========================================== Rare Fruit News Online - All Year for 2002 ========================================== Rare Fruit News Online - January 1, 2002 - AKA RFN200202A.txt Notes In Passing - Leo Small Hotbed - Quick and Easy I just finished building a smaller hotbed, using one 4' x 8' sheet of twin-wall polycarbonate, measuring 2' x 2' x 4'. The 4' x 8' sheet was first cut into four pieces, each 2' x 4', and then one of those four divided in half, for the ends of the box. The three larger ones were used for the back, top, and front. The bottom is open, the top hinged. 2 x 2 redwood was used to frame the box, and to attach the polycarbonate skin. The bottom has a two-inch thick styrofoam sheet cut to fit, on top of which is the heating pad. The automatic heating pad measured 22 by 48 inches, a trifle long, but it works fine. I got the heating pad at City Farmers Nursery, San Diego. I used hardware to attach redwood frames together, and two hinges for the top. >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber, Oklahoma, Looking For Something Special "Barbara O`Rourke" New Subscriber, Michigan, With Jamaica Cherry Question John Wheeler >>>>>> Readers Write <<<<<<< Re: Israeli Pitaya Hybrid Information Doron Kletter Israeli Pitaya Hybrid Information Sought Leo Manuel "Kletter (CA), Doron" Wolf Berry (fructus lycium) - Use Outside China? "William Chow" Looking For These Passifloras: p. popenovii, .... gilbert Spondias cytherea L. = Golden Apple Michael Zarky Shawn.Hannon@efi.com Care Regimen 4 Multi-Cultivar Grafted Trees Ed Richard Ed Mathew Shugart's Mystery Fruit is "Capuacu" Mike Re: Mathew Shugart's Mystery Fruit is "Capuacu" Matthew Shugart Information Wanted: "Vexator" and Miracle Fruit Harve Stewart PawPaw in Southern California & Espalier Cherimoya? Todd Abel Oro Mango "Michael" "Paul Fisher" Downtown San Diego - Where To Buy Sapote Fruit? "Barbara DeWitt" Can We Have A Message Board? "Ronald Lyn" "Leo Manuel" Re: message board? Leo Manuel Ronald Lyn Stratification Information Sought Edward & Althia Musgrave Growing Dates In Central Illinois - Information Sought Sapadilla Fruit ? "Edward & Althia Musgrave" >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Re: Fertilizer Requirements For Longan (And Other Fruit Trees) "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" Fertilizer Just Before Blooming "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< http://www.geocities.com/leo92129/ - Mirror Site For Rarefruit.com http://www.geocities.com/leo92129/ SBLD - Fruits of Warm Climates-Free Online Version Of Great Book! "Lon J. Rombough" Leo Manuel http://newcrop.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ Permaculture Links - (Plants For A Future) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pfaf/files/Links_4.html Plants For A Future - 7000 useful plants http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ Mycorrhiza (Ecto) Improves Mulberry Rooting thehindu@admin.hinduonnet.com http://www.hinduonnet.com Avinoam Nerd Web Page - (Israeli Crop Researcher) http://www.bgu.ac.il/IAR/NERD.htm >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber, Oklahoma, Looking For Something Special Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 19:06:45 -0600 From: "Barbara O`Rourke" What a delight. At 73 I do much of my gardening on the computer or in front of the TV. Your site is very interesting. I am sure I will learn much after the Holiday. I have a small number of plum, apple, apricot, and a cherry trees. Two hazel nut trees and three almond and three Black Locust trees. Hazel nut, almond and Locust were started from seeds. The others were purchased. Going to try to start some pecan and hazel nuts this winter. Guess being from Kansas you may have grown okra? Nothing I have is rare but a joy to watch grow. Have two starts of Bamboo. Perhaps after reading your news letters, I will find something I must try. I expect to have a tiny garden in the Spring, must have okra. Trying to find different types of onions also. Have a start of E. Walking onions. Looking forward to your news letter. I am Barbara O`Rourke, I live in Oklahoma. about forty five minutes from Tulsa. Barbara O`Rourke mailto:BarbaraAshORourke@msn.com ------------------------------------------------ Merry Christmas and Happy NEW YEAR. Subject: New Subscriber, Michigan, With Jamaica Cherry Question Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 22:51:47 -0500 (EST) From: John Wheeler I saw your web site and wanted to subscribe to your newsletter. My name is John Wheeler and I live in Wixom, MI. I am currently growing banana plants, citrus trees, a miracle fruit tree, and a guava tree. Next summer, I'm thinking of getting a Jamaica cherry tree (muntingia calabura) but was wondering how long they live. I've read conflicting information - one source says they don't live very long and another says they do. If you could clear the matter for me I would appreciate it. John Wheeler mailto:Selenite@webtv.net >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Re: Israeli Pitaya Hybrid Information Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2001 09:09:59 -0800 From: Doron Kletter Hi Leo, Always glad to hear from you. Dr. Avinoam Nerd is with Ben Gurion University, which is located in the Negev area (the southern desert part of Israel). He works closely with Prof. Yossi Mizrahi, whom you may have met in one of his visits to the CRFG. The following excerpt is from the university newsletter: "Fruits from the desert sweeten life: Loaded with vitamins and minerals and elements that can prevent heart disease, BGU's Marula fruit could help fight hunger and save lives. The Marula is one of a number of wild fruits from around the world Professor Yossi Mizrahi and Dr. Avinoam Nerd of the Department of Life Sciences and the Institutes for Applied Research brought to Beer-Sheva. For more than 15 years, Mizrahi, Nerd and their team studied and developed these fruits, which today they raise in orchards that flourish in minimum amounts of saline water. They have also established similar orchards in African countries where the fruits provide desperately needed food and income. In Israel, the Marula and other exotic fruit provide farmers with a unique crop for export to the European market." More specific to your question (this one is from 1998): (note the Israeli market names of Eden and Koubo) | NEW ARID LAND FRUIT CROPS Yosef Mizrahi and Avinoam Nerd Ben | Gurion University of The Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, | Israel | | "The Israeli Negev Desert is the only place where further | agriculture industry can be developed. Due to market competition, | very high input prices, and scarcity of water, common crops cannot | serve as the future agricultural crops in Israeli. Thus, many wild | and rare fruit trees were introduced into various locations in the | Negev Desert, which are varied in their environmental conditions. | Among the introductions, two cacti have already made their way | into the European market. | | Two genera of climbing cacti from the tropical and subtropical | shady habitat were developed to grow either in greenhouses to | avoid subfreezing temperatures or under shade-houses to avoid | damaging photon flux densities. These cacti are Selenicereus | megalanthus, (known in Colombia as yellow pitaya) or Hylocereus | undatus, H. polyrhizus, and unidentified species H. sp. (known as | red pitayas). They were sold in local markets and in Europe for | the first time in 1996 and 1997. Total exported yields were 10 and | 25 tons in 1996 and 1997 respectively, with the highest prices | ever obtained from exported fruits in Israel. To enable efficient | production, studies of all aspects of horticulture including | irrigation and breeding are carried on at BGU. The Israeli name of | these fruits is EDEN fruits. | | Cereus peruvianus, a columnar, outdoor-grown cactus, went through | a similar domestication process. Its fruit was sold for the first | time in Europe in 1997 under the name Koubo. The farm-gate-price | of 7 US$/kg was far beyond any common fruit crop prices exported | from Israel. The names Koubu and Eden were given to avoid the use | of the name pitaya, which covers many species and genera. These | pitayas differ from each other like peach from apple and pear. | These new developments support the hypothesis that new crops can | serve as a remedy to the troubled Israeli export market and that a | viable agriculture industry is feasible under the harsh conditions | of the Negev Desert of Israel." See also: http://desertagriculture.org/index.html http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2000/01/18/News/News.1402.html http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/IALC/PF/ppfrt-s9.html http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-toc.html For direct contact, see: http://www.bgu.ac.il/IAR/NERD.htm I think you may want to use cuttings, as seed may not come true. Best Regards, and Happy Holidays, Doron mailto:kletter@impact.xerox.com P.S. Thank again for the Petrea volubilis plant (at least that's what I think it is) - it has recovered nicely, though hasn't flowered again. Subject: Israeli Pitaya Hybrid Information Sought Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 10:19:27 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: "Kletter (CA), Doron" |Hi Doron, | |I recently heard that someone in Israel has developed a hybrid |of Selenicereus Megalanthus and a Hylocereus species, |with very nice fruit. A name of Nerd was mentioned, if I |understood correctly. | |I would like to get seed from such a cross, if you have any |information about where to get it. | |Also seeds from other pitaya hybrids, especially any with |sweeter and colored flesh (other than white) and self fruitful |(that may be too much to expect, so self fruitful isn't |necessary.) | |I don't know if you have familiarity with Israeli pitaya, but |I thought just possibly you might. | |How have you been? | |Take care, | |Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Hybrid of Selenicereus Megalanthus and Hylocereus spp. Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2001 15:30:29 +0530 From: Avinoam Nerd Dear Leo We have hybrids of Selenicereus megalanthus and Hylocereus polyrhizus. The plant and the fruit are the "average" of the parents - also the flowering time. Sincerely Avinoam (Bachur Kaerez) mailto:aavi@bgumail.bgu.ac.il ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Wolf Berry (fructus lycium) - Used Outside China? Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 19:00:46 -0800 From: "William Chow" Hi Leo, The wolf berry is identified with China just like the Ginkgo and bamboo. I don't know why the bamboo is oriental because it is native to so many places. The medical name for wolf berry is "fructus lycium". It looks a lot like a forsythia. It grows in a clump with 3 feet long whips arching in each direction. The flower is small and purple (like the society garlic). Each whip has 30 to 40 berries. The berries look like a miniture olive and is deep orange red. So the berries are very eye catching. The berries taste like carrots. It is mildly sweet and full of vitamin A and is very good for the eye. The reason is similar to the carrot. My father soak the berry in hot water and drink that like a tea. He had eye problem since 25 years ago. He drinks at least 2 pounds a week. I am not sure that has helped his eyes. But this is a very common herb and you can cook that in sweet soups. I picked the fresh berries and gave that to all the kids that visit me. Most people find it quite enjoyable. It is a lot easier to chew than a carrot. I found the wolf berry incredibly easy to propagate. Just cut the vines in 4 inch length and stick that in the soil. It seems to root by itself in less than 2 weeks. Almost 100% success with very little work. We also put the leaves in chicken soup and egg fuyung soup. This is not recommended for people who have not acquired the taste. The leaves are slightly bitter. I have a cookbook that shows this berry in a rice dish. Also great in soups with the jujube. I wonder if you can find any reference for this shrub in US literature. Do you grow a vegetable garden ? I think there is a good feel when I produce my own food. I like to go vegetarian. So tending a garden help me to connect to nature and to the cycle of life. If I have more time, I like to get one or 2 acres in coastal North County and really grow a lot of edible stuff. Cheers ! William mailto:wchow@znet.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Looking For These Passifloras: p. popenovii, .... Date: Mon, 27 Aug 1956 20:50:55 -0700 From: gilbert Leo and everyone Rare Fruit News Online - hello I am looking for several varieties of fruiting passion flower and have been unable to find plants or seeds. does anyone know a source for Passiflora Pinnatistipula, p.popenovii, p.rosea, and p.sclimiana?? Aaron Gilbert mailto:gilbertaa@earthlink.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Spondias cytherea L. = Golden Apple Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 06:56:09 -0800 From: Michael Zarky To: Shawn.Hannon@efi.com Shawn, it says on the page you linked to that it is Spondias cytherea L.; perhaps your eye skipped over it as mine did at first. Julia Morton says golden apple is one colloquial name of Ambarella but she says it is Spondias cytherea Sonn. So that is getting close... Michael Zarky mailto:mzarky@earthlink.net Moorpark, CA 93021 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Care Regimen 4 Multi-Cultivar Grafted Trees Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 15:04:47 EST From: Ed To: Richard Hello Dick and Leo, In the last issue of RFN, Dick mentioned that he has a "tangelo that now boasts seven varieties and [he is] still working it." I also like to graft multiple cultivars onto one tree and have done so with citrus, atemoya and mango this past summer. I have grafted onto a navel seedling, two other cultivars of navel and 3 types of tangerine. My citrus trees are barely old enough to begin bearing so I hope you can give me some insight into a question I have. Since citrus varieties ripen over a wide span of time, what is the effect on a mother tree that has a number of rather different budwood? How is the fertilization and care regimen complicated by the fact that post-harvest fertilization for one cultivar is midbloom fertilization for another? Wouldn't that increase abscission? Does the yield suffer on a tree that is multi-cultivar grafted? Thank you for your comments. Ed mailto:Link2itc@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Care regimen 4 multi-cultivar grafted trees Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 23:05:20 -0800 From: "Richard K. Gross" To: Ed It is my understanding, Ed, that a clone does not know it is on a different root stock and will be identical to the mother tree in every respect. The clone will, however, respond to stresses of one kind or another imposed upon the root stock in the same way it would have on the mother tree. The healthy root stock of a particular cocktail tree is capable of holding a fixed amount of fruit and I would guess the quantity it sheds naturally after fruit set would be about the same irrespective of the number of varieties grafted upon it. The amount of each reaching maturity would vary, I'm sure, with the extent of its foliage. A branch of pommelo would surely hold a lesser number of fruit than a tangerine branch of equal size. In Arizona, we fertilize routinely with equal amounts in March, June and September without regard to the variety. On the same root stock, a dozen varieties should respond individually to feeding the same as they would have on the mother tree. Now, I must dispute my own beliefs. A Washington naval and a tangerine grafted on my tangelo are presently blooming profusely. Neither of the mother trees 30+ years old have ever bloomed in December. Never! Some citrus varieties may, to some extent, all year but not these. I have no explanation. They do not appear to be setting any fruit but it is a little early to say for sure. Regards, Dick mailto:rkgross3@home.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Mathew Shugart's Mystery Fruit is "Capuacu" Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 12:45:57 -0800 From: Mike Hi Leo, I was looking thru the 12/14/01 edition of the rare fruit news online and saw the posting listed below from mathew Shugart regarding a Brazilian fruit that he had in a San Diego restaurant. The correct local name of the fruit is "capuacu", with the second "c" pronounced like an "s", and with the accent on the final syllable. This fruit has a very unique flavor, making a wonderfully exotic and different tasting juice. I have only come across it in the Brazilian state of "Para", although it probably occurs in some of the other northeastern Brazilian states. So far, I've had no luck germinating/growing it here in California. Mike mailto:mnm@tstonramp.com (909) 941 1060 Tropical Oasis Nursery Subject: What Is This Mystery Brazilian Fruit Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 18:09:49 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart | Dear Leo and RFNO readers: | | I was in a Brazilian restaurant earlier and had the juice of a | fruit with a Portuguese name something like Capuasso. The server | did not know the English (let alone the Latin) name, but she said | it was from northeastern Brazil. The juice was slightly tart and | almost white. Based on this limited information, can anyone | identify what it was? ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Mathew Shugart's Mystery Fruit is "Capuacu" Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 17:24:44 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart Hi Leo, I knew someone among your readers would know what that fruit was! Thanks for forwarding the messages. Matthew mailto:mshugart@ucsd.edu ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Information Wanted: "Vexator" and Miracle Fruit Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 19:37:57 -0800 From: Harve Stewart I have just returned from a working trip to Pearl Harbor and I ordered a "Vexator" from a certified (to ship to mainland) grower. It appears to be a fruiting tropical myrtle? Anyone have any more information? Is the "miracle fruit" hardly in San Diego zone 23- (edge of Montezuma Mesa with canyon to drain off cold air.) Cheers to all Harve Stewart mailto:sandiegodude@home.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: PawPaw in Southern California & Espalier Cherimoya? Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 09:12:53 -0800 From: Todd Abel Leo, I traded plants with a nice gentleman named William Chow from San Diego. His website on the net (geocities) is very good, complete with pics. I have told him about the rarefruit magazine and CRFG. His collection is very good with such as Longan and Rose Apple, in addition to being 100% organic. I gave him Pitahaya and he gave me a PawPaw and a Longan Seedlings. The PawPaw is about 2 ft high. I have never had the fruit, but I am intrigued as it is said to be a native American fruit. Will the Pawpaw survive the So Cal heat? Should I put it in full shade? Do you know of anyone growing the Pawpaw? What's you input on the Pawpaw and Socal. I will keep in a 7 gal container as long as possible, and keep you updated. On a side note. With the space almost but gone on my residential lot, I am thinking about an espalier of Cherimoya against a wall. The wall I am thinking of does not get the hot afternoon sun. Is that a good site. I have another Cherimoya in the ground in full sun, but the winds can get to it. Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com Orange, CA 92867 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Oro Mango Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 19:06:39 -0800 From: "Michael" To: "Paul Fisher" I was reading an old issue of fruit gardener (Jan 97) as was pretty impressed by the apparent vigor of the Oro Mango. Paul, I have heard you praise it tremendously and would like to raise some of her children and see how they did for me. Do you know where I could get about a half dozen of her seeds? Thanks Mike McCright mailto:mike-mccright@home.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Downtown San Diego - Where To Buy Sapote Fruit? Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 22:08:31 -0800 From: "Barbara DeWitt" Dear Leo, I have a friend that is 82 and all she talks about are Sapote's and how she wishes she could find one. I would be thrilled if I could give her a sapote. I do not have a yard as I live in downtown San Diego. I only wish to purchase the fruit for my friend. Please include me in your mailer. My address is 500 W. Harbor Dr. #1121 Dan Diego, CA 92101 I will be out of town until Jan. 1. Sincerely, Bsarbara De Witt mailto:barbarajdewitt@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Can We Have A Message Board? Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 16:58:17 -0500 From: "Ronald Lyn" To: "Leo Manuel" Hi Leo, Merry Xmas from Jamaica. Lychees seem to be flowering well so far, hoping for good crop next year. ( If they don't steal half of them like this year) Leo I was wondering, have you ever thaught of hosting on your site a message board? Don't know just thought it would be great and also have quicker responses to questions. Thanks again and all the best. Ronald mailto:kanku@cwjamaica.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: message board? Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 18:34:45 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Ronald Lyn Hi Ronald, I have no idea how to incorporate a message board on my webpage. Do you have any experience with that? I do try to circulate questions among those readers whom I know to have answers, so the questioner often have responses before the newsletter comes out. I wouldn't want to have to tinker with the webpage daily. Thanks for writing, and I'd like to see your lychees. Take care, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Stratification Information Sought From: Edward & Althia Musgrave Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 7:16 AM Hi Leo I need some information of stratification on Cornelious Cherries. I live in a warm climate but want to grow Cornelelious Cherrys . I have fresh seeds but they won't grow for me . Ed Musgrave mailto:eamusg@quixnet.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Growing Dates In Central Illinois - Information Sought Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 22:49:08 EST From: Chrisoyer@aol.com Hi, Found your website - we're looking for information on how best to plant and grow the seed/pit from large dates sent to us from California - they have no preservatives, and we would like to grow the plant. We don't necessarily care to get fruit from it. We live in Central Illinois. Can you give us any information? Thanks very much! mailto:Chrisoyer@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Sapadilla Fruit ? Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 22:31:25 -0500 From: "Edward & Althia Musgrave" Hi I have a sapadilla fruit on my tree, but when is the fruit RIPE ! It bloomed in middle of summer grew to full size in late November it is now end of December. It has not changed any for over a month and I don't know when to pick it. No one in my area has any fruit. Does anyone know the answer to my dilema Ed mailto:eamusg@quixnet.net >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Subject: Re: Fertilizer Requirements For Longan (And Other Fruit Trees) Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 08:41:55 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" To: Mark Mark - So basically you just add what is needed at the time. Do you do a lot of foliar feeding or ground feeding? Sainarong - After trying out many methods, this is what I now do. I make sure that the physcical properties of my soil are good. The water retention properties are good, not too much not too little. The soil is not compact; I till my soil regularly. I water my soil regularly and sufficiently.I find this simple rule of prime importance. I try hard to make the environment microbe-friendly. Now on to the chemical properties: I check the amount of organic matter and the pH carefully, and try very hard and very carefully to bring these two to the desired levels. As for the various nutrients, I add either on a needed basis or if the soil does not have a sufficient amount. This sounds organic, doesn't it. I guess it does, but I did not start out this way, I started by using a lot of chemicals, but my search for a better long-term solution led me towards this path. I would say that I am semi-organic. Mark - I know your soil is different, we are a ph of around 8 on calcareous rock. The organic here aren't to good. I have friends that brought in better soil or added a lot of mulch and they seem to get away with less fertilizer. Their trees seem to take it up better. Sainarong - You and I appear to be on the same learning curve; We look at the successful orchards and try to figure out what they do which is important. Mark - Last year I started incorporating seaweed, fish and humus type of fertilizers in with my regular fertilizer. Iam hoping this will eventually improve my soil and overall condition of the tree. Sainarong - Cost is another factor I always need to bear in mind. Enjoy Yourselves! Sainarong mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Fertilizer - Just Before Blooming? Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 19:16:23 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" To: Mark Question Have you heard of using 10 - 52 - 8 foliar applied fertilizer to help things along just before blooming on Longan. If so do you think it would help or hurt using this after you have applied the potassium chlorate? Answer All of my horticultural, academic friends are adamnant that the fertilizer does not encourage flowering in fruit trees, not just longan. However, the particularfertilizer speeds up the maturation process of the new leaves and slows down the new flush, I seem to recall. So, under certain conditions, the fertilizer can indirectly promote blooming. If you apply potassium chlorate correctly, the afore-mentioned fertilizer should have no effect either way. Have Fun! Sainarong mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: http://www.geocities.com/leo92129/ http://www.geocities.com/leo92129/ Mirror Site For Rarefruit.com but a bit more up-to-date. Home of Leo & Betty Manuel, And - Free Newsletter - Since 1996 Rare Fruit News Online! Back Issues Of Rare Fruit News Online ------------------------------------------------ Subject: SBLD - Fruits of Warm Climates-Free Online Version Of Great Book! Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 14:19:15 -0800 From: "Lon J. Rombough" Fruits of Warm Climates http://newcrop.