========================================== Rare Fruit News Online - All Year for 1999 ========================================== 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. ------------------Index: What's in this issue?------------------- --Leo's Notes #1,2, and 3 --New Subscribers From: Steve Fleischaker Subject: New Subscriber (Renew) St. Petersburg, FL From: Christina Stufflefield Subject: New Subscriber TN Needs Help Growing Citrus Indoors From: Kirt Nieft Subject: New Subscriber, Hawaii, Looking For Cash Crops In Rare Fruit --Readers Write From: Bruce Livingston Subject: Website improvements (Impressive! Leo) From: Leo To: santol Subject: Re: Website improvements From: Bruce Livingston Subject: Re: Website improvements AND Nurseries In Florida From: Leo To: Bruce Livingstone Subject: Re: Website improvements AND Nurseries In Florida From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: Will Papaya Fruit In Pot?? From: Eunice Messner To: Bert Dunn Subject: Re: Will Papaya Fruit In Pot?? From: Eunice Messner To: tgreaves@primeco.com Subject: Gwen avocado source From: Eunice Messner To: Permacltur@aol.com Subject: Paw paws (Asimina)& mycorrhizae From: "Les Warren" Subject: Source for Marula From: "zambesi" Subject: Re: Tropical Fruit Nursery - Source of Marula! From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Newsletter Format and Seeds From: "Monroe, William" Subject: Newsletter Format, and Visit http://www.brevardrarefruit.org From: Geoffrey Dunn To: "Raymond N. Gerlach" Subject: Buddhas' Hand Citron From: moshe nadler Subject: Re: ANA (Anna) Apple From: Leo To: moshe nadler Subject: Re: ANA (Anna) Apple From: Kevin Hickey Subject: Some Australian Fruit and Nut Trees From: Eunice Messner To: Sven Merten Subject: Receipt of tissue culture procedures Subject: RE: Did I Lose Your Email? If So, Please Send It Again From: Dick Smith: RASmith49@aol.com From: Eunice Messner To: RASmith49@aol.com Subject: Subject: Ice cream banana - Continued From: Eunice Messner Subject: Tropical landscape in a temperate zone From: Les Warren Subject: Source for Marula From: Alan Smith Subject: Re: Tropical Fruit Nursery - Have Web Page? From: Eunice Messner To: Dan Subject: Paw paws (Asimina) & mycorrhizae From: Eunice Messner To: tgreaves@primeco.com Subject: Gwen avocado source From: Ben Poirier Subject: Germinating Illama Seeds - My Way From: Ben Poirier Subject: Germinating Illama Seeds - My Way - Continuing From: Eunice Messner Subject: Tropical Fruit University in Costa Rica From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: Gold In Them Thar RNFOs From: Eunice Messner To: Tina: Subject: Indoor citrus care Subject: Re: Cornucopia II Order Form From: Gail Newcomb From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Cold Snap and Minimum Damage, Fortunately From: Geoffrey Dunn To: web@brevardrarefruit.org Subject: Membership for Brevard(Rarefruit) From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: Grafting Clamps - Information Sought From: Leo Manuel Subject: Readers We Have Lost - Unless You Can Help From: scoutdog@pacbell.net Subject: Re: Have You Used Gibberillic Acid For Seeds? From: Sven Merten Subject: Where should I buy land to grow rare fruit? From: Sven Subject: Rare Fruit Reference book recommendations? From: Leo Manuel To: Sven Subject: Re: Rare Fruit Reference book recommendations? Subject: Raccoon In My Fruit Garden Date: Leo From: Leo Subject: Chemical Stimulants in Propagating Seeds (Including GA) From: Leo Subject: Triple Crown Blackberry - New - Information Sought --Readers Write About Newsletter Format From: "Matt Heffron" Subject: Newsletter Format: To Doc or Not to Doc From: Jody Haynes Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt From: Bill Thomas: Thomasx4@aol.com Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt - Continued From: RRRummler@aol.com Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt From: Darryl Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt From: "Staples, Ian" Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt From: "Allen, Robert" Subject: Newsletter Format: Maybe attach both *.txt and *.doc versions --Web Pages To Consider From: Darryl Subject: Sugar Palm: Basis of Integrated Farming Systems in Cambodia www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/aga/agap/frg/conf96.htm/khieu.htm --NAFEX List Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 20:10:11 -0700 Subject: Commercial Sources--Ginkgo nuts From: mblossom@juno.com (Mark B Blossom) >>>Subject: Newly Released! Cornucopia II Order Form<<< ------------------------------------------------------------------- --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) None --From NEWCROPS List None -----------------Leo's Notes--------------------- Leo's Note #1 As I indicated in a confusing message to you, something happened to some of my email messages. I wrote you a few days ago to say that this loss had occured, and to give you a chance to scan the headers that I had on hand for the newsletter, so you could re-submit any that were missing. The offer still holds. If your letter didn't get in, please send it again. --Leo's Note #2: Can anyone help me locate a variety of Star Fruit named "Sri Ket?" I heard that it's significantly more tasty than most others. Of course, that's a matter - of taste. --Leo's Note #3: Order your copy of Cornucopia II. A copy of an order form is at the bottom of this email. Tell Stephen to save one for me! -----------------New Subscribers--------------------- From: Steve Fleischaker Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 10:22:43 EST Subject: New Subscriber (Renew) St. Petersburg, FL My name is Steve Fleischaker living near St. Petersburg, Florida. I grow Carambola, Lychee, Citrus, and my passion, Loquat. Steve Fleischaker Central Fl ----------------------------- From: Christina Stufflefield Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 21:04:57 EST Subject: New Subscriber TN Needs Help Growing Citrus Indoors Hello! And what a great web page you have. My name is Christina Stubblefield and I live in Clarksville, TN (1 hr North of Nashville). About 2 years ago I inherited a citrus tree from a friend who moved out of the country. The first year I had it it bloomed nicely in December, indoors. Since then, nothing. In fact, it's looking quite horrid lately. How do I care for it? Inside, outside? Fertilizers? I'm at a loss. I would love to be part of your group. I'm eager to expand my garden and gardening knowledge. Thanks for any input/advice you can give. Sincerely, Christina -------------------------------- Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 13:38:26 -1000 From: Kirt Nieft Subject: New Subscriber, Hawaii, Looking For Cash Crops In Rare Fruit Please sign me up for your tropical fruit mailing list. My name is Kirt Nieft. I live on the big island of Hawaii, in Opihikao (Puna) at 400 ft elevation. It never get below 60F or above 90F with about 100 inches of rainfall/year. We have six acres which is planted in our home orchard of great variety. We are researching what to plant as a cash orchard in the coming years (sheep weeders are established) and have a special place in our hearts for mangosteen and durian since we lived in Thailand for four years (and Peru for two and New Zealand for one). Plese send us your sample issues and backissues. Cheers, Kirt ------------------Readers Write-------------------- From: Bruce Livingston Subject: Website improvements Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 11:03:30 -0500 Hello Leo, I'd like to announce that I have totally revamped and improved my "Santol's Tropical Fruit Homepage." I would be very grateful if you will take the time to look at it, and make an announcement about it to your subscribers. The URL is: http://www.gate.net/~santol/index.html Thank you, Leo. See you soon, Bruce Livingston (a.k.a. Santol) -------------------------- Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 21:21:58 +0000 From: Leo To: Bruce Subject: Re: Website improvements Bruce, I've more than impressed by your comprehensive web page - I'm bowled over! And envious of your talent in designing and executing it. What did you use to create it? However, it took me longer than it will anyone else to figure out that clicking on the rotating "New" was not the way to access the information described there. Do you know of nurseries that ship into California? I couldn't be more enthusiastic in recommending your page for RFNOers and will be back to soak up more information often. I'm glad you let us know. Sincerely, Leo -------------------------------- From: Bruce Livingston Subject: Re: Website improvements Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 13:07:01 -0500 Hello Leo, Well, I certainly thank you a million times over for your quick response and for your kind words. Maybe I'll link those "new" buttons to the proper page and make it easier. I hadn't thought of that. I did everything with Microsoft Front Page 98. Last trip to Thailand I picked it up for ten bucks. Perhaps it's counterfeit because it costs quite a bit here, but I bought it at a legitimate retail outlet, in proper packaging, so who knows? It took some playing around to figure out how to program a webpage with it, but with a little practicing it works beautifully. My original page was designed with Microsoft Publisher 97. Don't bother with that one . . . it caused all kinds of bizarre graphic screw-ups all over the web page. So, if you're going to use anything, I suggest Microsoft Front Page 98. You don't have to know anything at all about HTML to work with it. Once you get used to it, it's quite easy. The best nursery here is Hopkins Rare Fruit Nursery (954) 434-5558. Tell Bill Hopkins I told you to call. I know he ships to the Bahamas, so I would assume he can ship to California. Second best is called Garden of Delights, run by Murray Corman. His nursery is designed especially for mail order. On the links section of my web page all the information is there. So, next Saturday I'm off to Thailand for 3 weeks. We'll see what I can find this trip. Again, thanks a million, Leo. I very sincerely appreciate your E-mail and your help spreading the word about my website. Bruce Livingston ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 01:35:29 +0000 From: Leo To: Bruce Livingstone Subject: Re: Website improvements Hi, Bruce Thanks for your nursery information. Have you brought any seedless guavas from Thailand? Do any of them taste sufficiently similar to seeded ones, to warrant seeking them out? I'd settle for really small seed cavity in a sweet-when-ripe one, either white flesh or not. Good luck on your trip. That's one I'd like to make sometime. Sincerely, Leo ------------------------------- From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" Subject: Will Papaya Fruit In Pot?? Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 16:38:42 -0500 Hello Leo We have a Papaya seedling is about 36" tall (and is in pot), and producing beautiful star-shaped flowers Has anyone fruited a papaya in a pot? Must be brought inside in fall due to our frigid winters Any tips will be appreciated Bert Dunn Zone 4b Ontario Canada ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 18:22:36 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Bert Dunn Subject: Re: Will Papaya Fruit In Pot?? Dear Bert: Yes, papayas do very well in a pot. What ever size pot your plant is in now - just keep moving up to a larger pot as it grows. Even here in our subtropical area our papaya specialist grows some in 15 gal containers where he does not have excellent drainage. Papayas do not like the cold winter winds and rain. Their roots rot easily in the winter so try to hold them in a semi-dormant state, just enough water to sustain them. Heat, humidity and light exposure would dictate indoor winter care, which is something I am very unfamiliar with. Oh, one more thing. If your flower is close to the trunk, it is female and may produce a seedless fruit or may need pollen from a male tree whose flowers are borne on long, pendant stalks. If you have a Hawaiian papaya, chances are it will have a perfect female flower with both ovary and stamens. In that case, only one plant is needed to set fruit and the fruit will have seeds. Aloha! Eunice Messner ------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 11:25:15 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: tgreaves@primeco.com Subject: Gwen avocado source Dear Thomas Greaves, Look on the California Rare Fruit Growers home page (where you found Leo's fruit group). The section CRFG Member Nurseries and Fruit Sources lists which of the nurseries will mail order. Most of the info there is still valid, but an update with 32 nurseries should be appearing soon. Eunice Messner ----------------------------------- Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 10:55:19 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Permacltur@aol.com Subject: Paw paws (Asimina)& mycorrhizae Don Chapman of Bio-Organics, e-mail address: rob@bio-organics.com sells mycorrhizae that has a blend of 5 different kinds that should work on your paw paws. I put mycorrhizae on the roots of all the vegetables I plant (except cabbage family) and when planting new fruit trees. Bananas, avocado, citrus, mangos, neem and grapes respond exceptionally well to these fungi. They thrive best in soil containing organic matter as I'm sure you already know. Eunice Messner --------------------------------- Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 15:28:49 -0700 From: "Les Warren" Subject: Source for Marula Dear Leo and Eunice -- Thanks so much for the information on the African marula, Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (Fruit Gardener v.29, no.5, p.18, 1997). I contacted Alan Smith of Tropical Fruit Nursery in Florida (e-mail: zambesi@gte.net) who provided me with seeds and seedlings at very reasonable prices (via US mail to California). He was also very helpful regarding propagation, culture, and so forth. The marula is currently under intense scrutiny as a commercial crop in Israel, where it appears to grow well in their desert areas. This rather large tree is, sadly, dioecious, so one must wait until the plants flower to determine which is which sex. I think I'll plant a number of seedlings in close proximity and (hopefully) keep one male and the best female. Thanks again, Les Warren of Camarillo ------------------------------- From: "zambesi" Subject: Re: Tropical Fruit Nursery - Source of Marula! Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 10:08:39 -0800 Season's Greetings Leo, I believe I wrote to you 2 years ago. SASE Alan Smith 7341 121st Terrace Nth., Largo FL.33773, I have a few Maruls seeds @ $2.50ea and a few small Marula seedlings @ $15.00 ea,plus P&P. Regards Alan. -----Original Message----- >Alan, does Tropical Fruit Nursery have a web page? I heard from Les >Warren here in California that he ordered Marula seeds/seedlings from >you, and I'd like to learn more about what you have available. > >Thanks! >Leo ------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Newsletter Format and Seeds Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 07:18:30 -0800 Hi Leo, I had no problem with the last newsletter, once I realized it came as a Word document. I tried opening it the usual way and it wouldn't open, then I finally looked at the icon and it was simple after that. I got some A. diversifolia seeds from Mario last night, so now the question is when to plant them. Patrick likes to wait until the days start getting longer, i.e. the end of this month. He also plants by the lunar cycle in the Old Farmers Almanac. Since what I have read seems to indicate that the seeds are okay for several months stored dry, I will wait to plant the bulk of the seeds later in the spring. I want to do an experiment and try different concentrations of gibberellic acid to see what is the minimum concentration needed. I got so many seeds that I can do this and give some seeds to other people. Then again, since not everyone has gibberellic acid, maybe I should just sprout the seeds and give out the seedlings. Whatever, it's great to have the seeds! Talk to you later, Bob ------------------------------- From: "Monroe, William" Subject: Newsletter Format, and, See http://www.brevardrarefruit.org Date: 15 Dec 1998 Leo, I prefer it in a .doc format rather than an html format. In addition, please tell the folks on your list about our web site. http://www.brevardrarefruit.org Lots of cool fruit pictures! Regards, Bill Monroe President Brevard Rare Fruit Council ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 18:04:55 -0800 From: Geoffrey Dunn To: "Raymond N. Gerlach" Subject: Buddhas' Hand Citron Dear Ray, How is winter treating you and Your Buddha's Hand? I do hope the Fruit did not fall off in the move indoors. I finally got my trees (4 off) They are about 3' high with no branching. Do I let them branch naturally, or do I have to pinch back? Here I rely on your 2 years previous experience! They are grafted rather strangely, first the rootstock, then what seems to be rough lemon, then the Buddha's Hand. So, at long last the Quest comes to fruition. Regards Geoff ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1998 00:34:45 -0800 (PST) From: moshe nadler Subject: Re: ANA (Anna) Apple ---Leo Manuel wrote: Thanks, Moshe! Did you enjoy your trip to China? It's surprising to read 'black leaf' as the name of a cultivar. It sounds more like a disease, doesn't it? Were there other cultivars of apple developed at the same time? I talked to a man maybe 20 years ago who said he had about a dozen apples from the same crosses that produced Ana (which is spelled Anna in the US). One of them was Maayan, which I also have. Do you know where I can find out more about the crosses he made? When do you begin your Ph.D. program? I'm so glad you are back in contact. Sincerely, Leo Hi leo! I enjoyed my trip to China very much. The cultivar 'black leaf' called also 'haak-yip'. Fay-zee-siu for example means - the emperor concubine's smile. 'No-mai-chee' means glutinous rice cake, etc. I hope to start my ph.D. Reaserch on january. As for the apple cultivars - I know that in Florida Ana is grown and also the cultivar - 'Ein Shemer' both have relatively low chilling requirements. Aba Stein did some more crossings with those two cultivars (Ein Shemer and Ana) and from those he got 1400 seeds, from them 960 types, most of them were not good enough and only 16 were left and grafted, from them 4 were interesting - 'Noam', 'Amir', 'Or', and ' Amihai'. Aba Stein developed also pears and plums. Sincerely, Moshe ------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 21:21:41 -0800 To: moshe nadler Subject: Re: ANA (Anna) Apple Moshe, I'd like to know more about the plants developed by Aba Stein. Does he have email? Or is there a website with Israeli fruit emphasis? You know that in the U.S. ANA is called ANNA, for some reason. Ein Shemer is not a high quality dessert apple, to my taste. I'd like to learn more about those others: 'Noam', 'Amir', 'Or', and ' Amihai'. Thanks! Leo ---------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 10:33:03 +1100 From: Kevin Hickey Subject: Some Australian Fruit and Nut Trees Thanks for your letter Leo. You are correct that my Brazilian Cherry, and Pitanga are one and the same. Red Sapote is also known as Mamey Sapote (Pouteria sapota); Plum Pine (Podocarpus elatus) is an Australian native (I believe) which produces a rounded seed sitting on an edible plum-like fruit. I have also heard it called 'Illawarra Plum' (native to the Illawarra region ???) Peanut tree (Sterculia quadrifida) is a rainforest tree producing orangey to red pods which split to reveal large seeds. They are satiny, blueish/blackish in colour and edible, raw or roasted (they taste like peanuts, hence the common name). I believe this tree is also an Australian native but I'm not sure, perhaps someone can enlighten me. The climate zone here is ALMOST frost free, and the fact that I am on the coast means that frost is even less of a problem. Kevin Hickey 40 plus, and still growing. ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 09:37:04 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Sven Merten Subject: Receipt of tissue culture procedures Dear Sven, Thank you so much for giving me all the technical info on mango tissue culture. The Twyford tissue culture labs in Calif. gave me a lead to Dr. Litz at the Univ. of Florida Tropical Research and Educ. Center at Homestead Florida. He is overseas until January, but I talked with his assistant and they will get back to me. In the meantime all the research you gave me copied from Hort Science on 'In Vitro Somatic Embryogenesis of Mango' Dr. Litz co-author) will give me a clue into the difficulties of reproducing mango by tissue culture. One lab I talked with said "start-up fees on this difficult-to-tissue-culture fruit would be in the 10's of thousands of dollars. I think I will call CSU, Riverside to see if Dr. Murashige is still there. I perused his library in the early 80's and found pineapple guava was the only fruit being tissue cultured at that time. He was a pioneer in the field. I don't have any background for all of this technical stuff - just an interest in propagation. At one time we were able to get wholesale shipments of tropical fruit from Florida. Due to the difficulties encountered with pest control regulations, Florida will no longer ship to California. This will have severe repercussion on our nursery offerings here. So now is an opportune time to offer wholesale mangos. Numerous nurseries want to buy this new seedling I am seeking to tissue culture. I call the mango 'Carnival' because of its many colors. It has every sought after attribute; size, color, taste, no fiber and early ripening. The only flaw is the tree appears to have a virus and although grafts take they die in a short time, so tissue culture is the best means of mass production. Again, thank you for being so helpful. I really appreciate your generosity of information Hope you find the new acreage you are looking for. Eunice Messner ------------------------------- Subject: RE: Did I Lose Your Email? If So, Please Send It Again From: Dick Smith: RASmith49@aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 18:36:37 EST Hi, The only thing I sent was a copy to you of this E-mail to Eunice Messner. Thanks for your information on Cornucopia II. It sounds like a MUST HAVE. Dick Smith Subj: Re: Ice Cream banana Date: 12/17/98 To: eunicemessner@yahoo.com Eunice, Thanks very much for your good information. You have convinced me that I should get rid of my Ice Cream banana. You are right,it often has a hard center and it puts out so many pups that I can't keep to a reasonable number of stems and now I have been having this falling over problem. I got the Ice Cream at a plant sale some time ago and didn't really know much about it. I also have what is supposedly a dwarf Cavendish. It has put up a number of pups also, but so far no fruit. Is there any way to tell if this is really a Dwarf Cavendish? Can you tell me anything about this variety since I noted you are growing it too? Thanks, Dick Smith -------------------------------- Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 07:40:20 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: RASmith49@aol.com Subject: Ice cream banana - Continued Dear Dick Smith: Dwarf Cavendish is my most productive variety. I get at least four very large stalks of bananas each year. It is also the most dwarf. I do, selectively, remove some pups, but the entire clump is about 7'. The trunk and leaves often have splotches of red on them.It is a sweet banana, or I should say, was, as it has changed in the past year to having some acidity, which I like.Also the fruit has gotten a little larger. Unexplainable, as I'm doing nothing different. When I plant a banana, I put some Sul-Po-Mag in the bottom of the hole, add a layer of soil and plant. Occasionally I give it some chicken compost (E-Z Green) but most of its nutrients come from the stumps I cut up after they have fruited. A serrated knife or coarse saw will cut them up easily (3-4" pieces). I only remove the top 2/3rd's of the stump to let the nutrients drain back into the soil and then remove the rest after it rots. This mulch doesn't look too attractive, but in this case, I give productivity priority. I try to stay away from the tall varieties. I did make an exception with the Apple banana, only because the late John Townsend (who introduced the Golden Aromatic from China), said it was his favorite. So, I wanted to give it a try. The first fruiting stalk blew off in a wind - its got one more chance and then OUT. If you like a little acidity in your bananas, then give Enano gigante a try. It is a commercial variety. Very nice. Happy growing! Eunice Messner --------------------------------- Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 18:27:43 -0800 (PST) To: Tess: TGray15648@aol.com From: Eunice Messner Subject: Tropical landscape in a temperate zone Tess... I hope you don't mind my sharing with the 3000+ members of the Calif. Rare Fruit Growers, how you created a tropical effect with 200 banana plants in a temperate zone. I write a column for the "Fruit Gardener" magazine called "Ask the Experts" and quoted your e-mail entry. And, even though I didn't respond to your questions of what to try next, I did comment that you deserve a standing ovation for your effort. So, take a bow! Aloha, Eunice Messner ----------------------------------- Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 15:28:49 -0700 From: Les Warren Subject: Source for Marula Dear Leo and Eunice -- Thanks so much for the information on the African marula, Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (Fruit Gardener v.29, no.5, p.18, 1997). I contacted Alan Smith of Tropical Fruit Nursery in Florida (e-mail: zambesi@gte.net) who provided me with seeds and seedlings at very reasonable prices (via US mail to California). He was also very helpful regarding propagation, culture, and so forth. The marula is currently under intense scrutiny as a commercial crop in Israel, where it appears to grow well in their desert areas. This rather large tree is, sadly, dioecious, so one must wait until the plants flower to determine which is which sex. I think I'll plant a number of seedlings in close proximity and (hopefully) keep one male and the best female. Thanks again, Les Warren of Camarillo ------------------------------- From: Alan Smith Subject: Re: Tropical Fruit Nursery - Have Web Page? Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 10:08:39 -0800 Season's Greetings Leo, I believe I wrote to you 2 years ago.SASE Alan Smith 7341 121st Terrace Nth., Largo FL.33773,I have a few Maruls seeds @ $2.50 ea and a few small Marula seedlings @ $15.00 ea,plus P&P. Regards Alan You said: Alan, does Tropical Fruit Nursery have a web page? I heard from Les Warren here in California that he ordered Marula seeds/seedlings from you, and I'd like to learn more about what you have available. Thanks! Leo ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 10:55:19 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Dan Subject: Paw paws (Asimina) & mycorrhizae Dan, Don Chapman of Bio-Organics, e-mail address: rob@bio-organics.com sells mycorrhizae that has a blend of 5 different kinds that should work on your paw paws. I put mycorrhizae on the roots of all the vegetables I plant (except cabbage family) and when planting new fruit trees. Bananas, avocado, citrus, mangos, neem and grapes respond exceptionally well to these fungi. They thrive best in soil containing organic matter as I'm sure you already know. Eunice Messner ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 11:25:15 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: tgreaves@primeco.com Subject: Gwen avocado source Dear Thomas Greaves: Look on the California Rare Fruit Growers home page http://www.crfg.org (where you found Leo's fruit group). The section CRFG Member Nurseries and Fruit Sources lists which of the nurseries will mail order. Most of the info there is still valid, but an update with 32 nurseries should be appearing soon. Eunice Messner ------------------------------- From: Ben Poirier Subject: Germinating Illama Seeds - My Way Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 09:34:02 -0800 Hi Leo, I was finally able to retrieve my email messages !! I don't know what format I had before for email - I think it was the one that came with the win 95 . Any ideas what that might have been ? It had many features i liked - like showing when it was sending or downloading messages. This is supposed to have all kinds of good features, I guess I'll have to play with it for a while. As to the Illama seeds, I used my standard practice : If seeds look dried, they are soaked in warm water for a couple hours, then are placed in a baggie with damp peat moss and placed in a paperbag in the oven. The oven pilot lite keeps it nice and warm. Baggies are checked every couple days for sprouting seeds which are then potted up. This saves a lot of pot space for seeds which may not sprout. I did not use Gibberilic acid on them. Let me know what luck you have with the seeds. Where did they come from - probably CRFG seed bank - do you know how old they are ? This also may be a factor. Had great success with Roselle this year! I'll be sending some seeds to the seed bank later. Ben Poirier --------------------------------------- From: Ben Poirier Subject: Germinating Illama Seeds - My Way - Continuing Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 17:45:39 -0800 Hi Leo I think seeds sprout more readily using my method - it is one I figured out with years of trying different things. The major benefit if uniform , very warm temperatures that you wouldn't get unless you planted the seeds over bottom heat in an enclosed area (I also have a setup like this, but room is limited for pots). The other advantage is you are not taking up space for seeds that take a long time (one Annona sp took one year) or that just don't sprout. Many seeds I receive from overseas take a while to get here and there is no telling how fresh they are and consequently don't ever germinate. Just guessing back I think I got somewhere around 50 percent germination - just a guess it was a few years ago. I also think the seeds were fairly fresh, probably under a month old.I usually plant two to three germinated seeds in a pot and replant when they are more established. The only time I used Gibberilic acid was when John Riley had that Solanaceae group going and I tried the stuff on some of the seeds he recommended it for because they were difficult to germinate. That was so long ago, I really don't remember if it worked. I know for a fact that I didn't run a control to see how well it worked - just an all or none thing. As to the strength, I followed his recommendations. Perhaps the people handling the stuff for CRFG have this info. Since he was the one who started this Gibberilic acid stuff (as I recall - at least he was the one promoting it) they may have kept his recommendations. Perhaps they can be found in the old back issues of the Solanaceae newsletters. Keep me informed Ben --------------------------------- Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 15:43:58 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Tropical Fruit University in Costa Rica Dear Readers: Several years ago I toured the Tropical Fruit University in Costa Rica. I did not have a computer at the time but the librarian there assured me anyone could access their files. Anyone more adept at searching than I am? It should be a wonderful source of information regarding tropical fruit. Eunice Messner ------------------------------ From: "Helga and Bert Dunn" To: "Leo Manuel" Subject: Gold In Them Thar RNFOs Hello leo: We print all rfno newsletters. Past month I have been rereading the newsletters since first one of Jan 01.98. So much "new info" I missed reading first or second time. I recommend all subscribers reread these newsletters. Thanks for your work Leo, it assists all of us. A Cold Canadian Bert Zone 4b Ontario Canada ------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 18:11:08 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Tina: Subject: Indoor citrus care Tina.. For indoor container gardening of citrus, the book "Citrus" by Lance Walheim would be most helpful. There is more info there than I am able to include via e-mail. Publisher: Ironwood Press, 2968 W. Ina Rd. #285, Tucson, AZ 85741. The California Rare Fruit Growers' have two contributing editors. I suggest you write to the one who lives in a temperate zone, which is: William Ross, RFD #1 Box 150-C, Danby, VT 05739 I just haven't had any experience with container growing in temperate zones, but I know it can be rewarding. Happy growing! Eunice Messner ------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Cornucopia II Order Form Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 09:58:06 +1300 From: Gail Newcomb Leo I would love to have Stephen's book. Can I pay by Visa? I am not sure how else to get US money unless my daughter can treat me to it. I do enjoy the newsletters and hope the weather we saw on TV hasn't affected you too much. Down under we have been having some really humid weather like I used to have to endure in the USA - and while pregant. This time it's easier but still too hot to do much work outdoors in the sun. Big hole in the Ozone layer over us so we are very wary these days. I am now Technical Editor for NZTCA so having fun researching crops and find bits and pieces in your column very helpful - especially the subtropicals I am trying. Wish I'd realised Cherimoya germinated so easily as have had to pot on already. Pomegranates and Loquats up too. Thrilled with the sight of my Californisn Green Mango that I germinated from seed from the supermarket and now another variety is trying to pop up too. We have decided to remove the remainder of our Kiwifruit - it is VERY hard to destroy and could be one of our worst weeds in this area as it gets out of control so quickly. We will keep one row for our personal use - Hayward and 1 Bruno. The crop we harvested last year went mostly to feed ducks, chooks and wandering turkeys so I think I have better things to do with my time rather than all that pruning etc. But what to plant next!!!!! Regards Gail Newcomb Secretary and Newsletter Editor Bay of Plenty Branch, New Zealand Tree Crops Assn. Inc. http://www.nzero.co.nz/treecrop/ -------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Cold Snap and Minimum Damage, Fortunately Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 15:19:37 -0800 Leo, Just a note about the recent cold front. It was 33 four mornings in a row, but the only thing I could find was some burnt banana leaves and some unhappy papaya plants. I guess I dodged that bullet! Bob ---------- Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 14:30:36 -0800 From: Geoffrey Dunn To: web@brevardrarefruit.org Subject: Membership for Brevard(Rarefruit) Greetings from South Africa. My name is Geoff Dunn, and I received an invite to visit your page via Leo Manuel of Rare Fruit News Online. I am a keen grower of rare fruits, and now, having seen a picture of a Red Carambola (Starfruit), on your webpage, I have resolved to get one growing somehow. I am not sure of how to go about achieving membership for Brevard, or if is even possible for someone outside of the USA to do so, but asking can do no harm. Some of the rare fruits I am growing are: Carambola (yellow from seed) Banana (goldfinger) Buddha's Hand Citron (Obtained some days ago, after a 2 year quest) Passion Fruit Guava Marula (from seed) None have yet fruited, but I am getting there! Hope to Hear from You soon. Regards Geoff Dunn P.S. I loved the Images (Are they scanned or from a Digital Camera?) ------------------------------------ From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: Grafting Clamps - Information Sought Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 21:00:15 -0700 Hi, Leo. I have no lost email but if I may impose upon the opportunity, I am still interested in specific information about the "grafting clamps" one of your correspondents reported using with almost perfect success several months ago. I have searched every craft, hardware, hobby, home depot and woodshop type store and dozens of catalogues and can find no contraption vaguely matching the description of the "clamp." Clothespins don't quite cut it. If that gentleman is on board, I would like to talk to him . Best regards, Dick Gross. ------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 07:29:05 -0800 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Readers We Have Lost (Probably Changed Addresses) Mail bounces, when addressed to these: David Rack rack12@germany-c.it.earthlink.net Veronica&George Stork vstork@earthlink.net Terry Nelson maxtaxi1@worldnet.att.net Bill DeFelice billd@cyberia.com Ed Gribble edgrib@ix.netcom.com Fayaz Mawani fayaz@unixg.ubc.ca Abilio Garcia nop25644@mail.telepac.pt Jeff Carmello Beetrooter@aol.com ---------------------------------- From: Sven Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 07:11:26 -0800 Subject: Re: Have You Used Gibberillic Acid For Seeds? Hi Leo, I have not tried GA treatment yet. If you need some I have plenty. My friend bought 32 grams ($55) to use on his grapes. He recently moved and gave me what he had left. On page 12 of the Sep/Oct 1998 Fruit Gardener is an article on the Ilama. It says "Most accounts state that the seeds must be stored in a cool, dry place for a year, then put in full sun for a week before planting. Other reports claim that they need to be scarified by physical means or treated with 350 ppm of gibberellic acid." The one seed I have has not sprouted in the three months that it has been planted. It was scarified and planted immediately. Do you have a lot of seeds, because you could try several techniques and see which works best. I know some seeds need exposure to light before germination, but I've never heard of it in such a large seed. Usually it is small seeds, like lettuce, which need to ensure that they are close to the surface before sprouting. I've got some Manilkara kaukii (I'm not sure exactly what this is) seeds which I've had trouble sprouting, so I think I will try to treating these with GA and see what happens. The only recommendation I can make is to use distilled water to dissolve the gibberellic acid. Tap water has lots of minerals that can form insoluble compounds with many chemicals. Thank you for the guavas, they are very good. You are right they do have large seed cavities. But this is the tastiest part of the fruit, so in a way it is good. I know some of mine have much smaller seeds. I'll bring you some fruit next year, or if you want a seedling I can bring you some. I can't wait to have a fruiting macadamia so that I can make those chocolate covered clusters. They were excellent. Everybody liked them. Have you ever tried them with dark chocolate? I finished cleaning up the side yard yesterday. It looks much better. I also planted 50 seedlings, including some of the sweet tamarind. Be careful of the cold with these. I've had some regular tamarind seedlings that died during the winter. I don't think it was a frost, I think they just don't like the cold weather. Even the larger trees go partially deciduous which I'm sure they don't do in the tropics. Well, good luck with the trees. Thanks again for the fruit and I'll talk to you soon. Cheers, Sven Leo Manuel wrote: Hi, Sven John Riley once recommended 2000 ppm concentration of GA for treating seeds that are difficult to break dormancy. I'm going to try to get ILLAMA seeds to sprout and have heard they are difficult. Bob Holzinger had one seed and treated it with 350 ppm and it sprouted. If you know anything about it, I'd appreciate your information, or if you know where I could look, that would help. Thanks again for your vital part in getting the 'Gitit' pitanga to me. And, thanks for the Tamarind seedling. Sincerely, Leo --------------------------------- From: Sven Merten Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 08:13:43 -0800 Subject: Where should I buy land to grow rare fruit? Leo, We are looking for a few acres to grow our rare fruit on in a relatively frost free area. I was wondering if you or anyone on the list can recommend good areas to buy land. I live in Fountain Valley (near Huntington Beach) so I think we will have a fairly long drive wherever we end up buying land. North county San Diego looks like the best area. It was suggested that I look anywhere that Haas avocados are grown. Does anyone know where this is? Also to stay near the coast. Does anyone know what the different water districts in that area charge for water? Another possibility is the San Dimas area, but I don't know this area very well and I'd prefer not to have to drive through LA. Thanks in advance for any information. Sven ---------------------------------- From: Sven Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 08:13:37 -0800 Subject: Rare Fruit Reference book recommendations? Hi Leo, Could you or anyone on the list recommend some good books on rare fruit. I am looking for books with descriptions as well as growing information. Thank you. Sven -------------------------------- Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 12:17:06 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Sven Subject: Re: Rare Fruit Reference book recommendations? Hi, Sven Here are a few of the ones I own, with a comment about each of a few of them: Fruits of Warm Climates Julia F. Morton My favorite, also most expensive Cornucopia II Stephen Facciola You probably know about this one. Passion Flowers and Passion Fruit John Vanderplank Very thorough Methods in Fruit Breeding James N Moore, et al I've never opened it, don't remember where I got it, and can't make any recommendations about it. Uncommon Fruits & Vegetables Elizabeth Schneider Includes recipes A Commonsense Guide Growing Unusual Fruit Alan E. Simmons Superficial view of several Plant Propagation, Hudson T. Hartmann et al Propagation in general Principles and Practice When you come down, I'll show them to you. The Julia Morton is the single one you want, I believe, but let's see what the other readers say. Yours, Leo ------------------------------- From: Leo Subject: Raccoon In My Fruit Garden Date: December 30, 1998 This morning at day break, I took my dog out and he took off after something in the far corner of my back yard. I went down and saw a very large raccoon on top of the chain link fence, swatting back at the dog, but not seeming to be very concerned. I didn't want the dog to be jumped on from above, so I poked him with a large bamboo pole. He jumped across into a bamboo patch that was adjacent to the fence, but stayed right there, still not willing to run away. I poked him again, and to my surprise, another large one jumped down from the overhanging bamboo and somehow raked by back on his way past, leaving three superficial scratches. At the same time that it jumped, I saw several adolescent ones scampering off, so there had been a family of them. I haven't seen them in the yard before, but neighbors have seen them in their yards. What damage are they likely to inflect, if any, on fruit trees, and on which ones are they likely to be especially destructive? A friend has Japanese persimmons that attract them. If I had known there was a family of them together, I would have been far more cautious. I had another set of scratches several years ago, when a parent rushed past me, to distract me, so the young could excape. Again, it was to get my dog's attention away from the younger ones. Another day, perhaps, I'll tell you about foxes climbing in my peach, apricot, and loquat trees, and how one ran with a peach to a chain-link fence and climbed up and over it, with the grace of a cat! ------------------------- Subject: Chemical Stimulants in Propagating Seeds From: Leo Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices, 3d Ed., Hartmann & Kester Techniques of Propagation by Seeds, Chemical Stimulants Gibberellins This group of plant hormones has significant activity in seed physiology. Gibberellic acid (GA3) will promote germination in some kinds of dormant seeds, increase the germination rate, stimulate seedling growth, and overcome dwarfing of dormant epicotyls. The latter effect may be transitory and produce abnormal seedling growth. The response to this treatment may vary, depending upon the kind of seed. Seeds are treated with GA by soaking 24 hrs. in water solution at cocentrations from 100 to 10,000 ppm. Removal of restrictive seed coverings may be necessary to allow penetration. Large-scale use should be preceded by preliminary trials. Gibberellic acid is produced commercially by fungus cultures and is available as the potassium salt. Cytokinins These natural growth hormones appear to be active in stimulating germination of some kinds of seed. A commercial preparation, kinetin (6-furfurylamino purine) is available. Dissolve first in a small amount of HCI, then dilute with water. Other available synthetic cytokinins are BA (6-benzylamino purine) and PBA (6-benzylamino)-9-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)-9H-purine): these are more active for higher plants than is kinetin. These materials may stimulate germination and overcome high temperature dormancy of certain seeds, such as lettuce. Seeds are generally soaked in 100 ppm kinetin solutions for three minutes. Large-scale treatments should be preceded by trials at varying concentrations. Cytokinins are sometimes effective in promoting germination when in combination with gibberellic acid and with ethyleneproducing compounds. Ethylene Ethylene occurs naturally in plants and is known to have growth-regulating properties. Ethylene applied to seeds has stimulated germination of some seeds experimentally. With the availability of ethylene-generating chemicals, such as ethephon, the practical commercial use of ethylene to stimulate seed germination is possible. Potassium nitrate Many freshly harvested dormant seeds germinate better after soaking in a potassium nitrate solution. The technique is used largely in seed-testing laboratories. Seeds are placed in germination trays or Petri dishes and the substratum moistened with 0.2 percent potassium nitrate. For Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) or Canada bluegrass (P. compressa) a 0.1 percent solution should be used. If they are rewatered, tap or distilled water is used rather than additional nitrate solution. Thiourea This chemical Ņ CS(NH2)2 Ņ has been used to stimulate germination of some dormant seeds, particularly those that do not germinate in darkness or at high temperatures, or that require a moist-chilling treatment. Water solutions at 0.5 to 3 percent are used. Since thiourea is somewhat inhibitory to growth, it is desirable to soak the seeds no longer than 24 hours and then rinse in water. Sodium hypochlorite This material is used to stimulate germination of rice seed, apparently overcoming a water-soluble inhibitor in the hull. A proportion of 1 gal. of commercial concentrate to 100 gal. of water is used. ----------------------------------- Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 06:48:52 -0800 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Triple Crown Blackberry - New - Information Sought Jim Neitzel asked that I look for information on a new blackberry cultivar, 'Triumph.' Supposedly it's name suggests three outstanding characteristics of the variety. Do you know who is likely to sell this one, and do you know anything about it? Leo ----------------Readers Write About Newsletter Format-------------- From: "Matt Heffron" Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 10:22:06 -0800 Subject: Newsletter Format: To Doc or Not to Doc Leo, I *CAN* read the attached .DOC file, however, the embeded http: links don't work because I now must read the document with Word, instead of with the email program. Have you considered HTML formatting instead? That way the links would work. Although you'd have to do a bit more work formatting... :-( Matt Heffron --------------------------------- Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 22:26:57 -0500 From: Jody Haynes Subject: Newsletter Format: Try *.txt Leo, try the *.txt suffix. This will suggest to our PCs that it is a general text file without any proprietary format commands. Any text editor can read these. Jody Haynes Palm & Cycad Societies of FL, Virtual Palm Encyclopedia, Virtual Cycad Encyclopedia (http://www.plantapalm.com) ------------------------------------ From: Bill Thomas: Thomasx4@aol.com Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 10:13:30 EST Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt If you make it a .txt file most people will be able to access it. That will usually make it an ASCII format which is what I think your email are in anyway. Bill Thomas ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 05:32:54 -0800 From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt Dear Leo, Maybe the extension(*.txt) will be more suitable as it can be opened in notepad which is bundled with "windows". Personally, I quite liked RFNO as a *.doc. This makes printing it a lot easier. May I also take this opportunity for thanking you for RFNO, I appreciate the time that you invest in this publication. Regards from Sunny South Africa Geoff Dunn Yep, and happy holidays to you and yours as well ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 16:53:28 -0800 From: Geoffrey Dunn Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt - Continued Leo Manuel wrote: Geoff, can you simply rename the file as *.doc and make it into a Word file? There's this huge chasm between the two camps of Macintosh and Windows users.... Leo, I think I missed the question. Previously RFNO simply opened in my browser (Netscape Mail in NN 3.01) The Latest RFNO came as a "Word" attachment(*.doc). To open this, one needs the MS Word application. Not everyone has MS Word, but everyone who uses Windows should Have Notepad which is bundled with the Windows operating system. What I'm trying to say, is that with a *.txt extension, the attachment should be openable by any Windows user. I do say this under correction, maybe one of your more PC literate subscribers will have a more elgant solution. Regards Geoff ------------------------------- From: RRRummler@aol.com Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 06:39:37 EST Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt Dear Leo, I'm rather uninformed about computerese, but I think that a ".txt" extension is fairly universally acceptable. Rosemary Rummler ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 00:13:09 -0800 From: Darryl Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt Hello Leo: Maybe ".txt" will work for everyone. I personally prefer the newsletter "inline" with the email. Just my $.02 Thanks Darryl ------------------------------- From: "Staples, Ian" Subject: Newsletter Format: Use *.txt Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 18:01:04 +1000 G'day Leo, There is no point in sending your newsletter as a Word .DOC file when it is still basically a text file. In fact, there could be disadvantages in that Word files are usually quite a bit larger than the equivalent plain text files. Anyone using Word (like I do) has no problems importing a text file into it for printing or "prettying up" (if that's your inclination and you have the time :-) so I don't see the point of changing what you have been doing all along. [If you were producing a formatted, highlighted, multi-font version of the newsletter, there would be some value in distributing it in a way that preserved the detail; but you don't, so there isn't.] Cheers, Ian S. P.S. Incidentally, various incarnations of WordPerfect also use .DOC as a standard file extension. (As I found to my chagrin when attempting to exchange files with a colleague in another organisation some time ago!) ------------------------------ From: "Allen, Robert" Subject: Newsletter Format Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 09:23:11 -0800 Leo, I had no problem with the attachment in format *.doc, receiving it on a PC. My suggestion is that you attach both *.txt and *.doc versions and let each recipient choose which one to open. Hope your Holly Daze are Happy too! Don't forget to try the persimmon sorbet. Bob --------------Web Pages To Consider---------------- Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 03:06:12 -0800 From: Darryl Subject: Sugar Palm: Basis of Integrated Farming Systems in Cambodia Dear Leo: I hope all is going well with you. I stumbled across this article, and thought you might find it interesting. http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/agricult/aga/agap/frg/conf96.htm/khieu.htm Take Care, Darryl Clark --- Here's an extract of a very small part: ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Sugar Palm Tree As Basis of Integrated Farming Systems in Cambodia ------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract The sugar palm tree (Borassus flabellifer) plays an important role in the small integrated farming systems in Cambodia. The sugar palm is considered to be a multi-purpose tree and provides different products such as juice, sugar, leaves, timber, fruits, underground seedlings and roots. The juice from the sugar palm is rich in highly digestible carbohydrate (sugars) which is an alternative energy source for animal feeding in the rural areas. The impact of the sugar palm on the farming system is increased when the excreta from the animals is recycled through biodigesters to provide gas for household cooking and effluent to fertilize the pond which can produce fish or water plants, the former for the household and the latter for the livestock. KEY WORDS: Borassus flabellifer, palm juice, palm sugar, fuel, environment, biodigester, sustainable production ---------------"NAFEX List" ---------------- Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 20:10:11 -0700 Subject: Commercial Sources--Ginkgo nuts From: mblossom@juno.com (Mark B Blossom) Dear Nafexers, We have over 100 pounds of new crop Ginkgo Biloba seed for sale. The seed was hand gathered, cleaned and graded. Seed from the same source, prepared in this way, has in previous years yielded essentially 100% germination in our nursery. This seed is of suitable quality for use as food, (see below). We are offering the seed for sale in one pound packages for $12.00, postpaid. Larger quantities at $6.00 per pound plus postage. There are about 300 seed per pound. We also have Ginkgo trees for sale, in containers and bareroot. Prices are from $3.00 to $20.00, depending on size and quantity. Please inquire. Blossom Nursery Mark and Kathleen Blossom 216 CR 326 Eureka Springs AR 72632 USA 501-253-7895 ---------------------------------------------------- Subject: Newly Released! Cornucopia II Order Form Cornucopia II - A Source Book of Edible Plants - Order Form By Stephen Facciola $40 plus shipping and handling Date___________________________________________.....No. of Copies_______ Name___________________________________________.....Subtotal....$_______ Address________________________________________....*Shipping....$_______ ____________________________Zip___________.*(Outside US $7, Inside US $5) Phone ( ) _____________________________..Sales Tax CA Residents $ 3.10 Make checks or money orders out to Kampong Publications....Total $_______ Canadian and overseas customers remit in U.S. Dollars. Send your order and remittance to: Kampong Publications 1870 Sunrise Drive Vista, CA 92084 Phone (760) 726-0990 Stephen's Comment: Sorry, we are not set up to accept credit card orders. We will accept checks made out in U.S. dollars or International Money Orders. Regards, Steve Facciola >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - January 1, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online January 15, 1999, aka RFN9901B.txt Rare Fruit News Online is primarily a collection of letters from you, the readers. I edit all submissions, sometimes in a very minor way. It helps if your email has a relevant SUBJECT. Also, if you want to make sure your letters are read, try to have the subject as descriptive as possible. You took the time to write the letter, so compose it so that it gets read. If you want your letter to be published, please use your *real* name someplace in the letter. It takes time to look up your name, so please sign your email. Also, when you direct a letter to a reader, please include that person's name someplace in the correspondence. That helps the rest of us know to whom you are writing. I also like to see appropriate capital letters in writing, although it's not a major concern. It's a far greater 'offense' to write in all caps, but all small letters seem to be lacking something. Maybe it's just eye appeal? I try to edit mail to 'remedy' most deviations, but it takes more time.... I really appreciate it when you send me a CC or BCC when writing to other readers of RFNO. Much of the best information that has been past along has been due to the thoughtfulness of such correspondents. If you find errors of spelling, grammar, or facts, please let me know. These newsletters go out later to new subscribers and you will be doing both me and them a favor. And, here's another chance to order your copy of Cornucopia II (at the bottom of this newsletter), and I'm relieved to know that I finally got my own order in. Thanks again! Leo ------------------Index: What will you find in this issue?