 4 BOOTH--------------5 5 BRADLEY*-----------1 6 CARTER-------------2 7 CHAFFEY------------6 8 CONCHA LISA--------3 9 COOCHIE ISLAND*----1 10 DELICIOSA---------1 11 ECUADOR-----------1 12 EL BUMPO----------2 13 FINO DE JETE------2 14 FLORIDA*----------1 15 KNIGHT------------1 16 LINDSTROM*--------1 17 LISA--------------2 18 LOMA--------------2 19 LUCIDA------------3 20 McPHERSON---------5 21 MIRA VISTA--------1 22 NATA--------------2 23 ORTON-------------4 24 OTT---------------3 25 OXHART------------3 26 PIERCE------------7 27 SABOR-------------2 28 SALLMON-----------2 29 SANTA ROSA--------2 30 THOMSON-----------2 31 VILLA PARK--------2 32 WHALEY------------2 33 WHITE-------------4 TOTAL---------------80 * ATEMOYA I hope this is of some help to you. George [Leo's comment: George Emerich supervised a cherimoa-taste contest among various cultivars a few weeks ago. I'm hoping he makes available the findings for the edification of cherimoa lovers all.] -------------------------- Discussion list for New Crops From: Gail Newcomb Subject: Re: Cherimoya varieties In our NZTCA Fact Sheets we have listed several of your named varieties as part of the over forty being trialed by NZ DSIR which is I think now part of HortResearch. In April we are attending the ACOTANC conference in Nelson so should be able to get more up to date information for you then if you wish. HortPages are on the Internet but users have to be registered. Gail NZTCA Branch Secretary ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 16:47:05 -0800 From: Naly Nguyen Subject: Rose Apples; Possible In San Jose, CA? Hi, My name is Naly. I'd love to plant a rare fruit tree in my backyard in San Jose, CA. I saw the list of trees that you had in your backyard. The one which surprised me was the rose apple. Is it easy to grow ? There are so many kinds in Asia. What kind do you have it ? And where do you get the tree ? Do you have the picture of it ? Thank-you for your response, Naly. --- Leo Manuel responded: It's easy to grow Rose Apple trees in Southern California, but I don't know whether it's possible in San Jose. Leo --------------------------- Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 19:41:28 +0800 From: Clement Subject: Rare Fruit News Assembly Message Board Hi Leo, Your News Assembly Board is a great way of getting information into one web page. I don't see any problem with advertisement. Anyway keep it up. You're doing great. Clement Teng ---------------------------- Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 05:21:25 -0500 From: Norm Rohrabaugh Subject: Assembly Rare fruit news - Unused? I thought that the question and answer board at assembly was a great idea, but for some reason it seems to have lasted only 2 days. Is no one is interested or there is some other problem with the system. I enjoy your bi-monthly newsletter, but also think there is a need for this daily communication. Norm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 09:37:32 +0700 From: sainarong Subject: Price of fruits in thailand Here are the current prices of some fresh fruits in Thailand: Name Market Price Remarks (US$LB)(US$@38Baht) Tangerine 0.35-0.53 Out of season Guava 0.29-0.35 All season Rose Apple 0.47-0.53 end of season Banana 0.47-0.56/a comb All season Watermelon 0.47-0.56/fruits All season Longans 2.15-2.39 Out of season Grape 1.20-1.79 Beginning of season Coconut 0.12-0.18 All season Mango 0.48-0.59 Beginning-middle of season If you have time, take a look at the website below for details of Thai fruits. http://www.ku.ac.th/AgrInfo/fruit/ Sainarong ----------------------------Readers Write To Each Other--------- Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 11:12:25 PST From: Doron Kletter To: Harry Hausman Subject: Re: A lychee mystery Harry, Yes, I believe your second message is accurate: 'Bosworth 3' is from Australia and is also known as 'Kwai Mai Pink'. Based on a bit of research I've done (not so long ago), it is also true that it is *not the same* as Kaimana/Emperor. I have a young 'Bosworth 3' myself, and it is in flower at this time. You should know that while the 'Kwai Mai Pink' is considered to be of excellent flavor, it is a rather shy bearer. The tree is moderately vigorous and adaptable, with fruit best described as bright red on a yellow background (hence 'pink'). Leo has distributed a supplement about the Lychee in Australia that has some relevant information. Let me know if you need more info on it. Doron -- (Sunset zone 16, San Mateo, CA) ------------------------ From: MBASF To: lfenter@om.com.au Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 16:07:22 EST Subject: Climate data source for the USA Dear Nick, I just got the recent RFNO and saw your request for climatic data for sites in the USA. The best source I've found so far is the National Climatic Data Center at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ From this home page you can connect to info on both California and Florida. Good luck! Richard Wanberg San Anselmo, CA ------------------------------- From: Harry Hausman To: Doron Kletter Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 20:13:55 EST Subject: Lychee cultivar answers Doron: Thanks for your E-mail confirming that the Bosworth 3 and the Kwai Mai Pink are one and the same. You noted, however, that they are distinctly different than the "Kaimana/Emperor." Are you saying that the Kaimana and Emperor are one and the same?? They are being sold here in Florida as two different cultivars. Thanks......Harry Hausman ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 18:36:33 PST From: Doron Kletter To: HMHausman@aol.com Subject: Re: Lychee cultivar answers Harry, I agree with the local Florida folks; According to my notes, the Kaimana and Emperor are two different cultivars. I was merely trying to say that they are both different than the 'Kwai Mai Pink' which I thought you're interested in. Doron ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 09:07:01 +0700 From: Harry Hausman To: Doron Kletter Subject: Getting lychees and longans to flower Discussing this topic makes me recall a very pertinent comment by Malcom Frick of Croptech, Australia. My experience, observations and study have led me to concur wholeheartedly with his comment which is reproduced below: Quote: Biennial bearing is a huge problem everywhere in that type of cop. Australia grows a lot of lychees (a very close relative) and some longans. The problem of biennial bearinng is evident here also. At a rrecent lychee conference held near here, the discussion on fertiliser programs and, irrigation timing and tree management was discussed and it was evident hat there were a lot of different ways of manageing lychee trees with different areas and growers recording very good results, somtimes using totally opposite managment strategies. Biennial bearing stems from a combination of irrigation, nutrition, climatic factors and tree canopy management. To obtain a consistent yield, it is important to get a balance between the level of flowering and fruiting, and vegetative growth. If you have aa year with a very large fruit load, then the tree tends not to store as much carbohydrate in its limbs (reduced vegetative growth) and there may be a problem with reduced fruit size also. The lack of fruit size is a factor of not enough stored nutrients and insufficient uptake of required nutrients (eg potassium). This will also tend to lead to a reduced flowering in the following year due to the reduced storage of carbohydrates. Unquote: If anyone has any comments whatsoever, I (and many others) would love to hear them. Sainarong ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 09:58:21 PST From: kletter@IMPACT.xerox.com (Doron Kletter) To: Sainarong Rassanda Subject: Experimental Thai Longan in CA Dear Mr. Sainarong Rassanda, In an article published in the Jan/Feb issue of the Fruit Gardener (the CRFG bi-monthly magazine), Mr. David Silber of the Papaya Tree Nursery reported that an experimenter in Whittier, CA, has planted a few longan cultivars including 'Biew Kiew', 'Sri Compoo' (Chompoo?), and 'Bai Dum' to see how well they perform under local conditions. In this article, Mr. Silber reports that in the past season he was invited to test a few fruit from the three years old 'Bai Dum' tree. The fruit was described as slightly smaller in size than the frequently planted 'Kohala', but with a much richer taste. Mr. Silber concludes that more experimentation is needed to try out the new Thai varieties and learn how consistently they perform in southern CA. Thought I should let you know about this promising report, as well as to confirm that at least the few Americans who had the opportunity to taste both Thai and local cultivars agree the Thai are much better tasting. Perhaps the poor longan image can be much improved with the introduction of these better cultivars. Best Regards, Doron ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Duryan Subject: Cherimoyas Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 15:49:02 -0800 Hello Duryan, I read your note in the Rare Fruit News Online and called the largest shipper of cherimoyas here in California, namely Cal Tropics. They do not take mail orders, but do ship twice a week to Hunts Point Produce Market in New York City. Possibly you could work out a deal with this market if you bought a couple of boxes at a time and shared them with friends. I have found that cherimoyas will keep in the refrigerator a couple of days when they have just turned soft. By the way, you didn't say how much the "high price" was that you had to pay in your local market. In California where the fruit is grown it's not uncommon to see the fruit sell for $4-5/lb in the supermarkets. Of course, I buy my fruit much cheaper in the local farmers' market, where the usual price is $1.50-2.00/lb. But as George Emerich said, I would be hesitant to send fruit in the mail, since they are so fragile. Good luck, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 09:18:35 PST From: kletter@IMPACT.xerox.com (Doron Kletter) To: Sainarong Subject: Re2: Experimental Thai Longan in CA Dear Mr. Sainarong, I should thank you first, for my Lychee tree is blooming for the first time after I followed your advice to put under water stress and withold fertilization. I have looked into the issue of importing plant material, and it appears the US regulations require import permit and quarantine for two growing seasons (which would be two years for the Longan). However, seed import, while subject to inspection, is permitted at any time. This is why seed is easier to deal with, but may take a long time to fruit. Given this encouraging report, I think the introduction of successful Thai cultivars may well change the public opinion about the longan, which in turn will lead to more research, which will eventually benefit all of us. One success story has already happend in the case of the Kiwi introduction from New Zealand not so long ago. BTW, Why is Bai Dum no longer grown in Thailand? The report seems to indicate it has superior taste over the local Kohala. Doron ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 17:33:35 PST From: Sainarong To: Doron Kletter Subject: Re: Experimental Thai Longan in CA Thank you for the info. I very much appreciate it. You have given me an idea. Maybe I should try to introduce Thai longan trees to the US. BTW, Bai Dum, which means Black Leaves, is no longer grown here. Sainarong ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 14:07:54 -0800 (PST) From: DAVID W VADER To: NickSchaefer Subject: Re: bananas Nick, Hey it is me David from Las Vegas, NV. My bananas are unrolling new leaves VERY rapidly now and I am excited. It has been in the 80's the last few days so the trees are loving it. All my trees are in bloom, all my citrus. The guavas are getting new buds, I was upset because a late winter wind storm's wind completely defoliated them. The trees are blooming and showing signs of new growth, very happy. Spring is here and the weather is great, mid 80's and low 50's for lows. How is the weather there? Warming up? Well I am ready for those addresses of the banana suppliers in North County, San Diego. You said you had them, right? I am going down there on the 6th-8th of April and plan to check out any tropical nurseries or spots in North County, Escondido, Vista etc, and would like the addresses. I am really interested in banana spots. I already have a friend in Vista who runs a guava farm on Osborne called Sri Siam, very informative guy. I have been to Exotica, nice place to look around, but VERY pricey!!! I plan to check out those 2 places too, maybe get a papaya tree from there. I would really appreciate it if you could send me the addresses for any interesting places in North County. I would appreciate it if you could CC the e-mail to my other address at PEPSICOY@aol.com., as well as send it to the current address. Thanks a lot, tell me how your trees are doing! David -------------------------- From: "Ben Poirier" To: Bill Burson Subject: waterlogged potted plants Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 15:26:49 -0800 Hi Bill This is a late response to the Feb. newsletter, but I just got around to checking it all out! I also use a varied mix of potting soils, incorporating compost and horse manure compost,particularly on the larger plants in 5,7&15 gal pots. I find that all potting soils (including Supersoil) are seriously lacking in perlite which gives it water and air penetration and drainage. I seldom have the" water retention" problems you mentioned with the addition of generous amount of perlite. I can't say exactly how much I add, but just till it looks right...but here is an example: I also find Supersoil lacking in peatmoss, so when I am plant seedlings or rare plants I start them off in a mix of three parts Supersoil, one part peatmoss and two #3 coffee cans of perlite mixed in a 15 gal pot. Large bags of perlite can be purchased from Aztec perlite in Escondido. Hope this helps. Ben Poirier -------- Discussion list for New Crops -- From: NickSchaefer Subject: Re: Living Mulch for Crops and Trees Leo Manuel wrote: > I've heard that various plants are useful as a living mulch, and some, as > clover or other legumes, feed the tree or crop nitrogen. In theory it sounds > great. Has anyone been doing it for long enough to pronounce it a success? Leo, the effect of mulches, living, non-living and synthetic has been studied for many years now. I don't think there is any one simple answer as it is a truly multi-dimensional issue. A few years ago a trial was performed in our area on the effect of a leguminous ground cover crop on bananas. Banana productivity was actually less where a 'living mulch' was used. The cause for this was not ascertained but this kind of finding is not unusual. Competition for either water or nutrients or change in soil temperature can be factors. Similar findings are often found in intercropping situations where one species is grown with another (usually a legume). These kind of results are sometimes overlooked by permaculturalists - but again it all depends on the other boundary conditions - will additional water be supplied thru irrigation, fertilizers added, in what season/climate will the crop be grown, what planting density etc. Sometimes peripheral effects need to be considered. For example one suggested cover crop was pintos peanut, but some Macadamia growers believed this would encourage rats. On steep slopes ground covers can be more slippery and this was seen as a negative by some banana workers. Also what is the primary aim of growing the cover crop - in our case it was to reduce erosion and if effective could outweigh losses in harvest over the long term. Legumes are often believed to bring benefits to nearby crops thru Nitrogen fixation. Usually however this only comes when the legumious plants are turned in and used as a manure. The contribution to nitrogen uptake by a tree crop from nearby growing legumes is more problematic. It's a long time since I've looked at this but my recollection is that it's pretty small. If anyone has a different view I'd like to hear about it, particularly if you're a professional working on this topic. The problem is that complex issues like this can only really (start to) be answered by scientifically trained people with the help of a good statistician. Also, we mustn't expect just a single answer. An old book that covers some of the issues is Soil Conditions and Plant Growth" by E.W.Russel, published by Longman. Nick Schaefer, Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ---------------------------------- From: Eligio Bruzzese Subject: Weeds used as a replacement, or mistaken for vegetables Hello to all, I am a weed scientist working for the State of Victoria, Australia. An emerging issue is the introduction into Australia of weedy species which are mistaken by some migrant communities for closely related vegetable species which they traditionally use in their native country. Current issues are: 1. Alligator weed (Alternanthera phylloxeroides) being used by the Sri Lankan community as a replacement for Alternanthera sessilis (Mukunuwenna) 2. The recent introduction of Amaranthus dubius probably mistaken for Chinese Spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) which is used by several Asian communities. Does anyone have information on similar introductions/substitutions. Any information will assist us to predict the potential introduction of new weeds. Thank You El Bruzzese ------------------------------- From: NickSchaefer Subject: Cashews - Figure of Merit? Does anyone know what the latitude extreme is for open plantings of cashew. I've always assumed that cashew (Anacardium occidentale) was strictly tropical although I read (Popenoe) that they can be grown in southern Florida. I realise that topography, aspect etc are important, but just how far from the equator can they be grown and fruited. regards Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------ From: "George \"The Grower\" Mannoe" Subject: Re: Cashews - Figure of Merit? Cashew is extremely sensitive to frost, even more than avocado and mango. In its original "center of diversity" it is a lowland Tropical plant ranging from southern mexico to the Amazone basin, Peru and Carribean. George Mannoe. ------------------------------- From: NickSchaefer Subject: Pitaya/Hylocereus/DragonFruit from seed? Greetings I recently bought some red pitaya fruit and am interested in trying to grow these crawling cactus plants from seed. Does anyone know what is the most suitable medium and conditions for doing this? On moistened paper tissue at 25C the tiny black seeds seem to germinate within a few days. I've transferred some of these seedlings onto potting mix, but am not sure what would be the best substrate, nutrient light conditions. Does anyone know what the situation is in nature? Thanks Nick Schaefer, Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ----------------------------- From: "Robert H. Faust" Subject: Re: Pitaya/Hylocereus/DragonFruit from seed? In Hawaii pitaya grows fine in our lava rock with a small amount of organic matter, just lava rock will work, drainage is important, they always grow in lava rock in Kona, never from seed ,always from stem cuttings. Robert H. Faust Ph.D. Agroecologist Faust Bio-Agricultural Services, Inc. Honaunau, Hawaii 96726 U.S.A. -------------------------------- From: NickSchaefer Subject: Chocolate Pudding Plant Chocolate Pudding Plant is in fact Diospyros digyna (Black Sapote) (Ebenaceae), a relative of the persimmon (D.Kaki). When ripe the flesh of the fruit is dark black and can be used as a colouring for other processed foods like ice cream. The fruit on its own does not taste of chocolate. The tree has rather large, pendulous glossy leaves and is extremely attractive. Young trees are killed by temperatures below 0C, older ones can tolerate temps down to -2C. Nick Schaefer, Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- From: NickSchaefer Subject: Tree Tomatoes Seems we have a different perspective from Down Under. Tree tomatoes (Cyphomandra betaceae) AKA Tamarillo is a perfectly respectable fruit. Pretty well all decent fruit shops should stock them, particularly in late summer thru winter. As a matter of fact they are just ripening here now. Red and yellow varieties are available. To me the taste is across between tomato and passionfruit. Whilst I'm not a great fan of them myself as fresh fruit, I've known some people who scoff them down very willingly. They make a wonderful chutney also. Whilst they are probably wet subtropical we had one growing in Griffith (inland NSW) in partial shade where the temps ranged from 0-45C. The leaves do smell somewhat putrid when crushed, but the flowers are very fragrant. Apparently the first name for them was Solanum fragrans. In cold climates where the leaves drop the remaining hanging fruit make for a decorative display. We now live in a more subtropical climate and have had an unusually dry summer, which apparently has been the cause of many of the fruit dropping before reaching full colour. Karen don't you think the best thing would be to take the roof off your sowing room and turn it into a conservatory? Nick Schaefer, Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Re: Tree Tomatoes Nick: Good point - in the right climate tree tomatoes can do well. BUT very few people in the U.S., except perhaps in Southern California and Florida can usually manage the right conditions on a regular basis, so for the average grower in the U.S., tree tomatoes are a disaster. Lon Rombough ----------------------------- From: Gail Newcomb Subject: Re: Living Mulch for Crops and Trees At 11:00 27/03/98 +0000, Leo wrote: I've heard that various plants are useful as a living mulch, and some, as clover or other legumes, feed the tree or crop nitrogen. In theory it sounds great. Has anyone been doing it for long enough to pronounce it a success? What plants make the best smother crop? I'd guess they should grow densely but not tall, and not have deep roots. Leo Leo, comfrey is used quite often in New Zealand as living mulch where it is just cut and left to revitalise the soil. Around fruit trees the deep roots bring up other nutrients. Gail ------------------------------- From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Re: Living Mulch for Crops and Trees I knew a lady who had a field of comfrey she grew just to cut for mulch. She used it on nectarine trees and had the healthiest trees around - much less prone to peach curl and brown rot, which usually devistate nectarines in this area. Just be sure you WANT the stuff when you plant it - it's extremely hard to eradicate once established. And if you have gophers, they will spread it all over. Lon Rombough P.S. A lot more of the website for the new publication I mentioned recently is now up and going. Also, you can now access it from my site, http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom ------------------------------- From: Gail Newcomb Subject: Re: Tree tomatoes, C. betacea, 'Tamarillo' At 10:54 27/03/98 +0000, Leo wrote: I have heard that of the two major strains of tree tomatoes, the yellow has a better taste than the red one. Any one verify that? Leo Leo, as a native of Peru this tree was introduced into New Zealand around 1891 and was previously called the Tree Tomato. I think more because of colour and NOT because it any other ways resembles them. They are sub tropical small trees 2-3 meters high. They will not stand frost. They live about 8-10 years. Fruit ripens here April to November though it can be controlled by pruning. The Golden varieties of fruit are milder and less acid than those of the more popular Red or Amber types. Many strains have been selected in NZ and named. Young plants are raised from carefully selected seed as they come true to type. Many people have found that Tamarillo is a crop that responds to organic culture and there are many blocks in our area (Bay of Plenty) I have used it in fresh fruit salad where it imparts an amazing red colour throughout the rest of the fruit but it is mainly used to make delicious sauces and chutneys. The golden variety is a bit more palatable raw. As with all fruits, etc,, quality is of the utmost importance. Gail ------------------------------- From: Barry Densa Subject: Macadamia nuts grow well in S. Florida?? Margaret, I've noted your comment that Macadamia nuts grow well in S. Florida. For some time I have been trying to find out just such information, with no success. Ag. ext. service agents both in Dade and Palm Bech County say no one is growing it, at least not commercially because its not adaptable here. Homeowners may have one or two as ornamentals but that's it. For my part I would love to devote 2-3 acres to it. But I have received scant encouragement or reason to do so...so I'm investigating lychee nuts instead. Do you have proof of Macadamia production here that I may tap into? Barry ------------------------------ Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Margaret Basile Subject: Re: Chocolate Pudding Plant - What Is It? This is the black sapote, which is a persimmon relative (Diospyros). It grows here in South Florida very well, also I believe california. You pick the fruit when teh calyx curls back, at shich point it is still green. Then you let it sit until it turns black, collapses, looks rotten, and flies and ants start to gather. Ususally the fruit is peeling slightly and it oozes some juice. At this point it tastes just like chocolate p[udding, if your spouse hasn't thrownb it out already. Grows easily from seed, prcocious bearer, I am in zone 10 at which point it is hardy but I doubt you can grow it much farther north. Margaret ----------------------------- From: Margaret Basile Subject: Re: Cashews - Figure of Merit? I live in South Florida, USDA zone 10. The climate here is similar to Queensland. Macadamia nuts grow well. Cashews grow and fruit here in my neighborhood as well as the next county north. Will try to give you some more info after consulting my books and FAIRS Margaret ---------------------------- From: NickSchaefer Subject: Ilamas hello all I've just opened two Ilama (Annona diversifolia) fruits that I believe were grown locally. What a disappointment. The skin was incredibly hard and woody which I finally managed to cut thru with a serrated knife. Externally there was a light grey down/bloom. I had obviously waited too long for them to ripen (soften) as the flesh was already decayed. There were however many plump seeds that probably occupied about half the volume of the interior. Is this the way they are normally or just the result of growing them outside their normal climatic range?? Nick Schaefer, Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. --------------------------- From: "Robert H. Faust" Subject: Re: Ilamas Aloha I grow cheyimoya in Hawaii and, people wait to long to use them, they get hard and decay inside, they are used green when just starting to soften, some of the other annonas are not good, and they are seedlings so who knows, but my experience is that they probably sat to long. (I have several annonas and 6 cherimoya cultivars) Robert H. Faust Ph.D. Agroecologist Faust Bio-Agricultural Services, Inc. ----------------------------- Subject: Re: Ilamas From: Margaret Basile Sounds more like whoever picked the fruit did so before they were ripe. I wait for the scales to pop or the fruit to start to dehisce before harvesting Margaret ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 09:37:32 +0700 From: sainarong Subject: Price of fruits in thailand Here are the current prices of some fresh fruits in Thailand: Name Market Price Remarks (US$LB)(US$@38Baht) Tangerine 0.35-0.53 Out of season Guava 0.29-0.35 All season Rose Apple 0.47-0.53 end of season Banana 0.47-0.56/a comb All season Watermelon 0.47-0.56/fruits All season Longans 2.15-2.39 Out of season Grape 1.20-1.79 Beginning of season Coconut 0.12-0.18 All season Mango 0.48-0.59 Beginning-middle of season If you have time, take a look at the website below for details of Thai fruits. http://www.ku.ac.th/AgrInfo/fruit/ Sainarong ------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 05:21:25 -0500 From: Norm Rohrabaugh Subject: Assembly Rare fruit news - Unused? Leo I thought that the question and answer board at assembly was a great idea, but for some reason it seems to have lasted only 2 days. Is no one is interested or there is some other problem with the system. I enjoy your bi-monthly newsletter, but also think there is a need for this daily communication. Norm >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - April 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online April 15, 1998 AKA RFN199804B.txt ---------- Plant Tissue Culture at Home? Either visit website for information, or request TissueCultHome as a supplement from me, for the same information. See at the following website: http://www.une.edu.au/agronomy/AgSSrHortTCinfo.html Plant Tissue Culture for Home Gardeners By Dr. Acram Taji Email: ataji@metz.une.edu.au ------What's in this issue?------- New Subscribers Readers Have Questions or Comments Readers Write To Each Other From Discussion list for New Crops From The Zingiber List: zingiber@coollist.com --New Subscribers-- From: Richard Moyer Subject: New Subscriber in Tennessee From: "RONALD D STEINBACH" Subject: New Subscriber from Lake Forest, CA; Grows Lots of Fruit From: Dawn Martin (Moody) Subject: New Subscriber in Lemon Grove, CA From: "Gary D. Meltzer" Subject: New Subscriber from Redwood City, CA From: paullgj Subject: New Subscriber from Brownsville. See his webpage! From: Bob McGuffin Subject: New Subscriber (grows everything) in Australia From: Adam Rubinstein Subject: New Subscriber from Palm Springs, California From: Stephen Boboricken Subject: New Subscriber from Los Altos Hills, CA From: David Carver Subject: New Subscriber from San Jose, CA --Readers Have Questions or Comments-- From: jcubero@magicnet.net Subject: pomegranate From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: How do readers get letters posted in RFNO? From Leo To: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Re: How do readers get letters posted in RFNO? From: doreen@tgn.net (Doreen Howard) Subject: Rare Fruit News Online - Discovered From: doreen@tgn.net (Doreen Howard) Subject: Re: Rare Fruit News Online - Discovered From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: "Fletcher's Red" Loquat; I'm Looking For It. From: Pilar Cox Subject: Cherimoya in San Jose From: Leo Manuel To: Pilar_Cox@el.nec.com Subject: Re: Cherimoa in San Jose Subject: Cashews Producing in Florida From: Ed Griffin --Readers Write To Each Other-- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: David Subject: P. caerulea From: To: Dan Subject: Grapefruit and passionfruit From: Holzinger, Bob To: Jody Subject: Mamey sapote From: NickSchaefer To: Bob Holzinger, California Subject: Ilama Seed/Cashews From: Holzinger, Bob To: Nick Subject: Cashew, Hylocereus, C. betacea From: Mario Lozano To: BarryADensa@Worldnet.ATT.NET Subject: Growing fruits in South Florida --From Discussion list for New Crops -- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Record weather and crops Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Margaret Basile Subject: Re: Record weather and crops Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Barry Densa Subject:Re: Record weather and crops Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Re: Living Mulch and Smother Crops. Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Robert H. Faust Subject:Re: Living Mulch and Smother Crops. Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Michael Miller & Ute Bohnsack Subject: Re : Living Mulch and Smother Crops. Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Leo Manuel Subject Re Living Mulch and Smother Crops. Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Re : Living Mulch and Smother Crops. Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject:Cherimoyas / Cornucopia Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Doreen Howard Subject:Re: Black/Purple Potatoes Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Weather/FruitTrees/Bunchosia Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject:Hylocereus questions Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Flooding/MalabarChestnut/Mullberries Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Barry Densa Subject: Re: Growing fruits in South Florida Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Margaret Basile Subject: colchecine --From The Zingiber List: zingiber@coollist.com-- From: paullgj Subject: Banana cultivation and Winter 1997/98 Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com From: Jim Rooke Subject: Musa Basjoo Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com From: Ricky Maseda Subject: Re: Corms Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com ----------New Subscribers------------ Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 18:00:00 -0400 From: Richard Moyer Subject: New Subscriber in Tennessee Richard Moyer in Bristol, TN (Zone 6) 1900' Growing Chinese Che, Jujube, Akebia, Yellowhorn, and many others; have about 40 genera overall on less than 2 acres. Would be interested in learning more about infopages done on fruits earlier. Thanks. Richard ------------------------------- From: "RONALD D STEINBACH" Subject: New Subscriber from Lake Forest, CA; Grows Lots of Fruit Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 20:38:11 -0800 Greetings! 1. Real name: Ronald Steinbach & Yvonne Steinbach 2. Residence: Lake Forest, California 3. Fruit trees we have: approximately 50 fruit trees, including kumquat, loquat, navel orange, lemon, lime, apricot, plumcot (just planted two of them), fig, grapefruit, tamarillo, sapote, tangerine, tangelo, prune, plum, avocado, kiwi, tangelo, nectarine, peach, apple, mango, persimmon, pomegranate, guava, and I'm sure I missed several. Of the foregoing, we have different varieties of a number of them. We also grow our own tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillos, etc. We have traveled throughout New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Alaska and Europe, and we really enjoy new fruits and vegetables. Ron Steinbach ---------------------------- Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 12:30:55 -0700 From: Dawn Martin (Moody) Subject: New Subscriber in Lemon Grove, CA Hi Leo! 1) Dawn Martin 2) Lemon Grove, CA (San Diego County) 3) Interested in Tropical Fruits...would like to grow: Mango, Papaya, Kiwi, Banana...etc. I am also interested in CRFG...can you send me info on when/where the next meeting in San Diego will be taking place? Thanks! Dawn (Moody) Martin ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 22:09:59 -0700 From: "Gary D. Meltzer" Subject: New Subscriber from Redwood City, CA Hi Leo, I am Gary Meltzer, also a life member of the CRFG. I'm interested in all fruits, and still don't know what a "rare" fruit is. That is what makes it fun. I am located in Redwood City, CA, the S. F. Bay area. I would like to see a sample issue of your newsletter. Thank you, Gary ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 17:07:08 -0500 From: paullgj Subject: New Subscriber from Brownsville. See his webpage! Hi! My name is gene J. Paull. I live in Brownsville, Texas - way down south, about as far south as you can get in Texas. My rare fruits are different varieties of Cavendish bananas, mangos, and have even had coconuts fruit (don't have any now, though, we had a freeze two years ago). I'd like to be on the rarefruit online newsletter mailing list. I have a tropical agriculture (banana) homepage in South Texas at http://www.utb.edu/~paullgj/tropicalagriculture/tropag.html. Gene ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 14:31:28 +1000 From: Bob McGuffin Subject: New Subscriber (grows everything) in Australia Hi My name is Bob McGuffin email me at poncirus@mailexite.com I am interested in all types of fruit trees esp. subtropicals.I live in Brisbane Australia and operste a small nursery called planet fruit trees. At home I grow avocados longans guava wampi jabotisaba grumichama pomello limes oranges ice cream bean macadamia mulberry tangello lychee etc etc. I would be intrerested in any back issues of your newsletter and corresponding on any pomolgy related subjects. Bob ------------------------------- From: Adam Rubinstein Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 13:15:42 EDT Subject: New Subscriber from Palm Springs, California I am Adam Rubinstein, from Palm Springs, California (Hot dry and "zone 13") and trying to grow, and growing: lychee, Longan, Macadamia, Cheramoya, loquat, pistachio, Almond, pecan, jujube, sapote, grapes, apricot, plums, apple, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, banana, figs, orange , fingered citron, persimmon, passion fruit, guava, pomegranite, and anything else I can squeeze in to my small lot. Dream of finding a variety of lychee that will handle the hot dry climate and grow really fast. Experimentally yours, Adam -------------------------------- Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 11:28:54 -0700 From: Stephen Boboricken Subject: New Subscriber from Los Altos Hills, CA Stephen Boboricken; 11870 Francemont Drive; Los Altos Hills, Ca Pawpaws; cherimoyas; stone fruit; volunteer at Prusch Park's rare fruit orchard in San Jose, Ca. Thanks Stephen ---------------------------------- Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 16:12:30 -0700 From: David Carver Subject: New Subscriber from San Jose, CA While I don't think that I grow anything particularly rare ( I have tried to grow cherimoya, and some red bananas several years ago which were wiped out by the severe cold in 1990-1991 after about 7 years), I am growing apples (2 trees), 1 pear tree, 1 navel orange, 1 lemon seedling with 6 different grafted citrus varieties, 1 avocado, 2 figs- brown and yellow, 1 eugenia arragata (cherry of the Rio Grand), 2 dwarf cherry trees, and 2 dwarf nectarines. All these in a typical Californian back yard (small), with some space for tomatoes, lettuces, swisschard, beans, etc. I am a retired ( at times just tired ) chemical engineer, volunteer Santa Clara County Master Gardener, and in addition teach conversational English at our local senior center. But I so love plants and gardening, and would dearly love to receive your newsletter. Also I am very interested in seed exchange as well as learning how to grow things better - even mushrooms. So I hope that I may receive your newsletter and will be happy to do as I may be required. Yours truly, David Carver PS I live in San Jose, California ---------------Readers Have Questions or Comments---------------- From: jcubero@magicnet.net Subject: pomegranate Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 18:11:29 GMT I planted my pomegranate 3 years ago and it will not bloom. It's in full sun. I trim the bush every fall or winter because I know that blooms occur on the new growth tips. There has to be something I'm doing wrong. It's in acidic soil, it's about 15 feet from a pine tree and the area is totally mulched with pine needles. Could it be that the pine tree is sucking all of the nutrients away from the pomegranate? I'm getting good growth, just no blooms. I fertilize, I trim suckers from the base, I water, and still, nothing. Kym (Florida) -------------------------------- Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 15:01:24 +0000 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: How do readers get letters posted in RFNO? I'm a little unclear how I post something to this newsletter discussion? I am getting it OK and also I am seeing responses I sent to Perdue. So far I have just been sending people individual email. Margaret ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 12:13:17 +0000 To: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Re: How do readers get letters posted in RFNO? Margaret, the letters all go out from me. I collate, edit, and mail them to the group. Everyone mails whatever they want published to me. Leo ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:43:34 -0600 (CST) From: doreen@tgn.net (Doreen Howard) Subject: Rare Fruit News Online - Discovered Leo, Looks like your newsletter would be of great value to many. I'd like to link to your site so that people could get a better idea about what you have. Is that OK? Also, I noticed in the supplement list that my study with mycorrhizae and heirloom tomatoes was listed!! It's not copyrighted!!! It's amazing how small the Internet has made the world!! Doreen Howard doreen@tgn.net ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:19:48 -0600 (CST) From: doreen@tgn.net (Doreen Howard) Subject: Re: Rare Fruit News Online - Discovered Leo, Thanks for the free copy. It's very interesting. Do you cruise all the listservs and newsgroups to gather this material? What a wonderful service you are providing. After reading it, I think I need to subscribe to NEWCROPS. Will ask Lon how to subscribe. How does one subscribe to your newsletter? And would you like for me to add a link to you and the newsletter on my site? Doreen Howard doreen@tgn.net ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 11:43:56 +0000 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: "Fletcher's Red" Loquat; I'm Looking For It. Has anyone out ther heard of a loquat variety called "Fletcher's Red"? I'm looking for it. Margaret ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 19:59:40 -0400 From: Pilar Cox Subject: Cherimoya in San Jose My name is Pilar Cox I live in San Jose CA and I'm originally from Southamerica, Chile. I bought a Cherimoya tree Sunday and is already about 7 feet high. I want to know if there is someone around here that is growing Cherimoyas and what problems they have encounter. I want to know about hand pollinating. Do I need to do it with this fruit or should I let it do is own thing. I would appreciate any help that I can get. Thank you very much. Pilar Cox ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1998 14:36:20 +0000 To: Pilar_Cox@el.nec.com Subject: Cherimoa in San Jose You said: Leo I call the nursery and they told me the tree is about 5 years old. Do you think I need to worry this year (about the cold)? Pilar PS: Yes I want to join your newsletter. Pilar, you won't need to worry until it gets winter. If you plant the tree on the south or west side of a house or stone wall, the plant might survive outside. You might want to have some protection for it in the winter, for a few years. Leo -------------------------------- Subject: Cashews Producing in Florida Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 14:26:43 -0400 From: Ed Griffin Before (hurricane) Andrew, a local house had a cashew at least 40' tall. I enjoyed watching for the moons 'n' apples each year.There are a number of tropicals that do well here IF they can get past the first 5 or 10 years...:^) Ed Griffin -------USDA Zone 10b (FL) --------------Readers Write To Each Other----------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: David Subject: P. caerulea Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 15:25:01 -0800 Hello David I saw in your intro note to Leo that you want to find P. caerulea, the Blue Passionflower. That should be fairly easy to do, most nurseries that carry passionflowers will have this species. If you can't find it near you, contact Wild Ridge Nursery at and they can send it to you through the mail. In case you aren't aware of it, there is an all white form of P. caerulea called P. 'Constance Eliott' that is just as vigorous and cold hardy as the true species. This can also be found at Wild Ridge Nursery. Happy hunting. Best wishes, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Wed Apr 1 21:06:24 1998 From: To: Dan Subject: Grapefruit and passionfruit Hello Dan, I saw your introductory note on RFNO and would like to make some suggestions to you. Since you live in Pacific Beach and I know that you don't get that much heat compared to a more inland location, I would recommend trying 'Oro Blanco' grapefruit, since it appears not to need much heat to sweeten up, unlike traditional grapefruit. As for the yellow passionfruit, P. edulis f. flavocarpa, you should be aware that this species is not self fruitful. P. edulis will cross pollinate it, but you may have to do it yourself, since the bee population is down in San Diego. This species also does better in a warmer climate, so it may not flower that well depending on your exposure. I would recommend trying P. 'Frederick'. It's a cross between P. edulis f. flavocarpa and P. edulis, is self fruitful and very tasty, in my opinion. And welcome to the Online group! Best wishes, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- From: Holzinger, Bob To: Jody Subject: Mamey sapote Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 12:26:56 -0800 Hello Jody, I saw in RFNO that you work at a germplasm repository for mamey sapote, P. sapota. How variable is the mamey from seed. I have very limited access to grafted trees here in California and I can get seeds from fruit in Mexico, but is it worth the effort? If seeds from superior cultivars produce descent fruit on average, would it be possible to get a seed or two from you from say 'Pantin', which is supposed to be one of the best. I could send a suitable box and some peat moss to keep it viable. I have also read that grafting the mamey onto a P. viride rootstock would make it more cold hardy. Is this something you have heard reported or seen demonstrated? I look forward to hearing your comments. Best wishes, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 04 Apr 1998 21:05:27 +1000 From: NickSchaefer To: Bob Holzinger, California Subject: Ilama Seed/Cashews Hi Bob I still have some of the Ilama seeds (Annona diversifolia). I've had them under moist tissue whilst I decided what to do. I've planted some today and can send you over say 10. Apparently other Annonas and maybe Ilama don't produce good quality fruit out of their normal climatic range - so I won't be covering the farm with them. Lately I've put in Rollinia, Soncoya, Poshte, Soursop and Cherimoya. This morning have just found a nursery that supplies seedling cashews in south-east QLD, sounds promising. I also happened to buy 2 native cashews (AKA Tar tree, Marking Nut: Semecarpus australiensis, Anacardiaceae) endemic to the Top End. I shall be planting them up the back as the sap is just as corrosive as the true cashew. all the best Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ---------------------------------- From: Holzinger, Bob To: Nick Subject: Cashew, Hylocereus, C. betacea Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 12:05:12 -0800 Hi Nick, I have a few comments on your recent comments in RFNO. I have seen a cashew tree bearing fruit in Baja California at 23 degrees latitude, if that helps you. Also the tree tomato, C. betacea fruits quite well in Watsonville, California, which is between Monterrey and Santa Cruz on the coast of California just below the San Francisco bay area. As for Hylocereus sp. I think they need to be grown in at least partial shade, since mine turn yellow-green when they emerge from the bush they are growing under. Lastly, what did you do with the seeds from the A. diversifolia fruit you opened up. I have been looking for a source of seeds and would like to get some from you if you still have them. Let me know and I'll give you my mailing address. The reports from Central America indicate that this should be a good tasting annona fruit, so I'd like to try it in California. Thanks, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 00:30:19 EDT From: Mario Lozano To: BarryADensa@Worldnet.ATT.NET Subject: Growing fruits in South Florida Hello Barry: My name is Mario Lozano and I live a bit south of you in Davie, Florida. My lot is only one acre, but I've managed to grow quite a few trees on it, about 60. After recently reading your posts on Leo's newsletter, I think my experience growing both lychees and macadamias can be of help to you. Lychees grow well in South Florida. The trees are very delicate when they are small, they may suffer from chlorosis, but this may be corrected with nutritional sprays and/or chelated iron supplements, and above all use fertilizer very sparingly or not at all until the trees are well established, I'm convinced that people kill more lychee trees by overfertilizing than by any other means. There are significant differences in growing the different lychee cultivars. While some seem to tolerate the highly alkaline soils of Dade County quite well, such as the Brewster, others such as the Sweetcliff simply will not grow unless the soil has an neutral or acid reaction. Where I live the soil is mostly muck, which i suspect has an acid reaction. I have ten different varieties of lychees and they all seem to grow well here. I don't know what your soil is like, but I suspect from your description that it may be acid sandy soil. If that the case you should not have any problems growing lychees provided that you irrigate during dry spells. Macadamias are even easier to grow here than lychees, they are less delicate and grow faster, besides they bear regularly year after year. But they are even more susceptible to soil conditions than lychees. I've tried growing them in alkaline soils in Dade county, and found that a very difficult task. On mucky soil however, they truly thrive. I have four different varieties, two Integrifolias (pink flowers, bumpy skin) and two ternifolias (white flowers, smooth skin). They all grow and fruit well here. As with lychees they grow better in the acid soils. Anything else that I can help you with just let me know, be glad to help. Mario Lozano BTW, there is a 2 acre macadamia grove near me, I believe that the only variety there is the ternifolia, last time I saw the trees they looked very good. -----From Discussion list for New Crops------ Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Record weather and crops A few nights ago it was reported that Sydney has had the hottest February, March and first quarter on record. 800 km to the north where we live the seasons have been completely reversed. What normally is a dry spring followed by wet summer was the exact opposite. Even cyclone Yali that brought strong winds, a 12m surf, and plenty of clouds produced only a few mm of rain. Nevertheless the wet spring did deliver the largest lychee crop ever, whilst the mangoes were a complete failure - about a dozen fruit off 45 large trees. Its started to rain now and I see the record drought in New Guinea seems to be almost over. What's the weather like elsewhere, has El Nino finally dissipated? Nick Schaefer; Lat S 28deg 34min; Long W 153deg 31min, Elev 20m New South Wales, Australia. ----------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Barry Densa Subject:Re: Record weather and crops Margaret, I'm curious to know how much acreage in S. Florida is devoted to Lychees and what the production numbers have been and where it's heading. I'm under the impression there are a lot of young groves out there that are not yet able to produce. Since Macadamias are out of the question lychees are my second choice for my back 2 acres. I was considering Carambola but an ag ext. agent told me there is way too much grown here; growers are just letting it rot on the trees. Barry ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Margaret Basile Subject: Re: Record weather and crops El Nino brought South Florida a record wet winter with incredibly warm temperatures. W actually have fewer lychees this year but I think we'll set a record for mangos and avocados. My col weather brassicas were none too happy with 90 degrees farenheit in December. I expect the aftereffects to carry over for the next few months, we've never had a hurricane hit the peninsula the year after an El Nino event. Re your previous message, I believe if you go to the Amazon.com book search and put in that book, they list the publication date of the new edition. They do for Glowinshi's ne edition. Margaret ------------------------------ Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Re: Living Mulch and Smother Crops. A mulch plant that is used in our area that definitely qualifies as a 'smother crop' is Molasses Grass (Melinis minutiflora). Its origin I think is South America/South Africa. It is a summer growing annual that produces a very dense mat of tangled stalks maybe 1.5m deep in a good season. Our rainfall pattern is summer dominant. The leaves are sticky and have a sweet smell not unlike molasses but the exudate is not sugary. It grows well on poor soil and steep embankments and is used here for erosion control. Really it is a preplant mulch grown before the main crop, as its growth is extremely rampant. Molasses grass succumbs readily to herbicides like glyphosate or to slashing or knocking down with any other impliment. Its main drawback is fire risk during dry spells. On the north coast of NSW molasses grass has become naturalised although seed can be obtained commercially. Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, Lat S 28deg 34min; Long W 153deg 31min, Elev 20m New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Robert H. Faust Subject:Re: Living Mulch and Smother Crops. I have quite a bit of molasses grass growing, it will take over a field and totally dominate and choke out everything. It is a fairly good forage for the St. Croix sheep, it can really spread, it takeover on low fertility land ,maybe with a acidic situation too acidic for better grass like paspalum notatum, my main grass , I beleive it's a good smother crop, but not as managable as Paspalum ,here in Hawaii, I use these grasses to manage weeds in coffee and avocado grove. Aloha Robert ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Michael Miller & Ute Bohnsack Subject: Re : Living Mulch and Smother Crops. I am presently experimenting with a mixture of Phacelia (attracts bees) and vetches (N-fixing) under young apple trees. Have also planted comfrey and horseradish about 2ft from the stem. Can't comment on the usefulness of this yet as the sowings were only made a couple weeks ago. I'm a bit concerned that the seedlings will get devoured by slugs. Will post results later. UteB ---------------------------- To Multiple recipients of list NEWCROPS Subject Re Living Mulch and Smother Crops. Date 03 April 1998 0646 The cure (Molasses Grass) might be worse than the disease, for me. Nick, I was prompted to ask the question about living mulch and smother crops by the large amount of time I spend removing weeds. Nature abhors a vacuum, someone said, thinking of weeds, no doubt. I realize that a dry mulch is a possibility-probably a superior idea-but I thought that something dense-growing, short, and shallow rooted could be chosen to keep the weeds down, without causing the main crop (fruit trees, in my case) to suffer. And, a legume might at least keep itself suppled in nitrogen? Leo ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Re: Living Mulch and Smother Crops. Leo Manuel wrote: > > The cure (Molasses Grass)might be worse than the disease, > for me. Umm, yes - you might be right. Here it's used really pre-crop or fallow. It's also recommended as a smother crop to prevent other woody weeds such as lantana or Groundsel Bush from comming up. > > Nick, I was prompted to ask the question about living mulch > and smother crops by the large amount of time I spend > removing weeds. Nature abhors a vacuum, someone said, > thinking of weeds, no doubt. I realize that a dry mulch is > a possibility-probably a superior idea-but I thought that > something dense-growing, short, and shallow rooted could be > chosen to keep the weeds down, without causing the main crop > (fruit trees, in my case) to suffer. Yes I know the problem well, Leo. It depends on your own situation. If you have nice flat or gently undulating land you can plant grass and keep it mown. This is what happens in Macadamia plantations where erosion control is a prime motivation. Whist young weeds are sprayed in the tree line and cut grass heaped up. Later on the shade of the trees themselves keeps the ground cover from invading too closely. In bananas we have a low growing Pygmy Panic that does a very good job as a cover in partal shade. However if taller species such as Paspalum are present they can outcompete the lower grass. Mowing can overcome this or at least keep the taller cover crop/weeds to an acceptable length. ie you trade weeding for mowing. However in the inland of australia there are plenty of weeds that are a problem even at 3" tall eg Caltrop that has 3/4" spined burrs. Ideally one removes weeds before they seed - 1 years seeding, 7 years weeding as the saying goes, but it's easier said than done as lots of weeds bear seeds very early. Still mowing/slashing has its problems - plenty of people in our district have either been killed or had close misses when the tractor has rolled over - similarly ride-on mowers can be a hazard especially for older or child drivers. > And, a legume might at least keep itself suppled in nitrogen? Yes but even legumes also compete with the crop for water and other nutrients. If the roots are too short then the ground cover could become drought stressed, allowing deeper rooted weeds to take over. In inland orange orchards a cover crop is sometimes grown thru winter followed by bare soil in summer. A good starting point is to find out what others in your district are doing. Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject:Cherimoyas / Cornucopia Thanks George and Laurie for the info re cherimoyas. I came across Stephen Facciola's Cornucopia (1990) in a bookshop today. It's the first time I've seen it but only had enough time for a quick glimpse. Quite a number of varieties are mentioned including Reretai which is supposed to be one of New Zealand's premier lines. I'll be contacting the nursery in QLD where these and other varities are stocked, sometime after easter. Has anyone got a better idea of the publication date for the new Cornucopia - someone suggested maybe Aug/Sept?? Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Doreen Howard Subject:Re: Black/Purple Potatoes Kate, Go to my website and click on Heirloom Gardens and then take the hyperlink to seed sources. Wood Prairie Farms is listed and it carries everything you seek. I just harvested All-Blues, Russian Banana Fingerlings and Cranberry Reds. I planted them in Nov. See at http://www.tgn.net/~doreen/ Doreen ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Weather/FruitTrees/Bunchosia Thanks Margaret for your info on weather etc. Our spring was wet, RELATIVE to a normal season. It was in fact mild and humid and therefore favoured good pollination in the lychees In very wet conditions (perhaps like Fla) I have read that rain can wash pollen out of the flowers. Maybe thats the difference. I'm surprised your mangos did well, maybe its a varietal difference. Our major type is Kensington Pride (Bowen Special). I have a small Bunchosia (4ft tall) At the time I puchased it the flowers did not appear to be setting fruit. By bringing two flowers on different branches together I think I managed to effect pollination and now there are about 6 orange coloured fruit an inch or so long. Is this as good as it gets? The potential for quite a crop seems to be there but Ive been a bit disappointed in the number of fruit set. Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject:Hylocereus questions I have just germinated several hundred seed of a red pitaya. This has red skin with deep red flesh, and so I take it to be Hylocereus ocaponis (a species not mentioned by Mizrahi or a hybrid?) The fruit was produced locally and apparently was pollinated without any human intervention or involvement of any other species of cactus. Does anyone know whether the seedlings are likely to come true to type with fruit characteristics similar to the parent. The fruit was slightly sweet with a faint flavour reminiscent of raspberry. Is this the experience of other people with red fleshed pitaya? Perhaps they were picked too early and hadn't developed full flavour, if so is there some external guide as to fruit maturity. I've heard that cross pollination can produce larger fruit, have others found this too? Has anyone attempted to cross the various species of Hylocereus (including Selenicereus) outside of Israel, if so what are the charcteristics of the progeny, especially the fruit? Finally does anyone know of a definitive taxonomic key for these genera + chromosome information? Thanks Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: NickSchaefer Subject: Flooding/MalabarChestnut/Mullberries Dan Hemenway in RFNO asked whether there were any nut trees that tolerate flooding. I have just planted two Malabar Chestnuts near a spring. In CRFG Fruit Facts on Line it is stated that the natural habitat of these plants is estuaries, and the name Pachira aquatica also suggests a watery affinity. However when looking at soil requirements CRFG states :- "Soils: Malabar chestnuts are not overly fussy about soil as long as it is well drained." Can someone clear up this apparent contradiction? Also is Malabar Chestnut the same as Guiana Chestnut? I have heard that Pecan nut trees are also waterlogging tolerant. Can anyone verify this please? Dan's original question related to flooding tolerance of Mullberries. Well in our area mullberries grow wild in and along creek beds. However their roots are probably not permanently submerged, although the water table must be quite high. During heavy rain the water level can come half way up the trunk. I think too there may be a distinction between flowing and stagnant water as far as survival of the roots goes. Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Barry Densa Subject: Re: Growing fruits in South Florida Thanks Mario for your post, You sound like just the person I need to talk to. You seem to be doing exactly what I want to do, though I have 2-3 acres in which to do it. I've been staring at those back 3 acres of mine for almost three years now wondering what I should do with it. The first thing I need to do though is raise the land back there, clear trees, dig a pond and spread the fill. It holds quite a bit of water in the summer, it's low with poor drainage. I'll need a pond for irrigation anyway. And this I need to do no matter what I decide on, even to put horses back there as I has originally planned. After I get the land prepared, I can then do a soil test. I think it will tend towards the acidic, lots of pine and cypress back there. Since we lived in Hawaii for nearly 8 years we're sentimentally predisposed towards exotic tropicals. It seems that lychee and macadamia fit the bill for a number of reasons. One, they bring in good dollars per pound and would seem ideally suited for S. Florida as per climate and soil, and from what I've read they don't have as many enemies, pests & diseases, as other tropicals. But before we invest money, time and effort, we need to get educated. Which is what I'm doing right now. As far as Lychees go, I can't seem to get a definitive answer as to which varieties to grow, Brewster and Mauritius are the ones that everyone bandies about, then comes Sweetcliff and a few others. So am I supposed to use them all? Better still if I can find out what each variety requires, in explicit detail, I can narrow down the search, and concentrate on those varietes best suited for my location, Loxahatchee, West Palm Beach. A good place to start I presume would be nurseries and growers. Which begs the question who are the most reputable and knowledgable growers and nurseries in S. Florida, who wouldn't mind me picking there brains. And then of course I can purchase from them in quantity. Since summer is no time to dig a pond, it being to wet back there, I was thinking of buying a number of trees in pots, just to get my feet wet so to speak, and then air layer them myself and get a head start. But how long can the trees stay in containers, without sacrificing their quality and productive capabilities once I put them in the ground? Macadamias present a whole 'nother problem. The ag. ext. services say I can't grow macadamias commercially, that no one is doing it, citing climatic reasons. But I keep hearing of isolated pockets of small time growers, like yourself, who are. I also ran into a gentleman in Labelle, who has devoted nearly the last 20 years to developing varieties suited for S. Florida. I'll be visiting him when time permits. So I have the same questions for macadaima that I have for Lychee. I've got plenty more questions from type of fertilizer to irrigation technique, planting, spacing, pest control, suppliers, etc., etc., but I don't want to overburden you in one fell swoop. Thanks in advance for you time and help. Barry ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Margaret Basile Subject: colchecine for lychee and longan seeds I am planning to try some colchecine on lychee and longan seeds. Anyone out there have an idea of the dilution range and treatment time for a seed that large? My only references are for bryophytes and daylillies. Margaret ---------------From the Zingiber List---------------- From: paullgj Subject: Banana cultivation and Winter 1997/98 Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com Hi Fellow Zingibers. A few months ago I posted a page on Growing Bananas in South Texas. Now I've added some photographs. Link on to it at http://www.utb.edu/~paullgj/tropical agirculture/tropag.html You can see how the various cultivars have fared during the past winter. I'm always up for comments, particularly when it comes to fertilizing. In our hot and dry climate I'm loathe to put on muriate of potash for the potassium fertilizer. That drives up the salt content of the soil. Any suggestions? Gene J. Paull Brownsville, Texas, z. 9b ----------------------------------- From: Jim Rooke Subject: Musa Basjoo Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com Is anyone familiar with the Musa Basjoo or "Japanese fiber Banana"? I purchased one from Stokes a while back because it is rated for zone 5, or to -20 degrees with protective mulching. I live in zone 6 where we occasionally get -20 degrees. I'm going to keep it inside a glass enclosed patio the 1st. year and possibly plant it outside the 2nd. Spring. The instructions says it only grows to about 8' in a container. How tall would it get growing outside? How tall does it grow in one season if it's grown outside and dies back each winter? If grown inside, does it die back each year? Or is it evergreen under those circumstances? Any information would be appreciated. Jim Rooke http://kpt1.tricon.net/Personal/jrooke ------------------------------ From: Ricky Maseda Subject: Re: Corms Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com paullgj wrote: Zingibers: I looked at my corms this morning, one has a tiny green shoot poking out, the other shows some new roots coming out at the bottom of the pot. This is exactly one month after I received them. Our weather has been in the eighties daytime during that period. I think corms, minus the roots, are okay if you start them in mid-summer heat and follow the instructions to a t. With rooted corms that I dig up myself, in July or August- new leaves emerge within a week. As I've indicated in earlier postings I've received tissue culture plantlets in Nov. and Dec., put them in small containers, and have them continue growing during the winter months. I've also received bare rooted plants and plants with roots and soil in November. The recovery time for these, starting the cooler months of the year, is very quick. These are just my observations, not endorsing or criticizing any particular business establishment. I do think corms need lots of heat to get started - under those conditions they are the most economical/convenient way to go. Gene Paull Brownsville, Tx., zone 9b Gene, we have had excellent results starting banana plants from corms. Most of our 65 variety were started from corms. On over 100 new corms we only lost 1 or 2. As you know - they must be kept dry or they easily rot. I have a list of the bananas we have growing on my web page. It's at http://home.att.net/~r.maseda/home.html We have 4 or 5 new varieties I haven't listed yet including the Ae-Ae. I'll be updating the pictures and banana list in the next week or so. Best regards, Ricky Maseda Birds & Bananas Tampa, Florida >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - April 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online May 1, 1998 AKA RFN199805A.txt ------What's in this issue?------- Notes from Leo New Subscribers Readers Have Questions or Comments Readers Write To Each Other New Crops: Subscribe at --Notes from Leo-- BbyGaInfo: Blueberry Cultivars for Georgia; Webpage http://www (next line) ces.uga.edu/Agriculture/plantpath/docs/FruitsNuts/Newsletter/bbcultiv.html Visit the site there, OR ask me to send the supplement by the name: BbyGaInfo It has cultivars and cultivation tips for the Southeast US. For a list of supplements, request 'Listsupp' by name. -- I didn't expect many temperate fruit to set, with so much rain happening at blossom time, but the crop is about normal. Mango set is light, with mildew on the blossoms, which I have been neglectful in controlling. What's the most 'organic' way to control mildew on mango blossoms? I've seen potassium bicarbonate products and have heard that sodium bicarbonate (ordinary baking soda) will work. Any experience? My mango trees are all in bloom-some several months along, but the set is light. Some trees will undoubtedly bloom again and set then, weather permitting. NEWCROPS is the name of a listserv that can help you find information about almost any crop, about which you'd like to learn more. Subscribe at You can't ask questions of them unless you are on the mailing list. Visit their website at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop They have an Index to Crops - Listed alphabetically, genus and common name begins at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/indices/index_ab#A -------------------------New Subscribers--------------------------- From: Sven Merten Subject: New Subscriber, Fountain Valley, CA; Impressive Plant List! From: Barry Densa Subject: New Subscriber Wants Macadamia and Lychee Information From: John Fontenot Subject: New Subscriber, Near Baton Rouge, LA, Asks: >>Anredera basselloides "Patate Fleur"; Anyone Know of It? From: Beth Elliott Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Selak Seeds or Plants From: Ed & Marilyn Biel Subject: New Subscriber, Australia, Seeks Capulin, Cape Gooseberry Info From: "Dr. Amir Hagiladi" Subject: New Subscriber, Israel, Grows Mango, etc. From: Andrew Hattel Subject: New Subscriber, Andrew Hattel, Colorado, Age 15 From: Adam Rubinstein Subject: New Subscriber asks: Lychee in the Desert - Possible? From: Von Sexton Subject: New Subscriber, AU, Raising Fruit in Containers; Has Questions Subject: New Subscriber "When should I fertilize my young mango?" From: Karen Marchetti From: Helga & John Kocurek Subject: New Subscribers, Texas, Wants Ideas For Planting In Their Zone ----------Readers Have Questions, Suggestions, or Comments---------- Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 07:40:37 -0400 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Cherimoya - When to Pollinate Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 11:03:06 -0400 From: "Ed Griffin" Subject: Cherimoya in Zone 10b, Florida; Will They Grow Here? Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 17:06:05 +1000 (EST) From: Ian Staples To:sci.agriculture.fruit Subject: Monsteras lost :-( Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 23:32:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: My Tahitian Lime and Change of email address Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 06:30:28 -0700 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Updated Website: http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom Date: Sun, 05 Apr 1998 09:11:29 -0500 From: moshe Subject: Re: Happy Travels! But, We'll Miss You!! Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 11:43:11 -0400 From: "Ed Griffin" Subject: The Exhalted Neem Tree From: Adam Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 23:20:12 EDT Subject: Lychee in the Desert - Possible? What Cultivar(s)? --Readers Write To Each Other-- Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 21:26:52 +1000 From: NickSchaefer To: Ricardo Barbosa Subject: Tree List/Bunchosia/Imbu From: DGholston To: Rasmus Thomsen Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 12:44:24 EDT Subject: Citrus in containers From: Kym Javier Cubero Subject: "Marimba" - a highbush blueberry or a rabbiteye? Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 01:19:55 GMT Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998 21:38:25 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Kym Javier Cubero Subject: Re: "Marimba" - a highbush blueberry or a rabbiteye? From: DGholston To: Leo Manuel Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 12:36:53 EDT Subject: Re: Wampi on citrus? (Yes!) From: Janelle Kessler Subject: Fruit with horns - Where can I find a picture? From: Don Gholston To: Drew K. Subject: Re: Fruit with horns --From New Crops; Subscribe at -- From: Ben Alkire Subject: NewCROP's Phytosanitation Resource From: Michel Van Mellaerts Subject: Re: What is Mako? (Is "Aristotelia serrata") --Another Leo Note-- Date: April 25, 1998 Subject: Peaceful Valley Farm Supply in Grass Valley, CA ---------------------New Subscribers------------------------ -- Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 22:38:22 -0700 From: Sven Merten Subject: New Subscriber, Fountain Valley, CA; Impressive Plant List! My name is Sven Merten and I live in Fountain Valley CA. Here is a list of what we have so far. We are always looking for new plants. In the ground: Blackberry; Cherimoya; grape, muscat; Grapefruit, Oro Blanco; Guava, from seed 12; Guava, Philippine; Guava, Vietnamese; Guava, white asian; Lemon, Eureka; Lime; Mandarin, Dancy; Mandarin, Page; Mandarin, Satsuma; Mango, Manila; Navel orange, Robertson; papaya, Mexican; Passion fruit, edulis; Passion fruit, fredrick; Passion fruit, unknown; Passion fruit, vitifolia; Persimmon, Fuyu; Plumeria; potato vine; Raspberry; Sapote, Canistel (egg fruit); Sapote, Mammey; Star Fruit, Akrin; Strawberry guava, red; Valencia Orange, Dwarf; Valencia Orange, Standard; In Pots: Avocado; Cherimoya; cimbidium; Desert Ironwood; Fig; Grapefruit, ruby red; Guava, red Grady; Guava, red Guatemalan; Guava, yellow colombian; Joboticoba; Jujube, Kima; Kumquat, nagami; Lowquat; Mandarin, Algerian; Mandarin, leon; Mandarin, mineola; Mangosteen, false; Monisteria/Mexican breadfruit; Mullberry, S. American; Natal Plum; Orange, dwarf valencia; Orange, moro blood; Orange, standard valencia; Papaya; Papino dulce; passion fruit, ligularis; Passion fruit, quadrangularis; Passion fruit, vitifolia; Pawpaw; Persimmon, fuju; Pineapple; Pineapple guava; Plum; Protea; Quince; Sapote, Black; Sapote, canistel; Sapote, Chico; Sapote, Green; Sapote, White; Silk Floss Tree; Star Fruit; Tamarind; Tree Tomato So far only the citrus, guavas, and passion fruit have fruited, but our mango is blooming. We hope for more soon. We've only been in our house for 3 years, and we had nothing when we moved in, so hopefully we'll get more soon. I am very interested in joining you list. Thank you. Thank you. Sven ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 05:48:00 -0700 From: Barry Densa Subject: New Subscriber Wants Macadamia and Lychee Information I am Barry A. Densa, at Loxahatchee, Florida 33470...near West Palm Beach. I want to grow macadamia and lychee on my back three acres. The question I have now is: Is it possible to subscribe and receive here in Florida the Australian Macadamia Society AMS Newsletter, and is there such a thing as a Australian Lychee Society with similar newsletter. I'm looking for all the information I can find on growing Mac's and Lychees. Barry Densa ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 01:14:25 -0700 From: John Fontenot Subject: New Subscriber, Near Baton Rouge, LA Dear Leo Manuel, My name is John S. Fontenot and I live near Lafayette, La., which is in latitude near Baton Rouge. I am growing (but not yet fruiting) pitanga, tamarillo, papaya, lemon and strawberry guava,and a variety of citrus, esp. cold hardy ones. Also have small farm, berries and early tomatoes. I'm a novice at much of this, but I have made profit on farm. By the way, you wouldn't happen to from Ville Platte area, would you. If so, you're descendent of Jean Manuel, who in 1700s married a woman related to all the first families of Quebec. Later, john ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 08:19:29 -0800 From: Beth Elliott Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Selak Seeds or Plants Hi! My name is Beth Elliott. I live in San Pedro (Los Angeles - near the ocean), Ca. I grow several varieties of bananas, have just planted kiwi and am most interested in growing other tropical & sub tropical fruit. On a trip to Indonesia I collected some seeds from my favorite fruit - Selak. The seeds were growing well until I took another trip. Does anyone know of a source of seedlings or seeds for Selak? It is a small fruit - large plum size - with brown snake skin and white, segmented, sweet, apple/nut textured meat.. Thanks much - glad to find you! Beth ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 09:15:55 +1000 From: Ed & Marilyn Biel Subject: New Subscriber, Australia, Seeks Capulin, Cape Gooseberry Info Dear Leo, I would be pleased if you would include me on you mailing list for your newsletter. Name and other details appear below. Briefly, we grow plums and Nashi (Asian Pear) commercially, in a small (25acre) orchard at Oakdale NSW, Australia. We are in a cool temperate climate located some 80 kilometers from the coast at an altitude of 430meters. Oakdale is located about 100 road kilometers from Sydney, the largest city in Australia. Our orchard is a family run business and has been operating about 12 years. I am looking to diversify into "new" fruit varieties and would be interested in any information as to the commercial potential of fruit such as Capulin Cherries. I have been told that the fruit is not very palatable. Is this so? Size also is a problem as fruit is reputed to be small with large stone. Is this correct? Any info will be welcome. Another fruit I looked at is the Cape Gooseberry. I would be pleased to hear from anyone with information on this fruit. An interesting group of edible fruit is native to Australia and a small but growing industry is developing here. An index of back issues would be appreciated also. many thanks... Ed & Marilyn Biel. Oakdale. N.S.W. Australia. GROWERS OF QUALITY POME AND STONE FRUIT ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 18:02:35 +0000 From: "Dr. Amir Hagiladi" Subject: New Subscriber, Israel, Grows Mango, etc. Dear Leo and Betty Manuel, My name is Dr. Amir Hagiladi I am researcher at Floriculture Dept. in The Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani center, Bet Dagan Israel. I am living in a farm community and I have an Mango plantation of 0.8 Hectare. Rare fruit it is always fascinating, and as a mango grower I can understand your love to this fruit. I am interesting to hear about your association and to have the two issues. I am interested mainly in subtropical fruits such as Cherimoya, lychi longan and others. Will be please to provide you any information that you are interested. Sincerely Yours Amir Hagiladi ------------------------------ From: Andrew Hattel Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 19:31:51 EDT Subject: New Subscriber, Andrew Hattel, Colorado, Age 15 Hello, My name is Andrew Hattel and I live near Grand Junction, Colorado, Zone 5-6. I love to grow fruit and am excited to have found your website. Being so cold here, I am constantly searching for exotic fruits that can survive the cold. Right now we are growing the normal- apples, peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines, asian pears-(one of my favorites)strawberries black, red, and yellow raspberries, gooseberries, and are unsuccessfully trying to grow jostaberries. It takes a lot of work to take care of these, for I am only 15. I would like to find some more literature on fruit- I have the books Uncommon fruits Worthy of Attention, and The Complete book of Fruit- a Practical Guide to Growing and Using Fruits and Nuts. I have also found the book- Fruit Berry and Nut Inventory to be very interesting for it describes all the fruits and varieties obtainable in the U.S. I also have a catalog named Oregon Exotics which has many exotic fruits. Sincerely, Andrew Hattel ------------------------------------ From: Adam Rubinstein Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 23:20:12 EDT Subject: New Subscriber asks: Lychee in the Desert - Possible? Also would any of the newsletter receivers know of- where to obtain a variety of lychee for the less than humid hot drier climate. Thanks for your help, (Zone 13 and in the irrigation capital of the universe, ) Adam Rubinstein ----------------------------------- Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 20:13:16 -0700 From: Von Sexton Subject: New Subscriber, AU, Raising Fruit in Containers; Has Questions My name is Von Sexton & I live outside Townsville a far northern city in Queensland Australia. On our 1 acre lot we have a house, horse & stable, various pets, a chook yard with silky bantams/laying hens/ducks, 3 children & a lemonade, mandarin, orange, lemon, a citris I am trying to have identified, cherry guava,an avocado seedling that is supposed to produce fruit in 8 months that is big red & delious,a small macadamia nut 3 different mangos, lychee, cashew nut & passionfruit vines. I have been given a white sapote, yellow sapote ( cannistel) 3 different longans, a cherry guava, 5 corner fruit & a Imomincillo. They are in containers at present & are 3 feet ( 1 metre) to about 8 feet ( 2.6 metres) high. Question is if I keep them in large containers will they fruit ? How long can I keep them in the containers ? Will they need special care in the containers ? Where can I find out when to pick the fruit how to eat/ present it ? Help ?? Hope you can give me some advice. Von ------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber "When should I fertilize my young mango?" Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:51:31 -0800 From: Karen Marchetti Dear Leo, I spoke with you briefly about mangos (how and whether to fertilize them) at the last rare fruit grower's meeting, and you suggested I get in touch via email. Concerning the mango tree-there's nothing obviously unhealthy about it, I just wondered about decreased in soil nutrients given the amount of rain we've had this year (we live in the Vista area, with fairly good, but clayey, soil). I'm happy not to fertilize, but just wanted some advice from someone who knows a lot more than I do! Also, can I sign up for Rare Fruit News Online via email, or do I have to do it via the internet? Thanks much for any advice, Karen Marchetti ------------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 16:37:15 -0500 From: Helga & John Kocurek Subject: New Subscribers, Texas, Wants Ideas For Planting In Their Zone We recently cleared 10,000 square feet for vegetable garden fruit and nut trees. We want to have a wide variety. we have several pecans, walnut, several apples (braeburn, anna, golden dorsett, gala), peach, apricot, bush cherry. Of course we just planted, so we don't know how everything will go. We hope to get some good ideas from you. Send us some earlier issues, please. Thanks, Helga & John Kocurek Magnolia (north of Houston, TX) ----------Readers Have Questions, Suggestions, or Comments------------- Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 07:40:37 -0400 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Cherimoya For the correspondant with the Annona (Cherimoya) pollination question; When the flower opens just a crack it's in the female stage and receptive to pollen. When it opens all the way it's in the male stage and shedding pollen. Collect up pollen in a film cannister. Using a paintbrush, put it inside flowers in the female stage. We have a beetle that does the work here in Florida, We attract it by putting a bucket of rotting citrus under the trees. Don't know if that would work in CA. Cherimoya don't do well here but we grow most other annonas. Margaret ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 11:03:06 -0400 From: "Ed Griffin" Subject: Cherimoya in Zone 10b, Florida; Will They Grow Here? Can anyone from Miami south, not including the Keys, verify that Cherimoya WILL grow here (NOT atemoyas...:^( )? If so, variety and source? Thank you! Ed Griffin --- egriffin@shadow.net --- USDA Zone 10b (FL) --- ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 17:06:05 +1000 (EST) From: Ian Staples To:sci.agriculture.fruit Subject: Monsteras lost :-( G'day Leo, Here's a copy of my recent note to sci.agriculture.fruit in case you want to include it in one of your newsletters. (Though I suppose a lot of folk may have already seen it in s.a.f.) I've also included the response I got from Don Ghoslton of the California Rare Fruit Growers. Cheers, Ian S. ------ To: sci.agriculture.fruit Damn! I checked my _Monstera deliciosa_ last Friday, having been away for 10 days or so, and my *entire* first crop of three fruit had fallen and rotted. (The last to fall was almost still edible, I didn't miss it by much.) The plant was established several years ago as a cutting from a friend who was cleaning out his garden to get into the house. :) It had three inflorescences about 12 months ago and they all set fruit. Earlier this year it had its second flowering. This time three leaders flowered: 6 on the strongest, and a 4 and a 2 on the others. The bloke I got the cutting from originally said last year's crop would be about ripe when the plant flowered again, so I had been watching it -- but missed the finale! Damn! I wonder if I could have picked the things a bit earlier? Maybe if I'd cut one and stuck it in the fridge while I was away I could have been enjoying it bit by bit now? Does anyone know how well they store and rippen once cut off the plant? Incidentally, I've also got a seedling established (found in a fruit from the same source as my earlier cutting :) and am wondering if it's likely to set fruit once its "seven years" are up. [My grandmother long ago convinced me that all fruit trees take seven years to bare fruit from seedlings. But she was wrong of course -- none of my seedling litchis have ever even looked like flowering, let alone setting fruit. 8-) ] Cheers, Ian S. ************* Reply From dgholston@aol.com Thu Apr 16 06:29:24 1998 Sorry about your Monstera fruit. Once ripened, the fruits can be kept in the refrigerator in good condition for a week or a little more, but they must be ripened at room temperature. To do this, the fruit with at least an inch (2.5. cm) of stem should be cut from the plant when the tile-like sections of rind separate slightly at the base. At room temperature the fruit will ripen progressively toward the apex over a period of 5 or 6 days. To ripen the whole fruit at one time, it should be wrapped in paper or plastic as soon as cut from the plant and kept at room temperature until the rind has loosened the entire length of the fruit. Better luck next time, I guess. Don Ghoslton California Rare Fruit Growers http://www.crfg.org/ ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 23:32:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: My Tahitian Lime and Change of email address Hi Leo Just a quick note to say I've changed my everyday email address to: mjdodgson@yahoo.com On a fruit note, I used my first home grown Tahitian lime yesterday in a red and green curry paste. The Winters and Leo's #5 mango seeds you sent me are between 6 and 12 inches tall at the moment and are still showing signs of new growth. Winter is coming up soon and it's starting to get cooler at nights, which means bad for the sub-tropical fruit, and bad for me too. At least in the middle of Winter on a mildly sunny day I can walk into the unheated glass house and it's 10 deg C or warmer than outside. Bye for now, and I hope it's getting warmer up your way Mark Dodgson http://members.xoom.com/mjdodgson/ icq:11248266 -------------------------------- Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 06:30:28 -0700 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Updated Website: http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom Dear Leo: my web site has been updated, if I hadn't mentioned it - Lon Rombough ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 05 Apr 1998 09:11:29 -0500 From: moshe Subject: Re: Happy Travels! But, We'll Miss You!! Leo Manuel wrote: > > Hi, Moshe! > > Are both you and Yair leaving? Should I stop the mailings? > > If you are near San Diego in Mexico, feel free to stop by. > > Do you plan to remain in Israel? I must try to visit Israel sometime. One of > the readers picked up a 'Gitit' there recently, along with some other trees > and graftwood. > > I'll miss you and look forward to hearing from you soon when you are established. > > Sincerely, > > Leo hi leo! Yair is staying here. I am going with my family to Israel and going to start a Ph.D on........ yes, mangoes. Also I will travel every month or two to Mexico and maybe to Ecuador. If you are ever in israel please let me know. I will contact you from Israel as soon as I have a new address. Thanks again Moshe ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 11:43:11 -0400 From: "Ed Griffin" Subject: The Exhalted Neem Tree Seems to me that a few months back, there was a big hoodoo about the Neem tree. Looked around, neighbors haddem, I didn't. Got one from local nursery ($3). Haven't planted it yet, cuz I need to know.... what is it good for? What useful thing(s) can I DO with it (after planting, of course....).? Thank you! Ed Griffin --- egriffin@shadow.net --- USDA Zone 10b (FL) ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998 21:03:10 -0700 From: John Fontenot Subject: Anredera basselloides "Patate Fleur"; Anyone Know of It? I have a locally rare vine identified as Anredera basselloides referred to as "Patate Fleur" and considered a medicinal. An elder distant cousin informs me that it would heal sores that otherwise would not heal. I've just started searching for info on A. basselloides. It resembles Malabar spinach but is light green and makes a rather large convoluted tuber. Know anything about its value? John ------------------Readers Write To Each Other---------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 21:26:52 +1000 From: NickSchaefer To: Ricardo Barbosa Subject: Tree List/Bunchosia/Imbu Hi Ricardo Thanks for your list of fruit trees - you have a lot of things planted. I shall go through it carefully, I have been away for a few days in Sydney over Easter. Do you know anything about Chico Mamey (Bunchosia armeniaca)? I have one planted and just picked two fruits that eventually turned from orange to red colour with a taste like sweet (not astringent) cooked carrots and peas? I was told that it comes from Uruguay, maybe it is also native to your area around Porto Alegre? If so are different varieties available? I found the following on the internet (Newcrops?) : Bunchosia armeniaca Rich. The bunchosia is native to South America, and is uncommon in most other locations. The trees are found from low to middle elevations, producing a small, attractive tree up to 10 m. The trees are precocious, fruiting within 3 years from seed. The trees flower and fruit throughout most of the year. Fruit are ellipsoid and borne in clusters. The red or yellow fruit are from 3 to 4 cm in length with a cream-colored flesh. The flavor is sweet, but often astringent. Even in areas where the tree is common, the fruit are not highly esteemed for fresh consumption. They are more commonly used as a flavoring. Bunchosia is a common addition to the home garden, but only rarely used as a commercial crop. The trees are tolerant of freezes, being slightly damaged by temperatures of -2°C in Florida (Campbell et al. 1977). Martin et al. (1977) finds the bunchosia to have little potential for further commercialization. However, it could have potential, given its precocity and adaptive nature if superior cultivars could be identified. New cultivars not withstanding, the tree has good potential as an ornamental in the low to middle elevations throughout the tropics (Donadio 1983), where it would be a pleasant addition to the home garden landscape. With the commercial importance of ornamental horticulture throughout the world, this aspect of the tree should not be ignored. Have you come across the Imbu (Spondias tuberosa)? It is supposed to be the best of the Spondias fruit species according to Popenoe. I believe it grows in northern Brazil. How has the weather been over your way? We've just had 90mm of rain over the last week and expecting more - At Last! The weather bureau is tipping that El Nino may finally be finishing. Apparently sea temperatures have started to drop off Peru. All the Best Nick Schaefer Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ---------------------------- From: DGholston To: Rasmus Thomsen Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 12:44:24 EDT Subject: Citrus in containers Dear Rasmus and Trine: Your question on citrus was forwarded to me to answer. I assume you are growing your orange and lemon trees in containers. Growing any plant in a container is a challenge and a committment, and citrus is no exception. There is some good advice on growing fruit trees in containers in the California Rare Fruit Growers web site. Go to the Information Tidbits page: http://www.crfg.org/tidbits/tidbits.html. If you are unable to access the site, I can send you a copy by e-mail. Don Gholston California Rare Fruit Growers ------------------------------- From: jcubero@magicnet.net Subject: "Marimba" - a highbush blueberry or a rabbiteye? Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 01:19:55 GMT Does anyone know if "Marimba" is a highbush blueberry or a rabbiteye? I know it's not exactly tropical, but... Kym (Florida) -------------------------------- Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998 21:38:25 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: jcubero@magicnet.net Subject: Re: "Marimba" - a highbush blueberry or a rabbiteye? Kym, Marimba is listed as Southern Highbush on webpage: http://www.ces.uga.edu (continued on next line) /Agriculture/plantpath/docs/FruitsNuts/Newsletter/bbcultiv.html Following is an excerpt: SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS One of the most exciting developments in Southern blueberry culture is underway. In the five years, a group of early ripening Southern highbush blueberries have been released. These bushes have a lower winter chilling requirement and more heat tolerance than Northern highbush blueberries. Southern highbush cultivars with a chilling requirement of 400 hours or less may need overhead irrigation for frost protection for reliable cropping in South Georgia. It is not recommended that cultivars with a chilling requirement of 400 hours or less be planted in middle or north Georgia. Southern highbush ripen at different times during the months of April and May in the deep South. Rabbiteye blueberries are still the best choice for June and July berries in the deep South, but currently there are no April and only a few May ripening Rabbiteye cultivars. To grow the new southern highbush blueberries rabbiteye growers will need to modify their cultural practices or disaster may occur. Southern highbush blueberries need well drained soil and permanent irrigation. They need more attention to pest control (deer, alder flea beetles, and leaf diseases, etc.) and pruning than rabbiteyes. Three production systems for southern highbush are being used in Georgia: * Bedded Spodic soils with an organic hardpan such as Leon, Sapelo, Olustee, etc. are ideal for southern highbush. Soil organic matter content of at least 2% is recommended. Marginally wet fields, like those where some rabbiteye blueberries cultivars grow well, are not satisfactory for southern highbush blueberries without water control (beds, drainage system, etc.). Growth will be poor in wet fields and plant losses high from root rots. Plants are spaced 2 to 4 feet in the row and 10 to 12 feet between rows in most cases. I have detailed information on spodic soils available via your county agent. These soils are confined to flatwoods areas of South Georgia. * High density Pine Bark Bed Production involves growing the blueberries directly in 6 inches of milled pine bark. This can be done in large beds with the plants spaced 2 by 5 feet or in a field setting with the plants space 4 by 10. * Amended Soil with Pine Bark Mulch Production involves growing the berries in a well drained acid soil (usually a sand) heavily amended with milled pine bark (about 4 inches deep 4 feet wide tilled in the soil) plus a 4 inch mulch layer of pine bark nuggets applied after planting. Spacing of Southern highbush blueberries should be closer than rabbiteyes since they are generally not as vigorous and the investment per acre is higher. For most cultivars of southern highbush a spacing of 2 to 4 in the row and 10 to 12 feet between rows works well. Most Southern highbush blueberries are partially self-fertile, but production is improved by cross pollination. Therefore plant a minimum of two cultivars with a similar bloom time per field. Currently, we can only make an educated guess about which of the Southern highbush varieties will be ideal for your region. However, the most promising cultivars for commercial blueberry belt in South Georgia are marked with an asterisk (*). The following is a list of Southern highbush blueberries with some of what is currently known about them. One note on chilling requirement: In peaches, chilling requirement is defined as the number of hours of winter chilling 45 degrees F and below, followed by two weeks of very warm weather (heat unit requirement) required for good bud break and normal growth. In blueberries the situation is much fuzzier. In peaches there is relatively little difference between cultivars in the heat unit requirement once winter chilling has been received. In blueberries, the heat unit requirement after chilling is much higher than in peach (to reach 90% bloom) and probably varies with the cultivar. In addition some "high chill" cultivars may bloom relatively late (i.e. Powderblue), but never fail to set a crop from lack of chilling even in Gainesville, Fla. Chilling requirement is listed to inform you about relative bloom dates. In general 200-300 hour cultivars will be blooming heavily in mid to late February in South Georgia, 500-600 hour cultivars in early to mid March. --- *??(Pat.) Marimba has a chilling requirement of about 400 hours, so it blooms early. Approximate ripening date in south Georgia is early to mid-May or 0-5 days after Sharp blue in Gainesville, Fla. Fruit are firm, have a very good scar, and should ship well. Marimba may be suitable for mechanical harvest. Plants are fairly vigorous and bushy. Spring leaf development may be poor. High flower bud density and bushy plant habit should make this cultivar very productive, but may require extensive shoot tipping to reduce the number of flower buds in a year with little freeze damage. Highly recommended for limited trial in South Georgia. My guess this cultivar is a "sleeper" that will become popular in South Georgia in future years. It is patented and a license is necessary to propagate it. Released in 1991 by Florida. ---------------------------- From: DGholston To: Leo Manuel Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 12:36:53 EDT Subject: Re: Wampi on citrus? Leo said: Don, I have the opportunity to acquire a piece of wampi, but I don't have any wampi on which to graft it. Is it sufficiently closely related to citrus to graft on one of them, or on the trifoliate? Leo, According to Citrus Industry, vol. 1, "Although the wampee is only remotely related to Citrus, it can be grafted on a Citrus rootstock and thereby forced into early flowering and fruiting." I assume any citrus would do. Regards. Don Gholston ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 16:11:00 -0500 From: Janelle Kessler Subject: Fruit with horns - Where can I find a picture? I am tring to prove something to my freinds about fruit I am trying to prove that there is a horny fruit if there is such thing would you please send me a picture son i can prove them wrong. Thanks a bunch, Drew K. ------------------------------- From: Don Gholston To: Drew K. Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 20:22:34 EDT Subject: Re: Fruit with horns (but no picture) Dear Drew: Are you referring to the African Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus) perhaps? I don't have a picture, but the distinctive fruit is yellowish-orange when ripe and studded with numerous spiny "horns". They are so weird looking that they are used for props on Star Trek. The are sometimes sold in specialty markets, so you might be able to find one. Don Gholston California Rare Fruit Growers ------From New Crops; Subscribe at --------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Ben Alkire Subject: NewCROP's Phytosanitation Resource Dear New Crop ListGroup, I am now able to announce that New Crop has completed its Import-Export information pages: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ImportExport/ie_index.html The list names phytosanitation agencies for all countries except for a few minor places (Andorra, Liechtenstein, etc.). But to make this site more useful, I would like to ask for some personal contributions: If you have any current practical information, specific tips, preferred ports of entry, or names of commercial brokers etc. for moving botanicals through various countries; I would be interested in adding your experiences and comments to each country's page. And, I will keep all personal commentaries anonymous! (or as wished) I am also looking for handbooks, book chapters & reference manuals on meeting phytosanitation requirements. In particular, I'm seeking resources for practical information on fumigation choices, presentation of paperwork, packaging live materials, and all matters related to plant importation-exportation and introduction. Any information would be appreciated, and thanks to you all, Ben Alkire ------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Michel Van Mellaerts Subject: Re: What is Mako? (Is "Aristotelia serrata") Robert P. Nederpelt wrote: The following came the other day. ******************************************************************** Fruit-of-the-Day for Sun, Apr 12, 1998: mako ma.ko \'may-ko\ n small New Zealand tree with clusters of dark-red berries and large racemes of pink flowers (also called "wineberry") ******************************************************************** Have done a fruitless search, excuse the pun, on a couple of search engines. Any one have any ideas on the plant involved, name, habitat, cultivation requirements? Regards from Western Australia Robert P. Nederpelt ---- Hi there, Robert I think the tree you are looking for is "Aristotelia serrata". This is known in New Zealand as Wineberry/Makomako. Reference: The Native Trees of New Zealand by J.T. Salmon. Published by A.H. & A.W. Reed Ltd, 1980. Pages 172-173. Lots of photgraphs. One of the graceful small trees of our forests, forest margins and roadsides, occuring throughout New Zealand from sea level to 1,050m. Wineberry is usually the first tree to appear in clearings after slips or tree felling, where it forms dense thickets. In cold districts it is deciduous but in warmer areas it often retains some foliage during winter. The tree reaches 10m high with a trunk 30 cm through. The bark of young branchlets is red; that of old wood is black. The deeply serrated leaves are membranous and translucent and often reddish in colour below. They are up to 12 cm long and 8 cm wide on slender pubescent petioles up to 5 cm long. Wineberry's male and female flowers occur on seperate trees and are borne on panicles up to 10 cm long. The berries are deep red to almost black and about 5 mm in diameter. Regards Michel Warkworth New Zealand -----------------Another Leo Note------------------ From: Leo Manuel Date: April 25, 1998 Subject: Peaceful Valley Farm Supply in Grass Valley, CA I have been impressed with the prices and range of items sold by Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, in Grass Valley, CA. They have a website at http://www.groworganic.com, but sell through their catalog. I believe you can order the catalog from their web page. I'd say prices are as good or better than the local dealers, even including shipping costs. Has anyone had a negative experience? Some of the items listed in the table of contents: Vegetable Seeds, Organic Open-Pollenated Growing & Propagating Supplies Watering Supplies Irrigation Supplies Season Extenders (Includes Floating Rowcovers, Greenhouse supplies,... Natural Weed Controls, including Beneficial Insects Erosion Control Materials, Seeds of cover crops Inoculants for Seeds Inoculants for Soil Pond Management Composting Aids & Composting Inoculants Organic Fertilizers Natural Pest Management Animal Health Products Orchard Ladders & Supplies Sprayers, Dustes & Accessories Pruning Tools etc., etc. Their toll-free phone number is 1 888 784 1722 Leo >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - May 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online May 15, 1998 AKA RFN199805B.txt ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- Notes from Leo New Subscribers - (Number of subscribers now exceeds 200) Readers Write New Crops: Subscribe at -------------------Note from Leo------------------- FYI: Rare Fruit News Assembly, address below, hasn't been used since March. I'm telling you, in case you don't know that it exists. Leo http://assembly.nerdworld.com/assembly.asp?assemblyid=2289 --New Subscribers-- From: Rasmus Thomsen Subject: New Subscribers: Danish Boy and Girl From: John Bastien Subject: New Subscriber - Florida Subject: New Subscriber, Trouble Growing Rare Fruit In Greenhouse From: Shirley Cunningham From: Carole V. Robinson Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants To Grow Cherimoya and Mango From: Jeff Carmello Subject: New Subscriber, Zone 18, To Grow Rare Fruit --Readers Write-- From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Mangos - In Bloom, No Set (Yet), Try Antitranspirants? From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Recommendation for Peaceful Valley Farm Supply From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Neem Prevents Anthracnose on Mango Bloom? From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Re: Need to know: Will longans grow in north Florida? From: Sainarong To: lorraine brunner Subject: Re: longans From: Bob Holzinger To: Andrew Subject: Fruit books to recommend From: "Geoff Buckner" Subject: Compact Mango Varieties for a Coastal Climate From: Leo Manuel To: Geoff Buckner Subject: Re: Compact Mango Varieties for a Coastal Climate From: "Geoff Buckner" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Compact Mango Varieties for a Coastal Climate From: "Bruce Ross-Adams" Subject: Re: Fellow Aussies; From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" Subject: Cheap Bananas at http://home1.gte.net/tflora/ From: Adam Rubinstein Subject: Needed: lychee that's drought tolerant for poor soil From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: June 7: Bill Whitman Day at Fruit & Spice Park (& Webpage) From: Steve & Missy Kennedy To: Leo Subject: Re: Some Bananas more tolerant of poor drainage? From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Thanks for sending information to Florida members From: Lorraine Nelson Brunner Subject: How to care for Frangipany/Plumeria? From: DGholston To: Lorraine Subject: Re: Advice for growing Plumeria? Subject: Forwarded Mail From: DGholston Subject: Eugenia Uniflora Fruit Wanted; Can You Help? From: Paul_Bubrick@NPI-LV.CCMAIL.compuserve.com Subject: Searching for Planting Pots From: "Holzinger, Bob" From: Leo Manuel To: Holzinger, Bob Subject: Re: Searching for Planting Pots Subject: Pots-Searching No More! & Too Few Mangos Setting From: Holzinger, Bob Subject: Too Few Mangos Setting From: Leo Manuel From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" Subject: Gypsum, Copper Hydroxide, and mulches --New Crops: Subscribe at -- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Dirk Enneking Subject: Argania -------------------New Subscribers----------------- Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 09:13:27 +0200 From: Rasmus Thomsen Subject: New Subscribers: Danish Boy and Girl Hello Leo and Betty My name is Rasmus Thomsen (24) and my girlfriend's name is Trine Palludan (19). We are living in Gentofte, a part of Copenhagen (Denmark). We are very interested in citrus trees (lemon and orange). We have already an orange - and a lemon tree and want to know some tricks - if there are some? Rasmus and Trine ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 17:22:07 -0400 From: John Bastien Subject: New Subscriber - Florida I am John Bastien living in Loxahatchee, FL I am a homeowner with a big yard. I am interested in growing rare fruit. I have about 20 different types of bananas and would like to try more. I am a member of the Rare Fruit Council- Palm Beach Chapter. I also grow mango, avocado, carambola, Barbados cherry and citrus. Could I please get copies of earlier issues? I think this is a great way to share information. Thanks, John Bastien ------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Trouble Growing Rare Fruit In Greenhouse Date: Sat, 9 May 1998 16:33:07 -0500 From: "Shirley Cunningham" Would like to receive your newsletter. I live in and near the Ark. Ozarks, have a small greenhouse for my private use, and a daughter in Florida. So I am trying to raise mangoes, guavas, cherimoyas, banana, citrus and passionfruit. I am having a devil of a time figuring out how to sprout some of the seeds. I have to try to hit and miss method. Maybe some of your newsletters will help me. Right now I am trying to sprout cherimoyas, and need help. Shirley Cunningham Cabot, Arkansas ------------------------------- From: Carole V. Robinson Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 10:19:03 EDT Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants To Grow Cherimoya and Mango Carole V. Robinson, Monrovia, CA 91016 I am interested in growing Cherimoya and Mangoes. Carole ------------------------------- Date: Tue May 12 20:19:57 1998 From: Jeff Carmello Subject: New Subscriber, Zone 18, To Grow Rare Fruit Leo, I am in zone 18. No we don't get much frost here-some years not at all. Its not ideal for tropical fruit but I think it will be okey. This used to be A major citrus growing area. Also there's a lot of wineries. Avocado's also do well here. I'm more concerned about wind and soil. The lot my house was built on was raised up about 5 or 6 feet over the sand that existed.The backfill they used has a lot of clay in it. Anyway I have to try it. Jeff Carmello ----------------Readers Write--------------- Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 13:54:31 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Mangos - In Bloom, No Set (Yet), Try Antitranspirants? Leo, My one mango, a Valencia Pride, is in bloom now, and has been blooming since early March, at least. I've never seen any mildew on it, and I'm a lot closer to that big body of moisture (a.k.a. the Pacific Ocean) than you are! So far, though, I also have not seen any fruit set this year. Last year, though, it started blooming earlier (late January, when we had a warm spell), then the weather turned chilly again in February, but by May I had a good fruit set. This year, of course, chilly weather returned as late as early April. I wonder how much that will affect fruit set? I have heard of antitranspirants, like Wiltpruf and Cloud Cover, being effective against mildew on roses. Might it work on mango blooms? Matthew Shugart ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 13:48:09 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Recommendation for Peaceful Valley Farm Supply I recently received an order from Peaceful Valley in Grass Valley, CA. Indeed, their prices are good! For example, cottonseed meal was still cheaper than I can buy at a local store even if I were to buy only one 15 lb. bag and nothing else in the order. The more other things you order, of course, the more the shipping cost drops, especially if you can use the UPS hundredweight charges, which are much more economical. I like the fact that their cottonseed meal is from cotton grown without pesticides, that their chicken manure is highly composted and blended with gypsum, and that they have a great line of products for foliar feeding. They also have an excellent supply of cover crop seeds, again at unbeatable prices. The order was delivered within two weeks of my faxing it to them. The only "negative" thing about the order was enduring the grief from my UPS driver about her having to smell chicken sh** all day on the truck! (Actually, it smelled good to me. I guess that's how you tell a farmer from the rest!) Matthew Shugart ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 01 May 1998 13:43:54 -0400 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Neem Prevents Anthracnose on Mango Bloom? Re your notes... I have sprayed Neem oil on my mango blooms this year only once, and had no anthracnose. Websites from Australia document the uptake of Neem oil into new growth in plants, this might be what's doing it. Margaret ------------------------------- From: Dan Hemenway Date: Sun, 19 Apr 1998 11:36:18 EDT Subject: Re: Need to know: Will longans grow in north Florida? Gainesville area does not have one climate. For example, we live midway between Gainesville and Ocala and had no frost damage on bananas this past winter, though there was a bit of frost out on our "prairie" (presently a lake). Most of the bananas between here and Gainesville were hit hard. I don't know how much frost longans will take, if any, but you can expect to get down 15 degrees F or less at least two years in ten, if my research is correct. (I've only been here one year, but my father has been a bit south of us in Citrus county nearly 20 and that is his experience.) Citrus was once grown widely around here but now it is confined to microclimates such as ours. If longans are hardier than citrus, they may make it. Dan Hemenway http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/ypc_catalog.html ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 02 May 1998 08:50:29 +0700 From: Sainarong To: lorraine brunner Subject: Re: longans lorraine brunner wrote: Dear Sainarong, I am in south Florida growing leechees and longans. I have 75-100 longan seedling 8-12 inches potted and growing well. I would like to sell them when they reach 16 inches. I have a friend in Williston, Fla. who is starting a nursery. She is near Gainsville. The climate is much like Miami but the winters are colder than here. sometimes it freezes up there. Almost never it freezes here. Can these longans produce in this weather? I assume that you have the 'Kohala' cultivar which is one of the best cultivars for a colder climate. Kohala should be able to produce in Florida. However, the major problem is whether the trees will be able to survive the frost. Kohala should be able to survive one or two mild and short frost spells per winter, provided that you take good care of them. If the frost is more frequent, more severe and last longer, then you have a problem. Maybe Patty can give us her valuable on-hand experience on this subject? I don't know if you have the answer, but thanks to you, I have for the second year in a row, a tree full of lychees, a successful air layering, and all these little longans growing in my yard. Your knowledge is greatly appreciated. No one has the answer, we learn new things everyday through experience and discussions. That is why it is so interesting! Sainarong ------------------------------- From: Bob Holzinger To: Andrew Subject: Fruit books to recommend Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 08:59:38 -0700 Hi Andrew, I saw your note on the RFNO and thought I'd throw temptation in your direction. It's not usual that someone your age gets interested in fruits, so if you really want to get immersed in the best of the best, here's two books to look for that will really get you hooked on fruits of the tropics and sub-tropics. Neither is cheap, and if you can't find them at the local bookstore, then get back to me and I'll get you the publisher's address. Fruits of Warm Climates by Julia F. Morton; Media Inc. 1987 Fruit-A Connoisseur's Guide and Cookbook by Alan Davidson & Charlotte Knox Simon & Schuster 1991 The first book will keep you awake at night reading all the information Julia Morton has amassed. It's very impressive, and so is the price (~$85). The second book has the best color drawings of all types of fruits I have ever seen. They are good enough to frame and hang on a gallery wall. Take care, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 4 May 98 12:09:11 PDT From: "Geoff Buckner" Subject: Compact Mango Varieties for a Coastal Climate Leo, I am interested in adding a couple of mangos to my garden. I live in the Point Loma area of San Diego and so I would like to add cultivars that you or others have found to do well near the coast. Another criteria I have is I would prefer them to be compact (shrublike) rather than upright or spreading trees. I have looked into acquiring several older varieties that reportedly do well near the coast (such as Earlygold and Villasenor), but nobody appears to be propagating these anymore. So, my last criteria is that they are available at a local nursery or growing ground. I would appreciate any advice you could give me. Thank you in advance for your help. Geoff ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 06 May 1998 14:02:47 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Geoff Buckner Subject: Re: Compact Mango Varieties for a Coastal Climate Geoff, I hope other readers respond to your questions, but I think that it's worth looking for the two recommended coastal varieties of EarlyGold and VillaSenor. You might find someone with the trees willing to share graftwood or even to graft one (or both) for you. The time to graft begins at the end of this month (June through July?). I don't have them anymore, and don't live near the coast, so it's not so important, but I'd like to get them, "for completeness sake." EarlyGold may do better for you, but it's not as tasty, possibly, as VillaSenor. It's not hard to keep most grafted mango trees down to whatever size you need for it to be. Grafted ones just seem to stay a lot smaller than seedling trees. Again, I hope you get other responses than mine to your questions. Horticordially, Leo ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 6 May 98 14:18:03 PDT From: "Geoff Buckner" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Compact Mango Varieties for a Coastal Climate Leo, Thank you for your suggestion. If somebody can share some graftwood, which rootstock do you recommend? Which is the best dwarf or semi-dwarf mango rootstock? Does anybody out there in San Diego or SoCal have or know of somebody who would be willing to share graftwood of Earlygold and/or VillaSenor mangos for a coastal gardener? Geoff -------------------------------- From: "Bruce Ross-Adams" To: "Leo Manuel" Subject: Re: Fellow Aussies; Thanks Leo, Hello other 'diggers'. It must be useful (getting names and email addresses of other Aussies who subscribe to RFNO), because I have spoken to and met a couple on the list, who I would not have done otherwise. Maybe we will get organised down this end and get some exchange going. By the way, I am not in Perth anymore (have kept my old e-mail and dial in long distance). I have moved to a small town (Leinster, Western Australia, 900km North of Perth) in the back of beyond which gets to 45-50 degrees C in the summer and down to -2 in winter. It's a mining town, and I am already planting various things like oranges, mandarins etc to see how they will do. By the looks of the newsletter, things are coming along fine. If anyone has ideas on what will do well in hot, and I mean hot, dry climates (about 6-8 inches rain pa) I will be interested to findout. Regards Bruce ----------------------------------- From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" Subject: Cheap Bananas at http://home1.gte.net/tflora/ Date: Sat, 9 May 1998 10:57:06 -0400 Thought you might be interested; The new online catalog for Tropicaflora just came out this morning. They have 10 varieties of banana meristems for sale. They are $6.95 each,any 5 for $29.95, or all 10 for $55.00 with free shipping. I ordered some last year and was well pleased with them. They are cloned plants, 6 to 12" tall, and grow vigorously. The varieties are; Roho, Dwarf Red Cuban, Kru, Rajapuri, William's Hybrid, 1000 Fingers, Cardaba, Grand Nain, Dwarf Cavendish, Green Macaboo. The web address is http://home1.gte.net/tflora/ email: tflora@gte.net Happy growing, Ray G. in Ky. ------------------------------- From: Adam Rubinstein Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 14:46:26 EDT Subject: Needed: lychee that's drought tolerant for poor soil In reading some of the files you sent me, I discovered there is a variety of Lychee called Tim Naan which is drought tolerant and can grow in poor soil, would you or any of your readers know where I can purchase some air layers of this variety? Adam Rubinstein ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 07:55:51 -0400 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Bill Whitman Day at the Fruit & Spice Park. Forwarded from Chris Rollins: In case the Floridian recipients are interested June 7th is Bill Whitman Day at the Fruit & Spice Park. We will be dedicating a Kohola Longan tree to Bill in the Park. Later we will have a slide show titled "This is Your Life With Tropical Fruit Bill Whitman". This will feature Bill's slides of forty years. Everyone is invited. A very limited # of Bill Whitman shirts are available. FRUIT & SPICE PARK - 24801 S.W. 187 Avenue Homestead, Florida 33031. 305-247-5727 See their webpage at: http://www.floridaplants.com/fruit&spice/index.html -------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 13:43:57 -0400 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Thanks for sending Walt Whitman info to Florida members Thanks for sending the info to your list. I don't know if you are familiar with Mr. Whitman? Sorry you're not in town to meet him. He's really a great person, and extremely generous with his plant materials. Glad to hear you get so much support here. (Leo said "There are over 40 Florida reader/growers receiving RFNO.) Haven't read the last newslettr because of work, must get to it shortly. Margaret ------------------------------- To: Leo Manuel From: Steve & Missy Kennedy Subject: Re: Some Bananas more tolerant of poor drainage? Leo, Try using a lot of pine bark with the other organics, It will improve the drainage if you add a lot. Bananas like lots of water, they just can't be standing in it. Steve ----------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 11:45:21 -0400 From: Lorraine Nelson Brunner Subject: How to care for Frangipany/Plumeria? hi Leo, I have received a Frangipany/Plumeria? for mothers' day and I want it to do well. Could you ask for advise on what to do with the cutting please? It has a root ball and I put it in a biggert pot, but I don't know what soil it likes what area of the yard to plant it and with what other plants does it like to be with. What fertilizer if any does it need? It is very small, about 30 inches and has flowers and leaves. The ones I've seen in the neighborhood look sad. No leaves no flowers no growth. Are they native to South Florida? I am in Miami, will it do well here? I also got 3 gardenias. I know they acidic soil, but do they like sun or shade or both? Any help would be much appreciated. Many thanks, Lory ------ From: DGholston Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 19:10:55 EDT To: Lorraine Subject: Re: Advice for growing Plumeria? Dear Lorraine: Leo Manuel sent me your question on plumeria. I have not grown them where I am in California, but they do rather well in parts of Southern California. I should think they would grow satisfactorily in the Miami area. In general the plants are tender to frost and won't take cold, wet soil. They like adequate water and do best in partial shade. Feed with a fertilizer formulated for citrus and avocado. Avoid feeding late in the year which may result in soft growth more sensitive to cold weather. Good luck. Don Gholston ----------------------------------- Subject: Forwarded Mail From: DGholston Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 12:23:26 EDT Leo, I gave Paul your e-mail address. Is there anything you can do for him in your Rare Fruit News Online? (How about it readers? Can YOU help?) Thanks. Don ---------------------------------- Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 17:00:49 -0400 Subject: Eugenia Uniflora Fruit Wanted; Can You Help? From: Paul_Bubrick@NPI-LV.CCMAIL.compuserve.com I have a need to obtain up to 1 pound of cherries of various named cultivars of Eugenia uniflora, especially cv Christina. We will gladly pay all costs and a fee for the service. Can you recommend a way to get this info out over an electronic medium? Is it best just to call the chapter heads? Thanks for your advice, Paul Bubrick ------------------------------------- Subject: Searching for Planting Pots Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 15:17:38 -0700 From: "Holzinger, Bob" Hi Leo, I have a need for the tall 5 gallon pots and so I called the manufacturer for a current price. They are $0.98 a piece plus tax, so $1.06 each. Of course you have to get 500 as a minumum, so do you or other people you know in San Diego have a need for some tall 5's because I don't need 500 of them! I figure I could use 100, so I need to get rid of at least 400. There aren't many growers in my area who really need this type of pot, they don't grow anything "rare" that needs the extra root room. Ask around and let me know if there's interest down there, I could bring them down the next time I head in that direction. Take care, Bob (in Southern California) ------------ From: Leo Manuel To: Holzinger, Bob Sent: Thursday, May 7, 1998 18:47 Subject: Re: Searching for Planting Pots Bob, what is a "tall 5-gallon" container? Is it similar to or the same as the citrus pots, about 8" diameter at bottom and 16" or so high? Leo ------------ Leo, Yes, those are the pots. They're really hard to find and when you need some, as I do, then you are stuck without many options. Oh well, I'll just keep looking I guess. Bob ---------- Subject: Pots-Searching No More! & Too Few Mangos Setting Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 12:24:26 -0700 From: Holzinger, Bob Hi Leo, I struck paydirt--I found a source of the tall 5's that I asked you about last week. It turns out that Brokaw's Nursery has a couple thousand used ones that growers have returned to them. They only want $0.25 each for them, so I have found my source! If you or anyone else down there want some, let me know. I don't know when I can bring them down, but certainly by early July. How's the fruit set on your mangos? I don't think my Kent will set much at all, the other two are a couple weeks behind and may set some now that it's stopped raining every other day. Later, Bob ------------- Subject: Too Few Mangos Setting Date: Friday, 15 May 1998 From: Leo Manuel The number of mangos setting on my dozen or so trees is also pretty small, but most trees seem to be setting at least a few. The most advanced in size is the Thomson polyembryonic tree. There is mildew (fungus) on most blooms that I need to deal with. Leo ----------New Crops: Subscribe at ---------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Dirk Enneking Subject: Argania Dear All, The is also some infromation about Argania at http://www.bgu.ac.il/life/mizrahi/Indianapolis.html Argan Argan (Argania spinosa, also known as A. sideroxylon, Sapotaceae) is a medium, thorny, evergreen tree native to south western Morocco. The tree bears plum-sized fruits, which are eaten by goats which often climb the trees. The fruits have a bitter pericarp around a stone-like structure, containing one to three kernels with a high oil content (over 50%). The oil has high dietetic value, total unsaturated fatty acids/total saturated fatty acids being around 4.5, a ratio similar to that of olive oil (Morton and Voss 1987; Prendergast and Walker 1992). The oil has a unique aroma and is considered as the best culinary oil by Moroccans, who are the only people familiar with the oil. In Israel, where 600,000 immigrants from Morocco reside, imported argan oil is sold for U.S. $43/liter in comparison with $4/liter for olive oil. Attempts to domesticate this wild tree in Israel started about 10 years ago. The species demonstrated adaptability to the hot hostile environment of the Arava valley when irrigated with brackish water; yields of oil per tree at Qetura were double those at Ramat Negev, which has much milder environmental conditions (Nerd et al. 1994). The oil yield of best specimens was around 1 kg/tree per year. Some seedlings died as a result of infection with Fusarium oxysporum. Until tolerant rootstocks can be found, we decided to plant grafted trees from the best yielding ones and to plant additional seedlings from various habitats in Morocco. Even though this species is not in as advanced stage of introduction as the marula, we consider it to be a high-priority species because of its rarity and the high demand in Israel for its oil Source: Mizrahi, Y. and Nerd, A. (1996). New crops as a possible solution to the troubled Israeli export market. p. 56-64. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds). Progress in New Crops: Proceedings of the Third National New Crops Symposium. American Society of Horticultural Sciences. Best wishes Dirk Enneking, Ph. D. Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) University of Western Australia, Nedlands WA 6907 http://www.general.uwa.edu.au/u/enneking/home.html >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - May 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online June 1, 1998 AKA RFN199806A.txt ------- I'll be making my annual visit to Tulsa, OK soon, from 6/11 through 6/21, so the next newsletter will either be on 6/11 or 6/22. This time I'll visit Oklahoma City; Grove, OK; Pittsburg, KS; and Wichita, KS. There are relatives scattered all around. My father lives in Tulsa. He's almost 92, drives himself to the mall every morning, tinkers with the car when he thinks it needs it, and in general, is one unusual individual. Even at my age, no one "gets my goat" as easily as he does, but he is an unusual man. He stays away from doctors and thinks his long life if due to that, more than anything. His breakfast (which he cooks himself, although married to a younger woman) consists of fried eggs, toast, with either fried bacon or sausage. If he eats cereal, he tops it with half-and-half. A few weeks ago he told me how he had improved the starting of his lawn mower. Seems he removed the choke, drilled a hole in the carbeurator, and sprays WD-40 in it just before starting it. He's opinionated, strong-willed, and I enjoy joking with him on the phone from California much more than I enjoy visiting him in person, but I love him and will miss him when he's gone. At least half of the time I'm away, I'll be on my own, visiting the other places. I may try to send the newsletter from either Pittsburg, KS or Wichita, but probably won't. You may be as amused as I am that San Diego subscribers are less avid readers of RFNO than are most of you in the rest of the world. Let an issue be late or not arrive for whatever reason outside of San Diego and I hear of it. Horticordially, Leo ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- New Subscribers - (Usually Need Your Help) Readers Write --New Subscribers-- From: Keith Orr Subject: New Subscriber; Amity, Oregon From: Harry Pasvantis Subject: New Subscriber; Corfu, Greece; Wants Suggestions From: "Pamela Shelton" Subject: New Subscriber; Texas; Wants Fruit Ideas From: "CAROLYN" Subject: New Subscriber, Australia From: Rick Bjorklund Subject: New Subscriber, Los Angeles, Looking for Nino Banana From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: New Subscriber, Republic of South Africa, ISO Buddha's Hand From: Martin Shakespeare Subject: New Subscriber, Frostline Florida, Wants Advice From: Bryan Evans Subject: New Subscriber, Poway, CA From: ULf Edqvist Subject: New Subscriber - Sweden - Wants to Grow Subtropicals From: ULf Edqvist Subject: Re: Rare Fruit News Online: Info, Sample, Supplements --Readers Write-- From: Ray Gerlach" To: Lorraine Brunner Subject: Plumeria Society of America From: "Jeff Earl" Subject: Rare book find...Evergreen orchards From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: Re:neem tree From: Sven Nehlin (Avepalmas) Subject: Seed exchange? From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Carole Subject: Cherimoya & mango From: To: mbasile@newssun.med.miami.edu Subject: Re: Fletcher's Red loquat To: Dan & Katri Snyder Subject: Re: White Sapote graftwood From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: Citrus Medica var. Buddha's Hand From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Newsletter Went Missing From: Matthew Shugart To: Geoff Buckner Subject: Mango along the coast From: NickSchaefer Subject: Hylocereus From: "Ed Gilbert & Associates Realty Co." Subject: KIWI; Problems in Arkansas; What's Wrong? From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Fwd Email: Longans in Florida weather From: Carl Hansen To: leom@rarefruit.com Subject: Miracle fruit needs a miracle From: Leo Manuel To: Carl Hansen Subject: Re: Miracle fruit needs a miracle From: Nicho Stamatis [SMTP:nicho@sco.eastcoast.co.za] Subject: Searching for Seeds; Can You Help? From: NickSchaefer Subject: Hylocereus for Fruit From: Konosuke Degi Subject: looking for strawberry-sx (New Papaya) -------------------New Subscribers------------------- From: Keith Orr Subject: New Subscriber; Amity, Oregon Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 18:56:55 -0700 I am Keith V. Orr, living 2 miles east of Amity, Oregon on the south side of the Amity / Eola Hills a small range of hills near the west side of the mid Willamette Valley We have a world class crop of poison oak and white oak. I also have some heirloom type apples, crabapples and pears. I also plan to plant more fruit trees as well as some berries, walnuts and chestnuts. We also have wine grapes and a small winery. Please forward me copies of your earlier issues as I am a voracious reader and appreciate new sources. Thank You Keith Orr ------------------------------- From: Harry Pasvantis Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 15:17:48 +0100 Subject: New Subscriber; Corfu, Greece; Wants Suggestions Hi I would like to be able to receive the Rare Fruit News Online newsletter. I have been to your webpage and it appears highly interesting. Here is the information you require: Name: Mr. Charalambos (Harry) Pasvantis Corfu, Greece I have an avid interest in growing unusual fruit trees. In my garden I have young specimens of Cherimoya, guava, Jack (very small seedling) and Passion fruit. I also have larger specimens of Orange, Grapefruit and Lemon trees as well as bananas. I would like to know if I would be able to grow other fruit trees such as mangoes and Papaya to name a few. Hope to hear from you soon. Harry (hpasvantis@lhs.co.uk) ------------------------------- From: "Pamela Shelton" Subject: New Subscriber; Texas; Wants Fruit Ideas Date: Sat, 30 May 1998 15:24:22 -0500 I am presently growing stawberries, blackberries, peaches and grapefruit. I tried fig but it died. I would be intersted to grow any fruit suitable for the Houston - North Harris County area. I live on 0.6 acres on Lake Houston. Pamela Shelton Huffman, Tx ------------------------------ From: "CAROLYN" Subject: New Subscriber, Australia Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 15:12:13 +1000 I'd love to subscribe to your newsletter. I am Carolyn Stewart, in Brisbane, Australia and am interested in growing sub-tropical fruit. Carolyn ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 20:39:48 -0700 From: Rick Bjorklund Subject: New Subscriber, Los Angeles, Looking for Nino Banana Hi! My name is: Rick Bjorklund I'm looking for Nino Banana I just added Goldfinger last year, and haven't had fruit yet. I found it at Seaside Banana nursery in Carpenteria. I need to check with them again to see if they have Nino. I know that "Going Bananas" in Florida carries it, but their catalog said they could only ship certain varities to CA, and it didn't include Nino. Rick --------------------------------- Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 20:10:38 -0700 From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: New Subscriber, Republic of South Africa, ISO Buddha's Hand Dear Leo, Thanks for your reply of yesterday, it was much appreciated. I would very much like to be on your mailing list. My Personal Details are: Name: Geoffrey Dunn. Postal Address P.O. Box 3044. Vereeniging. 1930. Republic of South Africa. I really try and grow any Tropical fruit, of which most are presently indoors because of our Harsh winter. They are: Carambola, Avocado, Mango, Frangipani(Pink, Apricot, and Red Flowered) The Fruit Trees are all from seed, and even if their fruit does not resemble that of their parents they will still be much loved.(Note: I am trying to see if seed from a six lobed carambola will produce similar offspring.) And last of all, as you are already aware, My Purpose for living right now is to have grow a Buddha's Hand Citrus Tree. I Believe This will happen one day! So to you Leo and Betty, Thanks for the Invitation to join your network. Warm Regards, Geoff. ------------------------------- From: Martin Shakespeare Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:57:33 EDT Subject: New Subscriber, Frostline Florida, Wants Advice I would like to receive your newsletter. I have recently purchased 5 acres in the West Palm Bch-Florida area and am planning to grow some sort of fruit crop. I am thinking of Lychees at this time. My area is on the "frostline" and can drop to freezing upon rare occasion. My neighbor is growing Lychee. I am interested in knowing what kind of profit I can expect and would like to plant what might be the most profitable. My name is: Martin Shakespeare e-mail address: zachann@aol.com Thank you. Martin ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 19:27:07 -0800 From: Bryan Evans Subject: New Subscriber, Poway, CA Hello, My name is Bryan Evans I live in Poway, Ca near Pomerado hosp. Have some Japanese persimmon trees in ground want to espalier, also have Moringa olifera, star apple, some almost dead dwarf banana (needs some fish emulsion), sapote and a few others in need of planting. I prefer organic methods with a sprinkle of calcitic lime, and a whole bunch of lava sand thrown in for good measure (dont forget the mycorrhizae).ALso have a scattering of citrus (dwarf),some apples, and a peach in need of a home. Am also growing Robinia pseudo-acacia (Haudenosaunee), Ceretonia siliqua, Acacia mangium, and the usual passel of tomatoes (Brandywine). Sorry for the xtra info but that's where I'm coming from. Sure wish I had a whole bunch more land-only 1/3 acre. Have access to 240 acres in Dulzura, will plant Robinia and others there for trial. I Dig dirt (soil)! Favorite soil amendment is kelp, although presently the front yard is taken up by 15 yards of aforementioned lava sand courtesy of Twin Mtn rock out of Little Lake,Ca. Subscribe to ACRES,USA (sustainable farming monthly), and am thoroughly convinced that the USDA has it's head up it's .... Not a fan of conventional HOME DEPOT method if you get my meaning Would appreciate greatly a sample copy of newsletter and to network with anybody in the area. Sincerely Bryan Evans c/o williamevans@home.com ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 23:52:01 +0200 (CEST) From: ULf Edqvist Subject: New Subscriber - Sweden - Wants to Grow Subtropicals 1. What is your real name, first and last (no handles)? ULf Edqvist 2. Where do you live (in or near what town/city and country)? Southwest coast of Sweden 3. What fruit tree interest you have. What do you grow or want to grow? Basically, I am intersted in any subtropical/tropical fruit/nut trees. Have experience with mostly Citrus, as tropicals are somewhat hard to keep alive and well during the long, dark winters here :-( I am intending to get some more Citrus varieties, only ones sold here are Lemon and Oranges, and usually sold without cultivar info. ULf ---------- To: Leo Manuel From: ULf Edqvist Subject: Re: Rare Fruit News Online: Info, Sample, Supplements On Sun, 24 May 1998 21:33:29 -0700 Leo Manuel wrote: > Ulf, you are now on the mailing list for Rare Fruit News Online. The next > issue will be dated June 1. > > Attached are the following: > > 1. Some additional information about Rare Fruit News Online > 2. A copy of the last issue, May 15. Additional back issues are available > upon request. > 3. A list of supplements. Look at the following to see if you want me to > mail it: > (It deals with raising subtropical and tropical fruit trees in pots, for > climates similar to yours.) > > PotCultr Leo, Thank you - I can tell this will be both an enjoyable and educational experience for me. I would be most grateful if you would take the time to send me the 'PotCultr' suppl. - it does seem to cover much of what I need to know. Regards, ULf -----------------------Readers Write--------------------- From: Ray Gerlach" To: Lorraine Brunner Subject: Plumeria Society of America Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 10:07:43 -0400 This is a link to the Plumeria Society of America. They have information for all 4 seasons on their website. http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~miltonp/plumeria/PSAhome.html Ray ----------------------------- From: "Jeff Earl" Subject: Rare book find...Evergreen orchards Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 12:28:51 -0700 Hello, The library at the college I work for has discarded ( And I now possess) a couple copys of a rare book on Tropical Fruit Growing that is out of print. The title is called EVERGREEN ORCHARDS by William Chandler, 500pgs. The hardbound book is loaded with all kinds of info on growing Tropical fruit trees in Florida and California. The book is priceless, but, I am willing to trade a copy with someone who may have a few extra fruit trees to spare. Jeff Earl Modesto, CA ------------------------------- From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: Re:neem tree Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 16:27:51 -0700 Thanks for the news letter, Leo. Would you or someone else know who could ship one 5-gal neem tree to me in Phoenix. I would prefer it come from Socal because of freight cost. A lady got my name from the Extension Service web page and is desperate to get one. She wants to eat the leaves as she once had done in Florida. Is that a safe practice, anyone? Thanks, Dick Gross. ------------------------------- From: Sven Nehlin (Avepalmas) Subject: Seed exchange? Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 14:43:05 -0400 (GMT) Caracas, 18th May, 1998 Hi Leo: Thank you for the latest newsletter on rare fruits! I wonder if any member in your circle knows about Araucaria araucana and Araucaria angustifolia. I would like very much seeds from both of them. I saw the first one in a book on Brazilian trees and the second of course is the famous araucana pine from Chile with edible seeds. If anyone could help me with these I would try to get seeds from any of the more than 100 tropical fruit trees I have listed here. I am also a collector of palms with more than 100 species also but my latest hobby right now is to make a collection of species from the Liliacea, Amarillidaceae and Iridacea families, which are flowering right now and I would of course accept seeds or bulbs also from these families in the proposed seed exchange. With fruitful and horticultural greetings, Sven Nehlin, Caracas 1080-A, Venezuela ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Carole Subject: Cherimoya & mango Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 13:22:50 -0700 Hi Carole, Say your note in RFNO and thought I would offer some advice. Monrovia is rather warm for cherimoya, so I would plant the tree(s) in a spot with some shade in the heat of the day. But this same heat should do wonders for mangos, as long as they don't freeze in the winter. Grafted trees of both will stay smaller than seedlings, so I suggest finding a source for grafted trees. I found a nursery on the Net in Rancho Cucamonga they may be worth looking into. I don't have their address right now, if you can't find it then get back to me and I'll do some looking. There's a good source for mangos in Ventura County but that's a way to drive. Happy hunting! Best wishes, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 07:47:21 -0400 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: 'Fletcher's Red' Loquat; Who's Got It? I now have two people asking me for a Fletcher's Red loquat. Anyone out there know what it is or where to find it? Margaret ------------ From: To: mbasile@newssun.med.miami.edu Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 19:36:23 EDT Subject: Re: Fletcher's Red loquat Dear Margaret: Your question on Fletcher's Red loquat was forwarded to me for a possible answer. I don't find a cultivar under this name, but I do see one called 'Early Red'. The fruit is described as medium-large, pear-shaped and easy to peel; orange-red skin and orange flesh; very juicy, sweet, of fair to excellent flavor. Don Gholston California Rare Fruit Growers ------------------------------- From: "Dan & Katri Snyder" Subject: White Sapote graftwood Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 20:49:07 -0700 Leo, I'm in San Diego (pacific beach), and am seeking several varieties of White Sapote graftwood. I have 'McDill' right now. I'm planning on grafting 5 or 6 other good varieties on. Any suggestions? Dan ----------- Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 20:57:24 -0700 To: Dan & Katri Snyder Subject: Re: White Sapote graftwood There are several (SueBelle is one), and I'll let the readers respond. The best time to graft seems to be in March, so it's not easy to get them to take now. Bob Chambers knows more than most of us about sapotes. Leo --------------------------------- Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 20:22:49 -0700 From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: Citrus Medica var. Buddha's Hand Hello, My name is Geoff Dunn, I have this weird interest in the above, and seek info,plant material, anything. I am from South Africa so maybe I can help your subscribers too. my email is Please Subscribe me Online. Regards Geoff ------------------------------- Date: Mon May 18 16:21:53 1998 From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Newsletter Went Missing Hi Leo, Did I miss something? I didn't get the newsletter on the 15th, so I figured it would be here Monday morning when I got to work, but I was wrong. Did you not send it, or did I not receive it? I hope nothing happened on your end. If I don't hear from you by tomorrow I'll get worried and call. Take care, Bob ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 13:12:59 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart To: Geoff Buckner Subject: Mango along the coast In the May 15 RFNO I reported that my 'Valencia Pride' had not set any fruit yet. I'm happy to say that now I have seen some fruit setting! I would recommend this variety to Geoff who asked about mangoes for Point Loma. I had a very good crop last year and this variety seems to be emerging as one of the most reliable for the area. Of course, Point Loma's climate is different from that of Carlsbad, where I live: more fog (bad) but less frost (good). I'd recommend checking at Pacific Tree Farms. They recently got a large shipment of mangoes, inlcuding Carrie, Glenn, VP, and others. They would know as well as anyone which of the available varieties are performing acceptably along the coast. I second Leo's remark on keeping the tree small. It is very easy to do. Matthew Shugart, La Jolla, CA ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 15:49:26 +1000 From: NickSchaefer Subject: Hylocereus Hi Leo Thanks for the references. As a matter of fact, one of the authors Avinoam Nerd will be in Australia shortly and I'm hoping to arrange a meeting with him at some stage. At the moment I'm trying to locate Hylocereus species H. costaricensis, cubensis, guatemalenis and ocamponis in Australia before trying to import them. Thanks again Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------ From: "Ed Gilbert & Associates Realty Co." To: Subject: KIWI; Problems in Arkansas; What's Wrong? Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 13:14:13 -0500 I AM TRYING TO GROW KIWIFRUIT IN ARKANSAS AND MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT KIWI, I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SUPPLY. MY VINES SET LOTS OF FRUIT, BUT THEN THEY STARTED TO BLLACKEN AND FALL OFF.. I THOUGHT THEY WERE NOT GETTING POLLINATED, BUT THIS YEAR THEY DID SET FRUIT, BUT THEN IT FELL OFF. THANK YOU. JOYCE REASONS 98 CR 462 MOUNTAIN HOME, AR. 72653 [Leo's Note: If you have suggestions for Ed Gilbert, please write to him. He did not subscribe and otherwise won't read your comments.] ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 08:25:31 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Longans in Florida weather Leo, Patty, whose e-mail I am forwarding, is a professional fruit tree grower in either South or Central Florida. She enjoys growing rare fruits. I have respect for her experience and her comments. This e-mail tells how longans cope with the weather in Florida. Sainarong Rasananda Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 01:37:48 EDT To: sainaron@samart.co.th Subject: Longans in Florida I don't have any answers yet. I have to find a way to keep them warm. One possibility is a stress spray I found on the internet. It stop plants from breathing out water, so they are better able to not freeze to death. It adds 4-10 degrees to a plants ability to withstand cold. Other possibities are green houses. I've seen mango groves overed with netting to keep out the birds; field heaters. Cover the trees with something. I've installed water misting system, but it would only save the trunk, not the brances or buds. The crop looks really good this year. We didn't have a hard freeze thanks to El Nino. We did have a ton of rain and it doesn't look like it's effected the plants ability to product fruit. Most of my trees are 2 years old and almost all are fruiting. One nice bonus I've noticed is that they fruit during the love bug's mating season. These are 1/2 inch long bugs that mate while flying. They really like the longans and covered the flowers and did a nice job of pollinating them. I'll let you know how it goes further. Actually the trees normally would get mild winters with 1-2 light freezes. However, every so often we get into the teens farenheit here. That's when even the orange crop goes. It's really amazing to be growing longans next to peach trees, orange trees, pear trees, and apple trees. This is a neat place to live - except for the occasional freezes. Patty ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 20:50:32 EDT From: Carl Hansen To: leom@rarefruit.com Subject: Miracle fruit needs a miracle Dear Rare Fruit News, Late last summer I bought a miracle fruit tree that was about seven years old. It came in a five gallon pot and when I brought it home I put it in a 20 gallon pot. It did well and produced about ten fruits. It did fairly well until the El Nino rain season came, It soon began to loose its leaves. I figured it was the wind or the cold so I moved it inside, but it still lost leaves. Eventually, now that it has lost all its leaves, I realized what I believe was the problem. Drainage. I noticed I never had to water because the soil was always moist but near the bottom of the pot I recentely noticed it was soaking wet. What should I do? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Carl Hansen [Leo's Note: Carl's our youngest subscriber, around age 16.] --------------- Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 21:15:17 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Carl Hansen Subject: Re: Miracle fruit needs a miracle Carl, let me tell you my hunch and what I'd do, but it may not be the best action, so wait until you hear from more knowledgeable readers. Since you added soil just a few months ago, when you put it in the larger pot, it should be relatively easy to remove that new soil and go back to the root ball you had. To be sure and not injure the roots, I'd probably very carefully cut away the new pot, let the new soil fall away, then wrap the old root ball in burlap, old sheets, something to bind it tight so you can move it into another 20 gallon pot, and add a good grade of potting mix, but maybe something without manure. Be sure it doesn't have the water-retaining polymers in it that some of the potting soil has. It has caused the death of some of my mango seedlings. Also, make sure that the 20 gallon pot has very good drainage. Nurserymen may be able to tell you of some product to stimulate the Miracle fruit tree back to life, but I'd be very careful not to add fertilizer. Again, I haven't had much experience in resurrecting plants, but have lost quite a few, so my advice is suspect. I wish you well, and I will circulate your letter to see what better-informed readers will tell you. (Readers, PLEASE send your miraculous-recovery guide.) Horticordially, Leo ------------------------------- From: Nicho Stamatis [SMTP:nicho@sco.eastcoast.co.za] Sent: Friday, May 29, 1998 8:31 AM Subject: Searching for Seeds; Can You Help? Dear subscribers, I am looking for seeds of the following: 1.Couroupita guianensis (Cannonball tree) 2.any other Couroupita species -please say which 3. Lucumia nervosa 4. Mammee apple (forgot the latin name) 5. sweet tamarind (Tamarindus indica)- this si a variety that bears sweet pods, as opposed to sour. It is commonly grown in Thailand where it is called 'makaam waan'. 