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ This site is an online version of the print text "Fruits of Warm Climates" -- an ethnobotanical classic from 1987 by Julia F. Morton. With over 120 species (and countless varieties) in 36 families, this presents a wealth of information about flowering plant fruit crops. Each species includes descriptions, origin & distribution, varieties, pollination, climate, soil, propagation, culture, yield, harvesting & ripening, keeping quality, pests & diseases, food uses, toxicity and other uses. This includes oranges, bananas, guava, dates, figs, other familiar fruits, and some fruits that may yet prove useful as new crops. An excellent fruit reference site by the Center for New Crops & Plant Products, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. (****) -S ======================================================================== *BOT-LINX Home Delivery sends you the Botanical Link-of-the-Day from Scott's Botanical Link site at URL: http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/bot-linx/ *To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit the listserv site at URL: http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/bot-linx/listserv.shtml or contact me by email: mailto:srussell@ou.edu Archived since 1996 at URL: http://lists.ou.edu/archives/botlinx.html ======================================================================== ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Permaculture Links - Plants For A Future http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pfaf/files/Links_4.html Botany, Database and Pictures Want to find out more about a particular plant, then have a look at the following links. On this page: Ethnobotany The study of the uses of plants world wide. Databases More information than you could possible dream of. Photos and pictures So what do all these wonderful plants look like? On other pages: Main Links Page Including: Permaculture, Sustainable Agriculture, Other Systems, Organics, General Gardening, Rare Plants/Heritage Seeds, Interesting Plants, Books Stores, Herbs and Medicinal Plants, Soaps, dyes and the uses of plants, Wild plants, Communities and Eco-villages, Vegan Stuff, Genetics, Green Building, Green and Environmental, Other interesting sites. News Groups and Mailing Lists One of the best ways for finding answers to specific queries is to ask others on the Internet, Theres a lot of knowledgeable people out there. Databases, Botany and Photos Various places where you can find more information about specific plants: Ethnobotany, Databases, Photos and pictures. UK Permaculture Organisations Offline Lots of addresses of useful UK groups. Suppliers Places world wide where you can find interesting plants ( [french] Fournisseurs de Plantes, Francais rather out of data). Other Links Other Links to non plant related sites, and reciprocal links. New Links Recient additions to the links page. Dr Dick's Home Page My own home page has links to UK eco-activist, Taoism, Tai-Chi and Feng-Shou and maths. And if you really want more links the Internet Directory for Botany has nearly 3000. The Internet mining company has two interesting and comprehensive sections: Botany and Herbs For Health. The AgriSurf! Agricultural Web Index looks promising, a searchable index to over 6000 agricultural sites. And if you can't find what your after try asking on one of the News Groups and Mailing Lists. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Plants For A Future - 7000 useful plants http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567, Reg. office 131 Spencer Place, Leeds, LS7 4DU, England. There is also a workers co-op who carry out many of the day to day tasks. All the information on the web-site is Copyright (C) Plants For A Future, 1996-2000. Web-sites Theres now a confusing array of web sites for the project: * www.pfaf.org - Our own domain name. This just redirect to the Leeds sites below. * www.pfaf.org.uk - An alternative domain name. * www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ - The actual site where the pages are hosted. * www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ - An alias for comp.leeds.ac.uk. This used to be our main URL. * www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/ - The US mirror of the database. * www.permacult.com.au/pfaf.html - The Australian mirror of the database. When referring to the whole web-site you should use www.pfaf.org if you want to refer to particular page you need to use www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ followed by the name of the page, for example www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/D_search.html is the main database search page. If pfaf.org sites wrap the whole site in a big frame and you don't get to see the full URL's for each page. If you want to see the full URL click on this link which remove the surrounding frame. The School of Computer Science at Leeds recently changed its name to School of Computing hence the change from scs.leeds to comp.leeds old urls referring to scs.leeds will still be valid but its better to use comp.leeds. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Mycorrhiza (Ecto) Improves Mulberry Rooting Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 19:56:57 +0530 From: thehindu@admin.hinduonnet.com Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com) Novel approach to mulberry cultivation MULBERRY () is a woody tree. Mulberry leaf protein is the only source for silkworm to biosynthesise the silk, which is made up of two proteins namely fibroin and sericin. It has been cultivated widely in India for sericulture. Mulberry is cultivated in upland areas where water availability is less. Now a days drought and saline prone soils are also targeted for its cultivation. The success rate is very less due to poor rooting of the cuttings. This can be overcome by using ectomycorrhizal species at the nursery stage itself. Ectomycorrhizal species viz. and were used at the Entomology Research Institute (ERI) to study their efficacy on the nursery seedling and establishment. was found to be the best partner for mulberry in semi-arid conditions. The inoculated plant stand was good and proved to be beneficial. The saplings even produced axillary buds, more number of leaves, increased leaf length, and increased biomass, which are absent or less in control plants. The root length and root number also increased due to ectomycorrhizal activity. This increased production can be attributed to the capacity of the ectomycorrhiza to translocate the required nutrients and minerals from soil to the plants and to produce large amount of auxin and cytokinins. For inoculation, one gram of sorghum grain based inocula can be used per plastic bag/mulberry cutting. Application of up to 10 grams of rock phosphate/bag encourages the fungal establishment. Other fertiliser application can be deferred in the initial stages. This inoculation technology can be adopted in large-scale production of mulberry. K. Kathiravan, S. Seshadri & S. Ignacimuthu Copyrights: 1995 - 2001 The Hindu ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Avinoam Nerd Web Page - (Israeli Crop Researcher) http://www.bgu.ac.il/IAR/NERD.htm AVINOAM NERD Born October 1937, Haifa, Israel Address (home) Ofek 11/1, Arad 89048 Tel: 07- 9950392 Address (work) The Institutes for Applied Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel Tel: 07-6461966(930) FAX: 07-6472984 E-mail: aavi@bgumail.bgu.ac.il M.Sc. (Horticulture), Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot. Ph.D., Department of Biology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Thesis: Effect of water regimes on water relations, growth and assimilate partitioning in jojoba(Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider). Research grade A Fields of interest Development of new fruit and nut crops with emphasis on cacti, argan (argania spinosa) and marula (Sclerocarya caffra). Crop physiology. Achievements in Applied Research Selection of a jojoba clones outstanding for their high yield based on morphological principles. Development of an agrotechnique for the production of out-of-season prickly pear fruits, winter and spring. Development pitaya (cacti) cultivation in Israel. Recent publications Nerd, A., Eteshola, E., Borowy, N. and Mizrahi, Y. 1994. Growth and oil production of argan in the Negev desert of Israel. Ind. Crop. Prod. 2:89-95. Weiss, A., Nerd, A. and Mizrahi, Y. 1994. Pollination requirements of Cereus peruvianus cultivated in Israel. Israel J. Plant Sci. 42:149-158. Nerd, A. and Mizrahi, Y. 1994. Effect of nitrogen fertilization and organ removal on rebudding in Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Miller. Scientia Hort. 53:115-122. Weiss J., Nerd, A. and Mizrahi, Y. 1994. Flowering behavior and pollination requirements in climbing cacti with fruit crop potential. HortScience 29:1487-1492. Nerd, A., and Mizrahi,Y. 1995. The effect of low winter temperatures on bud break in Opuntia ficus indica. Adv. Hort. Sci. 9: 188-191. Nerd, A., and Nobel, P. S. 1995. Accumulation, partitioning, and assimilation of nitrate in Opuntia ficus indica. J. Plant Nutr. 18: 2533-2549. Nerd, A., Dumoutier, M. Mizrahi,Y. 1997. Properties and post harvest behavior of the vegetable cactus Nopalea cochenillifera. Postharvest Biol. and Tech. 10: 135-143. Nerd, A., V. Irijimovitch, V. and Mizrahi,Y. 1998. Phenology breeding system and fruit development of argan (Argania spinosa). Econ. Botany 51 (1). Chapters in collective volumes Nerd, A. and Mizrahi,Y. 1995. Reproductive biology of the cactus pear opuntia ficus indica.. p 67-77 In: G. Barbera. P. Inglese and E. Pimienta- Barrios (eds), Agroecology, Cultivation and Uses of Cactus pear Opuntia sp., FAO, Rome. Pasternak, D. and Nerd, A. 1995. Research and utilization of halophytes in Israel. p 325-348 In: R. Chouker -Allal (ed), Halophyte and Biosaline Agriculture, Marcell Decker, New york. Mizrahi, Y., Nerd, A. and Nobel, P. S. 1997. Cacti as crops. Hort. Rev. 18: 291-320. Nerd, A. and Mizrahi, Y. 1997. Reproductive biology of cactus fruit crops. Hort. Rev. 18: 321-346. Raveh, E., Nerd, A. and Mizrahi, Y. 1997. Responses of climbing cacti to different levels of shade and to carbon dioxide enrichment. Acta Hort. 434: 271-278. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: KYSU Pawpaw Home Page http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/ Kentucky State University Pawpaw Research Project Atwood Research Facility Frankfort, KY 40601 Table of Contents Pawpaw research at KYSU, KYSU annual report 2000, Pawpaw FAQ, Description of fruit, Pawpaw recipes, Nutritional information, Guide to growing, Cultivars, Where to buy, Photos, Audio & video, the PawPaw Foundation, Bibliography, Links to other pawpaw sites, Links to other horticultural and botanical sites, Report on the Pawpaw Regional Variety Trials, Pawpaw events Pawpaw song and dance Coming up: 2nd International Pawpaw Conference! Postdoctoral position available This site is a comprehensive source of information on Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), a temperate fruit that is native to North America. Pawpaw photograph by Scott Bauer. The development of this web site was supported by the 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program (award No. 95-38814-1721) of the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. This page was updated February 26, 2001 Questions about pawpaws? Contact Dr. Kirk Pomper at: kpomper@dcr.net or telephone # 502-597-5942 To the KYSU Home Page Webmaster: snakej@mis.net >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. None this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN2000201A.txt<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rare Fruit News Online - January 15, 2002 - RFN200201B.txt Notes In Passing - Leo San Diego Area - Scion Exchange - Two In January North County Scion Exchange: Friday 1/18/02 - AND San Diego City Chapter Scion Exchange: Thursday 1/24/02 North County Chapter: Meetings are usually the 3rd Friday, 7 pm at Mira Costa College Hort. Bldg. 7A, One Barnard Dr., Oceanside (Park in Lot 3E-no permit required.) Officers and Contact Information for North County:: Sven Merton, Chair 714.531.9404 scoutdog@pacbell.net Sally Sanderson, Treasurer 760.749.6995 vcwillow@cs.com Dan Kinnard, Secretary/Newsletter Editor 760.414.9636 dkinnard@exo.com San Diego City Chapter of CRFG: Meetings: (7pm) 4th Thursday of the month (3rd Thursday during Nov. & Dec.); Casa del Prado (Rm.101), Balboa Park. Chair: Bill Burson mailto:bill.burson@crfgsandiego.org Newsletter Editor: Michael McCright mailto:mike-mccright@home.com> Mike Davis, Treasurer (619) 286-7520 See http://www.crfgsandiego.org/ ------------------------------------------------ New Web page for Ong Nursery: http://www.geocities.com/quangong2/ It shows address, telephone, email address, and hours for the ONG Rare Plant Nursery, in San Diego. Later it will show names of plants being carried, but you will always be more aware of what Quang Ong carries if you visit his nursery on weekends (as he has a full-time job during the week.) Beautiful Book With Great Pictures - And Priced Accordingly Five Decades With Tropical Fruit- A Personal Journey by William F. Whitman Published by Quisqualis Books in cooperation with Fairchild Tropical Garden Printed by Southeastern Printing Company Stuart, Florida, U.S.A. 476 pages with many pictures in full color. ------------------------------------------------ Regal Plastics For Twin-Wall Polycarbonate Regal Plastics 8651 Production Avenue, San Diego 92121 (Near Miramar Road) 858 549-5150 has 6mm 4' x 8' sheets for $54 per sheet or $58.05 with tax. (Where I got my hotbed skin.) ------------------------------------------------ Epiphyllum Pollen (Sometimes, At Least) Works For Hylocereus spp Jack Skeels, of the San Diego area, had blossoms on a Hylocereus undatus. He tried pollen from an epiphyllum (wish I knew its name) and ate the white fleshed fruit a few days ago. A bit later, his Hylocereus polyrhizus bloomed, and lacking any other source, again used pollen from the same epiphyllum, and just yesterday (1/12/2002) I saw the fruit, ate some, and, of course, saved seed. The epiphyllum has long paper-thin 'leaves' that are 2-3 inches wide. The epiphyllum has respectable fruit, white flesh somewhat transluscent, length about 3 inches, and diameter in middle about 1.5 inches. I have rooted cuttings of it. >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber, San Diego, Look At His Web Pages! "William Chow" New Subscriber, Arizona - What A Plant List! Chris Marshall New Subscriber, Australia Has Pitaya Questions Graeme Orr RE: New Subscriber, Australia Has Pitaya Questions Sven Merten To: Graeme Orr >> Readers Write << What Is This Fruit Tree - And How Do I Care For It? "Jack" Re: Rare Fruit News Online - January 1, 2002 - 5 Trudy Eagan Re: Growing Dates In Central Illinois "Leo A. Martin" To: Chrisoyer@aol.com Pawpaw "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" To: Todd Abel pawpaw Michael Zarky To: Todd Abel RE: Sapadilla Fruit ? Sven Merten To: Ed Musgrave Sapodilla ripeness Ed Lin To: Edward RE: PawPaw in Southern California & Espalier Cherimoya? Sven Merten To: Todd Abel Re: Passiflora Gilbert RE: pitaya Sven Merten To: Pitahaya Cold Tolerance? "McCright, Michael CWO" Dragon Fruit book John Picone Re: Dragon Fruit book Leo Manuel Cedar Toxicity, Mychorrhizal Treatments - Questions WAYNE COUGLE RE: Pitahaya "McCright, Michael CWO" Passiflora in Arizona "Holzinger, Bob" RE: Passiflora in Arizona "McCright, Michael CWO" To: Bob Holzinger Re: FWD: Pitahaya - Which Ones Tolerate How Much Frost? Sven Merten To: Mike My Experience With Paw Paw To: Todd Blue Fan Palm Seeds-Will Trade For Polytail or Sago Palm Seeds "William Chow" Successfully Bringing Seeds Through Airports Todd Abel Re: Successfully Bringing Seeds Through Airports Sven Merten To: Todd Abel Re: Wanted Seeds Of Hylocereus spp. Sven Merten Importing Israeli Fruit Trees Question Joel Moskowitz To: Jose RE: Importing Israeli Fruit Trees Question "Jose Miguel Gallego" To: Joel Moskowitz Vexator To: Harvey Capuasu To: Matthew Avocados dropping early "Niki Wessels" Kokum Fruit - In "Little India" Grocery Michael Zarky Weeping Santa Rosa Have Same Pollinating Skills As Non-Weeping? "MIZE, KURT (PB)" RE: Weeping Santa Rosa Have Same Pollinating Skills As Non-Weeping? Leo Manuel To: "MIZE, KURT (PB)" >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< None, this time >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< Dragon fruit, Pitaya, Hylocereus Undatus, Pitahaya, night-blooming Cereus http://www.geocities.com/wenjin92014/foto2001/dragon.htm ----- Pitaya Discussion Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/ ----- Article sent from The Hindu Recommended by Ray Gerlach ( bananarayis@home.com ) ----- Marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. Caffra) as a New Crop for the Negev Desert of Israel http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-496.html ----- Marula - Uses http://www.knet.co.za/herbs/marula.htm ----- http://barkingfrogspc.tripod.com/frames.html Permacltur@aol.com >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm Better Mosquito, Tick Repellents in the Wind? "ARS News Service" Judy McBride New Nest Egg: Poultry Litter Ash as a Fertilizer "ARS News Service" Lupe Chavez >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber, San Diego, Look At His Web Pages! Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 21:24:09 -0800 From: "William Chow" Hi Leo, I am someone who has an interest in photography. I like to photograph bountiful crops on nice fruit trees. [Leo, you can use the webpage with your Cherimoya yard photo, http://www.geocities.com/wenjin92014/foto2001/Leo12-01.htm] I am willing to help people with webpages if I have time. I sell a few things and buy a few things on eBay. These days I am just overwhelmed with my new job and with a 9 month old baby. I plant trees at my father's house and my sister's house in Irvine. I like to get everyone to have a food supply in their own backyard. I am constantly passing out trees to my friends at work and to my wife's office friends. I used to grow apples and pears in Illinois. These days, I am growing rare fruits because I can buy fresh apples and oranges cheaper. The backyard is too small for me. When I retire, I will get a big backyard to grow as many tree as I can handle. I am with the Pacific Beach Community Garden. I enjoy trading seeds and trees. Cheers ! William mailto:wchow@znet.com http://www.geocities.com/wenjin92014/foto2001/ToddAbel.htm http://www.geocities.com/wenjin92014/foto2001/dragon.htm http://www.geocities.com/wenjin92014/gardeng/gardeng.htm http://www.geocities.com/wenjin92014/gardeng/jungle.htm http://www.znet.com/~wchow http://www.geocities.com/williamwchow/botany/fruit.htm ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Arizona - What A Plant List! Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 15:19:26 +0000 From: Chris Marshall Dear Leo, I would like to subscribe to your newsletter on rare fruits. I was referred to you by the Snows whom I met through family in Tucson. I am a member of CRFG and have about a hundred fruiting plants as well as many other exotics. Looking forward to future issues, [Chris, I get fruit from my Passiflora vitafolia when I use pollen from almost any other Passiflora, but I hand pollinate. -Leo Manuel] Here's my plant list (16K): [Too long to include in this overly-lengthy newsletter. I'll email it to anyone who asks, or write to Chris. It's an impressive list! -Leo Manuel] Chris Marshall, Tucson, AZ mailto:christopher.marshall@att.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Australia Has Pitaya Questions Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 19:07:11 +1000 From: Graeme Orr Hi My name's Graeme. We live in Brisbane, Australia. Just a small yard, but we put in a Pitomba a few years back, and some Pitaya recently. We're also growing a pair of pawpaws/papaya (though they are very common in these latititudes) and gooseberries (more common in the higher country west of here). Any information about Pitaya? I was told the fruit would be like small, furry pineapples (in appearance). It's obviously a succulent, but the tropical nursery had it in the same moist environment as all the other plants. Does it like certain soils/waterings? It is shooting up, with a second, thin and seemingly unstable shoot, vertically off the one central 'trunk' - should it be tethered? It's 1.2m high now after a very short time! Graeme Orr mailto:g.orr@mailbox.gu.edu.au ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: New Subscriber, Australia Has Pitaya Questions Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 07:34:33 -0800 From: Sven Merten To: Graeme Orr Graeme, From your description, "small, furry pineapples" I am assuming you have a yellow pitaya (Selenicereus megalanthus) and not the more common (at least here) Hylocereus undatus. The yellow pitaya are more frost sensitive and seem to be a little more prone to rotting out during wet winters. You want to use a soil that drains well. A sandy soil seems to work the best as they don't seem to do as well in looser potting soils. Even though they need good drainage they still like a lot of water. They are an under story plant from the rain forest, so they do like water and definitely need more than a desert type of cactus. It is a good idea to give them some kind of support. They will climb up trees or walls, or you can grow them on a trellis. One other thing to mention they do not like full sun. I grow mine under 30% shade cloth. The yellow pitaya seem to be especially sensitive to full sun. I hope this has helped. Regards, Sven [Some growers recommend cutting off all side shoots lower than whatever level you want them to fruit. This supposedly will cause them to bear sooner and the plant growth may be more manageable. Of course, you can root any shoots you cut off. -Leo Manuel] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: What Is This Fruit Tree - And How Do I Care For It? Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 17:20:31 -0700 From: "Jack" Hello I am trying to find out some information on a fruit tree that A fellow planted in our back yard it is a cross tasting fruit (between a pineapple and a guava) it came from Brazil if you have any information on such a tree that would tell me how much water it sould get and a good ferrite. Last year we had blossoms and fruit this year we got small flowers and no fruit. Please advise of anything which would help me get this tree growing right to producing fruit. Thanks a lot, Jack Tessier mailto:jacktessier44@hotmail.com Westlake Village Ca. 91361 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Rare Fruit News Online - January 1, 2002 - 5 Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 18:45:23 -0500 (EST) From: Trudy Eagan Just a note concerning trees blooming/fruiting out of season. It's been a very strange year. I have plums ripening in Dec. About 6 months off! No chill needed obviously for that Aug bloom. At present I have a peach with small peaches and buds about to burst into bloom. Again no chill needed and months off. We did have some cool weather in Oct. though. More cool now. Also have bloom on some citrus, at least a month early and orchid trees and tabebuias are blooming weeks early. This is in Florida. I think the note in this newsletter regarded early bloom on citrus in California. It appears to be a widespread phenomenon then. Trudy mailto:trudye@webtv.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Growing Dates In Central Illinois Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 18:55:12 -0500 From: "Leo A. Martin" To: Chrisoyer@aol.com Hello, On Sun, 23 Dec 2001 Chrisoyer@aol.com wrote | we're looking for information on how best to | plant and grow the seed/pit from large dates | sent to us from California - they have no | preservatives, and we would like to grow | the plant. We don't necessarily care to get | fruit from it. We live in Central Illinois. Date palms are very easy to sprout if you can provide enough heat. Dates are the fruit of a palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera. The mature tree has feather type leaves, with a central leaf stalk and leaflets coming off the sides (pinnate) as opposed to fan palm leaves (palmate.) Genus Phoenix can be identified by the leaflets held in a V from the central stalk, with each leaflet folded down the center and also held in a V. The palm is thought native to desert oases in the India through Middle East area. It loves extreme summer heat (as hot as it ever gets in any desert.) It will tolerate night frosts down to near zero Fahrenheit so long as the temperature gets above freezing the next day. Dates will not survive a typical Midwestern winter, however. Dates need lots of water during warm weather. Remember they grow right next to the water in oases. They will survive underwatering but will not grow. They also enjoy lots and lots of fertilizer during active growth. Date palms are highly susceptible to fungal rots in areas with high summer humidity. They are only cropped regularly in areas of the US with high summer heat and low humidity--Arizona and eastern California. They survive and grow in other areas with low summer humidity like southern California but don't do well in the South. The seeds sprout well in hot weather. I wouldn't try now unless you can give new seedlings the equivalent of full sun all day and temperatures around 80 degrees or higher. Wait until next summer. The seeds are good for several years. If you can't give the seeds temperatures of at least 80 degrees round the clock you will get very poor germination rates. To sprout the seeds, first soak them in a 10% bleach solution for an hour to kill fungus spores on the surface. Then soak them in plain water for a week, changing the water and rinsing well daily. Some may start to sprout. Then put them into a jar with a tightly sealed lid or into a ziplock baggie, together with a little damp sphagnum moss, peat moss, coconut fiber (coir), vermiculite, perlite, or pumice, depending on what you have at hand. It needs to be damp but not dripping so fungus will not become established. That said, even when the inside of the bag molds, the date sprouts are not affected. I have also sprouted them by leaving them in a glass of water kept over 85 degrees (Phoenix in the summer.) I changed the water daily. Almost all the seeds sprouted. If you have a warm aquarium you could float a sealed baggie or jar with seeds, water, and air in it. But remember to change the water daily or it will become very smelly. (I found this out.) Keep the jar or baggie in a hot place, the hotter the better so long as they don't cook. 90 degrees or above is best. I don't think on top of a hot water heater is hot enough. I just leave them outside when the weather is hot here in Phoenix. In Illinois you might put them in a box with a light bulb, or in a sunny window, or keep the baggie on your dashboard. If you can keep a pot hot enough, you can also put the seeds straight into a sprouting pot with soil from outside after the initial week's soak. But you have to keep the pot, soil and all, at least 90 Fahrenheit round the clock. It takes about 4-6 weeks for the seeds to sprout after putting them into heat and moisture. They will start to sprout from the middle of the long seed. You can expect almost every seed to sprout with proper heat and moisture. A small white shoot will emerge. When the shoots are about 1/2 inch long, carefully transplant to a community pot. Keep the soil moist and keep the pot hot. When the shoots emerge they will require full sun all day. Keep them well-watered and they will grow. The growing season is short in Illinois for palms, but you will have a nice potted outdoor palm. In the winter, move the plants to the warmest, sunniest window you have, and water just enough to keep from drying up completely. You don't want them growing during the cold, dark winter or the shoots will become elongated, pale, and unhealthy. When they get bigger, be careful of the sharp lower leaflets. They are like ice picks or daggers. Those who grow the trees for fruit cut off these sharp lower leaflets whenever working up in the trees so as not to lose an eye or have one run through a hand or arm. You won't get any fruit unless you have a large greenhouse. Even then, one of each sex is needed. Dates, like many palms, are half male and half female from seed. You can't tell which is which until they flower. Here in the US hand pollination is needed to ensure good fruit set. I can just reach the flowers of my largest palm while standing on an 18 foot ladder, holding a 6 foot broomstick with a long feather duster tied to the end. The neighbors think I'm strange. Leo Martin -- mailto:leo1010@attglobal.net Phoenix, Arizona, USA Like cactus and succulents? Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society http://www.centralarizonacactus.org ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Pawpaw Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 19:56:50 -0800 From: "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" To: Todd Abel Todd, I've read that you need 2 pawpaws for cross pollination to bear fruit. As for climate here in So. Calif., you would be thinking of getting enough chill for it. Climate The pawpaw is a tree of temperate humid growing zones, requiring warm to hot summers, mild to cold winters, and a minimum of 32 inches (81 cm) of rainfall spread rather evenly throughout the year, with the majority falling in spring and summer. It can be grown successfully in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 (-15o F/-26o C) through 8 (15o F/-9o C). Pawpaws grow wild over a wide range of latitude, from the Gulf Coastal plain to southern Michigan. However, the trees may not receive adequate chilling hours if planted too close to the Gulf Coast. Most named cultivars originated in the Midwest, which is the northern portion of the pawpaw's range. A national regional variety trial is underway to determine which varieties perform best in different parts of the country, and results should become available in the next several years. In the meantime, for best results, choose cultivars that were selected in a climatic zone and latitude similar to the area where they will be planted. Site, soils, and habitat Although the pawpaw is capable of fruiting in the shade, optimum yields are obtained in open exposure, with some protection from wind (on account of the large leaves). Germinating seedlings, however, will not survive under those conditions because they are extremely sensitive to full sunlight, which can kill them. (Containerized seedlings may be grown without shade in a greenhouse.) Shading for the first year, and sometimes the second, is normally required outside, and it is for this reason that pawpaws are almost always found in nature as an understory tree. The soil should be slightly acid (pH 5.5-7), deep, fertile, and well-drained. Good drainage is essential to success. Pawpaws will not thrive in heavy soil or waterlogged soil. In habit it is a small tree, seldom taller than 25 feet. Grown in full sun, the pawpaw tree develops a narrowly pyramidal shape with dense, drooping foliage down to the ground level. In the shade it has a more open branching habit with few lower limbs and horizontally held leaves. Pollination can be a limiting factor in pawpaw fruit set. The flowers are protogynous, meaning that the stigma (the female receptive organ) ripens before the pollen, and is no longer receptive when the pollen is shed. Thus the flower is designed not to be self-pollinated. In addition, pawpaw trees are self-incompatible, usually requiring pollen from a genetically different tree in order to be fertilized. Finally, the natural pollinators of the pawpaw--various species of flies and beetles--are not efficient or dependable. Although it requires a little extra labor, hand pollination to ensure fruit set can be well worth the effort and can be done as follows: Using a small, flexible artist's brush, transfer a quantity of fresh pollen from the anthers of the flower of one clone to the ripe stigma of the flower of another clone. There is more at http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/ Amy mailto:marvelousgardens@mediaone.net http://people.we.mediaone.net/marvelousgardens ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Paw-Paw Date: Tue, 01 Jan 2002 06:36:54 -0800 From: Michael Zarky To: Todd Abel Hi Todd, I've had some success, some failure with pawpaw. When it is young you are suggested to give it shade - for a few years I put a large tomato cage around, and draped shade cloth. In the wild they come up as an understory tree. But they are said to fruit better in sun so the artificial shade is a good approach. I can't think that the summer heat is much of a problem - SE USA is equally hot, although it is generally much more humid. Mostly you need cross-pollination, so if you are strapped for space get some other cultivar and graft so you have multiple varieties on your tree. Maybe ask at the next CRFG meeting in your area, which is usually a scion-wood exchange. Pawpaws like acid soil (which means they are not too happy here in Ventura County with our alkaline water) and even moisture - mulch would help. Authors are pretty vague on the amount of chill needed, so you will just have to wait and see, but it isn't impossible. Michael Zarky mailto:mzarky@earthlink.net Moorpark, CA 93021 USA ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Sapadilla Fruit ? Date: Tue, 01 Jan 2002 08:49:35 -0800 From: Sven Merten To: Ed Musgrave Hi Ed, I had one on my tree last year and I didn't pick it until it got soft. I actually forgot about it and it was so soft I thought it was rotten, but it was absolutely wonderful. Apparently you can scrape off some of the brown and if the skin underneath has turned from green to a yellowish color they are mature and you can pick them and they will ripen. What variety(s) do you have and where are you growing them? I've got about 7 varieties and about 70 trees that I will plant and see if I can get them to produce enough to sell. Most of my trees are pretty small. Regards, Sven mailto:scoutdog@postoffice.pacbell.net "Edward & Althia Musgrave" wrote: | Hi | | I have a sapadilla fruit on my tree, but when is the fruit RIPE ! | It bloomed in middle of summer grew to full size in late November | it is now end of December. It has not changed any for over a | month and I don't know when to pick it. No one in my area has any | fruit. Does anyone know the answer to my dilema | | Ed mailto:eamusg@quixnet.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Sapodilla ripeness Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 23:54:58 EST From: Ed Lin To: Edward Hi Ed, I have occasionally seen Sapodilla fruit on my alano tree take as long as 7 to 10 months to ripen. Stresses to the tree and anatomical defect (such as premature calyx separation -- partial separation of the fruit from its stalk) are often the underlying cause of the delayed ripening. A tip-off would be wrinkling of the surface of the fruit while it is still on the tree; if you see this, chances are it will drop off prematurely and soon. Once you get acquainted with your particular cultivar, you'll know by looking at the size when the fruit has attained maturity. In general however, it is unlikely the fruit is ready unless it has reached AT LEAST hen-egg size (and more likely two to three times that size). To check a sapodilla for ripeness, use your fingernail to scratch off a thin short strip of the brown fuzzy coat. If the color below is green, the fruit is not ready. If it is tan or light brown, it is mature enough to ripen off the tree. Bury the fruit in uncooked rice or place in paper bag for 2 to 4 days until it yields to pressure (like ripe peach) and it's ready to eat. Ed Lin mailto:Link2itc@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: PawPaw in Southern California & Espalier Cherimoya? Date: Tue, 01 Jan 2002 09:06:58 -0800 From: Sven Merten To: tabel@statek.com Hi Todd, Seedling pawpaws have done quite well for me here in full sun. A lot of people say they need partial shade when young, but I haven't had a problem. I suspect they just sunburn very easily, so they are hard to move from shade to full sun. Don't let them run out of water as that can also cause sunburn. My largest is about 7 foot. It has been blooming for several years, but no fruit yet since I haven't had a second tree to pollinate it. Next spring my second largest tree should bloom a lot so I may finally get fruit. There is an older tree at the Fullerton Arboretum that produces every year. Up until about a year ago my trees were in pots in Fountain Valley (near Hutington Beach) and now they are in the ground in Rainbow (near Fallbrook). I have some grafted trees, but they seem much less hardy and grow very slowly. If I can get some bud wood I will try grafting some named varieties onto my larger seedlings. I have seen one espaliered cherimoya at Ong Nursery in San Diego. It looked like it was working very well. Just an opinion, but I would think the cherimoya would do all right without the hot afternoon sun, but the only trees I have seen are in full sun. Regards, Sven mailto:scoutdog@pacbell.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Passiflora Date: Tue, 01 Jan 2002 19:36:02 -0800 From: Gilbert To: Edmond Lanclos Web Pages Recommended To Edmond Lanclos By Gilbert http://patula.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/species%20Passiflora.htm http://patula.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/intro%20Passiflora.htm ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Marula fruit From: "Niki Wessels" Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2002 21:50:09 +0200 Hi Leo I found Doron Kletter's news about the work done by Prof. Mizrahi and Dr Nerd in Israel very interesting - especially as far as marula is concerned. It is good to know that someone is working on this fruit, which is native to South Africa and some other African countries. I wondered how many readers of the newsletter have ever heard of the marula? The marula (Sclerocarya birrea) is a deciduous tropical to sub-tropical forest tree of the mango family, Anacardiaceae. The round fruit is yellow-skinned with white, translucent pulp and a large stone. It is juicy and wonderfully refreshing, both sweet and sour, with a taste all its own. The stone contains two delicious edible seeds, rather like soft almonds. The most important commercial use is in a popular local cream liqueur called Amarula, but the flesh is also eaten raw, used to brew an African beer, or made into jam or jelly. The nuts are eaten, and the bark yields anti-diarheal medicine, antihistamines and a brown dye. The wood is also useful. Trees tend to be extremely prolific. Unfortunately there are drawbacks: Like several of Africa's most promising fruit trees this species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. Add to that the fact that a plant may take years to reach fruit-bearing age, and breeding it becomes a somewhat less attractive prospect. In addition, the pulp is a thin layer compared with the stone, and the nuts are rather difficult to remove. For these and other reasons marulas are seldom seen in stores, though bags are often sold by roadside vendors in January and February. It would be very interesting to see how far the breeders in Israel have progressed in overcoming these problems, as I would love to sink my teeth into a marula that is as delicious as the wild fruit, but more user-friendly! Cheers Niki Wessels mailto:mynah@cis.co.za ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Israeli pitaya's Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 09:57:36 EST From: CrisLWest@aol.com Good Morning Leo, For more info on the hybrid pitayas you were asking Doron about you may want to contact: American Associates Ben-Gurion University of the Negev 9911 W. Pico Blvd. Suite 170 Los Angeles, CA 90035 800-222-4839 www.aabgu.org Have a great day! Cris mailto:CrisLWest@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: pitaya Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 07:25:42 -0800 From: Sven Merten To: Anees Dear Anees, Leo forwarded your letter to me. I've been growing pitaya for about 3 years now, but I know several people here in California that have been cultivating them for at least 10 years. I've heard of people using them for juice and in ice cream and I've also heard that some people eat the flowers as a vegetable. The largest grower of pitaya is Vietnam where they call it Dragon Fruit. Israel also has started producing them commercially for export to Europe. There are only a few of us here in California that are planting them on a commercial scale, most are grown by hobbyists. I do believe this will be an easy fruit to market especially in Asian communities where they are familiar with the fruit. They are very attractive and the better varieties are very good to eat. There are two main "types" of pitaya. The most common is just called pitaya or dragon fruit and comes from plants in the Hylocereus genus, with Hylocereus undatus being the most common. They are red or pink skinned with white to deep red flesh depending on the species. The other type is called the yellow pitaya from Selenicereus megalanthus. This plant is less common. The fruit is yellow skinned with white flesh. It is more frost sensitive so harder to grow and fruit. I hope this answered some of your questions. Best regards, Sven mailto:scoutdog@pacbell.net | Hi | | My name is Anees, and I wanted to know more about pitaya: | | * How long have you been producing this product? | * What other uses of the product except eating it? (Juice, etc.) | * Are you the only country that produce this product? | * Do you think that the product have good potential? | * How many kinds there are for the pitaya? and what is the most | popular? | | Anees mailto:aies32@ardom.ardom.co.il ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Pitahaya Cold Tolerance? Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 13:16:32 -0800 From: "McCright, Michael CWO" Hi Leo, just a quick question, will Pitahaya take some frost? If so, do you know how much? Mike mailto:MMcCright@d11.uscg.mil ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Dragon Fruit book Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 14:37:31 +1000 From: John Picone Dear Leo, My name is John Picone & i live in Far northern New South Wales, Australia. I have been growing the Red Fleshed Dragon Fuit commercially since 1999 in our sub-tropical climate. October last year (2001) I was able to acquire plants from Vietnam of the White Fleshed Dragon fruit through quarantine, I wont know if I got the right one till I have fruit. Here's hoping. I would like to purchase the book Pitahaya - a promising new fruit crop. Could you please tell me the cost & the best way to go about it e.g. send you a money order ? Look to your reply. Yours sincerely, John Picone mailto:picone@spot.com.au ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Dragon Fruit book Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 05:32:50 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: John Hi John, I have not shipped any books to anyone, and have no idea what's involved, but I have a suggestion: Send me $12 US and I will send a copy of the book on a CD as it was printed, and you can print it there. If you don't have a printer for it, there should be places that can do it for you. I can include some pictures and other information as to sources of information. I will take $10 of your $12 and give it to Paul Thomson who wrote the book, but who is too infirm to drive to the post office. The only copies I have sold, so far, have been to people in San Diego. Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Cedar Toxicity, Mychorrhizal Treatments - Questions Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 06:11:52 -0800 (PST) From: WAYNE COUGLE Leo: I have access to "roadside cleanup" mulch comprised of leaves and wood. It also contains some cedar wood. Would the cedar be harmful to citrus, guava, or blueberry? Also, does anyone have any knowledge of mycorrhizal treatments for highbush blueberries? availability etc? I am in central Florida. Thanks much, Wayne Cougle mailto:wayle45@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Pitahaya Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 06:45:30 -0800 From: "McCright, Michael CWO" I was wondering if they would grow under shade cloth in the desert in Arizona, Where I was thinking usually hit upper 20's most years and has a lower limit of about 22 degrees. It is usually sunny and warm in the day, even in winter (hot in the summer) but gets cold at night. On a different note, I was at your house about a year and a half a couple of years ago and a guy had a slide show of his trip to Hawaii, I recall that he mentioned that he had a passion for passion flowers. Do you know his name and number? I have a friend who also is very interested in passion flowers/fruits and would like to mee him and share plant material. Thanks Mike mailto:MMcCright@d11.uscg.mil ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Passiflora in Arizona Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 13:50:14 -0800 From: "Holzinger, Bob" To: Mike McCright Hello Mike, I assume you are interested in growing the fruiting passifloras in Arizona. If you consistently get lows in the 20's in winter, then your chances of keeping them alive are slim. If you want to just grow some for the flowers, then there are a few that will survive that climate. But an equal challenge will be keeping the plants happy in the summer because it's so dry in Arizona. As to the speaker at Leo's, that was me. If you have a friend who wants to contact me, just have him drop me a line at bholzing@amgen.com. If I can't help him with his questions, I'm sure I know someone who can. Regards, Bob Holzinger mailto:bholzing@amgen.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Passiflora in Arizona Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 14:34:22 -0800 From: "McCright, Michael CWO" To: Holzinger, Bob I'm not interested in Passifloras in AZ, but I have a friend, Isis Meade, who works at Exotica Nursery in Vista. She expressed interest in getting some passiflora plant material, and I thought of you. I remember that you grew many varieties, and as I recall were looking for places to grow even more. Mike mailto:MMcCright@d11.uscg.mil ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: FWD: Pitahaya - Which Ones Tolerate How Much Frost? Date: Sat, 05 Jan 2002 07:06:27 -0800 From: Sven Merten To: Mike Hi Mike, The quotes below are from Paul Tompsons book on pitaya. "Do not plant where temperatures will drop below 28 degrees." "a low of 28 degrees for even a short time may seriously damage or possibly kill a weakened plant." It got down to 29 degrees (measured at ground level, not the standard 3 meters) on my property last winter and I had a small amount of damage on most of my plants, and only one variety (species) was killed. I grow mine under 30% shade cloth which gives some protection. So to answer your question, yes they can take a little frost. Best regards, Sven mailto:scoutdog@pacbell.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: My Experience With Paw Paw Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 23:54:56 EST From: Ed Lin To: Todd Hello Todd, When I lived in Ohio, I planted two paw paw trees which bore about a dozen fruits each, after about 3 to 5 years, when the trees were barely 5 feet tall. It has elongated glossy tropical-looking leaves but thrived in spite of the harsh Ohio winters. The paw paw is also known as Nebraska banana. The ovoid fruits range in size from 3 to 5 inches in length. The flesh is yellow and creamy with a sweet custard like taste, and a good number of shiny black seeds comparable in size and appearance to custard apple seeds. Your paw paws should grow fine in San Diego but I don't know if it needs chill hours to fruit. As for the longan seedling, you'll probably want to get it grafted. It may take many years for a longan seedling to bear fruit. I have grafted longans using the same technique (wedge graft) for grafting mangos and the results were good. Ed Lin mailto:Link2itc@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Blue Fan Palm Seeds-Will Trade For Polytail or Sago Palm Seeds Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 18:21:49 -0800 From: "William Chow" Hi Leo, I collected some seeds from Mexican Blue Fan Palm. I wonder if anyone wants to trade that for Ponytail palm or sago palm seeds. Can you post that in your newsletter? Cheers ! William mailto:wchow@znet.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Successfully Bringing Seeds Through Airports Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:23:50 -0800 From: Todd Abel Leo, What is the procedure for taking seeds on the plane from somewhere like Philliphines? Do you have to declare them when back in US? Do they have to be cleaned and sterilized? Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com Orange, CA 92867 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Successfully Bringing Seeds Through Airports Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 06:45:25 -0800 From: Sven Merten To: Todd Abel Hi Todd (and Leo), The seeds do have to be cleaned of all flesh, but not sterilized. You do have to declare them, if you don't and they find them I believe you can get some steep fines. Certain seeds are not allowed in no matter what, such as citrus and avocado seeds. To bring anything back you need an import permit which is fairly easy to get, but you have to list everything you will be bringing back before you leave. I've been told it can be a real pain dealing with the inspectors at the airport. There is some good information in the following article: http://www.tropfruit.com/bringemback.html. There was also an article in the Fruit Gardener a few years ago about bringing things back. Now the best way in my opinion is to pack them up the day you leave and send them home through the mail. Some people say to send half in the mail and bring half on the airplane, that way you should get something home. I know that most seeds do not usually even get inspected, let alone confiscated when sent through the mail. I've only had one package confiscated (out of hundreds) and that was because they sent the whole fruit. I hope this has helped. If you find yourself with extra seeds when you get back, I'm sure Leo and I would be happy to help you out and take them off your hands. : ) Best regards, Sven mailto:scoutdog@pacbell.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Wanted Seeds Of Hylocereus spp. Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 06:29:24 -0800 From: Sven Merten Hi Leo, I have all three, but I don't have seed for any of them. I may be able to get seed from them in september or so, but it may be a cross with another species since I only have one clone of each. I don't know anyone that sells the seed. Rainbow Gardens sells cuttings of H. ocamponis and H. guatemalensis. Regards, Sven mailto:scoutdog@pacbell.net Leo Manuel wrote: | John in Australia asks: | | Would you know where I could get seeds of Hylocereus ocamponis? I | believe it has a mauve coloured flesh. | | Do you know anything about it or other varities? Please let | me know. | | Also, Hylocereus costaricensis & guaemalensis. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Importing Israeli Fruit Trees Question Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2002 23:08:17 -0500 (EST) From: Joel Moskowitz To: jmgallego@home.com What Israeli fruit trees (names, varieties) are legally imported into the United States. If you don't know, who would. Thanks, Joel Moskowitz mailto:jamoskowitzmd@pol.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Importing Israeli Fruit Trees Question Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 19:36:21 -0800 From: "Jose Miguel Gallego" To: Joel Moskowitz Let me find my importation permit and see what it says. If I find I could send/fax you a copy. When is the plant material expected to be brought in? You could use my permit too; I just need to be there when they arrive. Jose mailto:jmgallego@home.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Vexator Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 13:15:22 GMT From: Juan To: Harvey Hi Harve: The vexator you are refering to is Myrciaria (or Plinia) vexator, a Myrtaceae from Brazil. It is a small tree, up to 20 ft. high, with dense foliage and a peeling cortex. It is related to the common jaboticaba (M. cauliflora) and the fruit is similar, about one inch in diameter, rounded, bluish purple when mature (the common name in English is Blue Grape) and with a gelatinous whitish and sweet pulp and very large seeds. The skin is very astringent. The correct way to eat it is by cutting it with the teeth, squeeze it into the moth, discard the skin, and spit the seeds. Best wishes Juan mailto:jarivero@caribe.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Capuasu Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2002 13:52:21 GMT From: Juan To: Matthew Hi Matthew: The fruit known as capuassu in Brazil (copuasu, with accent in the u in Spanish) is Theobroma grandiflorum, of the family Sterculariaceae. Originally from the south of Para and the western part of Manaos, it is now widely distributed throughout Amazonia. It is a fast growing tree, but requires rich soils (as the related cacao). The fruits are brown drupes that may be as large as 40 cm long by 16 in diameter. The pulp is white, fleshy, semi- acid, aromatic and edible, but it is better in juices, sherbets etc. The seeds, which may be as many as sixty, may be used to prepare a home chocolate in the same way as the common cacao (Theobroma cacao) Best wishes Juan mailto:jarivero@caribe.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Avocados dropping early Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 15:27:20 +0200 From: "Niki Wessels" Hi everyone Over the past few days our avocado tree has lost a number of immature (1 - 3 inch) fruit. We're currently experiencing normal hot South African summer weather, although from early November until late December we had much more rain than usual. We had a hailstorm last week, but it was not particularly severe and the fruit did not start dropping until several days afterwards. The tree has not been fed recently. I'm not sure of the variety, but the fruit are large and green-skinned, and normally mature in winter. Can anyone help, please? Cheers Niki ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Kokum Fruit - In "Little India" Grocery Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 11:34:10 -0800 From: Michael Zarky Dear Leo, While I was browsing through some Indian groceries in Little India, I came across some bags of a dried fruit called "kokum"; one example was pretty dry like tamarind, another much more moist than regular dried fruit. I was curious about it and found the following on the internet; the pages might be of interest, even if only purely intellectually. http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/kokum.html and as a peripheral to a report on Mango research... http://news.indiainfo.com/2001/06/07/07mango.html Michael Zarky 10963 Citrus Drive Moorpark, CA 93021 USA [Also known as Cocum, Kokam Butter Tree. Garcinia indica "Purple fruits are eaten raw or made into jelly, syrup.... Dried fruits are used for flavoring beverages. P. 79 Cornucopia II. - Leo Manuel] ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Weeping Santa Rosa Have Same Pollinating Skills As Non-Weeping? Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 15:30:54 -0800 From: "MIZE, KURT (PB)" Hi, Leo. This may be a bit off-topic, but I'll run it by you anyway. I have a couple of backyard fruit trees (an "Elephant Heart" plum, and a "Flavor Supreme" pluot) that have never been very productive. I believe "Santa Rosa" is recommended as a pollenizer for both. The problem is, I don't have room for a full-sized (or even a semi-dwarf) Santa Rosa. I've come across an "Ultra-dwarf Weeping Santa Rosa" plum at a local nursery that might work, but I don't know if it has the same pollenizing characteristics as Santa Rosa. Any ideas on where I could go to find out that little tidbit of information? I'd like to find out soon, as bare-root season ends in a few weeks. Thanks in advance. Kurt Mize mailto:km1542@sbc.com Stockton, CA USDA Zone 9 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE:Weeping Santa Rosa Have Same Pollinating Skills As Non-Weeping? Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 17:22:28 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: "MIZE, KURT (PB)" Hi Kurt, I would expect that the Weeping Santa Rosa would have the same pollen characteristics. Jim Bathgate knows a lot about stone fruit: mailto:jlbathgate@worldnet.com You might consider grafting a standard Santa Rosa onto one of your other trees. If you starting from scratch, you can plant two (or three) trees in almost the same hole, getting more varieties of fruit in the same space. Good luck, Leo Manuel >>>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<<< None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Dragon fruit, Pitaya, Hylocereus Undatus, Pitahaya, .... http://www.geocities.com/wenjin92014/foto2001/dragon.htm More images on the plant William, Jason and Pitahaya Paul Thomson's book on Pitahaya Ask Leo Manuel Questions Leo Manuel's Awesome Cherimoya ------------------------------------------------ Pitaya Discussion Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/ Topics Covered: Pitaya, Pitahaya, and other synonyms for Hylocereus undatus, H. Polyrhizus, and other H. spp. are raised for their delicious and attractive fruit. These and more are climbing cacti. Columnar cactus may be raised for fruit, such as Cereus Peruvianus, and its close relatives. Let's talk about techniques, varieties, problems, solutions, availability, and whatever interests you. (Started January 14, 2002, so give it a few days....) Group Email Addresses Post message: PitayaFruit@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: PitayaFruit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: PitayaFruit-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com List owner: (Leo Manuel) PitayaFruit-owner@yahoogroups.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Large Sapota For Arid Areas - Sent from The Hindu Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 08:49:51 +0530 From: thehindu@admin.hinduonnet.com ============================================================== This is emailed by Ray Gerlach ( bananarayis@home.com ) ============================================================== Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com) Large sapota variety for arid tracts By Our Agriculture Correspondent The large-fruit variety performs well in arid and semi-arid tracts. AMONG THE sapota varieties, the large-fruit `Cricket Ball' is a promising variety reigning supreme for the last three decades. This variety produces larges globular fruits of 8-10 cm in diameter. Each fruit weighs between 100 g and 150 g. ``Though this variety is not a precocious bearer as certain other varieties, it is still preferred because of its good performance in the arid and semi-arid belts. Because of its large size, the number of fruits per tree is less. A well tended tree of 10 years age will produce about 500 fruits in a year,'' says Mr. K. Thanigaimani, an horticultural expert in Chennai. Healthy grafts should be planted in pits of 60 cm by 60 cm by 60 cm at a spacing of 7 m x 7 m. About 200 plants can be accommodated in a hectare. The pits should be filled up with liberal quantities of ripe farmyard manure, powdered neem cake, vermi-compost and coir-pith compost. Application of bio fertilizers such a phosphobacterium, and VAM () would be beneficial. The plants should be watered initially. Being a hardy variety, it is disease free, and only a few pests such as leaf-miner, mealy bug and stem-borer are found to attack the plants. By following simple integrated pest management strategies and by spraying with botanical insecticides, vermi-wash and cow's urine the pests can be kept at bay, according to Mr. Thanigaimani. A variety of legumes, vegetables, groundnut, sunflower and other annual crops can be raised in the interspaces in the first four to five years of planting sapota. The variety responds particularly well to organic nutrition. The fruits are generally as sweet as other popular varieties, but when raised with organic nutrition the fruits turn sweeter. The fruits harvested in summer tend to be sweeter than the ones picked in other seasons. ``Flowers generally appear in several flushes at short intervals all through the year. Fruits will mature in about four months after flowering. The fruits should not be allowed to ripen in the tree, and they have to pluck when they are full grown. In the Deccan plateau, the fruits are harvested in two distinctive seasons from February-June and September-October,'' explains Mr. Thanigaimani. The bearing starts in the fourth year of planting, and in the first two to three years of bearing about 150 fruits can be got from a tree. The yield increases gradually to stabilise at 500 fruits a year from the 15 th year. The economic bearing age of the tree is about 30 years, according to Mr. Thanigaimani. The fruits will have to be packed in bamboo baskets to stand long distance transportation. The fruits have good market acceptance, and the growers can be assured of an average price of Rs. 8 per kg at the farm-gate, according to Mr. Thanigaimani. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. Caffra) as a New Crop for the Negev Desert of Israel http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1993/v2-496.html [This excellent site for those interested in growing Marula was too lengthy to include.] ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Marula - Uses http://www.knet.co.za/herbs/marula.htm The Marula FRUIT is very juicy and aromatic and is the size of a small plum. It may be eaten fresh and the flesh has an extremely high vitamin C content. It may also be cooked to produce jam, juices and alcoholic beverages. NUT: Inside the flesh is one or two very small tasty nuts which are rich in protein. OIL: used as a skin cosmetic. MEDICINAL : for fever take a tincture in brandy, or swallow powdered bark. GREEN LEAVES: eaten to relieve heartburn. BARK: The bark contains antihistamines and is also used for cleansing by steeping in boiling water and inhaling the steam. A piece of bark is crushed into a pulp, mixed with cold water and swallowed in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea. The bark also is used as a malaria prophylactic. Marula Uses The Marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra) - is a member of the mango family. It is a large, dioecious, deciduous tree which grows wild in northern South Africa and parts of eastern Botswana. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: http://barkingfrogspc.tripod.com/frames.html Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 08:00:15 EST From: Permacltur@aol.com Permaculture News - Online Course Expanded Elfin Permaculture has added another 6-month segment to its online course to accommodate more students and to reduce the time one must wait for a new course cycle to begin. Willem Smuts of South Africa will lead a course March 15 to Sept. 15, 2002. Dan Hemenway, course founder and designer, will lead the course beginning Sept. 15, 2002. He will also review and critique all designs from the earlier course and pass on ultimate certification of students. The new session has been developed because the course was reaching the limit for the number of certificate students that it can process. Now students from each session will see designs done by students in the previous session. Seeing student designs and the instructor۪s review early in the course cycle helps guide students in their own design projects, a major component of the online course. For more detail, visit http://barkingfrogspc.tripod.com/frames.html to review or download the course protocol, the course reading list, and the course assignment schedule. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. Subject: Better Mosquito, Tick Repellents in the Wind? Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 09:48:23 -0500 From: "ARS News Service" Judy McBride Slap, slap . . . scratch, scratch. It's a familiar aggravation for billions of people who live with mosquitos. But effective repellents to keep those pests from biting--and possibly transmitting serious diseases--have been few and far between. Now, the Agricultural Research Service is seeking a patent on a method for selecting the most effective version of a repellent discovered by ARS researchers more than 20 years ago. Using the method, ARS entomologist Jerome Klun recently identified one version that is three to four times more effective at preventing yellow-fever-transmitting mosquitos from biting than the original repellent. It's also the optimal version against the species that transmits West Nile virus. The original repellent, called 220 for short, is based on piperidine, a hexagonally-shaped molecule found in trace amounts in black pepper. Two other chemical groups are attached to this hexagon, but each can attach at two different angles. So the repellent can appear in four different versions, known as optical isomers, that can be identified by the way they bend light rays. The number of potential repellents is not limited to these four optical isomers. Other chemical groups can attach to the piperidine scaffold at various locations and angles, yielding dozens of candidates for testing, according to Klun, at ARS' Chemicals Affecting Insect Behavior Laboratory in Beltsville, Md. http://www.barc.usda.gov/psi/caib Interested companies could license the new method to select the most effective piperidine-based isomers against ticks and other disease-transmitting arthropods, as well as mosquitos. Unlike DEET--the principal mosquito repellent for half a century--piperidine-based repellents don't dissolve plastics, such as sunglass lenses or auto paint. And early reports from an interested company suggest they easily formulate into creams. The original piperidine-based repellent has undergone toxicological testing in a U.S. Army laboratory and passed muster for experimental use on people. Also, a related repellent is being sold overseas by the pharmaceutical company Bayer. However, products intended for commercial sale in the United States would have to undergo additional toxicological testing required by the Environmental Protection Agency. ARS is the chief scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Nest Egg: Poultry Litter Ash as a Fertilizer Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 15:06:10 -0500 From: "ARS News Service" Lupe Chavez Medieval alchemists might have failed at finding a recipe for making gold, but an Agricultural Research Service scientist changed poultry litter ash into money. The potential profits from this transformation could bring a change of luck for farmers. Eton Codling, a soil scientist with the Agricultural Research Service's Henry A. Wallace Beltsville (Maryland) Agricultural Research Center, in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, discovered that ash from power plants burning poultry litter for electricity makes a good fertilizer. This alternative for handling poultry litter could help the environment, promote better plant growth and reduce costs for farmers. In experiments at the Animal Manure and By-Products Laboratory, ARS researchers grew wheat in limed and non-limed soils fertilized with poultry ash and potassium phosphate. Plants grown in soils treated with ash fertilizer had higher amounts of phosphorous in plant tissue, meaning the nutrient was readily available for uptake by roots. This research was stimulated by the Maryland Water Quality Act of 1998, which limits poultry litter use on farmland. Excess phosphorous in soils can result in storm water runoff and drainage waters dangerous to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The law encourages alternative uses for poultry manure, including burning it to produce electricity. Codling began his research by asking a simple question at a power plant burning poultry litter: "What are you going to do with the ash?" Litter ash has interesting characteristics, beginning with its low solubility in water. The ash has a higher total concentration of phosphorous than poultry manure because the burning process removes organic matter and water. The ash also reduces farmers' costs because it is lighter than chicken litter and easier to transport to areas where such fertilizer is needed. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal levels of litter ash for wheat production and to establish the economic value to farmers. If these studies with wheat are successful, other crops will be considered for similar research. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN2000201B.txt<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rare Fruit News Online - February 1, 2002 - AKA RFN200202A.txt Notes In Passing - Leo TEMPORARY Email address for RFNO: mailto:rarefruit@abac.com This newsletter is much smaller than usual, probably because email to me at the former email address did not reach me (since about 1/17/02). If you have written, you may want to send again - mailto:rarefruit@abac.com Tips On Grafting Guava Sought By Me. I have never even tried to graft guava, believing it was very difficult to get successful takes. However, I have a chance to get a scion of one I'd like to graft - IF I can learn to maximize my chances. Should I bud or graft? Which method to use? How should I prepare the rootstock to increase the liklihood of success? Pitaya Fruit Newsgroup - Seven Members, And Growing http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/ There's a new Newsgroup called Pitaya Fruit. I am the moderator, but anyone can join and view the files, pictures, and bookmarks (links.) It began about three weeks ago, but has a membership of seven already. If pitaya fruit interests you, you may want to check it out. Leo mailto:rarefruit@abac.com >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber, Portugal, Wants European Plant Suppliers konakane@clix.pt New Subscriber, CA, Wants Cold-Hardy Rare Fruit James Chambers >> Readers Write << Bare root trees Received At Nurseries Michael Sapote - Seedling vs Grafted - Question James Chambers Temperature ranges - Question For Arizona McCright, Michael CWO To: Chris RE: Weeping Santa Rosa Same ... As Non-Weeping? Matthew Shugart To: Kurt Carambola (Starfruit) Under Ant Attack Todd Abel Re: Selenicereus Megalanthus - Skin/Flesh Color Combinations Yosef Mizrahi Re: Sprouting Marula Seeds - How To? Rachel Saunders Re: How To Sprout Marula Seeds? Niki Wessels Re: Marula Seeds - How To Sprout Them? Chris >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< None, this time >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< Arkansas Berry & Plant Farm - Blackberry Plants APACHE (thornless) http://www.alcasoft.com/arkansas/blackberry.html Marula Net: (Marula Is An Important African Tree) http://www.icraf.cgiar.org/treessd/marula/members.htm Marula Images: (Trees, Fruit, Nuts - Lots Of Pictures) http://www.icraf.cgiar.org/treessd/marula/images.htm# People and Plants Online-The African Ethnobotany Network 1 Review of ethnobotanical literature from eastern and southern Africa http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/peopleplants/regions/africa/aen1/review.htm >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber, Portugal, Wants European Plant Suppliers Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 23:24:18 GMT From: "konakane@clix.pt" Aloha, I am Henri de Mendonca, originally from Terceira, Azores, (Portugal) then California, then Kona/Hawai'i and now back to Terceira. I am highly interested in finding rare fruit suppliers in the European Community. Presently I have started some jaboticaba, yellow garnadilla and "poka" a reddish variety of passion fruit that grows on high elevations in Hawai'i. I just moved back from Kona to Terceira and would like to start many rare fruit plants here. If you can give any advice it would be greatly appreciated. Aloha nui loa, Henri mailto:konakane@clix.pt ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Wants Cold-Hardy Rare Fruit Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 05:25:29 -0800 From: James Chambers Hello! My name is James Chambers and I live in Valley Center, CA. We currently have 6 fig trees, 3 varieties, 3 types of peaches, 7 types of apples , 3 types of apricots, 3 types of cherries (1 Surinam), 3 types of tangerines, 3 types of Asian pears, 2 pomegranates, 2 types of plums, 2 sapotes (Suebelle),2 types of avocados, 3 pistachios, an Italian prune, 3 types of guavas, an almond, 2 types of pecans, a walnut, a persimmon, 2 types of nectarines, 2 types of grapes, blackberries, a loquat, blueberries, raspberries, black raspberries, 4 types of bananas, grapefruit, oranges, limes and lemons! We'd like to grow Cherimoyas and anything else that is unusual and cold hardy. We've also started a cold hardy palm nursery at our home. So that's our story for now! James Chambers mailto:chambejf@songs.sce.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Bare root trees Received At Nurseries Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 07:55:47 -0800 From: "Michael" FYI, Clausen's Nursery received their bare root stock yesterday. They have great prices, $14 - $15 for most trees, they also carry some low chill blueberries. I think their supplier is L. E. Cooke. If you have been waiting for bare root trees from another nursery that uses that company, they probably have their stock in too. Mike McCright mailto:mike-mccright@home.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Sapote - Seedling vs Grafted - Question Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 23:02:26 -0800 From: James Hello! I have a question about Sapotes. I have one that my mother planted from seed and it is currently pruned back to about 8' high and 7 feet across. It is about 7 or 8 years old but it has never bloomed or set a flower. Is there a minimum age before the tree will produce fruit? I have another grafted tree that is 2' tall and it has already had flowers but no fruit. Can you help me with some Sapote information? I've read a ton on the internet, including history, but no real hands on info. Thanks!! James Chambers mailto:chambejf@songs.sce.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Temperature ranges Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 07:16:12 -0800 From: "McCright, Michael CWO" To: Chris Hello Christopher I am Mike McCright at rare fruit enthusiast living in Oceanside, CA. I go to Tucson a couple of times a year to Tucson to visit family. Leo did not publish your plant list as it is apparently very large. Do you grow tropicals? Can you get away with mangos? Do you grow pitaya? What are the temperature ranges where you live? I have thought of moving back to Tucson/Casa Grande area, but one of the drawbacks was that I had to give up growing many of the plants I now grow. I would enjoy hearing what you are growing and how you have overcome the winter lows. Mike McCright mailto:mike-mccright@home.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE:Weeping Santa Rosa Have Same ... As Non-Weeping? Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 17:36:52 -0800 From: Matthew Shugart To: Kurt Dear Kurt, Although I cannot say for certain, I will second Leo's belief that Weeping Santa Rosa would be just as good a pollinator as ordinary Santa Rosa. I think it does bloom slightly later, but only slightly. It is also a beautiful small tree. But if you are very pressed for space, grafting Santa Rosa and other cultivars on to one of your existing trees is probably an even better way to go. I am not a very good grafter, but even I can get plums to take! Plums that require cross-pollination can be iffy if you have just two or three varieties, because the exact bloom sequence is not the same from year to year, so the more varieties you can get in the same area, the better your luck at getting production will be. Santa Rosa is an excellent all-around pollen source for other plums, as is Beauty. Matthew Shugart Carlsbad, California mailto:mshugart@ucsd.edu ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Carambola and Starfruit Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 08:24:10 -0800 From: Todd Abel Leo, Just something strange to report. The ants have attacked the Carambola (Fwang Tung) fruit, but they are only eating the inside seed area. The fruit itself is still very good, but the ants have eaten out the center. I will keep the ants off the next crop, but they are only 3 fruit left now. The fruit is good, and almost taste like a green grape. I just cut away the center. Todd Abel Orange, CA 92867 mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Selenicereus Megalanthus - Skin/Flesh Color Combinations Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 2:56:06 +0200 From: Yosef Mizrahi Dear Dr. Manuel, I do not know what is Cornucopia. The citation is misleading. I do not know of any red skin and/or red flesh of yellow pitaya. This does not mean that they do not exist, I simply do not know. We do have fruits of other Selenicereus spp and clones with red skin but the flesh is white. However we do have hybrids of all colors, sizes, shapes, tastes etc. including Yellow Hylocereus unatus which is also known as yellow pitaya and it is not Selenicereus at all, and hence the confusions. All the best, Yossi Subject: Selenicereus Megalanthus - Skin/Flesh Color Combinations From: Leo Manuel Date: 2002/01/22 AM 05:27:26 GMT+02:00 To: "Mizrahi, Yossi" | Dear Dr. Mizrahi, | | In Cornucopia II page 66, Stephen Facciola says: | | Selenicereus megalanthus - Pitahaya amarilla.... Cultivated | commercially in Columbia and Israel where selections have been | made for various color combinations-such as fruits with yellow or | red skin and white flesh, red skin and red flesh, and yellow skin | and yellow flesh. .... | | Is it true that such skin/flesh color combinations have been | developed? I thought the skin was always yellow and the flesh | sort of translucent white. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Sprouting Marula Seeds - How To? Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 10:40:33 +0200 From: "Rachel Saunders" Dear Leo Marula seed instructions: Soak seeds in warm water overnight & then place on some damp fluffy peat moss at room temperature for a week or two.The broad end of the plug should be carefully pared down with secateurs until the out line of the plug is visible, then using a small pocket knife gently insert into the plug outline( very gently) use the knife to lever out the plug(may need to use vise grips). Once this is done seed should be placed on the peat moss and lept at about 25-30 degre C, the root grows quickly and as long as the weather is warm outside...the sprouted seed may be planted, insert the root and just barely cover the seed.. Don't allow to get too wet or cold, use a fungicide & if weather is cold bring inside These instructions came from one of our Australian customers - I hope they make sense! Regards, Frances Hanekom ----- Original Message ----- From: Leo Manuel To: Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 12:18 AM Subject: Order #7564 Marula Seeds Arrive; Request Growing Information > Hi > > The Marula seeds arrived today. I have no idea what special > needs the seeds may need to germinate. Could you please tell > me how to best nurse them? > > I have a hotbed. > > Thanks > > Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: How To Sprout Marula Seeds? Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 16:33:45 +0200 From: "Niki Wessels" Hi Leo It is said locally that the marula has to go through an elephant in order to germinate - but as there is probably a shortage of elephants in Israel, where they are also cultivated, it is undoubtedly not an absolute requirement! It does seem to indicate, though, that the hard husk needs softening and that warmth and a rich organic germination medium would be helpful. Apparently marula can be grown from seed or from truncheons planted in spring - the latter might be better if possible, as it could make it possible to select the desired ratio of female to male trees. The trees are fast-growing, but somewhat frost sensitive. Cheers Niki mailto:mynah@cis.co.za ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Marula Seeds - How To Sprout Them? Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 23:41:50 +0000 From: Chris Dear Leo, I got my plants as seedlings from a nursery in Oregon.I have tried to sprout Marula on two occasions without success but found out recently the probable reason.I received my 'seeds' as brown lumps with remnants of the fruit on the surface and planted them as received.I did get one seedling which succumbed to damp-off.What I discovered recently is that these 'seeds' are actually pods with the true seeds inside.I would suggest you open at least one and see if there are seeds inside to plant. Let me know if you confirm this. Chris mailto:christopher.marshall@att.net > Hi Chris, > > I just got some seeds of Marula and wonder if there is any > special requirements for them in sprouting them in a hotbed? > > Did you start yours from seed? Any information will be much > appreciated. I noticed your statement that they're not cold > hardy. > > Thanks > > Leo >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< None This Time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Arkansas Berry & Plant Farm - Blackberry Plants http://www.alcasoft.com/arkansas/blackberry.html New Blackberries APACHE (thornless) This new release from the U of A has very hardy, upright canes. Very large fruit with excellent flavor. Prices: For 1 year plants Each Plants - $3.00 each 10 Plants - $2.50 each 25 Plants - $2.25 each 50 Plants - $1.75 each 100 Plants - $1.50 each 500 Plants - $1.25 each http://www.alcasoft.com/arkansas/grape.html for Grapes ------------------------------------------------ Marula Net: (Marula Is An Important African Tree) http://www.icraf.cgiar.org/treessd/marula/members.htm ------------------------------------------------ Marula Images: (Trees, Fruit, Nuts - Lots Of Pictures) http://www.icraf.cgiar.org/treessd/marula/images.htm# ------------------------------------------------ People and Plants Online-The African Ethnobotany Network 1 Review of ethnobotanical literature from eastern and southern Africa http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/peopleplants/regions/africa/aen1/review.htm >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. None this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN2000202A.txt<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber, Louisiana, Looking For More Rare Fruit "Nancy" New Subscriber, FL, Would like Chupa Chupa Tree William New Subscriber, CA: Coping With Hot Summers/Cold Winters? Lucy Burlingham New Subscriber, CA, Getting Started Near Perris & Hemet Michelle New Subscriber, Phillipines, Wants To Grow Low-Chill Loquat, etc. Alex Litton >> Readers Write << Carambola Problem? "Edward & Althia Musgrave" Psidium involucrata Question Chris Marshall Re: Psidium involucrata Question Ben Poirier To: Chris Marshall Re: Psidium involucrata christopher.marshall@att.net To: Ben Poirier Arizona Rare Fruit Growers Information Eunice Messner Rare Fruit News Subscription - Got Interrupted Stephan Reeve Dragon Fruit - Dimensions? "lizdan" Edible Plants Database Chris Marshall >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Fwd: Fly And Snake Attractant And Killing Plant "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" Announcing the 2nd International Lychees, Longans and Rambutan Symposium in Thailand. "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< The Names of Cactaceae Explained http://space.tin.it/scienza/faccadia/inetymol.htm THE NAMES OF THE CACTACEAE: WHY DO THEY BE CALLED AS? by Fabrizio Accadia FOURTH ANNUAL FLORIDA KEYS TROPICAL FRUIT FIESTA June 2002 Lisa Wishe >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber, Louisiana, Looking For More Rare Fruit Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 15:04:14 -0600 From: "Nancy" Hi Leo - Nancy Rowe Lafayette, LA (SW coastal) Successfully growing citrus, several guavas, the occasional pineapple, loquat, Tubbed naranjilla, miraclefruit, and others. Passion vines of various types. No matter how much fruit I grow, or will grow, we'll always eat more, because I have children, and we all love fruit. It's all good, all the time. Nancy mailto:platotoldhim@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Would like Chupa Chupa Tree Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 12:05:33 EST From: William My name is William Henderson. I live in Jacksonvile, I am rare fruit grower for the fun of it. At this writing I am now growing Atemoya, Mangos, sugar apple, cherimoya, paw paw, nanking cherry, apicot, guava, pummelo, tangerine, orange, star fruit, canistel, mamy, rose apple, longan, lychee. Jamaca cherry, lemon, peach, nectarine, mule plam (pindo x queen), hog plum, macadam nut, avacado, black sapota, surinam cherry, babados cherry, white sapota, passion fruit, kumquat, loquat, mombin, star apple, sour sop, jack fruit, grape, jabotacaba, papaya, sapodila, and some I may have forgotten. I would like to have a chupa chupa tree. William mailto:HndWllm@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, CA: Coping With Hot Summers/Cold Winters? Date: Sun, 03 Feb 2002 12:23:33 -0800 From: Lucy Burlingham Hello, My name is Lucy Burlingham. I live in Fairfax, CA, a few miles north of San Francisco. I am on a hilltop with a southern exposure which I believe is Zone 15. We have very hot summers, but unfortunately, strong winds in the afternoon and cold winters with frosts due to being above the thermal belt. Most of my plants are in containers on a large deck due to the steep hillside. I work for the Sloat Garden Center in San Rafael, CA which supports my plant buying habit. I inherited a venerable and unidentified apple tree with delicious fruit when I moved here. I am just starting to grow pears, peaches and cherries, but I would like to try cold-hardy bananas and other tropicals. I just ordered a Raja Puri banana from Stokes Tropicals and am steeling myself for the long wait for the fruit. I am planning to turn part of my large deck into a greenhouse to keep the more tender plants warmer over the winter and protect the banana from the wind. I enjoyed your web site and am looking forward to receiving your newsletter online. Lucy Burlingham mailto:lucy.burlingham@home.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Getting Started Near Perris & Hemet Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2002 11:12:42 EST From: Michelle Hi, My name is Michelle Fillingame. My residence is in Nuevo, Ca. 92567. I currently don't have anything growing. We are building our house on 2 1/2 acres we purchased, so I have a lot of planting to do! I am interested in getting some fruit trees, but am worried about the frost we have here in the winter. We live near Perris and Hemet just off the 215 freewqay. If you could tell me if I would be able to grow some of the trees, which would they be? Thanks so much. Michelle Fillingame mailto:MFillingame@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Phillipines, Wants To Grow Low-Chill Loquat, etc. Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 09:58:46 +0800 From: Alex Litton Hello, My real name is Alex Litton, I am in United Hills Village, Paranaque, Metro-Manila 1713, Philippines, my email address for receiving newsletter is alitton@skyinet.net, Fruit trees I am now growing are mangoes, atemoya, jujube, roselle, & pitaya, some I want to grow are pepino dulce, low chill loquat-persimmon-apricot-peach-cherry-blueberry. Thanks, Alex LittonAlex Litton mailto:alitton@skyinet.net >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Carambola Problem? Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 08:08:21 -0500 From: "Edward & Althia Musgrave" Hi Leo I have a problem with one Carambola tree. The tree is right next to other trees but it does not spread to them. The fruit seem to develope with a hollow center, there are no seeds or dry seeds in this cavity Is this a fungus or a polination problem? Anyone who has any info please e-mail me. Ed mailto:eamusg@quixnet.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Psidium involucrata Question Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2002 15:16:43 +0000 From: Chris Marshall Dear Leo, I got these seeds from the CRFG seedbank. May be a hybrid. Can't locate name in the International Plant Names Index at Kew or Tropicos at Missouri Botanical Gardens. Anyone out there know this plant? Also,is there a problem with the Fruit Gardener magazine? I don't seem to be receiving issues anymore although my label says membership expires 11/03. Chris mailto:christopher.marshall@att.net [Earlier, Chris sent his 'Database of Edible Plants' which is copied later, in this section. -Leo] ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Psidium involucrata Question Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 09:21:04 -0800 From: Ben Poirier To: Chris Marshall Hi Chris To the best of my knowledge this is the legitimate name. I have a couple plants growing and fruiting here. The plant is nice looking upright growth, foliage looks like a giant version of the Cattley guava. Fruits can be from 1.5 to 2.5 inches, yellowish resembling again the Cattley. Flavor is between the common guava and a Cattley with some tartness. Ben Poirier mailto:benplant@tfb.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Psidium involucrata Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2002 15:04:19 +0000 From: christopher.marshall@att.net To: Ben Poirier Hi Ben, I gather Leo referred my inquiry to you. I wish I had some expertise in plant genetics because your comments reinforce my impression that perhaps Ps. involucrata is a hybrid at least one of whose parents must have been Ps.cattleianum. Do you have fruiting plants then and perhaps seed? I have a friend in Brazil with a special interest in fruiting Myrtaceae I would like to send seed to. Let me know, Chris mailto:christopher.marshall@att.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Arizona Rare Fruit Growers Information Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 09:13:21 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Mike and Chris... There are chapters of the California Rare Fruit Growers in both Phoenix and Tucson. Contact Dick Gross at He will be happy to give you information about fruit growing in Arizona and how to join in their fellowship. Eunice Messner mailto:eunicemessner@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Rare Fruit News Subscription - Got Interrupted Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2002 10:26:50 -1000 From: Stephan Reeve Aloha Leo, I'd like to receive the newsletter again. Somehow I got dropped by my web email. So can you please add fruition@shaka.com to your mail list. Thnaks again for this wonderful service. As a tropical fruit grower I particularly appreciate the word out of Thailand. Thank you, Steph mailto:fruition@shaka.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Dragon Fruit - Dimensions? Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 12:22:46 -0800 From: "lizdan" Hi Leo, I am a children's author doing research on living dragons for a book. I'd like to include dragon fruit, but can't seem to find out how large the fruit grows. I read that its size is about 14 ounces, but I'd like to know how long and wide one fruit is. Do you know? Thanks for your help. Sincerely, Elizabeth Macalaster mailto:lizdan@gte.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Edible Plants Database From: Chris Marshall Edible Plants Database Aizoaceae Carpobrotus edulis-bland fruit. Nice ground cover. Cold hardy. Annonaceae Annona cherimoya-seedling given me by a CRFG member from San Diego. In pot and doing well. Who knows if it will ever produce fruit Annona sp. Custard apple seedlings from seed from India Anacardiaceae Harpephyllum caffrum vigorous plant. Havent tested cold tolerance. No flowers or fruit yet. South African plant reputedly makes excellent preserves. Sclerocarya birrea Marula. Seedlings. South African. Not cold hardy. Boraginaceae Ehretia anacua from South Texas. Tough plant but somewhat cold-sensitive. Makes berries which taste like apples. Mine have not bloomed or fruited. Ehretia rigida South African version of above. Smaller plant with lavender flowers. Has bloomed but did not set fruit. Cannaceae Canna edulis doing well. Roots supposedly used like potatoes. Very ornamental. I havent had the heart to sacrifice any of them for eating purposes. Caprifoliaceae Sambucus mexicana Small purple berries beloved of birds. Wild along the upper Santa Cruz near Nogales. Tasty but you would need a lot of them to do anything. Caricaceae Carica papaya-Thai Red I get some fruit every year in a favorable protected location. Parthenocarpic. Female plant with no male pollinator and no seeds in fruit. Ebenaceae Diospyros digyna beautiful tree in 15 gal. Pot. Female plant. Bloomed but I need a male to get fruit. Diospyros texana Native persimmon from Texas and northern Mexico. Dioecious. My plants are still too small to bloom. Fruit sweet but insipid. Best for the birds. Euphorbiaceae Antidesma bunius seedlings. Very attractive. Probably not very cold tolerant. Fagaceae Quercus emoryi sweet acorns. Just read recently that it takes forty years to reach a size to produce acorns. Guess I wont be getting any. Maybe my children will. Flacourtiaceae Dovyalis caffra vigorous plants. Freeze to the ground with frost but come back. I have some in a warm location which dont freeze but have not flowered or fruited. Kiggelaria africana- One plant. Dioecious so Ill need more plants to assure pollination. Known as African peach. Guttiferaceae Rheedia edulis one very slow-growing seedling. From South America. Not cold-hardy. Lauraceae Persea Americana-Don Gillogly Gafted houseplant from Wayside Gardens catalog. Bloomed this spring but dropped all the small fruit. Maybe next year. Loganiaceae Strychnos sp. South African genus. Despite the name (source of strychnine) the fruit are supposedly edible. Three small plants. No flowers or fruit. Moraceae Cudrania tricuspidata Che fruit. Dioecious. Hardy. Supposed to taste like figs. Mine not large enough to start blooming yet. Easily grown from seed. Ficus carica-Black Mission,Italian Honey,Royal Vineyard Very productive but some varieties seem to not mature fruit if heat-stressed or not fed. Moringaceae Moringa oleifolium Multiple uses. Popular in India where is known as drumstick tree for seed pods which are cut in sections and cooked as seasoning. Also known as horseradish tree as the roots can be grated and used as a horseradish substitute. Young leaves and flowers useful as a potherb. Myrtaceae Acmena smithii Lilly Pilly. More ornamental than edible. From Australia. Campomanesia lineatifolia Amazonian. Not happy here in Tucson for obvious reasons. Probably would love something like the TBG greenhouse, cool and humid. Known as perfume guava. Campomanesia xanthocarpa same as above Eugenia aggregata Cherry of the Rio Grande (Brazilian Rio Grande, not our Rio Grande). Does well and can take some frost but has yet to bloom or fruit aalthough I have had it for quite a few years now. I have more coming along from seeds and perhaps some day Eugenia candolleana seedlings. Dont know much about these plants. Eugenia reinwardtii Beach or Cedar Bay cherry, also known as E. carissioides. Tough attractive plants still too small to fruit. Eugenia sprenkelii Brazilian. Used for topiary in Brazil. Very un-Eugenia-like foliage. If it produces fruit, will be small based on the seeds I got and probably more suitable for birds. Reputedly cold-hardy. Eugenia tomentosa Dont know anything about this plant except that it produces an edible fruit. From Brazil. Eugenia uniflora Beautiful plant. I get a few fruit but not very productive and not terribly tasty. Feijoa sellowiana Nazemetz graft. Supposed to be self-fruitful but limited fruit, ?pollinator. Psidium acutangulum Pretty but has never bloomed and most cold-sensitive of the guavas I grow. Psidium cattleianum two varieties, red and yellow. Red is most hardy and productive but very tart. Yellow has better flavor but less hardy. Reasonably productive and supposed to be able to take frost to mid-20s. Psidium cattleianum lucidum see above Psidium firmum seedlings from Brazilian seed. Dont know much about this plant but expect fruit will be small and tart. Psidium friedrichtalianum Grow well. Very attractive. Bloom but dont set fruit. Pollen seems to be dry before flower even opens. Experimenting with location/microclimate. Still optimistic. Psidium guajava-multiple varieties These are great. Frost-sensitive but fairly heat/drought tolerant. I get fruit regularly. Im working on finding better quality and size fruit now. Pssidium guajava minor subspecies from Brazil. Smaller leaves and probably smaller fruit. Psidium guineense Flowers prolifically and appears as hardy as tropical guava. Due to various accidents have yet to mature a fruit but does produce. Expect when I get the bugs worked out this will be a good one. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Australian. Small berries. Not of producing size yet. Syzygium coolminiana Australian, formerly Eugenia. Makes fruit. Ive yet to get any but a plant I gave a friend has produced fruit which was supposedly good-tasting. Somewhat cold-harddy but have to be careful with sun and water here in Tucson. Syzygium paniculata similar to above. Plants still quite small. Palmae Butia capitata Great fruit if you can get it. Tastes like peaches. Everyone should grow this but you have to get a large plant and be patient as it doesnt fruit quickly. Passifloraceae Passiflora caerulea easily grown but quality of fruit very variable. Some quite good-tasting and others bitter. Passiflora edulis flavicarpa Great vegetative growth. Freezes back in winter but comes back. Just doesnt bloom for me and is decimated regularly by Gulf Fritillary caterpillars. Passiflora foetida parvifolia weed in my garden. Pretty lavender passionflowers followed by red fruit when ripe. Tasty but a lot of work for a little pulp. Still worthwhile because it is so easy and productive. Passiflora incarnata Plants are doing very well. No flowers yet. Native from eastern United States. Passiflora mollissima on its way out. Another one of those rainforest plants that needs something like the TBG greenhouse, cool and humid. Passiflora vitifolia gorgeous flowers. I need a second plant for pollination so I get no fruit. Punicaceae Punica granatum Papago Sweet, Grenada Pomegranates smaller than Wonderful. Papago Sweet came from Catalina Heights nursery and is sweeter than Wonderful. Grenada is redder and more tart than Wonderful. Both doing extremely well. Rhamnaceae Condalia hookeri v. hookeri South Texas plant known as Coma in Spanish which means eat. Small blackish berries taste like blueberries. Probably better for birds than people. Condalia warnockii is native here and fruit similar but smaller. Zizyphus joaozeiro Jua. Brazilian jujube from the northeast. Very drought tolerant but probably not cold tolerant. Mine still very small in pots. Zizyphus jujube Tigertooth Great fruit but seems to be some problem with pollinator. Cant predictably get fruit. Zizyphus mucronata Buffalo thorn. South African jujube.Vigorous plant.Theres a nice one in the Growing Connections garden at TBG.Smaller fruit than Z.jujube.Theres also a native jujube here in Tucson, Z. obtusifolia, which has very small fruit with scant flesh but edible.I have one on my property. Rosaceae Crataegus crus-galli Hawthorne.Some flowers for first time this year.No fruit. Crataegus viridis Hawthorne. No flowers or fruit yet. Both hawthorns are doing well with irrigation. Cydonia oblonga Smyrna quince. Just got this. Eriobotrya japonica-Champagne,Gold Nugget Very productive. Champagne bland but thick flesh. Gold Nugget a little acid for my taste and thin flesh. Malus-White Pearmain,Winter Banana Low chill apples. Bloomed for first time this year but no fruit set. Prunus andersonii Desert peach. Native plum from California/ Baja California.Great Bonsai plant. No flowers or fruit yet. Prunus ilicifolia - Hollyleaf cherry. Naative from California. Still small plants. Prunus lyonii Catalina Island cherry. Still small plants. Similar to above. Prunus mexicana Native plum from Texas. Doing well. Suckers.No flowers or fruit yet. Prunus persica-Peentau Just got this plant. Seems heat-stressed. Prunus persica v. nucipersica-Panamint Same as above. Prunus serotina salicina Capulin cherry. Subtropical cherry with resinous aftertaste. Productive but birds get them before I do. Prunus tomentosa Nanking cherry. Just got this plant. Heat-stressed. Rubiaceae Coffea arabica houseplant. Does not like cold! Rutaceae Aegle marmelos Bael fruit. Medicinal citroid from south Asia. Attractive plants and doing well but could be some years before these seed-grown plants produce fruit. Afraegle paniculata Nigerian Powderflask. Very similar to Bael fruit but from west Africa. Less cold-tolerant. Citrus aurantiifolia Key Lime. Good pot plant. Not hardy but very floriferous and sets quite a few fruit even on small plants. Citrus limettoides Palestine sweet Lime. Seed-grown plants. Have not bloomed even though they are about 5 years old and good-sized. Citrus limon Lisbon, Variegated Eureka Doing well. Variegated Eureka less productive. Citrus reticulata-Honey Slow-grower. Alternate bearer. Less acid than most mandarins. Citrus sinensis-Moro-extremely vigorous and productive but I dont get the nice red color you expect in a blood orange. Citrus x paradisa-Star Ruby-Doesnt like the strong sun here and not as red as the Texas red grapefruits. Feronia limonia Wood apple-Medicinal plant from India.Apparently take many years to reaching fruiting size. .Not cold-hardy Sapindaceae Pappea capensis-Seedlings. South African fruiting tree. Sapotaceae Bumelia celastrina-Also known as Coma in South Texas.Slow-growing,cold and drought tolerant.Has not fruited yet. Casimiroa edulis-Seedlings Manilkara zapota-Healthy plant. Very attractive. Hasnt reached sufficient size to fruit yet. In pot. Tiliaceae Grewia occidentalis Berry producing bush from South Africa. Bird fruit. Somewhat cold-tolerant. No flowers or fruit yet. Chris mailto:christopher.marshall@att.net >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Subject: Fw: Fly And Snake Attractant And Killing Plant Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 18:29:08 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" Dear Leo, I received this e-mail from presumably an American Indian. While it is not about a rare fruit, it is certainly about an interesting rare plant. It may even has potantial for getting rid of the damaging fruit flies. Have Fun! Sainarong mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th ----- Original Message ----- From: Pankaj Oudhia To: Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 11:30 PM Subject: Fly and snake attractant and killing plant | Namaskar to everybody, | | Last week I was on tour of tribal region of my state. This | regions are covered with dense forests. | | I have seen a plant locally known as BRAMRMARI(BRAMAR means flies | and MARI means Killer). This plant is known as fly and snake | attractant and killer plant. You can found dead bodies of flies | up to 3 feet on the ground around this miracle plant. I have seen | it. It is also known as snake killer plant. Any snake coming in | peripheri of this plant becomes inactive and in few days dies. I | have seen dead bodies of many snakes. | | I am not sure about the scientific name of this plant. It is like | Cocculus indicus. The traditional healers of this region use this | plant as valuable herb for the cure of common ailments to | incurable diseases like cancer. | | Very soon I will send the photographs of this plant. I need more | available information on this plant and other plants like this. | | If you have any informtion please write back to me. | | Regards | | Pankaj Oudhia mailto:pankajoudhia@rediffmail.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Announcing the 2nd International Lychees, Longans and Rambutan Symposium in Thailand. Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 18:40:50 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" The 2nd International Lychee, Longan, Rambutan and Other Fruits in the Sapindaceae Family is being held in the fair city of Chiangmai in Thailand in May 2003. The 1st Symposium was held in Guangzhou, China in 1999; it is very successful and impressive by all accounts. Why don't some of you arrange a group tour during that period to visit Chiangmai and also other parts of Thailand? I am sure you will find it greatly enjoyable. Ask those who have been here, namely, Richard Campbell, Oscar Jait, Wim Veer, Santol et al. By the way, yours truly is in the Symposium Organizing Committee. Looking forward to meeting you here. Sainarong mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th ------------------------------------------------ space space space Subject: Date: From: Body Signature mailto:xxx ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Date: From: Body Signature mailto:xxx ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Date: From: Body Signature mailto:xxx space space space space space >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: The Names of Cactaceae Explained http://space.tin.it/scienza/faccadia/inetymol.htm THE NAMES OF THE CACTACEAE: WHY DO THEY BE CALLED AS? by Fabrizio Accadia CACTUS: from the Greek kaktos, thistle, artichoke from the Latin cactus, thistle, artichoke GENERA ETYMOLOGY WHY? ACANTHOCALYCIUM--from the Greek kantha, thorn----for the form to calyx -----------------and clyx, calyx-----------------(with the thorns) of --------------------------------------------------their flowers CEREUS------------from the Greek chers-----------for his waxed surface ------------------become in Latin cereus, ------------------torch of wax HYLOCEREUS-------from the Greek yle, forest----For the habitat -----------------and cereus--------------------where it grows Bibliography: M. Pizzetti, Piante grasse, le cactacee; Mondadori 1991 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: FOURTH ANNUAL FLORIDA KEYS TROPICAL FRUIT FIESTA June 2002 Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2002 11:38:20 -0500 From: "Lisa Wishe" FOURTH ANNUAL FLORIDA KEYS TROPICAL FRUIT FIESTA Saturday June 29, 2002 9 AM to 2 PM Bayview Park, Corner of Truman & Eisenhower Key West, FL Info: 305/292-4501 http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu mailto:gkeeler@mail.ifas.ufl.edu Fun day of fruit tree sales, expert speakers, homegrown fruit contest, fruit tasting, more. Lisa Wishe >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. None this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN200202B.txt<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rare Fruit News Online - March 1, 2002 - AKA RFN200203A.txt Notes In Passing - Leo Mail has been exceptionally reduced of late, and I believe that something isn't right with my mail server. I learned recently that some mail addressed to the "better address rarefruit@abac.com" has been returned to the sender. If mail bounces to that address, please try mailto:leo92129@yahoo.com. (92129 is my zip code) One reason I haven't switched to a different mail server is that we are looking to relocate someplace in San Diego, where the growing area in the yard is more level. If we are successful in finding a place, I will switch as soon as we move. So far, however, we've had trouble finding anything with over 1/4 acre, in a frost-free area, and that is also level. If you become aware of any such place, please let me know. I have been favorably impressed with the Nam Doc Mai mango. The fruit has been large, didn't split (as in previous years), and doesn't seem to have a significant disease problem. The flavor is unique, the flesh smooth, the fruit large.... It's interesting to see blooming beginning while a few fruit still on the tree. Membership in the Pitaya Fruit Newsgroup has grown to eighteen. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/ If you are interested in fruit of Pitaya or related cacti, you might find it worthy of checking. Know anything about shipping cacti out of California? I have a friend who wants me to send a rooted cutting of pitaya. Is there any problem in shipping interstate? If I declare them at the post office, will they be opened and cause delays in receiving them? Any suggestions? - Leo >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber - San Diego - Getting Started With Rare Fruit David Silverstein New Subscriber, CA, Certified Arborist "Fran Lambert" New Subscriber, CA, Ventura/Santa Barbara CRFG Chapter "Norman Beard" >> Readers Write << Rare Apple Varieties - Information Sought Barry Hardman Hemet, Perris Area Eunice Messner To: Michele Value Of Supplemental Light For Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) "JOSEPH BERRY" Multiple-Graft Fruit Trees Sought - Orange County, CA "Jack W. Sweeney" Psidium involucrata - same as Eugenia involucrata? Juan Re: Psidium involucrata - same as Eugenia involucrata? Chris To: Juan Capulin Cherry and Wind Todd Abel Re: Capulin Cherry and Wind Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel Re: Capulin Cherry and Wind Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel Re: Capulin Cherry and Wind Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel Miracle Fruit Tree - May Need A Miracle lee & lou Re: Miracle Fruit Tree - May Need A Miracle Leo Manuel To: lee & lou Kelp & Other Snail Control Suggestions Denise >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< None, this time >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< None, this time >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber - San Diego - Getting Started With Rare Fruit Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 22:49:23 -0800 From: David Silverstein Leo: I'd like to subscribe to the newsletter. My name is David Silverstein. I live with my wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs and a cat in San Diego. For better and worse we are only a couple of blocks from the ocean. We are growing three pomegranates (Wonderful, Utah Sweet, and Eversweet), seven figs (White Genoa, Green Ischia, Ventura, Jelly, Panachee, Grosse Monstreuse De Lipari, and unknown from Tijuana), a Meyer Lemon, two tangerine trees, 2 types of blackberry, 2 grape starts, several pineapple starts, two little seedling mangoes, a tiny seedling loquat, and a tiny miserable looking seedling lychee. I also like to grow different varieties of tomato. Presently I'm sprouting 12 new ones, though I won't have room for all. I will certainly be placing some of the seedlings with friends. I also like to try to grow watermellons, with mixed success. This year I intend to try a couple of promising chinese and korean cultivars. I would like to further expand my pomegranate and fig collection, and add a mulberry. I'd like to learn more about grafting and pruning. I'd also like to learn more about guavas and pitayas. I'm presently trying to sprout some guava seeds that came from some local fruit that we ate. I just cleaned the guava flesh off them and planted them in potting mix. Is this the way to sprout them? How long do they take to germinate? David Silverstein mailto:bentleye@cox.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Certified Arborist Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 17:20:07 -0800 From: "Fran Lambert" I would love to receive your newsletter. I am a Cerified Arborist who knows Bill Nelson. I want to learn all I can about trees, so I can help everyone grow them and take proper care of them. I love trees! Fran Lambert Cerified Arborist WC-ISA #2363 Mariposa Tree Service Rancho Santa Fe 92067 858-756-2769 mailto:mariposa@myexcel.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Ventura/Santa Barbara CRFG Chapter Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 09:41:09 -0800 From: "Norman Beard" I am Norman E. Beard, Past President of CRFG, now Chairman of Ventura/Santa Barbara CRFG Chapter I grow Mangos (Bombay, manilla, glenn, Nam Doc Mai, Tommy Adkins), Lychee, blueberries (12Varieties), pineapple, papaya (4 Varieties), sapote (90 trees) (Mammey, white, Mcdill, black, chico, etc.), Inga ice cream bean, cherimoya, Guavas (10 varieties), 300 Hass avocado trees, Pau Pau, Agra Cherrie, Carambolla, miracle fruit, 5 varieties of oranges, persimmons, pears, peaches, 5 varieties of berries, lemons, apples, pomagrantes, tangerines, and the list goes on. Norman Beard mailto:Beardtropics@earthlink.net >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Rare Apple Varieties - Information Sought Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 11:45:17 -0800 (PST) From: Barry Hardman Please send info on rare apple trees to me. Thanks so much. Barry Hardman Edinboro, PA 16412 mailto:paba0@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Hemet, Perris Area Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 17:00:47 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Michele Michele... I'm sure members of the Inland Empire chapter of the Calif. Rare Fruit Growers would be able to answer your questions about growing in your zone. Contact the Chapter Chair, Sharlene Mauritz mailto:inland_empire@crfg.org Eunice Messner mailto:eunicemessner@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Value Of Supplemental Light For Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 11:40:28 +0700 From: "JOSEPH BERRY" Hi Leo, This is my 3rd year Growing dragon fruit and I've been blundering my way to some success.we have about 400 plants. My knowledge of these is growing better with each year. I'm now looking to experiment with extending the the growing season by installing lights, my problem is that I know zero concerning this. Can you advise me on type of lights,wattage etc., how long should I keep them on and is it better to burn during sunrise or sunset. Hoping to hear from you. Joe Berry mailto:intara20@cscoms.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Multiple-Graft Fruit Trees Sought - Orange County, CA Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 12:32:32 -0800 From: "Jean W. Sweeney" Can you help me locate a nursery that may have a fruit tree with several fruits grafted onto the same tree? I presently have one tree that has five different citrus fruits grafted onto the main trunk. What I would like to locate is a tree that has several different fruits (other than citrus) that have been grafted onto one trunk such as peach, nectarine, etc. I am a complete novice as far as nursery projects, so I'm not even sure if such a thing can be done I live in Orange County and would appreciate knowing if there is such a thing as several fruits grafted to one tree (other than citrus) and where it could be purchased. Any help you are able and willing to give will certainly be appreciated. Jean Sweeney mailto:jeanms@adelphia.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Psidium involucrata - same as Eugenia involucrata? Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:37:14 GMT From: Juan Hola Leo: I believe Psidium involucrata is the same as Eugenia involucrata, under which name it is listed in the Missouri Botanical Garden Tropicos (Mobot). Best wishes Juan mailto:jarivero@caribe.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Psidium involucrata - same as Eugenia involucrata? Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 15:08:12 +0000 From: Chris To: Juan Thanks for the tip. Gives me somewhere to go. I can check with a couple of contacts in South America to see if they are familiar with the plant under either name. TROPICOS shows localities in Paraguay and Bolivia. Anyone have contacts there? Chris mailto:christopher.marshall@att.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Capulin Cherry and Wind Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 08:44:49 -0800 From: Todd Abel Leo, I noticed that you are growing Capulin Cherry. How do you like it? I have a site that gets the Santa Ana Winds, and am trying to plant something there. I have read the Capulin Cherry is Wind Resistant. Is this your experience? I am also thinking about Pitomba or Grumichama, as they are listed by Florida as wind resistant. Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com Orange, CA 92867 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Capulin Cherry and Wind Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 11:05:45 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel Hi Todd, I am certain that not only is Capulin Cherry wind resistant, they are excellent to provide shelter from wind for other plants planted on the downwind side of them. They also are very fast growing. While planting them, look for those that are better flavored as some taste much better - or should I say, some taste much worse than others. I have no experience with Pitomba or Grumichama, but I doubt that they will grow as fast nor be as hardy. Take care, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Capulin Cherry and Wind Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 12:24:30 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel Hi Todd, I haven't eaten fruit from Huachi Grande. I'd talk to others who know, but the others are quite good, to my taste. If you have room, I'd try all three. If you do get Huachi Grande, I would like to someday get a piece of graftwood of it. Take care, Leo Todd Abel wrote: | Which would you suggest. I have found Fausto, Huachi Grande, | and Ecuadorian. Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Capulin Cherry and Wind Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 11:05:45 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel Hi Todd, Strong wind encourages the selection of dwarf bananas, also. Leo Todd Abel wrote: | Excellent Leo, Thanks a million. I have a Banana to protect on the | other side. It got shredded last month, but the fruit held on only | because I have posts and tree ties holding it up. | Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Miracle Fruit Tree - May Need A Miracle Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 07:13:07 -0800 From: lee & lou Hi Leo: My potted 4' miracle fruit tree, just purchased 8 mos ago, is in need of a miracle. It's looking sad; leaves turned brown all of a sudden. We did have a few weeks of night time frost so perhaps a delayed reaction to the frost? I thought the "toast like" effects of frost appeared immediately the day after frost. Also, I recently moved it into a sunnier spot and we are have a surge of warm weather--could it be sunburn? Or, an aversion to salinity in water that I was warned about? Any clues or tips? Elaine mailto:leelou@pacbell.net Mountain View, CA ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Miracle Fruit Tree - May Need A Miracle Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 11:09:23 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: lee & lou Hi Elaine, I think that the most miraculous thing about growing miracle fruit is keeping them alive. I only use purified or rain water on mine, and keep it in a partially shaded place. I don't know much about them, but that they are difficult to keep looking healthy. Take care, Leo P.S. We'll see what other readers have to say. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Kelp & Other Snail Control Suggestions Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 12:42:20 EST From: Denise Leo, I just found out and wanted to pass the information along about American Kelp. Also a friend passed along some snail problem solutions I thought would be of help. American kelp has changed its name to Organa and is in full swing again. They have also added several new things like fruit tree installation kits. For instance, you can plant 2-5 trees with the kit for 9.95 and not have any transplant shock. The new web site address is www.organa.cc.The Customer service phone # is (866) 7-ORGANA. They are very busy so you may have to leave a message and they will return your call. Right now you can get some of their products in Walter Anderson. Call ahead to make sure they have it stock before you make a special trip to Walter Anderson because it has been selling very quickly. A friend sent this to me. I thought it may be of interest to everyone that has snail problems. Snails Snails and warts have something in common. ~Neither are wanted, both are survivors, and there are numerous ways to kill each. ~Here is an effective, inexpensive, environmentally friendly way to control your snail/slug population. Everyone had heard stories about rubbing table salt in a wound to cause pain. ~One reason is the salt works as a dehydrating agent which dehydrates protein thus causing pain. ~You are familiar with pouring (table) salt on slugs to kill them, it works very well. ~But this leaves (table) salt in your soil. ~But, did you ever think about the other types of salts which are "natural" to the soil? ~Ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer which is also an inorganic salt. ~It dehydrates living tissue, thus killing soft tissue animals like snails and slugs. The way I use it is as follows. ~When the slug or snail population becomes noticeable, I scatter ammonium nitrate crystals around the yard, among plants, around the edges of the house, in cracks in cement, in cracks where I can get it. ~This crystal will not dissolve as long as they stay dry. When a snail or slugs crawls on the ammonium crystal, the salt crystal dehydrates the snail/slug causing its death. ~Should the snail/slug survive, it will be injured to the point of not being able to move and eat, thus it will die anyway. ~Depending on the concentration of snail/slugs is what determines how much ammonium crystals I scatter. As long as the weather does not rain, my yard is pretty well protected. ~Now the rain. Rain can ruin this system. ~The ammonium crystals dissolves which then act as fertilizer. ~In dry climates, or in areas where snail/slugs hibernate (or what ever they do), you can prevent their migration by scattering the crystals. ~Right after a rain, just when the ground starts to dry out where there is not enough moisture left to dissolve the crystals, just scatter crystals around the snail trails. Remember, you can ring an area, or just scatter the crystals in localized areas among plants. ~Once under control, the process is simple and used infrequently. I have been amazed and pleased with how few snail/slugs I have. ~When I first started this, it took about 3 months to really clean the yard area. ~I still have a few, but very few. ~They seem to reproduce during the winter and I kill the new crop in the spring. ~For the rest of the year I merely watch for snail trails and scatter the crystals as needed. ~This generally amounts to touching up areas maybe 2-3 times a year after spring time control. From time to time I will have an outbreak in an area. ~I water the area well and as the water dries, I scatter the crystals just when the moisture on the plants or ground will not cause the crystals to dissolve. ~If I do not water the area, the scattering of crystals really keeps the population from moving around. ~Apparently these hibernate or the eggs can last a long time. ~I know that after a rain I may find a few snail trails, but a good scattering of crystals will generally solve the problem for another several months. One problem with ammonium nitrate is it evaporates. ~I have tried commercial grade urea, it seems to work almost as well, it does evaporate but not as quickly as ammonium nitrate. ~I have learned to use the nitrate salt for quick short term control, and urea for longer term control in dry weather. ~Ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, or urea can be used. ~Ammonium phosphate does not seem to work as well. ~Ammonium nitrate is cheap, readily available, but remember it will evaporate but seems to be the best of the bunch. ~All salts mentioned are available from any farm supply. From experience I would rate the effectiveness as following: ~~~~ Ammonium nitrate ~~~~ Ammonium sulfate ~~~~ Urea ~~~~ Ammonium phosphate ~~~~ The commercial 5-10-10 or anything similar do not work as well. Remember, some plants do not like nitrogen. ~For these plants, I use ammonium nitrate since it evaporates more readily than urea. ~Remember ammonium nitrate crystals will dehydrate plant leaves and can kill plants if the crystals are scattered on wet leaves. The snails in San Luis are supposed to be the edible kind, e.g., they were a food source for the mission in the last century. ~I pass...... I hope your search for a new suitable home goes well. Happy gardening, Denise Woo >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. None this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN200203A.txt<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rare Fruit News Online - March 15, 2002 - AKA RFN200203B.txt Notes In Passing - Leo Quang Ong's Web Page - See at http://www.geocities.com/quangong2/ I've been helping him with it. Are there major problems in viewing it? Different browsers 'see' it differently, I've noticed. Colder Winter (In Southern California) - I believe we've had a colder winter this year than possibly for ten or more years. The temperature dropped to lower levels for several consecutive nights. While looking for a place to move, I've seen some banana plants looking significantly damaged around San Diego. How has it affected you? Cherimoya Tasting - CRFG - North County (San Diego) Chapter, Friday (Tonight!) 3/15 - Maybe I'll see you there. >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber, Sixteen Acres In San Diego County Vic Allen New Subscriber, Santiago, Chile Eduardo Crdenas Prez New Subscriber, Moorpark, CA "Benjamin F. Kuo" New Subscriber, Big Bear, CA Grows Gordon Owen New Subscriber, Spain Carlos Fernandez-Viadero Growing Fruit In North Carolina Joan >> Readers Write << Re: Guava Sprouting "Leo A. Martin" Where Can I Find Pistachio Trees For Texas? "Julio Navarro" Getting started...capulin cherries, and snails "Vic" Re: getting started...capulin cherries, and snails Leo Manuel To: Vic Re: getting started...capulin cherries, and snails "Vic" Cherimoya Pollination "Todd Abel" Re: Cherimoya Pollination Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel RE: Cherimoya Pollination Todd Abel Mystery Fruit - La France (Can You Help Kim In Korea?) "D H Kim" One Marula Seed Sprouted - Without Benefit Of Elephant Leo Manuel To: Chris Marshall Re: One Marula Seed Sprouted - Without Benefit Of Elephant Chris Marshall Cherimoya for the Coast David Re: Cherimoya for the Coast Leo Manuel To: David Newly planted sapodilla "Niki Wessels" Re: Newly planted sapodilla Leo Manuel To: Niki Wessels RE: Capulin Cherry and Wind Todd Abel Atemoyas Compared - And Grafting Ideas Ed Lin >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Experience with Using Potassium Chlorate to Force Longans to Flower "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< None, this time >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber, Sixteen Acres In San Diego County Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 15:10:12 -0800 From: Vic Allen Hello Leo and Betty, I came across your web page while doing some reserch on the capulin cherry. My name is Vic and I live in San Diego County also - Ramona. It was fun to read a bit about you and your family. I have sixteen acres here and grow different trees and also do some gardening. I lost my sight eight years ago and have been tinkering with growing more rare fruit trees. Capulin cherries seem like they would grow good in my area. I have talked with other members and wanted to go to the last meeting of the crfg'ers , but didn't make it. It is the north county chapter...I don't know which one you are in? I would like to get your newsletter and wondered if you could please subscribe me to it. I look forward to meeting and getting to know the rest of the rare fruit growers in the area. Thank you for you time and effort in putting together all your infomation. Respectfully, Vic Allen mailto:rockdawg@concentric.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Santiago, Chile Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 12:40:15 -0300 From: Eduardo Crdenas Prez I am Eduardo Crdenas Prezm in Santiago, Chile Fruit trees I am now growing are: Manzanas, peras, uvas, duraznos (apples, pears, grapes, peaches) Some I want to grow are: cerezas, nogal (cherries, walnut) Eduardo mailto:ecardena@tierraverde.cl ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Moorpark, CA Date: Wed, 06 Mar 2002 22:32:36 GMT From: "Benjamin F. Kuo" I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter, which I just ran into today. I'm located in Moorpark, California, and am a member of the CRFG. I'm growing citrus (orange, calmondin, citron, pummelo, mandarins, etc.); bananas (various); pineapples; passiflora (p. mollissima, p. incarnata, p. edulis); papaya; feijoa; guavas; blueberries; cherries; apples; asian pears; apricots; figs; and quince. Benjamin F. Kuo mailto:kuokuo@concentric.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Big Bear, CA Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 22:23:34 -0800 From: Gordon Owen Hi! Just found you on Internet and am delighted. Gordon Owen, gordonowen@linkline.com Lake Elsinore CA Big Bear CA Grew up in Ohio, a lot of experience with antique and rare varieties that grow in that area plus some experience with espalier techniques and the Lorette method of summer pruning for shaping and productivity . When I left the Wright Patterson area, the family that bought our house ended up with a bewildering collection of espaliered and "open pruned" fruit trees. Mostly antique varieties from Henry Leuthardt in East Moriches, Long Island, and Southmeadow Nurseries in Michigan. Wish I could eat a General Hand (or "Yellow Egg") plum or a Cox Orange Pippen apple right now. Also left behind nice collections of berries, bamboo, currants, etc. and several grapes growing on stainless steel wire and pruned to two long canes per vine. Out front, a double row of grafted Colorado Blue Spruce, the silvery white variety called Koster (my preference over Moorheim). Arrived in Lake Elsinore in 1987 and was so ignorant I actually paid $65 dollars to have bare backyard hydroseeded with Bermuda grass. Been fighting that stuff ever since. Have most varieties of Citrus including 2 of the standard 3 varieties of blood orange. (Still need Sanguinelli blood orange). Black and White sapotes, one cherimoya, one fruiting passion flower, three clumping bamboos, and two macadamia nut trees that do okay in most favored area: southfacing hillside below swimming pool which is solidly into zone 19 (or maybe better?) rather than Elsinore's typical zone 18. Big Bear property is giving me a chance to do things I'm competent at. Blue Spruce are in as well as Austrian Black Pine. As for fruit, I've only planted one Black Tartarian cherry, a Concord grape, a Himrod grape and a couple of blueberries. Anybody who wants to experience true Concord flavor in most of Southern California need only plant Niabell and they'll be harvesting Concord-style grapes as nice as if they had to shovel snow during the winter. Plans for Big bear include hedge of North Star cherry (cross between Morello and wild Siberian cherry) and various nut trees. Would like to get start of true American chestnut as well as the 15/16th blight resistant version. More than I had intended to write.... Gordon Owen mailto:gordonowen@linkline.com Lake Elsinore CA ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Spain Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 18:08:21 +0100 From: Hi Leo Im 42 years old beginner in the aim of rare fruits growing. I begin this "hobby" only 3 years ago. I live in the seacoast of the north Spain. I think that we have a climate corresponding with USDA z 9b or 10a (Usually minimum temperatures of winter may can rise in alternate few days -2 or -3C, except in this winter when can rise in Christmas nigth -5,5C for a few hours, maybe the coldest winter in 30 years ago). On the other hand like atalntic climate we have mild summer with no more than 25-27C, and frecuently cloudy or rainy days. Here in my country for centuries ago there usual culture citrus (lemon and orange, usually one of this per house) and many figs per house. In the recent 10-20 years often can see kiwi, persimmon and loquats. Of course the natural trees of this region nut, corylus, juglans, pear, apples, cherrys, currants, apricots, peach etc. In my orchard (1/2 Ha) I have many young trees of juglans, pears, apples, cherrys, plums, apricots, peach, currants. citrus (orange, mandarin, kumkat, lemom, grapefruit), kiwi, persimmons, loquats and figs. I have too feijoas, hovenia, quince, olea europea, asian pear, passion fruit, casimiroa, szygyum, carissa, kei apple,avocados (mexican) guava, chirimoyas, che, pawpaw, carob, opuntia ficusindica, musa paradisiaca, ensete, basjoo and others ornamental of tropical subtropical origin. In this winter I think that many on this will killed by the frost, but in this month I saw surprisly that many ot them resprouting again: all bananas, szygyum, avocado, guava, others I think that are definitively killed: cherimoya, carissa, any of kei apples etc. Many of this trees I obtained by seeds. I have interst in receive your online magazine. The topics more interesting to me are related with culture tropicals subtropicals in cool climates and to obtain tropical hardy varietes (I have ones feijoa, persimmons etc. make trades with seeds etc. Finally Im geriatric physician, married (my wife is Physician too) and we have three children: a girl 13 years old and two boys 11 and 9 years old. I hope we keep in touch Carlos Fernandez-Viadero mailto:cfdezviadero@ono.com [Carlos, the 'Fino de Jete' cherimoya from Spain is an excellent cultivar, worth growing and protecting while young (until it gets big enough to tolerate mild frost.) -Leo] ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Growing Fruit In North Carolina Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 14:55:34 EST From: Joan Hi, My name is Joan Olsen, I live in Bolton, N.C. My Company Name is Green Chapel Development Inc. We Specialize in eco-friendly land development, Scouting to-be-developed land for rare, old, and endangered plants. We encourage our costumers to preserve as much of the original landscape as possible. I am trying to accumulate a rare and diverse collection of plants and trees on my personal farm to leave to my children and grand-children. I have tried to pass on my love for living things to them. I have a small farm, 8 acres, quite a bit of it is wooded. I have a half acre pond that we dug last year and a small orchard. My Fruits: Bradford pear, Pineapple pear, Moonglow pear, Winter Nellis (hard pear), Fuji Apple, Winesap Apple, Red Delicious Apple, Granny Smith Apple, RedHaven peach, Carolina belle peach, Elberta peach, Miniature Peach (Andergen Cultivar), Sunglo Nectarine, Sweetheart Apricot, Miniature Apricot (Ziaglo Cultivar), Santa Rosa Plum, Methley Plum, Burbank Plum, Wild Plum (unknown origin), Native Blackberrys & Briarberrys, Red Rasberry (unkown origin, very hardy and blight resistant), Tayberry, Boysenberry, Mulberry, Tribute Strawberry, Tristar Strawberry, Native Strawberry, Rabbiteye Blueberry, Patroit Blueberry, Dwarf Tophat Blueberry, Honey Berry, Fry Grape (Muscadine), Southerland Grape (Muscadine), Concord seedless Grape, Flame seedless Grape, Reliance seedless Grape, Thompson seedless Grape, White table Grape (unknown), Black table Grape (unkown), Turkey Fig, Itialian Honey Fig, Peters Fig, Black Mission Fig, Nero Ceasar Fig, Osborne Prolific Fig, Celeste Fig, Tanenashi Persimmon, Ichi-Ki-Kei-Jiro Persimmon, American native Persimmon, Nagami Kumquat, Miewa Kumquat, Meyer Lemon, Lime (unknown), lemon (uknown, Smuggled from Itilay), Calamondin Orange, Satsuma Orange, Robeson Orange, Chandler Plummelo, Native Passion Fruit This is my list, not so rare but pretty extensive. To say it simply, I'm interested in anything I don't have. Would love to trade or buy anything available. Thanks so Much. Joan mailto:PARANOIDPETEDOG@aol.