-------------- --Leo's Note Subject: Mangoes In Bloom And Mangoes Almost Ripe --New Subscribers From: David Ulmer Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 14:26:18 -0500 Subject: New Subscriber, Reno, Nevada From: Kirt Nieft Subject: New Subscriber, HI, Wants Durian and Mangosteen Information From: Glenda & Tom Ponder Subject: New Subscribers, La Mirada, CA, Interested In All Fruit From: coolbus@webtv.net (woodrow cooke) Subject: New Subscriber, WV; Grows Rare Fruit Indoors & In Greenhouse From: Brian Parent Subject: New Subscriber, AZ, Interested in Citrus and Tropicals From: Neal Young Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Wants Viable Durian Seeds --Readers Write From: gmeka@tns.org Subject: Re: Need: Source for seeds of Durio zibethinus ( Durian ) From: Bob Batson Subject: Re: Need: Source for seeds of Durio zibethinus ( Durian ) From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Re: Need: Source for seeds of Durio zibethinus ( Durian ) From: "Doron Kletter" Subject: Re: Ilama from seed From: Samar Gupta Subject: seedless guavas from Thailand From: Marsha Jackson Subject: Where To Find Information On Rare Vegetables? From: Nan Sterman To: eunicemessner@yahoo.com Subject: Mycorrhizae on everything???? From: Nan Sterman To: Sven Merten Subject: Where should I buy land to grow rare fruit? From: Joel Moskowitz Subject: Re: Re: If you want your letter to be published From: Eunice Messner To: nsterman@mindsovermatter.com Subject: Mycoorhizae on everything??? From: Bert Dunn To: Bert Dunn Subject: Re: Where To Find The Fruit Gardener Magazine? From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: Arizona CRFG - Jan '99 Newsletter From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Anyone get M. Americana Seeds To Sprout? Or Grow This Tree? From: moshe nadler Subject: I Recommend This Web Site (Israeli Fruit Researcher) Subject: Cacti as Crops (Recommended by Moshe) http://www.bgu.ac.il/life/mizrahi/article1.html From: "Ronald Lyn" Subject: Lychee Stress From: Eunice Messner To: Martin Berghuis Subject: Feinte cohol banana (see photo at http://www.plantapalm.com/_private/veinte_cohol.htm From: Eunice Messner To: Nan Sterman Subject: Correction to 1/3/99 e-mail re mycorrhizae Subject: Mangoes in California From: Eunice Messner To: Sven Merten From: Randall Wilks Subject: How To Grow Rare Fruit In Colder Climates From: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: How To Grow Rare Fruit In Colder Climates --Zingiber List (Includes Bananas) From: Jody Haynes Subject: Photo of Veinte cohol Banana Subject: Re: Photo of Veinte cohol From: HESTERC@mail01.adm.duke.edu To: Jody From: Keith Benson DVM Subject: Want To Clone Your Bananas? --New Crops List From: "Carol A. Miles" Subject: Re: What Alternative Crops For My Exotic Palm Greenhouse? --NAFEX List From: Travis Callahan Subject: Chill Hours - What Exactly Is It? --Web Pages To Consider Need Rare Seeds? See: http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/homepage.htm --Cornucopia II Order Form -----------------------Leo's Note----------------------- Subject: Mangoes In Bloom And Mangoes Almost Ripe I haven't grown mangoes in a climate as ideal as where I now live, so I don't know what's 'normal' but this is the first year I've had mangoes hanging at the same time that other trees are breaking into bloom. Valencia Pride and Keitt mango each had only a few fruit, quite large, and still hanging, although they could be picked anytime. But Kent, Winters (#20222), Glenn, and a few others are in bloom. Also guavas and cherimoyas are ripening nicely. Leo ---------------------New Subscribers--------------------- From: David Ulmer Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 11:12:51 EST Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Dear Leo, I'm finally getting around to writing you. Bob Chambers has told me of your newsletter on several occasions. I am David Ulmer, in Sebastopol, CA My fruit interest is with Plum, Persimmons, Figs, Mayhaws and the usual temperate sorts. I've recently moved to a new home and have Mexican avocados and loquats in pots along with a few seedlings grown from CRFG sources. We have had a "test winter" so far. Three straight mornings of 20 degrees and numerous mornings in the mid twenties. Not very conducive to growing the sub-tropicals. David ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 14:26:18 -0500 From: "Robert L. Thomasson" <102073.3346@compuserve.com> Subject: New Subscriber, Reno, Nevada Hello Leo, I enjoyed your web page, and I'm very interested in what variety of Mangoes you are growing. The ones I was familiar with in the Philippines were a banana yellow, with an excellent flavor. The ones I've seen here in the supermarkets have a reddish, almost a papaya like color, but that may be due to storage or ripening after being picked. I haven't yet found out the botanical variety name of the Philippine mangoes, but I'm working on it. I have an uphill battle if I want to grow mangoes here in Reno, but it would be a lot of fun trying. I can probably get by with a makeshift greenhouse for several years, before they get big enough to require a larger one. Can you also send me some more information on your newsletter? Thanks, and Happy New Year Bob Thomasson ------------------------------- You Said: >>Robert, there are nurseries in California that sell mango trees. If you ever drive over near the Southern California coast, you will find several nurseries handling them. Let me know if you want more information. << Leo, Mangoes are occasionally in the supermarkets here, but they don't compare to the ones in the Philippines. It could be due to storage, or as I believe, they are a much different variety. But maybe the trees you mention in California nurseries are good ones! Do you happen to know the nursery names or towns the California nurseries are in? It wouldn't take much of an excuse for a weekend trip. I'll find out the botanical names of the Philippine mango varieties. Thanks, Bob ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 15:14:27 -1000 From: Kirt Nieft Subject: New Subscriber, HI, Wants Durian and Mangosteen Information Leo, I am Kirt Nieft, living 6 miles southeast of Pahoa in the Puna district of Opihikao on the big island of Hawaii. With rare fruit, I have had more experience eating than growing. ;) We lived for a time overseas (Peru, Thailand, New Zealnd) and have finally settled in Hawaii after southern CA didn't do it for us. Actually growing is new to me and I talk to everyone I can find. I'm trying to find out if anyone has success with durian (varieties?) and mangosteen in Hawaii. They both seem ultra-tropical to me and I'm wary of planting five acres up and watching them fail. Cheers, Kirt ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 21:33:13 -0800 From: Glenda & Tom Ponder Subject: New Subscribers, La Mirada, CA, Interested In All Fruit We are Tom & Glenda Ponder, living in La Mirada CA. We are interested in pretty much all fruiting plants: deciduous, tropical, sub-tropical, etc. Glenda and Tom ------------------------------- From: coolbus@webtv.net (woodrow cooke) Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 07:14:05 -0500 (EST) Subject: New Subscriber, WV; Grows Rare Fruit Indoors & In Greenhouse Dear Leo, I am Woodie Cooke and I live near Charleston, WV. I lived in Belize Central America for several years and commercially grew cacao (reclaimed about 1000 acres from the bush that had been abondoned and was only 12 yrs old). I fell in love with rare fruits while there. I have been growing several varieties of bananas, citrus, coffee, pineapples etc. in my home and small homemade greenhouse. I have found that because of short daylight in the winter in West Virginia, my plants do much better if supplemented with a few extra hours of agricultural lighting, even a mercury vapor like yard light will help tremendously. Please include me in your mail list, I hope I have included all the info you need. Thanks, Woodie Cooke In West Va. Mountains. ---------------------------------- From: Brian Parent Subject: New Subscriber, AZ, Interested in Citrus and Tropicals Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 19:26:12 -0700 Hi I am Brian Parent, living in Phoenix, Az, 85032 I like to grow citrus and am interested in learning about tropicals. Thanks Brian ------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 15:39:41 -0600 From: Neal Young Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Wants Viable Durian Seeds Dear Sir, My name is Neal Young and I'm an under grad student at the University of West Florida. I'm trying to locate some seeds of Durio zibethinus (Durian) for a research program which I'm trying to get started. I realize the difficulty in transporting the seeds, but the school will pay all expenses if a seed source is found. I presently am at school in Pensacola, Florida, but my home and plants are all in Key Largo, Florida. Thank you for your help, and I would be interested in receiving your publication. Neal Young -------------------Readers Write----------------------------- From: gmeka@tns.org Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 15:35:57 -0500 Subject: Re: Need: Source for seeds of Durio zibethinus ( Durian ) Neal, You will find sources for durian seeds on this website www.gain.com or www.fintrac.com ------------ Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 11:15:04 -0600 (CST) From: Bob Batson Subject: Re: Need: Source for seeds of Durio zibethinus ( Durian ) I've located a source for Durian (Durio zibethinus) at B&T World Seeds. B & T World Seeds Route des Marchandes, Paguignan, 34210 Olonzac, France fax ++ 33 04 68 91 30 39 phone ++ 33 04 68 91 29 63 eMail: B_and_T_World_Seeds@compuserve.com Technical: R@thesys.demon.co.uk http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/homepage.htm Bob Batson ------------ From: Dan Hemenway Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 15:38:51 EST Subject: Re: Need: Source for seeds of Durio zibethinus ( Durian ) Neal, I'd check to see if it is listed in the ICRAF seed source book. Dan Hemenway ------------------------------- From: "Doron Kletter" Subject: Re: Ilama from seed Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 08:18:10 -0800 Hi Leo, I also got one Ilama seed (from the same source I believe). I gave it no special treatment other than soaking in water for two days and planting over bottom heat . It has sprouted fine and is now about 12" tall with few sets of leaves. I used no gibberellic acid. Doron ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 23:33:02 +0530 From: Samar Gupta Subject: seedless guavas from Thailand Dear Leo, I've grown the seedless guavas from Thailand and the disadvantage is that they are not cosmetically as beautiful as the common guava cultivars. They tend to be misshapen and rather ugly, and while I know that should not matter, they do look less appetizing. The guavas sold in Thailand retail markets and by the handcart vendors selling cut-fruit are huge, perfectly round and blemishless. Seems they take a lot of trouble wrapping each fruit while it is on the tree so that the colour, gloss and surface are bright and smooth. The taste of some seeded cultivars is sweeter though. In Thailand they eat guavas very raw and crunchy. It has a harder texture than even apples. Here in India only the fully ripe, almost melting and overripe fruits are popular. Its almost like eating a different fruit altogether. They find the smell of ripe guavas offensive. They also cut up their guavas differently. They cut only halfway to the core and leave the seeded centre to be discarded. Again, here in India, we eat the full fruit. Regards, Samar Gupta Bombay ---------- You said: Have you brought any seedless guavas from Thailand? Do any of them taste sufficiently similar to seeded ones, to warrant seeking them out? I'd settle for really small seed cavity in a sweet-when-ripe one, either white flesh or not. Leo ------------------------------- From: Marsha Jackson Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 08:38:41 EST Subject: Where To Find Information On Rare Vegetables? Hi, Leo. My husband and I have been enjoying your newsletter for over a year. We mainly live in Maryland but also have a place in the mountains of Puerto Rico. So here's a question - can you direct us to any resources similar to this that deal with rare (especially tropical) vegetables? Thanks, Marsha Jackson ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 22:58:28 -0800 From: NanStermanTo:eunicemessner@yahoo.com Subject: Mycorrhizae on everything???? Hello Eunice! In response to your posting on Leo Manuel's Rare Fruit Grower's newsletter, I am wondering why you use mycorrhizae on everything.... I am familiar with mycorrhizae and what they do, but I never heard of anyone using them on any plants other than California natives. What kinds of mycorrhizae do you use and how do you know they make a difference? How long have you been using them? What differences do you see? Nan San Diego Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11 ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 22:55:57 -0800 From: Nan Sterman To: Sven Merten Subject: Where should I buy land to grow rare fruit? Sven -- Saw your quesiton on Leo's Rare Fruit News Online. I suggest you contact Roger Meyer who also lives in fountain Valley and farms in Valley Center which is North San Diego County, but inland. I doubt very much you could find much affordable land that is coastal, but you might try the Vista area, which is only slightly inland, but is supposed to be frost free. Roger has grown kiwi, jujube, etc for many years in this area and he could probably give you quite an education on where to look for land. Roger can be reached at 714.839.0796 and I've lost his email though I bet Leo has it. Good luck Nan ------------------------------- From: Joel Moskowitz Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 21:33:53 EST Subject: Re: .Re: If you want your letter to be published Wonder if anyone can direct me to obtaining a Stevia plant/bush/tree in the San Diego area preferably. Also has anyone any idea of what the actual 'sweetener' is chemically and has it been studied as to safety. Thanks Joel Moskowitz ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 19:36:48 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice To: nsterman@mindsovermatter.com Subject: Mycoorhizae on everything??? Nan... I have been using mycorrhizae only a year, but I have grown organically for 20 years so probably I already have mycorrhizae (MYC) present. But there are many kinds of MYC and my commercial source has a total of seven in his preparation. Hopefully, I'm introducing new ones more to one plants liking. Tilling the soil during daylight destroys most soil organisms--and I love to till the soil so I may never be a no-till gardener. I have sandy soil with rootknot nematodes. Multitudes of th MYC hyphae attached to the roots have been known to actually evelop and 'eat' the nematodes and are antagonistic to other pathogens. Mycorrhizae areate and aggregate soils and thereby allow more oxygen to reach the root zone. I use the endo type of MYC. Forest trees use ectomycorrhizae, i.e. firs, pines, etc. I expect to use less fertilizer and water as the mycorrhizae establish themselves. They can reach out 100 times further than the roots can access and bring to the plant phosphorous (which is very difficult to extract from the soil), nitrogen, potassium, calcium, sulphur, copper and zinc. If one's soil has been subject to erosion, pesticides, fumigation or chemical fertilizatiion, then inoculation with mycorrhizae and an application of organic material is especially advisable. I have attended conferences and heard several of the world's leading authorities on mycorrhizae and their tests are believable. It will take time to see a difference in the garden, but this has been my most successful year in propagating mangos from seed - using mycorrhizae for the first time. Maybe it is something like taking vitamins - just to be sure we keep healthy. Eunice Messner ------------------------------ From: Bert Dunn To:Bert Dunn Subject: Re: Where To Find The Fruit Gardener Magazine? Dear The "Fruit Gardener" magazine is available only to members of CRFG. You may apply for membership on the webpage: http://www.crfg.org Choose: "Join CRFG (membership application)" One could spend an entire day just brousing all the information included in this award winning web site. I think any questions you have regrding the magazine and its contents will be answered there. If not, write again. We are really having a strange winter. It is 80degrees and trees are blooming that usually bloom in March or April. Colder weather is sure to come and I hope some rain. Don't know how the trees will respond after that. But I don't think I'd prefer Canada. At least you get a winters rest, whereas I garden all year long. Eunice Messner, Anaheim Hills, California ------------------------------- From: "Richard K. Gross" To: "Leo Manuel" Subject: Arizona CRFG - Jan '99 Newsletter CALIFORNIA RARE FRUIT GROWERS, INC. THE ARIZONA BRANCH Meeting the second Thursday of every month except December. JANUARY MEETING: WHEN: THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1999 TIME: 7:00 PM WHERE: Cooperative Extension Palo Verde Room 4341 E. Broadway Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85040 Write for more information to: Richard K. Gross -------------------------------------- Date: Thu Jan 7 17:17:47 1999 From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Anyone Get Seeds To Sprout Or Grow This Tree: M. Americana ? Hi Leo, You can ask on the next newsletter if anyone else who got M. americana seeds from the seed bank had luck sprouting them or if anyone has experience growing this fruit tree. Maybe someone in Florida has some info to provide, who knows? Take care, Bob --------------------------- Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 23:30:58 -0800 (PST) From: moshe nadler Subject: I Recommend This Web Site (Israeli Fruit Researcher) Hi Leo! You asked me for some interesting information from israel. try this site: http://www.bgu.ac.il/life/mizrahi/article1.html This is the site of Prof. Mizrahi, an interesting person. For years he has been trying to introduce new fruits to Israel. He has had a lot of experience with rare fruits from America and Africa. hope you will enjoy it. moshe ------- Recommended by Moshe Subject: Cacti as Crops http://www.bgu.ac.il/life/mizrahi/article1.html Below is a very brief outline of this interesting web page, together with the literature referenced: I. Introduction II. Biological Characteristics of Cacti ĘĘĘĘĘĘA. Shoots, Crassulacean Acid Metabolism ĘĘĘĘĘĘB. Roots, Salinity Tolerance III. Cacti as Animal Feed IV. Cacti as Vegetables V. Cacti as Fruit Crops ĘĘĘĘĘĘA. Cactus Pears ĘĘĘĘĘĘB. Columnar Cacti ĘĘĘĘĘĘC. Climbing Cacti VI. Cacti as Industrial Crops ĘĘĘĘĘĘĘA. Cochineal ĘĘĘĘĘĘĘB. Processed Foods ĘĘĘĘĘĘĘC. Mucilage and Medicinal Products VII. Future Prospects ĘĘĘĘĘĘĘA. Low-Input Systems ĘĘĘĘĘĘĘB. High-Input Systems ĘĘĘĘĘĘĘLiterature Cited LITERATURE CITED Arad (Malis), S., and E. Cohen. 1991. Outdoor cultivation of micro algae in a closed System for production of valuable biochemicals, p. 301-316. In: D. Kamely, A. M. Chakrabarty, and S. E. Kornguth (eds.) Biotechnology: bridging research and applications. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Arcadio, L. B. 1986. Cultivo de la pitaya. Federacion do Cafeteros, Bogota, Colombia. Backeberg, C. 1984. Die Cactaceae. Gustav Fisher, Stuttgart, Germany. Barbeau, G. 1990. La pitaya rouge, un nouveau fruit exotique. Fruits 45:141-147. Barbera, G., and P. Inglese. 1993. La coltura del ficodindia. Edagricole, Bologna,Italy. Barbera, G., F. Carimi, and P. Inglese. 1991. The reflowering of prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller: influence of removal time and cladode load on yield and fruit ripening, Adv. Hort. Sci. 5:77-80. Barbera, G., P. Inglese, and E. Pimienta-Barrios (eds.). 1995. Agroecology, cultivation and uses of cactus pear. Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations, Rome, Italy. Berry, W. L., and P. S. Nobel. 1985. Influence of soil and mineral stresses on cacti. J. Plant Nutr. 8:697-696. Borrego-Escalante, F. 1992. Growing prickly pear for cochineal (grana) dye production. p. 45-48. In: Proc. Third Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Brutsch, M. 0., and M. B. Scott. 1991. Extending the fruiting season of spineless prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica. J. South. Afr. Soc. Hort. Sci. 1:73-76. Brutsch, M. 0., and H. G. Zimmermann. 1993. The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica [Cactaceae]) in South Africa: Utilization of the naturalized weed, and of the cultivated plants. Econ. Bot. 47:154-162. Cacioppo, 0. G. 1990. Pitaya: una de las mejores frutas productivas per Colombia. Informative Agro Economico de Colombia. February, p. 15-19. Cantwell, M. 1991. Quality and postharvest physiology of "nopalitos" and "tunas." p. 50-67. Proceedings of the Second Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville, Texas. Cantwell, M., A. Rodriguez-Felix, and F. Robles-Contreras. 1992. Postharvest physiology of prickly pear cactus stem. Sci. Hort. 50:1-9. Crosswhite, F. S. 1980. The annual saguaro harvest and crop cycle of the Papago with reference to ecology and symbolism, Desert Plants 2:2-61 Felger, R. S., and M. B. Moser. 1974. Columnar cacti in Seri Indian culture. Kiva 39: 25 7-2 75. Felger, R. S., and M. B. Moser. 1976. Seri Indian food plants: desert subsistence without agriculture, J. Ecol. Food. Nutr. 5:13-27. Fernandez, M. L., A. Trejo, and D. J. McNamara. 1990. Pectin isolated from prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) modifies low density lipoprotein metabolism in cholesterolfed guinea pigs. J. Nutr. 120:1283-1290. Fernandez, M. L., E. C. K. Lin, A. Trejo, and D. J. McNamara. 1992. Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) pectin reverses low density lipoprotein receptor suppression induced by a hypercholesterolemic diet in guinea pigs. J. Nutr. 122:2330-2339. Flores, V. C. 1991. The present and potential market conditions of both cactus leaves and cactus pear in Mexico, and the exportation possibilities to the United States and other countries. p. 94-101. In: Proc. Second Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Flores, V. C. 1992. Growing, commercializing, and marketing cactus leaves in Mexico. p. 56-65. In: Proc. Third Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Frati, A. C. 1992. Medicinal implications of prickly pear cactus. p. 29-30. Proceedings of the Third Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ.,Kingsville. Frati, A. C., J. A. Fernandez-Harp, H. De La Riva, R. Ariza-Andraca, and M. Del Carmen-Torres. 1983. Effect of nopal (Opuntia spp.) on serum lipids, glycemia and body weight. Arch. Invest. Mad. Mexico 14:117-1125. Frati, A. C., B. E. Gordillo, P. A. Altamirano, and C. R. Ariza. 1988. Hypoglycemic effect of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire in non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetes Care 11:63-66. Frati, A. C., M. D. Valle-Martinez, C. R. Ariza, S. Islas, and A. Chavez-Negrete. 1989. Hypoglycemic effect of different doses of nopal (Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire) in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Arch. Invest. Mad. Mexico 20:197-201. Frati, A. C., B. E. Gordillo, P. A. Altamirano, C. R. Ariza, R. Cortes-Franco, and A. Chavez-Negret. 1990. Acute hypoglycemic effect of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire in non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetes Care 13:455-456. Fucikovsky, L. A. 1992. Review of the diseases of nopalitos and tunas and their control. p. 42-44. In: Proc. Third Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Fucikovsky, L. A. 1993. Some bacterial, insect and bird problems of cactus in Mexico. p. 41-43. In: Proc. Fourth Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Fuentes-Rodriguez, J. 1991. A survey of the feeding practices, costs and production of dairy and beef cattle in Northern Mexico. p. 118-123. In: Proe. Second Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Fuentes-Rodriguez, J. 1992 Feeding prickly pear to dairy cattle in Northern Mexico. p. 31-34. In: Proc. Third Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Gibson, A. C., and P. S. Nobel. 1986. The cactus primer. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, MA. Gil, G. F., and A. R. Espinosa. 1980. Fruit development in the prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) with preanthesis application of gibberellin and auxin. Ciencia Investigacion Agraria 7:141-147. Gil, G. F., M. Morales, and A. Momberg. 1977. Fruit set and development in the prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.) in relation to pollination and gibberellic and chlorethylphosphonic acids. Ciencia Investigacion Agraria 4:163-169. Haggerton, R. 1992. Cookin with cactus: a collection of favorite recipes from the Texas Prickly Pear Council, Kingsville. Hamilton, J. R. 1992. Planting and cultivating native cactus for cattle feed and wildlife utilization in South Texas. p. 35-41. In: Proc. Third Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Huang, B., and P. S. Nobel. 1994. Root hydraulic conductance and its components, with emphasis on desert succulents. Agron. J. 86:767-774. Ibanez-Camacho, R., and R. Roman-Ramos. 1979. Hypoglycemic effect of Opuntia cactus. Arch. Invest. Med. Mexico 10:223-230. Inglese, P., G. Barbera, and T. La Mantia. 1993. Research strategies and improvement of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit quality and production. p. 2440. In: Proc. Fourth Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville, Loik, M. E., and P. S. Nobel. 1993. Freezing tolerance and water relations of Opuntia fragilis from Canada and the United States. Ecology 74:1722-1732. Maltsberger, W. A. 1991. Feeding and supplementing prickly pear cactus to beef cattle. p. 104-117. In: Proc. Second Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Mann, J. 1992. Murder, magic, and medicine. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, UK. Mass, E. V. 1986. Salt tolerance of plants. Appl. Agr. Res. 1:12-26. Master, R. W. P. 1959. Organic acid and carbohydrate metabolism in Nopalea cochenillifera. Experientia 15:30-31. Meckes-Lozoya, M., and R. Roman-Ramos. 1986. Opuntia streptacantha: a coadjutor in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Am. J. Chinese Med. 14:116-118. Mick, R. J. 1991. Growing variety 1308 for year around production. p. 32-35. In: Proc. Second Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Mick, R. J. 1992. Growing and marketing the nopalito variety 1308 in Texas. p. 7- 9. In: Proe. Third Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Morton, J. F. 1987. Cactaceae, strawberry pear. p. 347-348. In: J. F. Morton (ed.), Fruits of warm climates. Morton, Miami, FL. Nerd A., and Y. Mizrahi. 1992. Effect of fertilization on prickly pear production in Israel. p. 1-6. In: Proc. Third Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I ljniv., Kingsville. Nerd, A., and Y. Mizrahi. 1993. Cultural practices for cactus pear in Israel for yeararound production. p. 77-80. In: Proc. Fourth Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Nerd, A., and Y. Mizrahi. 1994. Effect of fertilization and organ removal on rebudding in Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. Sci. Hort. 59:115-122. Nerd, A., and Y. Mizrahi. 1996. Reproductive biology of cactus fruit crops. Hort. Rev. 18:321-346. Nerd, A., A. Karadi, and Y. Mizrahi. 1989. Irrigation, fertilization and polyethylene covers influence bud development in prickly pear. HortScience 24:773-775. Nerd, A., J. A. Aronson, and Y. Mizrahi. 1990. Introduction and domestication of rare and wild fruit and nut trees for desert areas. p. 353-363. In: J. Janick, and J. E. Simon (eds.), Advances in new crops. Timber, Portland, OR. Nerd, A., A. Karadi, and Y. Mizrahi. 1991a. Salt tolerance of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica). Plant and Soil 137:201-207. Nerd, A., A. Karadi, and Y. Mizrahi. 1991b. Out-of-season prickly pear: fruit characteristics and effect of fertilization and short drought periods on productivity. HortScience 26:527-529. Nerd, A., R. Mesika, and Y. Mizrahi. 1993a. Effect of N fertilization on autumn flowering and N metabolism in prickly pear. J. Hort. Sci. 68:337-342. Nerd, A., E. Raveh, and Y. Mizrahi. 1993b. Adaptation of five columnar cactus species to various conditions in the Negev Desert of Israel. Econ. Bot. 47:304-311. Nobel, P. S. 1988. Environmental biology of agaves and cacti. Cambridge Univ. Press, New York. Nobel, P. S. 1991. Achievable productivities of certain CAM plants: basis for high values compared with C and C. plants. New Phytol. 119:183-205. Nobel, P. S. 1994. Remarkable agaves and cacti. Oxford univ. Press. New York. Nobel, P. S. 1996. Responses of some North American CAM plants to freezing temperatures and doubled CO concentration: implications of global change for extending cultivation. J. Arid Environ., Nobel, R S., and M. Cui. 1992. Hydraulic conductances of the soil. the root-soil air gap, and the root: changes for desert succulents in drying soil. J. Expt. Bot. 43:319-326. Nobel, P. S., and M. E. Loik. 1990. Thermal analysis, cell viability, and CO uptake of a widely distributed North American cactus, Opuntia humifusa, at subzero temperatures. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 28:429-436. Nobel, P. S., U. Luttge, S. Heuer, and E. Ball. 1984. Influence of applied NaCl on Crassulacean acid metabolism and ionic levels in a cactus, Cereus validus. Plant Physiol. 75:799-803. Nobel, P. S., N. Wang, R. A. Balsamo, M. E. Loik, and M. A. Hawke. 1995. Low temperature tolerance and acclimation of Opuntia spp. after injecting glucose or methylglucose. Int. J. Plant Sci. 156:496-504. North, G. B., and P. S. Nobel. 1992. Drought-induced changes in hydraulic conductivity and structure in roots of Ferocactus acanthodes and Opuntia ficus-indica. New Phytol. 120:9-19. Perez-Reyes, C., and E. Pimienta-Barrios. 1995. Viabilidad de semillas y poliembrionia en morfoespecies cultivadas y silvestres de Opuntia. Agrociencia, Pimienta-Barrios, E. 1990. El nopal tunero. Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco. Pimienta-Barrios, E. 1991. An overview of prickly pear production in the central part of Mexico. p. 1-15. In: Proc. Second Annual Texas Prickly Pear Council Meeting. Texas A & I Univ., Kingsville. Pimienta-Barrios, E. 1993. Vegetable cactus (Opuntia). p. 177-192. In: J. T. Williams (ed.), Pulses and vegetables. Chapman & Hall, London. Pimienta-Barrios, E. 1994. Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.): a valuable fruit crop for semi-arid lands of Mexico. J. Arid Environ. 28:1-11. Pimienta-Barrios, E., and E. M. Engelman. 1985. Desarrollo de la pulpa y proporcion en volumen, do los componentes del loculo maduro an tuna (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller). Agrociencia 62:51-56. Pimienta-Barrios, E., and R S. Nobel. 1994. Pitaya (Stenocereus spp., Cactaceae): An ancient and modern fruit crop of Mexico. Econ. Bot. 48:76-83. Pimienta-Barrios, E., G. Barbera, and P. Inglese. 1993. Cactus pear (Opuntia spp., Cactaceae) International Network: an effort for productivity and environmental conservation for arid and semi-arid lands. Cactus Succulent J. 65:225-229. Raveh, E., J. Weiss, A. Nerd, and Y. Mizrahi. 1993. Pitayas (genus Hylocereus): A new fruit crop for the Negev Desert of Israel. p. 491-495. In: J. Janick and J. E. Simon (eds.), New crops. Wiley, New York. Rengel, Z. 1992. The role of calcium in salt toxicity. Plant Cell Environ. 15:625-632. Rodriguez-Felix, A., and M. Cantwell. 1988. Developmental changes in composition and quality of prickly pear cactus cladodes (nopalitos). Plant Food Human Nutr. 38:83-93. Russell, C. E., and P. Felker. 1987a. The prickly pears (Opuntia spp., Cactaceae): a source of human and animal food in semiarid regions. Econ. Bot. 41:433-445. Russell, C. E., and P. Felker. 1987b. Comparative cold hardiness of Opuntia spp. and cvs. grown or fruit, vegetable and fodder production. J. Hort. Sci. 62:545-550. Scheinvar, L. 1985. Flora ilustrada Catarinese Cactaceae. Itajai. Santa Catarina, Brasil. Silverman, F. P., D . R. Young, and P. S. Nobel. 1988. Effect of applied NaCl on Opuntia humifusa. Physiol. Plant. 42:343-348. Vietmeyer, N. 1990. The new crops era. p. xviii-xxii. In: J. Janick and J. E. Simon (eds.), Advances in new crops. Timber, Portland, OR. Wang, N., and P. S. Nobel. 1995. Phloem exudate collected via scale insect stylets for the CAM species Opuntia ficus-indica under current and doubled CO concentrations. Ann. Bot. 75:525-532. Weiss, J., A. Nerd, and Y. Mizrahi. 1993a. Development of the cactus apple (Cereus peruvianus) as a new crop to the Negev Desert of Israel. p. 486-491. In: J. Janick and J. E. Simon (eds.), New crops. Wiley, New York. Weiss, J., A. Nerd, and Y. Mizrahi. 1993b. Vegetative parthenocarpy in the cactus pear Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Ann. Bot. 72:521-526. Weiss, J., A. Nerd, and Y. Mizrahi. 1994a. Flowering and pollination requirements in Cereus peruvianus cultivated in Israel. Israel J. Plant Sci. 42:149-158. Weiss, J., A. Nerd, and Y. Mizrahi. 1994b. Flowering behaviour and pollination requirements in climbing cacti with fruit crop potential. HortScience 29:1487-1492. Weiss, J., L. Scheinvar, and Y. Mizrahi. 1995. Selenicereus megalanthus (the yellow pitaya): a climbing cactus from Colombia. Cactus Succulent J. 67:280-283. Wessels, A. B. 1988. Spineless prickly pear. First Perskor, Johannesburg, South Africa. ----------------------- From: "Ronald Lyn" Subject: lychee stress Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 06:28:30 -0500 Hi Leo. Happy New year. I was wondering about the stressing of lychees to improve flowering. Now I think I understand the concept, but was wondering about places like us in Jamaica that sometimes have rain at inopportune times when the plants should be dormant. The question is, if consistent watering is done throughout the year ( weather having some rain or not) will the trees react the same way when water is withheld in the dormant period? Oh and if you could tell me at what time of the year do longans usually flower? Thanks. Ronald --------------------------- Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 16:47:21 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Martin Berghuis Subject: Feinte cohol banana (see photo at http://www.plantapalm.com/_private/veinte_cohol.htm What a strange name. Do you know what it means? Beautiful picture. I would like to send it to a friend but I don't know if there is something special I have to do to include the picture. I'm enjoying Lakatan bananas right now and have three huge bunches on my Dwf. Cavendish. Hope your plants recover from the freeze - very discouraging. We have had a lot of loss from wind and now it is too warm for this time of the year. My mangos are blooming and the peach buds are starting to color up. Which means I have to get out there and spray for peach leaf curl and spread chicken compost - then cover that with a mulch . Also the time of the year I fertilize citrus. The work is piling up. A lot of carrying up and down on my forty five degree slope. But all that fresh organically grown fruit enjoyed in abundance each day is surely worth it. The upper part of my slope is landscaped with South African aloes which are in bloom right now. The hummingbirds love it. Thanks for sharing... Eunice Messner ---------------------------------- Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 19:59:53 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Nan Sterman Subject: Correction to 1/3/99 e-mail re mycorrhizae Nan... In my e-mail to you I erred in saying "tilling the soil during daylight destroys most soil organisms." I should have said "tilling the soil destroys most fungal matter and makes the soil more bacteria oriented." And in the word evelop I left out the n. It should be envelop & 'eat'. Tilling the soil during daylight hours (even for 1 minute) stimulates weed growth. Our Permaculture member could tell us more about that. Anyway, I am sending you some materials from the 9/97 Sustainable Tree Conference I attended and bio's on two of the world's noted authorities. I would highly recommend writing for a copy of an interview with Dr. Elaine Ingham in the 1/97 ACRES USA magazine. Address: ACRES USA, P.O.Box 8800, Metairie, LA 70011 Dr. Ingham has recently established a soil microrganism analysis company. Soil Foodweb, Inc. 980 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97330. All of this is not new. It just got shelved when chemicals were exploited. Hope you find this a most enlightening subject to pursue. Eunice Messner ------------------------------- Subject: Mangoes in California Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1999 14:17:23 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Sven Merten Sven... The mango you won at the CRFG meeting was a "Thomson". Very productive and good near the coast as well. It must be thinned to get nice sized fruit. I have three trees of "Thomson". Mother tree is 15 years old; seedling 10 years old; inarched grafted one 6 years old and loaded with flower buds. Thomson is one of the few mangos that come true from seed (polyembronic). Florida has a better climaate for mangos then we do and has done a lot of research and importation of new varieties over the years. We could get the wholesalers to ship them here cheaply. But, the trouble of phytotoxic inspection for importation into California has made it not worth their trouble. Some mangos are being grown here, but growers do not have the large variety of mature trees to use for scion wood. My new mango "Carnival" would sell out as fast as it could be grown. That is another reason I am looking for the quantity available by tissue culture If this heat wave in January doesn't cook all my young seedlings I have in a shade house set up for cold weather, then I will have at least 100 "Thomson" seedlings for sale at our annual "Green Scene' and maybe some "Pinas" which are also polyembryonic. Hope you received the instructions I sent for an easy propagating box by mail. Re your search for acreage: San Dimas is off the #57 freeway. An even better subtropical location is La Habra Heights, but it could be expensive. Nice place to live though. Call CRFG members David Maislen or Gigi and Andrea Foster, they live there. It was a community zoned for five acre lots but many have been subdivided. Eunice -------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 20:10:51 -0800 From: Randall Wilks Subject: How To Protect Rare Fruit In Colder Climates Hi! My name is Randall Wilks, and I live in Hollister, California. (about 45 miles south of San Jose. We have a micro climate here that is cooled in the summer by breezes off Monterey Bay, but do sometimes reach 100 degrees in summer. Winter temperatures are likewise moderated, most years never making the freezing mark. I have about 18 fruit trees on 1/2 acre, including fig, apples, various stone fruit including pluots, and citrus (lemon, Naval Orange, Pumelo, Mandarin). Although the freeze ruined the lemon crop, old growth was not too badly damaged. The Pumelo, on the other hand got severe leaf damage, but about half the fruit was protected as they were carried well inside the tree. The orange and Mandarin had new growth damaged, but almost no fruit loss. These trees are about 6 years old and never before sustained damage. I will be better prepared in the future. I am sinking 18" sections of 2" PVC pipe at 4 corners around each tree. In cold weather, I will quickly erect a 2x2 framework which will support plastic covers. I have heard with great interest about a Black Sapote, which I find is closer related to the Persimmon. I am hoping this might be adaptable to my climate especially with the precautions I am to use with the citrus. What can you tell me of this tree? I will also be planting a frost tolerant Avocado (Mexicola or Stewart), and would like to graft other varieties to lower branches where they would get some frost protection and provide a longer harvest. Any advice on this would be appreciated. Best Regards, Randall Wilks ------------- Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 20:10:51 -0800 From: Leo To: Randall Wilks Subject: Re: How To Protect Rare Fruit In Colder Climates Hi, Randall I used to live in an area subject to cold into the 20's sometimes, and I would prepare something, using galvanized woven stucco wire (I've forgotten the width it comes, but almost any woven wire, maybe 5-6' wide, would do.) I'd prepare it to become the circumference of the enclosure, by cutting it to whatever length, attaching heavy plastic sheeting that's 2-3 feet wider than the wire width to the wire by stapling it to wood lath that's nailed to each end of the wire. Then I would put 'large' bottles (colored are better) of water close to the trunk of the trees, and encircle each tree with the temporary greenhouse. Before trying to encircle each tree, you need to decide how to connect the ends of the enclosure together. And the extra width of plastic is at the top. During the evening, the plastic is pulled up and over the top of the tree, but it gets too hot to leave it up in the sunlight. The bottles of water have stored heat during the day, and help to protect the plants. If you have something like burlap, tablecloths, old drapes, etc., they will do a better job of keeping the heat in at night, over the top of each enclosure. Then, in warmer weather, they can be dismantled and stored until the next year. It worked pretty well. Another trick is to plant sensitive trees on the south or west wall of your home, or of some other structure. Sometimes the roof overhang will help to protect trees planted close. That pretty much exhausts my store of knowledge. You might inquire at the Ag office of a nursery for avocado information. The black sapote is sufficiently related to the Japanese persimmon that you can graft black sapote (sometimes called black persimmon) onto the Japanese persimmon. I've done it, but don't know how long it will persist. It's been about 9 months, now. Horticordially, Leo -----zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com------- Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 17:28:32 -0500 From: Jody Haynes Subject: Photo of Veinte cohol Banana I put a photo of a fruit bunch of Veinte cohol on the web at http://www.plantapalm.com/_private/veinte_cohol.htm. I don't know much about it yet, but I will try to find out some more information from my supervisor next week. It is a very nice-looking plant with nice-looking (and tasting) fruit. Jody Haynes, Webmaster Palm & Cycad Societies of Florida, Virtual Palm Encyclopedia, Virtual Cycad Encyclopedia (http://www.plantapalm.com) ----------- Date: Sat, 09 Jan 1999 12:35 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Photo of Veinte cohol From: HESTERC@mail01.adm.duke.edu To: Jody Jody, I just viewed the picture and it is great. Thanks. It looks just like the one I saw at Fruit and Spice Park, except none of those were in bloom. Based on the picture, I take it that this plant indeed remains fairly short, or dwarf, for a banana. Is that true in general? What would you say is the mature heighth? Has anyone tasted the fruit? Thanks, Clarence Hester -------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 20:43:28 -0800 From: Keith Benson DVM Subject: Want Me To Clone Your Bananas? Listers, I have had some very good success with micropropagating banana and wanted to make the following offer to folks on the list. I would like to expand my collection of Musa (I could not take my plants with me when I moved out to CA - so I am starting over - Things could get interesting!) To that end I would like to know if anyone on the list is interested in trading corms for plantlets. Sort of a no risk TC service. The game plan would be that if folks are interested, you would send in a corm(s) and I would return a set number of plantlets in return when the corm has multiplied (usually severl months). I can also provide the recipient with sterile propagating shoot clusters for their own multiplication work. I am constructing a webpage (http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2011/MicropropBAN.html) with instructions on banana tissue culture for those who will want to try their hand at micropropagation Eventually I hope to have a number of varieties to trade with folks. For now it would be a corm for plantlets deal. If anyone is interested in having their plants "cloned" please drop me an email for details. Thanks, Keith Benson DVM ------Discussion list for New Crops ---------- Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 18:44:02 -0800 From: "Carol A. Miles" Subject: Re: What Alternative Crops In Exotic Palm Greenhouse? If you would like to learn more about greenhouse vegetable production, I suggest you contact Rick Snyder at Mississippi State University. Rick is a specialist dealing with greenhouse tomato production and could also provide you with information about production of other vegetables in the greenhouse. Rick also has a web site which is an excellent resourse, http://www2.msstate.edu/~ricks/. Joshua Golovaty wrote: Hi 1. My friend asks me for help to find information about alternative crop for his greenhouses which was used until now for growing exotic palms. It is total 1.5 hectare high structure greenhouses with floor, so only soiless culture are possible. I thought about rare fruits in 45 Litres container, but it is only a primary guess. He is looking for crop to export to Europe (he is from Israel) so it must have some organised market for this crop. Any idea? I'll be very happy for any advice where to look for information to make good agronomic and commercial decision. 2. I want to start new mailing list for professional greenhouse growers to discuss problems related to greenhouse new technologies, management and crop production. If you interested the address to subscribe is: http://pages.hotbot.com/edu/horticulture/hortmailist.html Thanks in advance for any help Joshua Golovaty, Agronomist M.Sc Agr. golovaty@my-dejanews.com http://netopia.geocities.com/golovaty -----------------NAFEX List ------------------- Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 06:23:42 -0800 From: Travis Callahan Subject: Chill Hours - What Exactly Is It? Hello friends, Someone give me a good definition of chill hours. I have always understood that chill hours were those hours of winter that were between 32 degrees and 45 degrees temperature. Thanks Travis Callahan >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - January 15, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - February 1, 1999 - AKA RFN9902A.txt Rare Fruit News Online is primarily a collection of letters from you, the readers. I edit all submissions, sometimes in a very minor way. It helps if your mail has a relevant SUBJECT. Also, If you want to ma sure your letters are read by everyone, try to have the subject as descriptive as possible. You took the time to write the letter, so compose it so that it gets read. If you want your letter to be published, please use your *real* name someplace in the letter. It takes time to look up your name, so please sign your email. Also, when you direct a letter to a reader, please include that person's name someplace in the correspondence. That helps the rest of us know whom you are writing. I also like to see appropriate capital letters in writing, although it's not a major concern. It's a far greater 'offense' to write in all caps, but all small letters seem to be lacking something. Maybe it's just eye appeal? I try to edit mail to 'remedy' most deviations, but it takes more time.... I really appreciate it when you send me a CC or BCC when writing to other readers of RFNO. Much of the best information that has been past along has been due to the thoughtfulness of such correspondents. If you find errors of spelling, grammar, or facts, please let me know. These newsletters go out later to new subscribers and you will be doing both me and them a favor. Change of policy for publishing CC/BCC - Proposal: I need to cut back on the amount of time spent on editing this newsletter, and I believe that the following is reasonable, but I will 'listen' to your feedback. Therefore, beginning with this issue, I will only promise to publish letters from readers that are answering letters that have appeared in this newsletter, with one exception: If readerQ of RFNO has a question to ask of another readerA of RFNO, and readerQ sends to me a CC or BCC of the ORIGINAL letter to readerA, then I'll publish both of the letters. ReaderQ with a question and ReaderA with a response (provided ReaderA has also sent me a CC or BCC.) Let me explain. If ReaderA sends to me a CC/BCC from some person, reader or not, who hasn't sent me a CC/BCC of the ORIGINAL letter, then, the letter requires an enormous amount of time trying to figure out the thread of the correspondence. And even if the letter from ReaderA includes a copy of the original letter with " > " on every line, or, worse, with html language, it is quite hard to impossible to edit sufficiently to get the ideas accurately presented. I just can't take the time to do it. If ReaderA decides that an answer given to ReaderQ is in error, needing modification, I need the whole new response, again, with no " > " lines, rather than a note from ReaderA telling me which erroneous lines should be replaced with what lines. At best, I spend quite a bit of time editing the letters, so I need your help in making it easier for me. I want to keep this newsletter approximately as it has been. You write to me and I collect, edit, and publish the results. Eventually, perhaps I will go to some other format. If you run across webpages of interest, I encourage you to let all of us know. I hope this meets with your approval. Sincerely, Leo ----Categories of information found in this issue; Letters follow---- --Leo's Notes #1, 2 #1 Annona Diversifolia Seeds - Difficulty In Sprouting #2 Changing ISP Again, Hope Mail Gets Through --New Subscribers - Usually with questions. Help, if you can, please. From: Doug Jones Subject: New Subscriber, Mesa, Az, Having Blackened Tips On Branches From: Ranjit Singh Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Grows Rare Fruit Under HID Lights From: joan@specialtyproduce.com (Joan Sonntag) Subject: New Subscriber, Arizona, Manages Specialty Produce Web Page From: Nabih S ABDELHAMID Subject: New Subscriber, Egypt, Has Leaf Miner Problem From: Alejandro Wellmann Subject: New Subscriber, Peru, & Info Date Palms from Ica, Peru From: Barry Edholm Subject: New Subscriber, Arizona, Wants To Grow Pepino & Cherimoya From: Mark Reed Subject: New Subscriber, Oregon, Wants To Expand His Plant List From: Ranjit Singh Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Grows Rare Fruit Under HID Lights --Readers Write From: Eunice To: Joel Subject: Source for Stevia plants From: "Amy" Subject: Locating stevia From: Rob To: Bob Subject: americana seeds - Pessimism abounds! From: Geoff To: Eunice Subject: Lakatan Banana Description From: Eunice Messner To: Buckner, Geoff Subject: Re: Lakatan Banana Description From: Geoff To: Eunice Subject: RE: Lakatan Banana Description From: Eunice Messner Subject: CRFG Fruit Specialists Information Subject: Seedless guava To: Samar Gupta From: Bob To: Kirt Subject: Mangosteen and durian From: Eunice To: Travis Subject: Chilling Hours Subject: Webpage Snippets: Grafting using Rooting Hormones http://www.rooting-hormones.com/cummins.htm From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Hello from Thailand From: Kimberlee Subject: Lost Subscriber From: ron@cassfos03.UCSD.EDU (Ron Lyons) Subject: Giant Whitefly Project - Web Page Recommendation From: Dick Smith Subject: St. Julian (Prunus) Rootstock; Where Can I Find It? To: Dick Smith Subject: Re: St. Julian Rootstock; Where Can I Find It? From: Onder Tuzcu Subject: New? Subscriber, Turkey, Announcing Trop/SubTrop Meeting From: Holzinger To: Bob Thompson<102073.3346@compuserve.com> Subject: Mangos From: Eunice Messner Subject: About Phillipine Mangos From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Pollination - Web Sites To Consider From: "Cheryl Wilen - Area IPM Advisor, Ornamentals" Subject: Re: Predatory Insects For Giant Whitefly: Available? From: Mary Subject: Re: Giant Whitefly Predators ----Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) From: Gene Paull Subject: Texas Cold - Banana Survivors and Not Survivors From: "Argento, Julie" Subject: RE: Texas Cold - Banana Survivors and Not Survivors --Announcements To Consider From: "Gordon C. Nofs" Subject: Pawpaws seed for sale, from Michigan From: FruitLovers@webtv.net (Oscar Jaitt) Subject: FRUIT LOVERS NURSERY, HI, Tropical Fruit seeds for sale From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Permaculture Design Intensive in Northern California --NAFEX List (Using hormones for grafting, above, came from NAFEX list) --From NEWCROPS List From: Steve Fleischaker Subject: Need Tissue Culture Information? Try These ------------------Leo's Notes------------------- #1 Annona Diversifolia Seeds - Difficulty In Sprouting I split a batch of Annona diversifolia seeds into two equal groups. Since I didn't have gibberelic acid yet, I put the first group in moist peat moss enclosed in a quart-size 'ziploc' bag in a darkened environment, and put them in a hot bed, with temperature about 80 deg F. I did this on December 23, 1998. Then, around January 15, I obtained the gibberelic acid, removed the seeds, soaked them overnight (2000 ppm I believe it was), and returned them to the same environment. In ten days I found four (about 13% of them) beginning to sprout, and I repotted them in separate containers. Also, on January 15, I took the second group, soaked them in G.A. overnight, and put them in an identical environment in the hot bed. In ten days, there were two beginning to sprout, so I put them in separate pots, and now (15 days) there are two more of them sprouting, and another looking promising. I don't know how long I should wait before giving up, but I will wait at least another month, for the first group (which doesn't contain any additional promising candidates yet.) So, they are sometimes hard to sprout, and I don't know what works best. It's possible the G.A. strength was not ideal, and I should have tried it in different strengths. ------ #2 Changing ISP Again, Hope Mail Gets Through I've just gone through another ISP change, with the usual mail-gets-lost problems. There may even be another change soon. Return addresses for me will sometimes look different, but I believe that the leom@rarefruit.com will always get through. That explains the one-day-earlier-than-scheduled mailing date for this newsletter, in case it takes longer than usual to get delivered. Yours, Leo ------------------New Subscribers (Eight!)---------------------- From: Doug Jones Subject: New Subscriber, Mesa, Az, Having Blackened Tips On Branches Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 15:34:16 -0700 I would like to get onto your fruit info service. You may remember me stopping by your house a few years ago. Well, my computer crashed soon after and I lost your info. Mrs Snow just gave it to me again. Hope to get with you on fruit info. I have been trying to grow mangos in Phoenix Arizona for a number of years. All the trees end up getting blackened tips on the branches, and just sort of sit there with out any growth. Once in a while I get a good flush of growth, but normally very little. Does anybody know what causes the blackened tips? Doug Jones, From Mesa, Arizona. ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 23:37:49 -0500 From: Ranjit Singh Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Grows Rare Fruit Under HID Lights Hi, I am Ranjit Singh, living in Toronto, Canada I grow (a few rare fruit trees) in my basement under HID lights during the winter and would be interested in your newsletter. Please let me know how much I have to send you and I will by a US $ check. Thanks, Ranjit in Toronto, Canada ------------------------------- From: joan@specialtyproduce.com (Joan Sonntag) Subject: New Subscriber, Arizona, Manages Specialty Produce Web Page Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 07:36:43 -0700 Good morning, Leo and Betty! This is Joan Sonntag, Managing Editor of our web site: www.specialtyproduce.com I research and write on all types of produce we list under our Shopping List. I would enjoy information shared by your Rare Fruit News Online very much! Your newsletter and contributor of information are credited to you in our bibliography if any information is used from your publication! Looking forward to my subscription!! Sincerely, Joan Sonntag, Editor ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 07:38:49 +0200 From: Nabih S ABDELHAMID Subject: New Subscriber, Egypt, Has Leaf Miner Problem Dear Friend, I would be pleased to subscribe to your list. I am Eng. Nabih S ABDELHAMID, of Lower Egypt. I cultivate mainly citrus: Navel & Valencia oranges and Mediterranean Mandarins. I also have a heteroclytic collection of Mangoes. My interests are commercial. My actual concern is about the leaf miners. I thank you for your interest to accept me in the list. Since 3 years have been subjected, all over Egypt, to an onslaught of citrus leaf miner. In Lower Egypt we have 3 main flush growth: 1- in spring when the weather is still cold. 2- End May in warm weather. 