6. Any other unusual or special tropical fruit. Please list. 7. Amherstia nobilis (Pride of Burma). 8. Pisonia grandis 'Alba' (Lettuce tree, Moonlight tree) 9. Thai Giant Guava (I dont know if it grows true from seed). 10. Lansium domesticum A lot of these plants are to my knowledge restricted to South-east Asia, or remote South American forests, but I am sure that there must be someone out there with access to seeds of at least a few of them - especially those subscribers in the tropics. If anyone knows a good reliable source of these seeds, please tell me. Also if anyone has had experience with he propagation of Couroupita spp. please tell me what to do to get the seeds to germinate. Any help will be appreciated. Sincerely George. nicho@sco.eastcoast.co.za ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 13:51:05 +1000 From: NickSchaefer Subject: Hylocereus for Fruit Hi Let me say first up that I know pretty well nothing about cacti. We currently grow bananas but as the price of these has gone through the floor we would like to diversify into something a little different. Pitayas (Hylocereus sp)are still something of a novelty here. Although there is one grower in our district already, we thought we would try them. He has red fleshed dragon fruit growing on trellises in full sun. Hylocereus undatus also grows well here and it is not uncommon to see isolated stands climbing up through trees and over rock walls. A couple of months ago it was flowering profusely but sad to say only very few fruit were set if at all. One that had formed had white flesh surrounded by a purple skin. From what I have read H. undatus is essentially self incompatible. Whether the fruit that formed was the result of outcrossing with some other plant in the district I don't know. Or else the self incompatibility broke down for some reason??. I took the almost spherical fruit and blended the flesh to extract the seeds. About 95% floated which I thought may have indicated that they were not viable. I have planted them out and surprise surprise one seeding has emerged - from the floater group. Winter's appproaching and its starting to get cold in the morning (8C) so germination may be slowing down. I am already growing seeds from the red fleshed fruit. These BTW were produced without any cross pollination with other species or human intervention, and all the plants are clones of the one parent grown from cuttings. All the seeds sink when the fruit is macerated and the germination is very high. Curiously about 25% of the seedlings are completely white and finally die after a few weeks. Has anyone experienced this problem before? The remainder seem OK and are now just poking out a tiny tongue of bristles. I'm still not 100% sure of the species tho. The fruit is oval in shape, up to 150mm (6") long excluding the scales, deep beetroot purple flesh, surrounded by purple skin with longish green tipped scales. The grower refers to them as Hylocereus undatus - they were imported into Australia about 15 years ago from Guatemala (I think). If anyone has practical experience in growing pitaya particularly in respect of trellising and shade requirements I would love to hear about it. Cheers Nick Schaefer; Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia. ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 17:21:36 +0900 (JST) From: Konosuke Degi Subject: looking for strawberry-sx (New Papaya) I am looking for strawberry-sx - a new papaya variety developed on the Island of Kauai. I need dwarf and precocious variety having sweet medium size fruit (400-1000 gram) for fresh market. I am also interested in virus resistant transgenic new cvs, Rainbow and SunUp. Strawberry-sx is a new variety developed on the Island Kauai. The fruit flesh is reddish-pink in color as the sunrise. The fruit is somewhat larger than the sunrise,sweet and very productive. It has very good disease and insect resistance and bears it's first crop lower than most varieties.This variety also has a higher tolerance for moist wet conditions than most varieties. If you have info about seed sources of strawberry-sx, please send me. Best regards Konosuke >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - June 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online June 12, 1998 AKA RFN199806B.txt ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- Leo's Selection New Subscribers - (Usually Need Your Help) Readers Write --Leo's Notes-- Using Spring Clamps on Cleft Grafts by Wm F. Whitman --New Subscribers-Let's Make Them Feel Welcome-- From: "Nid" Subject: New Subscriber, Thailand, Has Mango Farm From: Seth Saturn Subject: New Subscriber, Lawrence, Kansas From: Brian & Laurie Mahany Subject: New Subscribers, Maine, To Find New Fruits From: CAROLYN Stewart Subject: New Subscriber, Brisbane, ISO Pot Culture & Pest Control --Readers Write-- From: Aaron Gilbert Subject: Will passiflora lingularis bloom in the san francisco bay area? From: Leo Manuel To: aaron gilbert Subject: P. alata with 'Frederick' fruits; also p. vitafolia will... From: aaron gilbert To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: P. alata with 'Frederick' fruits; also p. vitafolia will... Subject: P. ligularis and P. alata blooming From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: aaron gilbert From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Rick Subject: Nino bananas From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Leo Manuel Subject: RE: Nino bananas From: Ray Gerlach To: Subject: Buddha's Hand Citron Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 00:20:37 -0400 From: Holzinger, Bob To: Carl Subject: Miracle fruit From: Doron Kletter Subject: Kensington mango information From: Matthew To: Dan Snyder Subject: white sapote From: Leo Manuel To: Matthew Shugart Subject: Re: white sapote From: Matthew Shugart To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: white sapote From: Leo Manuel To: Matthew Shugart Subject: Sapotes I have known From: Matthew Shugart To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Sapotes I have known From: bianca Subject: Looking for Neem Tree Plant Sources ----------From Zingiber List---Note New Address--- To: zingiber@coollist.com From: webmaster@FOXRIVER.NET (Dave Gourd) Subject: Basic banana requirements To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Edible Ginger Blooms? From: "Nicho Stamatis" From: "Nicho Stamatis" Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Nicolai elatior From: Jess Walczak Subject: Re: Precaution about moving outdoors, after gro-lites... Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com From: "Nicho Stamatis" Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Banana Hearts - Ever Eat Them? From: Lester Kallus Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Indoor Lighting - Metal Halide ---------------From NEWCROP List--------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Edible Fuchsias? Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Bob Batson Subject: Re: Edible Fuchsias? --------Leo's Note - New in Grafting Technique!--------------- Using Spring Clamps on Cleft Grafts by Wm F. Whitman Tropical Fruit News 32(5): 18 1998 While I had been able to graft Spanish limes (Melicoccus bijugatus), I got only about one out of five to take. I realized the problem. This lychee relative needed more air circulation about the graft union. Using rubber grafting strips always ended in failure. Securing the graft with plastic strips was only slightly better. Then I decided to try small metal spring clips which proved a complete success. One clamp was secured at the top of the cleft graft and another at the bottom. The rootstock can be cut off just above the pot soil line and the diameters of it and the scion need not match. Using clamps is far easier and quicker to apply than wrapping and binding the graft union with tape. Reports from using clamps claim more success than with other more traditional grafting methods. The small spring clamps are usually available from hobby wood working catalogues. While I have not tried it, wooden spring clothespins may work equally well. As soon as the graft is completed, put a clear bag over the top of the pot, enclosing everything. This prevents the graft from drying out. I prefer to make the cleft graft with a scion whose leaves are left on. If they eventually fall off, the buds in the leaf axils will sprout and take over. (Accompanied by photographs, with this commentary: When a tropical fruit pioneer gets this excited about a new technique, RFCI members need to sit up and take notice. Bill Whitman swears that grafting with these small clamps is the most significant development he has seen in fifty years of growing and grafting tropical fruit. No more do grafters require a surgeon's precision to make their plants "take." These clamps make everyone an expert!) Note by Leo: The clamps appear to be made of steel and look to be about two inches long and maybe one-half inch wide. Both ends are dipped in plastic, so there is no jagged metal gripping the rootstock. It's hard to judge the actual size of the rootstock, scion, and clamps, since enlarging the photograph probably occurred. If you try this outdoors, you'll want to shade the plastic-enclosed graft so that it doesn't cook from excessive heat. I'd like to try this. Does anyone know where to buy the clamps? I'd guess that wooden spring-closing clothespins would work equally well, if they open wide enough to grip the rootstock. -------------New Subscribers: May Need Help ----------------- From: "Nid" Subject: New Subscriber, Thailand, Has Mango Farm Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 14:43:04 +0100 Hello, I learn about this page from one of your visitor 's article published in a Thai Agricultural Magazine vol Nov 1997. The author was very appreciate your contribution . My name is Nittaya Hongrapipat . I live in Bangkok , Thailand . My family has a mango farm in Chantaburi , eastern province about 200 km from Bangkok. We would like to learn more about mango worldwild and exchange our experience with others. Regards, Nid ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 15:10:59 -0500 From: Seth Saturn Subject: New Subscriber, Lawrence, Kansas My name is Seth Saturn I have .8 acre in Lawrence Kansas (zone 5) I am putting in a rare edibles garden featuring North American and other temperate crops and preparing for the day when I can build my dream greenhouse for humid and dry climate tropicals. Extensive background in practical ethnobotany including ownership of an exotic fruit gourmet food store, now out of business. Many connections in the exotic nursery industry and fruit clubs worldwide including CRFG and RFCI, also NAFEX, HOS and others. I would love to see back issues. Many thanks Seth Saturn ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Jun 1998 21:50:31 -0400 From: Brian & Laurie Mahany Subject: New Subscribers, Maine, To Find New Fruits Found your web-site while exploring for exotic fruit sites. Actually, living in Maine "exotic" to me means anything that I can get to grow in Zone 4. Primary interest is antique apples and persimmons. Have had a "conventional" small orchard for 5 years, want to raise new and interesting varieties for home consumption. My name is Brian Mahany and I live just outside Augusta Maine (capitol city in central Maine). Besides a dozen or so apple trees have been raising beefalo for 2 years. Again, simply for a hobby. Would like to be part of your mailing list and receive newsletters. A sample issue would be great. Thank you!! Brian & Laurie ----------------------------------- From: CAROLYN Stewart Subject: New Subscriber, Brisbane, ISO Pot Culture & Pest Control Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 15:40:20 +1000 Thank you for the May 15 copy of RFNO. I'd appreciate it if you could place me on the mailing list. As for more information ... We live on an average (ie small) sized suburban block in Brisbane, Australia. After living in Asia for many years we want to try and grow some of the tropical fruits we have been eating for years. To date we've planted papaya, white mulberry, custard apple,guava and citrus and have potted pomegranate, fig, pitomba, brazilian cherry, acerola and more citrus. I'm particularly looking for answers on growing fruit in pots and organic methods of pest control. Can you please send me the following articles from the ListSupp - Nar&Car, Neem1/2, Neem2/2, FlowrFruit, PotCultr Regards, Carolyn --------------Readers Write---------------- Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 07:51:51 +0000 From: gilbert Subject: Will passiflora lingularis bloom in the san francisco bay area? leo-hello i have a question for you and your readers. has anyone ever seen a passiflora lingularis bloom in the san francisco bay area? i have been trying to grow one for several years, but no flowers. ironicly, i chopped it down this spring, but it has grown back from the roots. is there a future for this variety in san francisco? also, has anyone succesfully fruited a passionflora alata this far north. they sell them here, but mine seem to die or struggle on sick and weak, although i do get some flowers. aaron gilbert san francisco, ca --- Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 08:48:26 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: aaron gilbert Subject: P. alata with 'Frederick' fruits; also p. vitafolia will... Aaron, I have p. alata that will set fruit if I hand pollinate it. I know that 'Frederick' will pollinate but probably many more will. Also my p. vitafolia will set fruit if I hand pollinate it, again I know 'Frederick' works. The flowers are red and quite attractive. The fruit look like miniature striped watermelons and are not very sweet, for me. I'm sure you'll get more information from other readers. Leo ------ Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 12:36:21 +0000 From: aaron gilbert To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: P. alata with 'Frederick' fruits; also p. vitafolia will... leo- hello thanks for your prompt response. vitofolia also fruits and flowers for me here in san francisco, although the fruit has a bad taste to me. i have most success with the edulis varieties, lots of fruit with hand pollination. molissima and exonisis are also productive for me, although i think eludes has the best flavor. it just the singulars that dosen't want to produce anything but vegatative growth. aaron gilbert ------------------------------ Subject: P. ligularis and P. alata blooming From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: aaron gilbert Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 07:22:10 -0700 Hi Aaron, Leo Manuel forwarded your note to me to answer. The quick answer is yes, grow P. ligularis and P. alata and see if you can get some flowers. P. ligularis should do well in your area and P. alata is really stretching your luck, but go ahead and give it a try in the sunniest location you have. Now for the long answer. P. ligularis is a relatively slow grower and takes a long time to get to flowering size. All passifloras flower on new growth, so you have to have the room to just let it go. Depending on where you are in the Bay area, P. ligularis would do best getting morning sun, if there is any, and no afternoon sun if you get the occasional hot day. On the other hand P. alata is a really warm grower and you cannot give this plant too much sun or light. Both plants will be lost in a good freeze. If you want fruit, you won't get any with just these two species. Both need cross pollinators, either different clones of the respective species, or compatible species. Your best bet for P. ligularis is another clone of P. ligularis. For P. alata you can use P. caerulea or P. incarnata if you can't find another clone of P. alata. The bad news is that you were a week late in getting this note to me because we just had a Passiflora Society meeting at Strybing Arboretum on May 30. Eight of us walked around the Arboretum looking at plants in the ground and also bought passifloras at the plant sale. We could have answered your questions and you could have bought the plants that you needed. I would suggest you find out when the next plant sale is at Strybing and find either Don or Celeste to help you find some plants. Good luck, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Rick Bjorklund Subject: Nino bananas Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 07:37:30 -0700 Hi Rick, Your best source for Nino bananas is J.D. Anderson Nursery in De Luz. His on site number is (760) 723-2907 and home phone is (714) 492-1851. I got a Nino banana from him a couple of years ago and it's growing right along. I don't know if he ships bananas, but you can drive down and pick it up, just be prepared to get lost and wind up in the sticks! Take care, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Leo Manuel Subject: RE: Nino bananas Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 10:15:44 -0700 Hi Leo, (In response to question Leo had about the Nino banana) The Nino is the smallest banana I have ever seen and it is possible the sweetest banana I have ever tasted. You can find them in the Mercado in T.J. and they call them "Dominico". I have found them at the Ventura College Weekend Flea Market, so if I can think of it I will bring some down the next time I head south. They are one of my favorite bananas. Just to let you know I just fruited the Dwarf Colorado Blanco for the first time and it is also an excellent tasting banana. It fruits at about seven feet, so would be good in areas needing dwarf varieties. If I don't email you again before then, have a good trip to Oklahoma, etc. By the way, I just saw Patrick Worley for a few days this past weekend and he has a new mail order catalog out for those people looking for Passifloras and other types of plants. Later, Bob ----------------------------- From: Ray Gerlach To: Subject: Buddha's Hand Citron Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 00:20:37 -0400 Buddha's hand citron is available at : Oregon Exotics Nursery 1065 Messinger Road Grants Pass, Oregon 97527 USA Phone is 541-846-7578 5 gallon size is $35 US. They have a catalog for $4 US but they do not have a website. The catalog is full of plants from all over the world. Another place is Edible Landscaping. They do have a website. The address is http://www.eat-it.com They offer it in three sizes; quart $15, gallon $22, and 3 gallon $45US. Good growing, Ray Gerlach ------------------------------- From: Holzinger, Bob To: Carl Subject: Miracle fruit Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 08:18:54 -0700 Hi Carl, It definitely sounds like you have a drainage problem and unless the roots were really crowded in the 5 gallon pot, I would not keep it in the 20 gallon pot. I would recommend putting it back in the 5 if the roots fit, otherwise going to no bigger than a 10 or 15 gallon pot for now. As for the potting mix (I assume you will grow the Miracle fruit outside until it gets cold again) I would put it in a mix of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite with just enough "potting soil" to give the mix some body. Try a ratio of 4:2:1:1 (peat:perlite:vermiculite:potting soil). This should give you excellent drainage and hold enough moisture to get the plant back on track. This mix can also be used when you move the plant indoors for the winter. Good luck! Later, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: Another RFNO Failed to Arrive & What About Pictures? Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 07:54:24 PDT Hi Leo. 1) RFNO I did not receive the 06/01 issue of RFNO. I had problem with my computer and I lost the 05/01 and 05/15 editions. If it is not a big trouble for you I would ask you to send them again to me. 2) PICTURES As a beginner the major problem to me has been to identify the fruits. And the best for this is to have images. So I am thinking to create a web site only with fruit images. I would like to hear you opinion about this. I am not shure if the need of the fruit, tree, flower, seed images is only mine, or is a need of anyone involved in the rare fruits matter. Best regards Ricardo in Brazil ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 11:56:35 PDT From: Doron Kletter Subject: Kensington mango information Leo, I am copying you below on an article I've came across about the origins of the 'Kensington' mango. Thought you might be interested to know. -- Doron -- P.S. Have a great trip to Oklahoma! ----- begin included message ------ The origins of Australia's most popular mango: Kensington by Noel Hunt Australia's commercial mango industry is rather unusual in that the major plantings are based on the polyembryonic seedling variety "Kensington". Usually, orchards are composed of grafted trees. The Kensington mango tree had its humble beginning near Bowen, North Queensland between 1885 and 1888, when Mr. G. F. Sandrock, a Harbour and Customs Officer, obtained some mango fruit. The town of Bowen during this period was the center of a thriving horse trading business between North Queensland and India. Mangoes were one of the fruits carried on the ships. The fate of the fruit given to Mr. Sandrock is uncertain as three separate versions have been given: Firstly, Mr. Sandrock gave some of the fruit to his friend Mr. McDonald, who had a property at Adelaide Point, Bowen. A local farmer, Mr. William Lott, acquired some seed of the better types from Mr. McDonald and planted them on his own farm, 'Valley Orchard', Tacooda Road, Lower Don. Secondly, Sandrock planted seed from the original fruit on his own property Woodlands' and then gave seed of the better types to William Lott. Thirdly and most likely, Sandrock gave the fruit or seeds direct to William Lott to grow on Valley Orchard. This version was supplied by Dennie Smith, a retired Bowen grazier. Dennie's father Robert lived next door to William Lott's property, Valley Orchard, and well recalls the original small plantation of mangoes. He claims there was only one good type in the planting. William Lott's son, Harry, was born in the 1880's and later bought a farm on Inveroona Road and named it 'Kensington'. Harry was always concerned that his father's mangoes would be lost through flooding, as Valley Orchard was located alongside the Don River. Consequently, he collected a quantity of seed from the best type and planted these on his property, 'Kensington'. William Lott pioneered the sending of mangoes to Sydney by ship, and after his death, Harry continued the practice. Harry found that the Kensington fruit proved very popular on the Sydney markets so he zealously prevented his neighbors from acquiring its seed. Harry Lott's sister, Jessie Payn, had other ideas. She was a widow with two children and in need of funds, so unbeknown to her brother, she sold mangoes around the town. Through this means and others (?), the "Kensington Pride", "Bowen Special", or now preferred name "Kensington" was acquired by local farmers and soon became popularized throughout the Bowen/Burdekin basin. The original tree on William Lott's farm was lost during a flood in 1970. Harry Lott's farm, Kensington, was inherited by Henry Payn, son of Jessie. It has since been subdivided and sold. The land on which the first commercial planting of Kensington was made is presently farmed by Mr. John Willcox (ex Chairman of the Mango Subcommittee of Direction of Fruit Marketing). The original trees are still on the property. However, as they were very tall and difficult to manage, they have been cut back to a few meters above ground level. Using sucker growth, they are being reshaped into a more manageable size. Interestingly, most Indian mango cultivars are monoembryonic, so the first Kensington seed may have originated not in India but in South-east Asia. The Queensland Department of Primary Industries has introduced a large number of mango cultivars from overseas, but none have been identical with the Kensington or that can replace it for local production. This variety is being tested inmany countries throughout the world. Its high quality lends itself to both the fresh fruit and the processing trade. The Kensington fruit has a yellow/green background colour with a pink blush. Grade 1 fruit can weigh between 450 to over 900 grams, mostly close to the former figure. The flesh is orange colour, fibreless, very Juicy with a BRIX of about 16%. This cultivar has its problems such as erratic bearing, a short shelf life for its fruit and low resistance to certain diseases. Also, the skin colour is not as highly coloured as some of the more eye-appealing mango varieties. At the International Mango Symposium in Darwin in 1989, it was authoritively stated that there are over one thousand mango varieties in the world and that they all have significant defects. Internal flesh breakdown and discolouration is a problem in a large number of varieties. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Mango Field Day-Ayr Research Station, Department of Primary Industries, Booklet (31-10-91). Tropical Tree Fruits for Australia, QDPI publication, Brisbane, 1984. Mareeba Research Station Report 1989,QDPI. ---------- end included message ---------- Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 10:20:50 -0800 From: Matthew To: Dan Snyder Subject: white sapote Dan, I saw your post on RFNO requesting information on varieties of white sapote to graft. I do not know much about white sapote, but there is an extremely tasty one down the street from me, neglected but fruitful on a vacant lot. A real neighborhood treasure. Jose Gallego (who often posts on RFNO) told me it was substantially earlier ripening than most white sapotes. I wouldn't know, so I'm taking his word for it. Unfortunately, he never got around to tasting it last year. Like I said, I'm no expert. Maybe there are far better ones out there. But it sure tastes good to me, and if it is indeed early, may be valuable and worth grafting. I fear that some day someone will develop the land and rip out the tree. Matthew Shugart La Jolla, CA --------------------------- Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 13:09:33 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Matthew Shugart Subject: Re: white sapote Matt, do you have a graft of it at your home? It sounds like a good one. I prefer to graft them in March, as later in the season they seem to be more difficult to "take." I hope I remember to check on it next February/March. Leo ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 14:25:39 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: white sapote Leo, No. I have not ever tried to graft it. I am completely at the mercy of the owner of that property. I have no reason to believe the situation is going to change soon, so it will probably still be there next year. If you have a stock, would it be worth a try even this late? I'd like to get a sample of the fruit to you and others who know white sapotes to see what you think of it. So, let's both try to remember this. The season for the fruit isn't that far away. If it tastes good to you, I have a feeling you won't forget at grafting time! Cheers, Matthew --------------------------- Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 15:42:38 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Matthew Shugart Subject: Sapotes I have known Matt, I do have several trees on which I could try with a graft. It's been surprising to me that my trees haven't borne very well. I have heard that some seem to require a different tree for pollination. One of mine is McDill (bears very large fruit.) Another is grafted from a Hillcrest tree that Bob Holzinger got for me years ago, and it bore well at my Clairemont home. Those two are planted in an area that doesn't get as much sunshine as they should. The third is a seedling, and it bore maybe half-a-dozen fruits this year, one I picked prematurely a week or so ago and it's showing no indication of softening. They're not my favorite tree, by any means, but in a fruit salad with other fruits, they're nice. I like to take the pulp of sapote mixed with yogurt and maybe just a dash of applepie spice, for a fruit salad dressing. Haven't tried it for several years.... I'll try to get it next spring. Thanks! Leo -------------------------------- Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 15:49:06 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Sapotes I have known Leo, Get this: The tree in question is, as far as I know, the only one around and it has been prolific every year I've been in the neighborhood (since 1995). It is also growing right next to a much taller eucalyptus, so it is shaded (and under comepetition for water and food). Its only water aside from rain is from the lot next to it, which has a lawn. The tree is almost on the property line. So, when I say it is neglected, that may be an overstatement. It gets lots of water, I suppose, but no one is specifically taking care of it. Sounds strange, but all true! Matthew --------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 19:28:50 -0800 From: bianca Subject: Looking for Neem Tree Plant Sources Saw your not-so-recent note inquiring of any neem tree plant sources. Any luck? I live in Alaska but have a green thumb and have long wanted a sapling to grow indoors. Should do REALLY well here, especially in winter when we may as well be considered semi-arid in terms of humidity. If you can help me out and direct me to a possible source, I'd be grateful. Thanks, Bianca Chugiak, Alaska --------------From Zingiber List-(Has New Address)---------------- To: zingiber@coollist.com From: webmaster@FOXRIVER.NET (Dave Gourd) Subject: Basic banana requirements Having finally had the chance to actually get into the garden this week, we here at Fox River Net want to transplant our plants in the garden from containers. Variety unknown, some "common" type most likely as purchased from a novelty source for less than 8 bucks each, the plants are now about 2 feet tall, have one "pup" that accompanies each larger plant and have been raised indoors in 10 inch pots. They have been kept at room temperature under a combination of fluorescent and incandescent grow lights for 14-16 hours a day. We have been using miracle gro general purpose at half-strength to feed, mixed all purpose potting soil 50-50 with homemade compost, mist once or twice daily and water 3 or more times weekly (when medium surface dries), and, other than not exhibiting phenomenal growth, have in our opinion done well considering the environment presented. We now wish to place in the outdoor raised beds we have constructed, and seek good non-technical information to get good results from this relocation. Local conditions follow: Zone 5- far northwest Chicago burbs proposed area- raised beds with 1:1:1 mix pulverized topsoil, composted manure, homebrewed compost of kitchen waste/lawn clippings/leaves Beds are of non-treated lumber, 18-24 inches high, 18 ft long, 42 inches wide. Sunlight is 1 half day approx. 6am to 12 noon full sun, second half day noon to 3pm filtered shade (walnut tree), 3pm to sundown lightly filtered sun/shade from adjacent crab apple tree. Information should be non-technical if possible, some of our audience is kept in light to full shade and or is youthful (children), and we wish to make use of as much on site material (mulch/compost/used hydroponic effluent) to stay nearly organic as possible (we're not fanatics but don't want to use harsh chemicals). We don't want to be perfect, just healthy, happy, and glad to accomplish something through failure or success. Any information provided may or may not be used in whole or part to render a web page regarding general info on banana plants at foxriver.net. If desired, space can be made available ot that site for the purpose of disseminating more detail and sources on this subject. This message is not a commercial solicitation, advertisement, or endorsement. We sincerely seek this data for our use and our experiences will be presented for public/private use. Thank you in advance  Dave Gourd www.foxriver.net webmaster@foxriver.net ------------------------ To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Edible Ginger Blooms? From: "Nicho Stamatis" Dear Zingibers, I have a question about edible ginger blooms. I know that Etlingeria elatior produces edible blooms, which are nice with curry or salad, but I once heard someone say that the flowers of Costus speciosus are also edible. Is this true? I have this in my garden flowering all year, and I dont mind giving it a try in a salad or something. Anyone ever eaten these before? If it is edible, what other Costus produce edible blooms? Thanks. George. South Africa. ----------------------- From: "Nicho Stamatis" Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Nicolai elatior Jody, You can buy Nicolaia (now Etlingera) elatior from Stokes Tropicals. They have it in 2 colours - pink and red. Also from Aloha Tropicals in Hawaii who have it in pink, red and tulip red. Also from Highland Heliconia in Costa Rica. They have it in red, pink, red tulip and black tulip. I purchased from Highland Heliconia and I was very impressed with the quality of their rhizomes - nice, big and healthy. It is a stunning plant, but it needs lots of space and time to establish itself into a stunning specimen (in the tropics). Mine do well in the garden in full sun and light shade. LOTS OF WATER AND LOTS OF COMPOST. Make sure you can meet these needs. If you want to, you can even eat the unopened flower buds. Shredd them into salads,curries and soups - but that depends on your taste in foods. George South Africa ------------------------- From: "Nicho Stamatis" Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Banana Hearts - Ever Eat Them? Dear subscribers, To all those of you who have bananas in cold climates that grow but never reach fruiting size before the frost gets them. If you can't get to eat the fruits, you can eat the hearts. I don't know if you will want to do such a thing to your plants, but at least you are getting something out of them before they die from frost. I guess if you live in a 'banana republic' like me, there are enough bananas to spare for this purpose. Harvesting the heart does not kill the entire plant as it does when harvesting palm hearts. The corms will shoot again. The plant has to be basically 3/4 to flowering size minimum (for the most food) when you harvest it. Make sure you wear gloves and an old shirt because your clothing and skin will get pitch black from the juices. Cut the tree down, just above ground level with a suitably large blade (in South Africa we use a 'panga' - a large cutting instrument that can level a fully grown banana in one blow) Cut off the foliage. Make a longitudinal slice all the way down the pseudostem, and then unwrap the layers of leaf sheat one at a time until you get to tender white cabbage-like sheath. This is the heart. Remove this. This is what you eat. Have a bowl of cold water and slice through the heart crosswise. The knife should slice very easily through it. Place immediatley in the water. This will pull out the strands of fibre. Remove the fibre and drain the cabbage. It is now ready to cook. Cook it in curry as a vegetable - or even better - put it in spicy fish soup. Do not overcook it! The best variety that I have used for this is Dwarf Cavendish. So if you have a banana to spare, try this out. Most of you will probably think I am mad. From George. S. Af. --------------------------------- From: Lester Kallus Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Indoor Lighting - Metal Halide From: Lester Kallus I use a 1000 watt metal halide bulb on a motorized track for wintering tropicals indoors. It turned the darkest, most remote corner of my basement into a tropical greenhouse. One benefit of doing this in a basement is that you can use a hose to water your plants without worrying about watering the floor. It even allows me to spray the leaves to keep bugs and dust levels down. Bananas have thrived (as have my hibiscus, heliconias & some aroids). It also allows for a quicker transfer to direct sunlight. The light runs on a 7 foot track with a motor that pauses for a few seconds at each end so that the lighting covers a 40 or so square foot area. I obtained it from "Homegrown Hydroponics" in Ontario at: http://www.hydroponics.com/ Given our freezing, bleak Long Island winters, I can't say enough good things about such a powerful lighting system. Les ----------------------------- Date: Sun Jun 7 19:17:14 1998 From: Jess Walczak Subject: Re: Precaution about moving outdoors, after gro-lites... Reply-To: zingiber@coollist.com Dear Fox River Net, Something you should know about moving outdoors to the full light of day after months under growlights. Be very careful since you may risk your plants getting sunburned; I say MAY, since its not certain. I used a florescent "cool white" 20 watt(?) during the night hours for about 2 months, to help along the growth of my MUSA CAVENDISH("Common Banana"). The MUSA showed great progress, but when I put my plant outside, after 2 months of growth, it took only 1 day in the great heat of the full sun to turn brown all the growth that had rapidly occurred under the florescent. My banana got "sunburn", as my university greenhouse/grounds superintendant put it, because all the growth that had occurred so rapidly was thinner than it normally would've been, growing under the heat of the sun. You may be okay since you were using an incandescent and not a cool-burning florescent. Check with someone in your local extension office, university ext. or county extension service. What I might suggest is at least, "harden off" your plants to the sun's heat by exposing them progessively a little more each day to the full light of day, until it seems that they are able to withstand the heat. While you might not notice much growth going on during this "hardening off" period, keep fertilizing bi-weekly with something like fish emulsion (since you're quasi-organically interested, like myself) because the growth will be in thickening of the leaves, etc., things in the line of preparing itself for the different climate of the outdoors. A fellow (Non-comercial) banana grower, Jess Walczak at the University of St Thomas in St Paul, MN. --------------------------------- Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 07:38:18 -0700 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Edible Fuchsias? Some species of Fuchsia produce good quantities of purple or black fruits that are soft and taste much like figs (to me) when ripe. Unforunately when I've run across some of these, I haven't been able to find out what species/cultivars these are. One of the best I ever saw was at the old mission in Carmel, California. Does someone out there know species/cultivar names of such types? -Lon Rombough ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 11:41:38 -0500 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Bob Batson Subject: Re: Edible Fuchsias? According to _Cornucopia_, the edible species are Fuchsia arborescens (aka Pipilito, Flor de verano), F. boliviana, F. cordifolia (aka Melecoton), and F. excorticata (aka Komini, Kotukutuku). >From the descriptions of the differant species, IMO, F. boliviana and F. cordifolia would be best for eating raw. F. excorticata is described as being sub-acid and slightly astringent. Bob Batson >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - June 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online July 1, 1998 AKA RFN199807A.txt ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- Leo's Notes New Subscribers - (Usually Need Your Help) Readers Write New Crops: Subscribe at Zingiber List: zingiber@onelist.com; Subscribe: http://www.onelist.com ---------------Leo's Note---------------- 1.How about a report on smoke/fire damage to fruit? 2.Pacific Tree Farms (San Diego County) sells tiny grafting clips ------------New Subscribers - (Usually Need Your Help)----------- Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 23:23:46 -0700 From: Tom Learch Subject: New Subscriber - CA - What to grow in small yard? My name is Tom Learch in Glendale, CA I am interested in receiving your newsletter. I currently grow stone fruits and berries, but this year plan to start cherimoyas and sapotes. I can't decide whether to get an atemoya or a cherimoya tree. Do you have any insight or preference regarding these two? Will also probably get a jujube. My yard is just average in size, so I,m trying to research what is best, what will not grow too large, and what will just fit in and taste good. Thanks for your help. Tom Learch ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 22:13:13 +1000 From: Tim Milford Subject: New Subscriber, Brisbane, Australia, Just Starting Out My name is Tim Milford from near Brisbane Australia. I am just starting out and doing some investegation into growing fruit and came across your web page. I would be most interested to be added to your mail list. Thanking You Tim Milford ------------------------------- From: Michael Wagner Subject: New Subscriber - Ohio - How do I move fruit trees? Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 15:54:34 -0400 Dear leo and betty: My name is Terry Wagner and I live in navarre, ohio south of akron near the amish area. I am interested in the mulberry trees and black raspberry and red rasberry bushes. I wanted to know how to transplant these and or if they had seeds to plant. We fight the poison ivy every year by using an all terrain vehicle to go berry picking with three kids. I would love to have these near the house if possble . I do have elderberry trees and make the jelly ever year . Its delicious. My friend has the mulberry trees and she lets the birds eat them . I told her they are good to eat . She wasnt too interested and that i could have the berries. I want the trees. So any info would be nice. Thank you for you website it sounds fun. Sincerely Terry Wagner ------------------------------- From: Ray Cadore Subject: New Subscriber - S. Florida Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 23:29:07 -0400 I am Ray Cadore. Could I subscribe to your fruit newsletter? My email address is cadorerj@gate.net I live in southern Florida, and have been growing warm-climate fruits for several years. (Could you also send me the last several newsletters?) Thanks very much. Ray Cadore ------------------------------- From: Daniel Rude Subject: New Subscriber - Melbourne, FL Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 12:20:12 -0400 My name is Dan Rude and I have been living in south-central Florida (Melbourne) for about a year now and am interested in receiving your news letter. I have several citrus trees, mango, guava, and banana. Would you also be able to send me a sample issue ? The email address I would like for it to be sent to is: Couth11@aol.com. Thanks in advance for the service you provide. Dan Rude ------------------------------- From: Amy Fernandez Subject: New Subscriber CA Seeks Dwarf Banana Plant Source Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 21:53:18 -0700 I am Amy Fernandez. I live in Fountain Valley, Orange County,CA http://members.ecom.net/~jimandmissi/marvelous/ I've grown pineapple guavas, loquats, I've grown papaya plants from seed, but had to give them away because I didn't have room to grow them. Same with mango trees I've grown from seed. They went to Oceanside. I'd like to find and grow some dwarf banana plants that fruit well and are decorative. What is a good source for them? I am interested in the smaller trees for a small yard, especially, right now I'm looking for dwarf banana trees or rhizomes? for them and I love variegated types of foliage. I'm also interested in Papaya plants, etc Amy ------------------------------- From: Allan Melnick Date: Sun, 28 Jun 1998 18:28:42 EDT Subject: New Subscriber - Near Los Angeles I am interested in the letter and would like to see a sample. My name is Allan Melnick. I live in Tarzana, CA(Los Angeles). I am interested in rare fruits in general and have a "one of each" collection, including mangoes, white sapote, atemoya, etc. Allan Melnick --------------------Readers Write---------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 07:14:57 -0700 From: Sven Subject: Re: White sapote seedling Leo, I was wondering how long it took your white sapote seedling to produce. I have several that are 3 years old. Thanks. Sven ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 09:46:12 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Sven Subject: Re: White sapote seedling Sven, I haven't tried to fruit the seedlings I've grown. I only used them to graft onto. I believe it may sometimes take a long time to get seedlings to bear. I'll publish your letter and see what others say. Yours, Leo ------------------------------- From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: I Need Help Fruiting Loquats In A Pot Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 19:22:12 -0400 hello leo received a potted nespoli 12" seedling as a gift, believe its a loquat has anyone fruited a loquat in a pot? any info on needs of soil, ph, watering, fertilizing will be appreciated could locate no info in canadian gardening magazines or on the net re above thank you bert dunn ontario zone 4b ------------------------------- From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: Pamela Shelton Of Texas And Figs Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 19:28:24 -0400 Pamela should try figs again by visiting www.home.earthlink.net/~raygivan/index Ray is fig interest co ordinator for nafex site suggests figs for cold & hot areas, lots of info, prices very reasonable. Gives reference to lots of other fig sites bert dunn ontario zone 4b ------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 13:29:42 PDT From: Doron Kletter Subject: The Wampi - by Gene Joyner Leo, FYI, the article below provides information on wampee culture in Florida. -- Doron -- The Wampi - by Gene Joyner The wampi, or wampee, (Clausena lansium) is a citrus relative native to southeast Asia and is quite well adapted for most of Florida. This deep green evergreen tree grows to heights of about thirty feet with about the same spread and blooms in the late winter, producing delicious clusters of fruit during the late spring. Fruits, when they are developing, look somewhat like bunches of longans, being a golden brown in color and often about the same size as medium-size longans. The fruit, however, is quite different. Fruits, when picked at maturity, have much the interior texture of a grape with a pleasant lemon- lime flavor. One or more large green seeds occupy the center of the fruit, but there is enough pulp in most varieties to make it worth having this tree in the landscape. There is at least one variety of wampi that produces seedless fruit, but most purchased in nurseries are types that will have seeds. Wampis grow well on a wide variety of soil types and even in high pH soils retain a good dark color without too much in the way of nutri-tional sprays. Usually wampis are propagated by seed by nursery-men, and these produce flowers at about the third year. Selections have been made by some RFC members for bigger size fruit or sweeter fruit, but most purchased through nurseries are quite variable in fruit size and quality. Fruits can be eaten fresh much as you eat grapes, or they can be used for jellies, jams, drink, pies or other purposes. I have found through personal experience that wampis freeze well so in the late spring when the crop matures, take some of the excess fruit you can't use at the time and freeze it for use later in the year. Wampis, for best growth, should be in well-drained soils and require fertilizing about three times a year with a good complete fruit tree type fertilizer containing all micronutrients. Young trees can be fertilized every other month to help speed growth, while mature trees normal-ly get by quite fine on two to three feedings a year. Wampis are very cold hardy and rarely are damaged until temperatures get down below 26 degrees Fahrenheit on mature trees. Wampis can take small amounts of salt spray, too, but avoid planting them in directly exposed areas right on the oceanfront or on the intracoastal. Trees seem to have few pest problems are will very rarely require any type of pesticide applications. The fruit, however, is subject to infestation by fruit flies and other insects like many of our other tropical fruits. Also, excessive rains, sometimes in the late spring, may cause splitting of the maturing fruit close to ripening season. Trees can be fruited in containers very easily so if you live in areas where space is limited, you might consider growing wampi as a potted specimen and it will still reward you with adequate quantities of fruit for consumption. ------------------------------- From: trudye@webtv.net (Trudy eagan) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 21:05:19 -0400 Subject: What About Lychee and Mango Trees Grown From Seed? Hi Leo I've bought some lychees and have every intention of sprouting the seeds in spite of warnings the fruit will be no good. I do wonder if anyone has fruit from seedling grown lychees and is it all that bad? I also have started some mangos from seed? Does anyone have any comments good or bad on that type of venture? I know grafted varieties of anything are much better, but they can also be expensive and difficult to find. Thanks again, Trudy ------------------------------- To: Trudy Eagan Subject: Fruit From Seedling Lychee Trudy, I understand that the seedlings from lychee make take ten to twenty years to bear, and when they do, the fruit quality is uncertain. They may be excellent or not. The problem is usually in space that most of us do NOT have to fill with trees with such an uncertain outcome. Mangoes from seed will probably do very well. I have had excellent results, and seedling trees grow much more vigorously than grafted ones. However, it's unlikely that the fruit will have better quality than the parent tree, so plant seeds from the best fruit. If the quality is disappointing, you can graft it to a known superior variety. It is extremely difficult to graft lychee, so most of us don't even try. I don't agree, however, that grafted trees are necessarily superior, just because they've been grafted. Leo (Let's have some additional opinions....) ---------------------------------- From: trudye@webtv.net (Trudy eagan) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 11:38:39 -0400 (EDT) Subject: What About Fruit From Seedling Longan Trees? Thank you for the answers to my lychee and mango seedling questions, Leo. I also have 2 longan seedlings. Will they also just take up space for years before possibly having inedible fruit? I'm looking forward to getting the rarefruit news again plus the past three issues I missed. Thanks again, Trudy ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 02:39:42 -0700 From: Darryl Clark Subject: Am I unsubscribed? Also, Rare Fruit Seeds From CA Grower Hello Leo: I haven't received the June 1 or June 15 issues of the newsletter. I Don't know if the reason is on your end or mine, as I have had major E-Mail problems over the last two months or so. If it is not too much bother, do you mind sending (re?) the last two issues? Thanks in advance. Also, I ran across the following offer of rare fruit seeds for swap on the gardenweb. If this person is not on the newsletter list, I thought some of the other readers might be interested in what is offered. Take Care! Darryl -- SAWLOW Hello Everyone. This is a list of some things that I have. I am looking for other hard to find tropical seeds or seedings. I am also looking for native tree seed or seedlings too. I prefer to have a seed for seed exchange or seedling for seedling exchange. There are certain plants and seeds that I am looking for, for other people. Therefore, there are some exceptions. The fruit seeds I have advailable now are Loquat, Cherimoya, Ataulfo Mango, and the hard to find Durian. Some of these are showing signs of activity and may soon be seedlings instead of being a seed. Also from time to time, there may be some jackfruit seed advailable too. Added to this mix of seeds, I have other seeds as well. I have seeds of, Japanese Red(Oshio Beni) Maple, Silver Maple, Nadinia (Heavenly Bamboo), Jeruselum (poisonious) Cherry, and Chinese Flame Tree. I also can get the seeds for various types of hot chile peppers, tomato, and other vegies including the Asian types. The seedling that I have now is the Longan (Dragon's Eye) fruit tree which is hard to find. I have others that will be advailable at a later time which. The other plants that are rooted are Natel Plum, Willowleaf Holly, Lucky Bamboo, and Nochi Pomergranate. I also have seedlings of hot chili peppers like Habanero, Thai, Cayenne, Serrano, Shishito, and Tobasco. I may also be able to get some heirloom tomato too. In the near future, I will have more white Plumeria. If you have something that may interest me but is looking for something else, I may be able to get it. Nothing to lose by asking. Hope to here from you all and thanks. SAWLOW - CA 9 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 12:19:29 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: I Live In Carlsbad, not La Jolla Hi Leo, I hope you are having a good trip to Oklahoma and that your dad isn't driving you crazy! I noticed that in this last issue (June 15) you put "Matthew Shugart La Jolla CA" at the end of my message. Please put "Carlsbad." I work in La Jolla, but I live and grow fruit in Carlsbad, which has quite a different microclimate. Thanks, Matthew Shugart ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 07:17:30 -0400 From: Margaret J. Basile Subject: ECHO - What's the URL? I have misplaced the http for ECHO's webpage where you can contact them and order seeds, etc. Does anyone out there have it? Margaret ------------------------------- From: Amy To: Subject: Neem source Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 22:34:01 -0700 Bianca, Richter's Herbs in Canada has Neem trees and at certain times, I think, also seeds. Amy ----------------------------------- Subject: RFNO Delivery Problems and Lychee Fruit Sale Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 22:38:25 -0400 From: Lorraine Nelson Brunner I didn't receive this issue. The last notice I got was about the food conference sent 6/1. That's not so bad but I am used to hearing from you more often. My Lychee tree produced about 30-some lbs of fruit this time with some new buds still on the tree. I was surprised due to the fact that it produced last year also. Thanks to you and your readers I think I have learned how to produce fruit every year- on that tree anyway. The Longan will be the next challenge though I think it may be too late for a crop this year. My 5 year old Tyler and her Dad went to the corner street, set up their table and scale and a big sign- "Leechees 3.99/pound". When they returned 5 minutes later Tyler was crying. She was sad because instead of sitting there selling one pound at a time to many people, the first woman who saw the sign pulled over, nearly causing a rearend collision, and bought all 16 pounds. Guess everyone really like these things. p.s. They go for 9 bucks a lb. at the farmers market here in town. Next year we'll remember that. Thanks for all you do Lorraine -------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Jun 1998 14:19:50 +0700 From: Sainarong Subject: Price of fruits in Thailand Here are the current prices of some fresh fruits in Thailand: Name Market Price Season (US$@42Baht) Mangosteen 0.97-1.30 Middle of season Rambutan 0.32-0.54 Middle of season Durian 1.08-2.16 End of season Banana 0.64-0.75/a comb All year Coconut 0.11-0.16/fruit All year Papaya 0.16-0.22/fruit All year Pineapple 0.16-0.22/fruit All yrar Tangerine 0.32-0.54 All year Guava 0.22-0.27 All year If you have time, take a look at the website below for details of Thai fruits. http://www.ku.ac.th/AgrInfo/fruit/ Sainarong -------------------------------- From: Don Gholston To: leom@rarefruit.com Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 20:53:00 EDT Subject: Re: Air Layer Pitanga? >Don, do you know if pitanga is airlayerable? A few plants are very difficult to reproduce that way and I hate to waste time trying the very unlikely-to- succeed. Leo< Leo, It is my understanding that pitanga can be air layered. Julia Morton says, "Layering has been successful in India." Cheers. Don Gholston ---------New Crops: Subscribe at ---------- Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 10:10:49 -0400 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Stephen Strauss Subject: Re: Stevia Try Agriculture Canada's Delhi Ontario research station. They are working on just such issues. On Thu, 18 Jun 1998, Carol A. Miles wrote: I am interested in learning more about Stevia production. Does anyone have any production information about this crop, including plant multiplication techniques? Carol A. Miles, Ph.D. Stephen Strauss Internet: --------------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 17:53:17 -0700 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Carol A. Miles Subject: Re: Stevia Hi Stephen: Do you have any contact information for Agriculture Canada's Delhi Ontario research station? An email address and name of someone to talk with would be ideal. Carol A. Miles, Ph.D. -------------------------------- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:05:31 EDT Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Re: Stevia I am also very interested as I have some permaculture design work coming up in Paraguay where this is grown. In addition, I am interested in companion plants, cultural requirements, and pest control matters. I am concerned that the people with whom I am working have attempted a monoculture with the inevitable results, and I will be trying to find some way to pull their fat out of the fire. (If they have any fat left!) Dan Hemenway, Sparr FL 32192 USA ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 08:19:41 -0400 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Anna Whipkey Subject: Re: export At 06:58 PM 6/18/98 -0500, you wrote: Where can I find out about regulations regarding the exportation of botanicals? Any and all info appreciated, you may email me privately if you like. Karen Shelton nature@edge.net We maintain a page for import/export regulations on the NewCROP site at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ImportExport/ie_index.html We have Phytosanitation agencies listed by country and addresses and links to regulatory bureaus Anna ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:10:52 EDT Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Re: export Regulations will be mainly in the country of destination. You will need an import permit and a phytosanitary certificate from a local government agency at a minimum. (The exact name depends on your state if you are in the USA.) Certain genera and/or species may be prohibited in a destination country, or the may be allowed only with plant quarantine facilities approved by the responsible government agency. These are very good provisions to protect against the introduction of rampant species and pestiferous hitchhikers and should not be sidestepped under any circumstances. Generally, the recipient in the destination has to buy the appropriate import papers and mail the import permit to you, though this probably varies from country to country. Dan Hemenway - Elfin Permaculture ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 07:58:15 EDT Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Jujube - Flood Tolerant?? The jujube is well known for its drought tolerance. I have read, and I can't seem to remember where, that it also tolerates flooding. This would make it ideal for us. Does anyone have any solid info on flooding tolerance for jujube? Dan Hemenway ------------------------------- --Zingiber List: zingiber@onelist.com; Subscribe: http://www.onelist.com-- Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 11:51 -0400 (EDT) From: HESTERC@mail01.adm.duke.edu To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Musella & Ensete suckers David and list, On the topic of propogation, can anyone speak to the following. I was told once by a Samoan that it was possible to take the basal section of a banana plant, or a banana corm, and divide it into four quadrants, and that a plant would grow from each of the quadrants. Obviously this would happen if there were already offshoots developing, but would this happen even if there were no apparent offshoots? Has anyone tried this? Also, one more Musella question. The two Musellas I have seen, one at Fairchild and the other in someone's collection, were relatively short, probably no more than 2 1/2 to 3 fet tall, even at blooming stage. Is this typical? Is this always a short plant? I'm not sure because both specimens I saw were in small containers, and that may have limited growth of these specimens. Clarence ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 14:07:30 -0500 From: Keith Benson To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Musella & Ensete suckers I think you need to use a fairly large corm. I split one once and they grew fine. I would make sure to use a fungicide. I think the key is to keep them toasty warm so they can initiate growth ASAP and avoid rotting. I have seen the technique written up in all of the major banana texts as well. Keith Benson DVM -------------------------------- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:58:58 +0200 From: "Nicho Stamatis" To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Musella & Ensete suckers In South Africa, we use this method sometimes. This is one of the main methods used by the native Zulu people. It is used usually only on very large bananas eg: plantian types, mauritius red or williams. They cut down the tree, dig up the corm, and inspect it for eyes. Every 'eye' is cut with a good deal of corm left on it, and planted like potato eyes. They get a good success rate. They do not overwater these pieces. The resulting plants are quite small, almost seedling like, and they take longer to reach fruiting size. This is however a good way to build up numbers fast. George. S.Af. --------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 10:06:42 -0500 From: Keith Benson To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Ae Ae suckers? Lester Kallus wrote: So if even Ensete produces suckers, how about Ae Ae? This is the second season that I'm growing an Ae Ae. I have yet to see a sucker produced. The M. zebrina I've had for 3 years has produced multiple suckers. I expected the same from the Ae Ae but haven't seen one yet. Has anyone out there been able to produce offsets from them? They should sucker for you - I understand that this is the way they are produced commercially. I also remember hearing (though I cannot remember where) that the offshoot rate is somewhat lower than other Musa. Keith ----------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 13:57 -0400 (EDT) From: HESTERC@mail01.adm.duke.edu To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Tissue culture shortcomings? I'm not one to complain about most nurseries, because I know that acts of nature are beyond their control. However, I am unhappy right now with The Plumeria People. I ordered a Kru banana from them last summer and again this spring. The Kru, or at least the one I hoped to get, has a deep wine red color over most part of the plant (leaves are green). Anyway, the one I got last summer was, in fact, a nice shade of red. Unfortunately, it did not survive (due to me), so I ordered another this spring. It arrived last week, totally green. I called and asked to speak with them about it and I am sad to say they never bothered to return the call. As I say, I don't want to bad mouth anybody. I know that Kru can revert to green, and this is called a Green Kru; howvwer, this is not what I ordered. I've heard that tissue culture often fails to carry forward the desirable traits of some of the ornamental bananas. In fact, the guy at Going Bananas said this is the reason no one can successfully sell Ae Aes on a large scale, because when they are tissue cultured they all come out totally green. A word to the wise may be to avoid buying tissue-cultured bananas, especially if nurseries are unwilling to replace their products when the desired trait is lost. I'm especially disappointed with the Plumeria People--they very least they could have done was respond. They do not seem to be the nursery they used to be. Perhaps ownership or management changed hands, or maybe they just haven't gotten back to me yet. Clarence ---------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 11:37:41 +0100 From: "David Constantine" To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Tissue culture shortcomings? From: "David Constantine" Tissue culture is a powerful technique for propagation (micropropagation) of Musa and makes healthy, good quality, low priced plants available to the farmer and enthusiast alike. However, it is very easy to screw up Musa during micropropagation and you don't need to grow blobs of callus tissue to do it. For Musa micropropagation the apical portion of the shoot is removed from a plant preferably in the vegetative phase. In Musa sword suckers are good for this although a whole plant is required in the case of Ensete. The piece of tissue removed from the plant (called an explant in the jargon) can be quite large being a block of tissue measuring up to 3 cm x 3 cm x 3 cm but it is trimmed to 1 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm or smaller before being placed in culture. If the explant is removed carefully the mother plant survives. 'Eyes' and other lateral buds will remain on the 'corm' and will grow out into suckers. The explant consists of a block of stem tissue sitting on top of which is the apical shoot meristem covered as it were with a "roof" of many overlapping leaf primordia. Each leaf primordia has a tiny, leaf-opposed lateral bud associated with it. With the block of basal tissue below and the leaf primordia above the apical meristem is effectively buried in the middle of the explant. Although the explant can in practice be much smaller than I have indicated, the smaller the explant the more difficult it is to get it going in culture. The apical meristem alone is not used as the explant, it's just technically too difficult and too slow to culture. The process used is properly called shoot tip culture not meristem culture. Meristem culture in the true sense is very rarely attempted with any plant and never just for micropropagation. A cytokinin plant 'hormone' (usually BAP) is added to tissue culture media to inhibit the dominance of the apical meristem and promote the growth of the lateral buds on the explant so that a cluster of little suckers develops. Each little sucker has lateral buds which can be induced to develop into another cluster of little suckers ..... and so on. This process called shoot multiplication may take two to four months to get started but once it has got started the precocious development of suckers in vitro is so rapid that their number doubles every 4 weeks or so. Once the required number of suckers has been produced they can be rooted out on a different media or even direct into compost. To simplify matters somewhat, the more BAP you add the more rapid the proliferation of suckers. So you can perhaps imagine that tissue culture labs sometimes have a tendency to crank up the BAP to crank up production especially with a slow-to-multiply cultivar. And this is where things can start to go badly wrong. As well as promoting growth of the lateral buds BAP can also promote the development into suckers of so called adventitious buds. This process does not necessarily involve callus, the adventitious buds can pop up more or less anywhere on plants in vitro. A characteristic of an adventitious bud as opposed to a lateral bud is that its' origin can be traced back to a single, somatic cell. If that somatic cell had an abnormal genetic constitution then the resultant plant will have an abnormal genetic constitution. Turns out that it is common, normal even, for individual somatic cells in a plant to have an abnormal genetic constitution. It is the perpetually meristematic cells associated with the apical meristem itself that are islands of genetic normality in the plant. Suckers originating from adventitious buds are often (but not necessarily) aberrant. So if the BAP concentration is too high and/or the cultures have been maintained for too long, it is common to get aberrant plants via adventitious buds. The term somaclonal variation is indeed now generally applied to the phenomenon of aberration in tissue culture plants (The term is generally applied but not entirely correctly applied, other things can go wrong too that cause plants to look weird). The risk of somaclonal variation being released during tissue culture exists in any plant but Musa seems to be particularly prone to this. Maybe this isn't surprising. The cultivated bananas and plantains are inherently mutable plants; witness the many cultivars that have arisen over the years through 'sporting' during conventional vegetative propagation. The practical result of the release of somaclonal variation in banana is a variety of aberrant plants but dwarfism is perhaps the most common effect. Sometimes of course the aberrant plants can be useful, as ornamentals anyway if not for fruit production. There have been some spectacular failures with micropropagated banana plants but there have been many many more quiet successes. It all depends on how well the laboratory, or nursery, manages the process and most do a good job. Done properly Musa micropropagation is an excellent technique and has become the preferred method for Musa propagation world-wide. The situation with variegated Musa like Aea’e (= Koa’e?) is somewhat different. Aea'e is a chimera composed of two or more tissue types, plus and minus chlorophyll, within a single plant. Chimeras are notoriously unstable in vitro as the accelerated shoot development tends to cause the segregation of tissue types so that one tends to end up with wholly green or wholly white shoots. The wholly white shoots can survive in vitro but tend to be outgrown by the more vigorous green shoots. So you end up with all green plants and the white and variegated ones just disappear. I believe that Aea'e is so unstable that it cannot be micropropagated and if it is a shy suckering cultivar too then it will remain difficult to find. The segregation of tissues in a chimera in vitro is not somaclonal variation. David Constantine ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 23:10:30 +0200 From: "Nicho Stamatis" To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Tissue culture shortcomings? From: "Nicho Stamatis" Clarence, Maybe it is because of the amount of light or the age of the plant. Over here in S.Africa when we plant out young Dwarf Cavendish plants into the shade, they develop foliage like a Musa zebrina until they are older, and then the turn proper green. If they are started in fullsun, then they are all green from the start. There is a local lady finger variety that we grow here (dont know specific variety name), and they start of only being slight copper-red when young, and once older they develop rich red tones and leaf sheaths. Maybe your Kru needs more time and sun? BTW, there are plenty Red Bananas in back yards here, and I have never ever in all my life seen them mutate to green. Here they are propagated only by division, and not by TC. Maybe all this tissue culturing of other varieties has messed up the DNA over time? First I ever heard of this mutation was in American catalogs, and virtually all their plants are TC. Maybe you do have a point about TC production? George. ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 09:03:19 -1000 (HST) From: egilding@lava.net To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Tissue culture shortcomings? I've never had the chance to grow 'Kru', and I would jump at the chance to buy a plant (but we can't import Bananas to Hawaii, legally that is...heh) Perhaps the red color is a phenotypical trait. In other words, a trait that the plant may express within certain enviromental conditions. For instance, when humans are exposed to sun, most of the time, we'd get a sun tan. That ability is a phenotypical trait. Perhaps this plantlet has yet to receive enough light for it to express it's wine red color. Age may also be a factor. When plants are placed _in vitro_ they usually look completely different than "normal" plants. In general, because of the light levels, they become a light kermit green and succulent all over. Then again I've been stiffed by nurseries before like that. Makes you wonder if the people who pull the orders and packs them from their stock know what they're doing. Also, I heard (may not be true) that they use a method of tissue culture that includes forming a callus culture. Which means they speed up cell division so fast that the cells grow into colorless blobs and don't have time to form leaves or petioles. That means there is more of a chance that 'mistakes' will creep into the DNA of the resulting plantlets. My two cents, Ed -------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 17:02:18 -0500 From: Keith Benson To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Tissue culture shortcomings? Ed wrote: I've never had the chance to grow 'Kru', and I would jump at the chance to buy a plant (but we can't import Bananas to Hawaii, legally that is...heh) Actually there is a place that TC's (Tissue Cultures) them in HI - I will try to find their number for you. Perhaps the red color is a phenotypical trait. In other words, a trait that the plant may express within certain enviromental conditions. For instance, when humans are exposed to sun, most of the time, we'd get a sun tan. That ability is a phenotypical trait. Perhaps this plantlet has yet to receive enough light for it to express it's wine red color. Age may also be a factor. Loss of red coloration is a very common musa mutation (called sporting) and with TC, and the increased reproductive rate that this brings, there is an increase in sporting. The TC guys call this somaclonal variation. Also, I heard (may not be true) that they use a method of tissue culture that includes forming a callus culture. Which means they speed up cell division so fast that the cells grow into colorless blobs and don't have time to form leaves or petioles. That means there is more of a chance that 'mistakes' will creep into the DNA of the resulting plantlets. Actually, Musa TC is meristem culture, the use of callous is not feasable and meristamtic culture is waaaaaay easier with Musa. This will also cut down in somaclonal variation. I would give the Plumaria people another jungle and see what they will do for you. My experience has been that with something as inexpensive as a TC plantlet - most nurseries will simply do what they have to to make you a happy customer. Keith Benson DVM >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - July 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online July 15, 1998 AKA RFN199807B.txt ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- Leo's Notes New Subscribers - (Usually Need Your Help) Readers Write Zingiber List: zingiber@onelist.com; Subscribe: http://www.onelist.com ---------------Leo's Notes---------------- From: Leo Manuel Subject: Giant Whitefly, Bananas, and Oriole's Nest Can you come to San Diego for the Festival of Fruit, September 18-20? ---------New Subscribers - (Usually Need Your Help)--------- From: Mike Hudon Subject: New Subscriber, Florida, Rare Fruit Enthusiast From: Gavin ATKINSON Subject: New Subscriber-Brisbane, Australia-Getting Started With Fruit ---------------Readers Write--------------- From: Clement Subject: Re: Black Persimmon Subject: Re: Black Persimmon Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 14:41:27 -0700 From: Clement To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Black Persimmon From: Leo Manuel To: Clement Subject: Black Persimmon/Black Sapote From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: white sapote flavor; also, free trees From: "Robert R. Chambers" Subject: Re: White Sapote Flavor Question Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 11:25:13 -0700 Subject: Some Tree Fruits for Tropical Australia (Website) -----------Leo's Notes-------------- Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 14:33:24 -0700 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Giant Whitefly, Bananas, and Oriole's Nest I thought that the Giant Whitefly was possibly not going to be a pest in San Diego this year, but about a week ago they began to show themselves on my bananas. Not much yet, but last year they did major damage. An interesting complication is that some kind of bird (oriole?) has built a hanging nest under one of the banana leaves, about midway or so along the leaf, hanging from the leaf rib. It appears that the fibers are about 12 inches in length, that the nest is woven and hanging tightly to the leaf rib, and that eight to ten inches of those fibers are left to dangle beneath the nest. I want to look closely at it after the young are hatched and the nest is abandoned. The birds are very easily frightened, and I've not had a good look at them, but a bird in a neighboring tree that seemed to be interested in my presence was about the size and shape of a mockingbird, but was a pale yellow-brown in color, probably the female. I'd like to know what kind of bird it is. I hope some of you have had a similar bird-in-the-banana-patch experience and will let me know what you have seen. Anyway, I hope to remove the whitefly but not damage the birds. However, the speed with which the Whitefly can destroy a banana makes me want your advice asap. Does anyone with experience in dealing with it know what's the 'safest' way to control the pest? I've heard that Neem oil is one way and it seems to be a relatively benign approach. If you've tried it, does it work for you? Any soap spray that has worked? Other effective methods? Neem is reported to somehow be absorbed in some plants, (mango blooms, in particular) so that protection continues after the spray is done. I've heard that there is a biological control that has recently been introduced, but it hasn't done much yet. Thanks! Leo -------San Diego for the Festival of Fruit--------- Can you come to San Diego for the Festival of Fruit, September 18-20? Here's a news release: California Rare Fruit Growers Festival of Fruit 1998 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE San Diego, CA, June 29, 1998, The California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. (CRFG) announced today that Festival of Fruit 98 will be held in San Diego, CA on September 18-20, 1998. This year the Fruit Festival will focus on growing and cooking with rare fruits, and on the California Rare Fruit Growers Plant of the Year, the Palm Trees. The Festival of Fruit 98 will offer numerous tutorials, seminars and demonstrations on rare fruits. According to Jose M. Gallego, Chairman for the Festival of Fruit and Vice-President of California Rare Fruit Growers, San Diego Chapter, The objective of this years Fruit Festival is to encourage people into rare fruit gardening by showing them how to select and grow fruit not normally found here. We are also trying to entice chefs to start using rare fruit as part of their new dishes by offering seminars on how to select and use rare fruit in recipes for main dishes, dessert and drinks. This year the CRFG selected the Palm Trees as their plant of the year. Jose M. Gallego explains, "Each year the CRFG selects a plant to study and to distribute information through our Fruit Gardener Magazine and through each of the chapters. This year we selected the palm trees because they not only produce dates and coconuts, but a series of commercial products such as palm sugar, palm wine and toddy, and palm jelly, among others, which are currently produced and consumed in this and other countries." The conference will start with an informal trip to Tijuana to visit some of the local mercados (markets) that normally bring rare fruits to consumers in Tijuana. Members of the School of Tourism of the Autonomous University of Baja California will guide this tour. Several interesting seminars will be presented. Voon Boon Hoe, the Keynote Speaker for the Festival of Fruit 1998 has been invited from Malaysia. He will explore the possibilities of growing the fruits of his native country in the U.S. The second Keynote Speaker, Chris Rollins, from Florida, will talk on Fruits of Tropical America. As part of the break-out seminars, George Emirich will discuss growing cherimoyas and other annonas. Peggy Winter on the spirit of experimenting with rare fruits to develop cultivars for California. Kathy Vieth on selecting rare fruit for cooking. Victor Gonzalez on propagating avocados and how to graft citrus. Marie Kaplan on preparing main dishes with rare fruits. Bill Tall on irrigation systems. Ron Hurov and Steve Facciola on looking into new fruits. Tom del Hotal on diversity in citrus: the new cultivars, and representatives of the Palm Society on edible aspects of palm trees. Traditionally at the Festival of Fruit, California Rare Fruit Chapters and commercial producers will bring their California-grown rare fruit. Here, attendees will have the opportunity to taste fruits that used to be found only in the exotic areas of the world. A number of leading nurseries and gardening companies will be exhibiting in this event. Attendees, (including professional and amateur gardeners, Master Gardeners and nursery owners), will have the opportunity to purchase rare fruit trees during the course of the event. Chefs, restaurants and cooking aficionados will compete in the Chefs Contest by preparing dishes using rare fruits as the main ingredient. And who will the judges be? The conference attendees. There should be enough samples for everyone to taste. There is also the Photo Contest, where anyone can participate by sending their best color pictures of fruits or fruit trees. The winners of the contests will be announced at our dinner event, a tropical feast under the summer stars. The atmosphere will be very casual but the food will be unforgettable. The dishes include Jamaican crab lumpia with pineapple salsa, fruit Gazpacho with cotija cheese and grilled chicken with the choice of passion fruit sauce or mango sauce in a macadamia nut crust. The registration fee will be $25 per person before September 1st and $30 thereafter. The fee includes luncheon on Saturday, September 19. The dinner charge, which is separate, is $18.00. Registration can be done by calling the registration line (619) 453-3321 or using the online registration form at http://24.4.65.133/fest98 http://www.crfg.org. The Festival of Fruit 1998 is produced by the California Rare Fruit Growers, San Diego Chapter. To learn more about the Festival of Fruit 1998 please contact us at: CRFG, San Diego Chapter Festival of Fruit 1998 8673 Warmwell Dr. San Diego, CA 92119-1424 Phone: (619) 697-4417 Fax: (619) 697-4417 e-mail: mailto:Jmgallego@home.com jmgallego@home.com homepage: http://www.crfg.org Media Notes: The Festival of Fruit 1998 logo can be found at ftp://24.4.65.133/logo ftp://24.4.65.133/logo, this news release and all attached documents are available in Word or text formats at ftp://24.4.65.133/festival98 California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. is the largest amateur fruit-growing organization in the world with members in 48 states and 38 countries. It has chapters in California (16 in all), Arizona and Texas. Among its services are a roster of specialists available to answer members questions, a seed bank that collects and sells exotic seeds, and a book service that offers publications at special reduced prices. CRFG, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1968 by Paul H. Thomson and John M. Riley. --------------------------- Date: Sat, 04 Jul 1998 18:25:00 -0700 From: Mike Hudon Subject: New Subscriber, Florida, Rare Fruit Enthusiast Hello, My name is Mike Hudon and I live in Sebastian, Florida (east central florida). I have been a Rare fruit enthusiast for about 10 years now. I would like to get in on the newsletter. I currently am growing jakfruit, sugar apple, macadamia nut, black & white sapote, guava, citrus, papaya and others. I currently am trying to sprout some cashew seeds. Thanks for providing this service, Mike ------------------------------- From: Gavin ATKINSON Subject: New Subscriber-Brisbane, Australia-Getting Started With Fruit Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 16:04:09 +1000 Hi Leo Just found your site and liked the concept behind the newsletter. Sign me up! You'll probably want to know... I'm Gavin Atkinson and I live in Brisbane, Australia. I've been growing organic vegetables for a few years now but have just started getting involved in fruit trees, most of which would be considered "exotic". I've recently got a hold of seedlings/trees (they're kind of half way between) for: * jaboticaba * ice cream bean * pineapple cherry guava, and * black sapote (chocolate pudding fruit) I'm really interested to find out more about caring for these little treasures, especially organically eg when and what to fertilise with, etc. I've repotted them all recently as we're still renting and won't be planting them until probably early next year when we buy our own place. If you've any back issues that cover these (as well as maybe lemon and cumquat, I've got them too) please forward them to me. Many thanks Gavin Atkinson WebPage: http://www.netspace.net.au/~atkinson/index.htm ------------------------------------- From: Lester Kallus Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: Giant Whitefly, Bananas, and Oriole's Nest From: Lester Kallus I'm not an expert on giant white fly. In fact, the name brings to mind some enormous critter with a wing span of a couple feet. I'd suggest, though, that while you're waiting for expert responses, you go ahead and use the soap as soon as possible. It would be benign to the birds and if it killed any of the bugs at all, you'd be ahead of the game. If it didn't touch them, you'd lose nothing but the cost of the soap. Les ------------------------------------------ Leo's Note: Actually, the so-called Giant Whitefly is pretty small. I haven't seen one with a magnifying lens, but when they're flying around, they look like tiny squares of white confetti that somehow manage to fly. ------------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 21:10:50 +0800 From: Clement Subject: Black Persimmon Hi Leo, Once again thanks for your newsletter. I need a bit of help from you or rarefruit members regarding black persimmon. I was given a 30 cm. seedling black persimmon and I would like to know whether it bear fruits, the taste of the fruit, and finally the size of the tree. Thank you Clement ---------------------------------- Subject: Re: Black Persimmon Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 14:41:27 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Clement Clement, I will give you my less-experienced opinion, post your letter in the next RFNO, tomorrow, and expect others to give their opinions. I believe that the black persimmon and black sapote are two names for the same fruit. If that's true, then the fruit will have a shape much like a Japanese persimmon, perhaps smaller. The exterior will stay greenish, even when ripe, as I recall, but the exterior becomes very dark. Some cultivars taste of chocolate, others of tar, possibly depending on your imagination skills. I've eaten some of each type. I successfully grafted a black sapote to a Fuyu persimmon this spring, and it has survived so far. Horticordially, Leo ---------------------------------- Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 21:20:15 +0800 From: Clement To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Black Persimmon Leo, Thanks for your reply on the above subject. Like you, I have a 2 yrs. old Fuyu Persimmon trained to grow wire. I might as well graft black persimmon onto my Fuyu Persimmon. Might even try the other way round too. What is the best method to graft them? I also planted 2 (Reinecke and Mc Gold) White Sapote, Paw Paw and Jackfruit on my back yard and I'm after another tropical fruit tree. One (the very last one) that is not too big but must taste great. Hopefully you might be able to help me on that. Thanks Have a Great Day, Clement ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 11:34:22 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Clement Subject: Black Persimmon/Black Sapote In California, I have been told it's best to graft sapote in early spring, March, to be exact, for maximum success, if grafting is an objective later. I don't know whether black sapote on Fuyu will succeed - only that it has been growing since my graft in April. I also got it to grow on a seedling black sapote, which is not a surprise. Also I don't know whether it will succeed both ways. Some trees grow A onto B but won't B onto A, such as various prunus. I graft almost every tree the same way - a "tongue-in-groove" modified splice. For increasing the chances of success, I make the splice as long as possible, (I've tried having the length of the splice up to two inches in length.) For small diameter wood, I use the cleft graft. The scion can be smaller than the rootstock for the cleft graft. In the US, Paw Paw is not the same tree as a papaya, and the paw paw is found in a wide range of climate zones - mostly in colder-winter areas, I believe. The paw paw stays much smaller than the Jackfruit. Anyway, I hope and expect that you will get advice from the rest of RFNO from reader/growers with more experience. Yours, Leo ---------------------------------- From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: white sapote flavor; also, free trees Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 23:05:17 -0400 The white sapotes that I've tasted (several Florida varieties and seedlings) all had a slight bitter taste. Are there some that don't? (I believe that a much greater variety of cultivars are grown in California, than here in south Florida, but I don't know if the California varieties would do well here.) I kind of remember hearing that the bitter taste I'm speaking of is experienced by some people but not by others, kind of a genetic thing. Does that sound familiar to anyone? Also, to those close to my neighborhood (Lake Worth, in Palm Beach County, Florida) I have several trees that I'm offering "free to good home." They are all in the ground, and 6 to 15 feet tall. They're a bit big to dig out, but if you think you might be interested in trying, get in touch with me for more details. Trees are: longan, oriental persimmon, and macademia nut. Dan Duprey P.S. Leo, I didn't receive a July 1 issue of the newsletter. ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 07:33:09 -0700 From: "Robert R. Chambers" Subject: Re: White Sapote Flavor Question Dear Leo: Having a lot of varieties of white sapote (about 50) I have noticed quite a few taste differences, although sapote fruit tastes are rather mild. Some sapotes have the terpene taste one gets in mangoes sometimes, and I don't like that one, and have tended to exclude trees of that sort from my collection. The other common reaction is that they have a bitter taste. Well, some do and some don't among those grown at my place in DeLuz. The Pike variety, which has been shipped commercially for years is one that does have a little bitter taste. Personally I am not much affected by bitter tastes, but Clytia is, so I base my tale mostly on her reactions. Anyway the bitterness in the Pike, and in most other sapotes with this characteristic, seems to be concentrated near the skin. Pulp from deeper into the fruit is fairly free of it. As for bitterness near the seeds, that is certainly plausible since the seeds seem to be the place where the alkaloids which the sapote is known for are concentrated. However, I have never noticed this myself. By the way Julia Morton, in her Fruits of Warm Climates book has a nice discussion of these alkaloics, mostly from the medicinal point of view. But there is another part of the story. I have a tree, the Tremont variety, that grows on my place ten miles inland where the sunlight is strong and produces very tasty fruit. The parent tree grows three blocks from the ocean in Oceanside where it is often foggy and the people who own the tree can hardly give the fruit away it is so tasteless. So environmental conditions can make a big difference in the taste of the fruit too. One of the Israeli scientists who worked on the white sapote told me that they had planted seedlings in six locations in the Nagev desert, in two of which they grew well. In one of these most of the fruit were bitter, in the other location none of the fruit were bitter. In looking for an explanation he noticed that in the bitter location the water was high in sodium, in the location where the fruit were not bitter it was high in calcium. His dean criticized this conclusion as premature, pointing out that he did not have proper replicated studies with the proper comparisons, and of course the dean was right. However, I feel his insight was better founded than most of the conclusions I reach in just watching my grove. Sapotes are a very interesting and valuable fruit and really do deserve some scientific study. I do think they look happier in California in the dry climate here than the ones I have seen in Florida and Hawaii where it is more humid. Bob Chambers ----------------F Y I Website----------------- Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 11:25:13 -0700 Subject: Some Tree Fruits for Tropical Australia (Website) http://www.publish.csiro.au/monographs/detail.cfm?Key=142&CID=8&SID=1 >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - July 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online August 1, 1998 AKA RFN199808A.txt Reminder: Can you come to San Diego for the Festival of Fruit, September 18-20? If you do and want to visit my small place, let me know. Repeat of information from the last issue is at the bottom of this issue. ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- Leo's Notes #1 Subject: Giant WhiteFly - MAYBE Neem Oil Helps #2 Subject: Arapaho - Leo's Favorite Blackberry #3 Subject: CD Roms For Keeping Birds Away But Not Fig Beetles #4 Subject: Black Sapote Successfully Grafted On Giant Fuyu Persimmon New Subscribers - (Usually Need Your Help) From: Mike Hudon Subject: New Subscriber, Florida From: Lloyd Subject: ReSubscribe to newsletter & looking for correspondents Readers Write From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Another Jujube Question: From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Passiflora meeting - in San Diego County From: Dan Hemenway Subject: White Fly Control From: Dan Hemenway To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: White Fly Control Subject:Getting tropical fruit trees to thrive in a subtropical zone From: Phillip Walker (FL) From: Joel Moskowitz Subject: "Beneficial" Snails - Are They Beneficial? From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: Grafting clamps From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Weather, Economy, and Effects on 1998 Fruit in Thailand From: Carol Whitmore To: Leo Manuel Subject: re: Bird Nest in a Banana Tree From: Carol Whitmore To: Leo Mdanuel Subject: California Hooded Oriole (Nested in Leo's Banana 'Tree') Subject: Stevia From: powaybill@juno.com (Bill Burson) From: "Jeff Earl" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: California Gold Banana: Who Sells It? From: ed gribble To: Leo Manuel Subject: Coffee Grounds - Anybody Still Using Them? From: Leo Manuel To: ed gribble Subject: Re: Coffee grounds From: "Brett Portman" Subject: Anybody know any good contacts in Salvador de Bahia - Brazil From: Leo Manuel To: "Brett Portman" Subject: Re: Know any good contacts in Salvador de Bahia - Brazil Subject: Seeds Search - Help Needed From: "Wells C. Jacobson" To: From: Leo Manuel To: "Wells C. Jacobson" Subject: Some Tropical Seed Sources Subject: Re: Some Tropical Seed Sources From: "Wells C. Jacobson" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Controlling Whiteflies and Other Destructive Insects From: David Schorr To: Leo Manuel From: Amy Subject: Whitefly From: "Ronald Lyn" To: Leo Manuel Subject: asian pears From: Leo Manuel To: Ronald Lyn Subject: Re: asian pears From: "Ronald Lyn" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: asian pears From: ED GRIBBLE Subject: Help Needed Using Gibberellic Acid Subject: Thai Agriculture Mailing List From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Re: Thai Agriculture Mailing List From: Leo To: Sainarong Rasananda ----------- From New Crops: Subscribe at From: Discussion list for New Crops From: Stephen Strauss Subject: Re: Stevia Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Carol A. Miles Subject: Re: Stevia Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Re: Stevia Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Steve Diver Subject: Earthworm Farming Information ---------- From Zingiber List; Subscribe: http://www.onelist.com To: zingiber@onelist.com [Subscribe: http://www.onelist.com] Subject: [zingiber] Bananas, heat, South Texas Drought From: paullgj ---------------Leo's Notes---------------- #1 Subject: Giant WhiteFly - MAYBE Neem Oil Helps Just before sending out the July 15, 1998 issue, I noticed one leaf of a banana (plantain) that had significant WhiteFly damage, with white and "hairy" signature of the pest, together with damage to the leaf. I jumped to the conclusion that all of my banana 'trees' were infested. That's where I wrote my note to you. However, while I was spraying with Neem oil, looking carefully, I could see quite a few leaves with the small white spiral indicating the pests had visited, but no other "hairy" leaves. I've sprayed twice, and the insect seems to stay in check. There is the continuing white-spiral pattern, but no evolution into a significant threat. It has been reported that there is some uptake of the protection of Neem into sprayed plants, and, while my experience doesn't prove that for the giant whitefly on bananas, it certainly supports the idea. It's possible some other control is at work. California was looking for some biological control (wasp?) for the pest. Perhaps they have released something that's keeping it under control? Yours, Leo -------- #2 Subject: Arapaho - Leo's Favorite Blackberry I've tried several genetically-thornless blackberries, but Arapaho is the one I like best. It (like Navaho) is an erect cultivar, needing little staking. But, while Navaho seemed determined to die (and finally did), Arapaho is vigorous and doing very well. I don't really know what pruning is appropriate for them. So far, I've only removed dead or dying canes. Others I have tried are Chester (never got sweet for me), Waldo (does well, tastes good, but not erect), and Lochness (too soon to be sure, but it seems reluctant to grow.) What have you found? (I doubt that they grow in tropical climates.) Leo ----------- #3 Subject: CD Roms For Keeping Birds Away But Not Fig Beetles I've read someplace that birds stay away when CDs are suspended in fruit trees so they can rotate in the breeze. I've hung 4 in an apricot and later in a peach tree and it seems to work. Has anyone else tried it? Has anyone found a trap for catching Fig Beetles? Those green divebombers that decimate grapes, peaches, figs, and just about all deciduous fruit. I know that if I would screen my compost pile so they couldn't get in to lay eggs, that I'd reduce their number considerably. I've bagged individual bunches of grapes with those onion bags that have a loose weave with considerable success, but it takes a lot of time. The beetles seem to especially like Black Manouka seedless grapes. Leo #4 Subject: Black Sapote Successfully Grafted On Giant Fuyu Persimmon In April, 1998, I grafted a select cultivar of black sapote onto a seedling black sapote and onto a giant Fuyu persimmon. Both are growing, but whether black sapote on persimmon will persist is to be determined. I apologize if I told you about this earlier. Leo ------------------Readers Write--------------------- Date: Sat, 04 Jul 1998 18:25:00 -0700 From: Mike Hudon Subject: New Subscriber, Florida Hello, My name is Mike Hudon and I live in Sebastian, Florida (east central Florida). I have been a Rare fruit enthusiast for about 10 years now. I would like to get in on the newsletter. I currently am growing jakfruit, sugar apple, macadamia nut, black & white sapote, guava, citrus, papaya and others. I currently am trying to sprout some cashew seeds. Thanks for providing this service, Mike ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 22:12:01 -0400 From: Lloyd Subject: ReSubscribe to newsletter & looking for correspondents Hello My name is Lloyd Cromer, I live in Goose Creek SC, (outside of Charleston SC). I grow bananas, guavas, calamnsi, mombin, kiwi, bamboo, papaya, and assorted asian vegtables and other interesting plants (stevia, miracle fruit, lemon grass, etc.) Almost all my plants are in pots, and brought into the garage during the winter. I used to subscribe to my geocities account, but have not received the newsletter since May. I would like it now to be sent to this address. I am planning an extended trip to the Philippines later this year, hopefully to taste all the fruits that I can't grow here. I am willing to correspond with any one interested in tropical plants or asian vegetables. I am a member of CRFG. Thank you. Lloyd Cromer ----------------------- From: Dan Hemenway Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 10:39:29 EDT Subject: Another Jujube Question: First, I have what I regard as definitive response to my inquiry about flood tolerance of jujube. In addition to other sources, I have been dipping into Julia Morton's Fruits for Warm Climates and found, to my surprise, a section on jujube where she remarks that they will grow on waterlogged soil. So here goes... (Actually I'll establish my named cultivars on well drained soil and propagate to the waterlogged area. Figure jujube will go where the ground is briefly flooded and mayhaws where flooding can persist much longer. We have two mayhaws on Washingtokn hawthorn roots that have been flooded since late Nov. and are still growing. One of two that I 'rescued' died when ants invaded the container and created excessive drainage.) Now my jujube question is this: I notice considerable chlorosis on some of my grafted jujubes, but not on one that is on its own roots. Is graft incompatibility a problem? The other factor is that I notice morton says they like fairly high pH--I was going to try dusting a few times lightly with wood ash, which will nudge up the pH and also supply trace minerals. All the established jujubes I've seen were in Kansas where the pH is high compared to our sandy soil where pH drops to the point where other defficiency symptoms can show up. Dan Hemenway ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Passiflora meeting - in San Diego County Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 07:32:36 -0700 Hi Leo, I just emailed the director of Quail Gardens to confirm that I will talk to the members of the Passiflora Society International on August 30 at Quail Gardens. I will be talking about Passifloras, the flowers and fruit, starting at 10 a.m. I thought that you could put out a notice on the meeting on RFNO and maybe you could tell me who the newsletter writer is for the San Diego chapter of CRFG. I want to let both San Diego Chapters know about the meeting because the more the merrier. I will email George Emerich to see if he knows who puts out the North County Chapter newsletter, unless you know who that is also. This past weekend I discovered that a Passiflora that was supposedly dead is still alive. It's at Sal Shettino's house in Carpinteria and I have cuttings in my mist room now. The flower is spectacular and Sal says the fruit is tasty, so this could be another must have like P.'Purple Tiger'. It's most likely a cross with P. quadrangularis, but the exact parentage will never be known for sure. I'll have a picture of the flower and fruit of this to show at the August talk. So how's it going? I really appreciate the info you put in the last newsletter about the Annual CRFG meeting because the website has been less than forthcoming with information on specific speakers. I will attend that event also. Talk to you later, Bob ------------------------------- From: Dan Hemenway Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 10:29:54 EDT Subject: White Fly Control In biological greenhouse management, I always control serious infestations of white fly with "soap" sprays, actually Ivory Liquid Degergent. I don't remember the proportions but I would regard 3 tbs/ gal as close to an upper limit. Try it on a few leaves first at a target concentration and then if you dont get leaf burn, proceed. I usually add liquid seaweed to the mix to improve the potency of the spray and at the same time achieve a light foliar feeding. The K ions in the seaweed preparation increase the potency of the lipids in controling insects. CAUTION: This is a broad spectrum contact insecticide. If you spray indescriminately you will almost certainly make matters worse by killing the parasites and predators of the whitefly. Spray only infested plants. Try to spray the whitefly themselves. Neem would improve the potency of this effect. I haven't been following this thread, but I suppose that someone has mentioned getting some Encarsia formosa to maintain control after you bring the whitefly population down. It is necessary to get some hairy leaf plants growing in your understory--nettles are about the best (and are a component in potent spray mixtures), geraniums are good--you get the idea. These provide a minor host for whitefly. If you use biological controls out of doors you want to keep a small population of whitefly at hand--they are safe in the hairy leaves--to keep the predators and parasites at hand. Outdoors, the control agents will just go somewhere else if you don't do this. Indoors, as in a greenhouse, they just starve. A second and third stage of biological control of whitefly that works in greenhouses is to get established populations of ladybeetle and lacewing. Like the Encarsia, the soapy spray will kill them so you need to phase it out as you phase these in. Outdoors, you will have to read up on what it takes to attract them. Since both are bought in the egg or larval stage, you get some control right away because they eat lots of soft slow or stationary insect matter, like whitefly eggs. They will shift over to eating mostly other stuff, like aphids, if it becomes more prevalant. The Encarsia only parasitize white fly. So they are the backbone of your bioilogical control while the other predators are backup. At certain temperature/humidity conditions, whitefly reproduces at a faster rate than Encarsia, and there are your other predators waiting in, ifyou will excuse the expression, the wings. Keeping insects in one spot out of doors is not easy. Either you set up a screened rearing station and release regularly, which is particularly good for Encarsia, or you buy larvae or eggs regularly, which may be necessary for the others. Once they have wings, they are as independent as you or I would be. You can also attract them by planting things to keep them around. Lacewing adults require pollen and nectar for survival and there are a whole group of otherwise useful plants that you can use for this. They like small flowers--buckwheat is phenomenal for this. Alyssum is good since it blossoms continuously. White clovers and similar speices are excellend and can form the basis of a living mulchl in suitable climates. The carrot family flowers are all outstanding--probably parsnip (a biennial but you can buy parsnips in the store and plant thelm and they will flower) and caraway are probably the best--caraway seems to have a long flowering season and even lady beetles, which don't need pollen and nectar, are attracted to it. Of course cilantro is good if you let it go to flower and certainly carrots if you save your own seed provide a period of supply. There are many cruciferae (which include the brassicas) and of course composites that do a good job. Many of these are weeds that I encourange, or even introduce. Being self-sowing, I just pull them out or move them if they grow inconveniently close to a crop plant. These 'insectary plants' not only sustain the beneficial insects y ou bought, they attract more from the wild. Coupled with habitat for vertebrate predators (birds, bats, salamanders, frogs, toads) and aquatic insecgts, notably dragon flies and damsel flies, you have a good control system. Hornets and wasps are very important to control larger insects, such as catipillars. I find that it takes 3 years to have a system that requires no spays in temperate situations--it can sometimes take a few years more in sub- temperate and sub-tropical situations. You need to attend to major pests, but if you just focus on one pest or potential pest at a time, you will just replace one pest with another. If you work to putting together an entire system for balancing pest populations in your favor, you avoid problems you never need to know about. There can be more to it, of course. Healthy soil is essential and good crop mixes, not monocropping, etc. But I give a whole segment of our online permaculture course on that--can't cover it all off the top of my head in a list post. Dan Hemenway http://home.ptd.net/~artrod/epta/eptahmp.html --------------- From: Dan Hemenway To: Leo Manuel Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 08:26:27 EDT Subject: Re: White Fly Control In a message dated 7/16/98 11:33:40 AM, you wrote: <> Leo, I doubt if Encarsia will control it, as it is a highly specific host. However the other measures should work. Of course I neglected to mention the fundamental principle, typing a quick response online. The fundamental principle is to know the life cycle and habits of the "pest" in question. All organisms have evolved a place in a balanced system. Generally a "pest situation" is caused by imbalance, population explosion, plants bred to yield extraordinary quantities with very low toxins and of course, good flavor, and/or plants or predators of the plants or both extricated from their natural habitat and plunked in bizzare habitats (to them). Monocropping is a major form of imbalance--with one swell foop we sweep the banquet from Nature's table and replace it with one kind of food. Then we express consternation when hungry creatures eat it and even learn to specialize on it. Most of the plants we discuss on this list, if not all, are not known to have serious pest problems until we set up moncultures. Highly diverse agroforestries as components of larger systems are, for many climates, a very sustainable component of food systems. If one species is being hammered, others close in and take up the slack. The issue of diversity is more complex than a linear understanding of the term suggests--I'm talking about designed diversity where things are properly chosen and placed--not random diversity--things thrown together without regard to their mutual suitability or suitability with regard to the whole system. I teach an entire course on this kind of design that takes 5-6 months online--I don't want to try to be too glib about it here. However most cases, though random diversity, things thrown together or chosen by a non-organizing principle (e.g., "thats pretty," "I like it," etc.) still have a better chance of avoiding major problems and requiring continual support (fertilizer, pesticides, pruning, ad infinitum) than a monocrop. I'm tempted to go on but at this point each step deeper in the discussion will probably increase the need for explanation by an order of magnitude. Dan Hemenway http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/ypc_catalog.html ------------------------------- Subject:Getting tropical fruit trees to thrive in a subtropical zone Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 23:16:09 EDT From: Phillip Walker (FL) Hi Leo: My name is Phillip Walker and I live in Boca Raton, Fla. My home is about 6 miles from the ocean. My yard is rather small, however I currently have 90 trees growing on it. My rarest are a unusual fig tree from Ecuador, a pummelo seedling direct from Thailand, and a mulberry tree from the Amazon. I don't claim to be college educated. However I have some advice on how to get tropical trees to thrive in a subtropical zone. The one tree I long for is the fabled mangosteen. It does not do well here I'm told but that's what I heard about the cherimoya in Fla. I have a one year old seedling that is 18 inches tall already. I advise anyone who grows fruit trees in Fla to remember to fertilize once a month. Contrary to the so called pros I was taught at a young age by my farmer grandfather who used to grow vidalia onions in Toombs county, GA. The best fertilizers I've seen work are discarded fish and vitamin institutes "v 1". V1 is a hormone treatment with vitamin you can add to liquid fertilizers which I believe are better than granular fertilizers. Anyone who would like proof of this only need to email me and I will be glad to send you samples of foliage and bark from my trees. Thanks for the forum Leo enjoy the column. Phillip ------------------------------- From: Joel Moskowitz Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 22:21:54 EDT Subject: "Beneficial" Snails - Are They Beneficial? Dear Leo: Recently we purchased 100 beneficial snails and, as directed, distributed them in groups of two or three. From what we can notice, the nasty snails are less active or even gone. We understand that when the beneficial snails eat all the nasty snails, they switch to eating dead foliage. Which brings me to the question. Do you or does anyone have any experience growing these helpful critters. I am growing 'red worms' with much success and little effort and wonder if I could do likewise with the beneficials. Thanks Joel Moskowitz ------------------------------- From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: Grafting clamps Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 17:25:25 -0700 I just perused your 7/15 RFN for more detailed info on the grafting clamps but was disappointed. Clerks all over Phoenix have responded to my inquiries with blank stares. I tried clothes pins on several "square" and cleft grafts. All have failed within days. A factor may be the 114 degree temps. I built a miniature greenhouse on a new 6" mango shoot with a square graft on a seedling clothe-pinned together. The reddish tender leaves remained turgid and pristine for seven days. I made the mistake of moving it to an out-of-the-way shady spot that unexpectedly caught one hour of direct sun at 2.00pm. The leaves were fried like bacon. So, I still don't have enough info to determine whether the clamp can improve the odds from my lack of skill and dexterity. Some specific information sure would be helpful if someone would be so kind. Regards, Dick Gross, Arizona chapter, California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 14:16:14 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Weather, Economy, and Effects on 1998 Fruit in Thailand I would like to, if I may, update you on the 1998 fruit season in Thailand. The same picture may be applied, to a greater or lesser extent, to South-East Asia. The 1998 season has been dismal due to the twin demons of el Nino, and the economic recession. The economic recession has many effects. The local purchasing power is much lower, imports of fertilisers, pesticides, etc have shot up, transportation cost have gone up, exports to neighbouring countries are not as good as we had hoped for, because they are having problems of their own. El Nino proved disastrous. Many fruits in Thailand require a cold spell to flower. Well, the cold spell hardly came. On top of that, it was an unusally hot and dry summer. You know what that does to growing fruits, especially in areas in which irrigation is somewhat lacking. The estimates of the fruit production this year are as follows: Durians: 52% of last year, or 376,000 tonnes. Mangosteens: 37% of last year, or 24,000 tonnes. Rambutan: 60% of last year, or 296,000 tonnes. Longan: 10% of last year, or 24,000 tonnes. Lychees: 10% of last year, or 7,000 tonnes. Mangoes: 50% of last year, or 500,000 tonnes. Tangerines: 600,000 tonnes. Sweet Tamarind: 150,000 tonnes (which is more than last year). It can be readily seen that the fruits which require a cold spell for flowering suffer the most. Now, weather experts say that la Nina will bring huge floods! Esta muy malo! However, at this moment, the rain seems to be falling normally. Sainarong Rasananda : National Longan Growers Association of Thailand ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 15:20:13 -0700 From: Carol Whitmore To: Leo Manuel Subject: re: Bird Nest in a Banana Tree Mr. Manuel, it sounds like a California Hooded Oriole. They typically build on the lower side of palm trees, but your banana tree must have the same nice long fibers as the palms. The hanging nest is typical. They will also occasionally use fibers from a palm tree leaf and build a nest in another spot. I had a thin branch of a bush that was up under the eaves of my house, and the Hoodeds built nests there three years in a row. I eventually cut the branch and took it to Buena Vista Audubon in Oceanside with all three nests on it. I still have two Hooded nests under an eave on the north wide of my house, and House Finches long ago took over the nests and have raised broods there every year for half a dozen years. There is a female sitting eggs there right now, in all this heat. I think she's double-clutching -- that is, raising a second brood in the same year. (She attached a TIF file in color of a pair of Hooded Orioles.) Carol Whitmore, Buena Vista Audubon, Oceanside ----- Leo Manuel wrote: Some kind of bird (oriole?) has built a hanging nest in a banana tree, under one of the banana leaves, about midway or so along the leaf, hanging from the leaf rib. It appears that the fibers are about 12 inches in length, that the nest is woven and hanging tightly to the leaf rib, (or that the fibers are pulled back from the edge of the leaf to the rib, where they originated) and that eight to ten inches of those fibers are left to dangle beneath the nest. I want to look closely at it after the young are hatched and the nest is abandoned. The birds are very easily frightened, and I've not had a good look at them, but a bird in a neighboring tree that seemed to be interested in my presence was about the size and shape of a mockingbird, but was a pale yellow-brown in color, probably the female. I'd like to know what kind of bird it is. The one that appears to be the male is canary yellow with a black mask and bib, black wings and black tail. I'm hoping to find more information about this bird and whether it's rare. Can you point me to a site where I can learn more and possibly view pictures? Leo --------- Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 23:02:00 -0700 From: Carol Whitmore To: Leo Mdanuel Subject: California Hooded Oriole (Nested in Leo's Banana 'Tree') Leo, "your" oriole is a very, very yellow bird, in spite of the painting I sent you from the Roger Torey Peterson CD, which shows it as having a strong orange tint. They really are a strong metalic yellow. If you put up a hummingbird feeder with one bee guard removed you can enjoy the acrobatics that Orioles provide as they try for the sugar water. Mix the sugar at a ratio of one portion to four portions of water. The Orioles love it. But they do need a feeder that allows them to get their large beaks in. It's worth it to watch them hang upside down, sideways, any way at all to get at the mixture. Oh, and don't put any food coloring in it. Plain, clear sugar water is what they (and the hummingbirds) prefer and what is the most healthful for them. Try it! Carol --------------------------------- Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 00:06:26 -0700 Subject: Stevia From: powaybill@juno.com (Bill Burson) Stevia can be grown from seeds or root cuttings, so I've been told. Pearsons nursery in Vista CA 760-726-0717 is a wholesale grower that propagates it. Bill Burson --------------------------- From: "Jeff Earl" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: California Gold Banana: Who Sells It? Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 20:32:21 -0700 Leo said: Jeff, in glancing over old communication (February) I noticed a letter of yours containing information about a banana, California Gold. The Bananas I grow are believed to be mutated dwarf orinoco. I say mutated, because they do not act like published reports say they should act. I call the new var. "California Gold"....Jeff Who sells it? It sounds interesting. Leo --- Leo, I hold most of the Banana stock which I call "California Gold". I am the one to discover it and have placed a copyright on the name. The plants consistently fruit inland in Northern California. They survive temps that drop down to 25f. ( The leaves freeze at 30f, but the plant survives much colder temps) And yet they produce fruit that rival store bought fruit. Most people that have tasted it, think the fruit from my trees have a richer flavor than store bought fruit. The trees fruit after 18mo. and the fruit takes 5 mo. to ripen. The tree fruits while only 4 to 6ft tall. I would be happy to send pix and more info to those who request it. Jeff Earl Modesto, CA ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 16:54:12 -0700 From: ed gribble To: Leo Manuel Subject: Coffee Grounds - Anybody Still Using Them? Hi Leo, Long time no e-mail!! I've kinda been out of pocket, but I do receive your monthly letter. Question: You mentioned a while back that you got coffee grounds from Starbucks. What kind of luck have you had with them, can they burn the plant, are there any detrimental problems with them, etc? Many thanks. Ed Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 06:29:29 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: ed gribble Subject: Re: Coffee grounds Ed, I developed arthritis in my wrists that made carrying bags of coffee grounds too painful to continue. I had to stop about a year after beginning. I haven't observed any adverse consequences, even though I applied it rather heavily around trees and berries. I hate to see the waste of a resource that may be useful. The city dump doesn't particularly need it. It might be adviseable to compost it first, to see if that makes it less staining. Me and my dog tracked it in, especially when it was placed in areas we walked on often. I can't say that it was of great benefit, from my brief work with it, and I'd like to know what others have found out. It was good to hear from you! Yours, Leo -------------------------- Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 14:15:38 AST From: "Brett Portman" Subject: Anybody know any good contacts in Salvador de Bahia - Brazil I've just moved to Salvador de Bahia in northeastern Brazil. Does anybody know any good tropical fruit contacts -- people or places -- in this part of Brazil? I'll be here at least through New Years. Yours, Brett Portman -------------- Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 18:52:33 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: "Brett Portman" Subject: Re: Know any good contacts in Salvador de Bahia - Brazil Brett, Ricardo V. Barbosa lives in a region he described as "Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul" in Brazil. He is a subscriber to Rare Fruit News Online. Leo --------------------- Subject: Seeds Search - Help Needed Date: Thu, 23 Jul 98 15:35:23 -0500 From: "Wells C. Jacobson" To: Hi, I was looking around the internet for tropical seeds and your fruit page came up on the search engine. I realize you don't seem to concentrate on seeds, but was wondering if you could tell me somewhere I could send away for such tropical fruit seeds as mango or papaya or guava. I don't have enough money to buy tropical plants, and would like to try starting them from seed. Do you know of any company like that? Thanks. Casey Jacobson ---------- Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 21:52:53 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: "Wells C. Jacobson" Subject: Some Tropical Seed Sources Wells, here are some places to look. http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/Hort/kramer/Sources/tropical.htm http://www.mnsinc.com/menoldre/R&D_Enterprises/Fruitnut.html http://www.boldweb.com/greenweb/fruit.htm http://www.cog.brown.edu/gardening/f35cat.html http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/Hort/kramer/Sources/tropical.htm Good Luck! Leo ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Some Tropical Seed Sources Date: Sun, 26 Jul 98 23:48:37 -0500 From: "Wells C. Jacobson" To: Leo Manuel Thanks for the reply. The pages you gave me really help out, one of them in particular being exactly what I was looking for. Casey Jacobson ------------------------------ Subject: Controlling Whiteflies and Other Destructive Insects Date: Sun, 26 Jul 98 21:45:28 -0800 From: David Schorr To: Leo Manuel Dear Leo, I've had amazing success controlling all kinds of destructive insects by using simple dishwashing detergent dissolved in water. I either put a little in a one gallon sprayer or put some in a hose-end sprayer, for really big jobs. Either way, the soapy water suffocates them on contact but it doesn't hurt the plant. Let me know if you have any luck. David Schorr ---------------------- From: Amy Subject: Whitefly Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 21:51:07 -0700 If there aren't enough ladybugs around, I use 1 tsp of baking soda, 1 tsp of L.O.C or castile (liquid) soap, and 1 tsp of veg. oil in a 1 quart sprayer full of water and spray under the hibiscus and lemon tree leaves, and on top, it also helps with powdery mildew and that long fungus that the hibiscus gets with the whiteflies. I've not tried it on banana. You have to actually get some on the whiteflies to kill them, so you need to sneak up on them, but it works well and it's cheap to spray them about twice a week for a little while. Amy, Orange County Calif http://members.ecom.net/~jimandmissi/marvelous/ ------------------ From: "Ronald Lyn" To: Leo Manuel Subject: asian pears Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 16:09:43 -0400 Hi Leo, How are you and the fruits doing? I recently discovered Asian = pears and have fallen in love with them. I don't know how rare they are = in the US but this is the first time I was even hearing about them. Do = they grow well in hot climates? (Jamaica) Any additional information = would be appreciated. Thanks. Ronald. -------- Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 17:03:47 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Ronald Lyn Subject: Re: asian pears Ronald, I think you're unlikely to find an Asian pear that will survive there, but I'm often wrong. I know that in San Diego, where I now live, there is insufficient chilling for most pears, and I believe, Asian pears require some more winter chilling than other pears. I'll publish your letter and see whether anyone can provide helpful information. Yours, Leo -- From: "Ronald Lyn" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: asian pears Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 06:55:32 -0400 Hi Leo, Thanks for the prompt reply. I should have also told you that we are 2000 feet above sea level. So we are able to grow lychees and longan, unlike our neighbors at sea level. So maybe that would make a little difference. Thanks again. ------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 13:48:17 -0700 From: ED GRIBBLE Subject: Help Needed Using Gibberellic Acid Hi Leo, Summer is here at last and my bananas are growing like crazy and four plants have bloomed and formed bananas which we just recently are getting the ripe fruit. We only got two papaya fruit last season, strawberry solos,since the plants are very young but are in full bloom now. I recently got some different papaya seeds from the seed bank as well as gibberellic acid to help oversome dormancy, but no instructions on how to apply it. Have you ever tried to use it and if so, your results. I am now trying the Starbuck's coffee grounds. A friend of mine whose family was in the coffee import business knew a lot of the old original coffee houses on the West Coast, Diedrick's, Farmer Bros., Hill's bros. etc. Interesting to talk to him about the olden days and the various blends, etc. Thanks for any advice or comments about the acid. Ed ----------------------------- Date: Sat, 01 Aug 1998 08:30:45 +0700 Subject: Thai Agriculture Mailing List From: Sainarong Rasananda I have just set up a Thai agriculture mailing list. Although most of the members will be Thai, and most of the correspondence will be in Thai, English is also welcome. I hope that many Thai specialists, who are familiar with English, will join the group As I have just set up the mailing list, the current number of participants is quite small. I plan to do a public relations campaign to get people to join the list. Do you have any advice, Leo? To join the list, simply send a message 'subscribe kastthai' to majordomo@cpe.ku.ac.th Sainarong -------------------- Date: Sat, 01 Aug 1998 06:23:05 +0000 Subject: Re: Thai Agriculture Mailing List From: Leo To: Sainarong Rasananda Sainarong, If you have a webpage with a name like Thai Ag or something that makes it likely to snag people searching for information about Thai agriculture, and if you let lots of search engines know about your page, I believe it would help. I'd think that persuading other web masters to include a link to either your page or to your mailing list address would help. You know that there lots of ways of getting free webpages, but your ISP may provide one for you. I'll include your information in RFNO, and I'll try a subscription for myself. Is 'digest' an option? Some lists overwhelm you with dozens of messages daily, and even when they are interesting, I unsubscribe to protect myself. Good luck! Leo ------From New Crops: Subscribe at -------- From: Discussion list for New Crops From: Stephen Strauss Subject: Re: Stevia Try Agriculture Canada's Delhi Ontario research station. They are working on just such issues. Carol A. Miles wrote: I am interested in learning more about Stevia production. Does anyone have any production information about this crop, including plant multiplication techniques? Carol A. Miles, Ph.D. Stephen Strauss Internet: --------------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 17:53:17 -0700 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Carol A. Miles Subject: Re: Stevia Hi Stephen: Do you have any contact information for Agriculture Canada's Delhi Ontario research station? An email address and name of someone to talk with would be ideal. Carol A. Miles, Ph.D. -------------------------------- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 09:05:31 EDT Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Re: Stevia I am also very interested as I have some permaculture design work coming up in Paraguay where this is grown. In addition, I am interested in companion plants, cultural requirements, and pest control matters. I am concerned that the people with whom I am working have attempted a monoculture with the inevitable results, and I will be trying to find some way to pull their fat out of the fire. (If they have any fat left!) Dan Hemenway, Sparr FL 32192 USA ---------------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Steve Diver Subject:Earthworm Farming Information Paul Newport wrote: Does anyone know where I could get ANY information about Farming Worms? Economics, methods, etc. Paul Newport Auckland New Zealand What is the focus of the enterprise: raising worms for fish bait, raising worms for fish bait as well as selling worms to others for home vermicompost use, raising worms as part of an organic waste handling business, raising worms as part of a biofertilizer production component of the farm or home garden..... Examples: *Night crawlers for fist bait (main focus is on worms for sale) *Red worms for fish bait and vermicomposting worm sale (dual use) *Red worms for organic waste conversion (vermicomposting) FlowerField Enterprises - Mary Applehof's books & resources "Worm Eat My Garbage", Worm Bin Creatures video http://www.wormwoman.com/ The Worm Digest quarterly magazine http://www.wormdigest.org/ The Compost Resource Page: Vermicomposting http://www.oldgrowth.org:80/compost/ Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) "Worms for Composting (Vermicomposting)" http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/vermicom.html Steve Diver ATTRA Technical Specialist ---From Zingiber List; Subscribe: http://www.onelist.com--- To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Bananas, heat, South Texas Drought From: paullgj Hello Zingibers: Here's another update about how the various bananas are faring in the South Texas drought. Not to bore you with a bunch of meaningless statistics, let us just say it has been very, very hot and very, very dry for a very long time - months in fact. While other parts of the country have had a few days or even a fews weeks of this stuff, here it just goes on and on and on. How do the bananas fare? The Orinocos can tolerate it. But everything else is having a rough time. I have lost more plants to this than any winter cold spell. Even the RajaPuri shows leaf burn. The most sensitive is the Super Dwarf Cavendish - I have lost about five mature plants. The central meristem gets too hot, dies, and the plant sends its energy to a new sucker. The plants growing in partial shade do the best, the ones in full sun are suffering. I have even lost one Ensete maurelli to this heat. Suprisingly some rather cold sensitive cultivars are handling this ok. The Dwarf Plantain and Gran Nain seem to be holding fairly well. The stress is caused by the heat, wind, and compacted soil. There are watering restrictions; even without the salts in the irrigation water don't help. Sounds pretty bleak, right? What we need is rain, and lots of it. Gene, South Texas, zone 9b -------------------------------- California Rare Fruit Growers Festival of Fruit 1998, September 18-20, 1998 This year the Fruit Festival will focus on growing and cooking with rare fruits, and on the California Rare Fruit Growers Plant of the Year, the Palm Trees. The Festival of Fruit 98 will offer numerous tutorials, seminars and demonstrations on rare fruits. According to Jose M. Gallego, Chairman for the Festival of Fruit and Vice-President of California Rare Fruit Growers, San Diego Chapter, The objective of this years Fruit Festival is to encourage people into rare fruit gardening by showing them how to select and grow fruit not normally found here. We are also trying to entice chefs to start using rare fruit as part of their new dishes by offering seminars on how to select and use rare fruit in recipes for main dishes, dessert and drinks. This year the CRFG selected the Palm Trees as their plant of the year. Jose M. Gallego explains, "Each year the CRFG selects a plant to study and to distribute information through our Fruit Gardener Magazine and through each of the chapters. This year we selected the palm trees because they not only produce dates and coconuts, but a series of commercial products such as palm sugar, palm wine and toddy, and palm jelly, among others, which are currently produced and consumed in this and other countries." The conference will start with an informal trip to Tijuana to visit some of the local mercados (markets) that normally bring rare fruits to consumers in Tijuana. Members of the School of Tourism of the Autonomous University of Baja California will guide this tour. Several interesting seminars will be presented. Voon Boon Hoe, the Keynote Speaker for the Festival of Fruit 1998 has been invited from Malaysia. He will explore the possibilities of growing the fruits of his native country in the U.S. The second Keynote Speaker, Chris Rollins, from Florida, will talk on Fruits of Tropical America. As part of the break-out seminars, George Emirich will discuss growing cherimoyas and other annonas. Peggy Winter on the spirit of experimenting with rare fruits to develop cultivars for California. Kathy Vieth on selecting rare fruit for cooking. Victor Gonzalez on propagating avocados and how to graft citrus. Marie Kaplan on preparing main dishes with rare fruits. Bill Tall on irrigation systems. Ron Hurov and Steve Facciola on looking into new fruits. Tom del Hotal on diversity in citrus: the new cultivars, and representatives of the Palm Society on edible aspects of palm trees. Traditionally at the Festival of Fruit, California Rare Fruit Chapters and commercial producers will bring their California-grown rare fruit. Here, attendees will have the opportunity to taste fruits that used to be found only in the exotic areas of the world. A number of leading nurseries and gardening companies will be exhibiting in this event. Attendees, (including professional and amateur gardeners, Master Gardeners and nursery owners), will have the opportunity to purchase rare fruit trees during the course of the event. Chefs, restaurants and cooking aficionados will compete in the Chefs Contest by preparing dishes using rare fruits as the main ingredient. And who will the judges be? The conference attendees. There should be enough samples for everyone to taste. There is also the Photo Contest, where anyone can participate by sending their best color pictures of fruits or fruit trees. The winners of the contests will be announced at our dinner event, a tropical feast under the summer stars. The atmosphere will be very casual but the food will be unforgettable. The dishes include Jamaican crab lumpia with pineapple salsa, fruit Gazpacho with cotija cheese and grilled chicken with the choice of passion fruit sauce or mango sauce in a macadamia nut crust. The registration fee will be $25 per person before September 1st and $30 thereafter. The fee includes luncheon on Saturday, September 19. The dinner charge, which is separate, is $18.00. Registration can be done by calling the registration line (619) 453-3321 or using the online registration form at http://24.4.65.133/fest98 http://www.crfg.org. The Festival of Fruit 1998 is produced by the California Rare Fruit Growers, San Diego Chapter. To learn more about the Festival of Fruit 1998 please contact us at: CRFG, San Diego Chapter Festival of Fruit 1998 8673 Warmwell Dr. San Diego, CA 92119-1424 Phone: (619) 697-4417 Fax: (619) 697-4417 e-mail: mailto:Jmgallego@home.com jmgallego@home.com homepage: http://www.crfg.org >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - August 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online August 15, 1998 AKA RFN199808B.txt ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- -------New Subscribers - (May Need Your Help)-------- From: Ricardo Matta Subject: New Subscriber, Now Los Angeles Was Puerto Rico From: Mark Presky Subject: New Subscriber (Maybe) In Los Angeles From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: New Subscriber, Spring Valley, CA (San Diego County) -------------------Readers Write------------------- From: Marla Blackburn Subject: Re: I need to know about growing mangoes in colder climates. From: Leo Manuel To: Marla Blackburn Subject: Re: I need to know about growing mangoes in colder climates. Subject: Blackberries - Olallie Has Best Flavor From: David Rack From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Asian pears From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Blackberries From: "Allen, Robert" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Request for Greenhouse URLs From: Leo Manuel To: "Allen, Robert" Subject: Greenhouse Constructrion Possibilities? From: ED GRIBBLE Subject: address change for ED GRIBBLE From: "R.Pabon" Subject: bananas From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Passiflora Meeting, and, I've Got An Oriole, Also! From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Passiflora meeting From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: Blueberries From: Leo Manuel To: Dave_Nemrava@bc.sympatico.ca Subject: re: Black Sapote From: "Ricardo Barbosa" To: airenwei@hotmail.com Subject: From Porto Alegre ------New Crops: Subscribe at ------- From: Bob Batson Subject: The Terminator Technology (For Plants) From: Bill Van Roekel Subject:[Fwd: Natural Life Magazine #61 - Saving Seed Becomes Illegal] --------------------New Subscribers-------------------- Date: Sun, 02 Aug 1998 17:15:11 -0700 From: Ricardo Matta Subject: New Subscriber, Now Los Angeles - Was Puerto Rico I am interested in your newsletter. My name is Ricardo Matta and I live in LA. My wife and I own the following: brown sapote, atemoya, sugar apple (anon), longan, strawberry guava (red), giant chinese guava, tropical (or mexican) guava, mango, cherimoya, giant fuyu persimmon, blueberry, papaya, santa rosa plum, dwarf peach, dwarf nectarine, tangerine, loquat, black mission fig, pinneapple, rose apple, and two tropical berry bushes which names escape me. We are natives of Puerto Rico and would love to get in touch online with any avid fruit growers there. Ricardo Matta ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 09:31:51 -0700 From: Mark Presky Subject: New Subscriber (Maybe) In Los Angeles Hello. Saw your web page. Am interested in your newsletter. Is there a charge, or is it a freebie. My name is Mark Presky and I live in Los Angeles. I have a biology/botany background, and am interested in growing exotic, tropical plants. Mark ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 10:06:57 -0700 From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: New Subscriber, Spring Valley, CA (San Diego County) Hi I am interested in your newsletter, I only recently found the California Rare Fruit Growers association. When I purchased my home in 1992 there were nothing but live tumble weed. My property is 120 ft long by 55 ft wide (including a house in there), and one by one I planted the following fruit trees: Nectarine, Manila Mango, Kadota Fig, Wonderful Pomegranate, Ruby Red Grapefruit (2), Valencia Orange, Market Lemon, Kumquat, Loquat, Santa Rosa Plum, Avocado and my newest the Sapote. Before this my only experience was growing up with a mother who loved to grow veggies. The Sunset Western Garden Book has been my bible and I'm doing very well. I am very interested in new rare varieties (even though my husband says we have no more room... :-) I am looking for the tree tomato (cyphomandra) and the star fruit and then who knows. My name is Kimberlee McCormick and I live in Spring Valley, CA on top of Dictionary Hill, I am in zone 23 (I believe). I am retired (my hubby too) from the military and have lived in San Diego for the last nine years. I didn't know I had a green thumb until the last 6 years where almost everything I've planted here flurishes and I am definitely addicted. This whole crazy thing started when I wanted to grow some strawberries to show my young son that all food doesn't only come from a grocery store. Now we are the neighborhood orchard.. ha ha Well that's me in a snap, if you have any other questions, just ask. I am very excited to get together with others like myself (I don't know of any others here). I found you on the link from California Rare Fruit Growers Assoc. Thanks for your Time, Kimberlee -------------------------Readers Write----------------------------- Date: Sat, 01 Aug 1998 12:06:23 -0500 From: Marla Blackburn Subject: Re: I need to know about growing mangoes in colder climates. Do you know what kind of soil Mango need and watering. Leo Manuel wrote: Marla, in your climate, they can be grown either in a greenhouse, or in large pots that are wheeled inside when winter comes. They are very sensitive to cold and while you might keep a tree alive, it's unlikely that you would get quality fruit. Leo ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 01 Aug 1998 12:13:54 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Marla Blackburn Subject: Re: I need to know about growing mangoes in colder climates. Marla, mango doesn't seem to be too particular about kind of soil, and you just water often enough to keep the soil damp, but not too wet. In the summer I water about three times per week, but that's in San Diego where we get almost no summer rain, and the plants are in the ground. If you have them in pots, you'll want to keep the soil mix light enough to be easy to move around. Good luck! Leo ------------------------------- Subject: Blackberries - Olallie Has Best Flavor Date: Sun, 2 Aug 98 15:24:35 -0800 From: David Rack Dear Leo, No blackberry beats the olallie for me. It has thorns galore, but the berries are the best! Unfortunately, here in Santa Monicaland, it has terrible rust problems. I find that I can keep the rust relatively under control by spraying with wettable sulpher twice a week. It's a lot of work, but well worth it. David Rack ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:40:20 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Asian pears Hi While I agree with Leo that Ronald Lyn is unlikely to find an Asian pear cultivar that will fruit in Jamaica, Leo has the chilling situation of European vs. Asian pears reversed. Most Asians are supposed to have lower chilling requirements than Europeans. For example, Bartlett is probably upwards of 7-800 hours, and only Comice among European pears might be below 600, but numerous Asian pears are in the 4-500 range or lower. That would seem to be too high for Jamaica, but certainly in range for much of southern California. Ya Li and Tsu Li are perhaps both below 200 hours. I have one of each, and both leafed out and are growing well this year, but too young to fruit yet. Nijiseiki and Shinseiki are often listed as low-chill, but my 2-in-1 tree has still not leafed out! It is not dead, but is probably dying. Insufficient chill is the only explanation I can think of, as it gets the same care as the Ya Li and Tsu Li. There are also hybrid pears (Asian X Euro) that are really low in chill. Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:21:14 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Blackberries I am intrigued about Arapaho, Leo's favorite blackberry. I have tried several at my location, but not Arapaho. I have: 1. Olallie. Gets very sweet with good acid balance, flavorful. Only drawback is rust, which is severe, but I can keep in check with regular applications of Neem oil, and I have not seen it spread to other cultivars nearby. 2. Boysen, thornless. Will remove. Almost insipid compared to others I have. 3. Cascade. Huge berries. More tart than Ollalie. Very good. Also has advantage of being clearly later than the others I list here. Upright canes with huge thorns. 4. Black Douglas. My clear favorite so far. A thornless marionberry that I got from Raintree Nursery. Has been very vigorous and productive. About same season as Olallie. I like it better. So does my nine year old son. But my wife still prefers Olallie. 5. Chester. This one died on me for no apparent reason before I ever got fruit. 6. Loganberry. Doing well in first year. I had a few fruits and really liked them. Has notable raspberry flavor, as it should. It is a rasp-black cross. I have tasted a tropical blackberry grown at Exotica in Vista. I believe it is Mora de Castilla, or something similar. Amazing complex flavor. I have not tried it yet, out of concern with alleged virus problems. Can anyone tell me if those concerns are founded? I'm also curious to learn about any raspberry varieties that have proven successful in southern California coastal (or similar) climates. Good growing, Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California ------------------------------- From: "Allen, Robert" To: Leo Manuel Subject: Request for Greenhouse URLs Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 12:35:50 -0700 Hi Leo, Do you know of any WEB sites with detailed information on operating and maintaining a greenhouse? Best regards, Bob Allen --------- Date: Mon, 03 Aug 1998 10:29:59 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: "Allen, Robert" Subject: Greenhouse Constructrion Possibilities? Robert, Maybe try one of these: http://www.teleport.com/~earth/TomUhll.html or http:// www.bae.ncsu.edu/bae/programs/extension/publicat/postharv/green/green.html "Mark Dodgson (AU)" passed those along to me a while back. You might ask him if he has additional suggestions. I got those URL's back in February, and they may have changed. Richard Wanberg was looking for ideas, and you might see if he's found anything. I'll post your request as well, Yours, Leo ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 12:48:03 -0700 From: ED GRIBBLE Subject: address change for ED GRIBBLE Effective the end of August I have canceled my Netcom address and will go with this one..much better and fewer disconnects!! Ed ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 07 Aug 1998 18:14:56 -0400 From: "R.Pabon" Subject: bananas Last week I had the opportunity of visiting in southern Florida a commercial banana grower.Mr Don Chafin,the owner, seems to have a good knowledge about all the varieties he had.They included some very fine new ones from Honduras.His business is called Going Bananas.His e-mail address is goingbananas@bellsouth.net.He seemed to be willing to answer questions. R.Pabon ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Passiflora Meeting, and, I've Got An Oriole, Also! Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 08:36:16 -0700 Hi Leo, I just got an email from Yair Aron asking for more information about the Passiflora meeting I will hold at Quail Gardens. Is he one of the RFNO subscribers? He said he may be coming from Puerto Rico, that's a long way to go for a one hour slide show! I hope he has something else he's doing in San Diego, or at least in California. By the way, did you see a notice for the meeting in the CRFG newsletter for your chapter(s)? I hope you can make it. I don't plan to make any startling introductions, but just show some plants worth experimenting with if one has the room. Just to add to your banana story from last month, I have a yellow bird nesting in one of my banana leaves also. I found it by following the sound of small birds looking for "mother" with food. Looks like these birds like bananas as well as palms. Talk to you later, Bob ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Passiflora meeting Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 15:45:33 -0700 Hi Leo, If you want to put something in the RFNO next issue, you could just repeat the letter I sent to you and was in the last issue of RFNO. It had the basic facts, which I can repeat here for you. Basically, the meeting is at Quail Gardens at 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 30. I will show about 100 slides on Passifloras (flowers and fruit), which should take about 1 hour, then I hope there will be a general discussion on the subject. People attending are encouraged to bring cuttings/ plants to share or sell as they see fit. That's about it. Since I won't be coming from home for the talk, I won't be able to bring any fresh flowers or fruit (none have ripened yet). See you there, Bob ------------------------------- From: "Ricardo Barbosa" Subject: Blueberries From Seed: Help Needed; Also Trade Rare Fruit Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 12:10:13 PDT Hi Leo. Thanks for sending the RFNO aug/01 edition. Could you include me as a regular receiver? I ask you to publish the following about me: My name is Ricardo and I live in the southermost state of Brazil (30 degrees South). I am a rare fruit collector and I would like to exchange seeds with collectors. I received some seeds of Blueberries (high bush). I planted them but they seem dormant. Does someone know how to make them sprout? Best regards. Ricardo. ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 02:33:58 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Dave_Nemrava@bc.sympatico.ca Subject: re: Black Sapote Dave Nemrava wrote: Could you please let know when and where the best time is to purchase Black Sapote, Thank-you Dave. Dave, I don't think it matters so much when you buy a black sapote, as when you plant it. I would plant it in the the cool season of fall or spring. Where you buy it is another matter. I don't know where you live, but in general, I'd go to a nursery you trust. I'd get a grafted one, either one that is self pollinating, or one with two grafts-one of which is from a known bearing tree - and hopefully, a known-to-be-tasty tree. The taste of ripe black sapote reportedly ranges from 'like chocolate' to 'like axle grease.' The degree of ripeness will influence the taste, as well. I haven't had a lot of experience with black sapotes. Leo ------------------------------- From: "Ricardo Barbosa" To: airenwei@hotmail.com Subject: From Porto Alegre Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 09:46:53 PDT Hi Brett. I read your message in Leo's RFNO. Unfortunately I live 1,000 miles South of Bahia. If you want tropical fruit experts try EMBRAPA, a Brazilian crops development center. Possibly they have a research center near Bahia. As a collector of fruit trees, my main interest is to barter seeds. Best regards. Ricardo. PS: Take care with the indolence of the "baianos". Do not extrapolate this behavior to all Brasil. Baianos are a particular people in Brazil. ------New Crops: Subscribe at ------- Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 22:51:59 -0500 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Bob Batson Subject: The Terminator Technology (For Plants) Following is a PARTIAL text of the article "The Terminator Technology." This article was originally published in the March/April 1998 issue of _RAFI Communique_. This and other articles on this technology can be found at the RAFI website at the URL http://www.rafi.ca/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Terminator Technology New Genetic Technology Aims to Prevent Farmers from Saving Seed ISSUE: On March 3, 1998 the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and an American cotton seed company, Delta & Pine Land Co., received a US patent on a technique that genetically alters seed so that it will not germinate if re-planted a second time. The technology aims to prevent farmers from saving seed from their harvest to re-plant the following season. Because it is a potentially "lethal" technology, RAFI has dubbed it the "Terminator Technology." IMPACT: If commercially viable, the Terminator technology will have profound implications for agriculture. It is a global threat to farmers, biodiversity and food security. The seed-sterilizing technology threatens to eliminate the age-old right of farmers to save seed from their harvest and it jeopardizes the food security of 1.4 billion people - resource poor farmers in the South - who depend on farm-saved seed. The developers of the technology say that it will be targeted for use primarily in the South as a means of preventing farmers from saving proprietary seeds marketed by American seed corporations. Delta & Pine Land Co. and USDA have applied for patents on the Terminator technology in at least 78 countries. If the Terminator technology is widely utilized, it will give the multinational seed and agrochemical industry an unprecedented and extremely dangerous capacity to control the world's food supply. PARTICIPANTS: Although the USDA and Delta & Pine Land (D&PL) jointly hold the patent on the Terminator technology, Delta & Pine Land has exclusive licensing rights. D&PL is the largest cotton seed company in the world. With 1997 annual sales of $183 million, D & PL holds 73% of the US cotton seed market and is a major soybean breeder. Monsanto (US-based agrochemical and seed giant) is a minor shareholder in D&PL; the two companies jointly own a cotton seed venture in China (D&M Intl. LLC). POLICY IMPLICATIONS: RAFI and other NGOs are calling for a global ban on the use of the Terminator technology. Both the patent and the technology should be rejected on the basis of public morality. NGOs will call on the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to publicly denounce the technology as a threat to food security in the South. The Fourth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will have an opportunity to address the issue when it meets May 4-15 in Bratislava, Slovakia. The FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will meet in Rome, 8-12 June. NGOs will urge both intergovernmental bodies to pass resolutions condemning the Terminator technology as a threat to world food security and to Farmer's Rights. In the United States, farmers and farm advocacy groups are expected to protest USDA's anti-farmer research and urge immediate reforms of policies governing the department's research agenda. Introduction On March 3, 1998 Delta & Pine Land Co. (Mississippi, USA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that they received a US patent on a new genetic technology designed to prevent unauthorized seed saving by farmers. The patent is benignly titled, "Control of plant gene expression" (US patent no. 5,723,765). The patented technology enables a seed company to genetically alter seed so that it will not germinate if re-planted a second time. The patent is broad, applying to plants and seeds of all species, including both transgenic (genetically engineered) and conventionally-bred seeds. The developers of the new technology say that their technique to prohibit seed-saving is still in the product development stage, and is now being tested on cotton and tobacco. They hope to have a product on the market sometime after the year 2000. USDA researchers told RAFI that they have spent approximately (US) $190,000 to support research on the Terminator technology over the past 4 years. D & PL, the seed industry collaborator, devoted (US) $275,000 of in-house expenses and contributed an additional (US) $255,000 to the joint research. USDA spokesman, Willard Phelps, told RAFI that Delta & Pine Land Co. has the option to exclusively license the patented technology that was jointly developed by USDA researchers and Delta & Pine Land. The USDA wants the technology to be "widely licensed and made expeditiously available to many seed companies," said USDA's Phelps. The goal is "to increase the value of proprietary seed owned by US seed companies and to open up new markets in Second and Third World countries," Phelps told RAFI. Melvin J. Oliver, a USDA molecular biologist and the primary inventor of the technology, explains why the US government developed a technology that prohibits farmers from saving proprietary seed: "My main interest is the protection of American technology. Our mission is to protect US agriculture, and to make us competitive in the face of foreign competition. Without this, there is no way of protecting the technology [patented seed]," Oliver told RAFI. The USDA stands to earn royalties of about 5% of the net sales if a product is commercialized. "I think it will be profitable for USDA," Phelps told RAFI. The day after the patent was announced, Delta & Pine Land Company's stock rose sharply. But USDA and seed industry profits will come at enormous cost to farmers and food security. USDA researchers interviewed by RAFI expressed a strong allegiance to the commercial seed industry, and an appalling lack of awareness about the potential impacts of the technology, especially in the South. Impact in the South A genetic technology designed to prevent farmers from saving seed would have enormous adverse impacts in the South - and that is precisely the market being targeted. Murray Robinson, the president of Delta & Pine Land, told RAFI, "We expect [the new technology] to have global implications, especially in markets or countries where patent laws are weak or non-existent." The company's 3 March 1998 press release claims that its new technology has "the prospect of opening significant worldwide seed markets to the sale of transgenic technology for crops in which seed currently is saved and used in subsequent plantings." "This is an immoral technique that robs farming communities of their age-old right to save seed and their role as plant breeders. Farmers and governments everywhere should declare use of the technology as contrary to public order and national security. This is the neutron bomb of agriculture. Camila Montecinos, CET Centro de Educacin y Tecnologia, Chile Up to 1.4 billion resource-poor farmers in the South depend on farm-saved seed and seeds exchanged with farm neighbours as their primary seed source. A technology that threatens to restrict farmer expertise in selecting seed and developing locally-adapted strains is a threat to food security and agricultural biodiversity, especially for the poor. The threat is real, especially considering that USDA and Delta & Pine Land have applied for patent protection in countries and regions throughout the South - from Madagascar to Mali, from Brazil to Benin, from China to Viet Nam (see list of designated states, p. 5). If the Terminator technology is widely licensed, it could mean that the commercial seed industry will enter entirely new sectors of the seed market - especially in self-pollinating seeds such as wheat, rice, cotton, soybeans, oats and sorghum. Historically there has been little commercial interest in non-hybridized seeds such as wheat and rice because there was no way for seed companies to control reproduction. With the patent announcement, the world's two most critical food crops - rice and wheat - staple crops for three-quarters of the world's poor, potentially enter the realm of private monopoly. According to FAO, wheat is the world's most widely cultivated crop, covering 219 million harvested hectares in 1995. Rice was cultivated over a harvested area of 149 million hectares in 1995, and had the world's highest total production, 542 million tonnes. Bio-serfdom Plus In recent decades, the seed industry has attempted to prevent farmers from saving or re-selling proprietary seeds by using intellectual property laws (patents and plant breeders rights) to restrict the farmer's right to re-use or sell proprietary seed (for reproductive purposes). It is only in the last decade that seed companies have begun to use industrial patents (also known as utility patents) to protect proprietary genes and traits. Under industrial patent law there is no exemption for farmers, and it thus becomes illegal for farmers to save or re-use patented seed. Monsanto, for example, requires that its customers sign a licensing agreement that strictly forbids the farmer from saving the company's patented, transgenic seed. (See RAFI Communiqu=E9 on "Bioserfdom," March/April, 1997.) According to a January, 1998 article by Greg Hillyer in the US-based Progressive Farmer magazine, Monsanto is aggressively enforcing its patents on transgenic soybean seeds, and has recently taken legal action against more than 100 soybean growers who have violated the licensing agreement. According to Hillyer, the company has even hired Pinkerton investigators (hired private police) to identify unauthorized seed-saving in the mid-western US. "This patent is profoundly immoral. It will fundamentally change both the biology and economics of agriculture to the detriment of the poor. It must be stopped." Farhad Mazhar, UBINIG a Bangladeshi CSO and member of South Asian Network for Food, Ecology and Culture If Delta & Pine Land's new technology provides a genetic mechanism to prevent farmers from germinating a second generation of seed, then seed companies will gain the biological control over seeds that they have heretofore lacked in hybrid crops. Nobody knows exactly how many farmers in industrialized countries save seed from their harvest each year. By some estimates, 20% to 30% of all soybean fields in the US mid-west are typically planted with saved seeds; up to 50% of soybeans in the South are planted with farmer-saved seed. Most North American wheat farmers typically rely on farm-saved seeds and return to the commercial market once every four or five years. Wheat grown on the Canadian prairies is almost all produced in the communities in which it is grown. The same is true for lentils and peas. More Options for Farmers? Proponents of the Terminator technology are quick to point out that farmers will not buy seed that does not bring them benefits. Farmers are not stupid, they make rational choices. We agree. But market choices must be examined in the context of privatization of plant breeding and rapid consolidation in the global seed industry. The top 10 seed corporations control approximately 40% of the commercial seed market. Given that maize seed industry giant, Dekalb Plant Genetics (USA), is now on the auction block, further consolidation is expected in a matter of months. Current trends in seed industry consolidation, coupled with rapid declines in public sector breeding, mean that farmers are increasingly vulnerable and have far fewer options in the marketplace. A new technology that is designed to give the seed industry greater control over seeds will ultimately weaken the role of public breeders and reinforce corporate consolidation in the global seed industry. "I was concerned and angry when I read about a new technology that will make it impossible for farmers to save seed from their own crops. This technology will once again bias research to those crops covered by the technology. To remain competitive internationally, farmers will be compelled to work with improved varieties covered by this "Terminator" technology. The technology will ensure that most of the gains from research will accrue to companies owning the varieties and not to farmers." Ian McCreary farmer, Saskatchewan, Canada Advocates of the Terminator technology claim that it will be an incentive to plant breeding investment, and a boon to food production in the South because seed companies will have an incentive to invest in crops that have long been ignored by the commercial seed industry. RAFI rejects that claim. Private companies are not interested in developing plant varieties for poor farmers because they know the farmers can't pay. Even national public breeding programmes tend to focus on high-yielding, irrigated lands leaving resource-poor farmers to fend for themselves. Proponents of the Terminator maintain that poor, seed-saving farmers will be unaffected by the technology while more affluent farmers will have the choice of buying Terminator seed or sticking with standard varieties. They point out that farmers will still be able to choose between Terminator seed and open-pollinated varieties developed by the public sector. RAFI envisions a very different scenario. Even public breeders will be pressured by cash-starved institutes to adopt the Terminator technique in order to prevent "unauthorized" seed saving and recoup their research investment. After all, it was a publicly-funded institution, the USDA, that developed this anti-farmer technology. It is likely that public breeders wanting access to patented genes and traits controlled by the private sector will be forced to adopt the Terminator as a licensing requirement. In the long run, it is cheaper for the world's ten dominant seed companies (with 40% of the commercial market) to simply put pressure on seed regulatory systems and public breeders to adopt the Terminator technology in order to eliminate competition from open-pollinated varieties. This is precisely what happened in Europe in the 1980's with the creation of the European Common Catalogue. Far from improving plant breeding, the Terminator could drive hundreds of millions of farmers out of plant breeding and, since no one else will breed for their needs, out of agriculture altogether. This represents an enormous threat to world food security. Half the world's farmers are poor and can't afford to buy seed every growing season, yet poor farmers grow 15 to 20% of the world's food and they directly feed at least 1.4 billion people - 100 million in Latin America, 300 million in Africa, and 1 billion in Asia. These farmers depend upon saved seed and their own breeding skills in adapting other varieties for use on their (often marginal) lands. BioSafety Concerns The Terminator seed technology could pose a biosafety hazard. Molecular biologists who have studied the patent have mixed views on the potential ecological hazards of the sterility trait. The concern is that the sterility trait from first generation seed will "infect" (via pollen) neighbouring fields of open-pollinated crops and/or wild relatives growing nearby. Some biologists believe that pollen will not escape, and if it does, it would not pose a threat. With certain applications of the Terminator technology, however, even if the sterility gene does not last long in the environment, it could still pose a threat to nearby crop fields or wild relatives of the plant. Given that the technology is new and untested on a large scale, biosafety issues remain a valid and extremely important concern. "We work with farmers who may buy a commercial variety but its breeder wouldn't recognize it five years later. Women select the best seeds every year and, over time, the rice molds itself to the farm's own ecosystem. Women also cross the commercial variety with other rice strains to breed their own locally-adapted seeds. The Terminator technology could put an end to all of this and increase crop uniformity and vulnerability. It poses a threat to the culture of seed sharing and exchange that is led primarily by women farmers." Neth Dao, SEARICE, Philippines-based South East Asian Regional Institute for Community Education BioSafety vs. Food Security? The seed industry is expected to defend the Terminator technology by arguing that it will increase the safety of using genetically-engineered crops. Since the seed carries the sterility trait, say proponents, it is less likely that transgenic material will escape from one crop into related species and wild crop relatives. The seed industry is expected to argue that this built-in safety feature will speed up biotech advances in agriculture and increase productivity. Based on this reasoning, it is likely that the industry will enlist government regulators and environmental organizations in backing the Terminator. In RAFI's view, biosafety at the expense of food security is no solution. Both must be considered, but human safety through food security must be our primary concern. How does the Terminator Technology work? The new technique described in US patent no. 5,723,765 to genetically "sterilize" seed is technically complex, involving both bacterial and plant genes. One molecular biologist who studied the patent said that he "looked at the patent and very quickly got a headache." He also indicated that the technology described in the patent is "neat and elegant from a technical standpoint." What follows is an excerpt from Dr. David Culley's explanation of the technology, as gleaned from the patent. David E. Culley, Ph.D., is a molecular biologist in the department of plant pathology, Washington State University: "To protect their variety from "seed savers" they are making the embryos in the F2 inviable. To do this they take the coding sequence for a gene that's toxic to the plant and put it behind a promoter that restricts expression to the embryo and, specifically, to late stages of embryo development. (from the Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) genes. Therefore, during late embryogenesis this protein "kills" the embryo. Plant the seed and it just sits there feeling sad. To allow them to produce seed, they control expression of the toxic protein by putting a spacer between the promoter and the toxic gene to keep it from expressing. On either side of this spacer they placed sequences that are specifically recognized by an enzyme (a recombinase) that can excise the spacer (very precisely). This excision brings the promoter and toxic gene back together so that the toxic protein is produced late in embryo development. Without the recombinase, the spacer stays in place and the gene construct is silent. This is a good thing. To allow the spacer excision to be controlled, the recombinase gene is placed behind a promoter that is normally expressed during early seed germination. Therefore, the recombinase protein is expressed during germination and that protein goes over and excises the spacer from the toxic protein gene construct. Then later, during late embryogenesis at the end of seed development, that toxic protein is produced and you have a dead embryo. This is a bad thing if you are planning on growing that seed." - David E. Cully, Ph.D. .... Bob Batson ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 07:58:24 -0500 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Bill Van Roekel Subject:[Fwd: Natural Life Magazine #61 - Saving Seed Becomes Illegal] >Would diversity be curtailed? Maintained? by whom? when the nature is not allowed to function normally? Certainly, diversity is being lost, and this is an issue which has been a concern worldwide by botanists, plant breeders, and governments for at least 50 years. Private organizations such as Seed Savers have been maintaining diversity, specifically old cultivars especially, for 20-30 years I believe. Governments also maintain substancial germplasm repositories. Here in the U. S. germplasm is being collected, increased, and distributed to plant breeders and researchers by various branches of the Department of Agriculture, and more specifically the National Plant Germplasm System. This consists of four regional Plant Introduction Stations, the National Seed Storage Lab, and various other repository and clonal sites. Some WEB sites of interest: http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/MidWest/Ames/index.html http://www.reeusda.gov/ree/ http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/tektran/data/000004/58/0000045895.html http://checkers.nssl.colostate.edu/preserve/preserve.htm http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/V2-099.html >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - August 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online September 1, 1998 AKA RFN199809A.txt ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- Leo's Notes: We had strong winds last night that removed lots of leaves from various trees, but the most disturbing consequence was the break in the 'trunk' of a 'Kru' banana, that had towered above the others. Can I assume that the bamama should be chopped at or just below the break? Another note: See the end of this issue for an update on some of the events at the Fruit Festival here in San Diego, September 19,20. The last one: Fig beetle (Cotinus mutabilis) Doesn't anyone know of a way to trap these? I know the best control is prevention, by keeping them from laying eggs in compost, and probably using beneficial nematodes in the soil where you find larvae (quite large grubs) growing. They are eating my capulin cherries very voraciously. You'd think someone would have found a lure-and-bottle combination to attract and trap them. Keep me in mind if you find something, please. Thanks! Leo -------New Subscribers - (May Need Your Help)-------- New Subscribers From: V.C. Skip Vint (unlisted email) Subject: New Subscriber, Rancho Santa Fe, CA From: Steve Fleischaker Subject: New Subscriber - St. Petersburg, Florida From: Mark Galbraith Subject: New Subscriber - Santa Barbara, CA From: Victor Painter ¥Subject: New Subscriber - Santa Clara, CA From: Gordon Walker Subject: New Subscriber - Southern France near Carcassonne! From: Laury Flora Subject: New Subscriber, San Diego County ------------------Readers Write------------------- From: "Martin Berghuis" Subject: Looking all over for the Musa Basjoo From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" Subject: Re: Looking all over for the Musa Basjoo From ?? Subject: Banana Trees Fall; Why?? From: Sven Nehlin Subject: Black sapote From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Re: Internet greenhouse links From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Brown sapote From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: blackberries From: David Carver Subject: http://www.ariga.com/peacebiz/green/qetura.htm From: kimberlee@mccormick.org Subject: Jaboticaba From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Jack Subject: The Problem of the High Longan Trees From: Holzinger, Bob To: Leo Subject: Raja Puri Banana From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Canopy Management of Lychees, Longans and Rambutans From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: When is Pineapple ready to pick? From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: Tannin From: Steve Fleischaker Subject: Supplements Requested From: clmo@webtv.net (Larry Moore) Subject: Cherimoya ripening??? From: Leo Manuel To: Larry Moore Subject: Re: Cherimoya ripening??? From: clmo@webtv.net (Larry Moore) To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Cherimoya ripening??? From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Problem of Longan Trees Shooting Straight Up From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: [Fwd: Blueberries from seed] From: Lon J. Rombough To: Ricardo Barbosa <"rfhl"@hotmail.com> Subject: Blueberries from seed From: Leo Manuel Without Recommendation Subject: Oz Soils - Interactive Intro to Soil Science From: http://www.une.edu.au/~agronomy/AgSSpOzSoils.html ---From Zingiber List; Subscribe: http://www.onelist.com--- Subject: Banana Pups Proliferate From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" To: Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: media recipe and protocol for the tissue culture of bananas From: Keith Benson DVM From: Leo Manuel Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Raja Puri - Fast Acting! From: Steve & Missy Kennedy Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Raja Puri - Fast Acting! From: HESTERC@mail01.adm.duke.edu Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Here's a report card on my banana trials Subject: 1998 Festival of Fruit Schedule for Saturday ---------------New Subscribers--------------- Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 20:42:16 +0000 From: V.C. Skip Vint (unlisted email) (Subscriber Info OK) Subject: New Subscriber, Rancho Santa Fe, CA I am V. C. "Skip" Vint. My wife, Linda, and our two children live in Rancho Santa Fe. We are lifetime members of CRFG, and belong to the North County Chapter of the San Diego CRFG. We grow the following: feijoa, strawberry trees, bananas (dwarf cavandish) Butia capitata (Jelly Palm, Wine Palm, Pindo Palm), Macadamia, White Sapote (Sue Belle) Citrus Orange: Moro blood, Valencia, Robertson navel Lime: Bearss, Mexican Grapefruit: Ruby, Melogold, Oro blanco Tangerines: Dancy Lemon: Meyer-improved, Mexican sweet, Eureka Tangelo, and Owari Satsuma Persimmon (Fuyu), Walnut (three-in-one), Pears: Comice, Pomegranate: Wonderful Plums: Catalina, Wickson, Santa Rosa, Satsuma, Mariposa, Burgundy Apricots: Blenheim (aka Royal) [on one we have grafted Pluot and Aprium], Nugget, Autumn gold, Katy, Moorpark. Apples: Beverly Hills (with grafts of other varieties), Anna, Fuji, Gala, Ein Schemmer, Gravenstein, Granny Smith, Dorsett Golden Nectarines: Panamint, Desert Dawn, Goldmine, Snow Queen Peaches: Desert Gold, Bonita, Ventura, Flordaprince, Asian Pears 20th century, Hosui, Shinseiki, Chojuro Cherries Stella (an excellent performer, lots of high quality fruit, comparable to Bing) [supposed to require the same chill as the following two, but it doesn't. I highly recommend it.] Northstar: (poor fruiting, needs more chill) Black tartarian (poor fruiting, needs more chill) Figs: Mission, Long Yellow, You are performing a great service with your newsletter. Thanks. Skip Vint ------------------------------- From: Steve Fleischaker Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 15:23:20 EDT Subject: New Subscriber - St. Petersburg, Florida ¥Subscribe OK My name is Steve Fleischaker living in St. Petersburg, Florida. I am interested in your rare fruit newsletter. Carambola, Lychee, Citrus, and my favorite, Loquat are the fruits I currently grow. Hoping to hear from you, Steve P.S. I just got through reading your newsletter and love it, but still have not finished reading The Terminator Technology one of my main interests. Would you please send me "ListSupp" so that I might look through it. Thanks, Steve Fleischaker ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 07:32:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Galbraith Subject: New Subscriber - Santa Barbara, CA Hello, Leo! I would love to take a look at one of your newsletters. I am Mark Galbraith, living in Santa Barbara, about five miles from the ocean, on a hill, a few hundred ft above sea level, up near the mountains, so I'm often earlier out of the morning fog then along the coast... I've owned the place for about two years, I have a number of oranges that do well, three peaches that produce excellently, and some apples and other low-chill stone fruit that are two years old. The property is on a hill, so I have frost-free areas near the top. I'd like to grow Mangos and Papaya, Cherimoya, perhaps try other rare fruit. I found a variety of Papaya on the Big Island called strawberry papaya (different from the large mexican strawberry papaya sold in the local healty food store--which was almost tasteless), absolutely excellent, but I haven't been back since getting this place (and I would *never* smuggle seeds--honest!) Thanks Leo! Mark ----------------------------- From: Victor Painter Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 22:22:24 EDT Subject: New Subscriber - Santa Clara, CA I have at least 27 different types of rare fruit trees and vines and so on. I'm 23 years old and have been collecting them from as many places as possiable. I even have trees that are so different I've never seen them anywhere and I even tried looking at different rare fruit tree books. So I want some more that will grow in northren California in the bay area. My name is Victor Painter I am now currently living in Santa Clara, Ca. Please send me information. I need to know everything about whatever will grow here. Thank you Victor Painter ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 19:35:05 +0200 From: Gordon Walker Subject: New Subscriber - Southern France near Carcassonne! Dear Betty and Leo My name is Gordon Walker and I am a retired englishman living in southern France near Carcassonne. The climate approximates USDA zone 8 but with frequent cold winds in winter. I grow a variety of fruit trees, all less than four years old: plums, cherries, apricot, peaches, persimmon and figs. I have just acquired some relatively hardy citrus:- citrange "Morton", and a couple of C. ichangensis varieties. I would be most grateful if you could email me a copy of your newsletter Regards, Gordon Walker France ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 17:54:40 -0700 From: Laury Flora Subject: New Subscriber, San Diego County Hi Leo It was nice meeting you today. Thanks for giving me your card. My name is Laury Flora (a guy with a dark beard). I live in Valley Center, California (just north of Escondido). My interest is in every fruit tree I can grow. I presently have about 100 trees, and am always interested in a new tree that can grow here. I am in Sunset zone 21. It seldom freezes, but does on occasion. It gets over 100 on a few days in the summer. Laury ----------------Readers Write--------------- From: "Martin Berghuis" Subject: Looking all over for the Musa Basjoo Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 10:57:41 -0700 Dear Leo: I am looking all over for the Musa Basjoo banana. Do you have any idea where I can find it? We live in zone Sunset 9, and bananas generally will not fruit here so most peaple here have them for ornamental purposes. De Musa Basjoo is from Japan and as far as I know the most hardy banana. I have a nursery license and willing to purchase from a tissue lab. Thanks in advance. Martin Berghuis ----------- From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" Subject: Re: Looking all over for the Musa Basjoo Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 19:07:33 -0400 You said: >Ray, do you have any information to pass along to Martin? > >Thanks! >Leo Hello Leo, The newsletter is really great and I for one really appreciate the time and effort that you put into it. This has been one strange year for weather, from the rain your way to the droughts and heat of the poor souls of Texas. Here in Kentucky it has been wonderful. We have had some heat but not unbearably so and the spring rains that threatened to rot everything in the ground have made everything grow and grow. I wish that the summer could go on forever. Unfortunately, in two monthes I will have to start moving everything indoors before the frosts hit. If I ever win the lottery it's off to the tropics for me and my plants.The mosquitoes could use some new blood. Ray in Kentucky, zone 6 Stokes is running a sale on their website and you get 15% off of any internet order. Musa basjoo "Special" Called Japanese fiber banana. Originally from Southern Japan (Liu-Chiu Archipelago). Grows in clusters 12' (3.6m) to 16' (4.8m) in height. Has slender green, pseudostem bearing shiny thin leaves 9' (2.7m) to 10' (3m) long, bright green on both sides. Arching inflorescence with yellowish flower under golden bract. Bunches of 30 to 60 curved bananas to 23/4" (6.5cm) long. Grown for its fiber in Japan. Probably the world's most cold hardy banana. Is grown in ground in Canada and Europe (Belgium and Switzerland). Is said to tolerate outside temperatures down to minus 12¡ C. Plant is extremely rare in U.S. Only limited quantities available. 11152 Plantlet ........ $12.50 P.O. Box 9868 · New Iberia, LA 70562-9868 (800) 624-9706 · (318) 365-6998 · FAX: (318) 365-6991 plants@stokestropicals.com ----------------------------------- Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 13:19:54 EDT Subject: Banana Trees Fall; Why?? Wonder if anyone has any experience with toppling banana trees. We have had two now 'fall over'. They were quite distant one from the other. Others in the areas that the fallen two were, stand erect. Any ideas? From ?? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 07:22:09 -0400 From: Sven Nehlin Subject: Black sapote Leo, Thanks for your latest newsletter and I would like to add some comments to your answer re Black sapote, Diospyros digyna (D. ebenaster) of the Ebenaceae family. I have seen various qualities, but will describe one that has impressed me. It is growing at around 1000 ft (300 m) above sea level near Caracas and comes from a nursery in Miami. The fruits are green, big, abt 12-15 cm diam., and flattened, especially around the apex, which is similar to Kaki. When ripe, it is still green, but soft. The pulp is not juicy, chocolate colored and so sweet that some people add sour cream, lemon or orange juice. We call it 'Chocolate pudding fruit' but the fruit is really very little unknown. This variety has not had seeds yet and has to be propagated by layer or grafting. The other varieties I have seen have had smaller fruits, a lot of seeds (up to 10, 2 cm long) but have not had the outstanding quality of the seedless fruits. I consider this variety of Black sapote one of the most important tropical fruits because of its size and the high amount of fruit sugar and the taste is even better than Kaki. One other merit to be considered for its mass production in a warm climate is that the ripening period is slow, and the fruits like bananas may be harvested unripe. Fruitfully, Sven Nehlin ----------------------------------- Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 22:42:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Re: Internet greenhouse links Hi Leo I've found some more links about greenhouse design on the internet that you may want to pass on: http://www.diac.com/~jwest/build.htm http://www.naturalland.com/gv/tt/grn.htm http://vegetablegarden.miningco.com/msub6.htm http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/strucs/ http://sorrel.humboldt.edu/~ccat/sub/green.htm I also have a few links about fruit and nuts at my homepage at: http://members.xoom.com/mjdodgson - under "Fruit and nut links". Bye Mark Dodgson ---------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Brown sapote Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 07:57:47 -0700 A reply to Ricardo Matta: I saw your note and I have to ask which species is the brown sapote? Is it by any chance the sapodilla, Manilkara sapota? I have found this plant to be a really slow grower in So. Calif. What has your experience been, if this is what you are growing? You sound like you have had valuable experience with the plants that CRFG is supposed to be all about. Have you contacted any chapters of the California Rare Fruit Growers in your area? If not, you should look up their web site and give a chapter chairman a call. You should also consider attending the annual meeting in September in San Diego, after you join of course! Bob Holzinger ------------------------------ From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: blackberries Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 07:45:16 -0700 Hi Leo, A response to Matthew Shugart's question about blackberries. I have the tropical blackberry that Steve Spangler sells, but from another source. I don't have any virus problem with it, so if Steve's plants do have a problem, you can get a start from me. I have not heard anyone say that Steve's plants have a virus, but I don't live in San Diego anymore. As for raspberries, the Oregon 1030 is the way to go. This cultivar fruits on new wood, you cut it to the ground in the winter and it fruits on new wood the next year. Very convenient! The only problem is that the plants don't like to be bare-rooted, so you have to find plants in pots. This is not easy, but maybe someone like Pacific Tree Farms will carry them. Take care, Bob ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 23:18:13 -0700 From: David Carver Subject: http://www.ariga.com/peacebiz/green/qetura.htm Leo, I found this on a Israeli site called Ariga, (Hebrew for net(?)) and thought it of interest. To view other parts of this site, you could begin with http://www.ariga.com The following, however, comes from http://www.ariga.com/peacebiz/green/qetura.htm | Green Pages at Ariga | New Exotics A desert agricultural R&D station is looking for outside investment to help it grow once wild, exotic fruits for export to the lucrative international boutique food marketplace. To glimpse some of the 'new' fruit varieties that will be stacked up on US and European supermarket shelves in the next few years take a trip to Kibbutz Qetura in the southern Arava. There, California-born agronomist, Elaine Solowey, 42, spends six hours a day among mini orchards with thousands of fruit trees planted and tended by herself over 20 years. “Of some 15,000 known wild edible plants, only 300 are cultivated.,” says Solowey. “In desert conditions we can cultivate most of the other 14000. Poor soil and saline water can be used to farm, and to produce food, even in barren places, with minimum technology.” Solowey is anxious to get on with the next stage of her program: setting up commercial areas for the most promising plants and finding markets for them. This is urgent, since a dispute between two sources that hitherto funded her work, Ben Gurion University and the Jewish Agency's Arava Development Corporation, is holding up finances, threatening to wipe out $120,000 of accumulated investment. Solowey began planting commercial date trees and then mangos and pomelos in 1974 in an attempt to create an economic base for the kibbutz. Part of the Great Rift Valley, the ancient geological fault that continues into Africa, the Arava was long considered uninhabitable. Solowey proved this wrong. In 1982, Professor Yossi Mizrahi of Ben Gurion University became interested in Solowey's grove and gave her many rare saplings he had collected from around the world. Of the dozens of varieties planted in the 1980s three are now ready for takeoff. Heading the list is the Pitahaya, a member of the cactus family. Known in Latin as Helocereus Undata, it is rich in vitamin C, zinc and potassium. The pineapple-size fruits weigh up to 700 grams each, and yields are high -- up to 90 fruits per plant per season. A smooth thornless skin peels off to reveal a luscious, creamy ball, with small edible black seeds. The fruit slices like a melon and comes in both red and yellow varieties, each with a different taste. A native of Colombia, the plant's sensitivity to ultra-violet radiation requires it to be grown in greenhouses covered with black netting. It requires only 18 liters of water a week and if it is kept in cool surroundings, out of the sun, the fruit stays fresh for two weeks after picking. There is only one disadvantage: it requires hand pollination. The fruit has been sold in Israel for $2.30 apiece, says Solowey. She has Dutch and Swiss supermarkets lined up, "waiting for commercial quantities, "and estimates the potential market worldwide at “millions of dollars.” Progress, however, requires immediate financing to build more greenhouses. Another potential commercial winner is the White Sapote, found in California, Florida and Mexico, which looks like a large, round green apple. This has a subtle taste like a cross between a mango and a sweet avocado "unlike most tropical fruits, which hit you over the head with their flavor," says Solowey. Like avocados, the White Sapote is picked while green and ripens on the shelf. Trees yield up to 90 kilograms of fruit each per season. From flower to fruit takes 30 days. Ever on the lookout for further improvements, Solowey is carrying out what she calls "a variety check, embracing controlled experiments with 20 combinations of root stocks. She wants to add a further three greenhouses. Further down the development line are the cactus apple-- a highly prolific, mildly perfumed fruit whose thorns can be simply removed by hand -- and the Black Sapote. Also known as the "chocolate apple" this purple, low fat fruit resembles a persimmon on the outside. The quality, though, "is still uneven," admits Solowey. Using techniques such as tissue culture and grafting, she is "trying to get stability into the genetic material." Solowey also needs financing for planting a commercial crop of the Argan, an almond-shaped nut from the Atlas mountains in Morocco, which she claims produces "the best edible oil in the world." The nuts contain 50 percent oil, which has been found to remove cholesterol from the blood. A liter of quality (hand-processed) Argan oil imported from Morocco to Israel retails for $40. At the Technion R&D is being carried out into ways of processing the crop mechanically. Also at the starting line is the Marula fruit which can be used for squeezing fresh juice or making alcoholic liqueurs. "We are already in the third generation, with grafted plants," says Solowey. Like her other favorites, marula is well suited to arid climates and saline water. It needs only 17 cubic meters a year of water," says Solowey. "Even cows need more than that." Regards, David Carver ----------------------------- Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 19:30:19 -0700 From: kimberlee@mccormick.org Subject: Jaboticaba I am interested in the Jaboticaba, has anyone grown one? And is their fruit similar in taste to a muscadine grape? Thanks, Kimberlee --------------------------------- Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 11:29:47 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Jack Subject: The Problem of the High Longan Trees Jack, from South Africa, wrote to tell me that his young (presumably kohala) longan trees are shooting straight up. Even after he cut off the top, they still shoot up, with very little outward branching. As every commercial grower knows, this is undesirable.  Not being familiar with kohala and with this particular problem, I contacted Lewis Amario, an experienced and respected kohala grower in Australia. Here is his reply: "Depending on the variety, heavy pruning at the appropriate time should encourage branching. We find when training young trees that pruning in early spring (Sept here) and mid-summer (Jan)  and only allow 3 shoots to develop from each cut." BTW, the Australian and South African seasons should be the same. Good Luck! Sainarong Rasananda Sainarong from Thailand ------------------------------ From: Holzinger, Bob To: Leo Subject: Raja Puri Banana Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 07:38:08 -0700 Hi Leo, Raja Puri is what Doug called the bullet proof banana, it was tough and would produce no matter what. As for the bananas themselves, I have not tasted it in recent memory, so I can't help you there. It was not one of the ones Doug recommended to me when I was planting my little grove. Later, Bob ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 18:14:48 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Canopy Management of Lychees, Longans and Rambutans It is very interesting to note that three respected researchers are doing, independently, research on the canopy management of lychees, longans and rambutans. The three are Ravie of Thailand, Olesen of Australia and Knight of the USA. Briefly, they seem to believe that, with canopy management, these trees will yield higher profits for the growers. Canopy management means, if I understand correctly, higher densiy of trees, ease of appropriate fertilisation and pest management, ease of harvesting, less possibility of bi-ennial production, and so on. However, high technology is probably a pre-requisite for this. If anyone has further knowledge/experience or any thoughts on this subject, I would very much like to hear about it. There are not a great deal of research in the world on longans, so if three well-known longan specialists are working on the same subject, it must be promising. Sainarong Rasananda ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 03:41:57 -0700 From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: When is Pineapple ready to pick? I planted a pineapple last year for the first time. How do you know when the fruit is ready to pick? My one pineapple is now about 4 1/2 inches across and about 7 inches long, it's flowers on the sides of the fruit have already dried up and was all dark green, but now on one side it is changing to yellow. Is it ready to pick or do I wait until the entire fruit has turned yellow? I am very excited with it being my first pineapple and can't wait to taste it. Kimberlee from San Diego ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 03:32:41 -0700 From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: Tannin I am looking at purchasing a Jaboticabra fruit bush/tree. One thing it said was that you should not eat large amounts of the grape-like skin because it contains "tannin". I have been all over the web and it doesn't really explain. Can you tell me what tannin does to the body or how it affects it? Kimberlee ------------------------------- From: Steve Fleischaker Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 04:31:57 EDT Subject: Supplements Requested Hello Leo, I have enclosed a list of supplements that I am interested in reading. If it is not too much trouble to send them to me, I will appreciate it. I have particular interest in neem. Thanks for the great information. Yours, Steve Fleischaker ------------------------------- From: clmo@webtv.net (Larry Moore) Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 21:57:24 -0700 (MST) Subject: Cherimoya ripening??? I found your website from doing a word search on Cherimoya. I bought a case, around 10 lbs. of Cherimoya. The fruit is green and firm. Do you know how long it will be for it to ripen? is there a way for Cherimoya to ripen more quickly? I'm not a grower of food yet, but I plan to buy my own land someday and grow an edible landscape. I live in Glendale, AZ which is a suburb of Phoenix, AZ. One of the rarest foods fruits I tasted here was a green, lime colored citrus fruit called a "lime quat." It was really sweet tasting. Any help you can offer will be appreciated... Thanks once again! Larry Moore ---------------------------- Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 12:14:21 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Larry Moore Subject: Re: Cherimoya ripening??? Larry, Where did you buy the case of cherimoya? The sellers should have given you information about their ripening. If they weren't picked prematurely, they should ripen in a few days. If you put one in a covered dish or closed paper bag, perhaps with an apple, it may hasten the ripening process. The same way you ripen tomatoes. If they were picked prematurely, they will never become ripe. I don't know if cold storage is used to hold cherimoyas for a long time or not. Mine have been gone several months. Maybe other readers of the newsletter will have suggestions. Yours, Leo -------------------------- From: clmo@webtv.net (Larry Moore) To: Leo Manuel Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 21:35:22 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: Cherimoya ripening??? I got them at a local grocery store. i will try your idea to place an apple with a cherimoya in a paper bag. The lady at the store suggested placing a cherimoya in a box of rice in a paper bag. They are green, but some have some brown on them. Thanks for your reply! i bookmarked your website..... Larry Moore ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 16:38:03 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Problem of Longan Trees Shooting Straight Up More thoughts from my Australian friend, Lewis Amerio: Quote: Regarding your South African friend, it sounds to me that he may have planted seedling trees, as they have the habit of growing very upright. There is a small orchard in my district from seedling trees. It is possibly the oldest orchard in the district. It has this exact growing habit. Very straight. Unquote I have some more comments on canopy management, but they can wait. Bye for now. Good Luck! Sainarong ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 21:30:56 -0700 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: [Fwd: Blueberries from seed] Dear Leo: Just tried to reply to a letter in the newsletter and it was returned. Can you get it to go? Or do you want to just put it in the next newsletter? -Lon Rombough ------ Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 21:25:40 -0700 From: Lon J. Rombough To: Ricardo Barbosa <"rfhl"@hotmail.com> Subject: Blueberries from seed Dear Mr. Barbosa: I have grown blueberries from seed. The seed does not usually need stratification. It is so tiny that it should be sprinkled on top of a layer of moist peat and just dusted with peat, then gently misted. After that, the flat should be covered with a sheet of glass or kept in a cool area and kept misted. The seedlings are extremely small so that at first, the peat will just seem to have turned green. Use a magnifying glass and you will see the very small seed leaves. Keep the flat cool (18-21 C) and keep it misted and the seedlings will eventually get big enough for you to carefully separate them out and pot them individually. -Lon Rombough http://www.hevanet.com/lonrom -------------- Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 15:51:44 +0000 From: Leo Manuel Without Recommendation Subject: Oz Soils - Interactive Intro to Soil Science From: http://www.une.edu.au/~agronomy/AgSSpOzSoils.html Oz Soils - An Interactive Introduction to Soil Science Oz Soils is an interactive multimedia computer program designed to teach the core concepts and processes of soil science. A basic knowledge of soils is now a requirement in many professions. Oz Soils will be useful to students in disciplines such as agriculture, natural resources, ecology, geography, geology and engineering. Program Topics * Nutrient Cycling: transformations, inputs and outputs of nutrients in the soil and in relation to plants and animals. * The Hydrological Cycle: phase relations, infiltration, soil water movement, salinisation, and erosion. * Soil Structure: hierarchy of structure, aggregation, texture, soil strength, and tillage. * Soils and the Landscape: soil formation, morphology, classification, and Australian soils. Availability Oz Soils is available on a dual-platform CD-ROM, offering equal access to both Windows and Macintosh users. The CD-ROM can be ordered by sending a Cheque of $60.00 (in Australian Dollars), or by faxing your credit card order, either to: Teaching & Learning Centre "Oz Soils Orders" University of New England Armidale NSW 2351 Australia Fax: +61 2 67733269 or to: Agronomy & Soil Science "Oz Soils Orders" University of New England Armidale NSW 2351 Australia Fax: +61 2 67733238 You can also download a demo version of the Oz Soils program to review the interactive features. For further information contact Dr. Heiko Daniel (e-mail: hdaniel@metz.une.edu.au) or Dr. Peter Lockwood (e-mail: plockwoo@metz.une.edu.au). -------From Zingiber List; Subscribe: http://www.onelist.com---------- Subject: Banana Pups Proliferate From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" To: Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 18:13:19 -0400 From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" Our wet spring and summer has been fantastic for plants this year and I am getting a wide variety of pups on my bananas. Is anyone out there interested in some trading? Also, I am still looking for a supplier of a variety named Fehi (Australimusa) or Fe'i. Does anyone know where I can locate one? Thank you, Ray in Kentucky zone 6 ------------ From: Keith Benson DVM Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: media recipe and protocol for the tissue culture of bananas Carol M. Stiff wrote: > Does anyone have a media recipe and protocol for the tissue culture of > bananas? Thanks.....carol > From Vulesteke: (note that the new edition is due out in a month or so) > Most use something of the following: MS base media sucrose 20-40 gm/l Myo-inositol 0-100 mg/l Glycine 0-2 mg/l Thiamine 0.4-1 Pyridoxine 0-0.5 mg/l Nicotinic acid 0-0.5 mg/l Ascorbic Acid 0-100 mg/l IAA 0-0.2 mg/l NAA 0-0.2 mg/l BAP 0.2-10 Agar 4.5-8 gm/l The most commonly used recipe is as follows: (from Cronauer, KrikorianVessey and Greg May - personal; communication) MS and minimal organics with 5 mg/l BAP, pH 5.8 Hope this helps. If possible could you put me in touch with the KTC client that is going to attempt this? If we get it going I would be very interesting in trading material. Keith PS - Carol, nice to have you join us here! ----------------------------------------- From: Leo Manuel Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Raja Puri - Fast Acting! How's the Taste?? I bought a pup of Raja Puri in July of last year and it's already got four or five pups and a big, fat bloom! I've never had a banana move so quickly, and it was planted with almost a dozen other varieties, none of which has begun to bloom. The tree isn't much taller than I am - about six feet - shorter than the other varieties. I've never eaten the fruit of Raja Puri. How does it rate? Leo ---------------------------------- From: Steve & Missy Kennedy Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Raja Puri - Fast Acting! Leo, I have had the same luck with Raja Puri. I bought one in a 3 gallon pot last June and it started to flower this year on the 4th of July. It has 4 hands on it the rest are not developing into fruit. I'v got three large pups off it, and it still has one small one and two large pups, one as large as the mother plant. By the way I live in NC zone 7b and used a cage with filled with leaves for winter protection. This is the only edible banana I've had fruit with this method. I can't wait to taste the fruit. Steve ------------------------------------- From: HESTERC@mail01.adm.duke.edu Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Here's a report card on my banana trials "Exceeds expectations" group: * Ele Ele (Hawaiian Black): To my suprise, this plant has grown faster than any other banana I'm growing. It is currently the tallest banana in the yard, and perhaps the most vigorous. The black coloration in the stem was not evident early on, but it starting to develop now. * Ae Ae (Koae): The last time I tried this 5 years ago, the plant I got from California was beautiful but lacked vigor. The plant I have now, which came from Tropical World in Florida, is *much* better, not only in terms of degree of variegation, but also vigor. I expected a fussy, slow grower, but instead this is a vigorous, healthy, fast plant. The only drawback is lack of pup production so far. * Balbisiana: Another vigorous, tall grower, even though it is perhaps in the worst spot of all, receiving shade probably 30-40% of the day and on a slope that tends to dry out. If in full sun and a wetter location, this would surely be a monster landscape plant. No special features--just basic banana green, but impressive size. *Brazilian: Year in and year out, this tall-growing "lady finger" has the best track record for speed to bloom, pup production, longest leaves and best all-around qualities. Also, it overwinters nicely. *Ornata (violacea): Vigorous, slender, tolerates or perhaps even prefers some shade, nice blue tint to leaves. Blooms quickly and forms good clump quickly. Don't believe the books about how this one likes being planted in a pot--it does much better in the open ground in my experience. "Needs improvement" group: * Red Iholene: This plant is really pretty, but lags behind most bananas in the yard for some reason. I assume I'm doing something wrong, but can't identify what that is since it is planted in between the Ele Ele and Ae Ae (at a spacing of 8 feet), both of which are really happy. Go figure. All were planted at the same time, and all should be getting about the same light, moisture and nutrients. * Basjoo and Raja Puri: I'm encouraged by recent posts, but my Raja Puri is about 16 months old now, was overwintered in the greenhouse, but still has not bloomed or produced a pup. Likewise, the Basjoo is turning out to be real "ho-hum". No drama for the landscape, nothing unusual in either plant. Both seem to grow slower than most bananas. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, or maybe there's just too much hype about how these are supposedly the bananas of choice for people in zones 7-8. If I were forced to eliminate bananas from the yard, both of these would be tossed in favor of the ones listed above. I'm hoping my opinion will be proven wrong, as others report good results. There's always a strong possibility I'm doing something wrong, but they're getting the same treatment as the others. The jury is still out on Pelepita, Saba, Coccinea, Dwarf Orinoco, Thousand Fingers, Praying Hands and Goldfinger. I planted these approximately 2-3 months after the first batch. I may post pictures later. Clarence ----------------------------- 1998 Festival of Fruit Schedule for Saturday Court Yard - Vendor Booths until 05:30 Seminar Rooms: 101: Room 101, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park MCR: Museum Conference Room - Natural History Museum, across the street MTR: Museum Training Room - Natural History Museum Outdoor Patio: Patio area of Casa del Prado 9:00-10:00 Fruits of Tropical America - Chris Rollins- Guest Speaker Director of the Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, FL. Room 101 - Before seminars begin 10:00 Seminars Begin CRFG Experimenting Spirit: Peggy Winters/Ron Hurov. Room 101 Avocado Overview - Cultivars and Care: Julie Frink. MCR Fruit Processing Techniques for Preserving Our Gardens' Bounty: Lee Bathgate & Sally Sanderson. MTR Photography Contest Exhibit. Outdoor Patio 11:00 Propagation of Avocados on Phytophthera-Resistant Clonal Rootstocks and Citrus Budding: Victor Gonzalez. MCR Proven Deciduous Cultivar Winners for Escondido Area: Jim Bathgate. Room 101 Organic Gardening, Composting, and Growing Fruit Trees From Seed: Glenda Urmacher. MTR 12:00 - 02:00 Lunch Break; Also, Sampling Rare Fruits, Judging Cornucopia Entries for 1998 Trophy 02:00 Fruits of Interest From Malaysia: Voon Boon Hoe. Room 101 03:00 Seminars Resume Cherimoyas and Other Annonaceae: George Emerich. MTR Grafting Techniques (Includes excellent slides so all can see: Tom Del Hotal. MCR Palms Suited to Coastal California: James Wright. Room 101 04:00 Concluding Seminars What's New With Citrus Cultivars & Overview: Tom Del Hotal. MCR Exotic Fruit Growing for the Small Farmer: Roger Meyer. Room 101 Guidelines For Setting Up Irrigation Systems: Bill Tall, City Farmers Nursery, San Diego. MTR 05:15 Plant Drawing Sunday Local Tours: Various nurseries, home garden plantings. Leo's Note: I expect to be home Sunday, for those who expressed an interest in stopping by my place. Directions: From I-15 take Hiway 56 West (about 2 miles) to its end at Blk Mtn Rd Black Mountain Road, right on, for one VERY short block Twin Trails Road, left on, to stop sign (one long block) Sundance Street, right on, to top of hill, to first left turn Sundance Court, left on, to 9028 Sundance Ct. On the right, near the top of the hill, with a very large Inga tree in the front yard. (619) 484-9280 >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - September 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online September 15, 1998 AKA RFN199809B.txt This issue has quit a bit of banana information - much of it from the zingiber list. If you subscribe to that list, then you've seen it already. BTW, has anyone ever eaten a banana bloom that tasted good? I've tasted one, a long time ago, and it was bitter and not pleasant. There must be a variety factor? or stage of blooming? Leo ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- Leo's Notes: #1: 1998 Festival of Fruit - Tours Sunday, September 20 #2: Parking Considerations at the Festival of Fruit - Saturday -------New Subscribers - (May Need Your Help)-------- From: Ariane Dalla Subject: New Subscriber - Burbank, CA From: Susan Gottfried BertnSpike@aol.com Subject: New Subscriber - FL- Looking for Blood Orange Subject: New Subscriber - NE Maryland - What to do with Jujube fruit? From: "Marina Makous" ------------------Readers Write------------------- From: "Richard K. Gross" To: Larry Subject: Arizona chapter California Rare Fruit Growers From: "R.Pabon" Subject: Broken Bananas and Good Black Sapotes From: "Ben Poirier" To: "Leo Manuel" Subject: Broken bananas From: Dan Hemenway >Permacltur@aol.com> Subject: What my Orinoco banana is up to? From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Seeking Cultivar Sources In Paraguay From: "Ollie" To: Kimberlee Subject: Jaboticaba From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Reply to Mark, Kimberlee, Larry From: Sarah Colby Subject: Interested in locating Sapote in Redlands, CA From: WALT ROWE Subject: Raji Puri (tastes great!) and pineapple and jaboticaba From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: Raja Puri, Pisang Raja, and Klue Nam Wah Bananas From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: Kadota fig tree is changing in its fruit! From: Leo Manuel To: paullgj Subject: Super Dwarf Bananas: Taste; Where to Plant... From: paullgj To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Super Dwarf Bananas: Taste; Where to Plant... From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: Banana varieties From: Harry Hausman To: Sainarong Subject: Thai Longan Report From: mzeng Subject: Lychee and Longan Trees in North Carolina - Possible? From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Petch Sakorn - a new longan cultivar in Thailand From: Leo Manuel To: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Aup Longan From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Aup Longan From: Nana Bhamare NBhamare@aol.com Subject: Pomegranate Juice Processing - Request for Help From: Bill Burson Subject: Black Sapote ripens From: Matthew Shugart Subject: "Exotic" tasting mangos From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Tropical blackberry and Oregon 1030 raspberry From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Skip Vint's Fruit growing in Rancho Santa Fe Subject: Cherries for a warm climate; Also Apricots for Same From: V.C. Skip Vint (unlisted email) To: Matthew mshugart@UCSD.Edu From: joan@specialtyproduce.com (Joan Sonntag) Subject: Fruits, Vegetables, and More! Subject: 3d Annual Permaculture Design Course Online Starts in Nov From: Dan Hemenway >Mailing-List: list zingiber@onelist.com; contact http://www.onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Banana plants and fruiting From: "Anna Marie Martorelli" Subject: [zingiber] Re: Digest Number 42 From: Keith Benson DVM Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana plants and fruiting From: Keith Benson DVM Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana plants and fruiting From: "Nicho Stamatis" Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana plants and fruiting From: Clarence Subject: [zingiber] Bananas and heat update From: paullgj Reply-To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Bananas and heat update To: Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana descriptions Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana descriptions From: Keith Benson DVM Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana descriptions From: paullgj Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana descriptions From: Jody Haynes From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Banana report card ----------Leo's Notes------------ Leo's Notes: 1998 Festival of Fruit - Tours Sunday, September 20 There are several options available for the plant-seeing on Sunday. There are six nurseries and several home gardens with open house. Some nurseries are listed below: (There are numerous others, so check around for what you want to buy.) You will want to plan your route, to save time. California Tropical Fruit Tree Nursery. Perry Coles' email address is: tropical@tropicalfruittrees.com Ben Poirier 751-1605 (Fallbrook) Roger Meyer has an email address, I believe, probably in the Fruit Gardner, my copy of which, I seem to have misplaced. Pacific Tree Farms http://www.kyburg.com/ptf/index.html Webpage not especially informative, but they carry a wide variety of rare fruit trees. Phone 422-2400 Located in Bonita, near Interstate 805, south of San Diego. Could visit to or from Tijuana tour, also Quang Ong, nursery at home, (619) 277-8167, stock selection varies. He's young (college undergraduate) and deserves to do well. He has had some very unusual trees. His parents are Vietnamese, but if you make it clear you want to talk to Quang, they can either give you another number at which to reach him, or call him to the phone. Atkins' Nursery Fallbrook, CA --- If anyone is coming to Leo's place, it is just west of Interstate 15, near Poway, in San Diego (Rancho Penasquitos area.) (619) 484-9280. -------------- Date: Mon, 07 Sep 1998 12:34:11 -0700 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Parking Considerations at the Festival of Fruit Suggestion from the North County CRFG for parking at the Festival of Fruit: Parking: Don't hassle with it - hitch a ride on the free, cherry-red park tram. Catch it at Upas St. and Sixth Ave. Once on board, grab a free tram map, with discount coupons for museums. If you're really attached to your car, park in the lots along Village Place at the eastern end of the park. If you can't find a parking place, try the Presidents Way parking area at the southern end of the park. It always has plenty of space. ------------------New Subscribers - (May Need Your Help)----------------- Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 18:48:18 -0700 From: Ariane Dalla Subject: New Subscriber - Burbank, CA Hello, We have just purchased three new trees for our Burbank home, in Southern California. We acquired White Sapote (Casimiroa Edulis), Pitanga (Eugenia Uniflora), and Jaboticaba. In addition to these trees we own two Brazilian Dwarf Banana trees, which are doing extremely well through the scorching heat; we are growing from seed passion fruit (Passiflora Edulis), Mexican papaya (Carica Papaya), chayote, Kona coffee, and I am attempting to grow mangoes from seeds. I am from Brazil and my husband John is from California. We want to acquire as many Brazilian, tropical fruit trees as possible, and we have purchased our new additions at the California Tropical Fruit Tree Nursery in Vista, California. Although we have found a lot of information on tropical plants and fruit trees, I have not found information on my favorite tree: Jaboticaba. What is its scientific name? Is anyone else growing it besides the nursery and I? How to grow it? So far I am going on the information that I have from when I lived in Brazil. Jaboticaba is a hardwood, it bears black fruits, a little larger than black grapes on its trunk and branches, with consistency of grapes but totaly different flavor (sweet with a hint of tart). We are Ariane Dalla and John S. Worthy. We live at 934 N. Avon Street, Burbank CA 91505, with our two children Maya (7) and Max (3). Please include us in your mailing list and send us your newsletter. Thank you for your information. Ariane and John. ---------------------------- From: Susan Gottfried BertnSpike@aol.com Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 01:20:15 EDT Subject: New Subscriber - FL- Looking for Blood Orange Hi. I'm interested in your newsletter. Susan Gottfried, 128 Ocean Blvd. (100 yds. from the Atlantic Ocean), Satellite Beach (Zone 9B), East Central Florida. (Across the river from Marian van Atta.) Among the roses & herbs in my yard I have a neem tree, a Murcott tangerine, a carambola, a loquat, an orange, a tangelo, a vitex, something that vaguely resembles castor bean but isn't, something that vaguely resembles royal poinciana but isn't, and several agressive sweet potatoes. I used to have a jaboticaba, which I killed somehow & a tropical apple (can't remember the proper name) which I removed when I discovered it could get to be 125' tall. I have a potted key lime grown from seed - eventually I'll decide where to plant it & then we'll probably have a good, hard freeze. I LOVE blood oranges & have not been able to find a potted specimen. Susan Gottfried Subject: New Subscriber - NE Maryland - What to do with Jujube fruit? Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 14:22:26 -0400 From: "Marina Makous" I am Marina Makous, in Elkton, Maryland Despite moderately cold winters here in northeastern Maryland, I grow persimmons and Jujube. Persimmons are very borderline here (we are USDA Zone 6). This yr my jujube tree is covered with fruit, and I am looking for suggested uses. Any info on that or other exotic fruit that I can grow is most welcome. Marina Makous ------------------Readers Write------------------- From: "Richard K. Gross" To: Larry Subject: Arizona chapter California Rare Fruit Growers Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1998 12:03:56 -0700 Hi, Larry. Picked up your name from Leo's RFN. I am Dick Gross, secretary of the Arizona Chapter. I write a monthly newsletter. If you are interested in joining such a group, let me know and I will send you a copy and fill you in on the particulars. Our next meeting is on Sept. 10. Regards, Dick ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 01 Sep 1998 18:17:11 -0400 From: "R.Pabon" Subject: Broken Bananas and Good Black Sapotes Leo: I suggest you cut the broken Kru banana plant about 1 foot above ground, and add some systemic insecticide. You may want to add some fertilizer too. Many corms [pups] will form because they will benefit from the large root system of the adult plant.This way a loss turns into a profit. Fallen bananas in between standing ones in my experience mean a heavy infestation of bugs that kill their root systems.Watch out, the other ones probably have it to a lesser extent. The Diopyros ebenaster described by Sven Nehlin is quite similar to one I bought near the Miami area quite a few years ago with one difference, mine is not as sweet, however mine is planted in semishadow in a wet area.This could account for the difference in sweetness. Mr.Roger Meyer a member of CRFG and commercial grower was quite impressed with it. R.Pabon from Puerto Rico ---------------------------- From: "Ben Poirier" To: "Leo Manuel" Subject: Broken bananas Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 16:32:04 -0700 Hi Leo I had the exact thing happen to one of my Kru bananas about three months ago. It broke about five feet from the ground. So here is my experience. I cut it off just below the break, figuring that since the flower bud had not yet emerged there would still be hope. It began to leaf out, but the leaves were very narrow and small. A total of only 3 leaves came out then the flower but. The flower head was smaller than normal and only set a few bananas.Eventually the flower stalk bent over at the original break and whithered away. This past storm we had a Hua Moa and Brazillian do the same thing - I cut them off at the ground this time figuring it was not worth wasting the plants energy to produce an aborted fruit set, rather let the energy go into new pups. Hope this helps some Ben Poirier --------------------------- From: Dan Hemenway >Permacltur@aol.com> Subject: What my Orinoco banana is up to? Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 10:18:28 EDT Perhaps someone with more experience can explain what my Orinoco banana is up to. While I have been around bananas a lot in my work in various parts of the tropics, this is the first time that I have tried to grow any. The Orinoco we planted was a very sturdy plant which we got from a Florida retail nursery specifically because it was a good specimen. It established readily in the microclimate I chose for it and started to grow. This was last year. Now its one offshoot is much larger than the original stalk, which got constricted near the top, preventing the leaves from opening properly. I was about to ask what is going on when the flower bud burst through the side of the stalk near the top, apparently in response to the constriction that it could not penetrate. The offshoot continuse to be much larger than the original. Since bananas are marginal here, I pamper them. It is hard to believe that any of my bananas wants for fertility or moisture or drainage--all were situated carefully so that they came through last winter without a speck of frost damage (with some help from the weather I may add). Any explanations? Dan Hemenway ------------------------------- From: Dan Hemenway Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 10:11:59 EDT Subject: Seeking Cultivar Sources In Paraguay I am doing some permaculture design work for a small (140 acre) finca in Paraguay that wishes to become, among other things, a botantical garden for fruit species and cultivars that will thrive in the region. There seem to be very few aboreta and collections known to my friends and clients in Paraguay, however. I would be most appreciative to any references to aboreta, botanical gardens or collectors of useful plant species (not just fruit, though these are paramount, but even bamboos, medicinal species, etc.) in Paraguay. I suspect that given the likely shortage of such material in the country, we will also find listings in Bolivia, Southern Brazil and Northern Argentina most useful. This finca will become part of a global network I am trying to encourage, to be called the Tropical Tree Bank or Tropical Life Bank or some such, with the idea of exchanging materials among member centers to make as much genetic diversity available over as broad an area of the tropics as possible. One feature of such a network is that all the centers would be insurance policies for the others, able to replace materials lost by natural or military disasters when the afflicted center was again in a position to replant. Since many if not most tropical species, particularly tree crops, have very-short lived seeds, these bank of living specimens will be a sound way to reserve some of what is left of diversity among such species. It is a natural step to also preserve native species that are endangered as well as native habitats (eg. habitats of butterfly, humming bird, ape, parrot, etc, in the Paraguay case). We have interest from a collaborator in South Africa to maitain also a reservation of medicinal plants, particularly those traditional to the native Zulu. So you can see that the idea is flexible. Dan Hemenway ------------------------------- From: "Ollie" To: Kimberlee Subject: Jaboticaba Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 20:26:28 -0400 Hi Kimberlee, In response to your questions about the jaboticaba; yes, the fruit is similar in taste and appearance to the muscadine grape. For that reason I haven't bought one yet, because the muscadine vine is easy to grow, cheap to buy, and very productive. The jaboticaba is a great tree to grow, however, because it is more cold-tolerant than other subtropical trees, and it bears fruit directly on the trunk. In addition, it can produce fruit throughout the year, and the time from flower to fruit is generally only about a month! Sincerely, Oliver ------------------------------ From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Reply to Mark, Kimberlee, Larry Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 14:51:44 -0700 Hi Leo, Thanks again for the info on the Annual Meeting, without your additions to the RFNO I still wouldn't know who was talking or what exactly they were talking about. Now I can plan my day and have time to find and talk to some old friends. I do plan on stopping by your place on Sunday, the 20th. Here's a response to several people who had notes in the last issue of RFNO: To Mark Galbraith--The best thing to do is join the new Ventura/Santa Barbara chapter of CRFG. The chairman is Norm Beard at 968-0989 and the treasurer, who will take your $5 to get you on the newsletter mailing list, is Roland Messori at 969-4167. They can give you information about the chapter and get you going on sources of rare fruits found in the area. By the way, it is not "smuggling" to bring in seeds from outside the U.S. As long as they are clean, small amounts of seeds are legal and larger amounts can be had with a free USDA permit. To Kimberlee McCormick--There are different species in the Myrtaceae family that are called "jaboticaba", and by and large the ones I have tasted do taste like a grape. Since you are in the area you should come to the CRFG annual meeting and talk to people like Jim Neitzel who grow jaboticaba. He may even have some seedlings available. To Larry Moore--the cherimoya you found in the store at this time of year were probably from Chile. They grow different varieties there than we have here and for our tastes they are inferior. This is according to the people at Cal Tropics. See you in a couple of weeks, Bob ---------------------------- From: Sarah Colby Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 17:37:26 EDT Subject: Interested in locating Sapote in Redlands, CA I'm interested in growing a sapote tree (had one I had grown from seed) now I've moved and would like to find one to plant and grow. thanks Sarah Colby Redlands, Ca 92373 ---------------------- Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 22:01:52 -0400 From: WALT ROWE Subject: Raji Puri (tastes great!) and pineapple and jaboticaba Hello Leo, You asked about the taste of raji puri. Of course this is purely subjective, but I believe they are one of the tastier bananas I have eaten. Very sweet if fully ripened. As far as sucker production, this is one banana that just never quits. One sucker that I planted in July of 97 did the following ... the bloom emerged on June 1 of this year. Today there are 8 hands with 14 banana's on each hand. I have pulled 11 suckers off and still have three growing as replacements for this one plant. I have replanted some of the eleven suckers and distributed others to friends. Kimberlee asked about when to pick her pineapples. Here in Florida, I leave the fruit on until they transition from yellow to a golden brown. One caveat though ... once they reach the yellow stage, they start to become aromatic and the ambrosia beetles will find them. To combat this, I wrap each pineapple in a plastic grocery bag, sealing it tightly at the base. This has been a GREAT year for my pineapples. I have about 150 plants in the ground in various planting stages. Of these, 45 have fruited this year. I have picked about 15 of these over the past six weeks and still have plenty of eating to go! I believe she also asked about the Jaboticaba and the effects of Tannin on the human body. Tannin prevents the full assimilation of protein if consumed in quantity. Well that is all I have tonight. Have a good evening. Walt Rowe ------------------------------ From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: Raja Puri, Pisang Raja, and Klue Nam Wah Bananas Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 22:45:01 -0400 I imagine you've had some feedback on Raja Puri by now, but I think they taste pretty good. There is some variation: the ones I ate that experienced cold weather during maturation weren't as tasty as the ones that matured during the hot season. I imagine that is true of many or most varieties. Although Raja Puri is more resistant to some diseases and pests, it still needs care to do well. In fact, I think it is less tolerant of neglect in the feeding and watering department than some others, at least if you want good fruit production. If I neglect mine, they sometimes lose most of their leaves--after the fruit has formed--which means they won't have as much ability to mature high quality fruit. Have you tried Pisang Raja? The fruit has a slight orangish cast and is, in my limited experience, the tastiest I have grown so far. My plant was in the ground well over a year before it produced fruit that matured--but the wait was worth it. Right now I'm waiting for the fruit on my Klue Nam Wah to mature. I've never tasted it, but this variety was very tolerant of the cool winter we had. It held on to more leaves and just looked healthier. (Sorry, I can't confirm the spelling; I think I've also seen it referred to just as Namwa or Namwah.) Dan Duprey in Palm Beach County, Florida ---------------------------- Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 20:55:57 -0700 From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: Kadota fig tree is changing in its fruit! Hi Leo, My fig tree is four years old. And until now the fruit has been exactly the same. The fruit is tear shaped with a stem leaving the branch and the inside is a soft white to light light brown inside. But this season I have noticed something very different. I have probably about 60 fruit on my tree, but about 10 of them have a different shape. They are more similar to the shape of a tangerine. Today when one looked ripe I opened it up to find a cherry colored inside. It also had a slight strawberry/cherry taste to it (I even had my son taste it and he told me the same). Any ideas? Could this be from some kind of cross pollination? btw, I just sent in my registration to join the CRFG, you guys are great! Thanks for all your help! Thank You, Kimberlee from San Diego --------------------------- Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 09:10:36 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: paullgj Subject: Super Dwarf Bananas: Taste; Where to Plant... Paul, I haven't heard how the fruit is on the super dwarf. I thought the topic may have been discussed on the zingiber list, so I didn't address the question to them. Do you know anything about the fruit quality? In my climate (San Diego), I have a choice. Will it do better in the ground or in a pot? I just bought a small specimen at Home Depot. Thanks! Leo -------------- Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 11:16:13 -0500 From: paullgj Subject: Re: Super Dwarf Bananas: Taste; Where to Plant... Leo, In San Diego, with that very mild climate you have, I would definitely plant it in the ground. It seems to be a banana that does not like the extremes of temp.; thus, it's perfect for the maritime climate of San Diego. I don't know what the fruit will be like- it hasn't matured yet. It looks just like a stalk from the regular dwarf cavendish, just a little smaller. The regular dwarf cavendish produces excellent fruit, so I guess this should be good. Gene P.S. One more comment I forgot to include. Super Dwarf Cavendish has a very thick pseudo stem, also it produces a lot of suckers. For those reasons I don't like growing them in containers. It becomes root-bound very quickly in a fifteen gallon container. You've got the climate, go for it outside. Gene ------------------------- From: "Dan Duprey" Subject: Banana varieties Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 22:37:27 -0400 Leo, I found my book so have a little more information. Pysang Raja can grow up to 20 feet tall. According to Lessard, it is relatively wind resistant despite its height, and is resistant to Panama Disease but susceptible to nematodes and corm borers. I think mine was about 16 feet tall the last time it fruited. My nam wah fruited at about 12 feet (measuring to top of top leaf). I just bought a couple super dwarf plants a week ago, like you, mainly as a novelty. I'll plant one and send one to my mother in Michigan. She likes to try warm weather fruits in her eastern exposure picture window. She ended up with some tasty tangelos a few years ago, and I have no idea what pollinating was flying around her house in the middle of winter.... Dan Duprey, in Lake Worth, Florida ------------------------------- From: Harry Hausman To: Sainarong Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 21:55:04 EDT Subject: Thai Longan Report Dear Sainarong: It has been some time since we have corresponded. I trust you have been well. If you will remember, I am living in South Florida in Davie, which is located in western Broward County....west of Ft. Lauderdale. Bruce Livingston, to whom I introduced you, had brought back from Thailand two Longan cultivars which we have discussed. Specifically, I am talking about the E Daw and the See Chom Poo. Both are planted in my yard and one fruited fairly heavily this year. Surprisingly, it was the See Chom Poo that bore the first crop here. I was of the understanding that in Thailand at least the See Chom Poo was pink fleshed....or at least it was not as white fleshed as the Kohala which predominates the Florida Longan market. It was also my understanding that the E Daw was far more relaiable and prolific in comparison....at least that is true in Thailand. Here, what I have labeled the See Chom Poo is not pink fleshed whatsoever. This leads me to consider the possibility that either 1) the See Chom Poo doesn't gain flesh color here as it does in Thailand, or 2) I have them mislabeled, or 3) what was sold to Bruce was not what it was supposed to be. Let me describe the fruit that I have on this tree to see what you think. The fruit has been mature now for about a week. It seems to be holding well on the tree (better than my Kohala fruit is holding up on the tree). The fruits are uniformly large...approximately 3/4" to 7/8" in diameter. There are some of my Kohala fruit that are as large but the Kohala fruit at my house are not uniformly large. The fruit's flesh is crisp....much more so than Kohala. The flavor is sweeter, spicier, overall more flavorful than Kohala. The fruits on this tree seem to be born in a more erect fashion than is found in the Kohala fruiting habit. However this may be because my Kohala is a larger tree and bore more heavily, causing the panicles to droop, heavily laden with clusters of fruit. Lastly, my Kohala fruits are brown skinned, without any sign of markings. The fruit from the tree in question has very faint markings in tones of a greenish-brown. The only way that I can describe these very faint markings is by comparing them to what is found on the Alupag........Euphoria didyma. That fruit has distinct markings which are reminiscent of the faint markings that I see on this tree's fruit. That seems like See Chompoo all right. I shall talk to my friends, and see what they think. You may find it interesting to know that I have 13 varieties of Lychee at my house and didn't get a single fruit this past season. Thankfully the Longan crop saved the summer fruiting season fro me. Why? Can you explain? I would appreciate your comments on one other matter. I purchased a supposedly everbearing Longan this past weekend in Homestead. Supposedly, this cultivar is called Padsakon. It supposedly translates to Diamond River in Thai. A Thai National supposedly brought this cultivar here. His name in Non (phonetically spelled and I don't know if that is his first or last name). He claims that this cultivar has three fruiting seasons in Thailand and has born two distinct crops here in Florida. I paid a good bit of money fro an air-layer off this cultivar. I hope that I have not been "taken down the garden path!" Bruce Livingston is back here in Florida from his last jaunt to your country. He really loves Thailand and will probably move there eventually to retire. He was very pleased to have met you. Unfortunately, the air-layers that he received through you did not survive the rigors of the trip. I don't know if another attempt is being made on this or not. I have forgotten the name of that cultivar and would appreciate a refresher on that name. Well, thank you, in advance for your time and consideration. Very truly yours, Harry Hausman I shall have to go to dinner now. I shall write later. What you are referring to is Pet Saa Korn, spelt Petch Sakorn. Sainarong. ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 12:24:07 -0400 From: mzeng Subject: Lychee and Longan Trees in North Carolina - Possible? Dear Leo, I am writing you because we are interested in growing lychee and longan trees here in North Carolina. My name is Margaret Zeng and My address is as follows 3916 Marsh Hen Dr Shallotte NC 28470. Please send any issues and insight that you might have on these two rare fruits. Thank you for your site and assistance. Margaret Zeng ----------------------------- Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 20:18:21 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Petch Sakorn - a new longan cultivar in Thailand Many people have asked me about this new Thai longan cultivar, Petch Sakorn. I guess it is time for me to gather my thoughts, and write (from memory) about it. Outstanding Attribute The most oustanding attribute of Petch Sakorn is that it can bear fruit twice a year. Inintially, there were reports of thrice a year. Fruit Quality The fruit size is medium to large. The shape is round. This outer apperance is pleasing. The sweetness is average. The seed size is medium. The quantity of flesh is average. All these attributes are quite acceptable. There are two major drawbacks. One is that there is a slightly strange taste, not commonly associated with most longans we are used to. I am not very good at describing taste. However, I would say that this taste, although acceptable, is not quite to the Thais' taste (but then , the taste of the favourite Australian mangoes is definitely not to the Thais' taste. To each his own, I guess). The major drawback is that the flesh is somewhat watery, the amount of water probably depend on the climates and other environmental factors) Ease of Management Petch Sakorn is much tougher than the longans we are used to in almost every way. It grows and flowers well in the central plains of Thailand, which is hot, humid, flat, has a high water table, and has a higher percentage of clay. Pests do not bother it as much. Appearance of Stems, Barks and Leaves The tree differs somewhat from the longan cultivars we are used to. I would say that it resembles more the tropical longan trees which are found in the central plains of Thailand, and South Vietnam. These tropical longan trees were initially found growing in the wild a long time ago. They are not generally grown commercially anymore, as the quality is considered inferior to the present popular cultivars. Origin The origin is unknown. Some guess it is a cross of the popular cultivar and the tropical cultivar, others guess it is a mutation of the tropical cultivar, yet others surmise that it is not a new cultivar at all, but is actually a tropical cultivar that has been there for ages, but is recently discovered. Current Status of Petch Sakorn in Thailand It is nowhere as good as the popular cultivars (for the Thais), but it fetches a much much higher price than the other cultivars, because it 'ripens' out of season, during the Chinese New Year, a very important time. Moreover, unlike the popular cultivars, it grows well in the hotter climate of the central plains of Thailand (the popular cultivars fare very well only in the northern part of Thailand over a very small area). The plantation areas of Petch Sakorn is increasing by leaps and bounds (but not in the North). My personal feeling (not shared by many) is that we are over doing it. Petch Sakorn is a specialty. If the supply is small, then it fetches a very good price. Once the supply increases, the price may take a dive). Future of Petch Sakorn Most experts in Thailand agree that the quality of Petch Sakorn is not up to standard. However, it has many important attributes, and can be used to breed an improved cultivar. This is its long-term importance. Warning I myself grow a few Petch Sakorn in my orchard in the North of Thailand, where the climate is cooler than in the central plains, and more conducive to the popular longan cultivars. My feeling is that the northern petch Sakorn does not bring as good a result as its central sister. Sainarong Rasananda reporting from Thailand ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 08:40:21 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Aup Longan Sainarong, Thanks for your new longan cultivar information. Do you know if it available in nurseries for shipping to US? Did you ever taste the Kohala longan? That's the one most available here, possibly because it seems to be extremely easy to reproduce by layering. I have two in pots that I bought several years ago. These are layered from my original tree, before I moved. The name is Aup, and I haven't read any reference to it anywhere. Possibly it goes by aother more common name. Thanks again for your contributions to the newsletter! Sincerely, Leo --------------------------------- Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 07:35:20 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Aup Longan Exports of many fruit trees have recently been banned. The country, as a whole, is worried that our resources are being taken out of the country, and grown outside Thailand, and then compete against our products in the international market. Many, who are knowledgeable, says that this is like preventing objectionable materials on the Internet, but there it is. Unfortunately, no, I haven't tried Kohala Longan. There is no Kohala in Thailand. Kohala is fairly popular among the Australians. They say that ease of reproduction is not the only attribute of Kohala. Kohala has many favorable quality, but is rated below Biew Kiew in Australia. I now correspond with longan specialists all over the world. I know quite a lot about longan all over the world, but I have not of Aup. Of course, there are many, many cultivars (mainly the less popular ones) which I do not know, and this could be one of them. Sainarong ---------------------------- From: Nana Bhamare NBhamare@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 01:47:21 EDT Subject: Pomegranate Juice Processing - Request for Help My name is Nana Bhamare. I live in Chicago, but originally I am from India. My parents grow pomegranates and sugar cane in Nasik, near Bombay. Although I am chemist by profession, I like to be close to the nature and also like farming. I am interested in knowing pomegranate juice processing technology and sugar cane juice preserving/bottling technology. I would appreciate any information from readers on these topics. Also I would like to know particularly from Indian readers, as any body planting tropical fruits varieties from USA. Thanking you in anticipation. Regards, Nana ---------------------------- From: Bill Burson Subject: Black Sapote ripens Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 08:25:26 -0700 Leo, Thanks for repeatedly telling me that Black Sapotes can taste like a chocolate pudding & not just like Axle Grease. My first encounter with them was not very pleasurable & I have since removed that plant (it had large 4" fruit). The plant I tasted last evening has small 1" fruit. I have a third plant that has not yet bore fruit. Since all are seedlings, it will be interesting to try the third... Bill -------------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 14:34:57 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: "Exotic" tasting mangos Folks, I recall some time ago a discussion of some mangos with particularly rich or "exotic" flavors. However, I cannot recall the cultivars mentioned. Can anyone recommend mango cultivars that have distinctly exotic flavor characteristics? Matthew Shugart --------------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 14:30:49 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Tropical blackberry and Oregon 1030 raspberry Leo and Bob, Just to clarify, I have no reason to believe that Spangler's tropical blackberries have a virus problem, except that I had heard that this species is prone to some virus. I have heard the same thing about Oregon 1030. In fact, I recall that Pacific Tree Farms stopped carrying it for that reason. Matthew ---------------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 14:22:29 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Skip Vince's Fruit growing in Rancho Sant Fe Leo, I was intrigued to see that Skip has good crops of fruit on Stella cherry. All the sweet cherries that I know of are supposed to require around 7-800 chill hours. Although I have no idea where Skip is located (except that it is somewhere in Rancho Santa Fe), I'd be surprised if his chill factor the past few winters was much over 500. Very likely it is well under 500, unless he is at the very bottom of one of the gulches that run through there. There is some anecdotal evidence that the self-fruitful cherries (including Stella, Lapins, and maybe the newer Craig's Crimson) can set fruit with little or no chilling. If Skip is getting fruit reliably on Stella in Rancho Santa Fe, that is great news! I also see he has Moorpark apricot, but he does not indicate how reliable it is. For my money, this is the best apricot there is. But its chill factor is thought to be 5-600 hours, so it is not reliable for most of us in San Diego County. He also has Nugget, a variety I have been looking for. It is an older and supposedly low-chill cultivar that is not widely available anymore. Best, Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California -------------- Subject: Cherries for a warm climate; Also Apricots for Same Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 10:04:28 -0700 From: V.C. Skip Vint (unlisted email) To: Matthew mshugart@UCSD.Edu Hello Matthew and Leo, I wanted to give you some details on the trees you asked about. I live in Fairbanks Ranch (Rancho Santa Fe,) not within the covenant area. We are about 8 miles from the coast, receiving direct breezes up the San Dieguito valley from the West. My property slopes to the rear down to a ravine. While I have my citrus grove in the highest elevation of my rear property, the trees that require the most chill are at the lowest elevation, to where cold air is able to flow and linger. I purchased three high-chill cherries in bare root at Evergreen Nursery a few years ago, on sale for about $6 each. It was a cheap gamble, because I knew these varieties must have high chill to produce fruit. In my orchard, all three cherries (Stella, Northstar, and Black Tartarian) are in the same row in close proximity to each other.) While all three are healthy and thrive, only one (Stella) puts out the luscious crops year after year. The other two are lucky to put out one or two fruits each season. My experience is that Stella does not require the same high chill as the other two, regardless of the literature. This is the favorite fruit of our friends. The Moorpark (apricot) is young and has not produced many fruit yet. However, the quality of the fruit is excellent. It is planted about 30 feet higher elevation than the cherries. I bought it because Sunset described it as one of the better tasting apricots. They were correct. I don't remember where I bought Nugget Apricot, several years ago. It's production is less than Katy, Blenheim, and Royal (as you know, the latter two are believed to be the same variety.) As an aside, this was a "no show" year for all my apricots. Maybe due to El Nino, or the alternating seasonal fruit production characteristics of apricots. Take care, Vinton C. Vint ------------------------ From: joan@specialtyproduce.com (Joan Sonntag) Subject: Fruits, Vegetables, and More! Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 10:04:34 -0700 Greetings! This is Joan Sonntag, Editor of our web site: www.specialtyproduce.com inviting you to check us out! I research and write information on our many produce items listed on our site! Often I need assistance in finding facts on products and am asking if you would possibly be a resource for information?? Am hoping to hear from you!! Sincerely, Joan Sonntag, Editor -------------------------------- Subject: 3d Annual Permaculture Design Course Online Starts in Nov Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 10:49:09 EDT From: Dan Hemenway Third Annual Permaculture Design Course Online Starts in November Elfin Permaculture's third Annual Permaculture Design Course Online will begin at the end of November 1998. The in-depth course runs 5-6 months, depending on class needs. The course includes at home reading assignments, instructor's "lectures" distributed via email, email class discussion of current themes and student projects, a number of special student reports, and a permaculture design project completed by each student. Successful completion of all course requirements leads to certification as an entry- level permaculturist. *** For more information request the course protocol and reading list from Elfin Permaculture at Permacltur@aol.com A list by topic of all Yankee Permaculture titles may be found at http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/ypc_catalog.html Dan Hemenway -----------The rest is taken from the zingiber list-------------- >>>> zingiber@onelist.com; contact http://www.onelist.com <<<< Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 09:54:16 -0400 Subject: [zingiber] Banana plants and fruiting From: "Anna Marie Martorelli" I am currently growing three banana plants (one is a Musa cavendish the other two are acuminatas) as houseplants. I am aware that they seldom fruit indoors, but mine are doing extremely well. I am also aware that banana plants die after fruiting. What I don't know is if there is anyway to prevent them from fruiting so that they will not die. If I remove their flowers would this work? My email address is martorel@execulink.com Please send me a response as soon as possible. Thanks in advance! Anna ---------------------------- Date: Wed, 02 Sep 1998 13:37:11 -0700 Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana plants and fruiting From: Keith Benson DVM The flower is formed very early in the life of the plant, and the number of bananas is generally determined when the plant is about 4 months old, therefore, removal of an emerged flower is not worth while - the plant is commited, will fruit, and die. You should be seeing pups forming, initially these should be removed so as to not steal nutrition from mom - but as the plant matures, let one of the better looking pups come along to serve as a replacement for the plant that will die back following fruiting. Shortly before the banana "shoots" i.e. flowers there will be a flush of pups, the plants way of ensirung that it's genetics will persist. One book worth having - Lessard, W.O.: The Complete Book of Bananas., also check out :http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2011/Musa.html Keith Keith "stop them from flowering?? - I am fighting to get mine to flower!" Benson ----------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 22:29:51 +0200 Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana plants and fruiting From: "Nicho Stamatis" Dear Anna, Removing the flower bud will not prevent them from dying. The terminal bud, once it has turned from vegetative into a flower bud is irreversable, and you may as well let it flower and fruit because it is going to die anyway. George South Africa -------------------------------- Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana plants and fruiting From: Clarence Don't worry. By the time (and if) your banana fruits indoors, you should have multiple pups at various stages of development, and probably at least one almost as big as the mother plant. You should enjoy the bloom, as it is very attractive for most varieties. I have a few types that I grow only for the bloom, such as the Musa ornata and Musa coccinea. To my way of thinking, the bloom is final culmination and, in fact, the end goal of growing bananas as an ornamental. The issue is not whether or not you will have a replacement plant, but how to get rid of all the progeny that you will get before the bloom happens. You can cut off the bloom and prepare it for eating--it is said to be delicious, at least for some types of bananas--but this will not have any affect on the natural cycle of the plant (i.e., it will not continue to produce any new leaves from the stem that has bloomed). It is probably best to cut back the stalk after blooming is done to direct more energy to the pups. In any case, you may never get to blooming stage indoors, although it does happen. The Cavendish is notoriously slow in my experience--expect about three years or more indoors to bloom in normal indoor conditions. Of course, if you have a sunroom or extremely good indoor light, it may be quicker. My sister had another variety bloom indoors (I suspect it was Rajapuri or perhaps Dwarf Brazilian), but the fruit hands were malformed and never developed properly. Good Luck, Clarence ---------------------------- Date: Tue, 01 Sep 1998 23:17:00 -0700 Subject: [zingiber] Re: Best Banana for New England? From: Keith Benson DVM Jeepsrs@aol.com wrote: > Hello, > I live in New England and wondering what is the best banana's for me. What is > the best indoor banana's ? And last but not least where to get them? I would suggest the Super Dwarf Banana, mainly because it is small enough to be managed as an indoor plant. Others to consider are Musa basjoo (very cold tolerant), and Rajapuri (though it will not tolerate NE weather. I had some very good success with Raja, Williams Hybrid and Mahoi in the greater boston area during the hot humid summers. Keith -------------------------------- Date: Thu, 03 Sep 1998 15:26:46 -0500 Subject: [zingiber] Bananas and heat update From: paullgj Here's another update on bananas and the endless Texas heat wave. From Aug. 7-26 I left the searing Texas heat for some northern climes. Needless to say, my plants didn't receive the watering they needed. In particular, three plants in a very protected location with deep, soft alluvial soil received none. Here's how they faired - the results will be suprising: 4 ft. Dwarf Puerto Rican Plantain - drooping leaves, but the plant survived. 4 ft. Gran Nain - drooping leaves, but the plant survived 5 ft. Dwarf Cavendish - dead While the Dwarf Cavendish does better in the cool winter conditions, it definitely does not like the summer heat and drought. The Super Dwarf Cavendish, which had a hard time with the winter chill, is even more heat sensitive than Dwarf Cavendish. Other plants, Dwarf Cuban Red, Mahoi, and Zan Moreno - all of which received minimal watering while I was gone, are doing fine. The June-Aug. mean temp. in Brownsville, Tx. was 86.5 F, the total precip. since Jan. 1 - 4.5 in., about 20% of normal for right now. Not very conducive to those broad leaves of the Musa transpiring water. When I was in Pennsylvania I saw all that green vegetation and thought to myself - a greenhouse for 6 months, then that mild wet climate - I'll bet it may be easier to grow Musa in the temperate zones with that recipe than down here at the doors of the blast furnace. Gene Paull ----------------------------- Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 15:39:56 -0700 Reply-To: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Bananas and heat update More on South Texas heat wave and bananas. I failed to mention in my initial comments on the heatwave that I did get some super dwarf cavendish plants to flower and fruit. True, I lost some to the heat, but several specimens, planted about a year ago have fruited. The pseudostems are only about 4 ft. high, and they have produced a miniature stalk of bananas. These plants are under the shade of a very large queen palm. Gene Paull, z. 9b -------------------------------- To: Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 19:44:09 +0200 Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana descriptions From: "Nicho Stamatis" Williams is probably the most popular and common commercial and garden variety in South Africa, Dwarf Cavendish is second. Williams is tough as nails and very tolerant of any bad weather, extreme heat (although we never have dry heat in this area), extreme wind (violent storms and high winds), sever drought as well as being seasonally swamped with water in some areas subject to very heavy rainfall. Dwarf cavendish seems to prefer cool (but not cold) weather with a bit of dampness. It usually thrives in the shade of taller varieties, or under a tree canopy. Some areas which are cooler and cloudier have better results with this type. It has the most tender heart of all the varieties grown here. The others are very fibrous and stringy, especially the red banana, which is not suiteable at all for eating the heart. Cavendish is very drought sensitive, and does better inland in misty sloped areas. George South Africa ----------------------------- Date: 07 September 1998 07:09 Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana descriptions From: Keith Benson DVM paullgj wrote: I am very interested in the differences between Valery, Lacatan, Giant Cavendish, and Williams hybrid. Gene, I only have experience with williams hybrid but I can tell you that it is incredibly vigerous and very heat tolerant. I had one on a balcony that reached well over 100 degrees and it would barely wilt. Keith ------------------------ Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana descriptions From: paullgj Nicho Stamatis wrote: > Can anyone out there please describe to me the following banana > varieties, and what makes them distinctive: ... Thanks in > advance George. I can help you on only one - Zan Moreno. I have one growing in my yard. It looks very much like Dwarf Cavendish except that the pseudo stem has more red color and also dark splotches. I am very interested in the differences between Valery, Lacatan, Giant Cavendish, and Williams hybrid. Which takes the heat best? I may be moving away from Dwarf Cavendish for fruit to something more heat tolerant. Gene -------------------------- Subject: [zingiber] Re: Banana descriptions From: Jody Haynes Dear all, I am a biologist at the Tropical Research & Education Center in Homestead, FL, USA, and my boss is a banana specialist--as well as a banana disease specialist. We currently have over 35 varieties of banana growing in field studies of Panama disease resistance and growth/fruiting characteristics in south Florida soils. We have two cultivars of Pelipita; both are large and apparently hardy. Both have large bunches of large, squarish fruit somewhat similar to the fruit of Bluggoe and Saba--if you are familiar with those. Pelipita is of the ABB genotype and is, thus, mainly a cooking banana. I can say from personal experience that it tastes delicious fried in butter and topped with a pinch a brown sugar and a dash of vanilla (my favorite recipe for frying banana slices). If anyone is interested in any additional information, I could summarize the data we have gathered so far and provide an overall--albeit generalized, since the experiments are ongoing and unpublished--synopsis of disease resistance (Panama disease only) and growth/fruiting of Pelipita or any of the other cultivars. Sincerely, Jody Haynes ------------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 14:51:09 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Banana report card Following Clarence's and others leads, here's an early report card on three banana cultivars I have been growing in Carlsbad (north San Diego County, California). Ice Cream. Planted from 5 gallon in May, 1996. Very vigorous grower and produces lots of pups. First bloomed in July 1997. Produced a lot of fruit that survived a frost (mild, but strong enough to cause severe damage to a bougainvillea) and lots of 40-degree mornings over the winter. Harvested in February or March, 1998. Has two stalks now, each about 12-14 feet tall, that have set fruit since spring, though not very many hands formed on these. Goldfinger. Also planted from 5 gallon in May, 1996. Actually began to flower in January, depsite cold nights. Fruit began ripening at end of August. Great flavor. Good fat fruit. Smaller, about 10 feet. Has a pup almost as tall as original stalk, plus a few smaller ones. Raja Puri. Planted from 5 gallon in May, 1998. Already about seven feet tall, with two pups. Matthew Shugart >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - September 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online October 1, 1998 AKA RFN199810A.txt ----------------What's in this issue?----------------- Leo's Notes: ---------New Subscribers - Please Help Answer Their Questions--------- From: judy schuman Subject: New Subscriber, Los Angeles, Has Kiwis With Excessive Zeal Subject: New Subscriber - Hawaii - With Jakfruit, Durian,...! From: Alex Smolak From: Pet & Marve Daniels Subject: New Subscriber - Pismo Beach, CA From: Gladys Baird Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Kaimana Lychee Info ----------------------Readers Write--------------------------------- From: Glenn Young: GGYoung@aol.com Subject: Death of Don Gholston; We'll Miss Him! From: wrowe@huey.rel.semi.harris.com (Walt Rowe) Subject: banana blossom salad Subject: Re: Interested in locating Sapote in Redlands, CA From: Matt Heffron To: Sarah From: wrowe@huey.rel.semi.harris.com (Walt Rowe) Subject: banana blossom salad From: Matthew Shugart To: LifeDoc Subject: Cherries, and apricots, El Nino and chilling From: Holzinger, Bob To: Sarah Subject: Sapote source From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: Cherimoya - Request for Information From: steven starnes Subject: From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Dan Subject: Wierd banana growth From: Dan: Permacltur@aol.com To: bholzing@amgen.com Subject: Re: Wierd banana growth From: PetMarv@aol.com Subject: Mailing list.-subscribe From: Richard Wanberg: MBASF@aol.com Subject: babaco fruit drop From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Status of longan in Thailand From: Laresia Meredith Subject: cherimoya in New Zealand - Information Sought From: michelle and doug Subject: What is this Jamacain "Apple" Really? From: Leo Manuel To: michelle and doug Subject: Maybe Otaheite apple From: michelle and doug Subject: Re: Maybe Otaheite apple >>>>Mailing-List: zingiber@onelist.com; See http://www.onelist.com<<<< Several interesting letters came from the Zingiber mailing list (most interesting to me are about bananas) but I left them out, this time. I'd encourage you to subscribe to their mailing list, as at least one-third of them are likely to be of interest. - Leo ---------------Leo's Notes--------------------- Leo's Note #1: Don Glolston's death, announced by Glenn Young, is untimely and many of us will miss him. He personally answered many of the questions addressed to the CRFG site, and I often asked him for help. Leo's Note #2: Two more bananas are beginning to bloom. One is Monthan, and I got it from Bob Holzinger in July, 1997. Its bloom was not as fat as Raja Puri, but longer. And the banana hands forming are spaced farther apart. I've never eaten this one. Bob says it's very good. The other one just beginning is 'Enano Gigante' from Mexico, dwarf with regular sized fruit. I have eaten it and it's quite good. I don't know how they will emerge from the winter, but the wind is probably the biggest problem. Leo's Note #3: The California Fruit Festival went well, with a greater attendance than had been expected. Then, on Sunday, there were about twenty people who stopped by my place. Seth, from Kansas came, as did several Californians, and several from Florida: (Mairice Kong and Chris Rollins among them.) It was great to see them all! ---------New Subscribers - Please Help Answer Their Questions--------- Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1998 18:14:26 -0700 From: judy schuman Subject: New Subscriber, Los Angeles, Has Kiwis W/Excessive Zeal Please add me to your subscriber list. I've just joined the CRFG. I live in Beverly Glen Canyon in West Los Angeles--about 2 miles north and east of UCLA. Being in a canyon, sunshine is a constant battle, so I grow some things in containers, so I can move them around. I've had the world's largest, most productive (it seems!) kiwi vines--so much so that I had to cut them down and they're starting over again now. Besides plums, lemons, different limes, grapefruit, Gordon apple, tangelo, navel orange, blueberries, I've killed off two papayas and have questions about my Edwards mango. During the winter it got an abudance of El Nino water, light feeding of citrus/avocado food, but leaves turned brown around the edges and eventually turned completely brown and fell off. At the same time, there was a flush of new healthy looking growth. One or two woody stems of the dead leaves also died. But again, with the new growth it looks fine. The blossoms produced 2 or 3 baby mangoes, but they didn't make it--birds or otherwise. It's in a 30 gallon container. Got it about 1 year ago, but don't know it's age. Are we going to make it? And then there's the vegetable, orchids, bamboo and all that other stuff! Judy Schuman Los Angeles 90077 ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 11:58:35 -1000 Subject: New Subscriber - Hawaii - With Jakfruit, Durian,...! From: Alex Smolak Hello! I would like to subscribe. My name is Alex Smolak. I live in Paia, on Maui, Hawaii. In my yard I have fruiting papaya, guava, passionfriut, mango and monstra. I have jakfruit, durian and longon started. I plan to get a few acres in the near future to pursue my hobby. I would like to be in contact with other rare/tropical fruit enthusiasts in Hawaii. Thank you Alex ------------------------------- From: Pet & Marve Daniels Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 15:54:47 EDT Subject: New Subscriber - Pismo Beach, CA Hi Leo! We just returned from the Festival of Fruit in San Diego. It was great! We gathered lots of information and learned some wonderful tricks to help us with our rare fruit growing. I also learned a lot about my new love, the Bamboo! We grow Tropical Guavas, bananas, citrus and many other nice fruits. Not all our trees have fruited yet but we love the challenge growing here in the Central Coast of California. We live 1 1/2 city blocks from the Ocean Pismo Beach, California. I am Pet Daniels and my husband is Marv Daniels. We are also life members of CRFG and have been members for almost 4 years. I am interested in your newsletter and communicating with other growers, especially those who are growing tropical clumping Bamboos, in addition to tropical and subtropical rare fruit. Thank you, Pet Daniels -- Program co chair for the Central Coast Chapter of CRFG. ------------------------------ From: Gladys Baird Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 22:47:40 +0000 Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Kaimana Lychee Info I am Gladys Baird in Encinitas, CA I grow bananas (Orinoco, ice cream, Hawaiian apple, Chinese dward, Mexican dwarf, Mysore), Beaumont macadamia, caimito seedling in container, carambola seedling in container, subtropical guava seedlings (Beaumont, Benjamin, Mexican cream, white from Hawaii), citrus (Citrus hysrix, Buddha's hand), Moro blood orange, Moringa (drumstick tree). Have some small seedlings of cashew, a sweet (?1?) kei apple, and chicle. Tried Winter mango and an old Hawaiian variety of lychee but lost the former to frost/fungus and the latter to a husband who was too kind with the fertilizer. I'd like to grow Mango and lychee I am located about 5 miles from the ocean, near the bottom of a drainage, on a south-facing slope. Usually experience a light frost for 2 or 3 days around Thanksgiving. Is there any mango cultivar that is a little cold hardy? About 5 years or so ago, the University of Hawaii released a new lychee cultivar (Kaimana?) that would bear a crop every year. Has anyone grown this cultivar successfully in San Diego County? Thanks!!! Gladys T. Baird ----------------------Readers Write--------------------------------- From: Glenn Young: GGYoung@aol.com Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 17:13:57 EDT Subject: Death of Don Gholston; We'll Miss Him! Don Gholston 1925 - 1998 It is with deep regret that I report to you the death of Don Gholston at the age of 71, at his home in Watsonville, California on September 21st of a heart attack. Don was a loyal and hard working member of CRFG. Don was a native of San Angelo, Texas. Funeral arrangements await the arrival of his family. Don was a long time employee of Chevron Oil Company. His kind nature, soft voice and mild manner belied his competence and strength as a person. He was a chemist and very knowledgeable researcher. He devoted many hours of work in supplying answers to persons writing to the CRFG web site with questions regarding fruiting trees. Don had responded to approximately sixteen hundred requests for such information in 1998 alone. Don served on the CRFG Board of Directors beginning in 1991 and as President from September 1994 until February 1996. He continued as a Vice President and coordinated chapter relations for Northern California. I have lost a personal friend and CRFG has lost a great friend and booster. Our kindest sympathy goes out to his family. He will be sorely missed! Glenn Young ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 10:15:56 -0400 (EDT) From: Walt Rowe: wrowe@huey.rel.semi.harris.com Subject: banana blossom salad Leo, Here is a good way to enjoy a banana blossom without the bitterness. We call it Banana Blossom Salad. Enjoy!! 1 Banana Blossom 4-6 limes 1/4-1/2 head cabbage hot peppers to taste 1 bunch mint 2 Tbs. fish sauce 3-4 scallions 2 cloves garlic shredded grilled chicken breast (optional) Slice blossom very thin remove the hard centers from close to the stalk after slicing. Soak in water with the juice of 2 or 3 limes for a couple of hours remove and rinse and squeeze to make sure you get as much of the sap out as possible. Thin slicing and soaking are the most important steps to remove the sap it has the most incredible pucker power. Try a small piece prior to soaking and you will see the importance thin slices and soak time. Chop garlic hot peppers the amounts are according to personal preference everyone has different ideas of what's hot. combine with juice of 3 or 4 limes and a couple tablespoons of fish sauce (a fish extract a vailible at oriental markets). Slice cabbage thin 1/4 head for small blossom toss with banana blossom and thinly sliced scallion and chopped mint. Mix in the hot peppers, garlic and lime juice toss and adjust peppers to you personal heat index. We use the part of the blossom after the fruit stop developing. I typically wait until there is about 12" of stem past the last fruit to develop. Then I cut the blossom off. Hope you have a chance to give it a try! Walt Rowe (Leo's Note: I couldn't get the bitterness totally out. Does it ever turn out to be irresistably delicious?) ------------------------------- Subject: Re: Interested in locating Sapote in Redlands, CA From: Matt Heffron To: Sarah Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 19:39:52 -0800 I suggest contacting the Inland Empire CRFG chapter chair Mits Kawahara his Phone # is on the CRFG chapters web page: http://www.crfg.org/chapters.html I know he grows quite a few sapote and could probably get you seeds to start from, if he doesn't have any spare plants in pots. He'll be at the Festival of Fruit, too. Matt Heffron CRFG Director/Webmaster ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 09:51:17 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart To: LifeDoc Subject: Cherries, and apricots, El Nino and chilling Dear Skip, Leo, and RFNO readers: Skip's description of his property suggests that the area where he has planted his higher-chill deciduous fruits may indeed get well over 500 hours. Ravines are ideal collectors of cold air, and I wish I had one of my own! Nonetheless, the self-fertile varieties of cherry may have chilling requirements well below 500 hours. I hereby encourage more rare fruit growers to try Stella, Lapins, and Craig's Crimson in low-chill conditions! After all, in mild areas like southern California, home-grown cherries are a lot more a "rare fruit" than are bananas and sapotes! I should be able to provide some experience in a few years, as I planted a Craig's Crimson last spring. My location is in the 400-450 chill hours range. As for Skip's apricots and El Nino or other conditions limiting production this year, that is the exactly the opposite of my experience! I had a crop on my Newcastle that was probably the largest the tree had had in 20+ years, and also had a bumper crop set on Royal (as did others in my area). My GoldKist had a decent crop, as did FloraGold. Autumn Royal also produced a few. My chill factor was around 50 hours higher in the winter of 1997-98 than it had been the winter before, when Newcastle set a good, but lighter crop and Royal had a heavy crop. Autumn Royal did nothing in 1997. The others were too young to do anything (and that might have been the reason for the Autumn Royal, too). By the way, it was determined many years ago that Royal and Blenheim are the same cultivar. Royal was its name in France and Blenheim in England, but they are identical. For some reason, L.E. Cooke still lists them as separate varieties in its catalogue. In my estimation, the variety needs under 400 hours, even though most sources say 500, and one even says 750! Its reputation for being unreliable probably comes not from its need for a lot of chill, but its being unforgiving of temperature fluctuations during bloom and of wet springs. It was my plums that got devastated by the wet spring. The apricots happened to bloom during one of the few dry spells of the winter and spring, but the plums bloomed later, when it was again raining most of the time. Contrary to what I have heard stated often by many folks, the 1997-98 El Nino winter was not very mild (i.e. warm) by recent standards. Some locations received a bit more chill, some a bit less, but it was essentially one of the "average" winters of the last twenty years. I have compiled detailed records for southern California for the last two winters at numerous locations and for decades for a few locations. Any interested readers please contact me directly. Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California ------------------------------- Date: Fri Sep 18 01:45:25 1998 From: Holzinger, Bob To:Sarah Subject: Sapote source Hi Sarah, I assume you mean white sapote when you say you wanted a source for a sapote tree. In your area you should try Tropical Oasis Farms in Rancho Cucamonga. Their phone number is (909) 941-1060. I think they see people by appointment only. You need to know that there are two "races" of white sapote and different cultivars have different taste and size characteristics. So get as much information about the varieties they have before making a choice. Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 10:55:59 -0700 From: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: Cherimoya - Request for Information I just purchased a Cherimoya. I was wondering if there were any people who have Cherimoya's that could give me any advise about Thank You, Kimberlee from San Diego, CA ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 22:02:13 -0700 From: steven starnes Subject: Dear Leo, Our apologies for being so disorganized. This was obviously our first show. We lost a lot of time trying to find the location of the CRFG event. I was not expecting an immediate deluge of people so early in the morning. In October I will be upgrading the website. We are switching to selling by weight for many species; this will give larger packet sizes. For some species that are very expensive to obtain we will still sell by number. Also, I will be adding additional germination and cultural information on many species. Thank you for your interest. We are making new additions to the catalog for next year. Steven Starnes http://www.pctgardens.com FAX: 650-321-6235 Phone: 650-327-3671 Mailing Address: 1259 El Camino Real #297 Menlo Park, CA 94025 [You may want to bookmark this site. His selection was very large and prices reasonable! Leo] ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Dan Subject: Wierd banana growth Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 15:00:55 -0700 Hi Dan, I had a 'Valery' banana do the same thing your 'Orinoco' did, blow out the side when the top became constricted. I asked Doug Richardson, our local banana guru, about this and he just shrugged and said it happens sometimes. I have not seen this happen again, so, just like people, not all banana plants are perfect. I have no idea if one variety is more suseptible to this than another. I wanted to ask you a question. I am looking for Annona diversifolia and I seem to remember you saying that you have one or more plants, or knew of someone who grew this species. The Garden of Delights nursery offers plants that are okay to ship to California, but they are on A. glabra rootstocks, which I doubt would do very well in California. So I'm looking for a source of graftwood for next spring so I can graft it onto cherimoya rootstock. Can you help me? Any help would be most welcome and I'm willing to trade something of interest. Best wishes, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- From: Dan: Permacltur@aol.com To: Bob Holzinger Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 10:04:52 EDT Subject: Re: Wierd banana growth Hi Bob : thanks for your response to the banana question. Did the fruit turn out ok on your blown out banana? We don't have ANY annona. We are pretty far North in Florida and probably have taken on more tropicals than we can protect already, should we get a cold winter. Bananas, frost sensitive as they are, will not be killed entirely here and will respsprout in the worst case. I don't know of anyone growing annonas this far North. We take chances on some things because we have a moderate micrclimate, surrounded with water. However when we get a drought going into winter, with the water mostly gone, we will pay. So far the problem is the reverse, we have so much winter water as to have a hard time finding places to plant with enough drainage, but that as against the usual trend here. Dan Hemenway ------------------------------- From: Pet Daniels: PetMarv@aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 22:44:08 EDT Subject: Mailing list.-subscribe Hi Leo, just had a nice visit from Bob Holzinger. We talked Passifloras for quite a while and he took a tour of our tropical/sub tropical garden here in Pismo Beach, Ca. Bob convinced me I should be on your E mailing list. I think I did subscribe? Thanks if I did not, I would like to be on it. Pet Daniels ------------------------------- From: Richard Wanberg: MBASF@aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 16:23:42 EDT Subject: babaco fruit drop 2 question for the RFNO, My 3 year old babaco consistently produces flowers and then drops the tiny fruit within 2-3 weeks of formation. Last year it produced well in a container against a south wall in zone 17. There was still some fruit drop but 8-10 fruits held on through maturity. After moving to a new location (zone 16 i.e. warmer temp.), I planted the babaco in the ground where it received partial shade. I was told temp. extremes was the cause of fruit drop however, it has not held on to a single fruit since then. Soil is evenly moist and well draining.......Any thoughts? Also, any chance of getting a printed synopsis of the Festival of Fruit seminars for those of us not lucky enough to attend? Thanks! Richard Wanberg San Anselmo, CA [Richard, I believe CRFG will have some coverage of the Fruit Festival in a coming issue of The Fruit Gardner. Leo] ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 07:59:51 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Status of longan in Thailand - News(letter) Proposal We have just had the first-ever large longan meeting in Thailand. I believe that this heralds an era of greater longan awareness in Thailand. Some of my foreign friends have expressed great interest in this meeting, and its outcome. So I intend to write intermittently about this meeting. My e-mails may be brief and somewhat jumbled; the writing and the composition may leave somewhat to be desired, as I may not take the time to properly arrange my thoughts, but shall write whatever comes into my mind at that particular moment. It occurs to me that some others, whom I have not told about this meeting, may be interested in what I shall be reporting as well. This is why I am sending this e-mail to so many. after all, it does not cost me any extra effort or money to send more e-mails. If you think that someone else not on the list may be interested in the news, please drop me a line. Sainarong ------------------------------- From: Laresia Meredith Subject: cherimoya in New Zealand - Information Sought Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 07:22:24 +1200 Hi My name is Laresia Meredith and I am very interested in the unusual fruit cherimoya. I am a third year Waikato University Student and live near a small town called Putaruru, in the North Island of New Zealand. I am very interested in growing cherimoya and am putting together a poster presentation for my class on this unusual fruit. I would love any information, especially colour photos etc on this fruit. I have not been able to find a place in New Zealand where I can buy cherimoya trees/seeds or the fresh fruit. If you know of where, in the North Island of New Zealand, I can get some, or who I could contact, I would be very grateful. Thanks for your time Laresia ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 16:35:17 -0400 From: Michelle and Doug Subject: What is this Jamacain "Apple" Really? Hello! My name is Michelle Novar, and i have a question for you. This summer, one of my friends gave me a jamacain "apple" seed. Her father brought the fruit back (as they do every year). I planted the seed and now have 2 plants. She called it an e-dee-oh-dee apple. She says it can also be called oh-dee-e-dee. Do you have any information you could give me about this plant and how to hang on to it. These are the plants I have: bay tree (as in bay leaf spice), a million coffee plants, "edeeohdee" apple trees (see above), and 3 lychee fruit plants. I live in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. I would love it if you know what an edeeohdee apple is. Anyways, send the info if you can. Thank you michelle ------------------------- Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 20:38:35 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: michelle and doug Subject: Maybe Otaheite apple Michelle, your Jamacain "apple" MAY be Otaheite apple or Syzgium Malaccense from Malaysia. If so, it is strictly tropical. What I'd do is let it grow until it's a few feet high and show it to knowledgeable nurserymen or botanists in your area. Another tree, also called Otaheite apple, is not quite so tender. It's Spondias delcis, and has several other names. This is my best guess. Yours, Leo ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 17:13:28 -0400 From: michelle and doug Subject: Re: Maybe Otaheite apple Leo: Yes! I'm sure that it's an otaheite apple, now that I've seen the name. Do you know anything about them??? Thanks michelle novar >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - October 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online October 15, 1998 AKA RFN199810B.txt If you have asked me to send something that hasn't arrived, (within a week of asking), please send the request again. My usual scheme is to reply on the same day as receiving your mail. Sometimes the mail comes with a wrong date. (Is that set by your computer or some provider along the way?) I recently got something with a date several months ago. My email application files mail by the date on it. Also, the mail doesn't always get through. So, if it's something you want from me, keep asking until I either send it or explain that I am not going to send it. Similarly, if you don't get the newsletter, it can be from several reasons. I probably made some weird error a while back so that about forty people didn't get the newsletter, due to an alias I used in Netscape mail for that group. Other times, there's no explanation, it just doesn't go through. Please let me know so I can remedy the error, if it's my error, or in any case, just send it along again. I really appreciate it when you send me a CC or BCC when writing to other readers of RFNO. Most of the best information that has been past along has been due to the thoughtfulness of such correspondents. Thanks again! Leo ----------------Index: What's in this issue?----------------- New Subscribers From: Larry Bergez Subject: New Subscriber, CA From: Tom Greaves Subject: New Subscriber, Dallas, TX Wants Help Finding Solarium Plants From: Caitlin Haskell Subject: New Subscriber, Anaheim, CA From: Nan Sterman Subject: New Subscriber, Southern California Readers Write From: Tom Greaves Subject: Re: Rare Fruit News Online: Intro, Sample, List of Supplements From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: jaboticaba & cherimoya - sources in Canada? From: "Russell D. Kaplan" Subject: Need Information - San Francisco/Napa Valley From: "Geoff Buckner" To: Subject: Historical Microclimate Record and Mangoes Near the Coast To: "Geoff Buckner" From: mshugart@UCSD.Edu (Matthew Shugart) Subject: Re: Mangoes Near the Coast From: "Ben Poirier" Subject: Roselle fruit - Information Sought From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: Terminator Technology, also Buddha's Hand Citron, From: "Lorinda Millar" Subject: Hi from Canberra, Australia! - What Can I Grow? From: "Geoff Buckner" Subject: Landscaping Software - Information Sought From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: AzCRFG October newsletter Status of Longan in Thailand; Five Plus Two Part Series From: Sainarong Rasananda --- Stoke's (Banana Plant) sale - And Various Responses ---------------- Please Help Answer Their Questions------------------- From: Larry Bergez Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 22:43:53 EDT Subject: New Subscriber, CA I recently attended the Annual CRFG Meeting in San Diego and picked up your card. Based upon your questionnaire, here are some of the information that you asked. My name is Larry Bergez, and I live in West Hills, Ca. 91304 I'm interested in growing rarefruit and I have some fruit trees growing in a 1-1/2 acre located in the North County - Escondido. I belong to CRFG - LA Chapter. I have avocados, macademia nuts, mango, papayas, bananas, longan, atemoya, fuji apples, fuyu persimmons, jujube (LI), pomegranate, asian pears, tropical guava, plums, nectarines, apricot, peaches and large collection of citrus - pummelo (6 varieties). I would like to subscribe to your newsletter of Rare Fruit News Online and copies of earlier issues. Thank you very much and hope to hear from you very soon. Larry Bergez ------------------------------- From: Tom Greaves Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 16:24:52 -0500 Subject: New Subscriber, Dallas, TX Wants Help Finding Solarium Plants Thanks Leo. Yes I'd like to be on the rarefruit list. Here's some info about me: My name is Tom Greaves, I live near Dallas, TX. We are right on the border of zone 7 and 8. Not many fruit or vegetable crops do well here due to the intense heat of summer (we had 60+ days this year with temps over 100 F) and cold winters (usually gets down in the teens F). Some plums, apples and peaches can be grown. I have 4 varieties of plums (all were lost to a late frost), a Ranger Peach (most of the fruit was lost to a bad hail storm), Orient pear (all crop lost due to the terrible heat this year. Last year it had a bumper crop.), several pecans (too young to tell much), a Moorpark Apricot (the only apricot that has a chance. It is predicted to have a crop only once per ten years due to late frosts.). I also have walnuts and almonds planted just last year. In the vegetable garden, cantaloupes and zucchini do well. Only one variety of tomato will set fruit (Merced). I also grow about 20 kinds of hot peppers under sunscreens. But, the reason I want to join this list is that I am constructing a 25' x 12' glass solarium off my familyroom and I want to grow unusual fruit in it. Construction is scheduled to be completed in two weeks. So far I've accumulated a Meyer Lemon, a tangelo tree, a dwarf banana (don't have the variety with me right now) and will transplant about 20 pepper plants (they are actually perennials and will continue producing for 8-10 years). Already I have discovered that the solarium is too small, but will have to wait a long time before I can convince the wife to let me expand. The idea for rare fruit just came a few days ago, so now I'm frantically searching for mail order sources. I sent off to four companies today to get their catalogs. My first question for the list is for suggestions of fruits that don't take up too much room and don't get any taller than 8'. I look forward to sharing information and experiences. Tom ------------------------------- From: Caitlin Haskell Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 01:42:48 EDT Subject: New Subscriber, Anaheim, CA I am Caitlin Haskell in Anaheim, California. I live in an old farmhouse with my husband Robert, 4 Cats, 3 Dogs, Rabbit, Tarantula, and 2 fish tanks. I grew up in a home with a yard full of fruit and nut trees, and I just don't think a house would be a home without some. We have owned our home less than a year and we are anxious to start work on planting fruit trees. I believe that it is important to preserve "antique" varieties of fruits and vegetables, and I would love to plant some "old fashioned" standards - apples, oranges, pears, peaches, and a pomegranate. I know how we cared for our grapefruit, navel orange, apricot, walnut and pomegranate as a child, but I don't know much about what varieties will grow well here, or where to locate them. (Though I know Orange County is one of the best places to grow some fruits.) I saw the Rare Fruit growers booth at the Orange County Fair, and have wanted to learn more ever since. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for telling me about your family too. : ) Caitlin Haskell ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 08:57:34 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: New Subscriber, Southern California Hello Leo! Pleaase add me to your e-mail newsletter. Here's my info I am Nan Sterman, living in Olivenhain, CA (part of Encinitas) I have all kinds of stone fruit trees, guava, mango, banana, paw-paw, surinam cherries, blueberries, blackberries, avocado, citrus, etc. Thanks! Nan Sterman ---------------Readers Write---------------- From: Tom Greaves Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 16:17:25 -0500 Subject: Rare Fruit News Online Information Leo, thank you very much for everything you sent. I found the Webpage of Bruce Livingston to be especially helpful mostly in the links he has. When you get time, will you please email me the following 4 documents: FlowrFruit, Lychee91, Luchee93 and Mak Fruit. I'm considering joining the CRFG. What do you think about it? Tom ------------------------------- From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: jaboticaba & cherimoya - sources in Canada? Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 13:13:09 -0400 hello leo anyone know of a canadian source of jaboticaba or cherimoya? thank you bert dunn tottenham ontario canada ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1998 23:33:26 -0700 From: "Russell D. Kaplan" Subject: Need Information - San Francisco/Napa Valley Hi Leo- Can you put me in touch with a rare fruit gardener in the San Francisco/Napa Valley area? I will be traveling there Oct 20-25, 1998, would like to know about points of interest (Eg. botanical gardening, farmer's markets, asian markets, great nurseries), and would like to see an compare notes with a enthusiast in the area (perhaps see what he is growing). I already arranged transportation and accommodations and visits to wineries. I suspect the San Francisco/Napa Vally area is close to a temperate climate. As you know, I live near Miami and grow many different tropical and subtropical fruits. I appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks,Russ Kaplan ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 8 Oct 98 8:41:10 PDT From: "Geoff Buckner" To: Subject: Historical Microclimate Record and Mangoes Near the Coast Matthew, I did not conduct a scientific study, however, I would concur with you that the El Nino winter in the San Diego area was average regarding temperature, if not slightly below average. The spring and summer seemed especially wet and cold. Do you have any historical microclimate records for Point Loma? If so, I would be very interested in viewing the data. Regarding an electronic conversation we had several months ago concerning mangoes performing well near the coast, I have some preliminary results that I would like to share. In early spring I planted two Manila's (15 gal), a Nam Doc Mai (15 gal), an Okrung (7.5 gal), and on your suggestion a Valencia Pride (30 gal). Each of the manila's had two flushes of growth, one in July and the next in September. Each flush added approximately 4-5 inches of new growth to each branch. Nevertheless, with the extended wet and cold weather, each of these plants acquired anthracnose damage on the first flush. These plants seem especially susceptible to this disease. The Nam Doc put out several blooms in July which set fruit. Because the plant is small (2 ft) I cut off all of the fruit. In August, it had a flush that added approximately four inches of new growth plus some more blooms that have set fruit. It has not acquired any anthracnose. The Okrung did not do much until late August. All of a sudden it sent out a flush that has added about 12 inches to each branch. No blooms or anthracnose. The Valencia Pride has done nothing but fruit. It has sent out an almost continual supply of blooms since I planted it. It finally stopped blooming in September. Because this plant is larger, I have let it self-thin itself. There are at least three generations of fruit on it with the largest being about 6 x 3 inches in diameter. It has not had any growth flushes or any signs of anthracnose. So much for the mango report. Thank you in advance for your reply regarding the climate information. Geoff Buckner Point Loma area of San Diego ------------------------------- To: "Geoff Buckner" From: mshugart@UCSD.Edu (Matthew Shugart) Subject: Re: Mangoes Near the Coast Geoff, Leo, and RFNOers: Geoff provides an interesting report on his preliminary trials of some mangoes in Point Loma. The only one of his varieties that I have is Valencia Pride. Like Geoff, I can report that mine flowers almost constantly--as long as the weather is getting into the high 60s in the day. I have seen it flower in January when nighttime temperatures were in the 40s! It won't set in such conditions, but it tries. It usually won't set till late spring. This year, due to the cool spring, it set much later. In October of '97 I was enjoying ripe mangoes. This year I have only about half a dozen fruits on the tree and they are still not even half the size of what I harvested last year at this time. I have doubts that they will ever ripen, though this recent warm spell may help. What surprises me is that Geoff is not getting growth flushes on his VP. Mine is in the midst of one right now, and has had about four this year. The tree was planted in May, 1996, from a five-gallon can. It is now about five feet tall with an irregularly shaped, approximately 3-foot, spread. I have had very little anthracnose, but I do get some. No mildew. I am thinking of adding a Manila and a Nam Doc Mai to my yard, so I am encouraged by Geoff's reports on these varieties. Matthew --------------------------- From: "Ben Poirier" Subject: Roselle fruit - Information Sought Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 12:47:24 -0700 Hi Leo and All, I hope someone can help me with a question regarding the "fruits " of the roselle.After three years of trying, these plants have finally flowered and fruited this year (Usually they flower later in the year and die with the cold weather before fruiting) I know that one uses the flower calyx for either a tea or jam, but just when do you harvest these calyx ?? Right after flowering, there is not much to the calyx. A few days later it is full of the seed pod (doesn't look like there is much useful to this part). Is it picked at this time and the seed pod discarded ? Or is it left to ripen and picked when the seed is mature ? Is the seed pod then discarded or used ? Is it just the base of the calyx that is used or are bracts surrounding the seed pod used too ? Does anyone have any specific recipes for this ? I would appreciate any info on this so I can give it a try this year. Ben Poirier ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 17:50:52 -0700 From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: Terminator Technology, also Buddha's Hand Citron, Dear Leo, Thanks for the RFNO with the Terminator Tech Info, I managed to have a caution printed by one of our foremost farming journals re this dastardly plan. Would you believe that thanks to RFNO, I was probably The first South African to have this knowledge to share? I have managed to Find some grafted Buddha's Hand Citron Trees, and will take delivery late in November. I will try and share this growing experience with any list members who may be interested. Likewise anyone who already has grown Buddha's Hand Citron please share your experience with me. Last but not least a note of condolence to Mr Gholstons Family and Friends. I was one of the people he assisted, and I am saddened to hear of his Passing. Regards ------------------------------- From: "Lorinda Millar" Subject: Hi from Canberra, Australia! - What Can I Grow? Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 14:03:59 +1000 Hi! My name is Lorinda Millar and I live in Canberra, Australia's capital. I'm very interested in fruit growing and so far, in my smallish backyard, I have planted apple, pear, apricot, peach, plum, nectarine and feijoa trees. I have a 'pleach' tree waiting to be planted (a plum/peach cross) and I also have put in raspberries, thornless blackberries and youngberries, boysenberries, strawberries and blueberries. I'm keen to try more unusual trees (if I don't run out of room!!!) Most of the trees were only planted about 14 months ago, and we already have small peaches growing and a couple of plums. (Can't wait to try them!) Our climate in Canberra is equivalent to about zone 8 in the US. Summers are hot and dry and we get frost most nights in the winter. I'd love to hear about some possibilities... Lorinda Millar -------------------------------- Date: Wed, 7 Oct 98 11:29:12 PDT From: "Geoff Buckner" Subject: Landscaping Software - Information Sought Leo, I will be moving soon to another property in Point Loma. Sadly, I will be leaving behind over 50 different varieties of exotic and not so exotic fruiting shrubs and trees. The good news is I am moving to a larger piece of property, so I will have more room to start over. Can you or another subscriber suggest a good software program to help me optimize my new landscaping design? Are there any landscaping freeware or shareware programs available? Thanks. Geoff Buckner ------------------------------- From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: AzCRFG October newsletter and Announcements Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 13:47:11 -0700 CALIFORNIA RARE FRUIT GROWERS, INC. THE ARIZONA BRANCH Meeting the second Thursday of every month OCTOBER MEETING: Was Thursday, 7:00 pm October 8, 1998 Cooperative Extension Palo Verde Room 4341 E. Broadway Dr., Phoenix, Arizona 85040 OCTOBER PROGRAM: Dr. Fred Yerger will enlighten us on practical frost protection. Temperatures this winter will plummet to 32 and likely a couple degrees below. You can bet on it because it happens more often than not. I have never made good on an annual pledge to be prepared next year. That's why it is important to listen carefully to Fred's presentation, take notes, organize a plan of attack and begin your campaign now. There are a number of measures that can be used to effectively minimize damage on cold-tender plants. SEPTEMBER; WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED Dr. Al Falkenstein removed the mystery from propagation by Air Layering. Although widely employed around the world by commercial operations using essentially the same basics practiced 5,000 years ago, this technique for cloning plants is snubbed by laymen (people like us) who perceive it to be difficult and complex. It ain't. Not if you proceed as follows: Select a healthy, young branch about 1/2" to 1" in girth on an actively growing mature or adult tree preferably of bearing age. The branch should have as many leaves as possible in a location with about 50% shade for optimum success. Pick a spot 12 to 30 inches from the tip by imagining what it would look like growing in a pot on its own roots. Girdle the branch with a sharp knife and remove a minimum of one-quarter inch strip of bark, clean, to bare wood. completely around the branch. Do nothing further for three or four weeks or until callus has formed on the ring of bark nearest the branch tip. If no callus forms, it is not likely to develop roots. You may want to start with more than one prospective branch. Wet the callused area and apply rooting hormone. Completely enclose the area with damp (but not wet) sphagnum moss and wrap it snugly with Saran wrap. Enclose the section with aluminum foil to deflect light and excessive heat. Check progress and moisture by periodically peeling back the foil. If dry, moisture can be added with a syringe. Two or three months may be required for good root growth. Patience is an important ingredient. After roots have grown, remove the wrappings, lop off the branch about 1" below the girdled area and pot it in good planting mix. Trim some of the foliage to match the small root system and limit water loss through leaves. Since the plant's water supply has been cut off, it should be misted or stored in a humid environment for two weeks and hardened off gradually before exposing to full sun. Misting may be done with a spray bottle containing a weak solution of fertilizer. As for the other half of the propagation program, uncooperative bark on a citrus seedling sort of did-in the show. Let's just say the demonstrator left with all eight of his ten fingers intact. There is, however, much to be learned about grafting and the best way to do it is by selecting any tree in your yard and practice all the methods by grafting that tree to itself. Do it over and over until you are skilled enough to brag. GARDEN CLUBS FAIR Saturday, October 17, 1998 We can fine-tune all the details at our meeting on October 8th. If you are a new member, the Fair is held at the Cooperative Extension. If you are a prospective member receiving this newsletter, come on out and get acquainted. We can assume the arrangements will be similar to the function held on March 14. It is an opportunity for us to have a good time, get to know each other better and earn cash to fund our objectives; promoting the cultivation of edible tropical and subtropical fruit in home landscapes. Our degree of success at the Fair will depend on how many interesting plants we have for sale and the number of prospects that connect with the attraction and join the AzCRFG. The Fair Committee [Joe Corabe, Page Greer, Janet Rogers, Allison Yerger and Dick Gross] needs assistance. You can all share in the fun. 1998 FESTIVAL OF FRUIT-SAN DIEGO The festival was well represented by Arizona members. Many of you wanted to attend but couldn't because of other commitments. The San Diego Chapter deserves a commendation for an outstanding accomplishment. That is not to say there were no glitches. The few were handled professionally. The logistics of such an undertaking makes my hair stand on end and when Glenn Young remarked that it would be held in Arizona next year I found myself frantically looking for a roll of toilet paper. The 1999 Festival will be in San Francisco. Whew! The Arizona Cornucopia looked quite professional and delicious. The display did us well. Thanks to all of you who participated; Joe Corabe, Fred Yerger, Allison Yerger, Jim and Carole Crosson, Al Falkenstein and, last but not least, I thank myself, Grick Doss. Arizona members were received by a host of nice, friendly, outgoing people skilled, many of them, in the art of growing rare fruit, all eager to share their wealth of knowledge with friends and strangers alike. My only disappointment was not seeing more of the tour sites. My wife and I visited the Quail Gardens in Encinitas and Leo Manuel's home north on Interstate 15. Leo's place took my breath away. It is a gem that a thousand superlatives penned by a master-writer might do justice. I cannot. DEMONSTRATION GARDEN Memoriam: You may remember the visit of President Glenn Young and CRFG officers Eunice Messner, George Emerich and Don Gholston in March. Obituary: Don Gholston 1927-1998 It is with deep regret that I report to you the death of Don Gholston at the age of 71, at his home in Watsonville, California on September 21st of a heart attack. Don was a loyal and hard working member of CRFG. Don was a native of San Angelo, Texas. Arrangements await the arrival of his family. Don was a long time employee of Chevron Oil Company. His kind nature, soft voice and mild manner belied his competence and strength as a person. He was a chemist and very knowledgeable researcher. He devoted many hours of work in supplying answers to persons writing to the CRFG web site with questions regarding fruiting trees. Don had responded to approximately sixteen hundred requests for such information in 1998 alone. Don served on the CRFG Board of Directors beginning in 1991 and as President from September 1994 until February 1996. He continued as a Vice President and coordinated chapter relations for Northern California. I have lost a personal friend and CRFG has lost a great friend and booster. Our kindest sympathy goes out to his family. He will be sorely missed! Glenn G. Young, President, California Rare Fruit Growers AVOCADOS Julie Frink spoke at the fruit festival on Avocado, Cultivars and Care. her data may be of interest if you have or want to grow the fruit. The many cultivars of avocado have been divided into three "horticultural" races, West Indian, Guatemalan and Mexican. Many cultivars are hybrids of the three. Mexican fruit is smallish, smooth skin, large "tight" seed with leaves and flesh that have an anise odor and taste. She went on to say, however, that Avocado leaves are "very" toxic. Further: Seeds generally do not run true but the Mexican has a better chance. Mexican is the hardiest rootstock. Avocados require good drainage. Standing water is always fatal. The tree likes full sun but exposed bark on young trees should be protected from sunburn. Paint with white latex. Adult trees are usually shaded with their own leaves. Trees may be heavily pruned for height. Pruning does not hurt the plant. Avocados are subject to severe salt burn. (A critical fact in the Salt River Valley with saline irrigation water and alkaline soil.) When planting, Julie sets the pot on level ground then builds a compost mound around it. After the mound has settled in, she removes the container and places the tree in the hole. One could plant in a raised-bed over gravel for the same effect. Avocado roots are relatively shallow. Avocado sex is unusual. Well, kinky? There are types A and B and an oddball or two that may fall somewhere in the nether. A typical A or B by itself will set enough fruit for an average family. A scion from a B may be grafted to an A or visa versa. Planted in close proximity, either is more productive. Most common varieties are distinctly an A or B. All Avocado flowers have both male and female paraphernalia. "A" flowers are receptive to pollen in the morning but don't release their pollen until the afternoon of the following day. "B" flowers are receptive to pollen in the afternoon but don't release pollen until the morning of the next day. Julie said the female pistil is a prominent feature and male parts are the little "fluffies" in the middle. DECEMBER MEETING: In addition to the election of officers and a discussion of agenda and activities in 1999, please note that the December program includes a PotLuck dinner and gift exchange. Allison proposed the idea for discussion at the next meeting. Sounds like fun to me but the decision rests with you. MEETING AGENDA FOR 1998 MONTH SUBJECT SPEAKER October 8 Frost Protection Fred Yerger November 12 Ginger Allison Yerger December 10 Pot Luck Dinner & Gift Xchange Election of Officers 1999 Goals and Objectives -------Status of Longan in Thailand; Five Plus Two Part Series--------- Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 21:57:31 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Status of Longan in Thailand - 1 The point that was driven home, for me, is that the Thai Govenment is now really serious about supporting and promoting longans. In the past, for reasons I shall not bother to go into, longan activities were almost ignored by the government. Now, with the economic crisis clearly upon us, the Thai government is re-looking at the agricultural sector as our saviour. They are pushing all kinds of agriculture, particularly those which earn precious foreign exchange. It suddenly dawns on those in power that longan has been our number one fresh fruit export for many years. The importance of longan is further driven home by the disaster (there is no other word for it) of this year longan crop, which is only 5% of the previous record year, thanks to el Nino. Anyway, the table has now turned, and longan has suddenly become the darling of the Thai agricultural world. Works on longans are being pushed forward, sometimes at the expense of other crops. So, it would seem that a new era on Thai longan is dawning. However, one should never discount the inertia and inefficiencies the the bureaucracy. ------------------------------- Subject: status of longan in Thailand - 2 It became clear that there are many organizations in Thailand currently involved in the study and promotion of longan. However, in the past, there were little coordinations among these organizations. I, myself, discovered many organizations and people, involved in longan, whom I did not know or was not aware of before. Ditto, many others, I am sure. In this aspect, the meeting was an eye opener. As a result of the way the Thai bureaucracy system works, some of the previous studies were rather piecemeal or not as thorough as we would have liked. Worse, a lot of these studies ends up gathering dust on a bookshelf. Hopefully, with this new awareness, all these will be changing for the better. The improvement will not be 100%, but, nevertheless, there will be a considerable improvement. For example, to my knowledge, there has never been a longan meeting of this size, and consisting of people from all walks of life. However, one group, which was conspicuously absent, was the traders and the exporters. They were invited, but only a few attended. The various groups of people involved in longans in Thailand are as follows: 1. The universities in the North, namely, Chiangmai, Maejo and Lampang. The main works being done here are researches and helping the growers on technical problems. Most of the people are on the Net. 2. The Department of Agriculture. This is a large organization with branches all over the country. The main works are research, helping the growers, coordination with the Department of Agriculture Extension, export promotion. The important units for longans are the Chiang Rai Horticulture Research Station, and the Northern Research and Development Unit, and the Export Promotion Centre in Bangkok. 3. The Department of Agriculture Extension (this has to be a new meaning in the English language, the Yorkshiremen would not understand the meaning of the word - extension). These are the people closest to the growers. One of their tasks is to bring know-how to the growers. However, in practice, the works being done leaves a lot to be desired. 4. Other governmental ministries, such as the Min. of Public Health, the MO Industry, the MO Commerce. 5. The TISTR (I think that the full name is Thailand Institute of Science and Technology Research or something like that), which is involved in post-harvest research. 6. The exporters who work individually. 7. The traders who also work individually. 8. The growers themselves, with numerous associations, most of which are localised. Most growers, however, are small orchard owners with little education and unaffiliated to any organization. 9. The Thailand Research Fund: a relatively new organization which hands out research funds on a systematic basis. 10. The media which is giving more coverage to longans. There are probably more minor groups, but I cannot think of any at this moment.. ------------------------------- Subject: status of Longan in Thailand - 3 The China Mystery The Thai people have come to recognize that China is both a very large producer and the number one importer of longans. In 1997, almost half of the longans produced in Thailand are exported to China. Statistics shows that almost half of the longan production is consumed domestically, and the 85% of the remaining is exported to China. Most people are aware of the need to fully understand China, both production-wise and marketing-wise. Trips have been made to China, mainly the Guang Si Province. However, reports still remain incomplete, fragmentary and sometimes conflicting. In spite of the realization of the paramount importance of China, there is, as yet, no concrete plan for a complete survey of the Chinese longan situation. People are merely speculating and extrapolating from what they know or have seen. This, to me, is very worrying. ------------------------------- Subject: status of longan in Thailand - 4 The Various Cultivars The history of longans in Thailand was never recorded. Legend, which probably contains considerable amount of truth, has it that longan was brought to Bangkok just over a hundred years ago by Chinese immigrants. From there it found its way to Chiangmai in the North. Somewhere along the way, it mutated, probably into the world-famous Biew Kiew. At any rate, most Thais surmise that Biew Kiew is the ancestor of the Thai longans, because the oldest longan trees in the North are all Biew Kiew. I myself have visited the orchard which is supposed to be where it all started. This orchard, in Chiangmai, consists mainly of Biew Kiew, which are at least 80 years old. Presumably then, Biew Kiew is the Mother of the Thai longans. Nowadays, the most common cultivars in Thailand are Ee Daw (the early and light ones), See Chompoo(Pink), Ee Haew and Petch Sakorn(Diamond). Of these Ee Daw accounts for well over 85%. I shall now concentrate on Ee Daw or Daw, for short. Daw is a local word in the Northern dialect which means light. This either means early or proliferous. Either meaning describes Daw well. It flowers earlier than other cultivars, flowers more easily than other cultivars, and also flowers fairly proliferously. Why is Daw so clearly the favourite in Thailand? 1. The export market (meaning the Chinese market) wants Daw. 2. It is the best for making dried longans, which the Chinese love. 3. It is good for canning. 4. It is large. 5. The outer skin looks good. 6. Because of its fairly thick outer skin, it is fairly durable, and does not deteriorate as a result of transportation. Sulphur dioxide also does not penetrate into the aril. 7. It is easier to grow and to take care of. 8. It has less tendency towards biennial flowering. So, even though it is not the tastiest longan, it earns the growers more profits than any other cultivars. AS a matter of fact, one of the largest exporters said in the seminar: "Do not grow anything apart from the Daw with soft stem. It is well accepted by the market". Ah ha, Daw with Soft stem? I can hear you say. Well. it transpires that there has been numerous slight mutations of Daws. Most of these still retains the name Daw, probably because of that magic word Daw, or probably because the new variety is very close to the original Daw, or probably because they are not sure whether it is really a mutant or whether the change is due to different environment. The confusion over the various varieties of Daw is probably brought about by the fact that there has never been any serious academic attempt to identify these varieties. Besides, when you buy a Daw marcot, there is practically no guarantee that you are buying a genuine Daw, let alone a marcot from a good Daw tree. Anyway, there are now many varieties of Daws, such as Daw with soft stem, Daw with red stem, Daw with hard stem, Daw Sukhum, Daw Puang Tong, Daw Petch Vieng Ping, Daw Loong Kam La and so on. Many growers, let alone the general populace, are aware of these Daw varieties. They think that there is just one Daw! So, caveat emptor! To compound the confusion, most people in Bangkok, including the vendors, have never heard of Daw! If you ask a Bangkokian, what are the best longans, s/he will most likely say See Chompoo or Haew; some may say Biew Kiew. If you ask a Bangkok vendor the same question, s/he will invariably say "Kaloke (skull)", which is a name for all large-size, sweet-tasting longans. Another mystery about Daw is that it seems to thrive only in Thailand. I wonder why. I have not yet been able to find anyone who can give me a satisfactory explanation. Words flow among the Thais that about one million Daw marcots have been smuggled from Thailand into China. If this is true, and it seems to be so, the Chinese may be in for a bit of nasty surprises. ------------------------------- Subject: Status of longan in Thailand - 5 Petch Sakorn I have written in parts about Petch Sakorn before. I shall try add further information about this cultivar, and try not to repeat myself here. 1. About the name: Petch means diamond, Sakorn is short for Samut Sakorn, the province where Petch Sakorn was discovered. Some people in America call it 'Diamond' or 'diamond River'. 2. What is it? I am pretty sure that it is not Dimocarpus Longan Lour. (I am writing this from memory, so the spelling or the words may not be quite correct), which is the sub-species of practically all commercial longan cultivars in the world. I think it is Dimocarpus Longepetiolelatus Leenh (or something to that effect), which is a sub-species found in Thailand. Or it may even be a cross between the two. More works are needed here. Please refer to Choo and Ketsa 1991 for details about the various species and sub-species of longans. 3. Where can it be grown? I have a feeling that, like mango, it can be grown anywhere in Thailand. Reports have it that flowering in the cooler North (which most longans prefer) is not as proliferous as elsewhere. Fruit set does not appear to be a problem. It is very easy to grow and look after. 4. When does it flower? Here it generally flowers twice a year, although sporadic flowering may appear at other times as well. Cincturing or girdling encourages flowering to a great extent. Many use cincturing to ensure maturing of the fruit during the Chinese New Year in January or February. The major crop occurs at the same time as the other longans. However, most of the growers here discard this crop entirely as it cannot compete with the other longans. The other crop flowers in about August or September. 5. What does it taste like? As I am not good at describing unfamiliar taste, words fail me. I have already described as much as I can, which is not enough, I know. 6. Why are people growing it? It is easy to grow anywhere. In the past, the popular longans were grown almost exclusively in the North. It fetches a very very good price during the Chinese New Year. It is a novelty, because it is the first longan we know which matures in January. 7. What other uses has it? It is found to make good dried longans. However, no commercial production has been reported yet. 8. Does it has a bright future? For the Thai taste, it is a long way behind the other longans. Most Thais agree that improvements are necessary. However, they also agree that it is a good starting point. However, the Thai taste is not necessary the same as the Westerners. We Thais think poorly of Kensington Pride, R2E2 and the whole lots (these are mangoes). -------------------- Subject: Situation of Longan in Thailand The Popular Cultivars To summarize, the most-grown cultivar by far is Daw. Among the new cultivars, the most-grown is Petch Sakorn - it is still a very, very long way behind Daw. The major problems with Daw are as follows: 1. The flavour is not the best - about # 3 or 4, I guess. 2. All Daws in the North mature at about the same time, which presents us with all sorts of problems. 3. We would like to find a cultivar which matures about a month or more earlier. 4. Like most cultivars, Daw still has this tendency towards biennial bearing. The major problems with Petch Sakorn are as follows: 1. The flesh is too watery 2. It has a particular taste, which is not to the liking of the Thais. Most Thais agree that Petch Sakorn needs improvement before it becomes widely acceptable. At present, its real value is its ability to bear fruits out of season, as well as its comparative rarity. So the search is on for a new cultivar. Sainarong ------------------------------- Subject: Importance of Humidity For Longans Many people here are beginning to think that humidity is essential for both the flowering of lychees and longans and the fruit-set thereof. No sufficient research has been done on this as yet. Some growers are thinking of experimenting with overhead mist sprayers above the trees to keep both the temperature down and humidity up during an unfavourable season. I myself am leaning towards this idea. My problem is that most of my longan trees are very very high indeed!!! Which brings us to another subject in vogue here. Is it possible to keep the height of the trees low and yet generate good crops annually? Academics think that this is definitely the way to go, but a lot of work needs to be done in this area, because the growth in our climate is proliferous, to say the very least. Sainarong [Thanks, Sainarong! I make some or all of this into one longish longan supplement, with your permission and your editing. Leo] -----------Stoke's (Banana) sale - And Various Responses--------------- Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 14:04 -0400 (EDT) From: HESTERC@mail01.adm.duke.edu Mailing-List: list zingiber@onelist.com; contact http://www.onelist.com Subject: Stoke's (Banana) sale - And Various Responses To list members: Most of you are probably on the mailing list, but for those who aren't, Stoke's Tropicals recently sent out a flyer with an "end-of-summer" sale. There are 10 types of bananas listed, each available for $7.95. The list includes Rajapuri, Rojo (a.k.a. Zebrina), Ornata "Lavender", Mysore, Cardaba, Double (Mahoi), Kru, Super Dwarf Cavendish, Basjoo and Grand Nain. There are also several gingers, a couple of heliconias, and a few Plumerias on sale. They have a toll free number for ordering: 1-800-624-9706. Note that I am not endorsing Stoke's--in fact, I had minor problems with the last order I got from them. However, the bananas are worth a try at those prices. I also don't hold anything against them, I just want to make it clear I have no connection with them. Just thought some people out there might want to know. Clarence Hester ------------------------------- From: Lester Kallus I have had a bit of experience with Stokes. I can tell you that they've been efficient in sending plants when I wanted them. A Globba that I ordered arrived 1/2 brown. I called them and had a replacement in 3 days. It arrived green but wilted and rolled over dead. I called them again and got yet one more replacement. They gave me absolutely no trouble at all when I called for the replacement and were surprisingly pleasant given that they were sending me a second replacement. I too have no connection with them and obviously have had a bit of trouble with some of their shipments but they've been honorable and I definitely plan to use them for future purchases. Incidentally, with spring orders, there's a discount if you order through the web rather than over the phone. I don't know if that carries over to a further discount beyond the sale. Now if only I could find a space to put a couple of the products while awaiting my greenhouse to be completed... (sigh) Les -------------------------------------- From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" I too have ordered many plants from Stokes' and have had only good luck with them. They ship the banana corms with the roots still attached. Pop the corms into the ground and they start growing immediately. Lessard's old nursery is now "Going Bananas". I have had mixed luck with them. Their corms are shipped stripped of all roots and greenery. I had several start growing after approximately a month and then there was the Saba and Ele Ele which fizzled into a pair of mushy piles without even showing a sign of life. Another place that I've had great luck with is Tropiflora's Cargo Report. During the spring and summer their catalog listed a 10 pack of assorted bananas for $50 including shipping. I ordered one and the plants did wonderful. I ordered from them last year and was very satisfied too. Happy growing, Ray in Ky. zone 6a -------------------------------- From: David Matz Fellow banana enthusiasts (and whatever other tropicals are discussed here): I've been very satisfied with Stokes. The sale they are running now was mentioned earlier, and, since I actually ordered some, I thought I'd pass on that I am very satisfied with my new bananas. The five I ordered joined my other five. The one thing I can't stress too much is that they shipped fast. I was under some climate pressure. We had snow the Monday that I ordered them, so, that was the last week I was willing to get any plants shipped. I got them Friday, and, all were in good shape. My bananas are house plants, needless to say! David in Alaska, zone 1 or less! >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - October 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online November 1, 1998 AKA RFN199811A.txt ------------------Index: What's in this issue?------------------- Leo's Notes #1 and #2 New Subscribers From: John Gavino Subject: New Subscriber, Seattle, Washington, Looking for Sources Readers Write From: Geoffrey Dunn To: Ray Subject: Buddha's Hand From: Raymond N. Gerlach To: Geoffrey Subject: Buddhas' Hand Citron From: WALT ROWE To: Ben Poirier Subject: Roselle From: WALT ROWE To: Ben Poirier Subject: Re: Roselle From: "Godfrey D'Souza" Subject: Need Source For Bilimbi (averrhoa bilimbi) From: Joel Moskowitz Subject: Commiophora mukul - Information Sought From: Anne Boboricken Subject: annona diversifolia (llama) - Scion Wood Sought From: WALT ROWE To: Ben Poirier Subject: Roselle From: Doreen Subject: Rats elimination suggestion and precautions From: Mark Cooper Subject: New Passiflora seed offerings! Newcrops List Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Bob Batson Subject: _Seed to Seed_ Book Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Bob Batson Subject: CGIAR Vows to Not Use Terminator Technology (fwd) Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Julie & Paul Subject: Re: organic crops - Web Sites On Organics Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Claire Spector Subject: Medicinal properties of Opuntia Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 09:46:59 +0100 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: James Morley Subject: Re: Medicinal properties of Opuntia Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Steve Diver Subject: Re: Good agricultural practice Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Wolfram Alderson Subject: Re: Committed to Growing Healing Plants Zingiber (Bananas, etc.) List Mailing-List: list zingiber@onelist.com; contact http://www.onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Stoke's sale Mailing-List: list zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Ginger root From: "Nicho Stamatis" Mailing-List: list zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Ginger root From: dccd3@webtv.net (Deborah cobern) Status of Longan Series Continues (Parts 5 and 6) From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: status of longan in Thailand - 5 Getting longans to flower From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Status of Longan in Thailand - 6 Irrigation and Fertilization Growing Bananas Indoors? Extracted From: The Indoor Banana Page http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2011/Musa.html -------------Leo's Notes--------------- Leo's Note #1 My yard is available today, Sunday, November 1, from 9 until 4, for those of you around who want to see what I am doing. It's a good time of year, with mangoes almost ready to harvest, and with 5 varieties of bananas with fruit forming. Drop by, if you have recovered from Hallowe'en and are in the neighborhood. Leo's Note #2 My Glenn tree has mangoes almost ready to harvest and is has bloom-buds about to open. Also, two more bananas are blooming. The last two are Dwarf Cavendish and Dwarf Jamaican Red, joining Raja Puri, Monthan, and San Jose. I don't know why their bloom cycles are in sync. The Dwarf Jamaican Red has a fat blossom and the most striking feature is that the forming bananas are the same dark red-purple color as the exterior of the blossom. The bananas keep that color until almost fully developed, then become less brilliant in red. They are also delicious. -----------------------New Subscriber-------------------- From: John Gavino Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 01:54:51 EDT Subject: New Subscriber, Seattle, Washington, Looking for Sources hello! My name is: c.b. John Gavino from Seattle, WA. My interests are in most tropical fruit trees/plants. Currently, I have 11-banana varieties, sugar apple, 5 varieties of guavas, several cassava plants (tapioca), pomegranate, citrus (incl. pommelo, blood orange, etc.), carambola (just now sprouting), mango seedlings, loquat, etc. i also have 5 varieties of asian pear. I'm looking for 3 varieties of philippine mangos (grafted), limeberry, bilimbi, makopa (malay apple), grafted ilama, chico, and any compact growing tropical fruit tree. Also, I have 24 ylang-ylang (perfume tree) seedlings and several 3- to 4-foot trees. would like to know of sources for these and various jasminium plants. Gosh it sure is great that you'all are doing this. Thanks so much. By the way, i've been a member of "crfg" for several years now. Thanks again. John G. ----------------------Readers Write---------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 17:35:18 -0700 From: Geoffrey Dunn To: Ray Subject: Buddha's Hand Ray, I am Green with envy. Like you I saw an illustration in a book, and since then been mildly obsessed. My mission has been made easier by the Internet, and good people like yourself and Leo. I am trying to put a "page" together for the BH Citron, and when I eventually have a fruit to photograph and scan I shall post it. Yes Ray, get that plant under cover, I remember the late Mr Gholston mentioning to me that this is probably the most cold sensitive of all the Citrus. Thanks for Your letter Regards Geoff ------------------------------- From: Raymond To: Geoffrey Subject: Buddhas' Hand Citron Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 23:10:01 -0400 Geoffrey, I'm glad that you could find a source of the Buddha. I've had one for two years and this summer it has fruit on it. The tree is approximately one meter in height and has six small fruit on it. I bought the tree because I liked the picture of the unusual looking fruit in a catalog. I never dreamed that in my climate ( zone 6a in Kentucky, USA), one would set fruit. It is fall here and I have to bring all my tropicals into the house before the first frost. I hope that the change does not cause the fruit to fall. Good luck with yours. Ray Gerlach ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 19:41:46 -0400 From: WALT ROWE To: benplant@tfb.com Subject: Roselle Ben, Are you growing Sorrel or the wild Florida roselle? Sorrel is often called roselle. It has green leaves as opposed to the Florida roselle which has maroon leaves. If you can respond back, I will be happy to help answer your question. I grow the Jamaican Sorrel which produces a large calyx and provides plenty of "fruit". I just harvested my first sorrel calyx crop tonight along with two bags of pigeon peas. Hope to hear from you soon. Walt Rowe wrowe@palmnet.net ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 21:44:05 -0400 From: WALT ROWE To: "Ben Poirier" Subject: Re: Roselle >Hi Walt, > >The Roselle I have growing has bright red stems and fruit. I did find a >reference to using the calyx in Julia Morton's book. It suggested using the >entire fruit (with seed pod) for boiling, or removing the seed pod by >cutting around the base and removing. Once this is done can the cleaned >calyx be frozen ? What do you find the best use of these "fruits"? Is the >pigeon pea you are growing good to eat raw ? I had one variety growing >years ago that were great fresh with a nice "nutty " flavor. The ones I >have grown since have a bad after taste and probably need to be cooked. > >Thanks for any info ! > >Ben Poirier > Hi Ben, After the flower falls off, I usually let the seed pod develop until it swells out the top of the calyx, then I pick it. At this point, the calyx is as large as it is going to get and the seeds are mature enough to dry and replant next year. My favorite way to use the fruit is to strip the calyx from the seeds, boil them in water for about 10 minutes with a small piece of ginger root. I strain out the remaining pieces of "fruit" and add sugar and rum. Chill and serve. This is a traditional Christmas drink in Jamaica. I usually use about 18 large calyxes to 3 pints of water. It also makes a fine jelly. Tastes very similar to concord grape jelly. To preserve the calyxes, it is best to remove the seed pods and dry them in the sun. I have never tried to freeze them. Dry the seed pods separately for next years planting. The pigeon peas I have are quite good raw and do remind me of a nutty flavor as you described. They have a slight after taste, but nothing too bad. We typically steam them and serve as a vegetable. Hope this helps Walt Rowe ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 22:56:38 -0500 From: "Godfrey D'Souza" Subject: Need Source For Bilimbi (averrhoa bilimbi) I am a resident of Toronto Canada. I have a greenhouse and my hobby is growing tropical fruit, vegetable and flower trees. I am looking for a source in USA or Canada for the above tree (Bilimbi (averrhoa bilimbi)). Do you grow this tree or know of any sources that do. I would appreciate very much your help. My Name is Godfrey D'Souza. My address is: 40 Farrow Crescent, Ajax, Ontario, L1S 4W6, Canada. Please send me a copy of your newsletter. Thanks for your help Godfrey D'Souza ------------------------------- From: Joel Moskowitz Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 00:15:03 EDT Subject: Commiophora mukul - Information Sought Anyone have any information about the Commiophora mukul tree which is said to grow in India and from which is produced an extract "gugulipid". This extract is said to lower cholesterol 15-35% in 4-12 weeks and triglyceride levels drop 30-40%. Appreciate responses. Joel Moskowitz in San Diego, California ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 13:27:28 -0700 From: Anne Boboricken Subject: annona diversifolia (llama) - Scion Wood Sought Hi Leo, I am trying to obtain some scion wood of the annona diversifolia (llama) for grafting next spring onto cherimoyas. I need about six to eight scions in early spring. Do you know of any sources? I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount for them. Thanks a lot, Steve Boboricken ----------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 16:11:03 -0700 From: Doreen Subject: Rats elimination suggestion and precautions Set out rat traps, bait it with cheese, on your roof, tie or nail the rat trap to a tree out of reach of your pets, and put some in the garden where you know the rats are. Do this around sundown, (that is when they come out). Make sure your pets are indoors. Check all the traps the next morning for dead rats. In the days you do not have to set them, as a precaution for your pets, only at nights. Doreen ------------------------------ From: Mark Cooper Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 14:57:34 EST Subject: New Passiflora seed offerings! Dear plant lovers, We are announcing a new and revised Passiflora Web Page! We have added many new and interesting species to the list. Some of you may have visited recently, but others of you may have not. We now have P. Zamoriana which has been much sought after by some of you as well as many other rare and hard to find species. You may visit our site location at: http://members.aol.com/pasiflora1 Thank you to all of you whom have placed an order with us! We hope that all is well with your new plants. If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us as Passiflora is our specialty! Thanks again, and please enjoy our website. Mark Cooper Direct Seed Company --------NewCrops List New Crops --------- Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 12:01:17 -0500 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Bob Batson Subject: _Seed to Seed_ Book Back when all the discussion of The Terminator technology first began, someone mentioned that everyone should just save their seeds for re-planting and recommended the book _Seed to Seed_ as a good book for directions on saving seeds. I've listed the contents of this book (also available in German) and given my own observations about _Seed to Seed_. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The book _Seed to Seed_ by Suzanne Ashworth (ISBN 0-9613977-7-2) was published in 1991. It contains detailed information on saving many vegetable seeds. The German Language edition is called _Saatgutgewinnung im Hausgarten_, but I don't know the ISBN for it. The only place I know that might sell it is http://www.amazon.de - yes, this is the German branch of Amazon.com. This book measures 8.5- x 11-inches (21.6 x 27.9 cm.) and contains 222 pages divided into 3 sections. Section I, "Saving Vegetable Seeds," Both Sections II & III give specific directions for saving the seeds of more than 100 common and rare vegetable varieties. The book ends with a glossary of terms that are used. The book _Seed to Seed_ is available directly from the Seed Savers Exchange (3076 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa 52101; tel: +1-319-382-5990, FAX: +1-319-382-5872) and many seed companies in the US such as Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Pinetree Seeds and others. It's also for sale at Amazon.com. The suggested retail price is around $22US plus $4US shipping & handling from the Seed Savers Exchange (foreign orders are an additional $15US). PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS: In my opinion, this is the best and most complete book on saving vegetable published to date. But I do believe it has some shortcomings and these are primarily due to the book not being updated. All of the major and minor vegetables that were commercially available in the US in 1991 are all well documented (e.g., Phaseolus spp, Capsicum spp., and Brassica oleracea [Gongylodes Group]). But vegetables that were either not commercially available or not grown in the US are only briefly described. This in includes such plants as Ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa), Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis), and Jicama (P. erosus). Hopefully, the author will update this fine work. Bob Batson bob@sky.net Kansas City ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 20:23:33 -0500 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Bob Batson Subject: CGIAR Vows to Not Use Terminator Technology (fwd) I just received the following alert concerning Terminator Technology and thought it would be of interest to most of you. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 14:34:15 -0700 From: post-o-matic@rafi.org To: Multiple recipients of Subject: CGIAR Vows to Not Use Terminator Technology ------ ALERT: Look for More Important Items on the Terminator Very Soon! ------ Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) http://www.rafi.org News Release - 23 October 1998 World's Largest International Agricultural Research Network Vows not to use Terminator Technology It's bad for poor farmers and it's bad for crop biodiversity concludes the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) meeting in Washington. With more than 70% of the Third World's rice and wheat crops based upon its crop breeding programmes, the world's largest network of agricultural research institutes is vowing not to use Terminator Technology (a biotech-based strategy that prevents seed from regerminating in a second growing season). The decision is a slap in the face to one of its major funders - the US Government, and to Monsanto Corporation - who claim their technology will help feed the hungry. Proud Policy: RAFI has learned that a special committee of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has agreed to advise its network of 16 International Agricultural Research Centres to adopt a no-use policy with respect to the Terminator Technology jointly patented by the US Department of Agriculture and a Monsanto subsidiary, Delta and Pine Land Seed Company. The decision, by the Genetic Resources Policy Committee of the CGIAR, will - if custom is maintained - be accepted by the entire network at its annual gathering in Washington October 26-30. This is the first time, to RAFI's knowledge, that the CGIAR - with an annual budget of about US$325 million in 1998, has taken such a controversial policy position and directly challenged the CGIAR's biggest long-term donor - the US Government. 1800 Letters: "Its the right decision and it is also a courageous decision," says RAFI director, Pat Roy Mooney. "Since the patent was granted in the United States last March, it has attracted unprecedented opposition from farmers' organizations, environmentalists, and agricultural scientists. More than 1,850 individuals from 54 countries have written personal protests to the US Secretary of Agriculture demanding that the technology be banned," Mooney adds. Risky Business: The CGIAR's policy committee, chaired by World Food Prize winner, M.S. Swaminathan of India, began studying the Terminator at RAFI's request last April. The policy committee agreed to call for a network-wide ban on the use of the technology when it met in Washington Tuesday this week. Government delegations arriving in Washington for next week's formal meetings learned of the decision as they arrived at their hotels. Voices for the Poor: "RAFI doesn't have direct access to the final resolution," Mooney reports, "but several delegates confirm that the ban was accepted because the Terminator threatens the well-being of 1.4 billion poor people who, according to FAO statistics, depend upon farm saved-seed for their food security. Many also opposed the Terminator because of its direct and indirect threat to crop genetic diversity. By rendering the harvested seed sterile, the Terminator puts a chilling end to 12 thousand years of farm seed conservation and community plant breeding." According to RAFI's sources, opposition to the Terminator was strongest from CIMMYT (the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre near Mexico City), IPGRI (the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute in Rome) and from the committee's Chair, M.S. Swaminathan. Third World Target: "This is a serious blow to Monsanto and to the US Government," Pat Mooney asserts, "Both parties have argued that the Terminator was designed with Third World farmers in mind. They have also specifically identified crops like wheat and rice in countries such as India, China and Pakistan. The inventors claim that Terminator will give companies with proprietary genetic traits confidence to risk selling their seeds abroad. Since farmers can't save the seeds, they are forced back to the marketplace to buy seed every season. Patented genes can't be bred into other varieties by poor farmers. Traditionally," Mooney explains, "women farmers not only save seed but they use purchased seed to cross with other breeding stock to improve and adapt the seed to their local needs. The Terminator makes all this impossible." Growing Opposition: For these reasons, the Government of India has announced that it won't allow Terminator technology into the country. The Terminator has also been banned in at least one Brazilian state and the technology was the subject of active debate in the Irish Parliament yesterday. "The Terminator patent is pending in 87 countries, RAFI believes that many of these countries will block the patent on the grounds that it is contrary to public morality. The decision by the CGIAR will accelerate opposition around the world. "The CGIAR's members have just cause to be proud of their stance on the side of poor farmers," Pat Mooney concludes. ------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 14:29:20 +1000 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Julie & Paul Subject: Re: organic crops Hi Alex, Here are some leads to follow up. Hope some of it is useful to you! Cheers, Paul Here are some web sites on organics: @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ AUSTRALIA http://www.bfa.com.au/frames.htm (BFA) http://www.bog.powerup.com.au/ (BOG) http://www.pcug.org.au/~jallen/cogcert.htm (Certifying Bodies in Australia) http://www.pcug.org.au/~jallen/cogs.htm#Main (COGS) http://www.pcug.org.au/~jallen/cogworld.htm (Links) http://www.ontas.com.au/nasaa/ (NASAA1) http://www.green-pages.com.au/nasaa/index.html (NASAA2) http://www.earthlink.com.au/nasaa/ (NASAA3) http://www.nor.com.au/community/organic/index.htm (TROPO) http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/main-frame.tcl?topic=David's%20Organic%20Forum (TROPO Organic B'board) http://www.nor.com.au/community/organic/library/pestmgmt/weedcont.htm (TROPO's Organic Info Library - Weed Control) http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/agency/pubns/h2h/5c7368f.htm (WA Ag - Guide to Organic Veges) http://www.earthlink.com.au/wwoof/ (WWOOF) OVERSEAS http://www.attra.org/ (ATTRA - Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas) http://www.caa.org.au/AWARE/1995/june-1995.html (CAA: Organic Farming (Sri Lanka)) http://www.coab.ca/ (COAB - Canadian Organic Advisory Board) http://www.gks.com/cog/ (Canadian Organic Growers) http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/ (Conserv'n Tech Info Center (CTIC) Purdue) http://www.cid.csic.es/enof/index.html (ENOF) http://www.ecoweb.dk/ifoam/index.html (IFOAM) http://sunsite.unc.edu/london/sustainable_agriculture.html (InterGarden) http://www.midnet.com/midnet/organic/ (MidNet Organic (UK)) http://www.ocia.org/ (OCIA (Org Crop Improvement Assoc) http://www.rafi.ca/ (RAFI) http://www.caff.org/sustain/resource_groups (Sust Ag Links (CAFF)) http://www.uni-bonn.de/iol/english.htm (Uni Bonn (Inst for Organic Ag)) -------------------------- Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Claire Spector Subject: Re: Medicinal properties of Opuntia Dear Ronald, Do you have access to American Medicinal Plants by Charles F. Millspaugh (Dover, 1974 one volume reprint of the original 2-volume 1892 Medicinal Plants)? There is an article on Opuntia at Article 61 at pp. 237-240. In short, at page 240, under History and Habitat..."The fruit is edible and at the same time a pleasant diuretic, though it renders the urine a bloody tinge: the taste is acid and cool, much resembling the Pomogranate. Rafinesque states that the split joints make a good emollient application for acute rheumatism, and when baked, for chronic ulcers, gout, and recent wounds; the juice and gummy exudation, he says, is used in gravel. Dr. Porcher in Alabama as a demulcent drink in pulmonic and pleuritic affections. Merat claims that the cut joints are discutient." With best wishes, Claire Spector --------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 12:00:54 +0000 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Steve Diver Subject: Re: Good agricultural practice The connection to agricultural practices and food quality, including active properties of medicinal plants, is something that has a long history in alternative agriculture, going back 70 years to biodynamic farming in Europe and Nature Farming in Japan, all the way to the modern alternative fertility practices expoused by crop advisors who base fertilizer recommendations on the concepts and practices expoused by visionary agriculturists like William Albrecht, Carey Reams, Phil Callahan. The prevaling view in conventional ag is that fertilizer source (e.g., organic versus synthetic; form of fertilizer; biostimulants) has no effect on nutrition. To me this is a bland 2-dimensional viewpoint that is inherent in reductionist science. Tools like refractometers, paper chromatography, sensitive crystallization, radionics, et al can all be used to ascertain quality in addition to traditional lab equipment. A few years back some alternative crop advisors like Lee Fryer, Fred Woods, et al teamed up to reinvigorate the ginseng industry in Wisconsisn with soil building and foliar feeding fertilizer practices to up the active ingredient in ginseng. There is a lot of work going on in alternative ag with monitoring tools and agricultural practices geared to produce quality and medicinal plant active ingredient. It would take time to put this whole story together and list all the resources, but you might start with the following publication. Alternative Soil Testing Laboratories http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/soil-lab.html The following theories are particularly relevant to the soil health-food quality picture: Biological Theory of Ionization, Cary Reams Living Utilization Theory, Andre Voison Vitality Theory of Soil Fertility, Siegfriend Luebke Microvita Theory, P.R. Sarkar Steve Diver ATTRA --------------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 21:44:05 -0400 From: WALT ROWE To: "Ben Poirier" Subject: Re: Roselle At 09:39 AM 10/20/98 -0700, you wrote: >Hi Walt, > >The Roselle I have growing has bright red stems and fruit. I did find a >reference to using the calyx in Julia Morton's book. It suggested using the >entire fruit (with seed pod) for boiling, or removing the seed pod by >cutting around the base and removing. Once this is done can the cleaned >calyx be frozen ? What do you find the best use of these "fruits"? Is the >pigeon pea you are growing good to eat raw ? I had one variety growing >years ago that were great fresh with a nice "nutty " flavor. The ones I >have grown since have a bad after taste and probably need to be cooked. > >Thanks for any info ! > >Ben Poirier > Hi Ben, After the flower falls off, I usually let the seed pod develop until it swells out the top of the calyx, then I pick it. At this point, the calyx is as large as it is going to get and the seeds are mature enough to dry and replant next year. My favorite way to use the fruit is to strip the calyx from the seeds, boil them in water for about 10 minutes with a small piece of ginger root. I strain out the remaining pieces of "fruit" and add sugar and rum. Chill and serve. This is a traditional Christmas drink in Jamaica. I usually use about 18 large calyxes to 3 pints of water. It also makes a fine jelly. Tastes very similar to concord grape jelly. To preserve the calyxes, it is best to remove the seed pods and dry them in the sun. I have never tried to freeze them. Dry the seed pods separately for next years planting. The pigeon peas I have are quite good raw and do remind me of a nutty flavor as you described. They have a slight after taste, but nothing too bad. We typically steam them and serve as a vegetable. Hope this helps Walt Rowe ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 12:27:50 EDT Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Claire Spector Subject: Medicinal properties of Opuntia Dear Ronald, Do you have access to American Medicinal Plants by Charles F. Millspaugh (Dover, 1974 one volume reprint of the original 2-volume 1892 Medicinal Plants)? There is an article on Opuntia at Article 61 at pp. 237-240. In short, at page 240, under History and Habitat..."The fruit is edible and at the same time a pleasant diuretic, though it renders the urine a bloody tinge: the taste is acid and cool, much resembling the Pomogranate. Rafinesque states that the split joints make a good emollient application for acute rheumatism, and when baked, for chronic ulcers, gout, and recent wounds; the juice and gummy exudation, he says, is used in gravel. Dr. Porcher in Alabama as a demulcent drink in pulmonic and pleuritic affections. Merat claims that the cut joints are discutient." With best wishes, Claire Spector Center for Medicinal Plant Farming & Traditional Medicine P.O. Box 26 Beallsville, MD 20839 (301) 407-0486 (301) 407-0578 fax --------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 09:46:59 +0100 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: James Morley Subject: Re: Medicinal properties of Opuntia On 21 Oct 98, at 17:33, Ron Bunch wrote: > I was just attempting to answer an inquiry about the medicinal properties > of cactus pear when your message came across, and I have to ask: Do you > have any information or can you point me to any possible information about > the medicinal affects of cactus pear (Opuntia sp.)? There is a lot of information, but the following should get you started........ Research strategies for the improvement of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit quality and production. J. Arid Environ. 29(4): 455-468 (1995) Cures of the Copper Canyon: medicinal plants of the Tarahumara with potential toxicity. HerbalGram 34: 44-55 (1995) Wild plants of the Pueblo province: exploring ancient and enduring uses. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1995. xiii, 290p ISBN: Effect of Opuntia ficus-indica flower infusion on urinary and electrolyte excretion in rats. Fitoterapia 67(5): 459-464 (1996). Agro-ecology, cultivation and uses of cactus pear. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 132. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States, 1995. 216p ISBN: 9251037353 Wild plants and native peoples of the four corners. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1997. 313p ISBN: 0890133190 Legends and lore of Texas wildflowers. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press, 1996. xvii, 240p ISBN: 0890967024 James Morley ----------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 12:00:54 +0000 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Steve Diver Subject: Re: Good agricultural practice The connection to agricultural practices and food quality, including active properties of medicinal plants, is something that has a long history in alternative agriculture, going back 70 years to biodynamic farming in Europe and Nature Farming in Japan, all the way to the modern alternative fertility practices expoused by crop advisors who base fertilizer recommendations on the concepts and practices expoused by visionary agriculturists like William Albrecht, Carey Reams, Phil Callahan. The prevaling view in conventional ag is that fertilizer source (e.g., organic versus synthetic; form of fertilizer; biostimulants) has no effect on nutrition. To me this is a bland 2-dimensional viewpoint that is inherent in reductionist science. Tools like refractometers, paper chromatography, sensitive crystallization, radionics, et al can all be used to ascertain quality in addition to traditional lab equipment. A few years back some alternative crop advisors like Lee Fryer, Fred Woods, et al teamed up to reinvigorate the ginseng industry in Wisconsisn with soil building and foliar feeding fertilizer practices to up the active ingredient in ginseng. There is a lot of work going on in alternative ag with monitoring tools and agricultural practices geared to produce quality and medicinal plant active ingredient. It would take time to put this whole story together and list all the resources, but you might start with the following publication. Alternative Soil Testing Laboratories http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/soil-lab.html The following theories are particularly relevant to the soil health-food quality picture: Biological Theory of Ionization, Cary Reams Living Utilization Theory, Andre Voison Vitality Theory of Soil Fertility, Siegfriend Luebke Microvita Theory, P.R. Sarkar Steve Diver ATTRA ---------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 09:38:27 -0800 Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Wolfram Alderson Subject: Re: Committed to Growing Healing Plants In response to Pat who was seeking information on healing and plants: here is a small list of organizations that I know of that are working in the people / plant dimension: American Horticultural Therapy Association 362 Christopher Avenue Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879 Voice: (301) 948-3010 Toll-free: (800) 634-1603 Fax: (301) 869-2397 E-mail: ahta@ahta.org Web site: http://www.ahta.org/ Casa Colina Horticulture Therapy and Training Program Casa Colina Farms Wolfram Alderson, Coordinator 2850 N. Garey Avenue Pomona, California 91769-6001 Phone: (909) 596-7733, ext. 4263 Fax: (909) 596-9520 E-mail: wolframald@earthlink.net People-Plant Council Dr. Diane Relf, Chair Dept. of Horticulture Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061-0327 Phone: (703) 231-3083 Fax: (703) 231-6254 Dr. Relf provides the People-Plant Newsletter. If you have an e-mail address, you can request this newsletter by sending the message Asub PPC-L your name@ to listserv@listserv.vt.edu Herb Society of America 9019 Kirtland Chardon Road Kirtland, Ohio 44094 Phone: (440) 256-0514 Fax: (440) 256-0541 E-mail: HERBSOCIET@aol.com Web site: http://www.herbsociety.org/ The American Community Gardening Association 100 N. 20th St., 5th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 Phone: (215) 988-8785 Fax: (215) 988-8810 E-mail: smccabe@pennhort.org Web site: http://communitygarden.org National Gardening Association 180 Flynn Avenue Burlington, VT 05401 Phone: (802) 863-1308 Fax: (802) 863-5962 Web site: http://www2.garden.org/nga/ American Botanical Council Herbalgram P.O. Box 201660 Austin, Texas 78720-1660 Phone: (512) 331-8868 Fax (512) 331-1924 E-mail: abc@herbalgram.org Web site: http://www.herbalgram.org/abc_herbalgram.html Herb Research Foundation 1007 Pearl St., Suite 200 Boulder, CA 80302 Phone (303) 449-2265 Fax: (303) 449-7849 E-mail: info@herbs.org Web site: http://www.herbs.org/ The Trust for Public Land National Office 116 New Montgomery, 4th floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (405) 495-4014 Fax: (415) 495-4103 E-mail: mailbox@tpl.org Web site: http://www.tpl.org These are just a few of my favorites! Good luck! -Wolfram Alderson ----Mailing-List: zingiber@onelist.com; contact http://www.onelist.com--- Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 22:11:40 -0400 Mailing-List: list zingiber@onelist.com; contact http://www.onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Stoke's sale From: Raymond N. Gerlach Deb, They (Stoke's) recently changed web addresses. Their present catalog is on the website and has no bananas listed but you could always email Dennis and ask him if they still have any in stock. They deal mainly in orchids, bromeliads,and tillandsias. Each catalog usually has a special item ,I.E. bananas, elephant ears, etc.. Should I add the usual disclaimer? I am in no way associated with them or any other nursery, garden center, or UFO group. http://www.tropiflora.com/ Tropiflora 3530 Tallevast Rd Sarasota. FL 34243 Ph 800 613 7520 P.S. Another good supplier of fruit trees is http://www.eat-it.com/. I've gotten several citrus trees from them and now have in fruit Buddas' Hand Citron and a lime tree that is covered in limes. I have gotten 2 citrus that are ornamental but hardy to zone 6 from them too. They do carry a banana, the dwarf novak for $9 qt., $18 Gal, and $45 for 3 gallon. I had to make sure that I added a zingiber! Please feel free to email me any obscure websites about tropical fruit in general, I love a challenge. Ray in Kentucky at themrmeatman@msn.com -------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 21:21:37 +0200 Mailing-List: list zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Ginger root From: "Nicho Stamatis" You asked: Greetings: I'm new to the list I bought a Ginger root at the store and Planted it. will it bloom, let alone grow? Yes it should grow and will flower too depending on your climate and soil. The flowers are produced when the plant is about 35 cms high, normally in the rainy season. It is a typical cone-shaped inflorescence and growth is typically ginger-like in appearance. The foliage is nice used in food, as well as the flower before it is fully formed can be chopped up and added to food. Also the young and tender new rhizome growth (whitish-pink in colour and tender) is the best for pickling or preserving as it is not stringy. George South Africa ------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 12:56:06 -0600 (CST) Mailing-List: list zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com Subject: [zingiber] Re: Ginger root From: dccd3@webtv.net (Deborah cobern) I do it all the time! I grow them inside durring the winter and outside come spring. Have never flowered though. Very tropical. .....Deb ----------Status of Longan Series Continues-------- Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 22:41:54 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: status of longan in Thailand - 5 Getting longans to flower The seminar was attended by quite a few longan growers. The most common and the most urgent question they had was "How can I make sure that my longans will flower this year?" This worry is quite understandable, as they had a disastrous year, and if the coming year turns out to be bad as well, many of them will be at their wit's end - most of the growers are not well-off and depend heavily on longans. No one could give them the exact answer they want. The assurance that this year should turn out to be a very good year, as all the conditions should be favourable, is not enough for them this time. While I do not have the answer, I can tell you about those who have. As far as I know there are 3 persons who can make longans flower out of season. They are: 1. Mr. Kaveesawas, a longan gower in the South of Thailand. In the South, the weather is never cold, so it came as a surprise to all that Mr. Kaveesawas can consistently force his longans to flower in about April every year. Kaveeswas used to work on a rubber plantation in the South, before he went north to manage a longan orchard. Soon, he became copnvinced that he could make longan flower in his native South, so he went back home, and started a longan orchard there. Lo and behold! He was successful. He keeps his formula a secret. People surmise that in his orchard, all but one (the temperature) of the important conditions are very positive. It is thought that he must apply a stimulant to the longans, probably a well-known hormone. I hear that on a certain day every year, he tells all his workers to go away, and works on the orchard all by himself at night. There are two clues, namely, Kaveeswas used to work in a rubber plantation, and that he worked in the longan orchard in the North about seven years ago. His success is remarkable as he did not have a high education. 2. Dr. Tanart Tanyapar, a lecturer at Chiang Mai University. A longan orchard in Chom Thong district, Chiang Mai province flowered in July or August this year. Dr. Tanart is an advisor to this orchard. His former students tell me that he is very interested in hormones, and all of the research works he gave them were about hormones. He did a study on the effect of pacolbutrazol once. I am told that Tanart corresponds with experts in other countries, namely Japan and Israel, quite often. Tanart has not yet divulge the details of his achievements. 3. Dr. Chung-Ruey Yen of Taiwan. Professor Yen informs me that he is now able to force longans to flower any time. Professor Yen is willing to share the details of his achievements with anyone. However, as his project is supported by the Council of Agriculture, their permission is needed - this may take some time. He informs me that his paper will be published very soon. Of course, you can always use the cultivars which flower out of season. Petch Sakorn immediately springs to mind However, Petch Sakorn has major draw-backs. There are also quite a few particular longan trees of various popular cultivars,which, for some reasons, regularly flower out of season. Researchers at Maejo and Lampang and some other places are collecting branches from these particular trees, and growing them in their test plots. Hopefully, some of these transplanted trees may still retain this looked-for ability to flower out of season. I can write more on this very interesting subject, but this should be enough for one e-mail. Tomorrow I am off to visit the very first Petch Sakorn orchard. Good Luck! Enjoy Yourself! Sainarong ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 11:21:13 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Status of Longan in Thailand 6 Irrigation and Fertilization Almost no work has been done on the irrigation needs of longans in Thailand. We simply learned from experience that water is of extreme importance to longans. We just know that, in the period before flower initiation, lots of water would not be beneficial. Often some form of water stress is required, particularly when other conditions are not conducive to flowering. If other conditions are favourable, then water stressing is probably not necessary ( excess of water is still not desirable). Even when water stress is applied, sufficient watering is still probably required to keep the leaves from withering. It is currently thought that humidity is also an important factor as well. I understand that, in some area of Australia this year, longans almost did not flower at all due to not-sufficiently-low temperature for a sufficient period. However, it should be noted that, in the East of Thailand in Chantaburi, the temperature hardly ever drop below 17 degree C, and yet E-Daw longans perform fairly well there almost every year. So, it would seems that low temperature, although important, is not the overiding factor. Some people tend to think that, if we can maintain a micro-climate of sufficient humidity and not-too-high temperature, longans can be made to flower, even when the low temperature is not favourable. I think this should be looked into. Moreover, Dr. Ravie Sethpakdi thinks that (let's see if I can get this right), if we give the tree proper stimulus at the proper time (which is the time the buds are ready to flower) - timing is of extreme importance here, we can get longans to flower inspite of adverse conditions. If we leave it too late, then bud initiation will not occur. All these are foods for thought. When the fruits are growing, lots of water is required REGULARLY, especially during the period the fruits are about to mature. Parts of the reasons could be the extremely hot and dry weather at that time, as well as the huge crops we get in Thailand. All these are simply thoughts and experience. I do not know of any research works on this important topic. I intend to write about fertilisers as well, but that can wait until the next time, as this piece is longer than I originally intended. Good Luck! Enjoy Yourselves! Sainarong ------------Want To Grow Bananas Indoors?------------------ Copied Partially From: The Indoor Banana Page http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2011/Musa.html Our Bananas My first banana was a Williams Hybrid. A vigorous variety that was sent to me as a dwarf. This plant grew with amazing speed and it was soon apparent that the term "dwarf" in banana-speak was still too large for an apartment! It went from 4' to 10' in a single summer and had to be transported to it's current home in the Wellesley-Natick Veterinary Hospital. "Will" as he was known, now sits high upon a mezzanine over-looking the waiting area soaking up what sun he can throught the large windows. I finally got my hands on something a little more "apartment friendly" and I now have two "Mahoi" or "Double" bananas, a "Raja Puri," (both from "Going Bananas" - my favorite banana nursery!) a Red Macaboo (Dwarf Jamacan Red) and a several "Super Dwarf Bananas" (see below). They are out in the hot humid Wisconsin summer growing nicely. They spent the winter under a metal halide bulb. During the warmer months when they are creating a whole new leaf every 7-10 days, I water them with full strength hydroponics solution. Sort of like a power shake for plants. The resultant growth is incredible. "Super Dwarf Bananas" I think I have finally found the ultimate in small space banana plants - the "Super Dwarf Banana" (Musa acuminata ÔNovak' PPAF) from Oglesby Plant Laboratories, Inc. In Altha FL. I found this little 12 inch plant at a local nursery, it is a third grown and I am told it will not exceed 5 feet total before flowering. You can also order then from Edible Landscapes. I will be growing one of these in a "Bucket System" from AHL Albuquerque Hydroponics and Lighting. Other varieties to try are the Dwarf Cavendish AAA (which is the progenetor of the Musa acuminata ÔNovak' PPAF), The Mahoi or Double AAA+, the Cuban Dwarf Red AAB, and the Raja Puri. The Raja can get quite tall but tolerates cooler, dryer conditions better than other varieties. Hydroponic Bananas I have created a separate page for Hydroponic Bananas. Pics will be posted periodically to demonstrate the growth of a banana in a commercially available hydroponics unit. Taxonomy/History of the Banana: Most edible bananas belong in the order Scitaminae, family Musaceae, genera Musa, section, Eumusa. Modern cultivars are derived from various combinations of M. acuminata and M. balbisiana genes. Predominance of M. balbisiana genes produces a fruit with reduced water content, and is regarded as a plantain or cooking banana. Predominace of M. acuminata in the genetic makup results in higher moisture content, such fruit are the eating bananas Modern cultivars are incapable of producing seed as they are at least triploid+ (having at least three sets of genetic material instead of the standard two). Depending upon their growth characteristics/genetic makup, bananas are often described with some combination of the letters "A" or "B" (for M. acuminata and M. balbisiana respectively). The dwarf cavendish for example is often notated with AAA following the cultivar name to describe it's genetic makup. The Mahoi or "Double" is a mosaic of cells containing a variety of sets of genes and is notated as AAA+. Plantains will oftne be described with ABB, intergrades, such as the Hua-Moa are termed AAB. In short, more "A's" gives you more of a desert banana, more "B" genes, will yeild a cooking variety. The Banana has been domesticated since before recorded history. It is beleived to have origionated in the rain forests of the indo-pacific, and has been transported across the globe. Alexander the Great is credited with bringing bananas to the western world from India. What is a Banana? Plant or Tree? - - - - - Culture Starting your banana off right When purchasing bananas throught the mail you will usually be receiving one of the following: A corm, a small tissue cultured plantlet, a small growing plant in a quart to gallon size pot. Corms are the most commonly sent material because they tolerate shipping conditions better. When you place your order, the folks at the banana farm will go out into the feild and select a "sucker" or ratoon (see propagation) They will cut this from the mother plant with a sharp spade, trim off the roots and leafs to prevent evaporative water loss, wrap the corm in newsprint or other paper and ship it off to you. I have also received tiny (4-6") to mid sized (8-14") plantlets from mail order companies. Corms are considered superior as far as shipping goes, but the intact and functioning root system of a TC plant gives it an advantage in terms of production. Of course buying a larger plant that is already started and growing well is ideal, but they are often more expensive and do not ship as easily as a corm or plantlet. Planting a Corm Dip the widest end of the corm in a fungicide (captan, benelite etc.) and bury it in rich, well drained soil. The remnant pseudostem should protrude above the ground. Where the leaf sheaths join the corm can be planted approximately 1-2" under the soil line. Water thoroughly with room temperature water, this will initiate root growth. Do not water again until the soil dries to a depth of 1-2". Overwatering will rot the corm as the plant cannot normally transpire, and the water content of the corm will rise as the roots reestablish themselves. Once there are 1-2 leaves watering can begin in earnest as the plant is capable of releaseing water into the atmosphere thought the leaves. Keep the banana as warm as possible during this time as this will speed the growing process and help the plant establish a strong root system. Soil Bananas hate to get their feet wet - leave them sitting in water for any length of time and you will invite fungus, and rot the roots and corm. Bananas do, however, like a rich moist potting media. Sounds like a bit of a contradiction eh? Basically, find a potting media/soil that drains well but has lots of organic material (compost) and vermiculite and you should be fine. I have used a number of different commercially available potting mixes and I prefer Peters Potting Mix. I can't get it here in WI though and I have been using "Jiffy Potting Mix". So far so good. The last few ratoons I have removed are in a mixture of coconut fiber and vermiculite - we'll see what happens. Soil pH can be important as certain banana varieties have a definite preference. See the suggested reading for variety-specific pH requirements. Most folks will have the Dwarf Cavendish or similarly tolerant plants, in these varieties pH is not as much of a concern. Watering Once the plant is established and growing, water frequently. The soil should drain immediately, and the banana must never have soaked roots as this will easily rot the corm. Try to keep the soil evenly moist. A 4-6 foot plant in a sunny window might transpire 1-2 gallons of water a day depending on the number of leaves it it carrying. Bananas outdoors will use almost twice that. Try to avoid allowing the leaves to wilt from lack of water. This is easily remedied with a good drenching, but it stresses the plant and could affect the size and quantity of the fruit. Feeding W.O, Lessard states in his book,(see below) that the ideal banana fertilizer is 9-3-19. In reality bananas are not terribly choosy feeders so long as they are provided with a fair bit of Potassium (the "K" in NPK). I have been using Maxigrow from General Hydroponics. This gives me an NPK of 10:3:20, awefully close to Mr. Lessard's recommendation. During rapid growth phases I water with the solution full strength, but reduce the concentration in the winter as the unused salts could build up and burn the roots. Plenty of folks get by with plain old Miracle Grow, or Peters. Propagation Edible bananas are polyploid (have more than two sets of genes) they are sterile and generally incapable of producing viable seed. Of course there are exceptions, but the commonly available varieties rarely produce any seed. Because of this all reproduction is vegetative, i.e. the plant sends out shoots (known as suckers, pups, or ratoons) to replace itself after it fruits and dies. most of the time these ratoons are exact duplicates of the parent - like a clone. Bananas can and do mutate though, the two most common mutations are the developement or loss of dwarfing characteristics, and the development or loss of red pigment. Such mutation is called "sporting". - - - Thin leafed ratoons growing from 4-6 inches from the base of the mother plant are called sword suckers, and are the prefered material for propagation. Suckers that arise far from the mother plant with larger leaves are called water suckers and are thought to yeild a weaker plant when removed. To remove the pups simply sever the umbilical-like attachment of the smaller plant's corm to the mother, and dig the pup out. Trim off most of the leaves to reduce evaporative water loss in the young plant. Don't worry - they'll be replaced shortly! Plant as before and viola! A new plant. Initially, remove the suckers while they are small and discard them, this will allow the mother plant to conserve it's energy for the impending fruit. Once the mother plant is 1/2-3/4 grown allow a few suckers to grow so that you can increase the number of plants you have, or to give away. Have a care not to remove every sucker, this will weaken your plants root system. It is best to have one plant in fruit, another 2/3-3/4 grown and another just breaking through the dirt. This arangement is refered to as a "Mat" of bananas. Suggested Reading Lessard, W.O.: The Complete Book of Bananas. - The ultimate source for the banana hobbiest, excellent information and outstanding pictures. (can be purchased from "Going Bananas") The Banana Resource Guide: Where to get your own banana plants Taggart B. & G. Randolph. A Taste of the Tropics . . . Hydroponic Bananas. The Growing Edge 1996 volume 7, number 4, pages 56-61. Waterman, M. P. Growing Bananas Indoors. The Growing Edge 1992 volume 3, number 3, pages 17-22. Robinson, J.C. (1996) Bananas and Plantains, Crop production In Horticulture #5. CAB International, Wallingford UK. ISBN 0-85198-985-3 Gowan, S. ed.:(1996) Bananas and Plantains. Chapman & Hall, London ISBN 4-412-36870-6 Stover, R.H., Simmonds, N.W.:(1987) Bananas 3rd ed. Longman Scientific & Technical, New York. ISBN 0-582-46357-2 The Zingiber Listserve - (Go to this web site to subscribe: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2011/Musa.html) - - - Recipies * Banana Recipes * http://www.thevirtualba...ndex/Ingred/Banana.html >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - November 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online November 15, 1998 AKA RFN199811B.txt ------------------Index: What's in this issue?