3- End September. In Spring, as the weather is still cold there is no harm but in May-June the whole flush growth is decimated as well as that of Autumn if the weather has not cooled. As we have, countrywise, no IPM or biological control we rely on sacrificing the Summer flush, and, if important, spray Vertemec in Autumn. Some years, if we have to treat for Citrus rust mites we spray Vertemec in May. But Vertemec is expensive and the citrus crop is rather cheap. Oil sprays, sensitive in Summer, has not proven efficient. So I kindly enquire about any new trend in combating this terrible pest. Thank you Best Regards. Nabih -------------------------------- From: Alejandro Wellmann Subject: New Subscriber, Peru, & Info Date Palms from Ica, Peru Date: Fri, 22 Jan1999 20:07:24 -0500 Hello: Thanks for your e-mail. I'm a geographer, consultor of environmental facts. Please include me (and the date palms and rare fruits of Ica) in your list. Can you read me in Spanish? ---- Greetings from Ica, Peru, in the other side of the world. I send you some information from the date palms of Peru and geographical informations, because Ica is the only place in the Southern Hemisphere in where these palms can grow. The date palms in Peru are located in the Department of Ica, 300 kilometers south of Lima, the capital of Peru, at 14BA Latitude south. The climate in the region is hot and dry with sunny days all year round. There is no rain, and the average temperature in the summer is between 32 and 38B0 C during the day and 18 to 22B0C during the night. In winter the average of temperature is about 28-31BAC in the day, and 10-14BAC in the night. No frost is given here. Moisture is for example 75% in the coastal region, and 50-60% in the desert, during the day. Date palms were introduced from Morocco and Algeria in Ica by the Spaniards in the 17th. century.Today the date palms grow wild here (a lower percent corresponds to a cultivars). We estimate that in the Paracas and Villacuri areas there are also 12.000 hectars with palms and a 500.000 of these palms, in an 80-90% offshoots, but the local farmers donB4t know his management, cultural practices and utility. In Paracas bay and Villacuri desert, date palms can grow in a high density, in order of 200 and more palm / hectar, An ancient palm tree has 5 to 20 offshoots aroud them. Each productive palm tree can produce 20 or more bunches and 150 to 250 kilograms of dates. Almost any mediterranean and native subtropical produce can be grown in this region, even pecans, guavas, lucumas, pacay, figs, pomegranates, papayas and chirimoyas.20 I would be very grateful if you can tell me more about date palms and the possibility of participating in this mailing list. I wish you the best, too. sincerely, Alejandro Wellmann --------------------------- From: Barry Edholm Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 10:18:56 EST Subject: New Subscriber, Arizona, Wants To Grow Pepino & Cherimoya Growing up in Michigan, my dad, for subsistence as well as teaching his seven children how to work, maintained a full 1/2 acre garden. I believe I have inherited his green thumb, and have had envious gardens wherever I have lived. Then four years ago, I moved to the Phoenix area and have been served an extra-large serving of humble pie. However, a few months back I saw two fruits in a market that I haven't seen since I lived in Santiago, Chile. These fruits were the Cherimoya, and my favorite, the Pepino Dulce. Then I began noticing that many of the plants that I was amazed at in Chile (having grown up in the Midwest) grow right here in the Valley of the Sun. I couldn't sleep a couple weeks ago, so I started a search for someone who could provide me a source for Pepino Dulce seeds. This effort led me the CRFG homepage and I found a member nursery guide. After a call to Roger Meyer I found out that there are others right here in my area who are interested in the same. I even found a man who has attempted the Pepino Dulce, unfortunately without luck. The sum of all this is that I now have a fire burning within me to figure out how to not only grow Pepino Dulce and Cherimoya in by own backyard and have successful flowering and setting, but be successful at other rare fruits and nuts that have been shown to be successful outdoors here in the valley. So any information that I might have, any time that might be saved by learning from other's mistakes and success would be greatly appreciated. And when I finally figure out how to be successful with the Pepino Dulce, I will be glad to share what I have learned. Thank you, Barry Edholm Mesa, AZ 85201 ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 18:06:58 -0800 From: Mark Reed Subject: New Subscriber, Oregon, Wants To Expand His Plant List Hi! Please sign me up! I am Mark Reed, in Albany Oregon Interested in trying most any fruit that will grow here - typical minimum temperature is about 10 degrees F. Kiwis, paw-paws, hardy kiwis, blueberries and persimmons are on my list already. I'd love suggestions for other things to try, plus hints and sources. Thanks! I grow (not particularly skillfully yet) apples, pears, cherries, mulberries asian pears, bosc pears, raspberries, blackberries (not by choice - they're a problem weed here!) , plums, quince, prunes, and am failing at almonds, peaches, apricots, and most plums. I'd like to try a lot more. And if I ever get my greenhouse, watch out! Regards, Mark -------------------------- Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 23:37:49 -0500 From: Ranjit Singh Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Grows Rare Fruit Under HID Lights Hi, I am Ranjit Singh, living in Toronto, Canada I grow (a few rare fruit trees) in my basement under HID lights during the winter and would be interested in your newsletter. Please let me know how much I have to send you and I will by a US $ check. Thanks, Ranjit in Toronto, Canada ---------------Readers Write----------------- Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 16:37:45 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice To: Joel Subject: Source for Stevia plants Joel... You may find 'Stevia' plants at Roger Meyer's nursery and farm: exoticfruit@95net.com Also: Calif. Tropical Fruit Tree Nursery, www.tropicalfruittrees.com Mine flowered and died and that has been an experience of other friends. Maybe coincidence, but why not take cuttings and root them - then test to see if the mother plant dies after it flowers. Success, Eunice Messner ------------------------------ Date: Mon Jan 18 07:12:28 1999 From: "Amy" Subject: Locating stevia Joel Moskowitz, I've seen stevia in the herb sections of some of the nurseries here in Orange County, and more specifically sometimes at Mother's Market & Kitchens, the closest to you would be in Irvine, I think. You'd just have to call around the see when they're in. Amy of Marvelous Gardens ------------------------------- From: Rob To: Bob Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 20:21:10 EST Subject: americana seeds - Pessimism abounds! Bob, I brought americana seeds back from Peru and Florida different times. Both times the plants got between 12 and 24 inches . But would not overwinter outside. Hope someone else has better luck. Or maybe a greenhouse until they are bigger. Rob Thompson ------------------------------- From:GeoffTo: Eunice Subject: Lakatan Banana Description Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 10:46:25-0800 Eunice, You made an off-hand reference to the Lakatan banana in a recent RFNO letter. I would appreciate it if you could briefly share your experience with this variety. I am particularly interested in the plant size, fruit characteristics (such as texture and flavor), and wind resistance. I am currently researching some of the more obscure banana varieties and I am not familiar with the lakatan variety, other than it is from the Philippines. Thank you very much. Geoff Buckner Point Loma area of San Diego ------------ From: Eunice Messner To: Buckner, Geoff Date: Monday, January 18, 1999 4:31 PM Subject: Re: Lakatan Banana Description Geoff.. There are two bananas with the same name. 'Lacatan' is from Jamaica and 'Lakatan' is from the Philippines. I purchased mine from someone who got it from a former Phillipine resident. BUT, it is not tall like the supposedly 18' 'Lakatan'. It is only about 7' to the emerging bunch. (Lacatan' is 15') Bananas do mutate or sport readily and dwarfing is common. So, I am at a loss to know what I really have. The banana is of average size and is very delicious. Has a nice balance of sweet and acid. It produces a medium sized bunch. I have never kept records of how long they took to ripen. (Supposedly, they both take 11 months.) Do you know about W.O. Lessard's book "The Complete Book of Bananas"? It is available from the Fruit and Spice Park, 24801 S.W. 187th Ave. Homestead, FL 3303l For sometime I was the only one stll growing 'Lakatan', (it is not frost tolerant) but I have recently seen it listed at J.D. Andersens e-mail address jdapalms@earthlink.net ----------------------------------- From: Geoff To: Eunice Subject: RE: Lakatan Banana Description Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 08:33:19-0800 Eunice, Thank you for the information regarding the Lakatan banana. Since you have started posting letters in the RFNO newsletter I, and I am sure many others, have appreciated your obvious experience and insight with growing "rare" fruit in southern California. Geoff ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 15:49:53 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: CRFG Fruit Specialists - Contact Information Fruit Name of Specialist Email Fax# Avocado Gerald Carne ggcarne@nctimes.net Banana Jerry D. Andersen jdpalms@earthlink.net 949 492-2198 Black Sapote George Emerich gemerich@tfb.com Budding/Grafting Gary Meltzer kathann1@tsoft.com Date Palms Richard Smith RichardPIV@aol.com 650 462-1592 Figs Richard Watts edew@vcnet.com 805 482-2405 Guava Randy Permpoon rpermpoon@aol.com 760-758-5074 Hardy Rare Fruit/Climate Data Jeff Earl earlj@mail.yosemite.cc.ca.us Jaboticaba/Myrtaceae Brent Thompson brent@hplbct.hpl.hp.com Jujube/Olives Joseph Cono Fax 408 395-1528 Kiwi Roger Meyer exoticfruit@95net.com Loquats/Lucuma/Sapodilla David Silber Fax 818 363-3680 Pepino dulce John F. Swift subtropicals@thegrid.net Pineapple Guava John Moore Fax 707 459--939 Pineapples Jan Davis jandavis@AS400JOBS.com Fax 707 942-0839 Eunice ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 10:23:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: Seedless guava From Eunice To: Samar Gupta Samar You may wish to contact a Thailand nurseryman living in California who will export, but his English may be a handicap in corresponding. He has over 100 varieties of guava. Randy Permpoon, 916 Osborne St. Vista, CA 92084 (760) 758-2494: Fax 760 758-5074 Eunice Messner ------------------------------- From: Bob To: Kirt Subject: Mangosteen and durian Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 08:37:30 -0800 Hi Kirt, Saw your note on RFNO. One person you could contact is Brian Lievens. His phone number when he lived in Capt. Cook was (808) 323-9002. He may have moved since I last contacted him. I don't know exactly where the Puna district is, but Brian contended that mangosteens would need the rainfall and humidity of the Hilo area, or north of Hilo. He didn't say anything about durian, but I'm sure they would like the same climate. The mangosteens growing around Capt. Cook were not growing well with the ambient humidity and rainfall. Good luck! Bob Holzinger ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 17:14:10 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice To: Travis Subject: Chilling Hours According To Eunice Travis... The simple formula we've always used for measuring the chilling requirement for deciduous trees is to count the hours of chill measured between 34 and 45 degrees F. and subracting the number of hours above 60 deg F. that occur the next day. However, there is newer literature (i.e. "Physiology of Temperate Zone Fruit Trees" by Miklos Faust) that recommends the use of chill units (hours multiplied by weighting factors) as given below. But, before going into that, let me say I had help translating centigrade into farenheit and I'm not that smart that I could come up with a term like weighting factor. Temperature F Chill Unit* Below 34 deg. 0.0 34-36.5 0.5 36.5-50 1.0 50-54 0.5 54-61 0.0 The next day: 61-65 deg. -0.5 65-70 -1.0 70-74 -2.0 *A chill unit is an hour multiplied by the appropiate weighting factor; thus, for example, an hour between 34 deg and 36.5F counts as only half a chill unit. The hours between 54 deg and 61 do not count toward chilling and as before, hours the next day above 61 deg. are subtracted. Hours of chilling below 34 deg do not count. The hours are weighted, added or subtracted as appropriate, and reported as total chill hours. Eunice Messner ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 20:03:56 +0000 (Info from NAFEX List) Subject: Webpage Snippets: Grafting using Rooting Hormones See http://www.rooting-hormones.com/cummins.htm [Note: To fully understand this information, you should see it all at the web page. Leo] --- The following article is reprinted from the Pomona, Spring 1997, Volume 2, number34 XXX. Pomona is the publication of The North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX, RR3 Box 167, Blomington IL 61704) Success of a graft union depends on the establishment of a callus bridge between the cut surfaces of scion and stock, and the subsequent establishment of a functioning vascular cylinder connecting scion and stock. Initial callus formation appears to develop about equally on the cut surfaces of both partners, arising not from the cambial layers but from parenchyma cells, mostly in the wood just inside the camblum. Soon after scion and stock calluses have merged, callus cells just below the cambial cells of the scion begin to divide in the same plane as the camblum. Waves of cell division proceed from the top down, suggesting that a regulatory stimulus moves to the cut surface from the growing-shoot tip. Callus parenchyma cells inside the new cambium cylinder re-differentiate into functioning xylem cells. Last of all, the new cambium begins producing phloem cells. We sought to enhance that regulatory stimulus by applying a solution of a synthetic growth regulator. In the dormant season, we prepared whip-and tongue bench grafts of seven hardy varieties with potential as winter-tolerant frame builders. On half of the grafts of each variety, we applied a 2000 ppm solution of IBA (3-indole butyric acid) to the cut surface of the scion before joining stock and scion. After four weeks of callusing in a storage cellar at about 45° to 50°F, we planted the grafts in the nursery; during the summer, we provided normal tillage but no irrigation. Trees were harvested in November. We evaluated each set for survival and for tree quality. With all seven varieties, survival was greater for the IBA-treated grafts than for those not treated; with five of the varieties, all treated grafts survived. Tree quality of the surviving grafts was as striking as the survival rate, based on grading into salable and non-salable trees: We have not made microscopic examination of the progress of union establishment and vascularization after IBA treatment, but it seems probable that the IBA is increasing both the formation of callus and the rate at which the new cambium cylinder is differentiated through the callus parenchyma cells. Using one of the common rooting compounds, such as the 2000 ppm IBA solution reported here, may improve both grafting success and tree quality of bench-grafted trees. Powdered proprietary mixtures could offer advantages over the liquid mixtures and should be tried. The technique is sufficiently promising to merit small-scale trial. Moderators note: Other studies have found similar success. The suggestions for the use of Rhizopon AA are based on the outcome of tests and experiments carried out by international testing stations, research centers, scientific publications and Rhizopon's own research. Testing is essential. Suitable test rates should be used on a small portion of the crop before doing extensive treatment. Select the rate which provides the desired effect. The actual conditions at your facility may not be the same as the place were the data was obtained. You might find highly successful results if you vary the concentrations somewhat from the listed amount. [Anyone of you readers who have used synthetic hormones in grafting should report to the rest of us, please. Leo] ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 14:55:51 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Hello from Thailand I have been away for some time and shall be away again tomorrow. In Laos, they do not have the Internet. I shall write when things get back to normal for me, Sainarong ------------------------------ From: Kimberlee Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 22:40:16 -0800 Subject: Lost Subscriber Hi Leo, I was receiving your newsletter until about two months ago. At the same time I joined the CRFG. I really miss your newsletter! This is the second time I have sent an e-mail requesting to be put back on. Please, Please, Please, Please add me back to your newsletter. It was very informative and I learned a lot just the few months I received it. Please Let me know you received this e-mail. Thanks, Kimberlee from San Diego ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 22 Jan 99 10:47:59 PST From: ron@cassfos03.UCSD.EDU (Ron Lyons) Subject: Giant Whitefly Project - Web Page Recommendation Hi Leo, I updated my giant whitefly page replacing the bad link. The giant whitefly project now has its own web site. There is more information on the insect including history, pest control methods and a list with pictures of host plants. You might want to check it out http://www.rad.co.san-diego.ca.us/cnty/cntydepts/landuse/farm/whitefly/ Good luck Ron Lyons ------------------------------- From: Dick Smith Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 13:04:26 EST Subject: St. Julian (Prunus) Rootstock; Where Can I Find It? Hi Leo, I'm wondering if you or some of your news letter readers have an answer to the following question? I would like to buy a peach tree that is grafted onto a St. Julian rootstock. I understand that this rootstock is very resistant to Oak Root fungus (Armilaria). Most of the nurseries either don't know what rootstock is used on their trees or do not have the St. Julian rootstock. I would prefer a low chill variety, but any variety will do as I can graft on what I want later. It's the St. Julian rootstock that is important. Thanks for any help you or your readers can provide. Dick Smith --------- Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 13:58:20 +0000 To: Dick Smith Subject: Re: St. Julian Rootstock; Where Can I Find It? Hi, Dick There is not just one St. Julian rootstock. There's St. Julian A, which I have used often, on which peach, nectarine, and plums are at least sometimes quite compatible. St. Julian A also has an advantage of not suckering all around the tree. (Of course suckers give you additional rootstocks, but at a far faster rate than needed.) The other one, St. Julian X, is compatible with more varieties of prunus, but suckers so heavily that you won't be happy with it in the long run. You can propagate St. Julian A with cuttings. Most, by simply putting cuttings into the ground, without hormones, will root and grow. Chill doesn't seem to be an issue with most rootstocks. I don't now recall where I got my rootstocks, but it might have been Arneson Nsy, 25571 S. Barlow Rd, Canby OR 97013 Yours, Leo ----------------------------- From: Onder Tuzcu Subject: New? Subscriber, Turkey, Announcing Trop/SubTrop Meeting Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1999 11:03:18+0200 Dear Sir, I am Onder Tuzcu in Turkey I am very happy to know that you are started again Rarefruit action that I followed it with a great interest. I would like to joint it with pleasure and receive your publications regularly as well in the past. As information I would like to say some thing new for you : We established a Mediterranean Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Species Network (MESFIN) under FAO edgide. I am presently its president and I will organize its General Meeting in Adana (Turkey) in University of Cukurova from 9 to 13 June 1999. On the other hand, we established also, a Mediterranean Citrus Network (MECINET) under FAO egide that also I am its president. Parallely, I will organize also its General Meeting in Adana from 31 August to 5 September 1999. I will be happy if you dispatch this news to your members and perhaps some of them will have intention to attend it. They welcome with pleasure in the condition to contact with me in advance. Sincerely, Prof. Dr. Onder Tuzcu ------ [I wrote Professor Tuzcu, explaining this publication was not in existence from 1981 until 1990, so I had no record of his being on a mailing list. His response follows: Leo] ------- Thank you very much for your kind reply to my yesterday e-mail. I am full professor in the University of Cukurova where the most important and dense researchs are done on citrus and subtropical fruit species in Turkey. I am working and I am teaching on these matters more than 30 years. As you know Turkey is situated on the northern part of the subtropical climate belt of the world where severe freezees are very frequent. For this reason, I am very interesting with your publications. In our Department, I have 30 hectars of citrus and subtropical fruits species modern research orchards covering more than 950 taxa in collection. My collections is one of the richest in the Mediterranean. I received your pubications regularly since 1981 No.1 till to 1990 N0. 32 free of charge. Unfortunately, after this date sending of it was collapsed. I followed them with graet interest and I used them for several pourpose like education or specific informations. I am very surprized to know from you that you hav'nt any records on my address. Perhaps during the transition period all datas were lost. But, in any case, I will be very happy to receive again regularly your publications and also, if they are available and possible for you, to have the back issues since 1996 till to last number. I hope you will renew and add my name and address in to your permanent sending list that I give below : Prof. Dr. Onder Tuzcu University of Cukurova Faculty of Agriculture Department of Horticulture 01330 Adana - Turkey I am thanking you in advance and I hope to create again constructive collaborations with you. Sincerely yours, Prof. dr. Onder Tuzcu --------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Bob Thompson <102073.3346@compuserve.com> Subject: Mangos Hi Bob, Saw your note on mangos from the Philippines. All mangos are of the same genus and species, Mangifera indica, but there are lots of varieties. One of the good yellow varieties is Manila, from the Philippines. Maybe this is the one you are refering to in your note. From Reno you would have quite a drive to get to a nursery that sells mangos. Two sources I know of in Ventura county are Green Thumb Nursery in Ventura and Tim Thompson in Camarillo. Green Thumb gets their trees in from La Verne Nursery and Tim propagates his own. You could easily grow trees from seed, but the grafted trees would fruit sooner and stay smaller. Tim would probably have trees for sale this spring. Good luck, Bob Holzinger -------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 20:20:29 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: About Phillipine Mangos Robert Thomasson According to an article in the 1976 CRFG Yearbook by John McIntyre, Jr. on 'Remembered Fruits of the Phillipine Islands', 'Carabao' represented 60% of the mango crop, 'Pico' 20%. His description of 'Pico' sounded very much like what we call 'Manila'. A third mango 'Pahutan' he remembered as being so small that you just peeled it and popped the whole thing in your mouth, then ptooey, you spit out the seed. Paul Thomson, CRFG's co-founder, had a 'Carabao' for several years but it did not perform well so he cut it down. 'Manila' is quite common, but I prefer Paul Thomson's 'Manila' seedling that bears his name. It has a much better balance of flavor and it sets quantities of fruit that hang in clusters on the tree. As a consequence, they are not a real large mango. Do not be tempted to plant a seedling as the trees will get much too large for a greenhouse. Any mango planted with limited head space should be a grafted one or one of the smaller growing varities, such as, 'Carrie' or 'Julie'. There are probably others that don't come to mind. I like the early 'Glenn' as it doesn't seem to grow too tall. I have also found that some Florida varities are only bushes here in California, i.e., 'Kent' and 'Tommy Atkins'. That may be the way to go. According to my "Guide to Mangos in Florida", Edward Simmons, the horticulturist in charge of plant introduction in the 1920's, made some crosses of the 'Carabao' and 'Haden' which yielded progeny of very good quality, including 'Edwards' and 'Simmonds'. These cultivars have retained much of the excellent taste that set 'Carabao apart. So I would advise trying those. Pacific Tree Farms (619) 422-2400 has 'Edwards' listed. Eunice Messner ---------------------------- Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 06:53:34 -0500 From: "Margaret J. Basile" Subject: Pollination - Web Sites To Consider Source of pollination information: http://www.airoot.com/beeculture/book/index.html Good paper on pollination to read online: http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~mts/apishtm/papers/ALTPOL.HTM#2 ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 11:53:54 -0800 From: Cheryl Wilen Subject: Re: Predatory Insects For Giant Whitefly: Available? Dear Leo, Currently reseachers at the Univesity of California, Riverside, the San Diego Agricultural Commissioners Dept., and the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture are studying various beetles and wasps for control of the giant whitefly. Some work better than others but the there is good indication that one needs a variety of the parasites and predators for best control. I believe the Weidner's Gardens in Encinitas is selling some predators. So far, no insecticide has provided longer than 2 weeks worth of control. Spraying a hard (60 psi) stream of water to wash off the "beards" and immatures will provide 4-7 days control. The giant whitely prefers to lay eggs on older leaves, therefore removal of older leaves as they become infested is helpful. I don't beleive neem oil is very effective because it must contact the pest. However, once the tressa are sprayed and then neem oil applied might do better. That may be why there are conflicting results. Also, light horticultural oil will work but again, it must be applied after the waxy threads are cleaned off. I wish I had some more complete information for you. We should have better information in about 6 months when data from the beneficial releases is available. Sincerely, Cheryl Wilen IPM Advisor ------------------------------- From: Mary Date: Wed, 27 Jan 199913:09:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Giant Whitefly Predators Dear Leo, Check out our [Weidners Gardening Nursery] web page www.weidners-gardens.com. We have a page devoted to giant whiteflies. (Look under learning pages I think). But as to your more immediate problem, we do carry predators, but only during our open season which starts April 1. There is no true predator for the giant whitefly yet. The best we know of is the delphastus beetle. It looks about the size of a poppy seed and is black. They eat alot of regular whiteflies, but aren't as happy to eat the giants. Strangely, on avocados they do eat the giant wf's. No one knows why. I might be able to get you some delphastus, but they come w/ a 100 beetle minimum. I don't remember the cost. Let me know if you want some beetles and I will check and see if I can get some. I will also find out specific to your plants what has given the best results. Good luck Mary Weidners Gardens ----list zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com--- Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 20:39:16 -0600 From: Gene Paull Subject: Texas Cold - Banana Survivors and Not Survivors It's been awhile since I've posted to the list. Here's what happened in Brownsville during cold weather outbreaks in January. At no time did it freeze here - the lowest temp. was 34o F. This is when temps. in other parts of the Gulf Coast were in the upper twenties. What we did have here was lots of biting dry northwest wind with temps. in the upper thirties and lower forties. That was enough to do the damage to the dwarf Cavnedish bananas. Here at the Univer. of Texas at Brownsville, a grove that had produced fruit this summer, the leaves and trunks were all brown. I'm afraid the stalks are lost. At my home, all the Cavendish that were exposed to the north wind were completely defoliated - Dwarf Cavendis, Double, and Zan Moreno. All of these are planted in the ground with no special protection. The Raja Puri lost a few leaves but I think the central growing stem is okay. I feared for the worst for the really delicate ones - Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain and Grand Nain - the north wind was blocked by trees and a wood fence from hitting them - they lost a few leaves, but are fine. Since they didn't get the wind, they may have actually experienced cooler temps. (radiation). With temps. in the thirties, my experience, the wind does more damage than cold and calm. Gene Paull Brownsville, Tx., z. 9b ------------- Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 12:15:09 -0800 From: "Argento, Julie" Subject: RE: Texas Cold - Banana Survivors and Not Survivors Hey Gene- Thanks for the update, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who suffered damage from cold. Here in Southern California (zone 9) temps. got down to the high twenties for several hours during the early morning hours for about 3 days. I lost the pseudostem on my Kru, and I'm hoping that new growth will appear soon! I also lost all the leaves on my Dwarf Cuban Red and Green Macaboo, however new growth is already apparent! Over and out, Julie --------------Announcements To Consider---------------- From: "Gordon C. Nofs" Subject: Pawpaws seed from Michigan Date: Fri, 15 Jan 1999 16:04:32 PST Pawpaw seeds are 10 cents apiece, plus shipping. 100 seeds would be about $11.00 I'll need an address. Gordon C Nofs Flint, MI. --------------------------------------- From: Alohatherapy@webtv.net (Oscar Jaitt) Date: Mon, 25 Jan 199918:30:04 -1000 (HST) Subject: FRUIT LOVERS NURSERY, HI, Tropical Fruit seeds for sale Here are some of the seeds I have for sale (prices are for 50 seeds unless noted, larger amounts available upon request, discounts to nurseries, please inquire): Abiu $35, Brazilian Cherry $25, Sapodilla $25, Chocolate Sapote $50, Cacao $50, Coffee "Kona" type $15, Curry Leaf Tree $25, Durian $75 limited supply, Eggfruit $25, Gamboge-Garcinia xanthochymus $25, Jaboticaba $20, Jackfruit $25, Langsat $75 limited supply, Rheedia edulis $30, Longan $25, Lychee $20, Malabar Chestnut $20, Mammey $60, Mangosteen $70 limited supply, Miracle Fruit $30, Monstera $20, Malay Apple $20, Noni $20, Papaya "Thai Dwarf" $10, Passiflora quadrangularis $15, Passiflora laurifolia $15, Rambutan $30, Mysore Raspberry $10, Rollinia $35, Santol $35, Soursop $20, Starapple $25, Starfruit $20, Surinam Cherry $15, Tamarind $15, Tree Tomato $10, [Contact Oscar if you want additional information, Leo] If you would like us to mail you a copy of our plant list, send a SASE to the address below, or we can fax it to you. FRUIT LOVERS NURSERY, Oscar Jaitt, PO Box 1597, Pahoa, HI 96778. Telephone: (808)965-9785, E-mail: FruitLovers@webtv.net ------------------------------- From: Dan Hemenway Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 12:58:51 EST Subject: Permaculture Design Intensive in Northern California PERMACULTURE DESIGN WORKSHOP TO BE HELD IN CALIFORNIA Dan and Cynthia Hemenway, editors of The International Permaculture Solutions Journal, will lead an intensive 10-day permaculture design workshop Aug. 6-15, 1999, near Forest City, in Northern California. The initial weekend is a stand-alone workshop where participants produce a rough draft permacualture design. Starting monday, particpants flesh out and refine the design, delivering a report to the residents the following Saturday. Instruction during the week is confined to topics needed to produce this specific design. The design will integrate human activity with the contour, soil, solar energy, and water flows of the site to provide water, food, shelter, energy, and other patterns supportive of the residents. Creating a joyous and enjoyable setting is central to the design goals. Sunday afternoon, Dan will conclude the workshop with a clinic to discuss permaculture-related problems that participants bring from their own situations. Participants can register for the full workshop or just the initial weekend. There is a limit on enrollment. The workshop is designed to meet the needs of a variety of participants including: people wishing to learn to design their own homes; people seeking strong preparation for the certificate Permaculture Design Course; certified permaclturists seeking advanced training; and present or future students of the Online Permaculture Design Course who will use the workshop to meet their design project requirement. Child care can be arranged with advance notice. Send SASE for a complete flyer. Inquire also if you wish to host permaculture or forest workshops in your area. Limited scholarships for Native Americans, women, minorities, and others are available. For details about the workshop fee, scholarships, housing, meals and similar matters, contact Birdsong Sundstrom, Forest City, via Alleghany CA 95910. Dan ------Discussion list for New Crops ------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 19:01:45 EST From: Steve Fleischaker Subject: Need Tissue Culture Information? Try These Designing a Plant Micropropagation Laboratory http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/tisscult/microprop/facilities/microlab.html Plant Tissue Culture for Home Gardeners http://www.une.edu.au/~agronomy/AgSSrHortTCinfo.html Carnivorous Plant Tissue Culture (This is a good one) http://www.flytrap.demon.co.uk/tc.htm Steve Fleischaker Central Florida, USA >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - February 1, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - February 15, 1999 - AKA RFN9902B.txt Rare Fruit News Online is primarily a collection of letters from you, the readers. I edit all submissions, sometimes in a very minor way. If you find errors of spelling, grammar, or facts, please let me know. These newsletters go out later to new subscribers and you will be doing them a favor. Please do feel free to write with questions you want to pose to the 300 other reader/growers around the world. Several of them will very likely be able to help. Also, feel free to write directly to individual readers, but I would appreciate a CC or BCC, so I can publish both your question and the answers that follow. Also, write to tell the rest of us about plant nurseries, or horticulture web pages that you think we will want to know about. Also, please write to respond questions that have been raised in earlier issues of this Newsletter. (However, I probably will NOT publish an answer to a question wasn't raised in the newsletter. If you want your letter to be published, try to follow the following guidelines, subject to change: Use your *real* name someplace in the letter. Give your mail a relevant SUBJECT. Most of us will select which letters to read by the subject, and if it doesn't match the contents of the mail, it may not be read! When your letter is a response to a question posted by a reader in an earlier issue, please include that person's name someplace in the correspondence. Please use appropriate capital letters in writing, although it's not a major concern. Don't write in all caps (definitely worse), but all small letters seem to be lacking something. Thanks for your help, Leo ------------------- Here's An Overview Of Information In This Issue --Leo's Notes #1, 2 #1 Air Layering Mangoes - Unusual Rooting Characteristics #2 Annona Diversifolia (ILAMA) Seed Sprouting; Disappointing 7% --New Subscribers - Usually with questions. Help, if you can, please. Subject: New Subscriber, Estero, FL, Seeks Info Raspberry & Mulberry From: Arlene Mobley Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Interested In Growing Organic Papayas From: "John Kornuc" Subject: New Subscriber, MO, With Indoor-Fruit Questions From: Tom White Subject: New Subscriber, TX, Interested In Citrus Subject: New Subscriber, GA, Interested In Hardy Rare Fruit From: Max M. Lund --Readers Write From: Sven [Thanks, Sven! For This Posting: Leo] Subject: Fruit List By Cold Hardiness From: Sven Merten Subject: Who wants to split an order of seed from Oscar at Fruit Lovers Nursey From: Glenda & Tom Ponder Subject: Stevia Availability From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Need Loquat Scion Wood -- Also American plum From: "Monroe, William" To: Russ , Subject: RE: Info Sought: Tampa/Petersberg FL Area From: "L. Warren" To: Leo Subject: Re: Annona diversifolia seeds - Sprouting Difficulties From: Leo Manuel To: Roger Meyer Subject: Use 'Proper' Oil Spray For Leaf Miner Problem From: Eunice To:Nabih From: Eunice Subject: Pepino dulce From: Eunice Messner To: Fausto Subject: Re: Dealing With Mealybugs, Using Chemical Or Biological Means --Discussion list for New Crops From: Michael Forsyth Subject: Plant Cell Tissue Culture Information.... --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) None in this issue --NAFEX List None in this issue ------------------Leo's Notes------------------- #1 Air Layering Mangoes - Unusual Rooting Characteristics I've tried to air layer mangoes in the past, and wonder if I had been successful in the past, without knowing it! Last summer I tried again, with an 'Oro' seedling. Periodically, I unwrapped the paper and aluminum foil that I used to shade the peat ball, looking in vain for the 'typical' white roots reaching out to the surface of the plastic wrap. Finally, I decided to take off the plastic wrap, and found brown roots, short and relatively thick. Not many, but definitely appeared to be adequate. Time will tell if it will survive, but I wonder if previous layers had possibly been throwing roots, and that I discarded them in ignorance! #2 Annona Diversifolia (ILAMA) Seed Sprouting; Disappointing 7% I haven't abandoned the Annona Diversifolia (ILAMA) seeds in the hotbed, but I have serious doubts that any others will sprout. I opened a few of the quite-a-few remaining, and found brown interiors that were definitely not viable anymore. There have been only 7% that have sprouted, even with Giberrilic Acid treatment. If any of you have had greater success, I'd like to know more about how you did it. ----------------New Subscribers------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Estero, FL, Seeks Info Raspberry & Mulberry Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 14:02:53 EST From: Arlene Mobley Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Interested In Growing Organic Papayas I am Ronald Wollersheim, in Warner Alberta Canada At the present time I am not growing any fruit trees but am looking for information about growing papayas organically. Can you help me? Thanks in advance. Ronald Wollersehim ------------------- From: "John Kornuc" Subject: New Subscriber, MO, With Indoor-Fruit Questions Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 09:46:22 -0600 Hi! I'm interested in fruit growing and have heard good things about your newsletter. I'd like to subscribe. Thanks! I am Bob Cantor, from near Kansas City, MO, USA I believe I have the largest citrus farm in Missouri - 12 plants, all in large pots under a 1000 W HID lamp and a western exposure indoors in the winter. In the summer they do much better because I put them outdoors. All winter long I have to spray for mealybugs. I also have 4 fig bushes, a coffee tree and a bay tree. I'd be interested in anything else that would grow in large pots like these (18" round, about 12-15 gal). I have a variety of other fruits that grow outdoors in my climate that are not on topic according to your definition. I will be happy to not mention them. :) Here are questions I'd like readers of RFNO to answer for me: What tropical fruits and spices have you had success in growing indoors in large pots? Mangoes? Papaya? Cinnamon? Anything? Do Bonsai'd medjools still bear fruit? :) Bob C. --------------------------- Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 13:00:47 -0600 From: Tom White Subject: New Subscriber, TX, Interested In Citrus Leo, My name is Tom White. I live in the northwest area of Houston, Texas. My main interest in rare fruit is citrus, especially cold hardy citrus suitable for growing in my location (USDA climate zone 8 B) with little or no protection from our winters which may get to 20*F. I have had the good fortune to work part time in the past at Treesearch Farms, a local nursery which at the time had an active citrus propigation program, and learned citrus grafting from Mr. Bonnie Childers, one of the best at citrus grafting in South Texas. I enjoyed the January 15, 1998 issue of RFNO which you sent in reply to my request for information. I have already missed the February 1, 1998 issue and would appreciate it if you would start my regular subscription to RFNO with that issue. The posting by Keith Benson with its links to tissue culture at home sites renewed an old interest in this process and the links provided promise to allow me to follow up on this fascinating area of plant propagation. I would like to see if it could lead to application with citrus plants. Best wishes, Tom in Texas ------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, GA, Interested In Hardy Rare Fruit Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 21:36:08 EST From: Max M. Lund Hi, I am Max M. Lund, living near Conyers, GA Trees I'm growing now: orange x hardy orange, paw paw, gingko, autumn olive, apples, persimmons, etc. I have lived in St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and enjoy tropical fruit. Max -----------------Readers Write------------------ From: Sven Merten Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 07:07:24 -0800 Subject: Re: Annona diversifolia seeds - Sprouting Difficulties Leo, Congratulations on getting at least some of them to sprout. Unless you need the space I would suggest leaving the seed for several months. I don't have experience with A. diversifolia seed, but I have had many tropical seed that didn't sprout for 6 months. I even had one canistel sapote that didn't sprout for over a year. Good luck. Sven PS I un-earthed my one seed and soaked it is GA as per your suggestion, but so far nothing has happened. Leo Manuel wrote: Hi Sven, I don't need the space that badly, but some of them look as if they might have a mold developing. I wonder if treating them with something (what?) would prevent them from rotting but not interfere with sprouting. I think it may be helpful to have seed just removed from the fruit? Yours, Leo Leo, You could clean them with a brush every couple of weeks if it isn't too much work. The other thing I usually do before planting is soak the seeds in 10% bleach for 2 minutes. As long as the seeds haven't germinated this does not hurt them. Just be sure to rinse them well. Regards, Sven ------------------ From: Sven [Thanks, Sven! For This Posting: Leo] Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 08:38:43 -0800 Subject: Fruit List By Cold Hardiness Hi Mark, In the Sep/Oct 1996 issue of "fruit gardener" published by california rare fruit growers, they give a list of trees by cold hardiness. The first group is for cold winter areas (24 degrees F minimum). Jujube (Zizyphus jujuba) Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) Asian pear (Pyrus serotina) Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) Sweet pomegranate (Punica granatum) Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) Jelly palm (Butia capitata) Unusual figs (Ficus carica) Apples Persian mulberry (Morus sp) Capulin cherry (Prunus salicifolia) Cherry of rio grande (Eugenia aggregata) Raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis) Kei apple (Dovyalis caffra) Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana) Che/Chinese Mulberry (Cudrania tricuspidata) Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) Meiwa kumquat (Fortunella margarita) Southern blueberries (Vaccinium sp) Caper bush (Capparis spinosa) Pistachio nut (Pistacia vera) Mandarin Orange (Citrus reticulata) I hope this helps. The california rare fruit growers site is www.CRFG.org. Good luck. Sven ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 07:03:26 -0800 Reply-To: Sven Merten Subject: Who wants to split an order of seed from Oscar at Fruit Lovers Nursery? Readers of RFNO, I am interested in ordering the following, but I cannot order all of them on my own. Does anyone want to split an order with me? Langsat $75 limited supply Mangosteen $70 limited supply Rambutan $30 Santol $35 Abiu $35 Starapple $25 Rollinia $35 Miracle Fruit $30 Mammey $60 Eggfruit $25, Passiflora quadrangularis $15 Jaboticaba $20 Malay Apple $20 Chocolate Sapote $50 Soursop $20, Sapodilla $25 Passiflora laurifolia $15 Gamboge-Garcinia xanthochymus $25, Monstera $20 Thank you Sven --------------- Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 17:58:15 -0800 From: Glenda & Tom Ponder Subject: Stevia Availability In Orange County Stevia will be available for sale on April 24 & 25 at The Green Scene at the Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton CA. You will find it at the California Rare Fruit Growers, Orange County Chapter booth. A note on growing stevia; don't let it flower! If you do, it's demise is sure to follow. This has been my experience. Glenda Ponder ------------------------------------ From: Dan Hemenway Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 11:23:01 EST Subject: Need Loquat Scion Wood -- Also American plum I have a few loquat seedlings of the right stage to graft, and I am looking for scion wood of superior cultivars. I am also interested to know of any experience in starting Loquat from cuttings. We also have quite a few wild American plum (P americana) that i would like to topwork with superior selections. Of course I will pay a fair price plus shipping. Dan Hemenway ----------------------------- From: "Monroe, William" To: Russ , Subject: RE: Info Sought: Tampa/Petersberg FL Area Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 08:01:49 -0500 Russ, Leo forwarded your email to me and I can offer a few suggestions. Pine Island over by Fort Meyers has quite a few nurseries. I would suggest Tree House (Bob and Vivian Murray). They live in Bokeelia which is adjacent to Pine Island. Bokeelia has numerous tropical fruit tree plantations. In addition, try the "Tropical Fruit News" web site for additional info and POCs. Regards, Bill Monroe President Brevard Rare Fruit Council You said: Can you put me in touch with rare fruit gardeners in the Tampa/St. Petersberg (FL) area? RUSS KAPLAN ------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 06 Feb 1999 13:12:16 -0700 From: "L. Warren" Subject: Fruiting Medlar in Zone 23 - Possible? Dear Leo Do you or anyone know if the medlar (Mespilus germanica) will grow and fruit in California's Sunset Western Garden Guide zone 23? I appreciate any response. Thanks. Les Warren Camarillo, California ------- Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 16:06:32 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: Passion Vines For Photographing This Summer? Leo and friends: A garden writer from the LA area called looking for a yard where there are one or more beautiful passion vines that could be photographed this coming summer for an article she is writing. Anyone in the Santa Barbara/LA/Orange County/San Diego Area who would volunteer or who anyone could recommend? Thanks Nan Sterman San Diego ----------- Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 15:34:38 -0800 From: Darryl Subject: Hardy Citrus For Borderline Climates - What I'm Finding.... Hello Leo: I hope this is of interest to someone: I am growing several varieties of citrus, some of which are supposed to be extremely hardy. We have had a fairly mild winter so far but there was a sudden cold snap in early January that allowed me to test some cold hardiness claims. The reported low for the evening in question was 15 deg. F. I allowed changsha mandarin, trifoliate orange, and calamondin to stay outside and fend for themselves. these are all above ground in 5 gallon pots. The results were interesting: * No damage whatsoever to the trifoliate orange. * Minor tip burn to tender the smallest leaves of the changsha. * Major leaf damage, and minor stem damage to the calamondin. Calamondin is putting out new leaves and pot inspections show no visible root damage to any plants. I have ordered some more hardy varieties and hope to verify their claims next winter. Take care. Darryl ------------------------- From: Buckner, Geoff Date: Thursday, February 04, 1999 2:14 PM Subject: C. Papaya, Java - Resistant to powdery mildew? Leo/RFNO'ers, While recently looking at the San Diego Zoo's papaya collection, it appeared that all of the papaya varieties were either severely affected or wiped out completely by powdery mildew. The one exception, was the variety named Java. It had some mildew but it did not appear to have lost any leaves to the disease. I do not recall ever seeing any literature on this variety. Does anybody have any experience with the Java Papaya and it's resistance to mildew? If so, can you also share the plant growth habit (height) and fruit characteristics. Because I live near the coast where the microclimate is cooler and moister than inland, fighting the mildew problem is a constant battle with some plants. Thank you. For those of you that do not know. Besides the world class collection of non-fruiting plant specimens, there is also a nice collection of exotic fruit at the San Diego Zoo. The collection includes: lychee, pineapple, starfruit, various eugenia, coffee, papaya, passiflora, guava, many different banana's, and sugarcane. Most of the collection is still rather young, therefore, it will look even nicer in a couple of years. The fruit grove is located on the perimeter road north of the marsupials and camels in the northern part of the Zoo. Roosevelt Junior High school is located just outside of the fence near the grove. Geoff Buckner Point Loma, San Diego -------------------------- Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 09:04:42 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: St. Julian Rootstock Dick I saw your request for St. Julian rootstock and if I recall correctly, the trees I got from Pacific Groves are on St. Julian. Pacific Groves is a wholesaler but you can find out where to purchase their trees by contacting Dan Smith, 925 256-4435. Nan Sterman San Diego --------------- Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 10:17:31 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: Hardy Kiwi Information In National Gardening Magazine Leo and everyone else, If you are interested in growing hardy kiwi -- and nearly everyone should be(!!), take a look at my article on hardy kiwi in the Feb issue of National Gardening magazine. Hardy kiwi have many advantages over fuzzy kiwi -- first of all, they have no fuzz, so you can simply pop them in your mouth instead of peeling them! They are even sweeter and more delicious than fuzzy kiwi, and they are hardy, so they can survive temperatures down as low as -25 degrees f and even to -40. Best of all, there's a great photo of my son in the article! Nan Sterman San Diego Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11 ---------------------- Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 05:56:50 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Roger Meyer Subject: Letter From Professor Mao Yongmin Hi Roger, Below is the letter as I received it. Would you be willing to correspond directly with the professor in regards to his search, please? Thanks! Horticordially, Leo Manuel ----------------- Dear Leo: I am very interested in your WebPages of Rare Fruit News Online. Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Mao Yongmin. I am a associate professor, I have been working at Research Center of Chinese Jujube in Agric. Univ. of Hebei for over ten years. I have rich experience in growing of deciduous fruit trees,such as apple, peach, pear, and so on,especially in Chinese jujube(Zyziphus jujuba Mill).I have undertaken many projects related to fruit culture techniques,fruit physiology,disease control,nutrient diagnosis,et al. Now I have been granted the financial support(10000$) from the China Scholarship Council to pursue research and studies in America as a visiting scholar for a period of one year. So I want to look for a supervisor who is interested in jujube research. could you recommend me a suitable person in America? I want to contact the jujube specialists in the America and in other countries.If you know some of them, would you please tell me their name, mailing and email address. I am very familiar with the current status of jujube culture in China. I like to exchange jujube information with the jujube specialists and hobbyists. Best wishes with you and your family. Thanking you in advance for your early reply. Yours very sincerely Mao Yongmin ----------- Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 10:31:22 -0800 From: Roger Meyer Subject: Re: Letter From Professor Mao Yongmin Leo, I will respond to him. George Emerich also sent me his note last night. I tried to respond then but the compute would not let the message go through. Will try again now. Let's hope the e mail address he wrote on the note is correct. Thanks for thinking of me on this. Roger -------------- Date: Tue, 09 Feb 1999 22:46:42 -0800 From: Roger Meyer Subject: Re: Who is the leading Jujube authority in the US? Leo, Really I know of no one who is currently active in jujube research at a university. A Dr Caula Beale at a University of Alabama A &M in Normal, Alabama was doing some research a few years ago. Also, Dr Lyrene at the University of Florida, Gainsville was also involved. However, I understand he has lost intertest in jujube. I am the only one really interested in them at this time, as far as I know. But I do not have any university to do the work with. If I can be of further help, let me know. A few people around the world do have some interest in the fruit but no programs going on with it. Dr Cossio in Verona, Italy expressed some interest in it when I visited him several years ago. A Chinese friend, Yan (I can't remember his last name at the moment) published a paper on jujube several years ago in New Zealand with Dr Ross Ferguson. Yan had gone to Perth, WA for a position but I understand that he is now back in New Zealand. Best, Roger Meyer ------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 14:48:49 +0800 From: David Noel Subject: Leo Asked: Who Are Leading Jujube Authorities? Leo, The leading jujube specialist in the US is Roger Meyer , joint author of the recently-issued 'Jujube Primer & Source Book'. Roger is also in touch with jujube specialists elsewhere, including Australia (Phillip Ciminata) and New Zealand. David Noel Tree Crops Centre --------------------- Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 17:50:11 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: Hale Peaches - Want To Try Growing Them In Southern California Leo and eveyone else A neighbor is looking for Hale peaches, evidently, he ate them as a child in Anaheim. [Note: My recollection is that they have relatively high chill requirements. Anyone know for sure? Leo] Anyone know where to buy them or get cuttings? Nan Sterman San Diego, CA Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11 --------------------------- Subject: What Should I Grow: Guava, Persimmon, or ?? Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 02:00:44 EST From: Sherry Murillo Hello! My name is Sherry Murillo and my e-mail is smdeafinterpt@hotmail.com, I saw your page and was hoping you could give us a little advice. Well we live in Riverside, Woodcrest area and we have about 1 1/2 acres of land that we are not using so we thought about many things we could do with it but we have been very interested in raising fruit trees. We have been told several different things one said we should do avocado trees, then we was told they would freeze here where we are so we then was told persimmons were the way to go and there was a good market for it, then we heard that you really don't make much because they sell for only about 30 to 40 cents a lb so we were told that the way to go would be Guava because they sell for a lot more and there is really a good market for that in L.A. area and it would be a good money maker and would not freeze in woodcrest. well we are fully confused now and don't know what would really be good to go with. Can you please give me information on what is really a good marketable fruit and what would really grow here well. I appreciate any help I can get, Thanks so much for your help. Sherry Murillo ------------------------------ Subject: Use 'Proper' Oil Spray For Leaf Miner Problem Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 17:31:15 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice To:Nabih Nabih.... Are the oil sprays you are using the new light weight, low distillation temperature oils that are safe to use in summer? Soybean or other vegetable oils are reputedly even safer to use than petroleum based ones. A University of Tennessee research report said spraying with an emulsified soybean oil solution "delays bloom, thins fruit, controls scale, aphids and mites without harming beneficial insects." The commercial "Natur'l Spray Oil" also lists control of leaf miner. This product is available from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply at or from Harmony Farm Supply at Products using azadirachtin, an insecticidal extract from the Neem tree, is worth trying, but it is more expensive. I am growing my own tree from seed. The leaves are not as potent as the seed but can be used until the tree sets seed. I am only a backyard grower with more than a casual interest in agriculture. I hope you find some help in one of these suggestions. Eunice Messner --------------------------- Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 14:27:03 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Subject: Pepino dulce Barry Edholm: Happy to meet another 'Pepino dulce' aficionado. We are VERY fond of using them in salads and on sandwiches. Some people who try them expect them to taste exactly like a melon and are disappointed. They do have a melon-like flavor if allowed to mature on the bush. If used green they are more reminiscent of 'sweet cucumber' which is the Spanish or Portuguese? meaning of pepino dulce. At the end of the summer I take cuttings of my plants and just put them in place in the garden with a plastic half-gallon milk bottle over them and keep them moist. One gets a much better crop when plants are started in the winter time. Their one nemesis is heat and the resulting spider mites. In Arizona you will need to plant them in a shady location.I have combatted spider mites with Epsom Salts (2 tblsp to gal of water) and I've purchased Lacewings as predators. It is inevitable that spider mites will occur next summer, so I plan to try a summer oil or soy bean oil (1% solution) next time. My first attempt at growing them was with the 'Golden Splendor' variety. They set not a single fruit. Evidently this variety needs a pollinizer. Last year I had three varieties, 'Temptation', 'Rio Grande' and 'Toma', the commercial one. 'Temptation' produced the best. I also have an unnamed one from Chile that has not fruited yet. I grow them in cages or on a trellis to keep the fruit off the ground. They make a 3ft. high bush. They are a fruit diabetics can safely eat. If we paid $10.98 a lb. (what the local grocer was charging)we probably ate several hundred dollars worth last season. I believe it is the spider mite problem that makes them so costly. I have one this year I am growing from seed, but the leaves look like the unimproved native ones. I would suggest buying named varieties. You will find nurseries that sell them on CRFG's Fruit Source list Happy growing! Eunice Messner ----------------- Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 19:46:58 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Fausto Subject: Re: Dealing With Mealybugs, Using Chemical Or Biological Means Fausto Piaggio Ferraro wrote: I would like to know how to deal with planoccocus citri (mealy bugs) using chemical or biological means. Dear Fausto: The mealybug, Planoccocus citrii is quite common on citrus and cherimoyas, especially if there is succulent growth from too much water or nitrogen. The first method of control is to get rid of the ants that protect mealybugs from their natural enemies so they can have access to the mealy bugs honeydew excretion. Secondly, spray the trees regularly with a strong jet of water to get rid of the majority of the pests. That can be followed up with an insecticidal soap spray. There are numerous predators for control available from insectories. Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, known as 'crypts' or the'mealy bug destroyer'; lady beetles, and certain species of wasps. A 2% solution of horticultural oil can also be used. The book "Common-sense Pest Control by Sheila Daar and William and Helga Olkowski goes into much greater detail. Eunice Messner ------Discussion list for New Crops ------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 17:20:12 -0700 From: Michael Forsyth Subject: Plant Cell Tissue Culture Information.... Connie, I presume you mean plant cell tissue culture. I started looking into it about a year ago and found http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/tisscult/tcintro.html to be a good web site. There were several books I liked out of the many listed at this site: In vitro Culture of Higher Plants RLM Pierik, Kluwer 1997 Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture - Fundamental methods, OL Gamborg and GC Phillips, Springer-Verlag 1997 To get them try inter-library loan. My local Agriculture Canada office and the Alberta Agriculture office are quite helpful. I am not new to the technology - having done some animal tissue culture and a lot of microbiology. If I can answer some fundamental questions please just ask. Michael Forsyth. ------------------Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers)------------------ None in this issue ------------------Announcements To Consider------------------ None in this issue ------------------NAFEX List ------------------ None in this issue >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - February 15, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - March 1, 1999 - AKA RFN9903A.txt Isn't spring wonderful? Trouble is, there's so much to do.... You might be interested in Chris Rollins' suggestions for Jakfruit in California, in response to my question to him: Leo - nice to hear from you. Jaks like full sun, high moisture, good drainage and aeration and protection from the wind. The warmer the better. They do well in S. FL. "NS-1" is a good grafted cultivar. Seedlings may also produce good fruit. I think in your Jakfruit challenging environment a seedling with its extra vigor is a wise idea.... You may be interested in the seeds for sale at the Fruit-Lovers Nursery, near the end of this issue. --Notes In Passing #1 Three mangoes still hanging on #2 Rarefruit webpage modified; Comments? http://www.rarefruit.com #3 Air-Layered Mango Blooms (Even if the Mother tree hasn't yet!) --New Subscribers Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Looking For LA Rare Fruit Nurseries Chuck Hillman3 Subject: New Subscriber, Canberra AU, Seeks Hardy Rare Fruit Ideas Lorinda Millar Subject: New Subscriber, CA, With Cold-Thwarting Ideas Gary Siegel Subject: New Subscriber, NZ, Seeks Advice And Help Denise Mark --Readers Write Subject: citrus "Fausto Piaggio Ferraro" Subject: Hardy Citrus For Borderline Climates - Kelp Help? Darryl Subject: Preventing mold on seeds Alohatherapy@webtv.net (Oscar Jaitt) Subject: Loquat cuttings success - sometimes Alohatherapy@webtv.net (Oscar Jaitt) To: Permacltur@aol.com Subject: Annona diversifolia - As good as it's going to get? Ben Poirier Subject: Re: What Should I Grow: Guava, Persimmon, or ?? Matt Heffron Subject: Atis and mangos Holzinger, Bob Subject: Re: Use 'Proper' Oil Spray For Leaf Miner Problem Matthew Shugart Subject: Re: Hale Peaches - Want To Try Growing Them In Southern California Matthew Shugart Subject: Canistel - Anyone With Success In S. California? Edgar Valdivia Subject: Stevia - Why Would Anyone Grow It? Ed Subject: Lychee: Neighbor's tree won't bear. Places my crop at risk! Lorraine Nelson Brunner Subject: Hung Yen - The Ancient City Of Longans - Part 1 Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Looking for Selma Cherimoya Sven Merten Subject: Re: Looking for Selma cherimoya George F. Emerich Subject: Pistachio trees - Source Wanted Linda Richmond Subject: RE: Fruiting Medlar Zone 23 Eunice Messner Subject: RE: Rare citrus in Texas Eunice Messner Subject: RE: Growing organic papayas in Canada Eunice Messner --Announcements and Web Sites To Consider Subject: Website http://www.farmwide.com.au/farmersguide/ Joel Subject: Rare Fruit Seeds Available At Fruit-Lovers Nursery In Hawaii Alohatherapy@webtv.net (Oscar Jaitt) Subject: Cocao Seeds Available (Probably NOT still available) coolbus@webtv.net (woodrow cooke) --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) None, this time --NAFEX List None, this time --From NEWCROPS List None, this time ------------------Leo's Notes------------------- #1 Three mangoes still hanging on in March! Between two trees there are still three mangoes. A seedling has two (fruited for the first time,) but the other is Keitt. I've not had fruit this late in the season before. How about you? #2 Rarefruit webpage modified; Comments? http://www.rarefruit.com The page is still simple, so more people can access it. Look it over to see if there are other changes that should be made. Especially let me know if you are not able to view it on your browser. #3 Air-Layered Mango Blooms (Even if the Mother tree hasn't yet!) It must be that cinturing or girdling that is done in the air-layering process is what made it flower? I won't let it set fruit, of course. Does anyone know if girdling is practiced to increase fruiting in mangoes? ----------------New Subscribers------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Looking For LA Rare Fruit Nurseries Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 23:30:15 -0800 From: Chuck Hillman3 I would love to receive your newsletter. My name is Chuck Hillman III, I live in Ventura, CA Currently, I am growing Fuyu Persimmon, Peach, Nectarine, Fuji Apple, etc. I would like to grow more, but am young and unsettled. I do not want to plant much on property that does not belong to me. I have worked on a couple of organic farms and have a growing interest in farming. Fruit is my #1 Favorite food and I love variety. My question is this: Does anyone know of any businesses in the Los Angeles or Ventura county areas that sells tropical/rare fruit? Or a mail order company? Trying a new fruit is a large pleasure for me and I know there must be a source out there if I could only find it. Thanks for your help. Chuck ----------------------- Subject: New Subscriber, Canberra AU, Seeks Hardy Rare Fruit Ideas Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 10:54:44 +1100 From: Lorinda Millar 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 just planted a 'pleach' tree (a plum/peach cross) and a 'lemonade' lemon 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 18 months ago, and we have already had the most gorgeous peaches! 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 [Note to Lorinda: You first need to know what is the coldest temperature in your garden. David and Tina Silber have prepared an excellent guide to selecting rare fruits based on their tolerance to lowest overnight temperatures that are likely to occur in the winter months. Look at http://crfg.org/fg/1996/chooserft.html Leo] ---------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber, CA, With Cold-Thwarting Ideas Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 16:31:21 -0800 From: Gary Siegel My name is Gary Siegel. I live in Trabuco Canyon, which is located in south Orange County in CA. My E-mail address is Siegel2@home .com . I am currently growing mango, star fruit, lychee, papaya, banana, rose apple, and pineapple. This spring I plan on planting atemoya, chermoya, sugar apple, Ilama, Mt. apple, water apple, soursop, jakfruit, miracle fruit, wax jumbu and salak. The above trees will be planted in a raised bed filled with premium top soil and come winter will be under a temporary wooden frame covered with plastic to keep out the cold. Shade cloth will surround the frame as a wind break as we get Santa Ana winds here up to 80 mph. I`ve had good success growing papayas with this method and hope to continue this success with my new trees. The humidity gets pretty high inside, but the papayas didn`t seem to mind. I also put an electric heater inside for really cold nights. The temperture never drops below 50 degrees, even though we get occasional frost. Gary ------------------- Subject: New Subscriber, NZ, Seeks Advice And Help Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 21:51:38 +1300 From: "Denise Mark" I am Denise Mark, near Kerikeri, New Zealand and have 5 Acres. Trees planted: mainly citrus - Haward lates and navel oranges, tamarillos and feijoas, macadamia nuts. I have a spare acre which I am stocking with a variety of unusual trees - usually two of each and so far have: Cherimoya, carambola (starfruit) mango, inga bean, coffee, lime, yellow guava, davidson's plum, (australian native) pouteria lucuma, surinam cherry, also have one thirty foot high ginko but do not know its sex!, Avocados. One 30 foot high casamiroa sapote - one of the oldest in NZ - does not fruit and needs a pollinator. Also have banana passionfruit (a weed here) and choko - ditto Other details: I am new to this game having spent the last ten years as an auditor but with two kids under three my husband and I felt like a complete change in lifestyle. Our property has deep phase volcanic soil and is very fertile. I am convinced that the climate in New Zealand is changing and will be more receptive to sub-tropicals. I am trying desperately to find a couple of lychee trees but to no avail. I can't even find a fruit importer who has lychee fruits from which I can grow the trees from seed. We have 67 feijoa trees and 60 red tamarillos. I would be interested in receiving any information about the marketability of both raw and processed fruits and what is needed from the grower. In particular the feijoa industry here needs a kick start. Are there any processors of feijoas in the states? Denise Mark -----------------Readers Write------------------ From: "Fausto Piaggio Ferraro" Subject: citrus Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 09:28:44 -0500 Hi Leo My name is Fausto Piaggio Ferraro I live in Lima Peru, my farm is 2 hours north of Lima I grow 45,000 citrus trees . I have crops all year around Best regards fausto ---------------------------------- Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 15:34:38 -0800 From: Darryl Subject: Hardy Citrus For Borderline Climates - Kelp Help? Hello Leo: I hope this is of interest to someone: I am growing several varieties of citrus, some of which are supposed to be extremely hardy. Howdy All There are documented studies going back decades that demonstrate that kelp foliars/admendment does wonders for a plants ability to withstand cold. Also a great germination enhancer. Also does wonders for keeping fruit around longer on the tree w/o going bad... Get some - Maxicrop is one name brand that comes to mind - there are many others. On a cellular level the lipid structure of the cell membranes is made more flexible when exposed to the nutrients, in the kelp, for a period of time. That being the case, the cell flexes, instead of bursting when freezing occurs. It's also thought that the "salts" have a lower freezing temp, so, if sprayed at night before a frost, can mitigate damage as well.. Bill Evans -------------------- Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 08:55:49 -0800 From: Glenda & Tom Ponder Subject: Re: St Julian Rootstock St Julian A x EMLA is available for $2.25 each or 10 for $18.00 through Bear Creek Nursery, Northport WA. Email bearcreek@plix.com. WEB site (under construction)? BearCreekNursery.com Glenda Ponder ----------------------- From: Alohatherapy@webtv.net (Oscar Jaitt) Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 11:47:25 -1000 (HST) Subject: Preventing mold on seeds A method I have used here where we have constant rainfall, and so a lot of mildewing, is to lay a quarter (one half m.m.) inch of peat moss on top of the potting soil, the seed goes on to of that, then another quarer inch of peat moss on top of the seed, The acidity in the peat moss keeps the mildew from growing it seems (I think I picked this trick up a couple of years ago in an Organic Gardening magazine.) Let me know if this helps, Oscar Jaitt ------------------------- From: Alohatherapy@webtv.net (Oscar Jaitt) To: Permacltur@aol.com Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 11:35:49 -1000 (HST) Subject: Loquat cuttings success - sometimes I have air-layered loquat cultivars. I had about 50% take, so I would conclude that they could perhaps be started from cuttings under periodic misting, but that the success rate would not be very good. Here is what Julia Morton in "Fruits of Warm Climates" (p. 106) says, "Cuttings are not easy to root. Air layering may only be 20% succesful, though 80 to 100% of the layers root in 6 weeks if treated with 3% NAA (2-naphthoxyacetic acid)." Hope this is helpful, Oscar Jaitt, Fruit Lover's Nursery --------------------- From: Ben Poirier Subject: Annona diversifolia - As good as it's going to get? Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 17:35:55 -0800 Hi Leo, From what you have said about the Ilama seeds, my guess is that they are past the point of sprouting. I think these seeds do best when seeds are fresh. Bob Holzinger sent me 10 seeds from 2 varieties of Ilama from El Salvador. Using the "plastic bag" germination method I described earlier, 8 of the seeds had germinated in under two weeks. They were then planted in pots over bottom heat. Six are now sprouted above the ground. It is true that some species of Annona do take a long time to germinate (I've had A. crassifolia take one year - but this information was known and sent along with the seeds). If it were me, I probably wouldn't give up on them quite yet if you have the space, but in the meantime, I would look for a source that can supply fresh seeds. do you know how long ago the seeds were gathered ??? good growing ! Ben Poirier ---------------- From: "Matt Heffron" To: Sherry Murillo Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 12:10:47 -0800 Subject: Re: What Should I Grow: Guava, Persimmon, or ?? Sherry, I suggest that you contact the Inland Empire Chapter of California Rare Fruit Growers at inland_empire@crfg.org The chapter contact grows both commercially, and just for fun, on a LARGE piece of land in the Lake Matthews area. The chapter chairperson info is on the CRFG web site at: http://www.crfg.org/chapters.html Also, you should join us at the chapter meetings on the first Thursday of each month at the Rubidoux Senior Center at 7pm. (I'm just down the hill from you near the Citrus Historical Park.) Matt Heffron CRFG ---------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Cindy Subject: Atis and mangos Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 14:34:40 -0800 Hi Cindy, I noticed that you said in Rare Fruit News Online that you are growing Atis, Annona squamosa, in Simi Valley. Is this a grafted tree or a seedling tree? If grafted, what was the rootstock used? I am interested in trying this species in Ventura and haven't had much luck with seedlings so far. I am also starting to grow more mangos and I think you should look up Tim Thompson in Camarillo for some advice on cultivars to try and just general growing tips. As for the other fruit trees you grow or want to grow, you could try contacting the LA chapter or the Ventura/Santa Barbara chapter of CRFG for information. I could get some contact info if you don't have it available. Take care, Bob Holzinger -------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 13:32:14 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Re: Use 'Proper' Oil Spray For Leaf Miner Problem Hi again. Eunice asks about lighter oil sprays. Although I have no idea what it means, Ultra Fine's label says it is "parafinnic" oil, while Volck oil is from pretoleum distillates. Ultra Fine is listed for summer use on many plants. Garden's Alive sells an oil that is based on some kind of vegetable oil, but I have never tried it. Matthew Shugart ------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 13:28:48 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Subject: Re: Hale Peaches - Want To Try Growing Them In Southern California Greetings. I "inherited" a J.H.Hale peach tree from the previous owner of my property in Carlsbad. The tree, along with an Elberta, showed all the symptoms of inadequate chilling: no or sporadic bloom, much delayed foliation, dieback, and, of course, no fruit. I removed both after a couple of years. I believe both require 800 or so chill hours, according to most sources. Maybe someone will correct me, but as far as I know Hale is not a variety that is worth attempting in most of southern California. The story from Nan's neighbor about eating them as a child in Anaheim is intriguing, but should be taken with a grain of salt. There was quite a string of very cold winters in the late 1940s and early 1950s, so, if the real chilling requirement is, say 600 rather than 800, it might have been possible to get fruit on the variety at that time, I suppose. (Nan's message does not indicate what years the neighbor might have this recollection from.) Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California ------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 20:41:25 -0800 From: Patricia Valdivia Subject: Canistel - Anyone With Success In S. California? Was nice to meet you on the phone. I'm glad we had a chance to exchange email, now I can communicate with you. I am looking for people who grow canistel here in California and have had success. I want to be sure I can grow it here in Simi Valley. Please let me know if you know anyone and also I really appreciate the information you're going to e-mail me. I am a CRFG member with the Los Angeles Chapter and the Santa Barbara chapter. Thanks again. Edgar Valdivia ------------------------------------- From: "Ed" Subject: Stevia - Why Would Anyone Grow It? Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 07:59:16 -0500 OK, so I have stevia overtaking my garden.... Now what? I brew it like tea, cold-extract it, throw leaves in my coffee, shred it, powder it, and the result is an evil green, grass-tasting substance that is bitter, not sweet. What am I doing so very, very wrong? (It IS stevia!) Ed Griffin USDA Zone 10b (FL) ------------------------- Subject: Lychee: Neighbor's tree won't bear. Places my crop at risk! Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 14:28:08 -0500 From: Lorraine Nelson Brunner Hi Leo, Lory Brunner here from Miami, Florida. I am in need of some info. My neighbor has a lychee tree approx. 7 years old. An air-layered tree. It has had 6 nuts on it in its entire life. I have found out it blooms but they all fall off. I need to know what to tell the lady to do for this problem. Otherwise she'll snatch my lychees. Hope someone recognizes the the problem. Thanks for the great newsletters. Lorraine ---------------------------------- Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 11:50:03 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Hung Yen - The Ancient City Of Longans - Part 1 The information comes from Pairote Pholprasit, an FAO specialist in fruits, who has visited the town in May 1998. Hung Yen, whose ancient name is Fo Hien, is 40 miles due east of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Hung Yen, the second oldest city in North Vietnam, is 600 years old. As it is situated on the mighty Red River, the soil is very fertile. There are embankments, in the form of very long continuous earth mounds, are on both banks of the Red River. These embankments, which are almost a thousand years old, are over a thousand miles long. The rice plain spreads out for miles on both sides of the main roads. Dotted among the rice fields are numerous villages. Every road in the town of Hung Yen is lined on both sides with longan trees, just longan trees only! Currently, the total land area of the district is 556,000 rais, of which 380,000 rais is agricultural land. The entire orchard area is 45,000 rais, of which 25,000 rais are longan orchards. The official projection for 2000 is 59,400 rais of orchards, of which 37,500 rais will be longans. The plan is to plant 100,000 to 200,000 longan trees per year. The plan appears very ambitious. Pairote notes that central planning is often practised in North Vietnam, a reminder of the socialist regime. However, this is not the case in South Vietnam,which is used to the capitalistic economy. Longans were introduced to Hung Yen over 500 years ago. All were grown from seeds. The technique of air-layering was introduced just over a decade ago. The technique of approach grafting and similar techniques were introduced by the Chinese only a few years ago. The best cultivars are Tuong Chi or Huong Chi and Duong Phen. Huong Chi is large-fruited. There are 60 fruits per kilogrammes, with an average diameter of 3 cms. There has not been any real effort in selecting good or promising cultivars. Part 2 will follow. It should be noted that Pairote visited the town in May, so he did not see any mature longan fruits. ------------------------- From: Sven Merten Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 07:15:33 -0800 Subject: Looking for Selma Cherimoya Hi Leo, I was wondering if you know of anyone with a Selma Cherimoya that I might be able to get some scion wood from, or a nursery that sells them. Thanks. Sven ------------------- Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 09:13:49 -0800 From: "George F. Emerich" Subject: Re: Looking for Selma cherimoya Leo: Selma is a fairly old Cherimoya which has been rediscovered recently. Its principal claim to fame is that it has a slightly pink coloration to its flesh. Some think that it has outstanding taste appeal, an opinion not universally shared. There is no telling people's tastes in anything but in Cherimoyas it is said : "Cherimoyas are like sex, they are all good, some are better" Paul Thomson discovered Selma in a Vista yard about 30 years ago and named it after the owner's wife. Paul propagated it at Edgehill and experimented with it and its progeny for several years, but after that it was neglected for many years. George --------------------- Subject: Pistachio trees - Source Wanted Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 15:00:05 -0700 From: Linda Richmond I am looking for a place to buy some pistachio trees; none of my catalogs list them. Do you know of a source? [Note: Linda is not a subscriber, so you may send information directly to her. -Leo] Linda Richmond ----------------------- From: Eunice Messner Subject: RE: Fruiting Medlar Zone 23 Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 09:03:01 -0800 (PST) To: Les Warren Les Warren... The new California Rare Fruit Growers Specialist for Medlars is Al Bauman. He lives NE of Los Angeles at 524 Oakdale Drive, Sierra Madre, CA 91024-1429. He would enjoy chatting with you about medlars about the medlars he grows. Eunice Messner --------------------------------- From: Eunice Messner Subject: RE: Rare citrus in Texas Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 09:07:36 -0800 (PST) To: Tom White Tom White, There is a chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers in Houston. The chair of the chapter, Dr. Alfred Loeblich III is very interested in citrus. So, if you are not a member yet, I'm sure you would enjoy this common interest. For information call him at (409) 744-2161 Eunice Messner ----------------------------- From: Eunice Messner Subject: RE: Growing organic papayas in Canada To: Ronald Wollersheim Ronald Wollersheim Papayas can be grown in a container in a greenhouse in your area. Some are very tall growing so ascertain eventual height and try to find a dwarf variety. They have a fleshy root with no root hairs. Your planting medium should be a commercial planting mix with perlite or pumice added for drainage. The addition of worm castings or compost and mycoorhizae to the mix would assure the best of growing conditions. Slow release organic pellets can be used for fertilizer. In the winter time papayas, even out-of-doors in our subtropical areas, are often lost to poor drainage, wind and cold. See web site for source materials and information. Eunice Messner ------------------Announcements And Web Pages To Consider------------------ From: Joel Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 19:34:22 EST Subject: Website of possible interest Wonder if this site might be interesting (http://www.farmwide.com.au/farmersguide/ Joel -------------------------- From: Alohatherapy@webtv.net (Oscar Jaitt) Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 22:27:31 -1000 (HST) Subject: Rare Fruit Seeds Available At Fruit-Lovers Nursery In Hawaii Dear Rare Fruit enthusiasts, here are some of the seeds we have for sale (prices are for 50 seeds unless noted, larger amounts available upon request, discounts to nurserys, please inquire): Abiu (Pouteria caimito) $35, Brazilian Cherry (Eugenia dombeyi) $25, Chico Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) $25, Chocoate Sapote (Diospyros digyna), Cacao Chocolate (Theobroma cacao) $50, Coffee "Kona" type (Coffea arabica) $15, Curry Leaf Tree (Coffea arabica) $25, Durian (Durio zybethinus) $75 limited supply, Eggfruit (Pouteria caimito) $25, Gamboge (Garcinia xanthochymus) $25, Jaboticaba (Myrciaria caulifloura) $20, Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) $25, Langsat- Lansones (Lansium domesticum) $75 limited supply, Longan (Euphoria longana) $25, Lychee (Litchi chinensis) $20, Malabar Chestnut (Pachira aquatica) $20, Mameyito (Rheedia edulis) $25, Mammey Sapote (Pouteria sapota) $60, Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) $70 limited supply, Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) $30, Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) $20, Malay Apple (Syzigium malaccense) $20, Noni (Morinda citrifolia) $20, Papaya "Thai Dwarf" $10, Papaya 'Sunrise" $5, Papaya 'Sunset' $5, Papaya 'Waimanalo (dwarf) $5, Passionfruits: Giant passionfruit (P quadrangularis) $15, Golden Apple (Passiflora laurifolia) $15, Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) $30, Mysore Raspberry (Rubus niveus) $10, Rollinia (Rollinia deliciosa) $35, Santol (Sandoricum koetjape) $35, Soursop (Annona muricatum) $20, Starapple (Chrysophyllum cainito) $25, Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola) $20, Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora) $15, Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) $15, Tree Tomato (Cyphomandra betacea) $10, Others available upon request. For additional information regarding VIABILITY OF SEEDS, TERMS OF SALE, mailing address, telephone number or Fax number, contact Oscar Jaitt FruitLovers@webtv.net ---------------------- From: coolbus@webtv.net (woodrow cooke) Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 11:20:57 -0500 (EST) Subject: Cocao Seeds Available (Probably NOT still available) I reclaimed 1000 acres of cocao in Belize over10 years ago from the wild bush and they were very successful. It was a very interesting and hard task. I now only grow for a hobby and have many unusual rare fruit plants in my home and small greenhouse. I have looked everywhere to purchase cocao (chocolate trees) and been told its next to impossible, so I have found a personal source in Central Am. - old friend and former employee-- who can send me limited amounts of viable seed. I can get more than I need so if anyone else wants some too then let me know and I will get back with the particulars. As soon as I know who want some I will make preps to have them sent to me and on to you. They have very limited viability so email if you want some--I am anxious to get mine started and can help anyone with info if they also want some. Probably will be a one time thing, so let me know asap! Woodie Cooke In West Va. Mountains. ------------------Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers)------------------ None this time ------------------NAFEX List ------------------ None this time ------------------From NEWCROPS List------------------ None this time >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - March 1, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - March 15, 1999 - AKA RFN9903B.txt Leo Sez: Between March 27 and March 30, if anyone chooses to write to me, I will have two additional e-mail addresses at which I can be reached most quickly. They are: leowes@netscape.net and leowes@excite.com Of course, mail addressed to the usual leom@rarefruit.com will reach me on March 31. Those two addresses are always (supposedly) good addresses, in the event that the usual address doesn't work. I have heard that sometimes mail bounces when addressed to leom@rarefruit.com. That may explain why mail volume has been considerably reduced lately. Of course, it's also possible that everyone is busy. It's time to revisit the webpage of Bruce Livingston, a longtime reader of RFNO. It's at http://www.gate.net/~santol/index.html You will probably find more information than you will be able to digest with only one visit. I suggest that you bookmark it. If you haven't seen it for a while, check it again, and let me know if you don't agree. It must have taken years to gather all of the information you find on the many pages linked together. Please remind me if you have a webpage that contains information likely to be of interest to this newsgroup. I need to build a file of them so I don't have to rely on my fractured memory. Quang Ong's Rare Fruit Nursery - Unofficial Web Page I have put a web page together for Quang Ong, a young Vietnamese man living in San Diego. Check it out and let him and me know if works. It's one of those free webpages with so many constraints you can't put on it what you really want to. He hasn't seen it yet. It has a retail list of plants - fruiting and flowering, but doesn't include prices. His site is at: http://www.homestead.com/rarefruit/QuangOng.html ---------Table Of Contents - Headers --New Subscribers From: Chuck Woodward Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants To Grow Jackfruit, Breadfruit,.... --Readers Write From: Eunice Messner Subject: Recommendation For New Zealander From: Eunice Messner Subject: Source of rare fruit to eat From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Hung Yen - The Ancient City of Longans - Part 2 From: Nan Sterman Subject: Hardy Kiwi Jam Recipe Wanted From: Darryl Clark Subject: Why bitter stevia? From: Gary Subject: Re: Planting atemoya, cherimoya, sugar apple, Ilama,.... From: Leo Manuel To: Readers of RFNO Subject: Mamey - linked to Florida typhoid - is full of e coli From: Mario Subject: Re: Mamey - linked to Florida typhoid - is full of e coli From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Re: Thai Mango: Pim Sang Mon or ... From: Adam Subject: What mango variety for the desert? From: "Richard K. Gross" Subject: Frost protection From: Leo Manuel Subject: Recommended Page - http://www.gate.net/~santol/index.html From: ucmaster gardeners Subject: Giant whitefly predatory insects - None available From: tina siegel Subject: Cocao Seeds and Plants Available at Frankie's Nursery From: Doug Jones Subject: Still Needing Advice For Black-Tipped Leaves-Mangoes ------------------Announcements And Web Pages To Consider------------------ JACKFRUIT http://www.jnlk.com/mikeb/jackfruit_facts.htm -----list zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com------- From: "Raymond Gerlach" Subject: Re: Recommendation For Indoor Banana From: "Nicho Stamatis" Subject: Re: ginger from the supermarked From: "JeffreyP" Subject: Hardy Bananas - Webpage --NAFEX List None, this time --From NEWCROPS List From: David Noel Subject: Bird Damage to Nut/Fruit Crops ----------------New Subscribers------------------- Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants To Grow Jackfruit, Breadfruit,.... Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 01:02:38 +0000 From: Chuck Woodward I am Chuck Woodward, living in Riverside, California, and a member of the Inland Empire chapter of CRFG Fruit trees I am now growing: Mango, Banana, Cherimoya, Guava, Rose Apple, Passion Fruit, Kiwi, White Sapote, Green Sapote, Papaya, Star Fruit, Citrus, Jujube, Japanese Persimmon, black Persimmon, Kai Apple, Fig, and a few others. Fruit trees I want to be growing: Jack Fruit, Bread fruit, edible landscaping, anything not commonly found locally. Any other comments? Any questions to be answered by newsletter readers? I would like to receive the back issues and supplements Thank You Chuck -----------------Readers Write------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 15:05:37 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: New Zealander seeking advice To: Denise Mark Denise Mark Someone you might look up in Auckland, NZ is Dick Endt. He is a world traveler and well known for his knowledge of rare fruit. He also introduced the babacao and tamarillo to the trade. Maybe he can advise you regarding the lychee tree you desire. Also write to Avocadoland Tropical Fruit World, P.O. Box 43, Kingscliff, NSW 2484, Australia for their catalog. You might take a close look at the flowers of your white sapote tree. It is rare, but I, too, had a nonproducing tree because it was strictly a male tree. You could stump the tree and graft on a monoecious variety. I got my start of feijoas from a fruit I bought at the market for 69 cents (expensive) imported from New Zealand. It was probably an off season fruit because they grow abundantly here. From the seeds I planted I had 14 trees - all nice sized fruit bigger than a hen's egg. Eunice Messner Anaheim Hills, California ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 14:25:11 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Source of rare fruit to eat To: Chuck Hillman Chuck Hillman Farmer's markets often have rare fruit. I've seen a good selection at Von's markets and upscale grocers. Why not try container gardening? You can take that with you when you move. Eunice Messner ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 02 Mar 1999 14:28:58 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Hung Yen - The Ancient City of Longans - Part 2 Pairote reports on what he saw at Hung Yen. There is one 400-year-old longan tree still standing! Actually, the main trunk has broken off, and what is left is a new trunk, grown from the original stump. The '400-years-old' claim appears believable. A 5-km stretch of the embankments of the Red River is interspersed with 200-year-old longan trees. They certainly look 200 years old - the trunks were truely ancient. Pairote does not know how many 200-year-old longan trees there are, but he says that they seem to be quite numerous. In the district, there are 280 acres of over 10,000 70-and-over-year-old longan trees. These are all grown from seeds. The Vietnamese say that about half of these trees produces good-quality longans. Pairote says he has to take their words for it. The average yield of these trees is 200 kg/tree/year. Pairote visited one modern longan orchard there. The owner is proud of the quality of the fruit and the good yield. Pairote was not impressed by the orchard. Pairote commented that, in this district, there is certainly a vast collection of very old longan trees, all grown from seeds, perhaps the largest collection in Indochina. He says that opportunity should be taken to develop or discover good-quality cultivars as well as regular-yielding cultivars. Sainarong ----------------------------------- Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 13:43:34 -0800 To: exoticfruit@95net.com, Jgilbert@hq.tcfarm.com, leom@rarefruit.com From: Nan Sterman Subject: Hardy Kiwi Jam Recipe Wanted Hi y'all! I've had a request from National Gardening Mag for a recipe for Hardy Kiwi Jam. Seems that a reader asked for a recipe in response to the article I wrote for their last issue. Do you have one? Know anyone who does? Thanks! Nan ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 01:51:23 -0800 From: Darryl Clark To: Ed Subject: Why bitter stevia? Hello Ed: I have been growing Stevia in pots for Two years now. I actually like the taste. It works well for me as part of tea blends. I have read that the sweetness is due to a protein, not a carbohydrate, and thus some people may be much more sensitive to the active components than others. These persons will experience bitterness at much lower concentrations of stevia than others. On the other hand, extremely intense sweetness is normally perceived as bitterness and it is easy to use too much of this herb. What kind of growing conditions do you have? It sounds like your plants are really happy. I live in zone 7 and keep them inside in the winter. The plants seem most happy when neglected, I have to intentionally refraim from watering them too much, though I suspect a little higher humidity would help. Take care, Darryl Clark ------------------------------- Date: Tue, 02 Mar 1999 19:05:31 -0800 From: Gary To: leom@rarefruit.com Subject: Re: Planting atemoya, cherimoya, sugar apple, Ilama,.... Leo, I'm getting the Ilama from Garden of Delights, www.GardenOfDelights.com. I'm also getting some of the plants from Frankie's Nursery in Hawaii, (808) 259-8737 and lastly CA Tropical Fruit Trees has some unusual fruit trees that I'll be getting. They are on the internet. The trees will be in 2 groups, so I'll have 2 frames. Gary Leo Manuel wrote: Gary, where will you get your plants? Especially, the Ilama? It would be great to plant a tree instead of waiting for a seed to produce a tree. Are you going to plant all of those trees in the same general area, so the wooden frame and plastic will service all of them? Regards, Leo ------------------------------- Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 20:54:50 +0000 From: Leo Manuel To: Readers of RFNO Subject: Mamey - linked to Florida typhoid - is full of e coli By Jane Sutton MIAMI (Reuters) - Samples of the tropical mamey fruit suspected of causing a typhoid fever outbreak in Florida are so full of another disease-causing bacteria, E coli, that scientists are having trouble testing for the one that causes typhoid, a state official said Wednesday. Both bacteria are spread by eating food contaminated with feces, health officials said. "This definitely means this product should not be eaten," Dr. Mary Jo Trepka of the Miami-Dade County Public Health Department said. Mamey is a tropical fruit with a pink or red pulp and is sometimes called zapote. It is popular among Hispanics and the frozen processed pulp is often used to make milk shakes. Eating products made with frozen mamey pulp was the only common link among 15 Miami-area residents hospitalized with typhoid fever from mid-December to early February. The link was so overwhelming that Florida banned the sale of all imported frozen mamey 10 days ago. The Department of Agriculture also warned consumers on Feb. 23 against eating El Sembrador brand of frozen mamey from Guatemala because it was suspected in the Florida outbreak. State scientists were still testing dozens of mamey pulp samples for Salmonella typhi, the bacteria that causes typhoid fever. But the samples were so full of E coli that they have so far been unable to determine whether Salmonella typhi is present, Terry McElroy, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture, said. He offered an analogy: "If you walked into a conference room and are looking for Mr. Jones and there are two or three people in there, you probably won't have a great deal of difficulty. But if there are 1,000 Mr. Smiths in the room and one Jones, you may have difficulty finding that one guy." Typhoid fever is marked by prolonged fever, abdominal cramps, and sometimes diarrhea and usually can be treated successfully with antibiotics. E coli infection is also marked by severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps and is the leading cause of kidney failure among children. Epidemiologists are certain of the typhoid diagnosis because Salmonella typhi was found in the victims, Trepka said. The added presence of E coli simply confirms that the processed fruit was contaminated with human or animal feces, she said. The ongoing Florida tests involve several brands of frozen mamey pulp from Guatemala and Honduras in addition to the El Sembrador brand, McElroy said. The sale of fresh mamey grown in Florida was not affected by the ban. The sale of fresh mamey fruit from Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic is already banned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture because of sanitation concerns. ------ From: Mario Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 20:59:53 EST Subject: Re: Mamey - linked to Florida typhoid - is full of e coli Leo: I'm not surprised with this find. Processing fruit in other countries is not monitored as it is in the US. Unfortunately the local Florida Mamey growers will suffer from this. Because some people will only read the headlines or the first couple of paragraphs. Only if you read the last paragraph of the article will you know that the fresh Florida fruit is not affected, in fact Florida Mameys are generally of much higher quality. There is no comparison between the frozen pulp, which can only be used for milk shakes and ice cream, and the fresh fruit. Mario ------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 05 Mar 1999 13:09:07 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda Subject: Re: Thai Mango: Pim Sang Mon or ... Leo I believe you are talking about 'Pim Sen Mun'. We Thais eat mangoes in 3 different ways, namely, ripe as you do, unripe but not sour, and unripe and sour in the form of salad. For different methods of eating, we generally use different cultivars. Pimsen is generally eaten unripe (and not sour), hence the suffix, 'Mun', which which refers to the particular taste of these unripe mangoes. Although I do not know a great deal about mangoes, it will not be hard for me to find information on the subject. BTW Thailand is hosting an Internationa Mango Symposium at Pattaya in this April. Many people are attending this. Sainarong ------------------------------- From: Adam Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 15:02:36 EST Subject: What mango variety for the desert? Leo, Which would be the most sucessful variety of mango for the desert ( Coachella Valley zone 13) I understand some one is growing them commercially here. And do you know a source for the purchase of a small tree? I have the Manilla variety now, and its ok, fruits a little small. Can I expect better? Thank you for your help, or anyone in the news letter who could comment. Adam ------------------------------- From: "Richard K. Gross" To: Lorinda Millar Subject: Frost protection Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 23:15:40 -0700 Lorinda Commercial Citrus growers around the world have protected their crops with air circulated with propellers positioned over the tree tops. It works quite well in mild, short duration freezes above about 27 Fahrenheit. You don't have to put them that high. Try industrial type shop fans, the kind on a stick. Plant your most sensitive varieties so that you can strategically direct the air in the most concentrated area using the least amount of electricity to do the job. Have someone with electrical knowledge install sensors to turn the fans on when the temperature reaches a critical point. Misting and flooding alone or in conjunction with air are reasonably effective but never flood species that are sensitive to cold wet feet; they will Succumb from root rot before the ground dries out. Flood lights, infrared lamps, Christmas tree lights all help in specific places. Sometimes there ain't nuthin you can do but cuss the elements.. Regards, Dick Gross, Phoenix, Arizona. ------------------------------- Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 20:57:28 -0800 (PST) From: ucmaster gardeners Subject: Giant whitefly predatory insects - None available Leo, There are no predatory insects for sale or otherwise available. The University of California is working on the problem and has released some predatory insects on an experimental basis. We do not recommend spraying with any insecticides, incl. neem oil, as this would probably hurt the predatory insects. In the mean time we suggest hosing off the whiteflies or destroying them manually. Thanks for calling us. Herb for UC Master Gardeners ------------------------------- Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1999 21:49:23 -0500 Reply-to: zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Hardy Bananas - Webpage From: "JeffreyP" Anyone interested in growing Hardy Bananas please visit my website. I also have a couple links I've found for plant sources. http://w3.nai/net/~jeffrey Cheerio... Jeff -------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 16:39:51 -0800 From: tina siegel Subject: Cocao Seeds and Plants Available at Frankie's Nursery Leo: Frankie`s Nursery in Hawaii has cocoa seeds and plants for sale. I`ve received both from them without any problem. The plants are $7.50 for a one gallon size. I`m not sure about the price of the seeds, but I think it was something like $3.00. The plants need high humidity and pure salt-free water or the leaves will burn and look real ugly! Tina ------------------------------- From: Doug Jones Subject: Still Needing Advice For Black-Tipped Leaves-Mangoes Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 21:53:01 -0700 Leo, you asked for more information about me..... I live in Mesa, Arizona (near Phoenix) on 1.3 acres of prime irrigated farmland. I have over 300 trees planted on the lot - mostly the standard things such as apples, peaches, pears, citrus, etc.. I am trying to get things going in the rarefruit area, and was doing pretty good untill my shed and greenhouse burned down. I lost 30+ mango trees, plus lychee, wax jambu, papaya, pineapples, sapote, avacado, etc.. The only thing that survived were the banana corms underground. I will be rebuilding the greenhouse after the shed/garage is completed, and plan on filling it up with mostly mangoes ,bananas, and papayas. I still have a few mangoes around the main house, but they are not doing so well. They survived the winter ok, but they have blackened tips and little if any growth flush. Any ideas as to what causes the blackened tips? Anybody out there growing in such extreme temperatures as Phoenix? We hit 20 degrees a few days, and may hit 120 during the summer!! Hope to hear from you with some mango info. Thanks, Doug ------------------Announcements And Web Pages To Consider------------------ Bruce Livingston's Page - http://www.gate.net/~santol/index.html Lots of information and links to places you want to know about! ------------------- JACKFRUIT http://www.jnlk.com/mikeb/jackfruit_facts.htm Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. Moraceae Common Names: Jackfruit, Jakfruit, Jaca, Nangka. Related Species: Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), Breadnut (A. altilis 'Seminifera'), Champedak (A. integer), Lakoocha (A. lakoocha), Marang (A. odoratissimus). Distant affinity: Figs (Ficus spp.), Mulberries (Morus spp.), African Breadfruit (Treculia african). Origin: The jackfruit is believed indigenous to the rain forests of the Western Ghats of India. It spread early on to other parts of India, southeast Asia, the East Indies and ultimately the Philippines. It is often planted in central and eastern Africa and is fairly popular in Brazil and Surinam. Adaptation: Jackfruit is adapted to humid tropical and near-tropical climates. Mature trees have survived temperatures of about 27° F in southern Florida, but these were frozen to large limbs. Young trees are likely to be killed at temperatures below 32° F. Unlike its relative, the breadfruit, the jackfruit is not injured by cool weather several degrees above freezing. There are only a dozen or so bearing jackfruit trees today in southern Florida, and these are valued mainly as curiosities. There are also several trees planted in the Asian exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. What they will do or how high they will grow remains a question. The tree is too large to make a suitable container-grown plant. DESCRIPTION Growth Habit: The jackfruit tree is handsome and stately. In the tropics it grows to an enormous size, like a large eastern oak. In California it is very doubtful that it would ever approach this size. All parts contain a sticky, white latex. Foliage: The leaves are oblong, oval, or elliptic in form, 4 to 6 inches in length, leathery, glossy, and deep green in color. Juvenile leaves are lobed. Flowers: Male and female flowers are borne in separate flower-heads. Male flower-heads are on new wood among the leaves or above the female. They are swollen, oblong, from an inch to four inches long and up to an inch wide at the widest part. They are pale green at first, then darken. When mature the head is covered with yellow pollen that falls rapidly after flowering. The female heads appear on short, stout twigs that emerge from the trunk and large branches, or even from the soil-covered base of very old trees. They look like the male heads but without pollen, and soon begins to swell. The stalks of both male and female flower-heads are encircled by a small green ring. Fruit: Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, reaching 80 pounds in weight and up to 36 inches long and 20 inches in diameter. The exterior of the compound fruit is green or yellow when ripe. The interior consists of large edible bulbs of yellow, banana-flavored flesh that encloses a smooth, oval, light-brown seed. The seed is 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long and 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick and is white and crisp within. There may be 100 or up to 500 seeds in a single fruit, which are viable for no more than three or four days. When fully ripe, the unopened jackfruit emits a strong disagreeable odor, resembling that of decayed onions, while the pulp of the opened fruit smells of pineapple and banana. There are two main varieties. In one, the fruits have small, fibrous, soft, mushy, but very sweet carpels with a texture somewhat akin to a raw oysters. The other variety is crisp and almost crunchy though not quite as sweet. This form is the more important commercially and is more palatable to western tastes. CULTURE Location: The jackfruit tree should have a well-drained, frost-free location that is sunny and warm. Soil: The jackfruit flourishes in rich, deep soil of medium or open texture. Planting on top of an old compost heap would be ideal. The faster one can force a tropical plant to grow, the better the chance of keeping it alive. The tree needs the best drainage and cannot tolerate "wet feet". Irrigation: The tree will not tolerate drought. Water frequently during warm months and warm periods in cooler months. Less water is necessary during colder weather. Fertilization: The jackfruit's requirements are not known, but frequent, weak solutions of all-purpose fertilizer will speed the plant's growth without causing burn. In the regions where it is commonly grown, it succeeds without much care from man, the sole necessity being abundant moisture. Frost protection: Although mature jackfruit trees will take several degrees of frost, it is prudent to provide young plants with overhead protection if possible and plant them on the south side of a wall or building. Small plants should be given complete protection with a covering on cold nights and even a light bulb if possible. Propagation:Propagation is usually by seeds, which can be kept no longer than a month before planting. Germination requires 3 to 8 weeks. The seedlings should be moved when no more than 4 leaves have appeared. A more advanced seedling, with its long and delicate tap root is very difficult to transplant successfully. Cutting-grown plants and grafted seedlings are possible. Air-layering is common in India. Pruning: Little or no pruning is required other than to remove any dead branches from the interior of the tree, so that sufficient light is obtained for the developing fruit. Pests and diseases: A variety of pests and diseases afflict the jackfruit tree and fruit regions where it is commonly grown. In California the white fly is a minor pest. Harvest: Jackfruits mature 3 to 8 months from flowering. When mature, there is usually a change of fruit color from light green to yellow-brown. Spines, closely spaced, yield to moderate pressure, and there is a dull, hollow sound when the fruit is tapped. After ripening, they turn brown and deteriorate rather quickly. Cold storage trials indicate that ripe fruits can be kept for 3 to 6 weeks at 52° to 55° F and relative humidity of 85% to 95%. Immature fruit is boiled, fried, or roasted. Chunks are cooked in lightly salted water until tender and then served. The only handicap is copious gummy latex which accumulates on utensils and hands unless they are first rubbed with cooking oil. The seeds can also be boiled or roasted and eaten similar to chestnuts. In Southeast Asia dried slices of unripe jackfruit are sold in the markets. The ripe bulbs, fermented and then distilled, produce a potent liquor. -----list zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com------- To: Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 19:56:34 -0500 From: "Raymond Gerlach" Hello Frigid Cindy, You might want to try a super dwarf Novak. It gets as thick and clumping as a dwarf cavendish but stays shorter in stature. It has a very tropical look to it and does not seem to be as susceptible to red spider mites as some of the thinner leafed varieties. Another type that I have good luck with is a green Macaboo. It gets tall but is very thick and the mites leave it alone too. What part of the frozen tundra do you hale from? There are several varieties of nanas that can take some hard hits of cold weather and still survive. Musa basjou, Musa lasiocarpa, and Musa Hookerii are candidates. Ray in KY. -----Original Message----- From: Cindy & Bud Now I would like to get a banana that will only be outdoors for a few months each year (if it is a good idea to put it out at all, since it will be adapted to indoors). Dwarf Cavendish and Raja Puri seem to be likely candidates for a house banana. Which will do best with indoor conditions? Also I see places where I can purchase a 3' plant, but I am wondering if the shock of arriving in my house from Florida or wherever might be less if I just start with a corm. Any thoughts? Thanks! Cindy in the Frozen North ----------------- Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 19:12:27 +0200 Delivered-To: mailing list zingiber@onelist.com Subject: Re: ginger from the supermarked From: "Nicho Stamatis" Cindy, the ginger you buy in the supermarket is Zingiber officinale. It looks very much like a reed- thin grassy stems and it makes a light pink cone from the ground. Makes a big clump and will go dormant in the dry season or if the air gets very cold for extended periods of time. Quite pretty plant and easy to grow. George Stamatis South Africa -----Original Message----- From: Cindy & Bud What species is the ginger you buy in the supermarket, and does it produce a nice plant if sprouted? Has anyone done that? Also thanks so much to everyone who wrote about sources for bananas. It's much appreciated! Cindy in the deep freeze ------------------NAFEX List ------------------ None this time -------Discussion list for New Crops------- Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 12:29:56 +0800 From: David Noel Subject: Bird Damage to Nut/Fruit Crops -- Here in Australia we continue to find bird damage to nut and fruit crops to be a continuing problem. There are solutions to such problems but most of those we know about to date are either expensive, high-labour, or of temporary effect. -- I would really like to hear from people who have had notable success with methods which are cheap, low-labour, and permanent, also from those with ideas which are innovative but not proven. -- If all respondants would be kind enough to include the words 'Bird Damage' in their message subject, this will enable anyone to retrieve all relevant messages from the New Crops archive, http://bluestem.hort.purdue.edu/newcroplistserv/Search.html. -- To give some structure to responses and suggestions, perhaps responses could be 'tagged' with an approach type, eg DETER, EXCLUDE, DIVERT, or as appropriate, for example 'Bird Damage: Deter'. 1. DETER. This includes all methods to discourage birds from attacking tree crops, such as noise or distress-call or electronic pattern broadcasting, shooting, trapping, and installing paired electrified wires (the latter has had some success locally). Most users of such methods comment that unless birds are physically hurt in some way, these methods are only temporary in effect (the birds get used to the disturbance). Shooting and noisy methods may be unacceptable or illegal in populated areas. Killing native birds may also be illegal, and trapping and release elsewhere ineffective. Running predator birds (hawks, falcons) is also said to be effective but training and control very expensive. 