------------------- Leo's Note - Construction of Hotbed With PVC and Plastic Film New Subscribers From: Godfrey D'Souza Subject: New Subscriber: Ajax (Ontario) Canada From: Andrea Schielka Subject: New Subscriber, Davenport Florida, Wants To Begin Growing Fruit Readers Write From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Hydroponic bananas anyone? From: Leo To: Martin Berghuis Subject: "Gold Basjoo" banana for $24 at Home Depot From: Holzinger, Bob To: Steve Subject: A. diversifolia wood Subject: Removing Astringency From Hachiya-Type Persimmons Conversations With Josten From/To: Josten To/From: Leo Subject: Japanese Persimmon - "bitter" taste - How to Remove???!! From: Clement To: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: RE: Cherimoya --From NEWCROPS List From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Japanese nursery catalogs --Mailing-List: zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com From: Richard Wanberg Subject: My first-hand experience with Musa basjoo (banana) From: Richard Wanberg Subject: My first-hand experience with Musa basjoo Subject: Musa basjoo From: Paul Spracklin --Continuing The Information Series On Longan - From Thailand From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Traditional Chinese Medicine - Slightly off the longan track From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Selling points of Longans --Web Sites To Consider Subject: Edible Plants Fruit & Vegetable http://www.guiaverde.com/informacion/html/header_inglesinform.html From: Leo Subject: Found new hardy tropical fruit chat (Web Site) From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" -------------Leo's Note----------------- Subject: Short Hotbed/Greenhouse Constructed With PVC Pipe I just put together a couple of hotbed/greenhouse structures, only three feet tall, using half-inch "schedule 40" plastic pipe, and covered with plastic film. The film was not treated to resist deterioration from sunlight, as it should have been, but I had this and didn't have ready access to an alternative. (Note: I have found that Peaceful Valley Farm Supply has a wide array of supplies, including greenhouse building materials, with good prices. It's website is www.groworganic.com.) I used corner pvc connectors that were threaded for the vertical pipe. I found that the horizontal top pipe would sag unless supported by additional vertical pipes, about three feet apart. For the pvc around the top, I found it useful to put at least one spacer pipe across to help support the top, when it's open. Mine are near the house, so the top leans back against the house when opened. For the lift-off top I first tried plastic film to wrap around, but it would sag under the weight of rainfall so badly that bought corrugated fiberglass and screwed it to the wood that's cut to fit the corrugations, and then screwed it to the pvc pipe frame. The bottom was left open, sitting over a styrofoam pad with a heating cable. I am trying to use soil heating cable for bottom heat in the following way: I laid the soil-heating cable on top of a styrofoam 2" thick pad, cut to fit the bottom of my hotbed described above. I punched holes in the styrofoam pad to insert string to hold the heating cable in place. You can't cross the cable onto itself in the layout. Then I've wrapped the styrofoam/heating cable pad with heavy plastic, to minimize damage from pots being moved around on it. The heating cable has a thermometer built in and it's supposed to regulate the temperature to 72 degrees, Fah., but some of the cables don't reach that temperature. (Has anyone any information about changing the cable length or using a different thermostat to increase the temperature?) I will only use it to start seeds or to boost the growth of young but tender plants. I may replace the plastic film with a double-walled polycarbonate rigid glazing, eventually, and maybe attach it to the PVC frame. Anyone been there and done that? Leo ------------New Subscribers-------------- From: Godfrey D'Souza Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 09:35:47 -0500 Subject: New Subscriber: Ajax (Ontario) Canada I am Godfrey D'Souza, living in Canada - Province Ontario, City: Ajax I am a beginner. I grow all sorts of rare herbs from India, like Curry Leaves, Cilantro, basil, mint and so on. Fruits none at the moment. But I plan to soon. I have a friend who has a greenhouse and grows all sorts of tropical fruits and plants. We exchange information from the Internet, as he is not computer literate yet. Thanks for publishing my earlier query about Bilimbi in your newsletter. I already got a call from a subscriber of your newsletter in Ontario. I look forward to your future newsletters and hope I will take active part in the group. Thanks Godfrey D'Souza -------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 12:05:13 -0800 From: Andrea Schielka Subject: New Subscriber, Davenport Florida, Wants To Begin Growing Fruit Hi My name is Andrea Schielka. I live in Davenport Florida [8 minutes from Disney]. Its a new home and I am doing research now on fruit trees. I'm sure I want avacado, jujube, mango, papaya but I don't know enough about others. e-mail address andiart@bigfoot.com I appreciate your work and help. Thanks Andrea Schielka ---------------------Readers Write---------------------- Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 23:16:08 -0800 (PST) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Hydroponic bananas anyone? Hi Leo All this talk of bananas is making me jealous (especially hearing about that sale at Stoke's Tropicals for cheap bananas). Thankfully I've been able to locate some dwarf banana stock in Australia. I'm waiting for the banana tissue culture to be delivered within a couple of weeks or so. Anyway, I am wondering if anyone on your list has grown bananas hydroponically. I plan on using an "Aquafarm" like system that I've made myself. It is a double bucket system with a shorter bucket having small holes in it's base being placed inside the taller. The smaller 15 liter bucket has some kind of medium (I'm using volcanic rock). An air pump pumps oxygen enriched nutrient solution from the bottom bucket to the top where the plant lives which then drains back to the bottom. I remember seeing in some hydro magazine about some folks in Finland growing bananas hydroponically using geothermal activity to warm the plants. I guess they'd be candidates for rare fruit growers. That's all for now. Bye Mark Dodgson ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 20:57:41 -0800 From: Leo To: Martin Berghuis Subject: "Gold Basjoo" banana for $24 at Home Depot You said: Dear Leo, I am looking for the Musa Basjoo banana. Anybody out there have an extra pup? This is the hardy Japanese banana. Best regards Martin Berghuis ---------- Martin, I just today noticed at Home Depot a small "Gold Basjoo" banana for $24. I don't know exactly what that is, but it's described as tolerating -10 degrees (when mulched). Under "Plant Growth Characteristics" is stated (for Gold Basjoo) "A very unique banana leaf architecture. Grows to a height of 12 to 16 feet." Recommended Growing Environment "Temperature: Will tolerate extremes of -10 to 100 degrees F. Light: Full sun indoors, Partial shade outdoors; Humidity: Likes medium to high humidity" Leo ------------------------------- From: Holzinger, Bob To: Steve Subject: A. diversifolia wood Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 12:02:22 -0800 Hi Steve, I too would like to locate a source of A. diversifolia wood, so I'll tell you what I have done and you can go from there. I called Zill Nursery in Florida and they said they don't have any trees available until next June. I figured if I could get a tree then I could try growing it on whatever rootstock it came on and then use it as a source of wood to get it on A. cherimola roots. Since Zill doesn't ship to California anymore, I tried Garden of Delights and they only had trees on A. glabra rootstock, which I didn't have much chance of doing well here, so I passed on that. Meanwhile, George Emerich obtained two trees from Garden of Delights and they didn't have much branch structure left after shipping, so I'll wait and see if George gets anything to graft onto cherimoya next spring. I'm considering getting a tree from Garden of Delights after next June if they get some on another rootstock, like A. reticulata. This would cost about $60 per tree, so it's not going to be cheap. The only other choice is to locate someone who has a quarantine area here that could accept wood and would be willing to care for the grafted trees, since getting wood inspected in Florida may cost about as much as getting a grafted tree. I'm not holding my breath for this alternative. I have read that the seeds of A. diversifolia are difficult to sprout, unless you use gibberellic acid, which I have recentlly tried with a seed. I hope to arrange for a source of seeds in El Salvador to send some fresh seeds, but that hasn't happened yet. Then I could graft seedling wood onto cherimoya, not the best but at least a start. So that's where I am, good luck on your search! Bob Holzinger ------------------------------ I've had the following email conversation with Josten, who wants to treat astringent persimmons with something, so they can be eaten like Fuyu non-astringent ones. Any suggestions? Date: Sat, 07 Nov 1998 22:43:10 -0600 From: Josten Subject: Japanese Persimmon - "bitter" taste - How to Remove???!! Leo, We have a box of locally grown "Japanese Persimmon" which is very bitter. We have heard that "limestone" can remove the bitter taste. Would appreciate very much, getting some idea in this matter. Thank you in advance. Josten. Houston, Texas USA. Email: Josten_Ma@Hotmail.com ------ Josten, When you say "bitter" do you mean the astringent pucker-your-mouth taste that unripe Hachiya Japanese (and certain others) have? Fuyu Japanese persimmons never have that unpleasantness, but those that have that horrible astringent taste will taste wonderful if they are allowed to become soft ripe before eating. There are treatments to remove the astringent taste, if you don't want to wait for them to be dead ripe. If you mean something else, please let me know. Leo ---------- Leo, Yes, I meant astringent pucker-your-mouth taste. We have let them ripe, which does remove some, but not all of the taste. We would like to know how to remove the taste completly. Any suggestions on how to handle the left overs. The tree has been very productive. Josten ------ Josten, I seem to remember that the astringent taste in persimmons can be removed with alcohol injection or by freezing the fruit Leo ---- Leo, Thanks for both of the advice. I will try to freese one today and test for the result, but I would not even know how to do alcohol injection. I got the fruits from our neighor's tree (Houston, Texas), which is loaded with beautiful orange colored persimmons. I like the crunchy texture but in this case, the astringent factor make it unbearable with even one bit. Yes, I can also wait till it is very soft, very waterly inside, but even at that stage the astringent taste is still detectable. I am really looking for a solution to turn this good looking persimmson to good tasting persimmon like the crunchy variety which I am familiar from California, and is available now in the supremarket - you can eat it real cruncy or wait till it get very soft. I got the fruits from our neighor's tree (Houston, Texas), which is loaded with beautiful orange colored persimmons. I like the crunchy texture but in this case, the astringent factor make it unbearable with even one bit. Yes, I can also wait till it is very soft, very waterly inside, but even at that stage the astringent taste is still detectable. I am really looking for a solution to turn this good looking persimmson to good tasting persimmon like the crunchy variety which I am familiar from California, and is available now in the supremarket - you can eat it real cruncy or wait till it get very soft. Josten --------- Josten, the one you like is Fuyu or another non-astringent variety, and you will not be able to eat the astringent types in the crispy stage, without unbearable mouth puckering. For alcohol treatment, you might try cutting one up in small pieces and soaking it overnight in some drinking alcohol - like vodka, perhaps, so it doesn't impart any other flavors. I've never tried it, so I can't give you precise advice. I will ask the newsletter readers, in the November 15 issue, but you don't want to wait that long, probably. --------- Leo Thanks for the help. I have over 100 fruits here, beautiful orange color but stone hard. I'll welcome any additional suggestions and I don't think they will get soft in a hurry. Josten ----------------------------------- Date: Sun, 08 Nov 1998 10:36:06 -0800 From: "George F. Emerich" To: leom@rarefruit.com Subject: Re: Persistent Persimmon Pucker - Any Suggestions for Josten? Leo: I have been told or read that both methods (freezing or injecting with alcohol) are effective but I have no first hand knowledge of either. My favorite method is nature's method, let the damned things get ripe. There is nothing like a Hachiya that has been fully ripened on the tree. George -------------------------------- From: "Josten Ma" Subject: Re: Removing Astringent Taste From Hachiya-Type Persimmons Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 09:49:46 PST Leo, Thanks a lot for the information, I have been out of town. Will try test out the methods asap. The "drying" method sounded real nice, considering we have 2 big boxes of them. Are they to be "oven" dried or how? Any other references on preserving them like may be jam, ...? This have been intersting project. Really appreciated the information. Josten. ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 21:05:37 +0800 From: Clement To: Kimberlee McCormick Subject: RE: Cherimoya Hi Kimberlee, My name is Clement Teng. I'm from Perth, Western Australia. I have a 5 years old Cherimoya that grow very well but only a handful of fruit for the past 3 years. I had to hand pollinate the flowers and create humidity by placing buckets of water and because of our sandy soil, I have to water the tree very everyday. Please do drop me a line if you need further information. Clement --------------NEWCROPS ----------------- Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 06:11:25 -0800 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: Japanese nursery catalogs I've been trying to get catalogs from Japanese fruit nurseries without much success and was hoping someoneon this list might have ideas how to get them. The Japanese have a number of varieties of persimmons, quince, grapes, and other fruits I've been wanting to get information on and possibly to import some of the varieties, but every time I've written for catalogs from Japan, I never get an answer. Can someone help? -Lon Rombough -------------- Mailing-List: zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 16:01:24 EST From: Richard Wanberg Subject: My first-hand experience with Musa basjoo (banana) Just a bit of first hand experience with Musa basjoo. Having lived in central Europe (zone 7b) for several years, I spent quite a bit of time tending to a my Basjoo bananas. With proper care, they did manage to get through most winters. They required considerable "packaging" for the winter. Sometimes, however, they did succumb to the weather and died. More often than not, this was probably due to water getting in and rotting the corms. A pond not far away was frozen over (thick enough to ice skate on) for 6 weeks and the bananas resprouted just fine in the late spring. They are rated to 10 F (-12C) hardiness. This, however, is in reference to mature, healthy plants and not young pups. Apparently, a basjoo cultivar 'Sakhalin' exists which is the cold hardiest. I have never seen this listed for sale, however. Just to be on the safe side, dig up a corm and keep it in the basement over winter. I tried to keep some plants inside the house but they don't do well at all. Other than ordering from Stokes (3-4 week waiting period), a gentleman near Vancouver (zone 8) sells Musa Basjoo with winter care instructions and all. (Tropic to Tropic Plants, P.O. Box 1136, Pt. Roberts, WA 98281 Good Luck! Richard Wanberg P.S. With all the hype, I went to our local Home Depot just north of San Francisco. They were selling the dwarf red bananas (for $16 not $24) but had no Musa basjoo for sale. ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 08:49:22 +0000 Subject: Musa basjoo (banana) From: Paul Spracklin Just a quick viewpoint. There was a collection of Musa basjoo which was said to come from Sakhalin a few years ago, and it was this plant that was micropropagated and circulated in the trade, in the UK at least, for about three years. Prior to that the plants originated from, I believe, Ryukyu. I have both plants and by appearance the apparent differences are that 'Sakhalin' plants seem to sucker a great deal more, even as small pot grown plants, and the pseudostem is a little thicker. This last observation may just be varying growing conditions, though, as I haven't seen a great number of the older Ryukyu plants to make a full comparison, just my own. Certainly when they were first made available about 3-4 yrs ago the 'Sakhalin' plants, as small liners and 1ltr pots ( US equivalent ? ) were kept by the wholesaler in an unheated greenhouse which that winter reached -11C, and he only lost 11 out of about 1000 plants which would indicate a greater hardiness than would have been expected. There was not a great differentiation made between the sources of these plants at the time, and the provenance of the plants now available isn't clear. Certainly it is likely that the material that reached the US via Stokes has only been around for a couple of years and hence could be the 'Sakhalin' plant as this was the one available in greater quantities at that time, but this would need to be researched. As to ultimate hardiness, I have corresponded with a man in Canada - I'm not sure exactly where but he describes his climate as the equivalent of USDA z4b, yes thats FOUR B - and he has successfully overwintered a Musa basjoo with pretty heavy protection of fallen leaves, straw and snow. He abandoned the idea of keeping a trunk, but concentrated on stopping the ground from freezing, which was some feat when the temps fell to -27C ( a mild winter for him, apparently ) ! If he can do it there, anyone can. Hope thats of interest. Paul Spracklin Essex SS7 1LD England --------------Medicinal Value of Longan--------------- Date: Sat, 07 Nov 1998 06:57:35 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Traditional Chinese Medicine - Slightly off the longan track Before writing about the medicinal values of longan, I think that it may be appropriate to give a brief background on the current state of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). I got this information from talking to a qualified TCM practisioner (he studied the subject at a university in China), who is also a holder of a bachelor degree in pharmacy. He says that most people, including many Chinese, are not aware of the current advanced state of Chinese medcine. He says that all formally-approved Chinese medicines must have readily-identifiable ingredients, and all these ingredients must go through rigorous analysis, according to the modern scientific methods. All active ingredients must be identifiable in both quantity and by their scientific formulae. He showed me his vast volumes of reference books. Although they are in Chinese, they also contain chemical formulae which can be readily identified by a western-trained scientist. He says that many of the TCM medicines are now produced in tablet forms from reliable institutions. He says that they are just as good as the 'dried-up' (my words) stuffs, but not as popular as the traditional dried-up forms, because many ordinary people stiil have a feeling that TCM must be in traditional forms and not in the modern tablet forms. For him though, he prefers to dispense the traditional dried forms because he can adjust the quantity of each particular ingredient according to the requirement of each individual patient. However, he adds that the tablet forms are quite satisfactory, and is much more convenient for most people. He has noticed a surge in interests in TCM among both the Asians and the Caucasians. After talking to him, my faith in TCM has increased. My concern is how to separate the genuine practisioners from the numerous quacks. Stay Healthy! Sainarong Rasananda ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 07 Nov 1998 06:26:31 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Selling points of Longans During the seminar, someone said that we should stress the medicinal value of longan. I find this idea extremely interesting. Let me give you some random thoughts and information on this. Both longans and lychees are native to China, and have been favourites among the Chinese from time immemorial.The Chinese love the taste of the lychee fruits, but longans cost more! Why? Because it has always been highly valued for its medicinal properties, so highly valued that there is a belief among many Chinese that one must eat at least one longan fruit a year to stay healthy (a sideline - the fruit is of course dried. Longans was cultivated in a relatively small area in China. As the life of untreated fresh longans is quite short, and transportation in the olden days must have taken quite a long time, most Chinese became used to dried longans, and tend to think that only dried longan has medicinal properties. I am told that fresh longans are just as good for this purpose.) So it would seem that the Chinese have always highly valued longans for its medicinal properties. Why then has nobody ever really stressed this point in the marketing of longans? Followings are my thoughts. Most of the longans are sold to Chinese or people of Chinese origins. They are already well aware of this property. In the past, marketing of longasns was not really important, because there was always a huge market ready to absorb the supply. The Caucasians (for lack of a more appropriate word) were not interested in Chinese medicines and such things. The trend now seems to be reversed. There appears to be an increasing interest and faith in herbs, traditional medicines from India, China, South America, etc, even among the scientific and medical professions. In America, they even talk about TCM, and expect the others to understand the meaning (for the uninitiated, TCM stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine). The Caucasians are always interested in the nutritional values of fruits. If I remember correctly, the nutritional values of longan is nothing to write home about. Besides, its sweetness may even give it a negative value. The medicinal values of longans, now that is a different matter. I believe that longan is ways ahead of other tasty fruits in this department. To sum up, I think we should give serious thoughts about marketing the medicinal values of longans. In my next e-mail, I shall write about my interview with a genuine certified TCM practisioner (who also has a Bachelor degree in Pharmacy) on this subject. Good Luck! Enjoy Yourselves! Sawasdi Krup! Sainarong Rasananda -----------------Web Sites To Consider-------------- Subject: Edible Plants Fruit & Vegetable http://www.guiaverde.com/informacion/html/header_inglesinform.html From: Leo Subject: Found new hardy tropical fruit chat (Web Site) From: "Raymond N. Gerlach" www.insidetheweb.com/mbs.cgi/mb219390 Not much action yet though Raymond N. Gerlach >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - November 15, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online December 1, 1998 AKA RFN199812A.txt ------------------Index: What's in this issue?------------------- --New Subscribers (Lots More Than Usual) From: Tess Gray Subject: New Subscriber, TN, Success: Bananas, Yes, Mangoes: Not Yet From: Paula Dunham Subject: New Subscriber, Minn., Wants Information On Pumelo Taste, etc. From: Eunice Messner Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Information On Mango Tissue Culture From: Doug Hyers Subject: New Subscriber, Florida, Needs Information On Hardy Rare Fruit From: Les Warren Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Info on Marula, sclerocarya caffra Subject: New Subscribers, Fairbanks, Alaska, Has Lots Of Fruit.... From: Clair & Vivian Lammers From: Sue Mcalister Subject: New Subscriber, Florida, With Young Subtropical Fruit Trees --Readers Write From: Leo Manuel Subject: Transport Needed: One Gallon Plant, Bay area To S. California From: "Martin Berghuis" Subject: Advice, Please, For My Greenhouse. Space Heater OK? From: Nan Sterman Subject: Cinnamon and bananas From Leo To: Nan Sterman Subject: Re: Cinnamon and bananas From: Nan Sterman Subject: Re: Cinnamon and bananas From: "George F. Emerich" Subject: Re: Cinnamon Trees In S.D. County? From: "Ronald Lyn" Subject: Lychee tree infestation From: Sainarong To: Ronald Lyn Subject: Re: Lychee tree infestation From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" To: Josten Subject: d kaki astringent From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: New article On Unusual Fruit From: "Jennifer Anderson" Subject: Citrus junos, yuzo - Nursery Sought From: Rina Dalyot Subject: Do I have Sapote or Mexican Guava? From: Clement To: Pilar_Cox@el.nec.com Subject: Re: Cherimoya From: "Duke Hoang" Subject: Frost: Where Can I Buy Smudge Pots Or Other Protection? Subject: Moshe Nadler Tours Litchi Area in China From: moshe nadler From: Doron Kletter Subject: Fw: Improved Longan crop From: "Danielle M. Schooley" Subject: Kiwi Fruit-Tell Me How They Are Grown From: Leo Manuel To: "Danielle M. Schooley" Subject: Re: Kiwi Fruit From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: cherimoya From: Kevin Salmon Subject: Help! How Do I Grow Custard Apple (Annona) in London? From: "Wayne B. Sherman" To: Leo Subject: Re: Any New Low Chill Sweet Cherries? From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: A. diversifolia From: Leo Manuel To: Holzinger, Bob Subject: Re: A. diversifolia From: Larry Bergez Subject: Looking For Mulch Sources In San Diego County From: Leo Manuel To: Les Warren Subject: NewCrop SearchEngine - Marula --NAFEX List From: Leo Manuel To: NAFEX List Subject: Summer Grafting Deciduous Fruit: Scion Not Necessarily Dormant --Two Web Sites To (Really!) Consider Subject: Passion Flower / Passiflora Home Page, Seeds http://members.aol.com/pasiflora1/index.htm From: Moshe Wallach Subject: http://www.fruit.co.il - Moshe Wallach's Fruit Trees Nursery. -------------New Subscribers - Usually With Questions For You------ From: Tess Gray Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 20:57:48 EST Subject: New Subscriber, TN, Success: Bananas, Yes, Mangoes: Not Yet Hello my name is Tess Gray. I live in Knoxville TN and I raise Banana trees. I only have five or six kinds, but I have about 200 trees. Every spring (May 10th) we take them out and plant them in the ground. Sometime in Oct/Nov we dig them up and store them. I am totally consumed with tropicals. When I come home I want to feel like I am in a tropical forest (because I am-even though I created it). It is wonderful. I had my garden perfect this summer and it was the prettiest it has ever been. And guess what? We moved. I had worked on this garden for 7 years and now I am starting over. I have tried growing mangos with no success. Any hints? Anything tropical I will try, no matter how big the task. Some of my bananas weigh in at about 200+ pounds. I love it. Tess ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 13:05:57 -0800 From: Paula Dunham Subject: New Subscriber, Minn., Wants Information On Pumelo Taste, etc. Hi, I'd love to get the rare fruit newsletter. My name is Paula Dunham. I live outside of St. Cloud,Minn. (About an hour 15 mins north of St. Paul!) I'd like to grow fruits such as elderberries,gooseberries and currents here. The cold climate makes it rather difficult for those tropical rare fruits. But, I'd like to find out more about the tropicals I've seen at the grocery store and am unfamiliar with. Yesterday I saw a Pummel (sp?).......it looked like a large green grapefruit. Are you familiar with these? What do they taste like? Do you eat them like a grapefruit or orange? Thanks so much, Paula ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 13:14:39 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Information On Mango Tissue Culture I'm new on www and so don't know what I'm doing. Would like to be a part of your round robin. My e-mail address is eunicemessner@yahoo.com My favorite fruit is mango - next, whatever is in season I live in Anaheim Hills CA and am the Fruit Specialist Coordinator for the California Rare Fruit Growers. Eunice ------ Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 10:08:11 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Mango tissue culture WOW! I'm really impressed with the activities in your website. When do you have time for gardening? I have a question? Is there anyone doing mango tissue culture in Southern California? Elsewhere? Eunice ------------------------ From: Doug Hyers Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 06:34:05 -0500 (EST) Subject: New Subscriber, Florida, Needs Information On Hardy Rare Fruit Leo, I'm Doug Hyers living near Gainesville Fl. I'm interested in growing any varieties of fruit that will be happy in my climate and sandy soil.Temps can get down to 15 and maybe lower but I use covers and lights etc in those emergencies. I have fruited fuyus and grafted loquats and kumquats. I have Surinam cherry, Persian or Pakistan Mulberry and seedling citrus coming along and have not been able to ripen bananas or papaya. Please send sample of newsletter. Doug Hyers --------------------------- Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 18:18:40 -0700 From: Les Warren Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Info on Marula, sclerocarya caffra I am Les F. Warren, in Camarillo, CA I am very interested in learning more about Marula, sclerocarya caffra, from Africa. Dioecious tree, guava-like fruit, edible nut. Has anyone in the area tried to grow this? Will it fruit here? The Israelis are looking into cultivating this commercially. I'm interested in water requirements, soil pH, distinguishing male from female (i.e., how long from seed to flower?). Les ------------------------ Subject: New Subscribers, Fairbanks, Alaska, Has Lots Of Fruit.... Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 08:50:54 -0800 From: Clair & Vivian Lammers Though I cannot grow rare fruit up here, I would like to be included. I live in Zone 1-2 and ripen apples, cherries(sour), plums, pears and apricots. This fall, I picked 1239 pounds of apples. I didn't weigh the other fruit. Clair J Lammers Fairbanks, Alaska Web is: http://www.alaska.net/~lammers/ ------------------------------- From: Sue Mcalister Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 21:10:32 EST Subject: New Subscriber, Florida, With Young Subtropical Fruit Trees I am very interested in your newsletter. I live in Southwest Florida and have several types of young tropical fruit trees including longhan, lychee. loquat, mango, cashew, avocado, black sapote, citrus and a few others. I am just learning about the care of these trees and need all of the information I can find. Would appreciate any available back issues of your newsletter as well as future ones. Thank you. Sue Mcalister ZCRABBY2@aol.com --------------Readers Write---------------- Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 18:28:10 -0800 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Transport Needed: One Gallon Plant, Bay area To S. California If anyone is driving down from the Bay area, there's a one-gallon plant needing a ride to southern California. Actually, Doron Kletter has a one-gallon plant in San Mateo for me, but the plant is rather rare, and we're a little concerned about survival in shipping, via post office or commercial shipping. I you are interested, let me know, and I'll get the address or Doron Kletter to you. Even if you're not coming all the way to San Diego, I would drive to meet you. Yours, Leo ------------------------------ From: "Martin Berghuis" Subject: Advice, Please, For My Greenhouse. Space Heater OK? Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 06:06:00 -0800 Leo: I am building a 20' x 48' Connely's greenhouse, I have a lot of problems with building it. Little support from Connely in Pomona. My question: Has anybody experience with using a space heater in a greenhouse? thanks. Martin Berghuis ---------------------------------- Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 18:55:35 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: Cinnamon and bananas Hi Leo! I wonder if the readers of your newsletter can answer two questions. Preliminary information -- I live in San Diego County, coastal area. Sunset zone 24, USDA zone 10b (more or less). That means that I have one or two freezes each winter, but basically a 364 day growing season. Okay, so here are the questions: 1) A friend gave me a small cinnamon tree and I've had it in a pot for over a year. It's only about 5" tall with a couple of sets of leaves. I have it in indirect light and keep it moist. What do I do with it now? When shall I pot it on and can it go into higher light now? When shall I plant it out in the garden? Into what kind of a spot? 2) I have a mystery banana plant that has a new flower on it. Last year was the first year it fruited and we waited nearly a year to try the fruit. They never seemed to fill out or turn yellow, so we finally just picked it. One or two of the fruit tasted okay, but the texture was pure rubber. So now we have a chance to try it again and I wonder what we did wrong last time and how long it SHOULD take for the fruit to ripen. How do we tell when it is ripe? Thanks! And can I come visit YOUR garden? Nan Sterman San Diego County California Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 19:54:43 -0800 To: Nan Sterman Subject: Re: Cinnamon and bananas Hi, Nan, I don't know the answer to the cinnamon tree question, but allspice trees do survive here. I would keep it protected until it's well over a foot tall, as it wouldn't grow very fast in the cold ground, I'd guess. What do you know about the banana plant? Where you got it, its name, whether ornamental or grown for fruit.... Yes, you may visit my place. Let me know when you want to come and I think we can find a time convenient for both of us. I'll publish your letter to see what we learn about cinnamon trees in our climate. Yours, Leo -------------- Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 20:47:42 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: Re: Cinnamon and bananas Leo, the banana came from a Quail Gardens sale about four years ago. It was labeled "Musa sp." I've asked Carol Graham what kind she thinks it might be, but until she has a chance to take a look, it's still Musa sp to me. It grows about 10 feet tall, green stalks with a hint of red, green leaves, no distinguishing marks.... It seems to fruit quite happily and the flower that started about two weeks ago has two hands so far and it looks like more will be coming. Where is your garden? If I recall correctly, you were open for the RAre Fruit Grower's tour, but I didn't quite make it to SD proper, stayed in my local North County. I am pretty open in terms of time. I work independently so I make my own schedule, but if we did a weekend, then my husband could come too and that would be great. Nan ------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 20:35:06 -0800 From: "George F. Emerich" Subject: Re: Cinnamon Trees In S.D. County? Leo: My impression is that cinnamon is quite tropical an I have never heard of anyone trying to raise it in S.D. You're on your own. I wouldn't dare make rash statements on bananas from afar. Micro-climate and variety are probably most important and they both vary all over the map. I have or have had up to ten cultivars and performance has been highly variable in all of them. I think maybe luck is your best hope. My advise is if you enjoy the challenge and are interested in how things grow try it, but if you want to eat some bananas, the super market is the place for you. George ------------------------------------ From: "Ronald Lyn" Subject: Lychee tree infestation Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 16:29:40 -0500 Hi, Leo. I seem to have some sort of infestation of my adult lychee trees. On the trunk and even some small branches there are crusty blemishes with some powdery excrement around the area. When the area is scraped away a small worm about a 1/4 inch in length and very small in diameter is found borrowing through the barks' surface. Usually only one to an area. The color is creamy white with a small dark "head".20 Is anyone familiar with this pest? Was just getting ready to start a series of insecticide applications. I also seem to have quite a few ants which I am also addressing. Thanks for any help in advance. Ronald. ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 08:28:53 +0000 To: Ronald Lyn Subject: Re: Lychee tree infestation Doesn't seem too serious to me. As long as there are not too many, and as long as they do not bore through the branches or the stem. If he does not have a large orchard, the best way to get rid of them is probably picking them up manually. This has many benefits - no expense, no insecticides, makes you examine your trees carefully and give you more understanding. Sainarong ------------------------------- From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" To: Josten Subject: d kaki astringent Hello Josten We place d virginiana in a plastic bag with an apple apple's gas ripens d v. might do same with d k Bert Dunn zone 4b ontario canada ----------------------------------- Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 09:07:49 -0800 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Subject: New article On Unusual Fruit For those who are interested, one of my articles on unusual fruit just went up on the internet at http://www.bhglive.com/bhggarden/c_fruit/c_fruit.htm The quince in the photo is one of the new non-astringent types I'm testing. That one wasn't perfect, but it's better than standard quinces for fresh eating, and another selection is looking very good. -Lon --------------------------------- Date: Mon Nov 16 20:54:05 1998 From: "Jennifer Anderson" Subject: Citrus junos, yuzo - Nursery Sought Hello: My name is Jennifer Anderson and I am very involved with Japanese tea ceremony and the formal cooking that goes with it. Citrus Junos, yuzu, is very important to us both symbolically and for cooking. I have been looking for a source for a tree for years. I live in California and they are being grown here and appear in Japanese grocery stores. I can't find a nursery source. If you can find one, let me know. Thanks. Jennifer -------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 16:20:57 -0800 From: Rina Dalyot Subject: Do I have Sapote or Mexican Guava? I live in San Diego, California. My name is Rina. I just bought a "Mexican Guava" tree and I am trying to find out about it. The clerk said that on the invoice it said Sapote. Yet on the tree it says Mexican Guava. Are they the same or not. I need info on how to plant it (conditions), how large it will grow, amount of sun needed, etc. Also I am trying to plant several types of citrus trees. The soil near Lake Murray area is clayish and doesn't drain too well but I am determined to successfully grow the trees. I need all the advice you can spare. I also have a loganberry tree that has been in my yard for over 5 years. I need advice on fertilizing and anything else. some years the fruit are larger and some years smaller. Thank you. Rina ----------------------------- Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 21:19:59 +0800 From: Clement To: Pilar_Cox@el.nec.com Subject: Re: Cherimoya Hi Pilar, My Cherimoya is about 4 meter high. There are hundreds of flowers on the tree. I pollinate each one of them at around 5pm. From my experience, I can see the changes of the same flower from female to male at around 4.30 pm. I use a small chinese paint brush, wet it with a drop of clean water and go round the outer ring of the flower (to collect the pollen) and end the process with leaving the pollen at the middle of the same flower. I tried this way for the past few years and it works for me. My reason for doing that was, I don't have to collect the pollen. If I would to leave the pollen on the tree much longer than require, It would easily blown away by the strong wind that we have here. My main concern are the hot dry summer with temperature around the 40 Deg C and very low humidity. As such I create humidity by placing buckets of water under the tree. At the moment Its almost the end of Spring over here and the tree are full of flowers . I will keep you posted with this years success in about 4-5 weeks time. Meantime good luck and don't give up hope. Cheers Clement ------------------------------- From: "Duke Hoang" Subject: Frost: Where Can I Buy Smudge Pots Or Other Protection? Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 15:46:13 -0800 Dear folks, I would like to buy a smudge pot, which is often used for frost protection in commercial cirtrus orchards. If you know where to buy it or any better equipment that use for frost protection please let me know. I would appreciated. Duke Leo, ------------------------------- Subject: Moshe Nadler Tours Litchi Area in China Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 23:03:02 -0800 (PST) From: moshe nadler hi leo! i'm going to china next week. i'll be in guangxi province (once of the biggest litchi growing area in china), i'm going as a volunteer from 'mata' organization in israel. will be happy to write about the trip when i'm back. bye moshe [Leo's Note: Remember Moshe Nadler? (Managed Mango Grove in Puerto Rico] ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 09:10:46 -0800 From: Doron Kletter Subject: Fw: Improved Longan crop Hi Leo, I am copying you to this message for your information (not sure if this would be of interest to the wider audience of the newsletter). However, The talk by Dr. Blumenfeld was extremely intersting. He has some of the most amazing slides of Longan and Lychee orchards fully loaded with extremely heavy crops! The trick, so he says, is stressing the trees for water and spraying (see below). Needless to say the trees are pruned yearly and maintaind at human height for mechanical harvesting. Of particular interest to you is the new technique they developed to provide the required number of chill hours using chemicals. For example, he had shown a "moveable" orchard (for pomme and stone fruit) where the trees are sprayed twice in autumn and the chemicals effectively lower the temperature by a few degrees. In spring they cover the trees with plastic and the trees flower (under the plastic protection) in the middle of winter and give fruit a month and a half earlier. Perhaps you could grow all those high chill varieties after all. He has even shown slides of a healthy Mango orchard planted in pure sand (like in sand dunes by the sea). The orchard was fed 100% via the irrigation system. Happy Thanksgiving, -- Doron -- Copy of Letter to Sainarong Follows: Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 16:49:57 -0800 To: sainaron@samart.co.th From: Doron Kletter Subject: Kiwi Fruit-Tell Me How They Are Grown Hello! My name is Danielle M. Schooley and I am a student at New Mexico State University in the wonderful city of Las Cruces. I am writing a paper for my Horticulture class at, and was wondering if you could please e-mail me all of the information that you know about growing Kiwi Fruit. I find these to be a very interesting and delicious fruit and would loved to hear exactly how they are to be grown. My e-mail address is dschoole@nmsu.edu and would appreciate any and all responses made as soon as possible. Thank you, Danielle M. Schooley -------- Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 07:38:29 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: "Danielle M. Schooley" Subject: Re: Kiwi Fruit Danielle, there are the kiwi fruit you buy in the supermarket, about golf ball size, and a cross section is green with small crunchy black seeds, and then there several so-called 'hardy' kiwis, smaller fruit, occasionally available in supermarkets, but they tolerate cold weather. They all grow on vines, are deciduous (losing leaves in the winter), and require some type of trellis. There is not too much to growing them, provided the type you want to grow will survive in your climate. I will put your request in the newsletter on Dec 1 and you should get some responses about the fruit culture. You might look at www.crfg.org for additional information, also. Yours, Leo ------------------------------ From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: cherimoya Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 19:36:31 -0500 Hello Leo Today i bought the first cherimoya i have ever seen in ontario (or anywhere) naturally i want to try to propogate seeds i know i should buy a cultivar--try to do that in canada!! i understand it'll be 10 years to see fruit will someone give me advise on starting these seeds? Stratification, soil type-ph, any other hints, suggestions even if gloomy many thanks bert dunn zone 4b ontario canada ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 23:12:51 +0000 From: Kevin Salmon Subject: Help! How Do I Grow Custard Apple (Annona) in London? Hi My name is Kevin Salmon I live in London (not ideal conditions, I know) I am interested in growing "Custard apples" (I think your site shows a picture of one - Cherimoya (?)) I hope to hear from you. Thanks Kevin Salmon ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 10:21:57 -0500 From: "Wayne B. Sherman" Subject: Re: Any New Low Chill Sweet Cherries? Leo, No low chill cherries as yet but getting closer. I have a few new hybrids I am waiting to fruit but need to make more crosses this spring which should give the expected variety. Pollen is coming in from Australia. Regards, Dr.Wayne B. Sherman Fruit Breeding University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 --------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: A. diversifolia Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 13:12:23 -0800 Hi Leo, Just thought I'd share a small success with the group. I obtained a seed of Annona diversifolia from the CRFG seed bank. They're supposed to be hard to sprout, but somewhere I read that soaking the seed in 350 ppm of gibberelic acid will do the trick. Well, it did and I have a seedling coming up now after about seven weeks or so. One seed is not a controlled experiment, but success is nice to have when you only have one seed. I also have a question: What color is the mango variety 'Winters', also known as 20222, when it is ripe? I have my first fruit this year and I may have to pick it before it falls if the weather gets ugly. Take care, Bob ------- Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 20:09:03 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Holzinger, Bob Subject: Re: A. diversifolia Hi, Bob, My 20222 didn't fruit this year, but I recall that they were bright yellow-orange, with red-orange blush, and quite fragrant when ripe. I usually wait until there is a little 'give' when thumb pressure is applied to the fruit, but I think you could let it ripen on the tree. Where did the Annona diversifolia seed originate? (Before CRFG?) The Monthan bananas are an interesting sight. The top 3-4 hands are noticeably larger than the majority of the hands below, and the top ones are also somewhat more yellow. Do I dare cut any singles to let them test-ripen off the tree? Yours, Leo ------------------------------- From: Larry Bergez Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 22:58:16 EST Subject: Looking For Mulch Sources In San Diego County Hi Leo, I have a new email address: LPBERGEZ@aol.com. I enjoy reading your rarefruit news. Over the past 5 years, I have had access to the free mulch that I was able to get at the San Marcos landfill. I had a fellow who used to haul it to my place in Escondido. It sure keeps the weeds down and helps hold the moisture in the hot summer months. San Marcos landfill is now closed and I have lost my contact. Would you by any chance know of a landfill in your area that provides mulch. I understand most landfills render this service. If you can, I would appreciate if you can help me locate one. Thank you very much and be looking forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Larry Bergez ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 10:10:03 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Les Warren Subject: NewCrop SearchEngine - Marula Les, here's what I found searching NEWCROPS http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html At that address, I selected CROPSEARCH and then entered 'marula' If you do that, you'll see 'hot' links to these below: -- Domestication and Introduction of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. Caffra) as a New Crop for the Negev Desert of Israel Introduction and Domestication of Rare and Wild Fruit and Nut Trees for Desert Areas New Crops as a Possible Solution for the Troubled Israeli Export Market Sclerocarya birrea Domestication and Introduction of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea New Crop Compendium Les Warren wrote: Has anyone in the area tried to grow Marula? Will it fruit here? The Israelis are looking into cultivating this commercially. I'm interested in water requirements, soil pH, distinguishing male from female (i.e., how long from seed to flower?). -------------NAFEX List ------------ Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 09:46:12 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: NAFEX List Subject: Summer Grafting Deciduous Fruit: Scion Not Necessarily Dormant First, let me say that I live in southern California where the winters are mild. I might not be able to graft as late into the summer if I lived in a colder climate zone. I have grafted extensively throughout the late spring and early summer months, using exactly the same system of grafting that I would use if both scion and rootstock were dormant. (I like the whip-and-tongue method when possible, but if the scion is very small in diameter, I will use the cleft graft.) I use scions that are newly hardened off - not too tender and succulent - and rootstock that is actively growing. The only precaution necessary is to keep the scion from desiccating. I wrap a piece of moist paper towel around the base of the scion (usually I have wrapped the scion and rootstock with clear plastic grafting tape). Then a small plastic sandwich bag goes over the scion and moist paper. I exclude most of the air and tie a string near the bottom of the paper bag tightly enough to keep it sealed. There are other ways to keep the scion from drying, but I have used this method for twenty years or more, and haven't seen any reason to change. After the plastic bag is tied, I take a scrap piece of good quality letter sized paper (usually white) and, with the length of the paper parallel to the scion, wrap the paper around the scion-on-rootstock, and again, tie with string around near the base of the paper. This rolled paper is then bent just past the top of the scion, so that the scion doesn't cook in its plastic wrap. This paper-over-plastic would be unnecessary if the plant were sufficiently shaded. I can peek in a few weeks to see if it's growing. It helps to keep the plastic bag on until the graft has callused over. This may make me loosen the plastic bag a bit, to permit the scion to leaf out. One other thing I often do is to use scions without stripping the leaves off. Instead, I will permit maybe three or four leaves to remain, but cut each one to be less than half its original length. I don't know whether it helps or not, but it's surprising that sometimes those leaf pieces stay on even after the new leaves begin to emerge. Horticordially, Leo ------------Web Sites To (Really!) Consider--------------- Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 07:00:10 +0000 Subject: Passion Flower / Passiflora Home Page, Seeds http://members.aol.com/pasiflora1/index.htm (Part of the web page is copied below) Passiflora / Passion Flowers of the World 3303 Harbor Blvd. Ste. E-7 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 P. Alata (Winged stemmed passion flower) Free flowering from Spring till frost. 4-4.5" attractive, sweetly fragrant, carmine-crimson flowers produce a large edible fruit popular in Brazil. Will not tolerate a frost at all. Keep protected in winter. In stock now! $3.99 for 15 seeds. P. Ampullaceae (Cream passion flower) From high in the Andes mountains of Equador to 13,000 ft., comes this very rare and beautiful vine of the Tacsonia tribe. It thrives in cooler temperatures from 45-80 degrees F. This Passiflora bears exquisite tubular white flowers about 2" in diameter with cream colored petals. Seed is scarce but in stock at $3.50 for 10 seeds. P. Antioquiensis (P. Van-Volxemii) Also known as the Red Banana Passion Flower. A lovely plant with large rose-red flowers that hang down. It produces a large banana shaped fruit that turns yellow when ripe and is quite delicious. This species will tolerate a slight frost, but the roots must not be allowed to freeze. Also from the Tacsonia tribe, Crop failure, sorry! P. Caerulea (The Blue Passion Flower) Very hardy to freezing but will lose its' top growth and grow back from the roots in spring. One of the most common passion flowers in the world originally from Brazil. The flower has white petals, with blue corona filaments up to 4" wide. Edible fruit is also produced with a bright orange skin and a rather tropical insipid taste. In stock at $1.99 for 15 seeds. P. Capsularis (The capsule fruited passion flower) Grows 10-13 feet high. Similar to P. Rubra. Will tolerate a slight frost. Flowers are a greenish-white to pale yellow and are between 1" and 2 1/4" wide. Makes a great houseplant! Now in stock! Priced at $3.99 for 10 seeds! We have only a limited supply so order soon! P. Cinnabarina (The cinnabar red passion flower) From S.E. Australia. Showy red 2.5" flowers. Best kept at above 40 degrees F. and humid conditions or in a greenhouse. Use a high potash fertilizer, avoid too much nitrogen. Helps to sprinkle the foliage during hot weather. Can get to 35 feet on a slim vine. In stock now $2.99 for 10 seeds. P. Edulis (The edible passion flower) Known as passion fruit the world over, it is commercially grown in many countries for juice. This is a very adaptable species that will tolerate mild frosts of no less than 28 degrees F. We have many different sub-species of Edulis, some of which are very difficult to obtain in this country. Many of these will require hand-pollination if you want more fruit. * "Black Beauty" Large Black/Purple fruit beautiful flowers. In stock $2.50 for 10 seeds. * "Purple Giant" Huge purple fruited variety resistant to many viruses. In stock $2.99 for 15 seeds. * "Golden Giant" As the name implies, humungous sweet yellow fruit. In stock $2.99 for 15 seeds. * "Gold Nugget" Yellow fruited variety resistant to viruses, good tasting fruit. In stock $3.29 for 15. * "Panama Gold" Yellow fruited with good disease resistance. Tasty. In stock $2.49 for 10 seeds. * "Panama Red" Red fruited delicious taste, good resistance to disease. In stock $2.49 for 10 seeds. P. Foetida (The goat scented passion flower) A fuzzy vined and leafed plant, with over 50 named varieties. A very vigorous plant that is hardy to 40 degrees F. Easy to grow it bears beautiful white, pinkish or blue flowers followed by fruit that has a sweet-acid taste. A must for any collection! In stock at $2.50 for 10 seeds. P. Giberti , Vigorous climber and tolerant of a wide variety of conditions. Great for a cooler but frost protected environment, will take 30 degrees F. for short periods. Fragrant 3" mauve and white flowers are produced profusely followed by allot of fruit. (Fruit of this is best avoided as unripe fruit is poisonous). Available now! Priced at $3.99 for 10 seeds. P. Gracilis (The annual Passion flower) The only annual passiflora, climbs on a slender vine to 6 feet during summer. Needs very little attention and will re-seed itself in spring. Small white flowers about 1" produce scarlet 1" long fruits. Here now! $2.00 for 10 seeds. P. Incarnata (Maypops or May Apple) This passiflora is the only species indigenous to the U.S., one of the easiest to grow and has the best cold hardiness (to 15 degrees on a mature plant!). Has large fragrant mauve and white flowers from June to November and sweet edible fruit. Also commonly used as a calming herbal tea. Very well drained soil that is fairly dry in winter is needed to prevent root rot. Available now!! Priced at $3.49 for 10 seeds! P. Mollisima (The Banana passion flower) From higher mountain regions, prefers cooler less humid climates than most passiflora. Often grown just for the large banana shaped delicious fruit. The flowers are similar to Antioquiensis and are large and showy, pink to coral pink. Now here!! $2.99 for 10 seeds. P. Morifolia, A main source of food for the Heliconiinae butterflies. Grown all over the world, this vine is vigorous with a woody bulbous root. This plant does require a dormant period taken in the winter, and best to keep them dry at this time when in spring new shoots will appear from the root. Slight frost will not harm it if kept fairly dry. Flowers are greenish yellow or white and mauve about 1". In stock! $2.99 for 15 seeds. P. Rubra (The red fruited passion flower) A vigorous slim vined plant to 15 feet. Very similar to Capsularis, but some say more attractive. Will not survive a frost down to the roots. Can be easily grown in a container and or used as a fine houseplant. Free flowering summer to autumn with white or pale yellow petals to 2" . Produces abundant bright pink to red fruit. Now here!! $2.99 for 10 seeds. P. Semannii (No image available) Found usually only in private collections, this is a beautiful species with blue and white flowers 3-4" in size. This plant is not cold hardy at all with minimum temperature tolerance of 45 degrees F.. Available now!!! Priced at $3.99 for 15 seeds! P. Quadrangularis (Giant Granadilla) This passion vine is truly the giant with huge flowers and the largest fruit of any passiflora. It is a large vine, and is very vigorous. The flowers can get up to 5" wide and the fruit can get up to 8 lb.. Best kept at 50 degrees F., but will tolerate lower temperatures if the soil is kept fairly dry. Available Now!! Priced at $3.49 for 15 seeds! P. Zamoriana (No image available) (Lilac Passion Flower) An extremely rare species from Ecuador, it is a mountain plant that prefers cooler conditions. >From the Tacsonia group, best grown outdoors with partial shade in summer and then taken into a greenhouse or conservatory in winter where temps. should be kept at 40-55 degrees F.. Not easy to grow, but well worth the trouble. It is large flowered and may produce sweet fruit. The flowers are 5 1/4" wide and are deep salmon rose or lavender rose. In Stock, but short supply! $4.50 for 10. ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 15:18:07 PST From: Moshe Wallach Subject: http://www.fruit.co.il - Moshe Wallach's Fruit Trees Nursery. Hi, I'm the webmaster of a site of a fruit trees nursery in Israel. Except for the common fruit trees which the nursery offers for sale, it has a collection of over 50 kinds exotic fruit trees for sale. We haven't heared of a nursery with a larger collection yet. The nursery owner has also about 100 additional rare fruit trees, which he tests and are not for sale yet. Our site contains an html version of the nursery rare fruit trees catalog (which includes only the trees for sale). its address is: (?) I would also like to recieve a sample issue, and to subscribe the nursery's owner - Moshe Wallach. Ziv Haddad >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - December 1, 1998<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online December 15, 1998 AKA RFN199812B.txt ------------------Index: What's in this issue?------------------- --Leo's Notes Leo's Note #1: S. California's Cold Snap, Dec. 6/7, How Bad For You? Leo's Note #2: Giant Whitefly Control - Anything work? Any Biologicals? Leo's Note #3: Have Ideas For Improving Format of RFNO? See Sexy RFNO? Leo's Note #4: Thanks For Your ISP Suggestion. I'll Wait To Decide. --New Subscribers From: Steve Graves Subject: New Subscriber, SFO Bay Area From: Samar Gupta Subject: New Subscriber, Bombay, India From: Kevin Hickey Subject: New Subscriber, Sydney Australia; Look At His Plant List! From: Nereida Subject: New Subscriber, Sp. Canary Island, Looking For Babaco Liners --Readers Write From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Bananas, seed source From: "Kym" To: Subject: Cinnamon in Florida From: Aaron Gilbert Subject: strange mulberry behavior From: Eunice Messner To: Les Warren: bf948@LAFN Subject: marula From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Subject: Taste of a pummelo From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Tess Subject: Mangos From: "Ben Poirier" Subject: Annona diversifolia, cinnamon and rubber banana From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Bert Subject: Cherimoya seeds From: Sven To: Eunice Messner Subject: Mango Tissue Culture From: Bob Holzinger To: Martin Subject: Space heater for greenhouse From: Eunice Messner To: Nan Sterman Subject: bananas From: Mario Lozano Subject: Annona Diversifolia budwood/seeds: Information for Seve & Bob From: Paula To: Samar Gupta Subject: Thanks and a question. From: Samar Gupta To: Paula: paulad@cloudnet.com Subject: Re: Thanks and a question. From: Samar Gupta To: Paula Subject: Flavor of Pumello From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Kevin Subject: Custard Apple From: Dan: Permacltur@aol.com Subject: Subject: Questions about Asimina and Amelanchier From:Eunice Messner To:Lon Rombough Subject: Japanese catalogs From:Eunice Messner To:Lon Rombough Subject: CRFG Email List, El Nino Effects, and Wishing You Success From: Dick: RASmith49@aol.com Subject: Banana problem From: Leo Manuel To: Dick Smith: RASmith49@aol.com Subject: Re: Banana problem From: Dick: RASmith49@aol.com Subject: Re: Banana problem From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Nan Subject: Bananas and cinnamon From: Eunice Messner To: Jennifer Anderson:sojutea@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Information Sources To Consider From: "Mitch C. Amiano" To: paulad@cloudnet.com Subject: Re: Wants Information On Pumelo Taste From: Leo Manuel To: "Mitch C. Amiano" Subject: Pumelo can be sweeter than grapefruit From: Mitch C. Amiano To: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Pumelo can be sweeter than grapefruit From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" To: Tess Subject: storeage of bananas From: Thomas Greaves: tgreaves@primeco.com Subject: Where To Buy Gwen Dwarf Avocado By Mail? From: "H. F. Turnbull" Subject: ISP Info - and - Maybe Jazz Up The Newsletter? From: Leo To: Fred: hfturnbull@csupomona.edu Subject: Make RFNO more Sexy? Subject: Removing Astringency from Persimmons - And A Recipie From: Robert D. Allen From: Holzinger, Bob To: Leo Subject: Mangos - Manila is Great; Winters - May Not Ripen Source: I Honestly Don't Remember Subject: For Success In Sprouting Hard-To-Sprout Seeds From: Oliver Patterson To: helbert@idirect.com Subject: Cherimoya in Canada From: Leo Subject: Black Sapote On Fuyu - Contrast In Dormancy --Web Pages To Consider Subject: A. diversifolia (ILAMA) - Difficulties In Sprouting Seeds Of http: //newcrop.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/1492/annonas.html#Annonadiversifolia --- Subject: Use Of Gibberellic Acid for Fruit Set and Seed Germination http://crfg.org/tidbits/gibberellic.html --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers)-- Date: Thu, 03 Dec 1998 22:00:48 -0800 Subject: Banana Tissue Culture From: Keith Benson DVM Date: Fri, 04 Dec 1998 07:02:26 -0500 Subject: Banana Tissue Culture From: Jody Haynes Date: Fri, 04 Dec 1998 15:06:28 -0800 Subject: Re: Banana TC From: Keith Benson DVM -----------From: "NAFEX List" ---------------- From: Greg Miller Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1998 22:09:10 -0700 Subject: CRFG members are welcome to join NAFEX email list From gcnofs@juno.com Date Wed, 2 Dec 1998 110146 -0600 Subject Grafting Methods - Bark Graft From: Gordon: gcnofs@juno.com Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998 18:17:38 -0600 Subject: "Cut Through Cambiums of Rootstock and Scion" Explained From: Hortus & Joel Kroin Subject: Web Sites For Mushroom-Growing Questors Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 17:57:00 -0500 ----------------Leo's Notes------------------- Leo's Note #1: Tell us about the cold snap for Southern California on December 6 and 7, and its effects on your rare fruit. Do you remember a really cold snap that also came on December 7, back in the 1980's? (I remember that date, as it was on the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.) I had a lot of severe damage done then, but lived in a part of town that got colder. This time, I saw frost in yards of neighbors who lived down below me, but there wasn't any in my yard. --- Leo's Note #2: Do you have an effective control to recommend for Giant White Fly? I haven't kept on top of it with Neem oil spray (I *think* it helps) and I've had damage to my bananas and pitangas. Other plants may suffer - I see egg patterns on leaves, but they seem to withstand the attack better. What about Biological controls? I heard something was being released, but no follow-up news release. --- Leo's Note #3: Have Ideas For Improving Format of RFNO? See "Sexy RFNO?" in reply below, to Fred Turnbull. --- Leo's Note #4: Thanks to all of you who wrote with suggestions about ISPs. It's just possible that I'll stay with CTSnet, since I've heard that those of us coming the current ISP may be 'grandfathered' into slots not found in the normal rate structure. I think it makes sense to give them a chance. Thanks again! ---------------New Subscribers---------------- From: Steve Graves Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 21:46:17 EST Subject: New Subscriber, SFO Bay Area What does it take to receive your newsletter? I am fascinated about growing rare fruits in the SFO Bay Area (Zone 9 and 10). Thank you, Steve Graves ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 02 Dec 1998 00:18:06 +0530 From: Samar Gupta Subject: New Subscriber, Bombay, India Dear Mr. Leo Manuel, I would be interested in subscribing to your Rare Fruit News Online newletter. I am Samar Gupta. I live in Bombay (recently renamed to Mumbai) and farm in Talegaon (near Poona) and Lonavla, India I am interested in growing different cultivars of litchi, mango, low-chill deciduous pome and stone fruits, rambutan mainly. Otherwise, I am game to planting any new fruit variety. I would like to read your earlier newsletters too if they are available. Best Regards, Samar Gupta ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 04 Dec 1998 13:50:07 +1100 From: Kevin Hickey Subject: New Subscriber, Sydney Australia; Look At His Plant List! I would like to be subscribed to Rare Fruit News Online. My name is Kevin Hickey and I live in Sydney, Australia. A little/lot about myself...I moved into my house about 2 years ago. The soil is fill down to about 1 metre and then sand. Compaction of the soil was so bad that if I wanted to plant a decent shrub/tree, I had to dig a hole through the fill with a pinch bar. Every time I dug a hole, I found all manner of builders waste. Two years on, the hard yakka is starting to pay off. On a quarter acre block, I've planted (in no particular order) 3 varieties of Guava, Feijoa, Acerola, Brazilian Cherry, Canistel, Black Sapote, Almonds, Macadamias, Red Sapote, White Sapote, Eureka Lemon, Mango, Sapodilla, Peppino, Passion Fruit, Babaco. I have a herb garden which gets full sun till midday and 'wall warmth' in the afternoon. It is thriving. All the usual herbs are there - sage, rosemary, thyme, lemon thyme, lemon grass, chillies, parsley, coriander, chervil, and many more. When I started, there was so much electrical conduit and plumbers pipe buried in this bed, that it took me ages to determine which was 'live' and which was buried builders waste. We also have a vegetable garden consisting of 5 beds that are constantly be cycled. We've grown tomatoes, beans, peas, onions, garlic, english cabbage, chinese cabbage, radish etc etc. I've also put in seedlings (I'm very patient - what's 7 or 8 years) pecan, ice cream bean, jaboticaba, plum pine, papaya, native tamarind, peanut tree ...and others. This is by no means an exhaustive list. The lawn keeps shrinking and the gardens keep growing. Everyone tells me I've got too much in for a quarter acre, but it all seems to be thriving. Please send me some samples of previous issues, thank you. Kevin Hickey ----------------------------------- From: Nereida Subject: New Subscriber-Spanish Canary Islands-Looking For Babaco Liners Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 08:44:38 -0000 Dear Leo and Betty: I would like to receive any information/help on rare fruits, especially on Babaco. My name is Nereida (Ms). I live in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain), and I own land where I am interested in planting Babaco and any other suitable species that I could find, through the organic way. I would like to find as soon as possible a realiable source of Babaco liners. Thanks for your kind attention and help. Regards, Nereida --------------Readers Write---------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Bananas, seed source Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 13:38:27 -0800 Hi Leo, CRFG doesn't give the source for each set of seeds in the Seed Bank, so I would only guess where the A. diversifolia seed came from. Either Florida, Austalia or Central America would be a likely candidate on that list. The 'Monthan' banana is something I have yet to harvest fully ripened. I think it is a borderline out of hand banana, so it needs to get dead ripe on the stalk before picking. I would wait for the skin to get yellow and for the fruit to have some give when squeezed, i.e. ripe. The last two years the bunches I had on 'Monthan' have blown over in a Santa Ana. This year I have two bunches out and they are tied to a post with rope. I'll let you know how they taste in the spring when they ripen. Looks like lots of questions in the latest RFNO that I can comment on, so you'll be getting lots of cc's from me. Take care, Bob ------------------------------- From: "Kym" To: Subject: Cinnamon in Florida Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 13:44:01 -0500 About your cinnamon, I live in Orlando, Fl and I've had a cinnamon tree for about 4 years now. It's in full sun and so far has not shown any interest in droughts or heavy rains, so I can't see any particular water preferences. We do get a couple of nights of frosts occasionally, but so far I've just put xmas lights on the tree and that's all I've had to do for the winter. It's a short bushy tree so far, so when you plant it, give it room. Haven't experienced any pests at all or fungal problems of any sort. Right now it's about to flower. Did I leave anything out? About your banana, could it actually be a plantain? Kym ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 01 Dec 1998 14:03:45 +0000 From: Aaron Gilbert Subject: Strange mulberry behavior I have several small mulberry trees in pots, all have lost their leaves and are going dormant except the sullivan. the sullivan has new growth and berries coming in, they should be ripe in a month or so. i am in san francisco, and the weather has seemed wet and cold as this time of year usually is. any idea why my sullivan is blooming? Aaron Gilbert ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 14:38:31 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Les Warren: bf948@LAFN Subject: Marula Since you are a member of the California Rare Fruit Growers I suppose you read about marula in the Sep/Oct/97 issue of the "Fruit Gardener". I suggest you contact Alan Smith . He collects and grows marula from seed. Very detailed info on marula can be found in the book, "Fruits of Tropical and Subtropical Origins" by Nagy, Sshaw and Wardowski, ISBN0944961- Eunice ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Subject: Taste of a pummelo Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 15:41:50 -0800 Hello Paula, I have been lucky enough to taste the pummelo in Hawaii, as well as in California. I would say that the pummelo is the best tasting grapefruit you have ever tasted and then some--consistently! The membranes between segments are very thick, so I peel it like an orange and then peel the membrane away to get at the firm flesh. Since you said the fruit you saw was green, I would say that those fruit were picked too early. A ripe fruit should be yellow. The fruit you saw could be sweet, but I wouldn't bet on it. Try one and see if it's up to the taste you find acceptable. It could be as good as it gets in the Far North. Happy eating, Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Tess Subject: Mangos Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 15:22:17 -0800 Hi Tess, Mangos are not especially difficult, they just take some time from seed, so I suggest trying to find a grafted tree. There are several nurseries in Florida that would ship you one, such as Gardens of Delight in Davie, FL. A friend in California has fruited several grafted varieties in 15 gallon pots. I would suggest a soilless mix since you will have to take the tree inside for the winter. Fertilize with a balanced mix, slow release would be nice. Water sparingly in the winter and after the top 12" of "soil" has dried out when outside. Good luck, Bob Holzinger --------------------------- From: "Ben Poirier" Subject: Annona diversifolia, cinnamon and rubber banana Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 17:53:19 -0800 Hi Leo and all Just sharing my experience with Annona diversifolia, cinnamon and rubber banana. At the present time I have three or four A. diversifolia seedlings in the greenhouse. My best guess is that they are about seven or eight years old (my memory as to exactly when I have received seeds is limited as is the time it would take to look this up in my notes). One of the plants flowered in 1997, but did not repeat this feat this year. Perhps I should blame it on "El Nino" ! A few years ago I had the time to do some experimental grafting and placed some A. diversifolia and some Rollinia on cherimoya rootstock and they did take. I only kept one of each for myself at the time and they expired after a year or so. Can't recall exactly why, with so many plant things going on, but seem to recall I may have tried to overwinter them outside and perhaps too early for the scion wood.I have been hoping to repeat this grafting - maybe this spring I will have the time. I have read that cinnamon should take a frost. Only one plant remains now in my collection. It is a few years old and rather stunted in growth - only about a foot tall, growing in the shadehouse. Another robust plant had reached the height of about three to four feet in a 15 gal pot. Then about a year ago it just dropped its leaves and declined (died) over a couple of months. Rubber bananas - could these have been picked too immature ? One unfortunate thing I have notices with many banana varieties (currently over 20 growing) is that they grow like mad through the spring and summer and are ready to flower in about September. This means the fruit must overwinter on the plant. Sometimes they just abhort in midwinter, sometimes last thru winter and die back or sometimes ripen up in the following Spring. Some that do (Ice Cream and Better Select (Orinoco)) will ripen with a "pithy " or tough core. The flesh is quite acceptable, so we just peel and cut off the flesh of the banana leaving the core. The best homegrown bananas flower in the Spring or very late Winter and are really worth the effort !! Ben Poirier ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Bert Subject: Cherimoya seeds Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 15:50:17 -0800 Hi Bert, Go ahead and plant the cherimoya seeds you saved from the fruit you ate. You can always graft a known variety onto it in the coming years. My luck with cherimoya seeds has always been good. Once I planted 150 seeds and had 149 come up! They don't need stratifying, just keep them warm and you'll have more seedlings that you'll know what to do with. In two years when the seedlings are up to size you should be able to find someone in RFNO who will mail you some grafting wood. O