2. EXCLUDE. Typically net individual trees or the entire area of cropping trees. Can be effective if 100% enclosure (small birds are adept at finding small holes), but expensive, and quite difficult and high-labour to temporarily-net large trees during harvest season. Hence in Australia mostly used only for high-value, lower crops such as table grapes and cherries. Also, exclusion methods may also exclude beneficial effects of birds, eg clearing off caterpillars or other pests, aerial spreading of bird manure, or even pollination. 3. DIVERT. Diversion crops have been suggested, eg planting sorghum near almond crops to come ripe at the same time, with birds said to prefer the sorghum and leave the almonds alone. Any hard evidence on this approach would be welcome. 4. OTHER. Are there other approaches, especially ones giving a subtle twist to ecological conditions, which are effective or worth investigating? Any ideas welcome. From David Noel, Tree Crops Centre, Web Sites: http://www.AOI.com.au Granny Smith's Bookshop, , >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - March 15, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - April 1, 1999 - AKA RFN9904A.txt Rare Fruit News Online is primarily a collection of letters from you, the readers. I edit all submissions, sometimes in a very minor way. If you find errors of spelling, grammar, or facts, please let me know. These newsletters go out later to new subscribers and you will be doing them a favor. Please do feel free to write with questions you want to pose to the 300 other reader/growers around the world. Several of them will very likely be able to help. Also, feel free to write directly to individual readers, but I would appreciate a CC or BCC, so I can publish both your question and the answers that follow. Also, write to tell the rest of us about plant nurseries, or horticulture web pages that you think we will want to know about. Paul Thomson's Edgehill property listing notice with Paul Lucas Realty is near the end of this issue. Readers, there are not a lot of things I can do with a pure ascii text document, as this newsletter has to be, in order for everyone to be able to read it. I can and have modified spacing, in an attempt to make it easier to read. If you think of additional changes to suggest, or want to comment about what I have done, I'd like to hear. However, I'm not ready to abandon the pure ascii text format. I have tried to make e-mail addresses "hot" so that you can click on them to send an e-mail to the writer, rather than copy the address into an e-mail application. Does that work for you? --Notes In Passing RFCI is raising money selling clippers, loppers, and collector-item mugs. I ordered clippers and like them very much, but didn't need loppers. Maurice Kong has a collection of "Rare and Unusual Fruit and Flowering Trees..." that I will send more information about, when I get the revised copy back from Maurice. Reminder: Quang Ong's Rare Fruit Nursery - Unofficial Web Page http://www.homestead.com/rarefruit/QuangOng.html --New Subscribers New Subscriber, FL, Wants Soursop Information Mary King New Subscribers, FL, Grow (almost) Everything! Mike & Nelly New Subscriber, Canada: Trouble Sprouting Tropical Seeds Dustin Ellsworth New Subscriber, CA: Where To Buy Rare Fruit Trees Near S.F.? Will Sears New Subscriber, Vista, CA Muriel L de Koning --Readers Write Jackfruit Page Came From CRFG Fruit Fact Web Page! "Matt Heffron" Need Fruit Tree To Hide Neighbor's Yard, Plus.... Mark Presky Re: Need Fruit Tree To Hide Neighbor's Yard From: Leo Suggestions for Mark Presky (Hiding Neighbor's Yard) Sven Mergen Re: Mango for the desert "Holzinger, Bob" Bird Deterrent Eunice Messner Desert mango Eunice Messner Growing Cherimoyas in San Jose? Jim Cramer Blackened mango leaf tips Eunice Messner Thailand Papayas Eunice Messner What To Plant To Hide A Neighbor's Yard? Mark Presky Jac fruit facts Peggy Winter --Announcements and Web Sites To Consider Corrected Web Page Address: http://w3.nai.net/~jeffrey "JeffreyP" The Banana Tree - Not Just For Bananas! http://www.banana-tree.com/ Bananas In Vitro - http://www.tropbio.com.my/TRbanana.html TropBio Research TropBio Bananas Malaysia How are tropical fruits commercially propagated? http://www.rooting-hormones.com/discuss.htm#propagating citrus --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) Sprout Banana Seeds - How to? Re: Sprout Banana Seeds - How to? Clarence Hester wrote: Re: Sprout Banana Seeds - How to? "Raymond Gerlach" Re: Sprout Banana Seeds - How to? "JeffreyP" Re: Sprout Banana Seeds - How to? Jack Honeycutt Banana Page: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/index.htm Paul Spracklin Ensete, Musa and Musella: an annotated list of species. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/index.htm --NAFEX List Subject: Paul Thomson's Edgehill Property Listing - Paul Lucas Realty "Lon J. Rombough" Chemical root pruning Gene Spears RE: Chemical root pruning (G. Spears) Joel Kroin --From NEWCROPS List Re: Bird Damage to Nut/Fruit Crops - Deter? (Use Dangling CDs!) Leo Manuel ------------------Leo's Notes------------------- RFCI is raising money selling clippers, loppers, and collector-item mugs. I bought clippers and like them very much, but didn't need loppers. There will be more information soon, in case you want to order from them. Maurice Kong has a collection of "Rare and Unusual Fruit and Flowering Trees...." I will send more information, when I get the revised copy back from Maurice, probably very soon. ----------------New Subscribers------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Wants Soursop Information Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 09:53:44 -0500 From: Mary King Hi, I am Mary King, now living in Venice, Florida I have recently moved to Florida from Pennsylvania and know very little about tropical fruit trees. I would like to know if anyone has information on Soursop, and ways to use the fruit. Thank you and I am looking forward to receiving your newsletter. Mary ------------------------------- Subject: New Subscribers, FL, Grow (almost) Everything! Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 21:57:40 EST From: Mike & Nelly We are Michael And Nelly Carufe plus 14 year old Michael Jr and 12 year old Anna and four year old Tiwi our blue and gold macaw. We live in Naples Fla. and have 2.5 acres of "Rare Fruit trees". Many varieties of citrus, about a six varieties of Lychees i.e. Brewster, Bengal, Ohia, Hak Ip, Mauritius, and Sweet Cliff. Several varieties of Mangoes including Kent, Tommy Atkins Nam Doc Mai and others. Several varieties of Annonas, star fruits, mamey Sapotes. White sapotes, yellow passion vines that bear very shyly, Avocadoes, Canistel, and Jaboticabas. I like to make wine with excess fruit. I have made longan, Jaboticaba and star fruit wines. Lots of other trees not bearing yet. I have been in this house since '91. First thing I did was to plant fruit trees even before I finished building the house! The Citrus trees did well but the first Lychee tree I planted is about the same size as the ones I planted out within the last couple of years. I suppose they need water when they are young. All Mango cultivars are in bloom and we are hoping for a bountiful summer crop. Tommy Atkins (which is not our favorite is always reliable with the least bit of effort.) This year we are hoping to taste some of the others listed including Kent which is one of my favorites and Nam Doc Mai. I have a Day avocado that has proven most reliable. It bears abundantly in mid to late summer. Jaboticabas do very well in this area. I have two that bear every year at least twice. They are completely covered in fruit at this time. They are amazing examples of cualifloria. They make a wonderful wine. I only have one Longan (kohala) that is flowering. I have other fruits that are in flower now also. If I can answer any questions about fruit crops in this area, I would be more than happy to. Pomologically Yours, Mike ------------------------------ From: Dustin Ellsworth Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 12:40:23 Subject: New Subscriber, Canada: Trouble Sprouting Tropical Seeds My name is Dustin Ellsworth. I live in the city of Edmonton which is in the province of Alberta in Canada. Please send the newsletter to rapstarD@hotmail.com. Currently I am attempting to grow flowering banana, papaya, monkey pod rainforest tree, and Adansonia digitata. I hope to also start other varieties including guava, breadfruit and starfruit. If anyone could answer questions on germinating tropical seeds I would be grateful as I have not had a great deal of success. thanks, Dustin Ellsworth ---------------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber, CA: Where To Buy Rare Fruit Trees Near S.F.? From: Will Sears Date: Mon, 22 March, 1999 I am Will Sears in San Leandro (near Oakland) California. The trees (tubers, and large herbaceous plants) I am now growing: Hass, Bacon avocado; raja puri, mysore, orinoco banana; Mexican papaya, babaco; Coffea arabica. also: taro, malanga, kiwano Trees I'd like to grow: cherimoya, paw paw, tamarillo, pepino dulce, carambola Does anyone know where I can purchase rare fruit trees in the San Francisco Bay Area? Will ---------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 16:48:58 -0800 Subject: New Subscriber, Vista, CA From: Muriel L de Koning Hi, My name is Muriel deKoning and live with my husband in Vista, Ca We are currently growing a variey of rare tropical fruit trees . I understand through you I can be on the rare fruit news online. Please get us on as we love what we are doing. Thanks Anxiously awaiting your reply Muriel -----------------Readers Write------------------ From: "Matt Heffron" Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 11:09:27 -0800 Subject: Jackfruit Page Came From CRFG Fruit Fact Web Page! The Jackfruit page you listed in the last RFN appears to be just most of a COPY of the CRFG Jackfruit Fruit Facts web page. http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/jackfruit.html Matt Heffron CRFG Webmaster ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:46:10 -0800 From: Mark Presky Subject: Need Fruit Tree To Hide Neighbor's Yard, Plus.... Leo, I hope that one of the other recipients of your newsletter might be able to help me with a needed suggestion. I live very near Santa Monica, CA, about 2 miles from the coast. I have several citrus and a loquat already, but need one more semi-dwarf (10-12 ft) evergreen fruit tree, to furnish me with more fruit, and to hide a neighbor's yard. Any ideas? Thanks. Mark Presky, markpresky@att.net ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 11:50:35 -0800 To: Mark Presky Subject: Re: Need Fruit Tree To Hide Neighbor's Yard Mark, I'm sure there are plenty of possibilities. One rugged plant (for soil types) is Pitanga, and you can plant a hedge spaced rather closely - then remove some middle ones later, if you choose. They can be pruned to grow mostly outwards and toward each other. I'll publish your question. Leo ------------------------------- Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:46:10 -0800 From: Mark Presky Subject: Re: Need Fruit Tree To Hide Neighbor's Yard, Plus.... Leo, Thank you. Funny you mentioned Pitanga; not knowing the latin, I was thinking the other day about using Surinam Cherry. I may go for that suggestion, although I'm going to wait to see what other suggestions come down the pike. Where I'm going to use it, it will be a stand-alone, near a blueberry. Something bushy will work well. Does Pitanga grow out? I've read that it grows, unchecked, to 15 feet. By the way, can you suggest sources for Pitanga? I called a couple of nurseries, but they don't carry it. Thanks again. Mark Presky ------------------------------ From: Sven Mergen Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 08:00:34 -0800 Subject: Suggestions for Mark Presky (Hiding Neighbor's Yard) Hi Leo, I believe I bought mine from Mimosa nursery. It is in the LA area, but I'm not sure what city or what their number is. Laguna Hills nursery in Laguna Hills would probably carry it or be able to get it (949 area code). They usually have some nice large tropical fruit trees. JD Anderson lists 1 and 5 gallon Surinam cherries: http://www.pe.net/~maxson/jdafr.htm. That is about all I can find in California, but it is a fairly common plant and I'm sure many more nurseries carry it. I have a bunch of small seedlings if he is interested. I think they grow fairly quickly. He might check with some of the nurseries listed at http://www.crfg.org/nurlist.html. I'm sure some of them carry pitanga or can point him in the right direction. Here are some additional suggestions for plants that Mark might consider: A longan would probably work well. They are dense and evergreen, but they will get large eventually. Guavas would make a nice hedge, but they do loose a fair amount of leaves in the winter. There was a strawberry tree near the house I grew up in that had been pruned into a 10 foot hedge which was dense and I think evergreen. We use to throw the fruit at each other not realizing they were edible. Jaboticaba is slow growing and will stay small. They loose some leaves, but would probably make a good block. Pineapple guava would also work well. That is all I can think of right now. You might want to ask Roger Meyer, he is pretty busy but he might have some good suggestions. Sven ------------------------------ From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Adam Subject: Mango for the desert Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:39:59 -0800 Hi Adam, The last issue of Fruit Gardener had an article on the mango planting in the Coachella Valley. From their experiments it appears that Keitt is the variety of choice in that area. Since Keitt is a great mango I would suggest that you start with it and then try others when you feel like experimenting. If you can't find a Keitt at sources closer to you, then get in contact with Tim Thompson in Camarillo, he should have one for sure. Best of luck, Bob Holzinger ------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 20:47:09 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Bird Deterrent To: David Noel David Noel... I have found "Birdscare Flash Tape' very effective. It comes in 1/2"(12mm) wide and 290'(90M) long roll It is a silver and red metalized tape made of recyclable polyethylene. It is made in Japan. "Birdscare Flash Tape works by reflecting sun light. When applied in a spiral with the bright red and silver coated sides alternating, any movement of the wind will cause the tape to flash brilliantly. This flashing seems to signal danger to the birds. They may associate it with fire. It has been very effective in repelling birds, especially flock birds, in a wide variety of crop and garden applications. For best results put the tape up just before the crop starts to ripen so the birds don't become accustomed to its presence over a period of time. Remove it just as soon as the crop is harvested." A friend with acreage uses it over the tops of his trees. For the home garden I cut it into 18" lengths and loosely tie it to a branch; very much like decorating a Christmas tree. It can be used in many other situations. The source is: Modern Agri-Products (206) 354-8884 FAX 206 354-8885; 322 Main Street, Lynden, WA 98264 Eunice Messner ------------------------------- Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 12:58:58 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Desert mango To: Adam Adam... The large, green-skinned 'Keitt' is the commercial mango being grown near Salton Sea. Since green-skinned mangos don't have eye appeal, I understand they are looking for a more colorful one. Go to www.CRFG.org/CRFG Fruit List for a list of nurseries that have mangos. Regarding your Manila mango. There are at least two different types; one from Mexico and the other from the Phillipines. Of all the mangos I grow, the one from Mexico is my least favorite. It is a huge seedling tree and if even some of the blossoms on it set, I will have an enormous crop. BUT, the Manila mango seed Paul Thomson brought back from Mexico and fruited is a winner. Clones from that tree are now commercially available. A favorite of mine for flavor. It is called 'Thomson'. If you are planting a lot, I know of a source for the vigorous Puerto Rican rootstock that is used commercially. Best wishes, Eunice Messner [Note: My understanding is that Paul brought a Manila-like mango in from Mexico, but that he did not know if the parent tree was Manila. So, whether the 'Thomson' is Manila or not, I concur that the tree is prolific-tends to over bear and requires thinning, and the fruit is quite good. Leo] ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 06:19:09 +0000 Subject: Growing Cherimoyas in San Jose? From: Jim Cramer I am Jim Cramer in San Jose, Ca. I would like to grow Cherimoyas. What varieties of cherimoyas successfully grow in the Santa Clara Valley or areas with similar climate and soil conditions? I plan on planting two trees on the west facing side of my house and will be providing temperature protection during the winter months. From the literature the following varieties appear to be what I am looking for: Libby----- late Sept, early Oct Ott--------Jan-April, high sugar, 26% Sabor----- Best flavor per crfg, does not need hand pollination Orton-----Late ripening, good fruit quality. Please provide information on these varieties and any other recommendations for my area? Thank you very much. Jim Cramer ------------------------------- Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 09:32:43 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Blackened mango leaf tips To: Doug Jones Doug Jones... Sure sorry to hear about the loss of your fruit trees, greenhouse and shed; but, glad you are not a quitter and are starting over again. I didn't answer your questions about blackened tips on your mangos because I had the same, but worse, problem. All 25 of my newly grafted mangos, in pots, developed black tips and then died. DEAD. I was talking with Dr. Greg Partida today from Cal Poly Pomona. Because of the Orange County Chapter's rare fruit planting at Cal Poly he has become very interested in mangos. In fact, he went to Florida and took a short course. It was there he learned what had caused the death of 75% of his mangos in containers. It started with blackened tips as mine did. They say it is a bacteria and no cure known as yet. They have used every known chemical. Since your trees are not dying, your problem may be water or soil oriented. Blackened tips usually indicate either a build of salts due to poor drainage or the water itself (are you using Colorado River water?). Surely in Arizona you have good drainage which is a main requirement of mangos. Do you have ample top mulch to encourage the pathogen fighting ability of micro-organisms? It is really frustrating to fight an unknown enemy, but it has to mean something is out-of-balance, i.e.; lack of organic material in the soil (burnt out by chemical?); too much tilling which destroys beneficial fungi (mycorrhiza); or no soil cover (mulch or cover crop). I hope you stumble on to an answer to your problem. Warm regards, Eunice Messner -------------------------------- Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 17:09:32 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Thailand Papayas Leo... Originally I had three papaya trees from Thailand seed. One had the characteristic elongated, Thai shape, but the flavor was nothing special. I eventually removed it. The other two bore roundish fruit up to 4#'s; one with yellow flesh, the other red. Both had perfect flowers and branched out like a tree, but still grew very tall. I would top them periodically. One lasted 10 years, but in the meantime I grew several other types of papayas so there may have been some intermingling. One never knows now if it will be yellow or red fleshed or which sex, but the very exotic flavor is usually there. I have contributed their seed to our Seed Bank over the years and still grow a few plants. If it were only a shorter tree, one would never look further for a perfect papaya. I also introduced the dwarf Taiwanese (red) papaya. The fruit was quite large and very good, but not as good as the Thailand. I no longer grow it. Re propagation: Papayas are very fussy about drainage, whether in a pot or in the ground. The planting medium is crucial to success. It needs to be light weight, preferably a mixture of sphagnum peat moss, perlite or pumice, a wetting agent and starter nutrients (the ingredients of "RediEarth", my favorite commercial mix but now very hard to find). The sphagnum peat moss deters plants from dying of "damp-off" a fungus causing plants to die at the soil level. If you are making your own planting mix, add a liquid such as "Water In" to moisten the peat moss and some home-made compost or earthworm castings as starter nutrients. Pumice doesn't float to the top like perlite, but may be harder to find. I have had marvelous success with plastic planting tubes, either the 1 1/2"x5" or 1 1/2"x7" from Stuewe and Sons*. I use the shorter ones mostly for vegetables and the longer ones for small fruit tree seeds. These fit into a 12"x24" plastic tray with 98 spaces. Why do these small-sized diameter tubes work better than a larger container? I surmise the roots get more oxygen since they reach the side of the container sooner and there is less soggy soil around the roots. I either grow them under florescent lights or in a very easy to construct Styrofoam box designed to hold this one tray. It uses only a 25 watt bulb. Be happy to send directions for making this box, if desired. Also see Aug. '92 article on propagation in the "Fruit Gardener" magazine. Unless you have a green house, time your seed planting so you do not have to hold the plants over winter in a pot. Seeds planted now can be transplanted to the ground this fall. If you have gophers, plant in a chicken wire cage. Also remember this is a plant without root hairs so it will really respond to mycoorhiza sprinkled in the seed mix or on the roots at transplant time. For growing in the ground, again, drainage is the key. If you don't have a slope, plant on a mound. Use as much home-made compost or worm-castings as you can spare, also a mulch on top. You could, of course, plant the seeds directly into the ground in late April, maybe 3 in a hole every 3 feet. Place a plastic milk bottle (with the bottom cut off, of course) over the seeds to protect them. When it becomes evident whether you have a male or female plant, cull out all the males except one. Small male flowers appear on long appendages; larger female or perfect flowers blossoms appear next to the trunk of the tree. However, sometimes even male plants will have a single female blossom on the end of the flowering scape (?), though the fruit may be of a different shape. Remember, chemical fertilizers are antagonistic to the microorganisms in the soil. So for optimum health, use organics and keep the microorganisms happy by using a surface mulch. Enjoy your fruits beginning in April - usually one year after planting. They will get progressively sweeter as the weather warms up. Eunice Messner *Stuewe & Sons, Inc. 2290 S.E. Kiger Island Drive, Corvallis, OR 97333. Toll free 1 800 533-5331 ---------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 06:16:29 -0800 From: peggy winter Subject: Jac fruit "facts" I read your last newsletter. Lots of interesting stuff, and I e-mailed the New Zealander to give him Phil Gardner's e-mail address. On the subject of jac fruit, someone's behind on their Florida facts. The Fruit and Spice Park has a marvelous collection, at least 20 varieties and all large enough to be producing. On almost every day you'll find cut up jac fruit to taste in their office. I have two small jac fruit trees. They're living outside without the help of heat or anything and one is nearly through it's second winter. The grafted variety lost it's graft during the winter, but it wasn't planted until late September when the weather was turning cold. I had to cut back all the leaves in transplanting. I will try again in early summer and I'm sure I'll have good grafted varieties surviving next winter. Thanks, Peggy ------------------Announcements And Web Pages To Consider------------------ Subject: Corrected Web Page Address: http://w3.nai.net/~jeffrey Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 14:30:37 -0500 My web site is included in your newsletter, and it's not listed correctly.. My name is Jeff Picazio, and the correct URL is http://w3.nai.net/~jeffrey If you could make the correction I'd appreciate it... Jeff ----------------------- Subject: The Banana Tree - Not Just For Bananas! Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 06:08:48 +0000 http://www.banana-tree.com/ [I'm passing this information along, without recommendation, as I haven't ordered from them. Have you? Leo] The Banana Tree; The premier source for rare, tropical and exotic plants, seeds and bulbs. Welcome to the Banana Tree's On-line Catalog. At long last we have responded to the request of our customers, and taken this beautiful catalog to the World Wide Web. After 40 years in business, our old-fashioned style has "hit the highway". We hope you enjoy your visit. Heliconia Seeds Gingers Cycads Cactus and Succulents Protea Herbs Books 715 Northampton St. Easton, PA 18042 Phone: (610) 253-9589 Fax: (610) 253-4864 ------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 17:32:10 -0800 Subject: How are tropical fruits commercially propagated? http://www.rooting-hormones.com/discuss.htm#propagating citrus Moderators note: This discussion page has had several requests for information on the propagation of citrus and other tropical fruits. The following discussion was written by Dr. Manners who teaches plant science and citrus growing. Perhaps I can at least partially answer your question about rooting tropical fruit trees. Mango: To my knowledge, no one ever roots them from cuttings. Until relatively recently, even marcottage has been considered nearly impossible. In the magazine Tropical Fruit World, Vol. 1, No. 3, (July/August, 1990) is an article by Adriano Lambe, about work done at the University of Florida Tropical Research Center, by Roberto Nunez-Elisea and Tom Davenport, in which they successfully marcotted mangos, using a 2-3% NAA in lanolin paste, with good success. This is the only such case I'm aware of. Otherwise, mango seems always to be grafted to seedling rootstocks, or grown directly from seed. Carambola: Again, I've never heard of anyone successfully rooting cuttings. Marcots do work, but at a relatively low rate of success. Virtually all commercial trees are grafted or budded to seedling rootstocks. Mangosteen: To my knowledge, NO vegetative means of propagation has ever worked, for this fruit. That is most frustrating, since seedlings have a juvenile period of 10-20 years, before fruiting for the first time. A successful vegetative method would revolutionize mangosteen production! Papaya: These are easily rooted, but it's rather impractical, since the trees tend to have only one main trunk (like a palm) or at most a few branches, and individual stems are several inches in diameter. So the logistics of taking multiple cuttings of a plant without destroying the plant, are difficult to say the least. Nevertheless, papaya will root without difficulty, if you do take cuttings. I'm not aware of what, if any, plant growth regulators are used. Longan: Like its close relative, the lychee, longans are extraordinarily difficult (practically impossible) from cuttings. No method has ever yielded acceptable numbers of rooted plants. On the other hand, marcottage in early summer, with or without any growth regulator, is highly successful, and is the basis for propagating these fruits commercially, in Florida. We make our marcots in June. Using [dry powder rooting hormone] get nearly 100% success that way. I suspect that the trouble with cuttings, here, is the long time needed to root (3-4 months), and the consequent difficulty with keeping fungi from rotting the cutting during that period. Atemoya (hybrids of Annona cherimoya by A. squamosa): I've never heard of anyone trying to root these. Surely someone has, but it isn't even considered in Florida. They seem always to be grafted or budded to seedling atemoya or A. squamosa rootstocks. Even marcottage doesn't seem ever to be used in Florida. Well, those are the fruits with which I've had personal experience with propagation. By the way, the rose apple in your note had (name?) after it. It is Syzygium jambos. As far as I know, they are always grown from seed, as are all the Syzygiums and closely related Eugenias, genera which apparently have virtually no ability to produce adventitious roots. I hope this will be helpful. Please feel free to contact me if I can help further. The propagation of tropical fruits has always been fascinating to me, and I've worked quite a lot in that area, especially in grafting/budding methods. So many of the tropicals are frustrating because they are so resistant to successful rooting of cuttings. We need some success stories! Malcolm M. Manners, Ph.D., Chairman, Department of Citrus and Ornamental Horticulture Florida Southern College Lakeland, FL 33801-5698 -------list zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com--------- Subject: Sprout Banana Seeds - How to? Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 09:36:28 +0000 From: Leo Manuel I am being sent seeds of a non-edible banana with beautiful pink edible-looking fruit. I don't know the name, but I've never tried sprouting ornamental banana seeds. Does anyone know whether Gibberellic Acid is useful? If so, at what strength, etc.? It would also be helpful to know of websites with information regarding sprouting ornamental bananas. Thanks! Leo --------------------- Clarence Hester wrote: I've had really good success with Park's Ensete seeds. Usually at least two or three of the five germinate, generally within four weeks. I use a sharp knife blade to cut one or two relatively deep slits in the seed coat. This is *not* easy--the seeds are hard as a rock. It's really more of a "sawing into the seed" process than a mere nick. Then, I pour boiling water on the seeds and let them cool down a little. Finally, I put the seeds and the *very* warm water in a thermos jug and close tight, changing the water with hot water for three or four straight days. Then, I sow in 100% sand under a hot incandescent 150 watt grow bulb suspended over the seed tray. The heat generated could probably also come from bottom heat as well. I switched to sand rather than grow mix because the young roots, when they emerge, are somewhat brittle and this makes it easier to poke around and remove the seedling after sprouting. These are all rather extreme measures but they work. You can't "pussy foot" around with seeds this tough and hard. Abuse them and they will respond. Politely plant them in soil with no pretreatment and you'll be waiting forever. I'm convinced Park's sells a fresh product, or somehow keeps them fresh. I've never had a banana seed from any other catalog (e.g., T & M) germinate. Maybe that's just luck of the draw. Clarence Hester ---------------------------------- Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 23:45:10 -0500 Subject: Sprouting Banana Seeds From: "Raymond Gerlach" I have had good luck using a similar method to Clarence's. I soak the seeds for 3 to 4 days keeping them warm by sitting the glass on top of the water heater. This is followed by potting them in sterile seed starting soil in covered seed starting flats. The flats are then placed on top of a waterbed heater and the temperature is turned all of the way up. When the first leaves touch the top of the cover I use a spoon to remove the root ball and pot the lil fellow up. He goes under the grow lights or in a sunny window. I feel that the freshness of the seeds also helps. I bought seeds from the Banana Tree and had no luck with any of the varieties I purchased. Since then I have ordered from B and T seeds and Palme per Paket. Even though the seeds had to come from Europe, I have had a very good percentage of starts. I just received a confirmation letter from Palme per Paket today that my Ensete Superbum seeds are on their way. I'm hoping that these will be as faithful in sprouting. Ray in KY. -------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 22:55:12 -0500 Subject: [zingiber] Re: Sprout Banana Seeds - How to? From: "JeffreyP" Have you tried soaking the seeds in water for 24-36 hrs and then planting in warm soil? I suspect the results would be the same. Jeff http://www.the-banana.com -------------------------------------- From: Jack Honeycutt < mailto:jhoneycutt@uswest.net> Subject: Re: Sprout Banana Seeds - How to? I don't know anything about sprouting banana seeds. I can give you some background in sprouting some extremely hard water lily seeds though... Victoria water lily seeds are about the size of a pea. They are quite hard. Some folks like to scarify the seeds by filing down the outside membrane until the inside is visible. A very small opening is all that is necessary. Another approach we use is bleach. We soak seeds in a mix of warm water and 10% bleach for 3 minutes, then rinse with warm water. But like I said, I know nothing about banana seeds. I hope this helps. jack ---------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 17:05:45 +0000 Subject: Banana Page: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/index.htm From: Paul Spracklin Hi List. A chap I know has done a little digging about and research (well, a lot actually) and has tabulated his results as to accepted names, synonyms, pseudonyms etc. for Musa, Musella and Ensete. Good news is that it is on a website http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/index.htm He would be too modest to advertise it's existence, so I'm doing it for him. Worth a look. Regards Paul Spracklin Essex SS7 1LD England website - http://www.user.globalnet.co.uk/~exotic ---------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 12:54:58 +0000 Subject: Ensete, Musa and Musella: an annotated list of species. http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/index.htm Ensete, Musa and Musella: an annotated list of species. This annotated list is a personal attempt to resolve inconsistencies and ambiguities in nomenclature of the Musaceae encountered in various horticultural texts. The Musaceae has been exploited by man for food for millennia. It is probable that the banana was one of the first food plants to receive attention in the early stages of primitive agriculture. The family is also exploited in ornamental horticulture; as a source of garden and patio plants, indoor pot plants and as a source of cut flowers. I have provided a small number of links to other related Musaceae web sites and would be pleased to hear of others. Please e-mail me at drc@globalnet.co.uk David Constantine. --------------NAFEX List ---------------------- Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 09:32:56 -0800 Subject: Paul Thomson's Edgehill Property Listing - Paul Lucas Realty From: "Lon J. Rombough" Note: Paul Thomson is the founder of the California Rare Fruit Growers and the Edgehill Grove is in California. I don't know what all is in the grove, but odds are good it's a substantial fruit collection. Lon Rombough From: Paul Lucas Date: Thu, Mar 18, 1999, 6:50 AM I currently have the Edgehill Grove, developed by Paul Thomson, listed for sale. If you know of anyone interested in purchasing this property, please contact me. Thank you, Paul http://www.paullucas.com/ ------------------------------- From: Gene Spears "NAFEX List" Subject: Chemical root pruning Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 09:28:57 -0500 I've searched my old POMONA issues, but can't find an article on how to control root growth in container-grown seedlings. The author mixed a copper-based (?) compound with latex paint & coated the interior of his pots. This apparently worked very well to kill the root tips as they came in contact with the container, resulting in a compact root ball with no girdling. Can anyone direct me to the issue & page number? What was the chemical & in what concentrations? many thanks in advance, gene -------------------- From: Joel Kroin "NAFEX List" Subject: RE: Chemical root pruning (G. Spears) Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 21:02:31 -0500 Dear Gene There is a product called SpinOut manufactured by Griffin. it is quite expensive. We obtain ours from Hummert International (800-325-3055). If you want to make your own at much less price: purchase from a marine supply an anti-fowling latex paint which has a high concentration of copper salts. You can obtain this in small quantities. Then mix one part of this product with a low price ordinary latex paint at 1 part marine to 4 parts latex. The product is painted on the inside of plastic planting pails. The end result is that when the fibrous plant roots touch the copper they will break off thereby preventing the root from roots from swirling around the container wall. the effect is similar to air pruning the roots. There have been many trials using this paint in research centers during the past ten years. You might take a look at the Journal indexes for the American Society of Horticultural Science for articles. regards Joel Kroin ---Discussion list for New Crops --- Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 16:23:18 +0000 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Bird Damage to Nut/Fruit Crops - Deter? I suspended unwanted CD's around in my orchard last years, having heard that they scare off birds, and the practice seemed to work. It's not practical in a large orchard, but some of us get a lot of CDs in the mail that of no other use. Punching, drilling, or somehow getting a small hole near the outer rim (they may shatter!) and suspending them so they turn freely in the breeze and the reflected light seems to keep the birds away. Leo in San Diego >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - April 1, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online, April 15, 1999 aka RFN9904B.txt Please welcome the new subscribers. Many have questions and will welcome any leads. Remember how it is when you don't know where to look or exactly for what you want to look? If you know of web pages with pictures of rare fruit, or especially those with links to places which have information about rare fruit, or sources for plants, please let us know. ---------Table Of Contents - Headers --Notes In Passing #1 Web Page For Chinese Rare Fruit; Information Wanted #2 Several Rare Fruit Plant Sources --New Subscribers New Subscriber, FL Virginia Male New Subscriber, FL, Wants Longan Information Austin Dunk New Subscriber, AZ, wants to grow Pitanga, Pitomba,.... Bruce Jones New Subscriber, CA, Wants Suggestions For Desert Rare Fruit Suzanne Tobin New Customer, FL, Growing Guava, Mango, Sapodilla, .... Carole Cushnie New Subscriber, CA, Grows Mango, Cherimoya, Feijoa, .... Ron Base New Subscriber, CA, Cherimoya Grow In Far North? John Austin New Subscriber, Spain, Wants Pitaya Information Erik Strohmeyer New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Sarah --Readers Write Re: New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Leo Manuel To: Sarah Colby Re: New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Sarah Colby Re: New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Leo Manuel To: Sarah Colby Re: New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Sarah Colby RE: Will cherimoyas grow in the far north George Emerich To: jaustin@arcadianmgt.com RE: Soursop Mike Carufe To:Mary Doug Jones" Re-Introduction; Need Greenhouse Advice; Black Mango Twigs RE: Quang's BIG Clearance Sale Until 5/1/99 ONLY Buckner, Geoff --Announcements And Web Pages To Consider Green Scene Plant Sale-Fullerton Arbetum-CRFG Plants Also!! Sven Merten What Plants Will Be At Plant Sale? How To Find Out! Sven Merten Fruit Information From Maurice Kong's Listing Maurice Kong Want A Copy Of Edgehill Property Map? Sven Merten 1999 Festival of Fruit Glenn Young Co-Editor of the Fruit Gardener - Ronald W. Couch Glenn Young Re: Editor of the Fruit Gardener Robert D. Allen Re: Editor of the Fruit Gardener Jose Miguel Gallego Appointment Keith Harold as Treasurer of CRFG Glenn Young Re: Appointment of new treasurer Robert D. Allen Quang's BIG Clearance Sale Until 5/1/99 ONLY Leo Manuel --Discussion list for New Crops Sterculia Monosperma (China Chestnut) Information, Please Leo Manuel Re: Sterculia Monosperma (China Chestnut) Information, Please Robert Mowbray Re: Sterculia Monosperma (China Chestnut) Information, Please Dan Hemenway --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) Going Bananas Have A WebSite? Scott Re: Going Bananas Have A WebSite? Jack Honeycutt --NAFEX List None This Time ----------------------Notes In Passing----------------------- #1 Web Page For Chinese Rare Fruit; Information Wanted I'd like to find a web page with information on Chinese rare fruit, with English translation. Some of the most interesting fruit has originated there, and it would be helpful to see what is there. #2 Several Rare Fruit Plant Sources You will want to see the plant availability information mentioned in the "Announcements and Web Pages To Consider" section. Maurice Kong in Florida has a most unusual collection, and he provides information to whet your appetite. Be sure to contact him for complete details and price list. Sven Merten discusses the Fullerton Arboretum plant sale, and tells us how to find out what's there. Quang Ong's 30% or more reduction in prices in his collection in San Diego, but only until May 1. ----------------New Subscribers------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, FL Date: Sat, 03 Apr 1999 05:52:16 -0800 From: Virginia Male I am Virginia Male, living in Brooksville, Fl Now, I am growing Papaya, Sugar Apple, Star Fruit Virginia Male ------------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Wants Longan Information Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 21:54:34 -0500 From: Austin Dunk I am Austin Dunk, in Venice, FL Currently growing atemoya, grumichama, jakfruit, lychee, miraclefruit, mango, papaya, pineapple, and passionfruit. Interested in acquiring some longans. I think the electronic newsletter is an excellent idea and I look forward to gaining from it. Does anyone have experience with longan cultivars or give a recommendation? Austin ------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, AZ, wants to grow Pitanga, Pitomba,.... Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 07:32:43 -0700 From: Bruce Jones I am Bruce Jones, in Mesa AZ. The fruit tree I am now growing is Eureka Lemon, but some I'd like to grow are Pitanga, pitomba, Jack fruit, Jaboticaba. Regards, Bruce ------------------------------ From: Suzanne Tobin Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 13:58:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Suggestions For Desert Rare Fruit Hi, I am Suzanne Tobin, in Palm Springs, California I want to grow rare fruit, my soil is sand. I live in the desert. Winter temperature is about 55 F and summer can be 128 F. My friend planted papaya seed and it grew well. I have grown an ornamental passion vine quite successfully. I have high winds but can protect behind buildings. Regards Suzanne Tobin ---------------------------- From: Carole Cushnie Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 11:15:58 EDT Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Growing Guava, Mango, Sapodilla, .... Hi, my name is Carole Cushnie, Jensen Beach, Florida 34957. I currently have growing, guava, strawberry and the regular yellow, mango, sapodilla, apples, pears, blackberry, raspberry, nectarines, peaches, june plum, sweet sop and mulberry. Thanks, Carole Cushnie ---------------------------- Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 06:16:32 -0700 From: Ron Base Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Grows Mango, Cherimoya, Feijoa, .... Hi Leo, I am Ron Base of Upland, CA, and want to subscribe to the newsletter. Now I'm growing mango, cherimoya, feijoas, mostly tropicals. Thank you, Ron Base ----------------------- From: John Austin Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 16:06:25 -0700 Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Cherimoya Grow In Far North? I am John H. Austin, in Oakland, Calif Will cherimoya grow as far north as San Francisco? John Austin ------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 09:31:48 +0200 From: Erik Strohmeyer Subject: New Subscriber, Spain, Wants Pitaya Information Hi, I am Erik Strohmeyer in El Ejido (Almeria Province) Spain We are about to start with pitaya the coming month, and want to know the "nutrinonal and fitosanitaric" needs of pitaya. (Nutritional and phyto-sanitary?) We appreciate your service and hope we can benefit from it. Erik Strohmeyer ----------------------- From: Sarah Colby Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 14:08:16 EDT Subject: New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? I recently planted two mango trees about 3-4' high (I live in Redlands, Ca) and on the end of the upper leaves they have brown edges. Does this mean they are being attacked by some bug (which I can't see) or that they are not getting the right kind fertilizer or? I would appreciate anything you can tell me to make them happy to be in my yard. Sarah Colby -----------------Readers Write------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 13:42:15 -0700 To: Sarah Colby Subject: Re: New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Hi Sarah, I would guess that it is related to soil conditions and drainage, and possibly an excess of some fertilizer or salts in the soil. I would also guess that a nurseryman would probably tell you what the most likely cause is, if you took a leaf sample. It probably isn't peculiar to mangoes. I can post your question to the readers in the newsletter and see if anyone has a better opinion. Do you have mild winters with no frost? If not, they may be in jeopardy, unless protected, this winter. Regards, Leo --------------------------- From: Sarah Colby Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 19:41:30 EDT Subject: Re: New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Hi Leo, It is my understanding that Redlands, has mild winters but every once in a while frost. Do I cover the mango's this winter whenever there may be frost? It is difficult to get out (my husband is bedridden with Shy-Drager disorder) but when I do get out I'll try to take a sample leaf with me and stop at a local nursery. Thanks for your reply. Sarah Colby -------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 16:58:04 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Sarah Colby Subject: Re: New Subscriber CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Hi Sarah, Where I once lived, there were occasionally cold snaps. I planted my mangoes close to the stucco house - along the South and West Walls. They did pretty well. Those farther from the house I protected while they were young, by taking wide strips (maybe 4-5 ft) of wire (I used the type used under stucco, but chicken wire would have done), cut them into relatively long pieces (Maybe 8 feet), covered one side with clear plastic that was a foot or two wider than the wire strip. Then, I encircled the young mango, wired the ends together, so it would stand up, and at night would pull the excess width of plastic up over the plant. Also, you could put a cloth cover over it at night, to help hold in the heat. I would also place a few gallon jugs - colored are better - with water around the tree, to gather heat in the day and distribute it at night. It's more work than you probably will want to perform. It's easier to plant them near a wall. When the trees get older, they can tolerate frost better. You might look around in the neighborhood for anyone with banana trees. They'd certainly know whether the winters get cold, as bananas damage rather easily. Regards, Leo --------------------------- From: Sarah Colby Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 12:17:04 EDT Subject: Re: New Subscriber, CA: Why Brown Ends Of Upper Leaves? Hi Leo, Thanks for the good advice. I printed it out so that I could have it available. I did plant the Mango trees near the house (stucco also) close to a south (I guess, SE) wall. I don't mind hard work (done it all my life and actually prefer working to being idle), so if I need to, I'll build them a cage as you suggest. Is there anything to the idea that when there is a possible frost coming to water the tree that night? Or is that only when there might be a freeze? I chuckled when you mentioned banana trees. I planted a banana tree and when I got our Labrador puppy (six months ago) he ate the banana tree. So, I picked another area near the house on the North (NW) wall and built-up a paver-planter raised bed and got another banana tree and planted it. This time Duke of Nottingham VI leaves it alone. Found something that made me smile too regarding Paw Paw trees and how to make sure they get pollinated. According to one opinion - hang up a raw piece of chicken when the Paw Paw flowers to attract flies and the Paw Paw will have a better chance of being pollinated. Is that being creative or not? : ) Thanks again. Sarah Colby ----------------------------------- Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 18:40:41 -0700 From: George F. Emerich To: jaustin@arcadianmgt.com Subject: RE: Will cherimoyas grow in the far north John: I learned a long time ago that the correct answer to your type of question is never "NO" because some one is sure to make a liar out of me. One answer is to hedge and point out that the environment is remote from the ideal. I suggest that you contact Bill Grimes, Chairman of the Golden Gate Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. (CRFG) at wagrimes@wco.com . He may be able to point to one of your neighbors who is successfully growing Cherimoyas. He will probably reluctantly offer you the opportunity to join CRFG and meet a bunch of kindred souls. George F. Emerich ------------------------------ Subject: Soursop To: Mary From: Mike Carufe Hi Mary, Nutritionally, soursops are very easy to grow. Any citrus-avocado fertilizer will give good results. They are very tropical and the frequent cold snaps send them into convulsions here on the west coast of Fl. If you plant one up close to you house it will help protect it. Inasmuch as it is not an aggressive tree and grows almost straight up you don't have to worry about it attacking you when you are not looking. I have never seen one in this area with more than 8' diameter. Cold weather causes them to drop leaves and fruit. Sugar apples (sweetsops) and atemoyas are much easier to grow here on fl west coast. More tolerant of cold weather and don't mind cacareous soils. Like the soursop they can also be processed into ice cream and cold tropical drinks. If it were just a frost problem I would encourage you to grow a soursop but those babies shiver when the bulb goes down to 50 F! 40F causes complete defoliation and forming fruits drop. Here in Naples, I have only picked two fruit off mine in the 7 years that I have had it.Sugar apples are so prolific and so good! They are easily grown from seed and bare in great abundance in the fall. Atemoyas do not come true from seed and need to be grafted. They taste more like the chermoya than the sugar apple (it is a hybrid of both of the sugar apple and the cherimoya) Cherimoyas are not at home in FL high humidity. Geffner is a good variety of atemoya. You can also find pond apples growing in the swamps but I never tasted one that was worth eating unless you were starving. Mike Carufe ------------------------------- From: "Doug Jones" Subject: Re-Introduction; Need Greenhouse Advice; Black Mango Twigs Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 20:36:04 -0700 Remember me? NAME: Doug Jones CITY: Mesa STATE: Az FRUIT TREES: I have over 300 trees on 1.25 irrigated acres. Fruiting trees include: apple, peach, plum, apricot, pears, Asian pears, persimmon, all types of citrus, pecan, nectarine, loquat, cerius cactus, guava, etc.. I have seedling trees (no fruit yet) of mango, banana, macadamia, avacado, white sapote, feijoa, capulin cherry, and pinapple. I had some of the exotics ready to fruit, but my greenhouse burned down last year. COMMENTS: I am looking at re-building the greenhouse, and would appreciate info on greenhouse material types. Anybody have any experience/preferences of wood versus steel framework, or fiberglass versus polycarbonate versus double-wall sheeting? I plan to build the greenhouse 30 x 50 feet. Also, I have a few mango trees, all of which exhibit blackened tips (not salt burned leaves, but black tipped branches). I am still trying to find out what causes the black tips. Anybody have that problem before? "Doug Jones" ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Quang's BIG Clearance Sale Until 5/1/99 ONLY From: "Buckner, Geoff" Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 10:37:59 -0700 Leo, Thanks for the hot tip. (See "Announcements...., below. Leo) I just left Quangs where I got a Sri Chompoo Longan and a VP Mango at great prices. Bill was right, his discount was about 30%. Geoff Buckner --------------Announcements and Web Sites To Consider--------------- From: Sven Merten Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 06:52:10 -0700 Subject: Green Scene Plant Sale-Fullerton Arbetum-CRFG Plants Also!! Leo and list members, Fullerton Arboretum is having their annual plant sale and garden show on the 24th and 25th. The Orange county CRFG chapter will have a booth as well as several other chapters and nurseries. Take the 57 to Yorba Linda Blvd. and head west. Make a left (south) on Associated. The address is 1900 Associated Rd. For more information the phone number for the Friends of the Fullerton Arboretum is (714) 278-3404. Sven Merten ---------------------------------- From: Sven Merten Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 18:37:27 -0700 Subject: What Plants Will Be At Plant Sale? How To Find Out! Leo, I am donating rose apples, jambolans, bael fruit, kei apple, loquat, holly leaf cherry, pregnant onion, some 5 gallon guavas, and maybe some longan and lychee (all seedlings). The person to ask is David L. Maislen . He is in charge of Green Scene for the orange county chapter. As for other chapters and nurseries I am not sure what will be there. I think most of the nurseries had flowering plants, not fruit trees. Take care. Sven Merten ---------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 17:40:23 EDT Subject: Fruit Information From Maurice Kong's Listing From: Maurice Kong Note: The following is a brief description of only a very few of the rare fruit available from Maurice Kong. For complete information, write to Maurice, and for information about his unusual collection of rare plants for sale, with their prices. Leo BALATA : (Manilkara bidentata ) aka Bulletwood. fam Sapotaceae An exciting new fruit from Trinidad released by Trinidad Ag station recently. Although this is a large forest tree that under ideal conditions can grow to 120 feet in height and over 6 feet in diameter, the good news to tropical fruit enthusiasts is that by grafting the Balata on Sapodilla rootstock, it has a dwarfing effect and will fruit in three years. .... It is not particular as to the soil. Penny Piece ( Pouteria multiflora ) A medium-sized, evergreen, native tree from Trinidad with a milky latex and obovate, leathery leaves, up to 12 inches by 4 inches ; flowers fairly small in axillary clusters on the old wood ; the fruit orange yellow, smooth, more or less egg-shaped and containing an edible, yellow, mealy pulp and one brown seed nearly an inch long. Sapodilla cv CIKU. There are many varieties of varying sizes, shapes with sweet smooth or with an objectionable grainy texture and grows up to 50-60 feet. The CIKU is an exciting new introduction with many advantages over the other cultivars. It appears to have a dwarf tree and grows to about 15-20 ft. It is very prolific with a sweet and smooth texture with no grainy taste and with an edible skin. Maurice Kong ---------------------------------- From: Sven Merten Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 18:42:43 -0700 Subject: Want A Copy Of Edgehill Property Map? Leo, I just received a map of the trees on the Edgehill property from Dr. Ellstrand and Dr. Clagg. I'd be happy to send a copy to anyone interested, just E-mail me your address. The map lists about 160 cherimoya trees and gives location and cultivar. Thanks. Sven Merten -------------------------------- Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1999 01:25:22 EST Subject: 1999 Festival of Fruit From: Glenn Young Be sure to check the CRFG web site to get the latest information on the Festival of Fruit. This information was posted just yesterday. The Northern California chapters are doing a great job and it promises to be a class 'A' event. Make your plans now to attend. Glenn Young --------------------------- From: Glenn Young Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 22:51:51 EDT Subject: Co-Editor of the Fruit Gardener - Ronald W. Couch Appointment of Ronald W. Couch as Editor of the Fruit Gardener Ronald (Ron) W. Couch will be joining the Fruit Gardener magazine staff as of May 1, 1999. He will be working with the present editor, Clytia Chambers, in a gradually increasing capacity during the remainder of her tenure. Clytia plans to retire in late December upon completion of the January/February 2000 issue of the magazine and Couch will become editor on January 1, 2000. Ron Couch brings to the job many years of experience as editor of publications for the United States Forest Service. He attended the 1998 Festival of Fruit in San Diego where he had the opportunity to meet many CRFG members and he will also come to the 1999 Festival of Fruit in Petaluma, Calif. to become even better acquainted with both the members and the organization activities. Ron will be running the magazine from Pineville, La., where he lives. With today's high-speed communications, the Board of Directors feels this presents no significant problems. Ron will bring new dimensions to the Fruit Gardener. However, the goal is to have this change of responsibility for the editorship, from the point of view of the reader, result in a seamless transfer. Ron will welcome any help you can extend in his assumption of this new role. If you have thoughts on ways to make the magazine an even better publication, or if you can write articles for future issues, please contact him. His e-mail address is writer@linknet.net. He can also be reached at P.O. Box 4146, Pineville, LA 71361, or by phone at (318)561-6119 (also fax). Clytia Chambers deserves the deep gratitude of all CRFG members for her development of the Fruit Gardener and her uninterrupted devotion to the organization. I have sadness in my heart as this stalwart CRFG editor over the past 20 years retires. I know she will still be around and we will be able to enjoy her company; even so, a great era in CRFG's development and growth has passed. THANK YOU, Clytia, for what you have meant to the California Rare Fruit Growers. Glenn Young ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 20:33:21 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert D. Allen" Subject: Re: Editor of the Fruit Gardener Welcome, Ron, and thanks to you, Clytia, for all you have done and will continue to do for CRFG. Bob Allen --------------------------------- Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 21:04:34 -0700 From: Jose Miguel Gallego Subject: Re: Editor of the Fruit Gardener Ron, Welcome aboard!! Needless to say, learn as much that you can from the master while she is available. Clytia has been an incredible asset to our organization. Congratulations!! Jose M. Gallego --------------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 22:51:53 EDT Subject: Appointment Keith Harold as Treasurer of CRFG From: Glenn Young Claire Guggenheim Replaced By Keith Harold as Treasurer of CRFG It is with a heavy heart that I announce the retirement of CRFG Treasurer Claire Guggenheim, an untiring worker on behalf of our organization. She has asked to be replaced so she and her husband, David, a past president of CRFG, can spend more time traveling and tending to their personal affairs. Claire has given CRFG the benefit of her professional skills as a Certified Public Accountant for more than 13 years, and deserves a respite after her long service. Fortunately, Keith Harold, chairman of the North San Diego County chapter, has agreed to take on the responsibility of treasurer. His professional background as treasurer/comptroller of several companies in the Los Angeles area and the skills such positions demand make him eminently suited to manage the financial affairs of CRFG. We are fortunate to have his stewardship in this area. Many members already know Keith Harold. However, if you have not had the pleasure of meeting him, be sure to look him up either through chapter activities or at the annual Festival of Fruit. I hope Claire and David will enjoy their retirement and return to be with us often. THANK YOU both for the dedicated service you have given to California Rare Fruit Growers. And WELCOME, Keith to this new assignment you are about to take on. You have our THANKS and best wishes. Glenn Young ---------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 20:34:27 -0700 (PDT) From: "Robert D. Allen" Subject: Re: Appointment of new treasurer Welcome Keith and thanks to Claire for all the years of devoted service. Enjoy your retirement, Claire! Bob Allen ----------------------- Subject: Quang's BIG Clearance Sale Until 5/1/99 ONLY Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 08:59:23 -0700 Quang's Nursery Web Page - Somewhat Out Of Date: http://www.homestead.com/rarefruit/QuangOng.html Location: 2528 Crandall Dr., San Diego, CA 92111 (619) 277-8167 Call before coming! Email: Here's what I understand: Quang's had to change his priorities, and plans to get out of the nursery - at least to the extent that he has been involved. He plans to have a large discount on his current stock. (Bill Burson thinks the discount may be about 30%.) But, on May 1, the prices will return to their pre-sale level, and Quang will turn over the operation of the nursery to his family - primarily, to his mother. So, don't wait until the trees you really want are gone. Leo -------Discussion list for New Crops------- Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 12:16:55 -0700 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Sterculia Monosperma (China Chestnut) Information, Please I just got a Sterculia Monosperma "Pheng Phok" maybe also known as China Chestnut, and can't find information in the books I have for it. I got it from Quang Ong, a local nurseryman. It supposedly has quite attractive flowers and edible nuts, eaten boiled or roasted. Thanks! Leo Manuel ------------------------------- From: "Robert Mowbray" Subject: Re: Sterculia Monosperma (China Chestnut) Information, Please Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 16:59:41 -0400 I don't know anything about it except that it is in the Sterculiaceae family, the same family as Theobroma (chocolate). Bob Mowbray ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 09:29:27 EDT Sender: Discussion list for New Crops From: Dan Hemenway Subject: Re: Sterculia Monosperma (China Chestnut) Information, Please Hi Leo: Facciola lists quite a few species in this genus, mostly for a nut or seed product, but not monosperma. Is it possible that the binomial has changed? Dan Hemenway ------------------Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers)------------------ Subject: Going Bananas Have A WebSite? From: Scott I am wondering if Going bananas has a website or if anyone on the list know how to contact them. Scott --------------------------- Subject: Re: Going Bananas Have A WebSite? From: Jack Honeycutt The URL is: http://zoneten.com/goingbananas.htm A email address for them is: gobanana@bellsouth.net While my M. basjoo corm that I picked up from them looks to be almost dead now (about 30 days later), they said they would replace it for the cost of postage if it failed to send up new leaves. I have been happy with the service I have received from them. jack ------------------ Subject: Banana Diseases in South Florida(!) - What's Susceptible? Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 10:07:04 -0400 From: "Clarence Hester" You may want to update the references on South Florida. There have been problems there, perhaps not with Black Sigatoka but certainly with other similar diseases. I know that the guy who runs the tropical fruit stand ("Robert is Here") in Florida City (?--near the Everglades) used to grow his own grove of Apple bananas, but no longer can because all his Apple bananas caught this disease (I think it was a form of Sigatoka, or maybe it was Panama disease--anyway, it was a disease that spreads). I was told the problem was somewhat prevalent throughout areas of South Florida. Also, if Jody is still on the list, I thought I was told that there were other reports of outbreaks of banana disease in South Florida (please clarify if you read this). Some varieties are much more susceptible than others. The Apple (manzano?) banana and Ice Cream banana are two that were said to be particularly prone to the problem. I'm not trying to speak too authoritatively because I don't live in South Florida and don't know for sure--but that's what I've been hearing thorugh the grapevine. Can any of the Florida people on the group clarify? Clarence Hester ---------------NAFEX List None This Time------------ >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - April 15, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - May 1, 1999 - AKA RFN9905A.txt ---------Table Of Contents - (Headers of Messages) --Notes In Passing #1 On being away for a week #2 On providing sale information of rare fruit seeds/plants --New Subscribers New Subscriber, Spain, Wants Pitaya Information Erik Strohmeyer New Subscriber, FL, Has Rare Fruit Web Site.... Kevin Zari New Subscriber, GA, Needs Kiwi Information Peggy Gwillim pgwillim@gate.net New Subscriber, CA, Grows Almost Everything! Alan Schroeder New Subscriber, FL, Getting Started With Rare Fruit Gregg Rothstein New Subscriber, LA, Wants Mulberry Information "Edmond Lanclos" New Subscriber Seeks Information On Guanaban/cherimoya Beth Klein New Subscriber, England, What A Collection! "Dynan, Roy" --Readers Write Death of Chris Popko Glenn Young Re: Death of Chris Popko Allison Yerger Re: New Subscriber, NC, Wants Mulberry Information Dan Hemenway RE: Greenhouse Building William Evans Re: Longan information Sainarong Rasananda To: AUSTIN DUNK Re: Longan information Sainarong Rasananda To: austin Re: Longan information austin To: "Sainarong Rasananda" Source Needed for Thomasville Citrangequat Darryl Clark Re: pitayas peggy winter To: bfrutas@arrakis.es Overdue update from Melbourne, Australia Mark Dodgson Grumichama Holzinger, Bob To: Austin Cherimoyas - Thanks For Your Help Lynne Des Rivieres Re: Care of Kiwi Eunice Messner To: Peggy Gwillim --Announcements and Web Sites To Consider Cacti as Crops See: http://www.bgu.ac.il/life/mizrahi/article1.html (Thorough treatment of Cacti as Crops and Links To Related Sites) Development of Cereus peruvianus (Apple Cactus) as a New Crop for the Negev Desert of Israel See: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/V2-486.html Great source of information Cherimoya Association Information Daniel Grant Fruits featured at Fairchild festival (Miami Herald Copy) See: http://www.herald.com/herald/content/digdocs/living/gardocs/070928.htm Extremely thorough treatment of Florida rare fruit and useful to most of us. --Sale Information of Rare Fruit Plant Material Rare Fruit Seeds And Plants For Sale Oscar Jaitt [mailto:FruitLovers@webtv.net] Kong Fruit Collection - Modifications - Write For Information Maurice Kong --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) Banana: Plastic Bags? Support? Leo Manuel Re: Banana: Plastic Bags? Support? Jody Haynes To: Leo Re: Banana: Plastic Bags? Support? Eddie Vernon Re: Banana: Plastic Bags? Support? Keith Benson Diseases of Banana and Plantain (Musa spp.) Keith Benson Diseases of Florida Bananas Jody Haynes -------------------Leo's Notes------------------ #1 I was away for a week in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and out of touch. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to work on the newsletter while away. My father, age 92, had been active, gardening, but has some early symptoms of dementia, and needed to be taken out of his home, where my step-mother is suffering from pancreatic cancer, which has metastasized throughout most of her internal organs. My wife stayed with her, while I took my father to Oklahoma City. Anyway, it's good to be back, but I may be required to return at any time. #2 If you have plant material for sale and want the fact announced to the readers of RFNO, send me a *brief* notice. I usually will not have the space, time, nor inclination to list all items with prices and descriptions of the items. That's something you can send to anyone who responds to you, expressing interest. I'll simply let them know that you have rare fruit plants or seeds to sell, and they will write to you to learn the details. Be sure to let readers know if you can legally ship into their states or countries. Readers, be sure to write to the sellers, not to me, for additional information. ----------------New Subscribers------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 09:31:48 +0200 From: Erik Strohmeyer Subject: New Subscriber, Spain, Wants Pitaya Information I am Erik Strohmeyer in El Ejido (Almera Province) Spain. We are about to start with pitaya the coming month and want to learn of 'nutrinonal and fitosanitaric' (nutritional and phyto-sanitary?) needs of pitaya. Thanks, Erik Strohmeyer -------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 05:48:11 -0700 From: Kevin Zari Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Has Rare Fruit Web Site.... Hi, I am Kevin Zari in Merritt Island, FL Fruit I am now growing include various annonas, cashew, mango, loquat, jaboticaba, tropical almond, hog plum, black sapote, tamarind, carambola, guava, mamey sapote, and more... Please visit our web site at http://www.brevardrarefruit.org/ Kevin Zari , editor of newsletter / web site manager... -------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 05:29:53 -0700 Subject: New Subscriber, GA, Needs Kiwi Information From: Peggy Gwillim pgwillim@gate.net Hi, I am Peggy Gwillim in Waycross, Ga. I have one male and two female kiwi vines two years of age. This spring we have blooms but we don't know what to expect from now on. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Peggy Gwillim -------------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Grows Almost Everything! Date: Mon, 27 Aug 1956 13:14:20 +0000 From: Kelsay Schroeder Alan Schroeder Santa Barbara, California Fruit trees: cherimoya, including:Selma, pink fleshed and T1, Paul Thompson's #1 selection white sapote:Reinekes Commercial low chill hazelnuts lucuma:Montero feijoa: Masson, Nasemetz loquat:Big Jim figs:Monstreuse, Panachee, Gulbun, Pasquale, UCR275-49 jujube "Sherwood" kwai muk bananas black sapote star fruit Florita macadamia passion fruit: Red Rover, Frederick, Purple Tiger, Elizabeth avocado: Reed, Pinkerton manila tamarind (guamuchile) citrus, various babaco and chamburro sapodilla, seedling Longan: Kohala Pitahaya, various I am interested in back issues. Alan Schroeder -------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 21:23:23 -0700 From: Gregg Rothstein Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Getting Started With Rare Fruit Gregg Rothstein, here, in Palm City, Florida. I am in the process of planting out a fruit garden in my yard. Some of the trees I am planting include: Lychee, longan, various Annonas, jaboticaba, sapotes, mangoes, bananas, guava. I am raising some Atemoya, star apple, longan, and carambola seedlings to see what I come up with. Gregg Rothstein -------------------------------- Subject: New Subscriber, LA, Wants White Mulberry Information Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 08:49:10 -0500 From: Edmond Lanclos [Add to Address Book] Āor Lanclos99@msn.com? I am Edmond Lanclos, Baton Rouge, LA Lanclos99@msn.com Now, I have Figs, Peaches, Persimmons, Pears, Plums, White Mulberry, Seedless Che, Passion Fruit, Banana, Blackberries, etc. Our Winters usually above 20 degrees. Figs do well here unprotected. What I hope the readers can tell me: A source for White Mulberry - roundish, very sweet, white berry. Thanks, Edmond Lanclos or -------------------------------- From: Beth Klein Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 11:52:42 EDT Subject: New Subscriber Seeks Information On Guanaban/cherimoya Hi My name is Beth Klein - Boulder CO 80303. I need information on growing the Guanabana/cherimoya fruit. Do you have any information about that fruit? Hope to hear from you. Beth Klein -------------------------------- From: "Dynan, Roy" Subject: New Subscriber, England, What A Collection! Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 18:23:27 +0100 Second try - got a mail fail message. Hello Leo, Your QA sheet sounds fascinating! *Your Real Name Roy Dynan *City (in or near) North London *State/Province London *Country England *E-mail address-for receiving newsletter roy.dynan@bt.com *Fruit trees you are growing Type Summer Winter Qty Variety Comments Guava (pineapple) Garden Garden 2 Apollo, another self fertile good Pineapple Windowsill + capillary matting Windowsill + capillary matting 8 Mostly 'Queen' may need GA to produce Guava (strawberry) Garden Cold greenhouse + light shed 8 seedlings - some 'Lucida' lost my two stock plants from overwatering in spring '98 Lulo Outside + allotment Citrus conservatory in winter 2+ seedlings many cuttings from these two - still trying to set fruit after 3 years Pepino Outside + allotment Citrus conservatory in winter 1 Lima many cuttings - fruit set best in open ground Lemon Garden Citrus conservatory in winter 3 Meyers + 2 others sowing every meyers pip I get Lime Garden Citrus conservatory in winter 1 seedling Rangpur x? Very precocious! Ichang Garden Cold greenhouse 1 Ichang lemon New '99 from Agroforestry RT Citrange Garden Cold greenhouse 3 Carrizo + 2 others New '99 from Agroforestry RT Yuzu Garden Cold greenhouse 1 New '99 from Agroforestry RT Calamondin Garden Cold greenhouse 1 Round one New '99 from Agroforestry RT Kumquat Garden Cold greenhouse 1 New '99 from Agroforestry RT Limequat Garden Citrus conservatory in winter Lots Seedlings sowing every limequat pip I get Hardy Kiwi Garden Garden 1 Issai Small crop in second year despite root competition Passionfruit Garden Citrus conservatory in winter 2 Mollissima, 'Incense' Incense fruits lightly. Mollissima is too small Passionfruit Garden Garden 2 Incarnata Poor vigour and poor survival - keep trying Cactus Garden and conservatory conservatory/windowsills 2 Epiphyllums Best exotic fruit ever! (raspberry/lychee - but a small yield) Saskatoon Garden Garden 1 Grafted var for fruit Coming on well - half apple half plum flavour Arctic Raspberry Garden Garden 2 Anna, Sofia No fruit yet - but vineweevil grubs love the roots Pawpaw Cold greenhouse Cold greenhouse 4 'Mango' + 2 seedlings First year of flowers from Mango - no pollinator yet Plus: Figs, Yellow strawberries, Ground Cherries, Loquat and Cherimoya seedlings (just for show). Java peach is a bit exotic (to me) greenflesh nectarines are too. Hottentot Figs still haven't flowered. and/or fruit trees you want to grow? Still hoping to conquer outdoor citrus and passionfruit! Wish I had the room to plant more Pawpaws (still haven't tasted one - hoping it's like cherimoya with a hint of durian). Keep trying to crack papayas but can't overwinter them - would like to try a mountain papaya rootstock. Would like to try Jaboticabas but not even a whiff of any source in the UK. I'm interested in anything edible which can come through our damp cold winters (damp cold springs are often the coup de grace). Any other comments? I have to concentrate my efforts on things which are unobtainable or poor quality in shops - the latter means my european plums are just as important to me as my strawberry guavas. Epiphyllum fruits are a revelation - the flavour is in a class of its own (raspberry-lychee) as well as being otherwise unobtainable. Any questions to be answered by newsletter readers? I produce a steady stream of daft questions but at the moment CRFG seem happy to deal with them - if you really want to see them I'd be happy to copy them to you - second opinions always welcome (out of kindness I'll assume you see enough as it is). Here's a new one: I seem to have terrible trouble with Passiflora Incarnata - it seems to sprout at the first sign of spring then die back if (when) the promise fails. Giving it bubble-wrap seems to just make it fail quicker. Should I try the reverse - ie keep it cold until May? eg: shade the bed and use a heavy mulch? keep a potted one in an old fridge? I ought to point out that I've read that profoundly false springs are one of the main differences between the UK climate and a continental one like yours - we get -1 to -5 frosts most years within a week or two after the first 18 degree plus day of spring (which can come anywhere between late Feb and mid May). Also, UK books have all sorts of unconvincing explanations of why it is called maypops - surely 'at home' it pops up from nothing in May? Here's one even dafter than usual - Has anyone bred european yew for flavour and size of aril? - I love 'em but they're just a bit too bland to bother with more than a handful - I'm sure they could be bred to reach say mulberry strength! How do asian yew berries compare? Dynan, Roy -----------------Readers Write------------------ From: Glenn Young Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 22:20:57 EDT Subject: Death of Chris Popko I am sorry to have to inform you that Chris Popko died this morning. Chris was a hard working and dedicated member of CRFG who went the extra mile in his endeavor to make the seed bank and book sales a success. He will be sorely missed by his wife Shirley and by all of us within CRFG. A memorial service for Chris Popko will be held at the White Funeral Home, 400 East Foothill Blvd. In Azusa, California on Monday, May 3, 1999, at 7:00 PM. The phone number there is (626) 334 - 2921. Please pass the word on to other CRFG members who knew him. Glenn Young -------------------------------- From: Allison Yerger Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 09:20:34 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: Death of Chris Popko Dear Glen and CRFG, I am not alone when I express my sympathy to those who knew Chris. Although the AZ CRFG was not close with him we will be missing a valuable person and asset to the organization. Our deepest sympathy to his wife Shirley, the other members of his family, and his close friends. Allison yerger and the Arizona Chapter of the CRFG. Allison Yerger -------------------------------- From: Dan Hemenway Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 19:47:37 EDT Subject: Re: New Subscriber, NC, Wants Mulberry Information Hi Leo; We got a few varieties (of mulberries) from Edible Landscaping in Afton. CRFG has a year of the mulberry recently and they had a number of sources listed for cultivars. All our trees are very small and we will not be taking wood from them for a while. I don't know where Jamestown is--makes a big difference in NC whether it is coastal plain, high in the mountains, or in between. Probably a zone 7 climate, though and most cultivars will do well there. We have kept to varieties known to take warm temperate to subtropical climates--though all should do fine in NC. Shangri La and Pakistan we got from Edible Landscaping--these are probably the choicest. I got cuttings from a tree, probably seedling, that bears well in Miami (!)--REPORTED to be of good quality, reasonable size fruit but nothing astonishing. We had one cutting take and grow 5 feet in two months after we set the wood in medium. Another one behaved normally. This was last fall--no fruit this spring. Most selected mulberries bear immediately. We have two local varieties selected by local growers that seem to be working out. One is called Giant and the other is just a generic Black Mulberry. The Black we are using to shade the chicken coop. It isn't a very sunny space but it is reaching and producing a bit. Once it gets above everything, it should do well given the manure and freedom from grass in the chicken yard. I place the water bucket at the base of the tree--I always do this with trees I want to push along--so it gets the daily overflow when I rinse the bucket out. Mulberries are supposed to be somewhat drought tolerant, but they sure like moisture. During establishment, they can take some flooding, but they can't take any drought. Once the root system is established, they really go. While they tolerate poor soil, they really respond to good feeding. I have our big Miami planted over the offal from a steer I slaughtered this winter. That's both moisture and nutrients stored under it with a layer of soil so the roots can reach through and take what they want. I hope that I've been helpful. I used to live in Dahlonega Georgia, not far from the NC border, so I have a good sense of what it is like in Western NC. Dan Hemenway Barking Frogs Permaculture Center Sparr, Florida [Thanks, Dan! I'm going to look for the Shangri La. Leo] -------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 09:31:53 -0700 From: William Evans Subject: RE: Greenhouse Building Have seen a few and built a couple small ones. My observations are double wall best over polycarbonate unless winds and flying debris are a factor for you in your desert local. If you use plastic then must be tight. All bearing surfaces (where the plastic touches - inside and out) should be painted w/flat white acrylic latex or similar. On the outside also paint over these same bearing surfaces...ie. paint the plastic outside over the trusses and at the endwalls. This should extend the life in these stressful areas by cutting down on localized heating and potential damage. 2 UV. Double wall can be hot, so plan well your ventilation. If elect to double wall using blower to separate plastic layers, would advise to monitor dust that might coat inside surfaces. Over time if too dusty could impact amout of light inside. Could coil poly pipe everywhere (I've been able to coil 500 feet of 1/2" poly over a surface of 4' by 21'... Big electrical staples hold it down good. During your winter days when temps are ideal, store up all the heat you can in as many feet of this stuff as possible.If you attach a large insulated tank into the picture, you have a great heatsink. All you then need is a small pump to circulate the warm water in the tank, through the piping at night. In the summertime I should think that this system would act as a buffer . The piping could be coiled under the benches, or even on top as poly is pretty tough as long as nominal pressures are used and you don't bang the pots around, or even tricker would be lath strips over the poly pipe. That would be ideal. Personally, I like double wall plastic but w/o the blower. More work initially, but no need for blower, Re Blackened mango twigs: Did you have a freeze? William Evans -------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 09:19:20 +0700 From:SainarongRasanandaTo:AUSTIN Subject: Re: Longan information Dear Austin, I shall be sending in a separate e-mail the e-mail addresses of those in the USA who are interested in longans. The reason I am not including them in this e-mail is that I am not sure whether they wish to have their e-mail addresses publicize. Just mention that I recommend their names to you. Dr. Richard Campbell, the Curator of Tropical Fruits at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami, is very knowledgeable. I met him in Thailand early this month. Anyway, Kohala is the most popular cultivar in the States. It comes from Hawaii and adapted itself very well to the Florida environments. The longan affectionados, however, prefer the cultivars from Thailand, for example, Biew Kiew, Bai Dum. Shompoo and Haew. The Thai cultivars are considered the best in the world by the majority of the population. However, I am not quite sure whether it has adapted well to the Florida environment. If you want more info, tell me. BTW I am a longan grower in Thailand. Sainarong Rasananda To: AUSTIN DUNK -------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 12:44:42 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: austin Subject: Re: Longan information austin wrote: 'Kohala' has been recommended to me for Florida cultivation and I'll try to locate some of the others you suggested. I have read that most cultivars experience erratic bearing. Do you find this to be true or are there methods to help prevent it? Austin ---- Austin, That is the problem with all longan cultivars, apart from the tropical, as opposed to sub-tropical, longans, such as 'Diamond River', which are not so nice.It has been discovered that sodium chlorate or potassium chlorate can force all longan cultivars to flower. The result is absolutely unbelievable! I myself did not believe it until I saw it with my own eyes! However, as the USA has very strict rules about use of chemicals, I do not know if such practices would be allowed in the States. Sainarong Rasananda To: AUSTIN DUNK -------------------------------- From: "austin" To: "Sainarong Rasananda" Subject: Re: Longan information Sainarong- I spoke to a professor at the University of Florida and he believed that the chlorate forms of potassium and sodium serve the same function as the chlorite forms (fertilizer). Being a fertilizer, it should be readily available in the United States. Can you tell me he the timing, application method (I am guessing foliar?), application frequency, and concentrations that are used? Take care austin -------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 06:10:01 -0700 From: Darryl Clark Subject: Source Needed for Thomasville Citrangequat Hello Leo: Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced source for Thomasville Citrangequat? I am looking for 20+ rooted cuttings or seedlings. Even a seed source would help greatly. Thanks Darryl Clark -------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 00:46:31 -0700 From: Peggy Winter To: bfrutas@arrakis.es Subject: RE: pitayas During our big CRFG San Diego meeting last fall, I had guests staying with me, namely Chris Rollins, director of the Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead, FL, Maurice Kong, past president of Rare Fruit Council Inter, and Voon Boon Hoe, head of experimental agriculture in Sarawak, Malaysia. All three men got really excited by two fruits. One was my jujubes and the others were various pitayas. They visited Paul Thomson and obtained his excellent cultivars of pitayas, which they took with them. It will be interesting to see how their plants do in such different environments. Chris Rollins' email address is Rtropicals@AOL.com. Hoe doesn't have email yet, but his fax number is 1 60 082 611178. For really dependable information on pitayas, I'd ask Paul Thomson. Good luck. Peggy Winter To: bfrutas@arrakis.es -------------------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 05:26:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Overdue update from Melbourne, Australia Hi Leo We're coming up to Winter down here in Melbourne so the nights are starting to get cooler. I guess I'll have to finish up the rest of the extension for my greenhouse pretty soon: started at 8 feet long and is currently 16 feet long but without a lid on the new part. The mangoes/acerola/jaboticaba are all doing well in their pots, with the miracle fruit/pitanga looking like they don't really want to last another Winter. My Babaco is around 4 feet tall and the trunk is covered with many fine fruit which I guess will ripen later in the year (hey I'm no Babaco expert). Some of the stonefruit are starting to shed their leaves. Citrus have a few scale that I plan to take care of this weekend. My 2 hydroponic bananas are doing well with the Rajapuri at around 4 feet tall, and the Dwarf Red Dacca at around 3 feet tall (sorry, forgotten the leaf count of each). Guess I'll have to think about moving them into the glasshouse sometime soon as well. My chiles (Rocoto variety in particular) are in full splendour at the moment. I'm currently training one of my Rocotos to a central leader like arrangement, and it's up to around 10 feet or so tall now with some branches hanging off the plant being around 6 feet long. It's been in the ground for around 4 years now and I give it citrus food. Not bad for a plant that earlier in the season consisted of a single branch. I am starting to wonder what to do with all those hundreds of chiles though ... just kidding, I'll cope ;-) Bye, Mark Dodgson Mark's Mostly Chile Page http://members.xoom.com/mjdodgson/ icq#:11248266 -------------------------------- From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Austin Subject: Grumichama Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 11:48:12 -0700 Hello Austin, I see you are a new member to RFNO and that you grow grumichama in Florida. I have some in pots and am preparing to put them in the ground here in So.California. So far they seem to prefer shade to direct sun. How do you grow your plants in Florida, in direct sun, partial or total shade? A comment on your search for longans. Quang Ong has a nursery in San Diego and does ship for a price. He has many cultivars of longan that he considers superior to Kohala, which is more easily found. You might try contacting him for some information. Try his web site at www.homestead.com/rarefruit/QuangOng.html. Good luck, Bob Holzinger To: Austin -------------------------------- From: Lynne Des Rivieres Subject: Cherimoyas - Thanks For Your Help Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 21:21:26 -0700 I appreciate receiving the newsletter. I received good tips from some readers and have had success with Cherimoya seeds, planted 5 and got 5! Not too shabby for these northern climes (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). My seedlings are about 2 feet tall but only one has branched out. I was wondering if anyone could tell me about its growth habits. Lynne Des Rivieres -------------------------------- Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 13:15:06 -0700 (PDT) From: EuniceTo: Peggy Gwillim Subject: Re: Care of Kiwi Peggy Gwillim... Welcome to the rare fruit group. We all love to 'talk' about our hobby of raising fruit trees. Regarding Kiwi, I think you will find more information than I have on the California Rare Fruit Growers's web page You can download the Kiwi fact sheet - plus all the others and have a good start for an informative library.. Hope your male and female kiwi like each other and bloom at the same time. Eunice Messner To: Peggy Gwillim ------------------Announcements And Web Pages To Consider------------------ Subject: Cacti as Crops See: http://www.bgu.ac.il/life/mizrahi/article1.html (Thorough treatment of Cacti as Crops and Links To Related Sites) ------------------------------- See: 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 Great source of information --------------------------------- Subject: Cherimoya Association Information From: Daniel Grant Daniel Grant 1103 Johnson Ave. San Luis Obispo, Ca. 93401 (805) 5498411 fax (805)7723726 -------------------------------- Subject: Fruits featured at Fairchild festival http://www.herald.com/herald/content/digdocs/living/gardocs/070928.htm Published Sunday, April 18, 1999, in the Miami Herald Fruits featured at Fairchild festival GEORGIA TASKER Herald Garden Writer As the days lengthen and humidity begins to rise, spring starts its slide into summer. That's when tropical fruits climb to the top of our most-wanted lists. To inaugurate the return of summer's warmth, its planting season and harvest of fruit, the annual spring members' day sale at Fairchild Tropical Garden is being restaged as a Caribbean Festival Saturday and April 25. Steel band music, food and plants of the Caribbean are on the docket. Taste-wise, the garden is planning to offer smoothies made from mamey sapote (fresh from the garden), canistel, sapodilla and guanabana. These are tentative; the fruits are ripening, but there has been some freelance tasting and fruit confiscation from the garden's plots. Tours of the Mayan Garden, which contains many fruit trees of the Central American and Caribbean region as well as vegetables, will be given during the two-day event. Crops developed by the Mayans more than 2,000 years ago include cashew, pineapple, custard and sugar apples, caimito, sapodilla, mamey sapote and hog plum. Beans, melons, corn, herbs and spices were Maya crops, too. Mayas traditionally grew some crops, such as coffee and cacao, beneath the shade of taller trees -- a practice that's regaining popularity in the tropics to reduce erosion, cut down on chemical fertilizers and provide habitats for birds. Here is the lowdown on three of the fruit trees the Mayas grew, all from the same family, the Sapotaceae. Sample a milk shake made from their fruit while strolling through the garden. You can also purchase canistel, mamey sapotes, and other trees and plants at the festival. Mamey Sapote Native to Mexico and Central America, the mamey sapote is a tree that allows you to count your eggs before they hatch. You can pick the current season's fruit, admire next year's fruit developing as scruffy little marble-sized things and give your blessings to the flowers popping out at the same time. Pink-fleshed and sweet, the mamey's exterior is resplendently unappealing. It could easily be mistaken for a child's football with a bad case of rough skin. But as we know, it's what's underneath that counts. In the garden's fruit tree plantings, at the Montgomery Botanical Center just a mile south, the mamey sapotes are bulking up with fruit that forms right on the branches. Jeff Wasielewski, the assistant curator of the tropical fruit program, says these normally 40-foot trees are being kept small to develop forms suitable for harvesting. Mameys like high, well-drained ground (and they take well to our alkaline soil). They are cold sensitive and do best close to the warm coasts. The trees must be watered in times of drought. They will allow their big leaves to flag if they get thirsty; this sets back development. The fruit of the mamey sapote is not only a delicious ingredient of ice cream and milkshakes, but it is said to encourage hair growth. Fruit is harvested in spring and summer. That rough-textured skin doesn't change color when the fruit is ready; rather, you can nick it with a fingernail and if you find pink or red just below the surface, the fruit can be picked and allowed to soften and ripen. Sapodilla As a shade tree, the sapodilla is tough and pretty. It has a symmetrical, dense canopy with glossy, pointed leaves. It resists strong winds. But young trees can be killed or injured when temperatures plunge into the freezing zone. The trees want to become 30 to 40 feet tall, and pruning is needed to keep them in bounds. A white, latex-like sticky sap in the stem end of the fruit and in the tree is chicle, an ingredient in the original chewing gum used by the Mayas. (Remember Chiclets?) The baseball-size brown fruits also much be nicked with a thumbnail to test for ripeness, as they don't change color on the outside. Inside is the flavor of pears and brown sugar. A relative is a smaller tree called wild dilly, native to the Florida Keys. Canistel Sometimes called eggfruit, the canistel has a pulp that may be compared with the yolk of a hard-boiled egg. Related to the sapodilla and mamey, the canistel oozes a little latex at the stem end when picked, and sometimes the pulp is sticky. Clemens, which bears in November, is one of the unsticky cultivars. The flavor is sometimes compared with sweet potatoes or pumpkins. Wind-resistant and tolerant of cold once they are large, the trees grow easily in South Florida. Established trees can take a fair amount of drought. The leaves are large, resembling the mamey, but the fruit is much smaller, and varies from round to spindle-shaped. How to plant Plant these and other fruit trees in full sun, with good drainage. Mulch the root zone, keeping mulch 1 or 2 inches away from the trunks to avoid fungus or rot. As new growth appears on the new planting, fertilize every other month for the first year with a 6-6-6 formula that contains 3 or 4 percent magnesium. Start with one-fourth pound and gradually build to a pound. In succeeding years, fertilize three or four times a year with 8-3-9-4 or 8-2-10 and 4 percent magnesium. Add more fertilizer as the tree grows. Nutritional sprays of iron, zinc and manganese can be helpful in limestone. Water newly planted trees thoroughly at planting and then every day for the first two or three weeks, gradually reducing watering to two or three times a week. Keep the root area moist (but not soggy) for the growing season. A grafted tree can begin bearing after about three years. ---------Sale Information on Rare Fruit Plant Material----------- Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 22:28:18 -0400 From: Oscar Jaitt Subject: Rare Fruit Seeds And Plants For Sale Dear Rare Fruit enthusiast, here are some of the seeds we have for sale by mail. (Write to Oscar to get the long list, if interested.) Thank you. Oscar Jaitt PLANTS: All these plants and many others are available in our nursery. We do not at this time mail order plants, with the exception of Lychee air layers and some cuttings. If you live in Hawaii you are welcome to come visit. Please phone ahead of time. If you would like us to mail you a copy of our plant list, send a SASE to the address below, or we can fax it to you. FRUIT LOVERS NURSERY, Oscar Jaitt, PO Box 1597, Pahoa, HI 96778. Telephone and Fax (808) 965-9785 -------------------------------- From: Maurice Kong Date: April 21, 1999 Subject: Kong Fruit Collection - Modifications - Write For Information Leo, I've been deluged with orders and am sold out of many items, until I acquire more, in the months to come. Maurice Kong, 14735 SW 48 Terrace; Miami, FL 33185 Phone/Fax (303) 554-1333 (Please call BEFORE sending FAX) Maurice Kong -----Zingiber zingiber@onelist.com; contact zingiber-owner@onelist.com------ Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 05:21:49 -0700 From: Leo Manuel Subject: Banana: Plastic Bags? Support? I have two questions: 1. I've heard of banana growers who bagged their banana fruit at some stage in its development. I'm not sure if it was for cosmetic purposes or to hasten the ripening or what. I'd like information, as most of the varieties I have bloomed last autumn, and if the bagging would speed their ripening or improve the quality, I'd like to try it. 2. One banana 'Monthan' has a very heavy stalk of fruit, possibly weighing 100 pounds. The 'trunk' was in danger of breaking, so I've tried to support it by tying rope from it to a sturdier banana, but it hasn't been entirely satisfactory. I've thought props to push up from the ground might work. (It's about 7-8 feet to the top of the stalk, as the 'tree' is leaning.) What do commercial growers do? Thanks! Leo -------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 09:02:56 -0400 From: Jody Haynes To: Leo Subject: Re: Banana: Plastic Bags? Support? Leo, Plastic bags on banana bunches do hasten ripening after they have been cut, as does putting a fully ripe, even rotten banana close by--the chemicals released from the ripe fruit hastens ripening in the unripe fruit. However, I know nothing about this for fruit still on the pseudostem. As for plants bending due to the weight of a bunch, usually I have seen this happen because the plants aren't getting enough water and the pseudostems weaken and often break. As you know from general biology (or botany), water is pumped into large, central vacuoles inside plant cells and the resulting turgor pressure stiffens the cells, providing support for the entire plant. If there is not enough water available, the turgor pressure is not high enough and the plant "wilts". For now, though, increasing water may not bring the plant fully upright and so a wooden support might be necessary. Hope this helps. Jody Haynes To: Leo -------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 21:36:47 +0700 Subject: Re: Banana: Plastic Bags? Support? From: Eddie Vernon I have one reference here that says growers cover the bunches with a perforated polythene bag ater debudding and pruning the one or two apical hands of bananas. The bag protects the sensitive young fingers from fungal and insect damage, prevents leaf scarring, helps keep off dust and also promotes more rapid fruit maturation. Another reference (from Queensland) says that covering the bunches can help reduce fruit blemish by protecting the fruit against cold wind, birds and insects. In combination with "debelling" (I think another term for removing the bud), bunch covering can increase bunch weight by up to 22%. In addition quality is improved and bunches mature up to 2 weeks earlier. The preferred covers are blue plastic with a silver side which is placed towards the sun. With Cavendish bunches the covers are secured at the top of the bunch only. With Lady Fingers, the cover is also secured at the bottome to avoid wind damage. Covers are normally applied when the last hand has set. Bunches mature about 3 - 4 months after covering. I have also heard somewhere that the polythene bags may be impregnated with insecticides or a "pest block" may be enclosed inside the bag. Eddie Vernon ----------------------- Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 09:03:31 -0700 From: Keith Benson Subject: Re: Banana: Plastic Bags? Support? Leo, My understanding as this (plastic bag on fruit) produced a more cosmetically pleasing finished product by reducing dirt, debris, pest damage, etc. And, to support the banana, go for the prop - two pieces of bamboo, crossed so as to form a tripod with fruit bearing trunk should do to keep your fruit off the ground. I suspect that tying it to another banana might not help if you get any strong winds. Keith Benson -------------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 09:01:48 -0700 From: Keith Benson Subject: Diseases of Banana and Plantain (Musa spp.) See: http://www.scisoc.org/ismpmi/common/names/banana.htm (Seems to have thorough discussion of various diseases and symptoms to look for.) Thought the group might like to see this. Keith Benson -------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 14:00:38 -0400 Subject: Diseases of Florida Bananas From: Jody Haynes Clarence (and all): I have read the recent discussion on diseases of Florida bananas with some interest, as I work for a plant pathologist in Florida (UF research station in Homestead) that specializes in diseases of banana. I can say that Panama disease has decimated the commercial production of susceptible cultivars such as apple and ice cream here in S FL. There are several new plantings around south Dade County of Kluai namwa, which is a resistant cultivar (resistant to the strains that occur in S FL), but none of the ones I know of are fruiting size yet. Regarding the Sigatoka discussion, I must preface my statement (below) by saying that it is my understanding that black Sigatoka is the worst disease of banana worldwide and that yellow Sigatoka is more of an annoyance. With that said, I am sorry to say that black Sigatoka has been confirmed in South Florida and because of the recent discovery of this disease, the FL Department of Plant Industry has imposed a complete ban on all bananas (and I assume corms are included here) out of South Florida until further notice. Knowing this, I have been more than a little concerned with comments from people on this list of late regarding the receipt of bananas from a certain S FL banana producer (who will remain nameless). I don't know the extent of the ban or any of the particulars, so I cannot elaborate at this point. Just thought you all might like to be aware of the problem. Disclaimer: Anything I have said in this message is my own personal opinion and may not be representative of the opinion of the University of Florida or any other agency. Jody Haynes Corresponding Secretary, S Fla Chapter, Int Palm Soc. & Webmaster, Newsletter Editor, Palm & Cycad Societies of Florida (PACSOF) Virtual Palm Encyclopedia Virtual Cycad Encyclopedia (http://www.plantapalm.com) --------- On Thursday, April 15, 1999 10:07 AM, Clarence Hester [SMTP:heste018@mc. duke.edu] wrote: From: "Clarence Hester" You may want to update the references on South Florida. There have been problems there, perhaps not with Black Sigatoka but certainly with other similar diseases. I know that the guy who runs the tropical fruit stand ("Robert is Here") in Florida City (?--near the Everglades) used to grow his own grove of Apple bananas, but no longer can because all his Apple bananas caught this disease (I think it was a form of Sigatoka, or maybe it was Panama disease--anyway, it was a disease that spreads). I was told the problem was somewhat prevalent throughout areas of South Florida. Also, if Jody is still on the list, I thought I was told that there were other reports of outbreaks of banana disease in South Florida (please clarify if you read this). Some varieties are much more susceptible than others. The Apple (manzano?) banana and Ice Cream banana are two that were said to be particularly prone to the problem. I'm not trying to speak too authoritatively because I don't live in South Florida and don't know for sure--but that's what I've been hearing thorugh the grapevine. Can any of the Florida people on the group clarify? Clarence Hester ------------------ None this time -------Discussion list for New Crops------- None this time >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - May 1, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - May 15, 1999 - AKA RFN9905B.txt Rare Fruit News Online is primarily 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. Word gets around, apparently, as there are lots of new subscribers in this issue. The total number must be someplace 350 and 400 subscribers. I am sometimes surprised to hear from readers who haven't received recent issues. Somehow, the names just drop off the mailing list, or seem to. The only way I know you aren't getting it is if you let me know. Remember, the schedule is for the first and fifteenth of each month. If you don't get yours soon after the scheduled mailing date, please let me know. That's the only way I will be able to get the newsletter to you. --Notes In Passing #1 I am home, tentatively, but waiting for an announcement of the death of my step-mother in Tulsa. I don't believe it can be long now. I appreciate your letters of sympathy and support. If this newsletter arrives before the 15th, it will mean that I had to leave before usual mid-month date. #2 I'm surprised to see blooms on a small mango, seedling of Carrie, planted October 16, probably in 1996. I probably will (with reluctance) remove the bloom, so that the tree will not be stunted. I believe Carrie is closely related to Julie, possibly a seedling of Julie. Julie is a dwarf mango, isn't it? #3 Note the alternate e-mail addresses listed in the signature at the end of this newsletter. If letters addressed to me at leom@rarefruit.com bounce, please use one of those. It should not be necessary, but occasionally it is. ---------Table Of Contents - Headers; (Letters Follow Table Of Contents) --New Subscribers Reno, Nevada: Wants Mango-Growing Information Robert L Thomasson <102073.3346@compuserve.com> N E Malaysia, Has Durian, Cempedak, .... Yee Pak Leong W S Escondido, CA "Cobbe,John" U B FL, Wants Secrets To Container Growing S Ken Brinsko C R Canary Islands, Spain, Wants Arid Zone Fruit Information J. M. Laulhe I B Borneo, Wants Info For S. American Fruit E A.L. Ong R S Oregon, Uses Greenhouse for 'Rare' Fruit Tom Edwards Ocala, FL, Interested In New Fruit Pgardener1@aol.com CA, Wants Growing Info for Persimmon & Durian Larry Ritchey --Readers Write Who Sells of citrus hybrids in North/Central Florida? "Mitch C. Amiano" Re: Who Sells of citrus hybrids in North/Central Florida? Dan Hemenway To: Mitch Re: Who Sells of citrus hybrids in North/Central Florida? Mitch C. Amiano To: Dan Hemenway Growing Mangoes In Nevada "Robert L. Thomasson" Re: Growing Mangoes In Nevada Leo Manuel To: "Robert L. Thomasson Re: Growing Mangoes in Nevada "Robert L. Thomasson" To: Leo Growing Mangoes in Nevada "Robert L. Thomasson" Re: Growing Mangoes in Nevada Leo Manuel To: "Robert L. Thomasson" Re: Growing Mangoes in Nevada "Robert L. Thomasson" FW: Sun and Starfruit "Buckner, Geoff" Carombola: Best In Full Sun, Partial Shade....? Buckner, Geoff [SMTP:GBuckner@BrwnCald.com] To: Ben Poirier Re: Carombola: Best In Full Sun, Partial Shade....? Ben Poirier [mailto:benplant@tfb.com] To: 'Buckner, Geoff' Cherimoya, guanabana in Boulder "Holzinger, Bob" To: Beth Best Sources Of Unusual Fruit & Vegetables in U.K. "Dynan, Roy" http://www.futurefoods.com/ http://members.aol.com/AgroResTr/homepage.html "Diamond River" / 'Petch Sakorn' Longans Eunice Messner Re: "Diamond River" / 'Petch Sakorn' Longans Sainarong Rasananda To: Eunice Messner Re: "Diamond River" / 'Petch Sakorn' Longans Eunice Messner To: Sainarong Black Sapote - Blooming; Now What Should I Do? Sue McAlister Re: Black Sapote - Blooming; Now What Should I Do? Leo Manuel To: Sue McAlister Your Post In Newsletter: Brevard Website Geoffrey Dunn To: Kevin Is This Normal For Babaco In Cooler Areas? Mark Dodgson Low-chill Hazelnuts KelsaySchroederTo: Eunice cherimoya seeds/fruit Kelsay Schroeder To: Barry Passionfruit Plant Resources Kelsay Schroeder To: Ed Low-chill hazelnut Eunice Messner To: Alan Schroeder Low-chill Hazelnuts Kelsay To: Eunice Low-chill Hazelnuts KelsaySchroeder To: Eunice Welcome! Eunice Messner To: Alan Schroeder Musa acumunata "Novak"-super dwarf from Home Depot-Info Sought Beth Elliott --Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider HortSearch - http://www.hortworld.com/hortsearch.htm Also, http://www.hortworld.com/scripts/hortworld/plantsearch.asp Derek Burch Source Needed For Fruit: Lychee, Carombola, Durian "alexandr" --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) None, this time --NAFEX List None, this time --From NEWCROPS List None, this time ----------------New Subscribers------------------ Date: Sun, 02 May 1999 19:16:43 -0700 Subject: New Subscriber, Reno, Wants Mango-Growing Information From: Robert L Thomasson <102073.3346@compuserve.com> Hi Robert L Thomasson <102073.3346@compuserve.com> in Reno, Nevada I am now germinating Philippine Mangoes (from supermarket fruit seeds) and would like to compare notes with other mango growers. Is it possible or practical to order grafted mangoes or scion wood directly from the Philippines? Robert L Thomasson Subject: New Subscriber, Malaysia, Has Durian, Cempedak, .... Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 05:24:17 PDT From: Yee Pak Leong My name: Yeepak Leong of Tapah, Perak, Malaysia Tapah is not a city, but only a small town with population of about 10,000. I have planted citrus, durian, guava, jack fruit and cempedak (a fruit looks similar to jack fruit but smaller, of the same family but is different in taste and texture). Intend to venture into citrus cultivation again. Yee Pak Leong Subject: New Subscriber Escondido, CA Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 11:54:41 -0700 From: "Cobbe,John" John Cobbe, Escondido, Calif I have the following trees growing now: Mango, litchee, longan, macadamia, cherimoya, atemoya, jaboticaba, surinam cherry, Cherry of the Rio-Grande, capulin cherry, guava, passion fruits, misc standards John Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Wants Secrets To Container Growing Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 22:16:58 +0000 From: Ken Brinsko Hi! Browsing the web and found you. Please add me to your mailing list: I am Ken Brinsko of Orange Park, FL, USA (near Jacksonville) Currently growing Kari carambola, Li jujube, Fuyu persimmon, and pomegranate. Want to grow che, sapote, and atemoya. Would like to know any secrets to container growing. Thank you! Ken Brinsko Subject: New Subscriber, Canary Islands, Spain, Wants Arid Zone Fruit Information Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 22:34:09 +0100 From: J. M. Laulhe Hi, I am Juan Manuel LAULHE, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain I am interested in getting cultural information for any kind of arid zone trees: Opuntias, Jujubas, Marula, Dates, Etc. My company name is Forestaciones Canarias, S.L. We operate in the Canary Islands, North West Africa. Thanks J. M. Laulhe Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 20:35:58 -0700 Subject: New Subscriber, Borneo, Wants Info For S. American Fruit From: A.L. Ong My name is A.L. Ong I'm from Singapore but living in Kuching, the administrative capital of Sarawak, which is a state in East Malaysia, in the Island of Borneo. I've started a fruit garden in my backyard three years ago with fruit trees that are indigenous to Borneo eg mangosteen, pulasan, rambutan, sapodilla, mango, carambola; I've just planted a dukong & Diamond River longan & a honey jackfruit. For most of your readers, rare fruits would mean your definition above; but for us here, it is difficult to find plants that may be easily grown here such as the fruit trees indigenous to South America.As I understand, we share a similar climate but due to the lack of publicity ,fruits that are not indegenous to Sarawak are a rarity here.So to answer your question, I am interested in growing Brazilian/South American fruit trees & any other which are uncommon here. I've just planted a jaboticaba, an atemoya, a few miracle fruits, & a few Abius. I would like to plant the Grumichama, the Cherry of the Rio Grande, mulberry, Canistel, Caimito, avocado, mabolo, mamey sapote, the yellow jaboticaba & the mysore raspberry just to name a few. I'm not too sure how I'm going to squeeze them in my small plot of land but I presume pruning would be the order of the day. I haven't any specific questions right now but I'd like to keep abreast of any new information on rare tropical fruits with the prospect of setting up a fruit lovers club here & to generally attempt to educate the public here that there are more than just the limited variety of fruits that are commonly grown in this region. Thank you. A.L. Ong Subject: New Subscriber, Oregon, Uses Greenhouse for 'Rare' Fruit Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 02:03:47 -0700 From: Tom Edwards Hi, I am Tom Edwards in Hood River, Oregon. This is a list of the fruit trees and vines I now have growing: Apples, Pears, Asian Pears, Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Kiwis, Limes, and Cherimoyas. Some in a greenhouse Tom Edwards Subject: New Subscriber, Ocala, FL, Interested In New Fruit Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 22:04:40 EDT From: Pgardener1@aol.com I am Pat Chuchian, in Ocala, FL Now I'm growing...Papaya, Fig, Pomegranite, Guava, Carambola, Bananas Would like to grow anything I can keep going......it gets little cold here in the winter.... Pat Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Growing Info for Persimmon & Durian Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 23:41:33 EDT From: Larry Ritchey Hi: I am a relatively new inhabitant of Sun City, Ca, not too far from your San Diego. The wife and I just bought what we hope is our retirement home and while there are some wonderful fruit trees already here, we are partial to the Japanese Persimmon fruit. Are there any special precautions, or suggestions on making this tree produce? By the way, our favorite fruit is called Durian(King of Fruits), are there any trees in southern Calif.? I would presume it is not tropical enough here to grow. I have several web sites on Durian already bookmarked, its even a pleasure to see the fruit on a published page. All we can get here is the frozen variety--which is better than nothing at all. I am now growing Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange, Kumquat, Pomegranate. Here are fruit I'd like cultivation information on: Japanese Persimmon, and of course Durian Has anyone started a Durian tree from a seed, and if so do they live in a more tropical climate than S. California? Regards, Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you Larry Ritchey -----------------Readers Write------------------ Date: Sun, 02 May 1999 04:26:09 -0400 From: "Mitch C. Amiano" Subject: Who Sells of citrus hybrids in North/Central Florida? I am going to be taking a short trip to Orlando in July (to meet up with vacationing family), and thought I'd kill two birds with one stone... by finding some cold-tolerant citranges and etcetera. I understand that certain citranges are used as root stocks. I'd especially like to get a hold of some citrangequats if possible. However, I'm having a devil of a time trying to locate sellers before hand (I have no contacts in the area who know anything about fruit). Does anyone here have any recommendations? (I live in NC/USDA Zone 7.) Thanks Mitch C. Amiano ---- From: Dan Hemenway To: Mitch Date: Sun, 2 May 1999 18:14:45 EDT Subject: Re: Who Sells of citrus hybrids in North/Central Florida? Hi Mitch: Danged if I know. If a list develops, send it on to me too, ok? I can't sell anything because I need a nursery license to sell so much as a sprout. I've been trying to get trifoliate orange seed and keep bombing out. In Florida, as in TX and probably CA, it is hell to get what you want because you can't import citrus from other states--at least ordinary folk can't. I'm kind of skeptical about zone 7 citrus, other than trifoliate orange, frankly. A better bet might be strawberry guava, fig, jujube, pear (good zone for pears), and persimmon. We are zone 9 here and can lose most "cold hardy" citrus in a bad winter. (Of course a bad winter for frost sensitive plants can be a good winter for plants that benefit from a bit more chill factor t han we usually get). Good luck. Dan ---- Date: Sun, 02 May 1999 18:56:54 -0400 From: "Mitch C. Amiano" To: Dan Hemenway Subject: Re: Who Sells of citrus hybrids in North/Central Florida? Luckilly, the citrus import restriction doesn't apply to citrus exports. I'm not naieve about the prospects of poncirus crosses here in North Carolina (figs here can get killed back to the ground with regularity). I'd even be willing to grow from seed. I've have kumquats, trifoliate, uglifruit, lemon, moro, white grapefruit, and calamondin that way, though I know most of them won't even take a cold shoulder without keeling over. I'm willing to give some poncirus hybrids a sporting chance. Mitch C. Amiano Subject: Growing Mangoes In Nevada Date: Sun, 2 May 1999 22:39:47 -0400 From: "Robert L. Thomasson" Leo, I'm considering growing mangoes in N. Nevada at 5800 ft elevation. By the time they are big enough to move outdoors, I will have a greenhouse up. The next step is to figure out how to limit their height so I can keep them in the greenhouse. My plan so far is to use the inverted bark graft technique I learned from Gordon Nofs. Of course, it will take some nerve as I'll be afraid of killing the trees. I love to see the look on peoples faces around here when I tell them I'm growing mangoes! Robert L. Thomasson Subject: Re: Growing Mangoes In Nevada Date: Sun, 02 May 1999 20:06:00 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: "Robert L. Thomasson" Bob, Grafted mango trees usually are much slower growing and not destined to get great height, and some varieties are smaller than others. You can probably control those slower ones by pruning. I do it to keep fruit where I want it, but I know of hobbyists who prune to keep the limbs away from the walls, where they may be damaged. The inverted bark is something I'd try on some, but not all, as you may have more drastic results than planned. What did you use the inverted bark graft on? A fruit tree? I'd like to know more about what you have found by using it yourself. Yours, Leo Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 13:05:27 -0400 From: "Robert L. Thomasson" To: Leo Subject: Re: Growing Mangoes in Nevada Leo, Sorry, I should've been more clear. My knowledge of inverted bark grafting is only theoretical at this stage, although I have a fig or two that I might try it on. The figs I have here are Hardy Chicago, Celeste and Brown Turkey. Just got them this spring, so I'm not sure how they are going to do. It was snowing here this AM, to give you some idea of the climate. It doesn't get all that cold here, but due to the 5800 ft elevation, spring is sometimes slow in coming. Once it does warm up, it usually stays nice and warm all summer, though. Thanks again, Robert L. Thomasson Date: Sun, 2 May 1999 23:04:37 -0400 From: "Robert L. Thomasson" Subject: Growing Mangoes in Nevada Leo, you said: If you can drive to one of the larger Southern California coastal communities, such as L.A. or San Diego, or others, you can find mangoes for sale in nurseries, and they will produce much faster than those you grow from seed, because they will have a head start. If you especially like the Phillipine mangoes, you can look for Manila, but there are others most of us like better, so you should try more than one, IF you have a protected place to grow them. They will not tolerate a freeze, but will survive a light frost, after they get some size. Probably, you'll need a greenhouse. Leo, The newsletter looks great! Thanks for your mango comments. I worked in the Philippines a couple years ago, and got addicted to their mangoes, which I think are superior to what is sold here as "Manila Mangoes." Far as I know, there are no mangoes in the Philippines called Manila Mangoes, nor are mangoes grown in or near to Manila. I think that would be kind of like "Los Angeles" apples. I'm interested in trying to get some of the other varieties of Philippine Mangoes, but I'm concerned about the difficulty involved in importing them. Can you recommend any other mango varieties to try? My mango growing and eating experience is pretty limited. I will, of course, need a greenhouse! It gets to -10 F or colder here and we regularly get early spring winds of 100+ mph. Keeps life interesting. I'm also growing northern varieties of kiwi and also some pawpaws, but I'm not sure they meet the rare fruit definition. Also have the usual apples, cherries, pears and some northern pecan and various walnuts, hickory and filberts. In the Philippines I saw banana plantations with blue plastic bags tied around the bunches on the trees. I'll e-mail some friends there and see if I can find out exactly the purpose is, and if there is any thing special about the bags. Thanks again, Robert L. Thomasson Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 12:49:48 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: "Robert L. Thomasson" Subject: Re: Growing Mangoes in Nevada Bob, I think you will find in talking to various mango growers, that it's the climate, rather than the variety, that will make all the difference in the taste of a mango - or other exotic fruit. I'm doubtful that a mango will survive after an inverted bark graft. Maybe you'll find out more when you try it on something less sensitive, such as the figs. I drove through Flagstaff a few days ago, and there was lots of snow, for a few miles. Regards, Leo Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 16:03:29 -0400 From: "Robert L. Thomasson" Subject: Re: Growing Mangoes in Nevada Leo, Thanks for the information. My only hope for the mangoes is a totally artificial climate in a greenhouse, so if I do it right, maybe I'll have some success. It's been a lot of fun so far just germinating the supermarket seeds, so even if I get awful or no mangoes, it will still be a positive and educational experiment. I'm also going to try and get a grafted variety that Eunice Messner suggested, Edwards. I called Pacific Tree Farms and they said they have a new shipment of mangoes coming in about two months, so I'll see if I can get something interesting. Yeah, I have serious doubts about the inverted bark graft too, but with the supermarket seedlings it will be an interesting attempt and not a great loss if I lose them. I know you're busy, no need to respond to this e-mail, just wanted to thank you for your advice. Robert L. Thomasson From: "Buckner, Geoff" Subject: FW: Sun and Starfruit Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 09:10:40 -0700 Leo, You and other readers in SoCal may be interested in this exchange. How is your Carambola doing that you got from Quang's? [Not much, I've wondered if it didn't need partial shade for at least a while. I'll provide that. Thanks! Leo] -----Original Message----- From: Buckner, Geoff [SMTP:GBuckner@BrwnCald.com] Sent: Friday, April 30, 1999 11:24 AM To: Ben Poirier Subject: Carombola: Best In Full Sun, Partial Shade....? Ben, I just read with interest your article in the latest Fruit Gardener regarding experimentation with seeds. I am interested, in particular, with your finding that Carambola grown in CA prefer at least partial shade. As I am sure you are aware, the literature is mixed on this issue. I have read growers/researchers say full sun is best and others say Carambola will do just fine in nearly full shade. I would appreciate it very much if you would give me your opinion regarding the following scenario. I just planted a Sri Kembagnan Carambola (the tree is grafted and came from Florida) in a relatively protected area in full sun on the western slope of Point Loma. In your experience, do you think that this tree might do better in partial shade in this microclimate? It has new growth down on the trunk, however, the existing branches have been dying back. I assumed this phenomenon was from our cold spring. Could this be from placement in full sun, even in a coastal environment? Thank you in advance for your reply. I enjoyed your article. Geoff Buckner -----Original Message----- From: Ben Poirier [mailto:benplant@tfb.com] Sent: Friday, April 30, 1999 6:53 PM To: 'Buckner, Geoff' Subject: Re: Carombola: Best In Full Sun, Partial Shade....? Hi Goeff, Glad to hear you liked the article. My guess is that it is the sun causing the dieback. The cold did not affect my trees this winter - we had a few nights down to 33 and one at 32 with no dieback. However, some of the trees are dropping leaves now, but nothing to be concerned about. My suggestion would be to put some shadecloth around the tree for now. You may not want to disturbe the rootball by replanting at this time. If the new growth is below the graft union, you should remove it, otherwise the growth could all go in this direction and the grafted portion may die back, leaving you with basically a seedling tree. Some of my larger trees (7-8feet tall) are getting more sun now, but not more than a half day, if that. Let me know if I can be of further help, and please let me know how your tree does. I am trying to gather more info on how other people are doing with the carambola - I feel it has some real potential Regards Ben Poirier [mailto:benplant@tfb.com] From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Beth Subject: Cherimoya, guanabana in Boulder Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 13:52:26 -0700 HI Beth, Saw your question on growing cherimoya and guanabana in Boulder, I assume you have a relatively large greenhouse in which to grow these trees. Neither would survive outside even one winter and the guanabana is possibly the most cold sensitive annona in cultivation. The cherimoya can take it in the mid-twenties when mature, but the guanabana will start to die back when the temperature hits 40. Both could benefit from a rich, well draining potting mix or soil, a complete fertilizer a couple of times a year and elevated humidity (50% or greater). Hand pollination will most likely be necessary once the trees reach flowering age. Both can be grown from seed, or grafted cultivars of both could be tried instead. The cherimoya are going deciduous right now, so this would be a good time to have one shipped, if you can find a source. Good luck, Bob Holzinger Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 17:27:49 +0100 From: "Dynan, Roy" Subject: Best Sources Of Unusual Fruit & Vegetables in U.K. http://www.futurefoods.com/ http://members.aol.com/AgroResTr/homepage.html Hi Leo, Thanks for the newsletter - it proved very timely and very very useful as I'm just starting to think about improving my Pitaya harvest! Here are two URLs you may need to take an editorial view on before releasing - they (with Clive Simms of Lincolnshire and Read's of Norfolk - but neither seem to have a website) are the best sources of unusual fruit and veg in the UK. They both give interesting data on growing and using: Future Foods (not to be confused with futurefood of Sonoma) http://www.futurefoods.com/ and the agroforestry research trust http://members.aol.com/AgroResTr/homepage.html. If you don't find anything new in these two, then as Peter Lorre probably didn't say: 'I'm not worthy, master'. Future foods catalogue is a much better read as it contains very good learned/funny/whimsical articles by Jeremy Cherfas who writes for Kew and the RHS - he specialises in unusual and 'lost' foods. The agroforestry guys have a very wide range but seem to use a very literal definition of 'edible'. Of course there is no need to print 'chill' status in a UK catalogue! PS. sorry to hear about your family difficulties etc. I hope you find the obvious enthusiasm and esteem shown by your correspondents is a support. Roy Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 17:06:27 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Longans Sainarong Rasananda... In the last issue of Florida's "Tropical Fruit News" there was an ad. for "Diamond River' longans. We were contemplating ordering some of these, but you briefly mentioned in Leo's last posting that they are "not so nice". Was that reference to the fruit itself or to the habit of alternate bearing? One had to order 100 so we would appreciate your opinion. Eunice Messner Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 11:44:58 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Eunice Messner Subject: Re: "Diamond River' / 'Petch Sakorn' Longans First, I would like to make it clear that I have never seen 'Diamond River'. However, from what I have read about it, I assume that it is the same cultivar which is known as 'Petch Sakorn' in Thailand. 'Petch' means diamond, and 'Sakorn' means river. Petch Sakorn is a tropical longan, as opposed to Kohala, Biew Kiew, Shompoo, Haew, etc which are sub-tropical longans. Tropical longans are 'native' to central Thailand and South Vietnam. It is my opinion that they may have mutated from the Chinese sub-tropical longans, which were brought to these parts by the Chinese sea-farers centuries ago. These tropical longans are very distinct from the commonly-known longans, one can easily differentiate the leaves, the barks and the fruits. There are many tropical longans in these areas, the most well-known Thai cultivar is Petch Sakorn, and the most well-known Vietnamese cultivar is Teo Yah Bor or Black Pepper. All these tropical longans share similar characteristics. They are very easy to grow and to take care of in the tropic; they can flower two or three times a year; they flower very easily in the tropic; a grower in the tropic can mke them flower any time he wants by simple cincturing or girdling; the yield is pretty good; the fruit size of some cultivars is highly acceptable; the flesh is rather watery; the taste is definitely inferior to that of the sub-tropical longans (there is unanimous agreement in Thailand on this). I rather think that Petch Sakorn is not a new cultivar, but one which has been in existence for some time, but has only recently been 'discovered'. In Thailand, during the past few years, Petch Sakorn fetches a very high price, over twice the normal price, simply because it matures at a time no other fresh longans is available. I think that two factors will bring the price down, namely, more Petch Sakorn is being planted; the use of potassium chlorate to force longan to flower at any time will become more widespread in Thailand. As I have already mentioned, Petch Sakorn is essentially a tropical longan, but grows well in the colder climate of the North of Thailand. However, those few Petch Sakorn trees which I have planted in the north of Thailand are even more watery fruit-wise than in the central plains. I have no problems with the flowering, however. This is my own limited experience. FYI the north of Thailand is less cold than central Florida. Let me know if you want more info. Sainarong Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 13:23:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Diamond River longans To: Sainarong Rasananda Sainarong Rasananda... Thank you so much for your very informative description of the 'Diamond River' longan ('Petch Sakorn'). They sounded very tempting to try and grow here, until you said their flavor is inferior to the sub-tropical longans. I forwarded your information to Roger Meyer who was considering growing them commercially. We do have a nurseryman who has planted 11 acres of longans in Southern Californina because they fruit here in the off-season of other commercially offered longans. The Orange County chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers has an annual sale and we are always looking for new things to offer. Again, thank you for your excellent description of 'Diamond River'. May I publish it in the ""Fruit Gardener magazine? I think others would find it of great interest. Eunice Messner From: Sue McAlister Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 19:16:24 EDT Subject: Black Sapote - Blooming; Now What Should I Do? For the first time,I just found some blooms on my Black Sapote. Is there some special way that I should care for it? Thank you. I just love your newsletter. Sue McAlister Naples, Fl. Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 19:21:57 -0700 To: Sue McAlister From: Leo Manuel Subject: Re: Black Sapote - Blooming; Now What Should I Do? Sue, I'm not sure whether some black sapote require a pollinator or not, but I know some are self-pollinating. Let's hear what rest of the readers have to say. Yours, Leo Date: Sun, 09 May 1999 10:21:53 -0700 From: Geoffrey Dunn To: Kevin Subject: Your Post In Newsletter: Brevard Website Hello Kevin, My name is Geoff and I hail from South Africa. I have been to the Brevard site frequently and really like the pictures. This brings me to the reason for this post: I have grown a few carambola from seed (The Yellow variety) The tallest tree now only about 4 feet. What I would really like to do now, is grow an example of the "Red" carambola, since having seen the picture on your site. So, my questions are: 1. Is seed for this tree available, if so, what would they cost? 2. Could you recommend a source for cultural notes for carambola in general? I know that this must be something of a rarity, as I have enquired on the Santol webpage notice board and except for the proof on Brevards page, no-one will believe that it exists! Please tell me that my quest is not in vain? Many Thanks and Regards from South Africa, Geoff Dunn P.S. Should you favour me with a reply, please cc to as it largely thanks to his newsletter that I know of Brevard. Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 23:35:08 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Dodgson Subject: Is This Normal For Babaco In Cooler Areas? Hi Leo My young babaco plant is around 3 feet tall and has many fruit growing in various stages of development. The plant is in a 19 inch wide pot. It seems the old leaves are turning yellow and dropping off. As this is the first season I've had fruit on the plant during the Winter period, is this normal behaviour for the babaco in cooler areas? Thanks in advance Mark Dodgson Mark's Mostly Chile Page http://members.xoom.com/mjdodgson/ Subject: Low-chill Hazelnuts Date: Mon, 9 May 1999 13:14:13 +0000 From:KelsaySchroeder To: eunicemessner@yahoo.com Dear Eunice: Even though low-chill hazelnuts may not exactly fit our rare fruit paradigm, I will try and let you know what I can in case others are interested as well. Seeds,scions and rooted layers are available through the: National Germplasm Repository 33447 Peoria Rd. Corvallis, OR 97333 phone: 503.750.8712 FAX: 503.750.8717 You must contact them by early November,especially regarding requests for open pollinated seed. Probably the best bet for rooted cuttings is to ask for nondormant seedlings. These come up every year there in Oregon but are just plowed under as they would not survive their winters, but since they require no winter chilling would be perfect for places like Southern California. About 25% of all hazelnut seedlings will be non-dormant. The only problem is that since they would be open pollinated, you could not be certain as to the quality of the nuts. A person like myself ordered known low chill cultivars such as: (1) Tombul Ghiagli (2) Tonda di Giffoni (3) OSU 380.060 (4) San Giovanni These cultivars originated in Southern Italy and Turkey and require between 300-600 chill hours, San Giovanni requiring the least. Of course they all require cross pollination to set a crop. I am not especially gifted when it comes to grafting, but I did not find any problem in grafting up these varieties so I could fit them in a limited space. Reference: Mehlenbacher, Shawn "Chilling Requirements of hazelnut cultivars"Scientia Horticulturae, 47 (1991)271-282. Alan Schroeder Subject: cherimoya seeds/fruit Date: Mon, 9 May 1999 13:32:05 +0000 From: Kelsay Schroeder To: Barry Dear Barry: I recommend that in order to obtain cherimoya seeds that you consult the seed bank of the California Rare Fruit Growers (www.crfg.org). There is almost always some type of cherimoya seed available. Insofar as scionwood availability, I have received some in the mail from Pacific Tree Farms, 4301 Lynwood Dr., Chula Vista,CA 91910 phone:619.422.2400, FAX:619.426.6759. I think they have about a dozen cultivars availble. May is about the end of the season for Cherimoya scionwood. Regarding Cherimoya fruit, I would suggest you go to the new website of the California Cherimoya Association (www.cherimoyas.org) and click on to the area entitled "Marketplace". I do not know if they would ship to individuals but perhaps they know of someone who would. Alan Schroeder Subject: Passionfruit Plant Resources Date: Mon, 9 May 1999 13:58:00 +0000 From: Kelsay Schroeder To: Ed Dear Ed: To obtain passionfruit plants, I obtained all of mine from our local chapter meetings of the California Rare Fruit Growers and from the now defunct Seaside Banana Farm here near Santa Barbara.CA. I would suggest you contact: Wild Ridge Nursery 17561 Vierra Canyon Rd. Box 37 Prunedale, CA 93907 ph:831.768.1517 This is the nursery run by Patrick Worley, who has hybridized many of the best subtropical passiflora. You should be able to get all the varieties I have plus many more. This is the only mail order source of "Purple Tiger" I know of. Another source of many passionfruit would be: Kartuz Greenhouses PO Box 790 Vista, CA 92085-0790 ph:760.941.3613 FAX: 760.941.1123 Finally, one could also order from: Logee's Greenhouse 141 North St. Danielson,CT 06239-1939 www.logees.com Insofar as to which is the best fruited variety, I am sure people in semitropical or tropical regions would have other candidates, but here in Southern California that I can grow outdoors I would say my "Frederick" is the best. I mainly use the fruit for juice. I do not want to fuss with little fruits and "Frederick" is much bigger than its sister "Red Rover". Some say "Red Rover" is sweeter, but I do not discern much difference. "Purple Tiger" is supposed to be the best flavored, bar none. My plant is still small and I have not tasted the fruit. It must be cross pollinated with P. caerulea "Constance Elliott" to set fruit. I grow "Elizabeth" primarily for the beautiful fragrant and colorful flowers. Its fruit, which also must be cross pollinated to produce, is so-so. Regarding your P. incarnata I imagine you might need to cross pollinate it yourself. I am not sure if that species is self fertile, but most passiflora are not. Alan Schroeder Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 08:09:36 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Low-chill hazelnut To: Alan Schroeder Alan Schroeder.. Thanks so much for all the good information and the time you spent. I have in the past told people hazel nuts needed winter chill, so I learned something new. Funny no one ever wrote about it in the Fruit Gardener magazine, unless I missed it. If I mention it in my column, do you think a back yard grower will have any problem getting the hazelnut from the Germplasm Repository? Eunice Messner Subject: low-chill hazelnuts Date: Mon, 27 Aug 1956 13:07:05 +0000 From: Kelsay To: eunicemessner@yahoo.com Dear Eunice: I had no problem obtaining material from the Germplasm Repository. I simply wrote I was with the CRFG and was interested in finding out whether or not hazelnuts could grow and produce in zone 10. I am not even sure if it was necessary to have some purported "research" explanation in order to obtain the material or not,but they did threaten that it was necessary in the forms they sent for ordering. I have intended to write an article for the CRFG's Fruit Gardener but would like a couple more years to evaluate nut productivity and flavor, etc. on the various cultivars before doing that. Alan Schroeder Subject: low-chill hazelnuts Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 13:20:22 +0000 From:KelsaySchroeder To: eunicemessner@yahoo.com Dear Eunice: I was told by the Oregon Germplasm folks that they had sent several non-dormant hazelnuts for planting out several years ago to the South Coast Field Station in Irvine, CA. They had no idea if anyone was looking after them or what the result was but it might be of interest to check it out since I believe you live down in that direction. Kelsay Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 13:39:27 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Welcome! To: Alan Schroeder Alan Schroeder: The name Schroeder and having a pink cherimoya surely indicates you are related to the noted Dr. C.A. and Mary Schroeder, members of the California Rare Fruit Growers. I have a question for you. Where can one find seeds for the low-chill hazelnut? Eunice Messner Subject: Musa acumunata "Novak"-super dwarf from Home Depot-Info Sought Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 09:21:24 -0800 From: Beth Elliott Hi Leo Thank you for your fabulous newsletter & all of your work! I recently added a Musa acumunata "Novak" - super dwarf from Home Depot to my banana collection. I'd like to give one to my parents in Denver who will keep it in a pot & haul it inside each winter. Do you have an idea of its mature size? Thanks, Beth Elliott San Pedro, CA ------------------Announcements And Web Pages To Consider------------------ Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 20:58:38 -0400 (EDT) From: Derek Burch Subject: HortSearch - http://www.hortworld.com/hortsearch.htm Also, http://www.hortworld.com/scripts/hortworld/plantsearch.asp Greetings to everyone' (on Zingiber List) This is not really a commercial message, although our site is a commercial venture. We have installed a search engine which will be restricted, in the data base which it searches, to botanical/horticultural sites (as far as we can control it, that is). This is an invitation to anyone with a website that they would like to enter into the data base (private or commercial), to do so. It is free, of course. We benfit from having a better base for anyone who searches, as the site benefits from additional exposure. The procedure is simple if you are on the web. Go to http://www.hortworld.com and click on the hortsearch logo. Then click "add url", and enter your address in the space which pops up. Choose whatever category you like in the other drop down menu, and press "enter". The screen will change fairly quickly to a thank you for entering message, including something which says "we grabbed your site in x seconds. While you are at hortworld, you may visit my tentative magazine if you like. The first issue had a little on small gingers - I would welcome other pictures to add to the gallery. I can give photocredit, of course. The images may be e-mailed to me at derek@betrock.com, and I would be most grateful. Sorry for this semi-commercial intrusion - it is meant well: the more people can get around to interesting botanical sites the better as far as I an comcerned. Derek Burch Subject: Source Needed For Fruit: Lychee, Carombola, Durian Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 16:20:40 -0700 From: "alexandr" We are a company in Lodi, California. Alexander Kiwifruit Products, Inc. 901 E. Lodi Ave, Lodi,CA 95240. Our web site is www/ccmall,com/kiwi. We process different fruit into purees. We are looking for lychee, carambola and durien to process. Do you know of any sources for any of these fruits? Thank you George Alexander ------------------Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers)------------------ None this time ------------------NAFEX List ------------------ None this time -------Discussion list for New Crops------- None this time >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - May 15, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - June 1, 1999 - AKA RFN9906A.txt Rare Fruit News Online is primarily 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 sources thought to be of interest, such as books, periodicals, or web pages and their URL addresses. It works, because of the teamwork among you, and I'm pleased to be part of it. --Notes In Passing #1 Send Me Your List Of Resources (Print And On-Line Resources) If you will send me a list of fruit resources that you use often and recommend, I'll collate and publish them, and keep it as a supplement to give to new subscribers to the newsletter. I'd suggest we divide it up into these categories (Think of others?): 1. Books 2. Web Pages 3. Periodicals This list could be of great value to most of us. #2 This message is for those who will not receive this newsletter. (I wish it were possible to send such a message.) My Netscape Mail frequently loses blocks of addresses that are referred to as address lists by Netscape. It is frustrating and leads to my wasting time each month. Since those who should get this message won't, remember that if in the future you don't get the newsletter, that's most likely what happened, and simply request it again. This will prompt me to look to see if your name is still in the address book. I would change to Eudora except that it's not easy to import addresses from Netscape to Eudora, at least in large numbers. Leo #3 All of my early deciduous fruit has been far less sweet than I remember it. (Earligrand Peach, Desert Delight Nectarine, Gulf Red Plum) Is it climate? Missing trace minerals, and other food? I have plums, nectarines, and peaches, all of which are very early and all far less sweet than in prior years. Also, see: 'UFQueen' Nectarine, 250 Hours Chill, From Florida, near end of this newsletter. ---------Table Of Contents - Headers; (Letters Follow Table Of Contents) --New Subscribers New Subscriber, FL, Wants To Grow Pecans Tom Tyczkowski New Subscriber, CA, Grows everything; Has Questions Ramon Tuazon Tuazonrr@netzero.net New Subscriber, NC, With Unwelcome Deer Greg Tereszczyk New Subscriber Wants To Grow Mangoes Near San Francisco Mike Pleiss New Subscriber, Illinois, Wants Indoor Citrus Information Tony Shadid New Subscriber, FL, Grows Fruiting Plants I Don't Know About! Gary Nix New Subscriber, FL, Wants To Grow Black Sapote, Miracle Fruit, .... Matthew Carrick --Readers Write Questions: Carombola in Pots; Mango Nam Doc Mai Nan Sterman XX3 Avocado - In Search Of Nan Sterman Re: XX3 Avocado "Julie & Paul Frink" To: Leo Carambola in Pots, Nam Doc Mai Mango, ... Leo Manuel To: Nan Sterman Cold Hardy Citrus Darryl To: Mitch Ricardo Barbosa from Brazil At Our Meeting Holzinger, Bob" Re: Cold Hardy Citrus Darryl To: Mitch Black Persimmon (= Black Sapote) Eunice Messner To: Sue McAlister Japanese Persimmons Eunice Messner to Larry Fruit Identification From Photos Stef Van Uffel Re: Fruit Identification From Photos Leo Manuel To: Stef Van Uffel Re: Fruit Identification From Photos - Also Want Hardy Kiwi Seed Stef Van Uffel" To: Re: Fruit Identification From Photos - Also Want Hardy Kiwi Seed Leo Manuel To: Stef Van Uffel Fruit Identification From Photos - Jim Neitzel Says Langsat Leo Manuel To: Stef Van Uffel Re: Fruit Identification From Photos - Langsat Stef Van Uffel Longan - Which One Would You Recommend and Why? Kelsay Schroeder Passifloras Bob To: Ed Container tips Holzinger, Bob To: South American Seeds Holzinger, Bob To: Re: Mangos in Reno Holzinger, Bob Tell Me About Growing Jackfruit In California Ramon Tuazon Re: Carombola: Best In Full Sun, Partial Shade....? Sven RE: Starfruit in the shade Geoff BucknerTo:Tina Siegel Re: Book for growers in England Sven To: roy.dynan Re: Book for growers in England Leo Manuel To: Roy Dynan and Sven Merten RE: Book for growers in England Dynan, Roy To: Leo and Sven Re: Guava tree (Fejoa?) Lon Rombough To:Mark Re: Carambola in Pots, Nam Doc Mai Mango, ... Nan Sterman Re: Carambola in Pots, Nam Doc Mai Mango, ... Leo Manuel To: Nan Sterman Greetings from Santa Barbara - Just Passing By Pollyanna Sorensen Floridian Interested in Annonas, No Email, Wants Contacts Robert Perez, Miami, FL --Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider 'UFQueen' Nectarine, 250 Hours Chill, From Florida Leo Manuel --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) None, this time --NAFEX List Blueberry grafting (H. Black) Hector Black mailto:hblack@twlakes.net> -------Discussion list for New Crops------- Re: Tamarillo / Tree Tomato - Need Recipies VidaVerde --From NEWCROPS List None, this time ----------------New Subscribers------------------ Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 06:45:41 -0700 Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Wants To Grow Pecans From: Tom Tyczkowski I am Tom Tyczkowski, Merritt Island FL Now I am growing banana, citrus, cherry, pear, nectarines, grapes. I'd like to grow pecans Tom Tyczkowski mailto:tyczkowski@aol.com Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Grows everything; Has Questions Date: Tuesday, l8 May l999 From: Ramon Tuazon Tuazonrr@netzero.net [Ramon subscribed in April, but I failed to get his introduction published. I apologize! Leo] Ramon Tuazon West Covina, California Fruit Trees in 30 year old orchard: Mango, Haden, Hawaiian very productive in this area Cherimoya: Booth, White, AND 3 specie unknown, late maturing fruits Lychee, Hawaiian, good bloomer won't set fruits in this area. Guava: Argentina, crispy rind, sweet and Mexican, soft rind, sour Apricot, Tilton; Pear, Barttlet, not to good in this area Grapefruit, Florida, very productive this area; Tangerine, Calamondin Kiwi, Fallbrook variety; Loquats, unknown variety, very productive Fig, Grapes, Nectarine, Persimmon, Fuyu, Japanese Plum: prune; Santa Rosa; Satsuma, Avocado, Apple, Peach, Plum, black, Duhat, Philippine Would like to grow Jackfruit -- Any suggestions is very much appreciated. Would appreciate any suggestions to make over ten year old heavy blooming lychee to set fruits. Also, I'd like hand-pollination instruction for Cherimoya. Thank you very much. Ramon Tuazon mailto:Tuazonrr@netzero.net Subject: New Subscriber, NC, With Unwelcome Deer Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 15:54:00 -0400 From: Greg Tereszczyk Gregory Tereszczyk, Raleigh, NC I grow: persimmons, asian pears, nectarines, peaches, apples, plums, paw-paws, kiwi Would like to grow: raisin tree, jujube and anything else I can get my hands on. Alas, I only have 1/4 acre plus a house on it. I have serious shortage of land. I am working to correct rectify the short comming. How do I get my paw-paws to grow. They are not doing too well compared to my other trees. They are in well drained sunny soil with plenty of fertilizer. Next, how to get rid of bambis short of putting them in the pot. Not that I mind bambi meat, but I live in a town, meaning can't use firearms. Neighbors would get upset. Greg mailto:gtereszczyk@clariion.com Subject: New subscriber Wants To Grow Mangoes Near San Francisco Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 15:13:46 -0700 From: "Pleiss, Mike" Dear Mr. Manuel, Thanks you for this wonderful service. Info requested is below. I also moved to California from Kansas (went to graduate school in Lawrence and moved to Sunnyvale in 1983). Mike Pleiss of Sunnyvale, CA I am now growing lots of citrus and various quinces but, the fruit trees I want to grow are mango and guava. I have an eight year old daughter (Katie) who could live on mangoes. She really wants to grow one, but we live in Sunnyvale, CA (San Francisco area), so I was assuming I needed to grow a "dwarf " varietal in a large container and move it indoors in the winter. I put a query out on the tropical forum of gardenweb.com and received lots of help. One person suggested growing "Keitt" and said it was well suited for containers. I see in the Pacific Tree Farms catalog that a "Chuchua" varietal is listed with 28F listed next to it. Is this a cold tolerant varietal that could be planted in the ground (I am in the warmer regions of zone 9)? What is the fruit like? Any advice, suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to start one from seed. Thanks in advance for all help. Mike mailto:mpleiss@elanpharma.com Subject: New Subscriber, Illinois, Wants Indoor Citrus Information Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 19:50:12 -0500 From: Tony Shadid Tony Shadid, of Peoria, IL I am now growing Clementine from seeds. The seeds have sprouted and I have two plants. One is inside and the other is outside in a large planter. I have never done this before and I would like any info concerning growing conditions for these plants. I would like to keep the plants inside when they start bearing fruit because I understand the house fills with citrus smell. Thank You. Tony mailto:ashadi1@uic.edu From: Gary Nix Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 20:35:12 -0700 Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Grows Fruiting Plants I Don't Know About! Dear Leo, My name is Gary Nix and I live near Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I heard about your newsletter through Bruce Livingstone who is an instructor of a tropical fruit class at one of the community colleges. My fruiting plants that I grow are Mangos, Bananas, Lychees, Sweetsop, Barbados Cherry, Grumichama, Guava, Passionfruit, Jaboticaba, Vexator, Yellow Jaboticaba, Coffee, Jakfruit, Miracle Fruit, Papaya, Pineapple, Coffee, Raspberry, Mulberry, Mountain Soursop, Santol, Carambola Wampi, Inga and Bunchosia. I also have some citrus which I guess is not really "rare fruit". I currently have calamondin and Honeybell Tangelo trees and one fruit cocktail tree that has tangelo, tangerine and two kinds of orange grafted on. I'm interested in tropical plants as a whole but especially fruiting tropical plants. I like the plants that can produce fruit when they are only a few feet tall. My yard is not very big and I have to crowd all my plants together. The best feeling I get is when a new plant produces fruit for the first time. It's great showing off my "yard candy" to all my friends. I look forward to reading your newsletter and hearing from other growers. Gary Nix mailto:dgnix@mediaone.net Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 05:21:01 -0700 From: Matthew Carrick Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Wants To Grow Black Sapote, Miracle Fruit, .... Hi, I am Matthew Carrick of Palm Bay, FL Fruit trees that I have: Guava, grapes, pineapple, aloe, persimmon, fig, citrus, papaya, avacodo, blueberries, pecans, blackberries, apple, loquat. Fruit trees that I would like to grow: All Spice, mysore black raspberry, black sapote, miracle fruit Matthew -----------------Readers Write------------------ Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 22:15:11 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: Questions: Carombola in Pots; Mango Nam Doc Mai Hello Leo and everyone else! I recently bought a carambola that I am intending to grow in a pot on my San Diego patio. Can anyone advise me on how to grow this critter? The one I have is in a 5 gal container, and stands at least 5 1/2 feet tall. Also, is anyone familiar with a mango called Nam Doc Mai and it's preferences, how it produces, etc.? Thanks Nan Sterman mailto:nsterman@mindsovermatter.com San Diego County California Sunset zone 24 Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 22:12:01 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: XX3 Avocado - In Search Of Hello - I am trying to find an XX3 avocado plant -- I saw one a few years ago at the South Coast Research Station near you and fell in love with the fruit and tree. I've contacted the Herb Lee of the Orange County CRFG chapter and he is checking in to a tree for me. In the meantime, I wonder if you know of anyone with an XX3 who would share either a plantlet or scionwood with me. thanks so much Nan Sterman mailto:nsterman@mindsovermatter.com From: "Julie & Paul Frink" To: Leo Subject: Re: XX3 Avocado Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 08:41:56 PDT It is possible that there will be a few for sale at the CRFG booth, Orange County, at the Green Scene at the Fullerton Arboretum next April. Otherwise I don't think they will be available for another 2 years. We are hoping to release some wood to nurseries next spring for propagation. If we do this they will be come available in 2001 on a limited basis. JRFrink mailto:jrfavodata@hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 03:39:41 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Nan Sterman Subject: Carambola in Pots, Nam Doc Mai Mango, ... Hi Nan, Supplement - PotCultr.txt: UnderCover Crops - Mobile Tropical Fruit Orchards By Ray Bayer Tropical Fruit World (March/April 1990 22-24; May/June 1990 58-59; September/October 1990 130; Nov/Dec 1990 163; Jan/Feb 1991 29; Here is a part of the supplement, "PotCultr.txt" concerning carambola: Carambola: Star of Pennsylvania By Ray Bayer The star fruit or carambola (Averrhoa carambola) can be the centerpiece of any tropical fruit orchard, not only for its crisp sweet taste, but also because of the unusual structure of the fruit. The carambola has 4 to 6 prominently raised ribs traveling the length of the fruit and when cut horizontally, voila, a star is born! The cut fruit looks distinctly starlike, the number of ribs determining the number of points on the star. If the shape of the fruit isn't unusual enough, its coloration and skin texture add even more to the fruit's pleasing strangeness. The mature fruit is a beautiful bright yellow, and due to a heavy coating of natural wax, the skin shines as though it's been painted with enamel lacquer. For all of its uniqueness and exotic eye appeal though, the carambola is a pleasure to grow in a container and very easy to bring into fruiting. I grow two varieties, the 'Arkin' and 'Fwang Tung, and both provide me with stellar fruiting performances every year. My trees are grown in 17" pots and the soil is kept on the acidic side. I use ammonia sulfate on the carambolas several times during the growing season (as I do with several other trees) and they simply revel in this treatment. Beginning in late winter, flowers appear in seemingly constant flushes. They appear as inflorescences from the leaf axils (where the leaf attaches to the tree) on young growth or where the leaves have fallen away on old growth. The small flowers are beautifully lilac, pleasantly fragrant and perfect, although, again, I assist pollination with my ever-present brush. Fruit maturation takes from 3 to 5 months depending on the weather and the time of the season in which the tree is holding fruit. The carambola is such an exuberant producer that I have had two foot high airlayers holding six fruit. Vegetatively propagated plants are the only reliable method of growing this tree because fruit taste ranges from sour to very sweet, with the fruit produced by seedlings almost guaranteed to be poor. Another interesting point about the star fruit is that the compound leaves have the ability to fold back at night only to open again in the morning. When I first started growing the trees I was unaware of this trait. It was in the evening on the day after they arrived from Florida that I first noticed the folded leaves and it was right after I had fertilized them. Of course I immediately thought I had done them in. However, the morning brought with it not only unfurled leaves but the awareness that this ability was just another distinctive characteristic of the carambola. The one minor problem in growing this tree that could eventually become very bothersome is that the trees attracts spider mites. I'm sure for Florida growers this problem is nonexistent but to greenhouse gardeners it could easily get out of control. This problem only becomes evident in the winter when the trees are quartered to the hothouse and is quickly remedied by soapy water or other means, usually chemical. Other than this one inconvenience, the carambola is certainly one of my top picks for its ease of culture and abundance of fruit it produces so regularly. ------- Nam Doc Mai is a mango available in several nurseries of late, and I bought a plant year before last. I didn't let it bear fruit last year, but I may permit a few to stay on this time. It is supposed to be a favorite in Thailand, and is polyembryonic, as I recall. Also, I've sent a copy of your avocado information request to Julie Frink, who knows more about avocados than just about anyone. Thanks for your support, Leo Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 02:09:54 -0700 From: Darryl To: Mitch Subject: Cold Hardy Citrus Hello Mitch: I am Darryl Clark in Charlotte, NC. I have been growing several Hardy varieties of Citrus and having a ball at it. I'm currently searching for "Thomasville Citrangequat", and having no success. I have located a source for several other "super" hardy citrus varieties. Please let me know if you come across a citrangequat source. I will do likewise. Fruitfully, Darryl mailto:autores@iname.com From: "Holzinger, Bob" Subject: Ricardo Barbosa from Brazil At Our Meeting Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 08:11:09 -0700 Hi Leo, Ricardo Barbosa and his wife Sonia came to our meeting and then followed me home for a lunch and a tour of my yard. He seemed to like my planting, but said all of my Myrtaceae were iron deficient. So I'm going to try some chelated iron as a foliar spray and also as a soil amendment. He suggested that I also check the pH of my soil, but it's obvious to him that it's too alkaline. With our water I wonder why! His native soil is pH 5.5 or there abouts. Gee, that would be nice to have, wouldn't it? Interestingly, though, he said they usually get temperatures of 30-32 every winter, yet he grows all the stuff we do and more. He's even trying rambutans! If I sent you his plant list way back when I first contacted him, well you can throw it away. He says he has over 180 plants now, so I will try to get a new list from him when he gets back home. He's a very nice guy and his English is good, and while he didn't want to talk at the meeting, he could have handled it. He left with an open invitation to visit him and to stay at his place. Looks like you can be very busy with 350+ readers for RFNO. I just started reading the latest mailing and I should have some comments in a day or two. Hope the trip to Oklahoma goes well. Later, Bob mailto:bholzing@amgen.com Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 01:33:44 -0700 From: Darryl To: Mitch Subject: Re: Cold Hardy Citrus Hello Mitch: I did receive your reply. Sorry for the impersonal header. If you have found a wholesale supply for Citrangequats, I am very excited. I would be willing to buy at wholesale quantity, and then sell you whatever quantity you want, at cost. I am looking for enough Thomasville to make a hedge. I started this scheme planning to use trifoliate "Flying dragon", but decided to go after thomasville in order to have something I would actually want to eat. Risky? yes! Fun? Yes! Expensive? Not compared to life's other vices :-). Please let me know what you've found in wholesale sources, and I'll see if I can work within their minimums. Where are you in North Carolina? Thanks, Darryl mailto:autores@iname.com ---- Mitch C. Amiano wrote: Will do. I'm interested in citrangequats myself, and am interested in hearing of your experiences. I'm also taking a trip in July to Orlando, and will make every opportunity to leave with several citranges, and if possible (though unlikely in that time frame, I suppose) some fruit. Have extended-cab pickup truck, will travel! I've got a few contacts for wholesale plants. Trouble is, I don't have time to deal with minimum quantities of 30 per. I can't get rid of all the kumquats I've grown from seed, let alone a couple of hundred plants. I figure I'd be able at the moment to use perhaps six or so of three or four varieties, but more later. (Hmmm... "Autores"... I wonder if this response is going to reach you?) Mitch Amiano, mailto:nop@ipass.net Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 15:48:33 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner Subject: Black Persimmon (AKA Black Sapote) To: Sue McAlister Sue McAlister... In 1980 I planted a small seedling Black Persimmon tree. I hoped, with the 3 trunks I encouraged, it would be a short tree. It grew to 30 ft.! For several years it had only male blossoms, but it longed for female company and eventually produced perfect flowers. The fruit, which looks like axle grease inside, is not eaten out-of-hand, but mix the pulp with a little lime or orange juice and whipped cream and you have a most exotic dessert. I call it 'Ersatz Chocolate Mousse'. This tall, evergreen tree with its ebony trunk was very beautiful and I'm sorry I topped it; I could not reach all the fruit, even with an extended picker. Here in So. California, the Leylandii Cypress is grown for a quick, tall, evergreen screen. However, after 10 years it invariably succumbs. Black persimmon would be a perfect substitute if you didn't mind the fruit going 'splat'. There are cultivars available. George Emerich has some nicely rounded, manageable trees. Roger Meyer has a good strain that appears to fruit precociously, early on. It has a columnar shape. I highly recommend Black Persimmon, Diospyrous digyna. Eunice Messner mailto:eunicemessner@yahoo.com [Note: Black Persimmon, Diospyrous digyna, is also known as Black Sapote - Leo] Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 09:33:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner to Larry Subject: Japanese Persimmons Larry Ritchey... Welcome to the edible hobby group. You will be able to 'gorge' yourself with all the good info here. First try the California Rare Fruit Growers web page . Probably the top two varieties of the non-astringent type are Jiro and Fuyu. There has been some mislabeling of these trees. One now called California Fuyu has some male flowers, which, of course, will cause seeds to develop in your fruit. My Fuyu turned out to be one of these. But, I watch for the male blossoms (small, and in clusters) and get rid of them. (I was tempted to use the verb emasculate, but that didn't sound too nice). Anyhow, the Fuyu is nice but the Jiro has a larger fruit. Don't be tempted to buy the Giant Fuyu (Gosho). I have found the fruit less flavorful. [I may have less descriminating taste buds than Eunice, but I find Giant Fuyu to be totally acceptable in flavor, and the size is significantly larger. I grafted my Fuyu persimmon over to Giant Fuyu. Any other opinions about the comparative taste? Leo ] Persimmons can be enjoyed fresh in many ways. They are also excellent dried. Recent Ag Research studies show they help you to live longer by enhancing your immune system. Young trees usually drop most of their first offerings of fruit. This is for the betterment of the vigor of the tree, so take this as a 'given'. Enjoy! Eunice Messner mailto:eunicemessner@yahoo.com From: "Stef Van Uffel" Subject: Fruit Identification From Photos Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 21:40:15 -0000 Dear Leo, Perhaps you could help me out. In my never-ending pursuit of rare fruits (seeds), I stumbled upon these in a Chinese supermarket in Antwerp. The first one, is green, the bottom looks like a granate apple and measures about 10 cm in diameter. ( picture). The name they told me was something pronounced like 'Quawa'. I didn't find any reference on the Internet, so ... [Stef and I agree that that one is a tropical guava.] The other fruit, I bought at the same place. I was mistaken, because I thought they where longans. Opening one at home, it seemed their flesh was divided into little parts, like a mangoustan. There are seeds, very soft and a bit green coloured. They measure 2-4 cm diameter and the skin is soft and about 3-4 mm in thickness. I took some photo's of them and I hope you'll be able to tell me something about their name. They apparently grow together on a branch just like longans. The name in the store was 'Long Gong'. Alas, the WWW didn't offer much help on this one either. So I would be very grateful, if you could tell me something more about them, and if it is possible to grow them from their seeds. Thanks, Stef Van Uffel mailto:Stef.VanUffel@ping.be Belgium. [Anyone else want to look at the photographs? Leo] Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 15:33:52 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Stef Van Uffel Subject: Re: Fruit Identification From Photos Stef, it (fruit Quawa) looks like a tropical guava, to me, and Quawa sounds like Guava. The second one, I can't tell, but Longan might have been a possibility, sounding like Long Gong, but it doesn't look at all like it. I have friends who may be able to help. Also, I'll forward your picture to anyone who wants to hazard a guess. I'm sure (but may be mistaken) that the first is a tropical guava, inside being more likely white, but possibly pink, orange, or even red. Sometimes they smell like gym socks, and wives complain about the ripe fruit being in the house. Yours, Leo mailto:leom@rarefruit.com Date: Thu May 20 11:41:37 1999 From: "Stef Van Uffel" To: Subject: Re: Fruit Identification From Photos - Also Want Hardy Kiwi Seed Dear Leo, About the first one, you're absolutely right. As soon as I sliced it, I recognized it. Just a pity it wasn't fully ripened. I salvaged some of the seeds, and will try to grow them. Have you any experience growing them from seed? I tried it a few times with smaller guava's, but except for the sprouting, they didn't do it very well. By the way, is there anybody who could spare some hardy kiwi seeds? I was able to buy once (3 years ago) some fruits, but it was the only time I found them in a store over here. I was able to grow one plant from their seeds, and when it was 5 inches, my dog decided not to wait any longer for the fruit and ate the plant. Since then I'm looking for hardy kiwi's, but can't possible find them over here. Thanks and keep up the good work with the newsletter. Yours sincerely, Stef. mailto:Stef.VanUffel@ping.be Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 11:46:18 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Stef Van Uffel Subject: Re: Fruit Identification From Photos - Also Want Hardy Kiwi Seed Stef, the large "apple guava" is often eaten in Asian countries unripe, and some of the white-fleshed ones don't ripen to be sweet. They sometimes begin to decay first. They are easy to grow from seed, if the seed is mature. I'd try it. I'd also plant them in a pot. You may not really want the fruit after waiting years for it to be produced, however. I will publish your request for hardy kiwi seeds. There may be places on the web to purchase them. Yours, Leo mailto:leom@rarefruit.com Re: Fruit Identification From Photos - Jim Neitzel Says.... Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 09:27:01 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Stef Van Uffel Hi Stef, Here's what a friend looked up and found. He (Jim Neitzel) is one of the most knowledgeable sources of information I know. He told me by phone, so some spelling errors are possible. He says that the fruit, Lancium domesticum, in Meliaceae family, originated in Malay. It's called Langsat maybe most often, and in the Philippines, as Lansones, sometimes known as Lanzone. There are two forms, but the one you had was possibly "Duku" ranging up to 5 cm in diameter. With thin skin, up to 5 segments, seeds green, and 'milky' (I'm not sure what that term describes in this case.) I then looked in Cornucopia II, (p. 149) which says: "Fruits are juicy, aromatic, subacid, and are considered one of the best fruits of the Malay region. They are eaten out of hand, candied, preserved in syrup, or made into wine....." Horticordially, Leo mailto:leom@rarefruit.com Subject: Re: Fruit Identification From Photos - Langsat Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 20:58:07 -0000 From: "Stef Van Uffel" Hello Leo, Your information must be correct. This description fits the fruit exactly. Thank you (and your friend) very much. I will just try to grow them. With milky seeds, he'll probably means they are very soft and week. You chew easily on them, and they are green on the outside, with a white pulpy inside. Most seeds are poorly developed, but the bigger the fruit, the more chance there is a bigger 'segment' inside, which contains a mature-looking seed. I found some more information on the net now, perhaps you would like to take a look at it. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/langsat.html Many greetings, Stef mailto:Stef.VanUffel@ping.be Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 14:42:00 +0000 From: Kelsay Schroeder To: sainaron@ksc9.th.com Subject: Longan - Which One Would You Recommend and Why? Dear I have read with interest your comments regarding longans. As a backyard grower, the question begs itself: if you had only one subtropical longan variety to grow, which would you recommend and why? Alan Schroeder mailto:kelsay@straphael.sbceo.k12.ca.us From: Bob To: Ed Subject: Passifloras Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 15:57:53 -0700 Hello Ed, I wanted to make some comments on the response you got from Alan Schroeder about passifloras. The nursery called Wild Ridge is no longer in business, so a good source is no longer available. All of the passifloras that Alan bought from Doug Richardson at Seaside Banana Farm came from me, but I don't propagate for sale anymore either. Your choices are dwindling. As for P. 'Purple Tiger', this hybrid is not self fruitful, so it does need to be cross pollinated with something in the same sub-genus group as P. edulis and P. caerulea. The fruits are truly delicious, but they need some heat to get to full flavor. The flower is always spectacular. Happy growing, Bob Holzinger mailto:bholzing@amgen.com Subject: Container tips Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 08:10:02 -0700 From: Holzinger, Bob To: Ken Hello Ken, Growing plants in container is in some ways more difficult than growing them in the ground. For sub-tropical and tropical fruit trees the drainage in a pot must be excellent, so I would recommend using sand or perlite in the potting mix, along with some peatmoss if you need a more acidic mixture. Fertilize with a time-release product which is triggered by time and not by temperature. I have been told that Osmocote will release everything when the temperature gets to the high 80's. So I use Nutricote for my containers. One thing that could help keep plants in a given size container is to root prune when you cut back the top of the plant. That way fresh feeder roots can take up the empty space in the pot and help support the new growth. Happy growing, Bob Holzinger mailto:bholzing@amgen.com Subject: South American Seeds Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 08:02:52 -0700 From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Ong Greetings Mr. Ong, You mentioned that you are looking for a source of South American fruit trees. There is a seeds source in Hawaii that could probably get you many of the fruits you are interested in. I think the man in charge is named Oscar and his email address is Fruitlovers@webtv.net. He can send you a list of fruits that he has direct access to and if you ask for specific fruits not on the list he can tell you when and if he can get some seeds for you. He sells his seeds in lots of 50, so expect to pay $20-60 US. for a given species. Good luck, Bob Holzinger mailto:bholzing@amgen.com Subject: Re: Mangos in Reno Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 08:19:07 -0700 From: Holzinger, Bob To: Robert <102073.3346@compuserve.com> Hi Robert, So you want to grow mangos in Reno. I know it's easy to sprout mango seeds, but the seedlings will eventually want to grow too large for pot culture. I really think you need to make a trip down to So. Calif. and buy some grafted mango trees. There are several sources listed in the CRFG member nursery list and by calling ahead you can have trees ordered and waiting for you. Alternatively there are several sources in Florida who would be willing to ship trees to you in Nevada. There are always ads in the Rare Fruit Council Int. magazine to choose from and I think they have a web site. If you still want to try seeds, I suggest getting some Atualfo mangos. They are very similar to Manila, but fatter and sweeter. They are in season now in So. Calif. (from Mexico). Possibly you could find someone who will send you some seeds if you can't find the fruit. Good luck, Bob Holzinger mailto:bholzing@amgen.com From: "Ramon Tuazon" Subject: Tell Me About Growing Jackfruit In California Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 16:20:24 -0700 Hi, Leo I noted that you have been a member of CRFG, Inc. since l970. If you don't mind I may ask you some questions: (1) How old is your jackfruit tree? (2) What variety, south american, indian or asian? (3) Any suggestion from where I can buy a jackfruit tree? Any help from you on how to grow jackfruit in California is very much appreciated. Thank you very much. Ramon mailto:Tuazonrr@Netzero.net From: Sven Merten Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 06:40:26 -0700 To: Ben and Geoff Buckner Subject: Re: Carombola: Best In Full Sun, Partial Shade....? Hi Ben, Geoff and Leo, I have three seedling star fruit trees, the largest of which (5 ft) is in full sun. It doesn't seem to do as well as the other two which are in almost full shade on the north side of a fence. The growing tips tend to turn brown and the leaves don't look as healthy on the one in full sun. Other than sun the major difference is that the ones in shade get more water from our front sprinklers (moist most of the time), while the one in full sun usually gets watered every three or four days. I have been attributing the difference to the amount of water the trees receive. I will try to water more and see if it helps this year. Take care. Sven scoutdog@pacbell.net From: "Buckner, Geoff" To: Tina Siegel Subject: RE: Starfruit in the shade Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 09:16:23 -0700 Tina, Thanks for sharing your experience. I do live right on the coast, however, from the response I have received, it appears that partial shade may be necessary at least when the Carombolas are young. I have recently moved it to a location where it receives early morning sun and afternoon partial/full shade. Geoff mailto:GBuckner@BrwnCald.com Tina, you said: I tried my starfruit tree in full sun last spring and even though it was early in our warm season here in south Orange County in CA, (I`m about 10 miles from the ocean.) the tree quickly started declining losing its leaves and showing no signs of growth. However, after building a frame around it and covering it with 50% shade cloth, the tree starting doing very well. It made it through the winter fine. Its leafing out now, but I`ve got the shade cloth up already. Unless one lives right on the coast, I'd say a starfruit should be grown with some sun protection. Tina Siegel mailto:siegel2@home.com Date: Saturday, May 22, 1999 2:30 PM From: Sven To: roy.dynan Subject: Re: Book for growers in England Roy, I recently read a book you might be interested in. "Growing Unusual Fruit" by Alan E. Simmons (Pub: Walker and Company, NY 1972). It gives short descriptions and tips for growing many unusually fruits in your climate. Some of the fruit it covers are Akeba, almond, appleberry, apricot, banana, barbados cherry, brazilian cherry, carambola, coffee, custard apple, feijoa, guava, jujube, litchee, loquat, mango, medlar, mombin, passion fruit, pawpaw, persimmon, and pineapple. It has many more including some unusual berries. It doesn't give a lot of detail, but it might be a good source of ideas for unusual fruit. Good luck. Sven mailto:scoutdog@pacbell.net Date: Saturday, May 22, 1999 5:30 PM From: Leo Manuel To: Roy Dynan and Sven Merten Subject: Re: Book for growers in England Sven and Roy, I have that book, mine published in 1972, and the only point in my mentioning it is that it's been around so long that it should be found in used book stores and possibly libraries. I'd suggest looking it - or almost any fruit reference book - over, before buying. Leo From: "Dynan, Roy" To: Leo and Sven Subject: RE: Book for growers in England Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 11:51:53 +0100 Leo and Sven, I've got that book too! It is available in England by inter-library loan, but I bought the only copy I ever saw - and that was second-hand from one of the specialist booksellers who take stalls at the Chelsea Flower Show. If you have any readers in the UK it might be worth pointing out that the next most promising source of second-hand fruit books (that I know of) is in the shop at the Brogdale Horticultural Trust (National Fruit Collection) http://www.brogdale.org.uk/. Of course most of the books are on the classic British crops, and the turnover is fairly brisk. Roy mailto:roy.dynan@bt.com Subject: Re: Guava tree Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 16:10:17 -0700 From: Lon J. Rombough To: Mark Maresca I assume you mean pineapple guava (Feijoa). The only thing I can suggest is that the blossoms aren't getting pollinated. Pineapple guava has thick, flesh petals which are sweet and good to eat and in the wild there are birds that eat the petals, pollinating the flowers in the process. You might try picking the petals off and take your finger and gently rub the flower parts to get pollen on the stigmas so the fruit will set. I will also send your letter to someone who might be able to give more information. Lon Rombough mailto:lonrom@hevanet.com Mark, you said: I have a some kind of Guava tree that is about 4-5 years old, about 6 feet high. I wonder when I can expect it to bear fruit. Each year I get more and more bright red blossoms, but they simply dry out and fall off by July or August. I live in S. California, 30 miles N. of LA, so the temperature is 40-60 in winter, 60-90 in summer. The tree gets plenty of sun. Am I doing something wrong, or is it still too early to expect fruit? Thank you! Mark Maresca mailto:mmaresca@ccainc.com -- Note-Leo: 1. Is there a California Rare Fruit Growers chapter near you? I suspect there is. Check their web page http://www.crfg.org 2. Check with Alejandro Ching Alternative Crop Research & Development Center NW Missouri State Univ 106 Valk Bldg 800 University Drive Maryville MO 64468-6001 specialty: guava, papaya, anona, feijoa, kiwi e-mail: 0100003@acad.nwmissouri.edu - Leo Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 09:02:53 -0800 From: Nan Sterman Subject: Re: Carambola in Pots, Nam Doc Mai Mango, ... Leo, thank you for all your help! I still want to come see your garden.... what area of SD are you in? Nan Sterman, Olivenhain, CA mailto:nsterman@mindsovermatter.com Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 09:58:58 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Nan Sterman Subject: Re: Carambola in Pots, Nam Doc Mai Mango, ... Nan, I'm in Rancho Penasquitos, about two blocks west of Black Mountain Road. I think my plans will be so uncertain for a few weeks that we should try for later in June/July, after I go to and return from the midwest, which should be any day. I'll try to let newsletter readers know when it's settled down. I'm listed in the phone book, but I'll give you directions to my place closer to the time of the visit. Yours, Leo mailto:leom@rarefruit.com From: Pollyanna Sorensen Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 21:12:06 EDT Subject: Greetings from Santa Barbara - Just Passing By Earlier this week, I took my kindergarten class to visit Peter Nichols at California Tropics packing plant in Carpinteria. He graciously showed them the process of packing cherimoyas - from start to finish. Then he took them upstairs for tasting samples of cherimoyas, white zapotes, and passion fruit. It was a wonderful day! So tonight, as I was idly exploring the "net", I stumbled across your web site. I am not a grower, but I do have an interest in agriculture and try to do my part in keeping my students and fellow teachers aware of the importance of it in our state and country. I enjoyed reading about your family on the web site. You seem like wonderful folks that it would be a pleasure to get to know. I wish we weren't so far apart. I am going to keep your web site on my "favorites" list. From time to time, I do think of questions and would like to know where to get answers. Thanks for sharing your history and some information about what you do. Pollyanna From: Robert Perez Subject: Floridian Interested in Annonas, No Email, Wants Contacts Date: Sat, May 29, 1999, 3:20 AM Hello, My name is ROBERT and I'm a fanatic when it comes to ANON and CHIRIMOYA plants/seeds. I'm just starting to embark on this hobby of growing these tricky plants. I've even down a bit of grafting and will know in a month or two if my experiments will be successful. I'm looking to connect with people and/or companies that deal in seeds/plants or would just like to exchange knowledge with an amateur like myself. If you know of anyone with the same interests or of any company that might sell anything related, please rush me this info to: ROBERT PEREZ P.O. Box 521156 Miami, Florida 33152-1156 (305) 460-3374 I do not have e-mail. Awaiting your reply, ROBERT ------------------Announcements And Web Pages To Consider------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 05:27:11 -0700 From: Leo Manuel Subject: 'UFQueen' Nectarine, 250 Hours Chill, From Florida 'UFQueen' is an attractive, high quality, yellow and nonmelting flesh nectarine released by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Statent.... (It) produces fruit with a tree ripened flavor while retaining firmness for a longer shelf life than fruit from conventional melting flesh.... The major advantages of 'UFQueen' are a low chilling requirement, early ripening, a non-melting flesh, and an attractive red skin over a bright yellow ground color. Trees are estimated, based on bloom dates with standard cultivars, to require 250 chill units or about the same as 'Sunraycer' nectarine. The above announcement in Fruit Varieties Journal 53(2):126-127 1999. This is one nectarine I will be looking for. I now have 'Desert Delight.' It is also early, low-chill, and of good quality. Leo mailto:leom@rarefruit.com From: Leo Manuel To: Liz and Gary Tulloch Subject: Notices of property for sale in the newsletter? - OK, IF.... Hi Liz and Gary, So long as the notices are relatively short, truthful, informative, and reveal any downside known to exist for owning a lychee farm in Belize, as well as the upside, I have no objection. Send me something to include in the June 1 newsletter, meeting those criteria, and I'll happily oblige, and there is no charge. Yours, Leo Liz and Gary Tulloch wrote: Leo: We have a litchi (lychee) farm for sale in Belize, and would like to know if we can advertise it in the newsletter and, if so, is there a charge? If anyone is interested, they can contact our realtors on the web at www.texasintlrealestate.com Thanks and regards, Liz and Gary Tulloch mailto:Litchi11@aol.com ------------------Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers)------------------ None this time ------------------NAFEX List ------------------ From: "NAFEX List" Subject: blueberry grafting (H. Black) Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 09:26:22 -0500 From: Hector Black Regarding blueberry grafting, I've not had much experience but did notice that whip and tongue or splice grafts took better than cleft grafting. I was putting a new variety 'Ozark Blue' onto my Tifblue to try to get something that bloomed later than Tifblue, but wasn't as fussy about soil ph as Ozarkblue seemed to be. Keep on trying Dan, maybe if you cut the Farkleberry back and let it grow for a year, then graft to the sprouts, you'd have better luck? Hector Black zone 6 mailto:hblack@twlakes.net -------Discussion list for New Crops------- Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 17:28:19 +0100 From: VidaVerde Subject: Re: Tamarillo / Tree Tomato - Need Recipies Ian said: I have 5 Tamarillo trees all bearing well, I am seeking recipes for the fruit especially Chutney, and Pie Ian ------ Ian, Try 'A Pickle & Chutney Cookbook' by Digby Law. (230pp Pub: Hodder & Stoughton 1986,87,91 ISBN 0 340 557206) Includes recipes for Tamarillo Chutney, T & Mint Jelly, Pickled T, T Sauce, & T Vinegar. It's a good book, too. New Zealand in origin, so includes 'newcrops' such as kiwi, passionfruit, mango, pepino dulce, etc. Lots of recipes to cope with that 'oh no, I've grown 3 tons of xxx' situation that we all find ourselves in from time to time. If you really can't find a copy, mail me privately & I'll try to write out a recipe for you. Ben - VIDAVERDE Rare Crop Centre; mailto:vidaverde@ARRAKIS.ES Los Molinos del Rio Aguas; Sorbas 04270; Almeria, Spain >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - June 1, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - June 15, 1999 - AKA RFN9906B.txt Rare Fruit News Online is primarily 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. If it works, it's because of the teamwork, and I'm pleased to be part of it. --Notes In Passing #1 Keep sending in your resource list, as you think of those useful web pages, books, magazines, catalogs, etc. Maybe lists of fruit grower chapters, with contact persons - especially for California and Florida. There are a couple of contributions in this issue, from Roy Dynan and Alan Schroeder #2 I hadn't thought about how late the cherimoa flowers are this spring. I've seen very few open, and that's unusual for this time of year. #3 If any of you in the San Diego area know whether the dual-wall greenhouse covering is available locally, I'd like to hear from you. I found it at San Diego Plastics, but it was more expensive than at Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, except for shipping costs. ---------Table Of Contents - Headers; (Letters Follow Table Of Contents) --New Subscribers New Subscriber, CA, Wants: To Grow Guava & Bananas AND To Find Banana Plants Jim Parker New Subscriber, CA, Looking For "Noni" Tree RUSS GRAHAM New Subscriber, FL, Wants To Grow: Sapodilla, Soursop, .... Rob Cameron New Subscriber, Queensland, AU, Getting Started With Lots Of Rare Fruit! jenny awbery --Readers Write One Aussie Writes To Help Another Adrian Colley To: Jenny Re: New Subscriber, Queensland, AU, Getting Started.... Jenny Awbery Cherry Mango - Any Information? Robert L. Thomasson Re: "Cherry Mango" - Any Information? Leo Manuel To: "Robert L. Thomasson" Re: Cherry Mango - Any Information? Robert L. Thomasson Re: Cempedak tree Ramon Tuazon To: Leongyeepak@hotmail.com Re: Passionfruit Kelsay Schroeder To: Ed Re: Passionfruit Leo Manuel To: Alan Re: Nam Doc Mai Mango Samar Gupta To: Nan Sterman Re: Thomasville Citrangequat Samar Gupta To: Darryl Re: Mango For Container Growing Samar Gupta To: Mike Re: Heavy Blooming Lychee Will Not Set Fruits Samar Gupta To: Ramon Loquats, Delayed Ripening, Grafting Problems mshugart@ucsd.edu (Matthew Shugart) To: Leo Re: Loquats, Delayed Ripening, Grafting Problems Leo Manuel To: Matthew Shugart Re: Ripening of deciduous tree fruits mshugart@ucsd.edu (Matthew Shugart) Re: Ripening of deciduous tree fruits Leo Manuel To: Matthew Shugart Re: Ripening of deciduous tree fruits mshugart@ucsd.edu (Matthew Shugart) To: Leo Fruit Photo Confirmation: It's A Langsat Oscar Jaitt Rare Fruit News Online Quit Coming! Gavin ATKINSON To: Leo Nursery Experiences: Good, Bad, ? Leo Re: XX3 Avocado Julie & Paul Frink Cherimoyed (Cherimoa) lockanload Cherimoya Trees Leo Manuel To: Nina Re: Cherimoyed (Cherimoa) Trees lockanload To: Leo Re: Potassium Chlorate/Longans Sainarong Rasananda To: William Monroe Re: Potassium chlorate Sainarong Rasananda To: Eunice Messner Re: longan Sainarong Rasananda To: W.N. Veer Re: Longan information Sainarong Rasananda To: austin Re: Diamond River and 'Zuang Zuang' longan Sainarong Rasananda To: Eunice Messner --Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider Re: Send Me Your Resource List: Books, Web Pages http://www.readsnursery.co.uk/toc.htm http://www.futurefoods.com/ http://members.aol.com/AgroResTr/homepage.html John VanderPlank's Passaflora Book Roy Dynan Re: Resource List: Bushfood Links http://users.academy.net.au/~samantha/bushfood.html http://www.bushtucker.com.au Kelsay Schroeder Noni: Morinda citrifolia http://www.halfpricenoni.com/newspaper.html http://www.sirisimpex.com/prd22.htm Leo Manuel Subscribe To NewCrops (You Should Consider It) Leo --Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) None, this time --NAFEX List nafex@onelist.com None, this time --From NEWCROPS List (See "Subscribe To NewCrops" Below) None, this time ----------------New Subscribers------------------ Date: Sun, 06 Jun 1999 14:29:15 -0700 Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants: To Grow Guava & Bananas AND To Find Banana Plants From: Jim Parker Hi, I am Jim Parker, living in La Mesa, and teaching in Spring Valley. (I garden at both locations, hydroponically and in the ground). My E-mail address for receiving newsletter is jwparker@sdcoe.k12.ca.us I now have strawberry guava and want to grow other guavas and bananas. However, I am not sure which guava I am interested in. I like the guava juice that can be found in local supermarkets. Where can I find young banana plants? I need smaller varieties, to be grown in a hydroponics system. Jim Parker Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Looking For "Noni" Tree Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 20:31:37 -0700 From: "RUSS GRAHAM" Hi I am Russ Graham, of Paramount, CA, rgraham@loop.com. Fruit trees I am now growing: jaboticaba, lychee, tapioca, pitanga, bananas, kiwi (female only) I want to grow "noni" and would like to know where might I find a noni tree? Thanks, RUSS GRAHAM From: Rob Cameron Date: Wed, 09 Jun 1999 16:42:44 -0700 Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Wants To Grow: Sapodilla, Soursop, .... Hi, My name is Rob Cameron and I live in Eustis, FL (zone 9) My e-mail address is ares72@aol.com I am growing: Miraclefruit, WaxJambu, Figs (Celeste, Pasquale, BrownTurkey) Jackfruit, Star fruit, Atemoya, Natal Plum, Persimmon (Fuyu & Matsumoto) Barbados Cherry, Loquat, Acerola cherry, passion fruit, Pitomba, Strawberry tree (Muntingia calabura) Mulberry, Ambarella(Spondias cytherea) plums and citrus. I want to grow just about anything that's edible, especially tropical fruits. Sapodilla, Jujube, Soursop, Pili nut, and Guomi are a few that I am interested in. I love plants. I'm addicted. I want to learn all that I can about fruit and especially about growing fruit in Florida. Rob Cameron Subject: New Subscriber, Queensland, AU, Getting Started With Lots Of Rare Fruit! Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 04:14:37 PDT From: jenny awbery Hello, I found your site and would like to subscribe to the Rare Fruits News Online. Could you please send me the back copies too, particularly if they have any articles about subtropical fruits? My details are: Name: Jenny Awbery; City: Brisbane; State: Queensland Country: Australia; Email:jennifer.awbery@dnr.qld.gov.au Fruits Growing: abiu, acerola, ambarella, avocado, bay, beach cherry, brirba, black sapote, canistel, carambola, cinnamon, coffee, custard apple, cherry of the rio grande, elderberry, elephant apple, grumichama, guava, hill gooseberry, icecream bean, jaboticaba, jak fruit, kei apple, lemon, longan, loquat, mandarin, mango, midyim berry, mulberry, olive, panama berry, pawpaw, peach, pecan, persimmon, pitomba, pomegrante, pummelo, rose apple, saba nut, sapodilla, star apple, tamarillo, wampi, white sapote. Plus a few others! My trees are all less than one year old, so no fruit yet. I'm interested in anything that will suit our subtropical 5 acres, fertile soil, 1200mm rainfall, virtually frost-free. Particularly if there might be something suitable for a small scale commercial venture. [Is 1200mm about 47 inches?] My main question is: where can I get information about the best planting times for different fruits? Thanks, Jenny Awbery [Jenny, Your list is impressive! Some of the fruit is not familiar to me: beach cherry, elephant apple, midyim berry, panama berry, saba nut. Leo] -----------------Readers Write------------------ From: "Adrian Colley" To: Jenny Subject: One Aussie Writes To Help Another Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 08:31:57 +0800 Hi Jenny, Regarding the question on planting times for rare fruits have you tried Louis Glowinski's text Fruit Growing in Australia, or something like that. It is a very good source of information, as is the California Rare Fruits site. Regards Adrian Colley To: Jenny From: Jenny Awbery Subject: Re: New Subscriber, Queensland, AU, Getting Started.... Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 03:37:48 PDT Dear leo Thank you for introducing me to the Rare Fruit discussion group and publishing my questions. You said you have not heard of some of my fruits, so here is a bit more information about them. The first two of them are Australian 'Bush Foods' (native food species) which is a popular trend over here. Midyim berry (austromyrtus dulcis) - native prostrate ground cover/shrub, subtropical, with small grey berry with a sweet cinnamon taste. Beach Cherry (Eugenia reinwardtiana) is a subtropical native tree 2 - 4 m with edible fruit Panama Berry (Muntingia calabura) is also known as the Malay Cherry. It is hardy, fast growing to 4m and has small red sweet berries with an aromatic flavour. Elephant Apple (Dillenia Indica) is an Indian tree with large fruit widely used in curries. There are a few good specimens in our two city Botanic Gardens in Brisbane. Saba Nut (Pachira aquatica) is also known as the Malabar Chestnut, and there is information about it in the CRFG fruit facts. I have seen a lovely specimen growing just north of Brisbane with lots of fruit. Thanks again, and I look forward to participating in the network. Jenny Awbery Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 20:45:14 -0400 From: "Robert L. Thomasson" Subject: "Cherry Mango" - Any Information? Leo, The local supermarket here is selling what they call "Cherry Mangoes." They are yellow, and look and taste like a Philippine variety, but are about 2/3 the size of the mangoes usually sold as "Honey Manila." I can't find any references to Cherry Mangoes and I'm just wondering if anyone out there might know what they are, and how big the trees grow? Thanks, Bob Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 20:11:11 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: "Robert L. Thomasson" Subject: Re: "Cherry Mango" - Any Information? Bob, It could be Ataulfo. It is about that size. I'll publish your question. I'm not familiar with 'Honey Manila.' Leo Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 00:36:22 -0400 From: "Robert L. Thomasson" Subject: Re: "Cherry Mango" - Any Information? Leo, I don't think "Honey Manila" is an actual variety. It's what the wholesalers or whoever sells mangoes to the supermarkets call whatever variety of Philippine mango they are selling. There is a little plastic sticker on each one that says "Honey Manila" but I've spent the better part of a year in the Philippines and never heard of a Honey Manila mango over there. Bob From: Ramon Tuazon To: Leongyeepak@hotmail.com Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 05:33:08 EDT Subject: Re: Cempedak tree Hi, Yee Pak Thanks for your input on cempedak tree. Info very good, however I am still in search of the cempedak tree. Input from anyone is very much anticipated and appreciated. Thanks, Ramon Tuazon Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 08:36:24 +0000 From: Kelsay Schroeder To: Ed Subject: Re: Passionfruit Dear Ed: I'm happy the hand pollination trick helped. I'm also surprised your native pollinators were not working for you seeing that I believe P. incarnata should be originally from your area. I have grown P. alata "Ruby Glow". It is primarily grown for its gorgeous and intoxicatingly fragrant flowers that here in Southern California bloomed in the fall. I don't remember the fruit being especially good. It had to be cross pollinated. Use the "Constance Elliot" to do it. "Purple Tiger" (P. alata "Ruby Glow" x P. quadrangularis) has the unique property that you must pick it when it is ripe whereas most the other varieties will fall off the vine when ripe. A fellow rare fruit hobbyist that grows "Purple Tiger" learned a trick while in Costa Rica in the proper manner to consume it. He says you cut off the top of the fruit, and mix the seeds and pulp around with some milk and rum. Suddenly you're in paradise. The thick rind of the fruit is also edible like a fruit to itself. You can cut off the skin with a potato peeler and mix the chopped up or blended rind with the same above concoction. Alan Schroeder Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 09:32:17 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Alan Subject: Re: Passionfruit Hi Alan, Is "Ruby Glow" still available for sale? Someplace I got the idea that it was lost to Patrick Worley. Do you find P. alata needs at least partial shade? I'm not sure that it does, but after I removed a shade cloth that had protected it, it started doing less well. Could have been sheer coincidence, however. My P. alata is not "Ruby Glow" but I would like to get it. Do you also have "Fredrick?" If you've eaten the fruit of "Fredrick," how do you compare it to that of "Purple Tiger?" I heard someone once think that "Fredrick" was superior for fruit taste. Horticordially, Leo Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 21:51:03 +0530 To: Nan Sterman From: Samar Gupta Subject: Re: Nam Doc Mai Hi Nan, I've enjoyed reading your posts on the medit plant list. Nam Doc Mai is a Thai cultivar and the most popular one there. Its green skinned when ripe. I've planted three grafted saplings a year ago, and though they are doing well, they have some time before they fruit. Samar The information I've collected on the web on Nam Doc Mai is: Nam Doc Mai was introduced to Florida from Thailand in 1973 by the USDA, Miami, Florida. Multiple introductions of Nam Doc Mai have been made to Florida, resulting in two recognizable types, Nam Doc Mai and Mun. These may be different cultivars. TREE - vigorous; medium-sized, upright, dense canopy. FRUIT - eating quality: excellent. shape: long and slender, sigmoid; base rounded; medium stout stem inserted squarely in a level or slightly raised manner; apex sharply to bluntly pointed with no beak; surface smooth. Dimensions: length: 17-19 cm breadth: 7.5-8.5 cm thickness: 6.5-7.5 cm weight: 340-580 g skin: ground color greenish to bright yellow; slight pink blush; numerous small green dots; skin medium thick, tender and easily separating. flesh: soft, tender and juicy lemon yellow flesh; flavor rich, spicy and very sweet with a weak pleasant aroma; no fiber in flesh. stone and seed: thin and papery stone with a poly embryonic seed filling 25-50% of the stone. season: mid-June to July. additional comments: low acid fruit often eaten while still green; regular producer which occasionally hos multiple crops in a single season. Nam Dok Mai - Green / Yellow skinned, sweet, juicy, excellent flavour. Regular cropper in cooler climates. Susceptible to Anthracnose, resistant to Black Spot. Size 375gms. Nam Doc Mai - We sell our green, kidney shaped mangos to P.K. Oriental Mart on Sunset. They beg me to top-work our grove to Nam Doc Mai and they keep waiting lists for this fruit. It has a long ripening season and often flowers off season. In Thailand it is eaten green or ripe. I grew this in Homestead, but never got to eat it because it split end-to-end before ripening. We have lost lots of fruit this year from splitting, black spot, and being blown off by wind, but in May they are still flowering. Nam Doc Mai is certainly one of the world's best mangos, but it is not the only mango worth growing. Samar Gupta Bombay 400 006 India Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 21:50:51 +0530 To: Darryl From: Samar Gupta Subject: Re: Thomasville Citrangequat Dear Darryl, In Cornucopia II, Thomasville Citrangequat is listed as available at: Louisana Nursery, 5835, Highway 182, Opelousas, LA 70570 (318) 948-3696 Oregon Exotic Nursery, 1065 Messinger Rd., Grants Pass, OR 97527 (541) 846-7578 Sherwood Greenhouses, PO Box 6, Sibley, LA 71073 (1-800-647-5518 Regards, Samar Gupta Bombay, India Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 21:40:27 +0530 To: Mike From: Samar Gupta Subject: Re: Mango For Container Growing Dear Mike, I had read somewhere that Nam Doc Mai & Julie recommended for container growing. Unfortunately, I did not note where I copied this advice from. So use it with caution because this is not a recommendation from experience (I farm in frost-free India.) Regards, Samar Gupta Bombay, India [Julie is a dwarf mango, so the size should be helpful for growing in pots. Leo] Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 21:39:17 +0530 To: Tuazonrr@netzero.net From: Samar Gupta Subject: Re: Heavy Blooming Lychee Will Not Set Fruits Dear Ramon, Most people have a hard time getting their litchi to flower, but you have the uniquely frustrating experience of great flower set but no fruit. I came across the synopsis/abstract of a research paper on the web somewhere which might give you some pointers on how to solve your problem. (I've cut-pasted it below) Planting a couple of different litchi cultivars might just solve your problem. -- Towards an understanding of reproductive failure in lychee C Acta Horticulturae 175, 1986, 79-83) Donald J. Batten, Tropical Fruit Research Station, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 72 , Alstonville, N SW, 2477, Australia. Article by Australian researcher, Donald J. Batten, discusses the factors of reproductive failure with particular reference to recent research in China. The relationship of weather to lychee yield is analyzed in Fujian Province where they found that 'cold, wet, or cold, windy and low humidity weather during the female flowering cycle account for most crop failures". Other studies involve sunshine hours before flowering, low temperature and rain during the female flowering cycle, and humidity. The author points out that cultivars differ in their flowering behavior, for instance: At Altonville (New South Wales), the 'Tai So' variety, which does not crop consistently, usually has distinct, asynchronous male and female flowering cycles so that pollen must be transferred between trees. On the other hand, Wai Chee which bears much more consistently, produces both male and female flowers at the same time over a several week period." Batten suggests these areas for research: 1. Flower or crop load and plant energy balance. 2. Temperature, rain and humidity effects on pollen vectors, pollen viability, pollen germination, pollen tube growth and stigma receptivity. 3. Artificial pollination. 4. Varietal differences in male and female flower cycles. Regards, Samar Gupta Bombay, India Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 15:11:29 -0700 (PDT) To: leom@rarefruit.com From: mshugart@ucsd.edu (Matthew Shugart) Subject: Loquats, Delayed Ripening, Grafting Problems Hi again. My loquats this year did not begin ripening until May 11, while last year they were ripe on March 30! It is incredible how much the lower temperatures have delayed the loquats. I have noticed that it is not just my tree, as others in the area seem to have just gotten ripe in the last part of May. Are other loquat growers in southern California noticing such great delays relative to previous years? My loquat always seems to be later than others nearby, but not this late! Some of mine are still green even now, in the first days of June. The quality has been outstanding, by the way. Worth waiting for! I believe mine is just a seedling. It was a tree that I inherited from the previous owner of the property. I can't see any evidence of a graft union. The fruit are large, white-fleshed, and have an excellent sugar-acid balance. I prefer them to Golden Nugget and Champagne, as well as to other seedling loquats that I have tasted. Perhaps it's worth propagating. Can anyone offer any advice on how to propagate loquats? I have tried grafting scions of Benlehr and Big Jim onto upper branches of my loquat tree, but with no success. Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California P.S. I suppose, in a sense, loquats five weeks late is nothing. Just a couple of weeks ago I harvested a Valencia Pride mango that had been hanging on the tree since last spring! It was quite good, though not like the 1997 crop (which ripened in October). Date: Thu, 03 Jun 1999 16:22:58 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Matthew Shugart Subject: Re: Loquats, Delayed Ripening, Grafting Problems Hi Matthew, Successful grafting may be a matter of timing. Maybe time of year, condition of rootstock, or condition of the scion. I've grafted several successfully, with a higher percentage of 'takes' than some other grafts. However, I always grafted onto young loquat trees in pots. That may make a difference. I don't remember what time of year I grafted. Probably you'll get expert opinions from our readers. But don't give up on grafting them. When everything's right, they seem to grow. My early deciduous fruit was much later this spring. I've had nectarines and peaches in late April that didn't begin until a month later this year. However, they were also not as sweet. That is unusual for Valencia Pride, from my limited experience, but I've noticed that it has a very long bloom period. I've thought that with two trees, one could make one early and the other late, just by removing blossoms at the appropriate time. Horticordially, Leo Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 15:11:06 -0700 (PDT) From: mshugart@ucsd.edu (Matthew Shugart) Subject: Re: Ripening of deciduous tree fruits Hi Leo and RFNO readers, You asked about the ripening of early deciduous tree fruits this year. I am having a similar experience to yours: less sweet than in past years. I have heard others say that same thing. I assume the reason is the cool weather this spring. I have Earlitreat, Tropic Snow, and Eva's Pride peaches, and Arctic Star nectarine. Last year, I had begun harvesting all except Eva's Pride by June 1, and Eva's Pride began on June 7. All were of outstanding flavor. This year, Earlitreat had a very small crop (more on that below) of noticeably inferior flavor. (Not that I would turn one down--it's all relative!) As of today (June 3) I have tasted some of the Tropic Snows and one Arctic Star. The Tropic Snow is good, but much less sweet than it should be, and the Arctic Star, although fairly soft, was barely palatable (and this is a fruit that is usually so swet that it is enjoyable while still quite firm). Presumably both will improve over the next week or two, as they are only now beginning to ripen, but I doubt they will be as good as last year. Earlitreat took 87 days from peak bloom to peak harvest this year, compared to an amazingly fast 79 days last year. So in 1998 it took less time to produce sweeter fruit than in 1999. If one looks at the temperatures in March, April and May in my orchard, one can see why it took longer and the end result was lower sugar content. This year's mean temperature for March was 56.3, for April 58.5 and for May 63.7. Last year they were 58.9, 59.6 and 64.7, respectively. That may not seem like a big difference, but the March difference of over 2.5 degrees is in fact huge, and even one degree in the other months has to have an effect. What we are seeing here is persistent cool weather. (And even 1998 was cooler than previous years--by several degrees. In 1997, March, April, and May were 62.6, 64.2, 72.7.) I mentioned the smaller crops. The Earlitreat and Arctic Star both set much lighter crops this year than last. Clearly the reason is not chilling, as my location probably had at least 50% more chill than in the previous winter, and both cultivars have pretty low chilling requirements (300-400 hours). The culprit, presumably, is the temperatures during bloom period. Both of these cultivars bloomed in the first three weeks of February (with Arctic Star continuing into late March!), and during those first three weeks of February, the mean low temperature was about 43 degrees, including five consecutive nights below 40. I suspect that was just too cold to get good fruit sets. Interestingly, Eva's Pride and Tropic Snow, which bloomed in late January and early February, set very heavy crops. The average low temperature was actually higher in that time than it was weeks later, though not by much (44). My (tentative) conclusion is that the lower-chill cultivars (Eva's Pride and Tropic Snow are both under 200 hours) can tolerate lower temperatures during their bloom than can the higher-chill cultivars. It makes sense, given that the very low-chill cultivars are bound to bloom much earlier, so to be viable cultivars they would have to be more tolerant of cool temperatures. Final observation: All four cultivars have smaller fruit than in previous years. It's just not a good year for early ripening peaches and nectarines. I hope that my later-ripeners (Arctic Glo, Doughnut, Santa Barbara, and Last Chance), all of which set heavy crops, benefit from enough warm weather to sweeten up. Of course, this current January-like weather that we are having in June and the forecasts of gloom throughout the summer don't leave one optimistic. Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California Date: Thu, 03 Jun 1999 16:27:45 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Matthew Shugart Subject: Re: Ripening of deciduous tree fruits Hi again, Matthew I heard a forecast for a significantly cooler and extended period of 'June Gloom' for much if not all of the summer. Something about La Niņa and colder ocean temperatures in critical areas. I bought a doughnut peach the other day at Quang Ong's without considering the chill it may require. Do you happen to know what it needs? Yours, Leo Date: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 17:24:02 -0700 (PDT) From: mshugart@ucsd.edu (Matthew Shugart) Subject: Re: Ripening of deciduous tree fruits Hi Leo, Yes, as I understand it, the La Nina pattern has broken down in that the water off the coast of northern South America has warmed again (under La Nina it is significantly cooler than normal, under El Nino warmer than normal). But the waters in the north-eastern Pacific are still a lot colder than normal. So, it is not quite La Nina anymore, but it is cooler water that should translate into a cooler, cloudier, and breezier summer for much of California, at least west of the coastal ranges. As I understand it, the reasons for this have not been determined, or at least there is as yet no consensus among the oceanographers and climatologists on why it is happening. The Pacific is acting contrary to the "norm" (which, recall, is nothing but an average of long-term readings, inlcuding warm and cool phases) as it slowly "recovers" from, first, the greatest El Nino on record, and then, one of the largest La Ninas on record in the very next year! The bottom line is that we got plenty of chill for varieties that don't normally produce well for us, but possibly we won't get enough heat to ripen them. As for 'Doughnut,' my own estimate, based on how it has performed the last two years (which is too limited an experience to base a firm estimate on), is that it requires at least 450 hours. Dave Wilson at first said 500 hours, and I think now is saying maybe as low as 400. I got no bloom or fruit last year, and a heavy crop this year. I estimate my location to have obtained about 425 chill hours (or chill "units") in 1997-98 and 600+ in 1998-99. It is, of course, possible that the tree was simply to young to bloom in 1998, and that the chilling requirement is in fact lower. But my tree did bloom in the previous year, 1997; I just don't count that because that was the year I received it from a northern mail-order source. But its ability to bloom that year does suggest that it was not youth, but insufficient chilling, that kept it from producing in 1998, after spending its first full winter here. Best, Matthew Shugart From: Oscar Jaitt Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 19:18:07 -1000 (HST) Subject: Fruit Photo Confirmation: It's A Langsat The second fruit photo is of a langsat, as it is called in Thailand. It is also called lansones in the Philipines. Some selected varieties of these are very sweet and delicious, others have a milky latex that can be quite bitter. Hope this is of help, Oscar Jaitt From: Gavin ATKINSON To: Leo Subject: Rare Fruit News Online Quit Coming! Hi Leo I haven't received a copy of Rare Fruit News Online since mid April. Have I possibly dropped off your distribution list? If so, can you add me again and send the copies I've missed out. Thanks Gavin Atkinson http://www.netspace.net.au/~atkinson/index.htm From: Leo Subject: Nursery Experiences: Good, Bad, ? Thu, 3 Jun 1999 19:25:39, -0500 I received a complaint from a reader about a nursery in Florida. That nursery shall remain nameless, but I wonder if there's any merit in collecting and passing along a list of on-line nurseries from whom you've had a satisfactory experience? I'm a little uneasy about publishing information about unpleasant experiences in this litiguous age. But, let's hear about your happy - at least, satisfied - experiences in buying plants and/or seeds on the internet. Leo Date: Mon Jun 7 16:05:38 1999 From: Julie & Paul Frink Subject: Re: XX3 Avocado Leo, The XX3 avocado tree is small, never needs pruning for height reduction, and has large fruit in the fall. Flesh is golden, flavor is high quality. It is the best of all the small avocado trees. It has never been available through nurseries as far as I know. We hope to make the budwood available to wholesale nurseries next spring so that trees could be available at nurseries in the year 2001. We may have a few available at the Greenscene at the Fullerton arboretum, CRFG booth next April. Julie and Paul Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 15:32:54 -0700 From: lockanload Subject: Cherimoyed (Cherimoa) A friend of mine brought over a cherimoyed fruit for me to try. I liked it very much. Kiddingly she said you have such a green thumb why don't you plant some of the seeds. I planted 5 and 3 are now poking their heads up as seedlings. My question is whats the best way to raise them, soil, heat/cold tolerance and any other info regarding them. I would like to give them the best chance possible. Thanks for any help you can give. Nina Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 16:11:51 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Nina Subject: Cherimoya Trees Hi Nina, Where do you live? In warm-winter areas, they grow easily outdoors, but if you live where the winter temperature gets below freezing, then they must be protected. If you look on the internet, at www.yahoo.com, or another internet search site, for cherimoya, you should find information. If you get frost but not freezing temperatures, in the high 30s, then the trees will need to be protected only when they are young. If you get temperatures in the low 30s or lower, you will need to have them in a protected place in the winter. Yours, Leo Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 17:24:37 -0700 From: lockanload Subject: Cherimoyed (Cherimoa) Trees Thanks for your speedy response on raising cherimoyed trees. We live in an inland med hi desert of california. 1500 to 4000 ft hills surround the valley were in. the weather is for the most part warm days cool nites, about once a yr for about a week we may have a low of 34. mostly it ranges low 40 to 50 s. The hi's on the other hand can range between 60 to 123 depending on time of year. 2 yrs ago I purchased a hawaiian solo papaya thats in a pot and made it thru all of the above, produced fruit, and only did the normal loss of leaves thru winter. If the cheramoyed is anything like that to grow, I shouldn't have too much problem. I guess the soil must be OK or they probably wouldn't have started up in the first place. Thanks again Nina Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 16:32:30 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: William Monroe Subject: Re: Potassium Chlorate/Longans William Monroe wrote: In your email to Leo Wright you mention the Potassium Chlorate > will make Longans flower at any time. I found a company called Fisher > Scientific (18007667000) which sells 500 grams containers (P210-500) > at a cost of $53.36. > Is this a good price? Pure reagent or laboratory-grade potassium chlorate is very expensive. Industrial-grade potassium chlorate is much much cheaper and works just as well. I use industrial-grade potassium chlorate from China which costs me about $6 per kilogram. > What is the mixture ratio between Potassium Chlorate and water(?) and how is > it applied (sprayed?)? It can be applied to the soil, foilar-sprayed or even injected into the branches.The amount varies according to numerous factors, including seasons, type of soil, cultivars, tree age, etc. This is how I applied it to my 10-year old E-Daw trees. I waited until the new flush has fully matured. The I dissolved potassium chlorate into water. I added water until the chemical is fully dissolved. I used about 200 grams per tree. To ensure uniformity, I used a hand-held water 'shower' spray. Below is translated from an official booklet. Application of potassium chlorate Preparation before application. Clean out the area beneath the canopy. Get rid of the weeds and other stuffs. There is no need to till the earth. If the soil is too dry, make it pretty damp one day before application. Quantity of potassium chlorate This depends upon the purity of the chemical, tree age and size of canopy and soil type. For sandy soil, use as follows (for over 95% pure chemical) Age 5-7 years 100 grams per tree. Age 7 - 10 years 200 grams per tree Over 10 years 200 grams per tree. For clay or organic soil, add a further 50 grams per tree. Dissolve in about 50 to 100 liters of water. Pour beneath the canopy uniformly. Keeping the soil Damp. After application of the chemical, keep the soil well-damped for a week. After that, increase the amount of water until the soil is saturated. Maintain this state until flowering. This will take from 20 to 35 days. When to apply the chemical Either before November or around May. This advice is not the result of a research study, but is a concensus of the growers who have successfully experimented. Sainarong Rasananda Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 16:30:48 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Eunice Messner Subject: Re: Potassium chlorate Eunice Messner wrote: > Do you know why Potassium chlorate is recommended instead of > Potassium nitrate that is recommended to make mangos bloom? No, not yet. Research is being done on this. In the meantime, I would like to translate, rather badly, the following article and hypothesis. The properties which make the longan flower are probably those of the chlorate ions, and not hte sodium or potassium ions. Both chemicals are considered high oxidizing agents. For plants, the chlorate ions are considered competitors of the nitrate ions in causing reduction actions with the nitrate reductase acting as enzymes. The chlorate ions can attach themselves to the nitrate reductase enzymes better than the nitrate ions. It is believed that the chlorate ions will be transported to various parts of the plants via the xylems. When the chlorate ions reach a living cell, it will attach itself to a nitrate reductase enzyme. The chlorate ions will release an oxygen atom and turns to a chlorite ion ClO2. The chlorite ion will inhibit the reactions of the nitrate reductase. Therefore the nitrate reductase enzyme will not work so well. There are more. If you want to know, please tell me. Sainarong Rasananda From: Sainarong Rasananda To: R. Burgess R. Burgess wrote: I came across some information where you said Sodium & Potassium Chlorates were efficacious in inducing longan flowering. I have a few trees one of which, 'Kohala' is very shy flowering, the others are seedlings of what I believe are called the 'mata kuching' type, which flowered well for the first time this year - 6-7 years from seed. > The 'Kohala' is a large tree about 12 years old. The area where I live > has about 15-1800mm rainfall, fairly well distributed and minimum > temperatures in Dec- Jan of 13C, occasionally reaching 10C maybe one > or two nights a year. I would be much obliged if you could give me a > bit more information on the use of chlorates viz - concentration to > use, method of application and time of application. > > Thanks & regards Reg Burgess You can use both sodium and potassium chlorate. Both work as well. I myself prefer potassium chlorate, because there will be no residue of sodium chlorate. I shall forward you e-mails on this. If you want further info, please me. Sainarong Rasananda Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 16:28:57 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: "W.N. Veer" Subject: Re: longan W.N. Veer wrote: > I am looking for a truly tropical lychee or longan, and she tells me > you have it, the Diamond River one. Can you tell me more about it? > Even now I am a little skeptical, because most parts of Thailand are > more up north than my country, and especially they get alittle cold > from the height (it is there much more mountainous). There are many truely tropical lychee and longans around Thailand. I can assure you of this fact. In Thailand, there are many such lychee cultivars. They mature about 1 to two months before the other cultivars. They are very sweet and there is very little sourness, unlike the other cultivars. The better tropical longans are found in South Vietnam. Diamond River, which prabably originates from Thailand, is pretty good, though. It can be obtained from Florida, I understand, but it is pretty expensive there. The tropical longans are not as tasty as the subtropical ones, but they can flower all year round. Out-of season longans fetch a very good price in Thailand, eventough the quality is definitely inferior. All tropical longans are similar to a certain extent. I shall forward you my e-mails on the subject. Sainarong Rasananda Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 12:49:25 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: austin Subject: Re: Longan information austin wrote: > I spoke to a professor at the University of Florida and he believed that the > chlorate forms of potassium and sodium serve the same function as the > chlorite forms (fertilizer). Being a fertilizer, it should be readily > available in the United States. Potassium chloride (KCl) is a popular fertilizer in Thailand. Note that it is spelt with a d not t. I am not aware that potassium chlorate (KClO3) is a fertilizer. If you have information on the use of potassium chlorate as a fertilizer, please tell me. I am very interested. In Thailand, potassium chlorate is considered an explosive, the import of which is under the control of the Ministry of Defence. Potassium chlorate is an important ingredient in fireworks here. > Can you tell me he the timing, application method (I am guessing foliar?), > application frequency, and concentrations that are used? I shall forward the info to you. Sainarong Rasananda Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 12:03:55 +0700 From: Sainarong Rasananda To: Eunice Messner Subject: Re: Diamond River and 'Zuang Zuang' longan Eunice Messner wrote: > Thank you so much for your very informative > description of the 'Diamond River' longan ('Petch > Sakorn'). They sounded very tempting to try and grow > here, until you said their flavor is inferior to the > sub-tropical longans. > Eunice Messner I have not seen or tasted it, but I hear that 'Zuang Zuang' is larger, less watery than Petch Sakorn , alias Diamond River. Zuang Zuang is a tropical longan, similar to Petch Sakorn. Therefore it should have many attributes of Petch Sakorn. It is native to South Vietnam, and is widely grown there for commercial purpose.As far as I know, there are very few orchards in Thailand which have Zuang Zuang, so not surprisingly I do not know very much about it.. However, a highly respected Thai horticulturist who has been to south Vietnam tells me that Zuang Zuang has some possibilities. Maybe I shall ask my friend for more info on Zuang Zuang, if you are interested. Sainarong Rasananda [I recently acquired a young "Diamond River" longan, and look forward to fruit - someday. Leo] ------------------Announcements And Web Pages To Consider------------------ Subject: Send Us Your Resource List: Books, Web Pages, Periodicals Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 12:45:01 +0100 From: Dynan, Roy Leo, I have recently found a new website for what is probably the main source of grafted exotic fruit in the UK - it is Reads Nursery near Norwich. http://www.readsnursery.co.uk/toc.htm They have a wide range of greenhouse citrus and some useful self-fertile clones (feijoas and hardy kiwi). I think they actually keep some national collections (fig and grape?) but my net link is out at the moment so I can't check. You already have two UK fruit source URLs from me but I'll copy them below to make it easier. Incidentally, I forgot to mention the Agroforestry guys have an impressive range of hardy citrus (hardy by UK standards): ------------------------------ Future Foods (not to be confused with futurefood of Sonoma) http://www.futurefoods.com/ and the agroforestry research trust http://members.aol.com/AgroResTr/homepage.html. Future foods catalogue is a much better read as it contains very good learned/funny/whimsical articles by Jeremy Cherfas who writes for Kew and the RHS - he specialises in unusual and 'lost' foods. The agroforestry guys have a very wide range but seem to use a very literal definition of 'edible'. ------------------------------ Books: Talking of national collections - you probably know of the lavishly illustrated book on passionflowers by John VanderPlank, but if not I can get full details. [Yes, Roy, I actually own two of those John VanderPlank books, and recommend them highly. Leo] Subject: Re: Resource List: Bushfood Links Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 08:29:37 +0000 From: Kelsay Schroeder Dear Leo: Here are two of my favorite online resources regarding Australian wild fruits. Hours of online web surfing. Links to nurseries,etc. http://users.academy.net.au/~samantha/bushfood.html and http://www.bushtucker.com.au Alan Schroeder Date: Wed, 09 Jun 1999 06:56:37 -0700 From: Leo Manuel Subject: What Is Noni: Morinda citrifolia http://www.halfpricenoni.com/newspaper.html http://www.sirisimpex.com/prd22.htm NewCrops Says: Morinda citrifolia, L.; Hunter. Australia (Queensland; Northern Territory): fruit edible, reported bitter. India (area unspecified): green fruit eaten. Hawaii: fruit eaten. Tahiti: fruit eaten. Hawaii: foetid fruit eaten. India (Madras Presidency): ripe fruit eaten; green fruit curried. Vernacular names - Australia: Canary Wood, Awl Tree, Indian Mulberry. Hawaiian: Noni. Tamil: Munja pavattay. Telugu: Molagha, Maddi chettu. Ref. HANDY, NEAL, STURTEVANT, CHOCK, CURREY, SHORTT. Morinda citrifolia, L. var. potteri Deg. Hawaii: as for Morinda citrifolia, L. (q.v.) Ref. HANDY, NEAL. Subject: Subscribe To NewCrops (You Should Consider It) From: Leo Send the following message to the listserv to subscribe to new crops To: listserv@vm.cc.purdue.edu From: Subject: --------------------------------------- subscribe newcrops You can also subscribe (or unsubscribe) online using the form at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ListServ/easyform.html The archives are available at http://bluestem.hort.purdue.edu/newcroplistserv/Search.html Anna Whipkey awhipkey@purdue.edu Center for New Crops and Plant Products www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ Purdue University >>>>>>>>End: Rare Fruit News Online - June 15, 1999<<<<<<<<< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< >< Rare Fruit News Online - July 1, 1999 - AKA RFN9907A.txt Rare Fruit News Online is primarily messages from subscribers. Sometimes there are questions to be answered by those with knowle