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Re: Guava Sprouting Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 20:58:40 -0500 From: "Leo A. Martin" | I'm presently trying to sprout some guava seeds | that came from some local fruit that we ate. I | just cleaned the guava flesh off them and planted | them in potting mix. Is this the way to sprout | them? How long do they take to germinate? | | David Silverstein Hello David, You're doing it right. Now keep the seed pot as warm as you can, which can be a problem in coastal San Diego in February. I've had them sprout the fastest when it was over 90 F. Sprouting time will depend on the temperature; I wouldn't expect much germination until it's regularly over 70 F. At 90+ F they can come up in a few days. Maybe get a moisture tolerant heating mat at the drug store, wrap it in thick plastic, and put the pot on it? Test the temperature of a similar pot with no seeds first so you don't cook them. I don't think you'd have any trouble unless the soil gets over 110 F. And, if you enclose the pot in a plastic bag it will retain heat. The plants don't need high humidity so remove the bag when they're up. Then give them full sun and move along to bigger and bigger pots as they grow, which can be very fast. Guavas love heat and need lots of water. If hit by frost they come back from the roots in the spring and fruit that year like nothing happened. In your climate try to give them the warmest spot in your garden. If they dry out completely they will drop all their leaves but it is highly probably they will come back. If this happens I'd cut the plant down to just one or two nodes above the ground to minimize water demand for the injured roots. Just remember not to eat them when they get even just a little bit over ripe. Leo mailto:leo1010@attglobal.net -- Phoenix, Arizona, USA http://www.centralarizonacactus.org ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Where Can I Find Pistachio Trees For Texas? Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 14:16:08 -0800 From: "Julio Navarro" Hi My name is Julio Navarro and live in Laredo, TX and will love to acquire pistacho nut that are live Laredo is arid almost a desert, I found an olive tree that bears fruit, also a guayava and caribe hot peppers. On a trip to Mexico I was given a squash that looks like one of those long watermelons I have some of those seeds also some south texas freestone peaches that come true from seed that begin to flower in mid february will appreciate some pistcho and some artichoke seeds thanks Julio mailto:julionavarro@peoplepc.com ------------------------------------------------ From: "vic" Subject: Getting started...capulin cherries, and snails Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2002 12:56:48 -0800 Hi Leo, I don't know if this is the right place to send a message to other group members or do you put all letters in the newsletter yourself. I saw that another reader was into capulin cherries...I am also interested in these, but have kinda hit a road block or two. while doing research on the cherry, I read about the different verieties and called some local nurseries to find the tree to be very expensive and the growers not knowing what kind they even had. the area I am in would do very good with capulins...I think?? I would like to plant the fausto and see how it does in my area, but first would like to taste it. any luck in finding the fruit to taste without traveling to Mexico? Also, I have learned about controlling snails and slugs. I read it in an organic magazine. copper strips are expensive at the stores, but go to a supply house that sells stained glass and get the copper strips that are about one inch in diameter...pretty cheap, and it has an adhesive backing. put this around the trunk of the tree and...no snails up the tree. Another is to place crushed oyster shells, found at organic supply houses, and spread around the trunk. Snails do not like the feel of this and will stay away. the store was out, so I put coco shells instead, cheaper and just as effective. Hope this helps out others and if any readers have some cherries I could try or obtain seeds from, I like that. Respects, Vic mailto:rockdawg@concentric.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: getting started...capulin cherries, and snails Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 20:59:13 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Vic Hi Vic, The newsletter is edited by me. I guess you and several others had trouble getting through to me on the address mailto:rarefruit@abac.com, as I found your letter on the alternate Yahoo address (which I don't check as often, so I was surprised to find yours and three other letters there.) Most capulin cherries are seedlings, and while the Fausto that I ate was very good, I'm not sure that all seedlings of Fausto will be equally good. However, I'd try one. They mature quickly and you can taste them and compare to others you find. If you like others better, then you can graft your Fausto over. You won't find ripe capulin cherries to sample for a few months, but you might try Exotica (Vista, CA) in the summer to find out when theirs are ripe. Where did you find the copper adhesive strips? What size roll does it come in and for how much money? I've heard that plain bran as sold in feed stores is effective to repel snails and slugs so long as it stays dry, but it isn't easy to keep it dry. I've also heard that the crushed shells used in swimming pool filters will keep them away. I'll put your letter in the newsletter and see what others have to say. Take care, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: getting started...capulin cherries, and snails Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 09:20:24 -0800 From: "vic" Hi Leo, The copper strips that I put around all my citrus was purchased at a store in Escondido. I don't remember the name of the store, but it was a stain glass supply house. It was a roll 150 ft. Long and it costs less then six dollars. Much better then the wide band I bought at home depot...25 Ft. For more then ten dollars. The nice thing about the strip I'm talking about is that it has an adhesive backing that applies easily around the trunk of the tree. Snails are supposed to only bother citrus, but I found them in my peach, nectarine, and apricot trees last summer. The cocoa shells that I mentioned, seem to stay crunchy and that is what the snails don't like to crawl over. Good luck, its worked for me. Leo, do you know where I can get the best value on the capulin or where to purchase seeds? How about a store where one could taste the different varieties? Thanks, Vic Allen mailto:rockdawg@concentric.net ------------------------------------------------ From: "Todd Abel" Subject: Cherimoya Pollination Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 08:08:45 -0800 Leo, It seems to be that time already. My Nata Cherimoya was almost completely defoliated from the wind storm a couple of weeks ago. The warm temps (90's) last week have pushed the flowering out already. I have been told by several poeple that hand pollination is not necessary, and that simple watering the tree overhead is enough to keep the pollen wet. I know you have experience with this, so what's your opinion. I am going to hand pollinate regardless, as this will be the first year for fruit. The tree flowered like crazy last year, but no fruit. On the tech side- what's your connection, cable DSL. Who's your provider? The traffic of the internet is getting heavy! Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com Orange, CA 92867 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Cherimoya Pollination Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 21:10:42 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel Hi Todd, I guess you and a couple of others had trouble reaching me at my regular address mailto:rarefruit@abac.com, as there were several letters to me at the alternate Yahoo address. I hadn't checked for a few days and was surprised at the volume. Hand pollination may not be necessary, and it may depend on where you live. I usually do it, but don't start until May or June. I don't have blooms yet. Humidity may be a factor - more being better. I collect pollen is a small bottle using a small artist's brush, and take it to those flowers in the female stage. I sometimes save it in the refrigerator closed up for 8-12 hours to use. I use A+Net and have never been especially happy with them, but the service of late has been especially bad. I don't like changing providers (especially those who host the rarefruit.com web page) but I'm going to be forced to do it. Who do you use? Take care, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Cherimoya Pollination Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 08:05:44 -0800 From: Todd Abel I am using Roadrunner Cable Modem through Time Warner. Its always up, and very very fast. I had alot of trouble trying to get DSL. If you have cable at your house then you may want to consider calling your TV cable provider to get the best Computer Cable provider. The cable is very easy! I have been told by several poeple that they water their Cherimoya overhead, and do not do hand pollination but get a lot of fruit. Todd mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Mystery Fruit - La France (Can You Help Kim In Korea?) Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 13:21:41 +0900 From: "D H Kim" Could I introduce I am a Korean, interested a rare fruit, La France. I have tried some reference about La France, but in vain. Could you advise how to get the detail about La France, looking like a pear. Best regards, D H Kim Seoul Korea mailto:unisoncom@netsgo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: One Marula Seed Sprouted - Without Benefit Of Elephant Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2002 20:29:03 -0800 From: Leo To: Chris Marshall Hi Chris, I bought eight Marula seeds and buried all in moist peat moss and literally forgot about them. One sprouted and is now three inches tall. Nothing has happened to the others as yet. Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: One Marula Seed Sprouted - Without Benefit Of Elephant Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 14:21:00 +0000 From: Chris Marshall Glad to hear you got at least one. You need two if you're lucky and three to be sure, if you want fruit. Marula is dioecious, separate males and females. Grows very slowly as well. I got one seedling years ago as well but lost it during the winter. Don't like too much water in the winter. I keep mine with my succulent collection to remind me not to overwater. Good luck. There may be more seedlings. The seed that germinated for me had been in that pot for about 7-8 months. Chris mailto:christopher.marshall@att.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Cherimoya for the Coast Date: Sat, 9 Mar 2002 23:15:05 -0800 From: David Leo: It was nice meeting you at the San Diego CRFG meeting recently. It was also really nice to taste a ripe Cherimoya for the first time. Prior to that meeting I had only tasted grocery store Cherimoya. They were not properly ripe and were pretty uninteresting. Having tasted a ripe one, I now understand what the excitement is about. I need to get one or more cultivars going in my yard which is in San Diego, two blocks from the ocean. So far El Bumpo and Honeyheart are emerging as front runners, but I'm open to suggestions. Sabor and Big Sister looked somewhat interesting as well. Also, I kept seeds from that fruit at the meeting. Do these come true to seed at all? I also have a siting question. One area of my yard is a sheltered cove that opens southward. My house is on the west, blocking the wind from the ocean and my garage blocks winds from the north. A six foot wood fence on the east side of this driveway strip seems to help hold the warm air in place. This is the warmest place in my yard. I was thinking of espaliering a couple of Cherimoya trees to the east facing wall of my house. They would be getting full sun against a light colored stucco wall in the warmest part of my yard. But it is still the coast, and they would be in open shade in the hottest part of the afternoon. Do you think they would burn, or would they be okay? I mean maybe I should save this area for crops that need more heat, as this the most heat I can give them in my yard. The Cherimoya looked like a particularly good espalier candidate for up near the house per the CRFG website. They described the tree as a fast grower with unaggressive roots that didn't sound like a big threat to my foundation and a harp shape that would be relatively easy to work with. I look forward to any feedback. David Silverstein mailto:bentleye@cox.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Cherimoya for the Coast Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2002 06:01:21 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: David Hi David, Honeyhart may be more readily available than the others you mentioned, can't be beat, in my estimation. If you have room, you could plant more than one, some acting as windbreaks for the others. Or, you could plant guava or Capulin cherry for windbreak for cherimoya. Good cherimoyas seem to have seedlings that are also quite good, but may vary from the parent. I have several seedlings from cherimoyas I grew from seeds, and some have been excellent. Others weren't outstanding, but still quite good. I'll pass your question along to George Emerich in Fallbrook, who is our local annona expert, for his suggestions. Also, I'll put the letter in the newsletter. Take care, Leo P.S. Come by my place when you are in the neighborhood. I am in Rancho Peasquitos, 9028 Sundance Court, and have ripe cherimoyas now. (858) 484-9280 or email, to be sure I'm home. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Newly planted sapodilla Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 09:24:18 +0200 From: "Niki Wessels" A week ago I was presented with a sapodilla (Achras or Manilkara zapota) tree that is about a metre high. I'm most excited about it, as the trees are not readily available in South Africa, and it appears to be exceptionally attractive for a plant not grown primarily for ornamental purposes. (Not to mention that the friend who took great care in finding it will kill me if I let it die!) The area where I planted the tree is reasonably well-protected against frost, with well-drained, probably slightly alkaline soil. I water the plant every evening, giving a bucketfull at a time, and it perks up by the morning - but by evening it appears somewhat wilted. We are experiencing hot late summer weather at the moment, with rain only about once a week. According to information I found on the Internet sapodillas hate being waterlogged, so I don't want to risk over-watering. How much water should I give, and how often? Niki mailto:mynah@cis.co.za ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Newly planted sapodilla Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 05:49:35 -0800 To: Niki Wessels Hi Niki, I don't know anything about the needs of a sapodilla, but I would expect that any tree that needs to have good soil drainage would do well if planted in a raised bed with loose soil and perhaps with compost, etc., to enhance the fertility. As I said, I have no experience with sapodilla, so let's hear from the others with more experience. I had one of eight marula seeds sprout. I planted all of them in moist peat moss to soften them up while deciding what to do next. I forgot about them until one came up. I've been told that sometimes they take a long time to sprout, so I haven't given up hope that some of the others will also sprout. Since I need male and female, I will need more, unless I can find scions of each to graft on my young tree. Take care, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Capulin Cherry and Wind Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 15:37:05 -0800 From: Todd Abel Leo, I bought a Capulin Cherry last weekend and planetd it out. Its actually two trees. One is a Fausto Seedling and the other is a Huachi Grande graft (onto another Fausto seedling). The Hauchi Grande is about 2ft high, and has very small fruit hanging. I am sure you can get some graft wood from it within the next year. Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com -----Original Message----- From: Leo Manuel [mailto:rarefruit@abac.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 6:00 PM To: Todd Abel Subject: Re: Capulin Cherry and Wind Hi Todd, I haven't eaten fruit from Huachi Grande. I'd talk to others who know, but the others are quite good, to my taste. If you have room, I'd try all three. If you do get Huachi Grande, I would like to someday get a piece of graftwood of it. Take care, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Atemoyas Compared - And Grafting Ideas Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 21:02:23 EST From: Ed Lin Hi Leo, When I first started learning to graft, I did put a small piece of moist towel in the plastic bag over the graft. However, they all invariably turn moldy, so I stopped doing that. Instead, I use a soda straw with an accordion (flexible) elbow to inflate each bag with my exhaled breath. I stick the bent short end inside the bag and inflate it while tightening a cut rubber band around the neck of the bag. The result is a turgid bag filled with carbon dioxide enriched air that is 100% saturated with moisture. The terminal leaf or new leaves use the carbon dioxide to photosynthesize food. This has worked very well and that's what I have been doing routinely in the past year. Assuming you have temperature in the 70-80 range, I'd expect to see bud break within 2 weeks. Some fruits like Carambola have a "delicate" flavor. Some fruits like Jakfruit and Durian are overwhelmingly rich and intense, but lacking delicacy. Yet #4826, Priestley and Gefner, to me at least, strike a beautiful balance between delicateness and richness. The #4826 ripens to a beautiful yellowish green with a prominent raspberry hue on the outside, especially between the segments. The flesh inside is creamy and PINK, sweet, and with a definite hint of raspberry. It is by far the best tasting and looking Annona I (and another friend who is very knowledgeable about Annona) have ever encountered. The Priestley ranks next and differs from the #4826 in: 1) Having a much less prominent pink hue on the skin when ripe (not as beautiful to behold) 2) Having a white flesh that is sweet-tart combo in taste with no raspberry flavor 3) Purportedly much more dependent on hand pollination According to Hal Madeen (?spelling) this is Zill's personal favorite. The Gefner ranks third with its more "ordinary" (but still delicious) Atemoya taste and pale green color when ripe. A dependable bearer without hand pollination, there is nothing I can complain about Gefner. Ed mailto:Link2itc@aol.com >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Subject: Experience with Using Potassium Chlorate to Force Longans to Flower Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 09:35:51 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" If you, particularly those who live in the States, have any experience in using potassium chlorate to force longan to flower, please write to Leo or to me and share your experience and thoughts with others who are interested in this area. Your message will be distributed to all the subscribers of Leo's excellent Rare Fruit Newsletter Online. It is known that potassium chlorate can force longan to flower out of season. However, not a lot of experiments has been carried out in the States. As far as I know, only Jonathan Crane has been doing any serious research on this, and he is finding that it is not as easy as it appears. I know that many people in the States have also tried using potassium chlorate, with results ranging from highly satisfactory to total failure. So it would appear that there are a lot of variables involved, and we are still not quite sure of the effect of each of those variables. You can help each other by share your experience and thoughts on this this. If you have any questions, I shall try to answer as well as I can. However, my experience is limited to Thailand and it may not apply to the conditions in the States. For your information, the majority of research on this is conducted in Thailand and Taiwan. China is also beginning to do research on this; Australia and Vietnam are also doing the same. I am in contact with most of these researchers. Have Fun! Sainarong Rasananda >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. None this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN200203B.txt<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rare Fruit News Online - April 1, 2002 - AKA RFN200204A.txt Notes In Passing - Leo Yellow-Skinned Hylocereus undatus: Dr. Yosef Mizrahi sent a picture of one to me. I am trying to find out where it originates and to get a cutting or seeds. It's posted on the PitayaFruit newgroup, see the photo section of http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/ Sainarong Rasananda sent several photos of pitaya growing in Thailand. Some show pitaya growing in fields. Others show large pots with pitaya treated as an ornamental. I have posted those in PitayaFruit as well, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/ in the Photo section. >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber, Australia into Permaculture Tropicals "dallas mcmillan" New Subscriber, Texas, Wants Suggestions For Austin Area "ATheivagt" New Subscriber, New Mexico, Interested in Greenhouse Rare Fruit Patricia Maas New Subscriber, San Francisco; Recommends Cloudforest.com Jeff Hirsch New Subscriber, VA, Wants To Grow Dragon Fruit/Pitaya isabella tran New Subscriber, Borrego Springs, CA (rare frost, hot summers) Rudy Waardenburg New Subscriber, Oakland, CA, Wants Suggestions New Subscriber, Encinitas Asks About Chocolate Sapote Noel Wilshusen New Subscriber, Australia: Info Sought for "Strawberry" Mango "Campbell, Steve" New Subscriber, CA, Growing Thai And Filipino Fruit Tony Christian >>>>Readers Write<<<< Babaco (papaya) Wanted - Near Russia Alex Cold Winter's Effects Todd Abel Cold Effects Here - And Quang Ong's Webpage Is Clear "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Capulin cherry "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Re: Capulin "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Re: Farming In Thailand "JOSEPH BERRY" Potassium & phosphorus mix to spray Leo Manuel To: JOSEPH BERRY Timing Of Nitrogen and Phosphorus For Fruit Sainarong Siripen Rasananda Web Site: 4hemiptera "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Coffee plants and cherries. Ted Carson Barbados Cherry ARBSFRUIT@aol.com Re: FWD: "Chocolate Sapote" "George F. Emerich" Anthracnose Affliction On Pomegranates? "David Silverstein" Re: Anthracnose Leo Manuel To: "David Silverstein" Re: Anthracnose "David Silverstein" >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Re: Smoking Longan "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" To: "Ian Crown" >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< Fruits and Nuts - Crop Information http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/crops.html Pomology Weather Services - Chilling Accumulations http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/weather/fruit-chill/chill_stations.exe Using Online Resources to Determine Your Gardening Microclimate. http://www.cloudforest.com/weather/weather_res.html The Cloudforest Cafe http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/ The Cloudforest Gardener http://cloudforest.com/ >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber, Australia into Permaculture Tropicals Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 19:07:46 +1000 From: "dallas mcmillan" Hi, My name is Dallas, I am currently planting a permaculture orchard, mostly of tropical exotics grown from seed about 15 k from the coast 20 km south of Cairns, Far north Queensland, Australia. I am planting everything I could get my hands on: Lots of sapote (all varieties), mangoes, durian, mangosteen, jackfruit, mulberry, star apple, abiu, pitaya, banana, pawpaw, and a few dozen other species in smaller numbers etc. etc. etc. My farm has about 10 years of regrowth on it, including heaps of lantana, and leukaena: a 3-5m tall leguminous tree. Most of the ground is covered by guinea grass, molasses grass and another tall sharp-bladed tropical grass. Planting is going well,especially while it rains (Newly planted seedlings don't like the 35 degree hi UV days. I intend to plant lots of legumes as ground cover: beans (mostly mung), lentils, alfalfa, and a good variety of tropical herbs and spices. Wondered if anyone had any suggestions about other ground-covers for orchards (or any other tips on things to do at this stage.) I have limited supplies of good bore water spread by a dripper irrigation system. I am after low-maintenance systems (I work full time) and solutions. Dallas ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Texas, Wants Suggestions For Austin Area Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 14:11:07 -0600 From: "ATheivagt" Hello! My name is Alice Theivagt and last year I moved from Illinois to Texas! I live in Dripping Springs, Texas just outside Austin and we are about to plant our first fruit trees. We've just purchased apple, pear, peach, and plum in order to begin a small orchard. We still need to get some soil because the hill country of Texas is filled with limestone. I've been looking for some heirloom fruit trees - and am also looking for the best type of soil for these and any fruit trees we may add to the orchard. Do you have any heirloom or old time apple varieties, or peach, pear or plum? That's where I would like to begin. Secondly, what would you suggest we think of purchasing, given the climate of the Austin area? I'm happy to find this email address! Thanks, Alice ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, New Mexico, Interested in Greenhouse Rare Fruit Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 06:00:04 -0800 From: Patricia Maas Hi, Please subscribe me to your rarefruit e-letters. My name is Pat Maas and I own Earthwalker Farm near Moriarty, NM, USA. I currently have in my greenhouse; tamarind, maui papapya, pink peruvian peppercorn, rio grapefruit, passifllora edulis, loquats, figs and a few others. I would like to grow more citrus, cloves and pretty much anything that tastes yummy and can be grown in a greenhouse. Would also like to hear from anyone that use biodynamic methods in a greenhouse for raising rare fruits. Thanks, Patricia Maas Earthwalker Farm ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, San Francisco; Recommends Cloudforest.com Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 23:32:47 -0700 From: Jeff Hirsch Hi, My name is Jeff Hirsch. I live in San Francisco, CA. I'd like to receive your newsletter. I am currently growing: cherimoya, white sapote, persimmons, figs, passionfruits, mulberry, wolfberry (Lycium), wintergreen, pumello, pineapple guava, strawberry guava, gooseberry, capulin cherry, chayote (vegetable), pepino, and huckleberries. Actually, very few things have fruited yet, as i am fairly new to this. My favorite fruit is cherimoya, followed by persimmon and mulberry. I would like to try miracle fruit and macadamia. I frequently visit Cloudforest.com, because they deal with rare fruits that do well in cool-summer areas like San Francisco. Thanks for sending the newsletter. Good luck. Jeff ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, VA, Wants To Grow Dragon Fruit/Pitaya Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 08:56:23 -0800 (PST) From: isabella tran Dear Leo & Betty Manuel: I am Isabella M Tran, in Virginia. I want to grow this dragon fruit but I don't know where I can find the seeds to the fruit. Here in Virginia, sometimes I can find it at the frozen section but not very often. I was wondering do the seeds from this dragon frozen fruit work as a seed starter? Please email me back. Also, if you know where I can email/send to or phone, please let me know. Thanks. Isabella ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Borrego Springs, CA (rare frost, hot summers) Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 12:44:25 EST From: Rudy Waardenburg My name is Rudy Waardenburg and I live in Borrego Springs. For those of you not familiar with California, Borrego is in the eastern part of San Diego County. It is a desert where summer temperatures regularly reach 110. The climate is extremely dry, and winters rarely bring frost in my location. Citrus, for example, thrive in this area. I have no "rare" fruits or fruit trees, but I am very interested in experimenting with some different varieties and am open to suggestions. My mailing address is P.O. Box 2498 Borrego Springs, CA. 92004. My e-mail is DesertFarms@aol.com. I'd also appreciate information on becoming a member of the San Diego and/or North County Chapters of California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. Looking forward to the newsletters. Thank you, Rudy Waardenburg ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Oakland, CA, Wants Suggestions Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 21:57:03 -0800 From: My name is Danny Murray. I have just finished a house in Oakland with heated concrete floors and very good light. I would like to grow some bananas maybe a cherimoya, passion fruit, and a lychee and of course a mango, mostly Thai varieties, and then with the leftover spaces orchids and gingers, so any information or propagation tips would be appreciated, also sources? I have a very difficult time finding even bamboo here. I have some coconuts doing very well, orchids. Thank you for your help. Danny ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Encinitas Asks About Chocolate Sapote Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 18:17:33 -0800 From: Noel Wilshusen My name is Noel Wilshusen, in Encinitas, California near San Diego. I do not grow any plants at this date. About three years ago I was shopping in a local market, looking for and trying new food stuffs. I found and purchased a white sapote to try. as I was checking out the clerk asked if I had ever tried the chocolate flavored sapote. Obviously not, as this was my first introduction to the fruit. I never found another Sapote in that market or any other since. I have been intrigued by the thought of a chocolate flavored sapote ever since. Obviously not obsessed as it's been three years since I had that first one. I even forgot the name for some time and found myself using the complete wrong name when asking for information about them. Well I'm back on track now and thought I woould look up information on the web, then restricted to the San Diego area. That is how I found your address. Back yard growing might be of interest in the future but for now I would like to know if it is possible to get Sapote locally. Definitely Black Sapote and perhaps other varieties to see if I care for the fruit. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Noel Wilshusen ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Australia: Info Sought for "Strawberry" Mango Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 19:15:26 +1100 From: "Campbell, Steve" I am Steve Campbell in Corindi Beach - north coast of New South Wales, Australia (sub-tropical climate) Fruit trees I am now growing are Pecan (3 varieties), Macadamia (3 varieties), Coffee, Blueberry, Yellow Mangasteen, Mango (5 varieties), Custard Apple (Annona Atemoya), Cherimoya (Annona Cherimoya), Cedar Bay Cherry, Carambola, Persimmon, Black Sapote, Orange (4 varieties), Mandarin (4 varieties), Guava or Feijoa, Lemonade, Lemon (2 varieties), Avocado (2 varieties), Grapefruit (2 varieties), Tangelo (2 varieties), Lime (3 varieties), Paw Paw (3 varieties). Comments: I was searching the net for information on a Pineapple Cherry Guava, also now as a Feijoa. I need to know the size ie height & width to decide where to plant it in my orchard. Can you help? Last year I purchased a Strawberry Mango, however I can't find any info on this variety. Perhaps it is known by another name, but the retailer is adamant that is the correct name. Thanks, Steve ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, CA, Growing Thai And Filipino Fruit Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 22:20:38 EST From: Tony Christian I am Tony Christian from West Covina, California. Currently I have the following trees: *Star fruit tree from Bangkok -"Carambola" *Guava From Bangkok - this is extremely larger than common guava seen *Chiko (Chico?) from The Philippines - "Achras zapota or zapodilla- this is not Zapote" *Jak fruit from the Philippines *Guayabano from the Philippines - "Sour sop" *Suha from Davao (Philippines) -"Pomelo" *Ume from Japan- "This is sour and bitter plum" *Apple mango *Grab apple (Crab apple?) *Fugi Apple *Asian Pear None of my trees are grafted but came from seeds from either Bangkok or the Philippines..Sour sop, Jak fruit died from termites infestation from a nearby neighbors garage. I wanted to replace these and add sweet sop (Atis) for my collection. There's a couple of tropical fruits seeds that were not successful in the course of twenty years and about a handful of them were able to grow as tall as 4 to 5 ft in height but later died either from froze bite or the severe weather condition that most of these trees could take. However, I will start to venture out again and try some seeds from the Philippines such as Tsesa, Lanzones among a few. Sorry I could not find any botanical names for these. Hope to hear some feedback from anyone.. Thanks! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Babaco (papaya) Wanted - Near Russia Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 18:32:55 +0600 From: Alex Hi Leo I'm a subscriber of your newsletter. You many times helped me, so I'm decided to write to you again. I'm in Russia and would like to have babaco plant. My friends from New Zealand sent me three cuttings, but they came to me in winter (the summer in New Zealand) when we have frosts, so I received the pouridge. You're an expert in such things, so maybe you know some source of babaco closer to Russia than New Zealand - somewhere in Europe? I'll be no end obliged to you. I also wonder if there are some people growing babaco or papaya commercialy in a greenhouse. Alex ------------------------------------------------ From: "Todd Abel" Subject: Cold Winter's Effects Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 09:22:16 -0800 Leo, Yes we had a light frost here in Orange in February. My Banana that is fruiting had only a couple leaves damaged and held its fruit. A small Banana had all leaves but one killed, and its actually leafing out again, so no harm. My dwarf Papaya had no damage and all the fruit was OK, but my Hawaiian Papayas look not so good. My Manilla mango held its fruit also. The most interesting plant was the Wax Jambu. I got it from Ben Poirier in September, and its grafted onto Rose apple and only one foot high. He suggested that I keep it in the container for the first winter and bring it in. Unfortunately my impatience made me plant it right away in the ground. It did not grow. In December we had a hail storm, and the plant was down from 12 leaves to 5 tattered leaves. The warm January greened the remaining leaves a little, only to be killed by the frost in February. With one sick leaf left, I began to ponder what would fill the empty space after the Wax Jambu died all together. But it did not die, and has numerous leaf buds on the plant right now. I think this was a real test for the hardiness of the Wax Jambu and compatibleness with Rose Apple root stock. I think the Wax Jambu will flourish this summer, and its lazy owner may try to protect it more this winter. Todd Abel Orange, CA 92867 mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Cold Effects Here - And Quang Ong's Webpage Is Clear Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 21:33:02 -0800 From: "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Wow, the picture is beautiful at Quang's website. Everything is bright and clear! I am using MS IE and AT&T cable. Bananas and cold! The musas Kru, Blue Java Ice Cream and Iholeni, or Iloheni? at the Arches restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach and at his home 1 mile north of there are looking raggedy because of the winds, but they're doing fine. So is the little papaya I left in front of the Arches. Mine, Blue Javas and super dwarf Cavendish, in No. Tustin, look "puny". They're small ones, but I think they'll make it. On the other hand, the pepper plants wintered over well and so did Matt's Wild Cherry tomato, still ripening tomatoes. */;-D Amy ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Capulin cherry Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 22:34:08 -0800 From: "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Leo, Where can I buy a capulin cherry in Orange County, Calif.? Thanks, Amy ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Capulin Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 19:27:18 -0800 From: "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Thanks guys. I was told that my grandchildren might be disappointed in the taste of the Capulin. They wanted a cherry tree like they saw in Lancaster, but I told them it didn't get cold enough for them here in No. Tustin, Orange County. So I guess I'll go for the Surinam and R. Meyer says he has those, also the black Surinam (a shrub?). Do you know which would be more flavorful? Do I need 2 to pollinate? Thanks Again, Amy ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Farming In Thailand Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 10:31:04 +0700 From: "JOSEPH BERRY" Hi Leo and Betty, Wife, Fai, is still needing to be looked after so I'm flat out, as my 5 year old daughter has started school holidays as well so I'm not going to have much time for going on line for a while. Perhaps I'll need to try and get out of bed earlier. Couple of days ago while watering the dragon fruit I noticed they have started to bud which caused much excitment as in the past couple of years they didn't start budding until the end of April. I think this was caused by the fact that I reduced the light by using black shade cloth and now I've installed a light coloured green and also raised its height a metre. My plants are looking better than they ever have. By using the dark shade cloth I think I had reduced the growing season by 2 months. Not long after I put these plants I came across a photo of the fruit being grown in Israel and it seemed to be covered by black shade cloth and as I was having problems with sun burn it seemedto be the correct thing to do. Now I'm using the lighter cloth, 60/40, which is proving to be a better choice. Every new discovery creates a little bit of excitement at our house We also have a new variety of mango called maha janook and we have 9 trees producing this year and these will sell well as we are the first in the area to have these and Thai folks will be keen to try. I'm not sure what you mean by ''self pollinating ''. I don't need to hand polinate and just leave it up to the insects. I'm now answering a letter you sent me before we wet to the hospital and didn't get time to do so before. About the red pitayas I've not seen these here in Thailand but they were being sold in shops in Australia when I was there in 2000 but the taste was very bland and I was not so impressed by the colour. The bland taste may have been because Aussie growers had not yet got the hang of growing them. Sainarong tells me that using nitrogen at the time of flowering will produce a bland fruit. Thinking that we would not be flowering until next month I aplied 15-15-15 a few days before I noticed the new buds. I'm trying to compensate for this by spraying potasium and phosphorus mix to the ariel roots. This mix is said to sweeten the fruit and needs to be applied every 7 days. in a couple of weeks I'm going to apply potassium to the ground. I figure it might be good for me to write about experiences growing dragon fruit over the past 3 years and will try to get that together on my microsoft word and then email it to you but this might rtake me a few weeks. since meeting up with you my knowledge of the fruit has improved out of sight and I'm grateful for that. To you and Betty many thanks. Regards Joe Bahn Noy ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Potassium & phosphorus mix to spray Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 05:52:09 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: JOSEPH BERRY Hi Joe, I am interested in the potassium and phorphorus mix you will use to spray. Can you describe the contents and the way you mix it? Is it potassium phosphate? What company manufactures it, in case it is one available outside of Thailand. Take care, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Timing Of Nitrogen and Phosphorus For Fruit Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 15:19:07 -0800 From: Sainarong Siripen Rasananda (Following is an approximation of a letter from Sainarong) For fruits in general: Nitrogen at flowering time helps strengthen the flower provided that the nitrogen is not so excessive that it causes the flowers to fall off in favor of leaves. Nitrogen is also required when the fruit is still very small as it helps fruit growth, with the same caveat as above. During the middle fruit development period, nitrogen is still required, but to a lesser amount. During the fruit maturation period, nitrogen should not be applied for the reason Joe wrote. Phosphorus is required throughout the entire period in the usual amount. Potassium is required in increasingly greater amount during the entire fruit development period. The largest amount is required during the fruit maturation period as potassium presumably assist in the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar - in Thailand, potassium chloride (0-0-60) is often called the sweet fertiliser. Again, I must repeat that I am writing about fruits in general. For Joe Berry's fertilizer of potassium and phosphorus, I am fairly sure that the fertiliser Joe is referring to is potassium monophosphate, commonly known as 0-52-34. I think that it is the potassium which is the important ingredient here; it speeds up the maturation process of the leaves, and thereby making it ready for flowering earlier than would be the case otherwise. So, briefly, nitrogen promotes growth, of both leaves and fruits, and flowers as well; however, if excess nitrogen is added, leaf growth will displace flower and fruit growth and can result in flower and fruit drop - highly undeisrable. Potassium hastens the maturation period of the leaves and enable the trees to flower earlier than usual in some case. Sainarong ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Web Site: 4hemiptera Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 20:07:45 -0800 From: "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Wow, Leo, beautiful!? pics and I'll bet these bugs don't stop at the Orange County line. ;-D Could be useful for reference. I found the horrible Keeled Treehopper that proliferates on my tomatoes here http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/~pjbryant/biodiv/hemipt/index.htm ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Coffee plants and cherries. Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 19:24:20 -0500 From: Ted Carson Dear Leo: This is Ted Carson in Valrico Florida. I currently grow plums, lemons, oranges, Tangerines, grapes, avocado, and many vegetables. Looking for information on growing coffee. Coffee arabica seems to be the single choice for the area. Any one have any ideas for other varieties, and sources? The temp here gets to as low as 27 (rarely) and as hot as 104+ (rarely). Dry much of the year, but plenty of water available. Soils is sandy and poor. Use lots of fertilizer. PH is high, but we bring it down with sulfur. Any one with information or ideas, I would appreciate it. Why grow coffee? Why not? Though I have not written before, I enjoy your news letter very much. I would like to grow some cherries but, that seems to be a rather uncertain undertaking in this area. If someone in the area has been successful I would appreciate knowing the variety and the source. Ted Carson Valrico, Florida ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Barbados Cherry Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 20:46:06 EST From: ARBSFRUIT@aol.com Hi Leo, do you have any idea where l can purchase a fruiting size arceola "Barbados Cherry tree" and maybe also a "Miracle Fruit bush" ?.. Lou Arbolida mailto:arbsfruit@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: FWD: "Chocolate Sapote" Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 09:02:54 -0800 From: "George F. Emerich" Leo: I have four trees of Black Sapote (Diospyros digyna) of several varieties. They bloom in July and August and ripen the following June and July if everything is on schedule. I never heard of them being called 'chocolate sapote' but various names are used in various places such as 'chocolate persimmon' and 'chocolate pudding fruit'. Some people consider all fruit in the genus Diospyros (Ebanaceae family), persimmons so the 'chocolate persimmon' name is appropriate. Incidentally, it takes a pretty vivid imagination to attribute the taste of chocolate to the Black Sapote although it is colored correctly. It is not even a distant relative of the White Sapote (Casimiroa edulis) which is in the Rutaceae family along with all of the Citrus genus. As you know, I also have about 15 White Sapote trees whose crop peaks in October but a few may be ripening almost any time of the year. We sell all of this stuff at our place when it is available. George ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Anthracnose Affliction On Pomegranates? Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 23:54:34 -0800 From: "David Silverstein" Leo: I've got a question I'd like to float in the newsletter if you think its appropriate. Its this. I'm growing out 5 pomegranate and 3 fig varieties I got from USDA this spring as cuttings. I've got several of each kind in pots outside. Some of the pomegranates have sprouted little sprays of leaves that are still red and light green. Things seemed to be going well. Then I noticed today that one of the pomegranates had a couple of leaves on a couple of these little leaf clusters that looked burnt black. Some of the leaflets were just burnt toward the end and some were burnt entirely. It was not all the leaf clusters, just a couple. But I did not feel like taking chances. The affected cutting is one from Azerbaijan that I'd really like to see pull through. Do you think this is Anthracnose? I took no chances. I pulled off the affected leaflet clusters and sprayed all cuttings with daconil. Is this the right approach? I could be over reacting, but I lost a bunch of USDA cuttings to a mysterious withering malady last year. I look forward to any feedback. Thanks in advance. David Silverstein ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Anthracnose Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 05:48:15 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: "David Silverstein" Hi David, I have never had problems with any pomegranates. What is daconil? Is it possible that a drifting spray of 'Roundup' or some other herbicide may have affected it? I doubt that anthracnose is the problem. Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Anthracnose Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 20:05:49 -0800 From: "David Silverstein" Hi, Leo. Daconil is trade name for Chlorothalonil. It is fungicide that I've seen recomended for anthracnose and I've used it to substantially slow early blight in tomatoes. Again, I wouldn't even worry about it except that it happened before with USDA pomegranate cuttings. It never happened with other pomegranate cuttings. I don't think it could be herbicide spray around here. Maybe its too much sun. We'll watch and see. David >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Subject: Re: Smoking Longan Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 14:59:54 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" To: "Ian Crown" Ian Crown from Puerto Rico writes: I went through all your information on the use of KClO3 and had one more question about longan flowering. Is there any info on the use and effectiveness of smoke to trigger flowering the way they do in other fruits? I know work has been done on mango and in PR, they even use it on coffee to synchronize the flowering. But on longan? It would be similar to an application of Ethrel or any ethylene stimulator. Any idea? Sainarong answers: Before the advent of potassium chlorate, some people in Thailand have tried smoking longan. No scientific experiment was carried out, at least none that I know of. Fruit growers tell me that it does work to a certain extent. However, the problem is that if you are not careful, you may create a fire, which is obviously highly damaging. I think people conclude that, although it is feasible, it is not commercially advisable. The idea is interesting, though. I think that someone should try it out, see what happen and tell the others. Have Fun, but don't burn yourself! Sainarong >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Fruits and Nuts - Crop Information Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 05:54:49 -0800 From: Leo Manuel http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/crops.html Fruits & Nuts Almond Citrus Lychee Pecan Apple Coconut Macadamia Persimmon Apricot Coffee Mango Pineapple Avocado Date Nectarine Pistachio Banana Feijoa Olive Plum Blueberry Fig Papaya Pomegranate Breadfruit Gooseberry Passion fruit Prune Cacao Grape Pawpaw Quince Cashew Guava Peach Raspberry Cherimoya Hazelnut Peach - Cling Strawberry Cherry - Sweet Kiwifruit Pear - Asian Walnut Chestnut Loquat Pear - European Fruits & Nuts - by growing region * Fruits and nuts are commonly classified by temperate, subtropical and tropical growing regions. Growing region and environmental conditions specific to each region significantly affect fruit quality. Temperate Subtropical Tropical Almond Avocado (Prunus Dulcis (Persea Banana (Mill.) Webb) americana) (Musa acuminata) Apple Cherimoya (Malus Domestica (Annona Breadfruit Borkh.) cherimola) (Artocarpus altilis) Apricot (Prunus armeniaca Citrus Cacao L.) (Citrus spp.) (Theobroma cacao) Blueberry Date Cashew (Vaccinium (Phoenix (Anacardium occidentalis) dactylifera L.) occidentale) Cherry (sweet) Fig Coconut (Prunus Avium L.) (Ficus carica) (Cocos nucifera) Chestnut Kiwifruit Coffee (Castanea spp.) (Actinidia (Coffea arabica) chinensis) Cling Peach Loquat Feijoa (Prunus persica) (Eriobotrya (Acca sellowiana) japonica) Nectarine (Prunus persica var. Olive Guava nucipersica (Ait.) (Olea europaea) (Psidium guajava) Maxim.) Gooseberry Persimmon Lychee (Ribes spp.) (Diospyros spp.) (Litchi chinensis) Grape Pistachio Macadamia (Vitis spp.) (Pistachia vera) (Macadamia intregrifolia) Hazelnut Pomegranate Mango (Corylus avellana) (Punica (Mangifera indica) granatum) Pawpaw Papaya (Asimina triloba) (Cariaca papaya) Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Passion Fruit Batsch) (Passiflora edulis) Pear(Asian) Pineapple (Pyrus spp.) (Ananas comosus(L.) Merr.) Pear(European) (Pyrus spp.) Pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wang.) Koch.) Plum (Prunus spp.) Prune (Prunus spp.) Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa Duch.) Quince (Cydonia oblonga) Walnut (Juglans spp.) Botanical Information * Many fruit belong to the Rosaceae family: Malus spp. (apples), Prunus spp. (apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach, plums, prune, sloe), Cydonia (quince), Pyrus (pear), Eriobotrya (loquat), Rubus (blackberry, boysenberry, loganberry, raspberry), Fragaria (strawberry), nuts (Prunus - almond). The Juglandaceae family includes valuable sources of edible nuts (walnut, pecan), and the Anacardiaceae family includes pistachio, cashew and mango. More family descriptions courtesy of the University of Kansas. Pesticides & Alternatives * Dormant Spray Alternatives Calculator - UC IPM * Reducing the impact of dormant sprays - Barry Wilson, Environmental Toxicology, UCD * Fungicide Timing and Efficacy for Deciduous Fruit and Nut Tree Crops and Grapevines, 2000, select "Special Publication." - Beth Teviotdale, Plant Pathology, UCD Weather-related * Chilling Unit Accumulations - UC Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center * Harvest Prediction Module for peaches, plums, and nectarines - Ben Mimoun & Ted DeJong, Pomology, UCD * PestCast Research Weather Database - UC IPM * Run models, using degree-days - UC IPM * Calculate degree-days - UC IPM ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Pomology Weather Services - Chilling Accumulations Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 05:56:35 -0800 From: Leo Manuel http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/weather/fruit-chill/chill_stations.exe Chilling Unit Accumulations Chilling unit accumulations are provided from November 1 through March 30 - the usual dormant season for California's tree fruit and nut crops. Hourly temperatures are downloaded nightly for more than 100 CIMIS weather stations. The table below reflects accumulated chilling units using three calculation methods: below 45F, between 32F and 45F, and the Utah model. * To retrieve daily and historical chilling units, select a station name, below. Then specify calculation method and dates on the following pages. * If you need information about the location of a station, select a county name. A county map will be displayed, showing this symbol [ red circle ] to designate a CIMIS weather station. Chilling Unit Accumulations: Nov. 1, 2001 through Mar. 21, 2002 Link to county names: A B C E F G I K L M N O R S T V Y County StationStation Units Units Units Name Number Name < 45F32-45FUtah Model Alameda 149 Oakland Foothills 738 722 1,355.0 171 Union City 1,873 691 604.0 Butte 012 Durham 948 867 1,542.5 Colusa 032 Colusa 921 844 1,554.0 Contra Costa 047 Brentwood 906 879 1,613.0 170 Concord 901 823 1,404.5 065 Walnut Creek 786 781 1,682.0 El Dorado 013 Camino 1,684 1,508 1,968.0 Fresno 007 Firebaugh/Telles 1,083 950 1,449.0 002 FivePoints/WSFS USDA 1,157 1,002 1,351.0 080 Fresno State 1,130 1,025 1,507.0 142 Orange Cove 1,303 1,138 1,512.5 124 Panoche 1,047 956 1,528.0 039 Parlier 1,168 1,065 1,481.5 105 Westlands 1,128 964 1,380.5 Glenn 061 Orland 994 935 1,667.0 Imperial 041 Calipatria/Mulberry 913 833 205.5 087 Meloland 645 635 5.5 072 Palo Verde 582 576 -71.0 128 Salton Sea East 582 576 -71.0 127 Salton Sea West 128 128 -687.0 068 Seeley 747 694 -140.5 Inyo 035 Bishop 2,288 1,160 1,016.0 Kern 125 Arvin-Edison 1,060 991 1,259.5 146 Belridge 1,080 988 1,353.5 054 Blackwells Corner 1,052 962 1,223.0 138 Famoso 1,218 1,129 1,450.0 172 Lost Hills NW 1,155 1,017 1,246.0 005 Shafter/USDA 1,298 1,291 1,424.5 Kings 021 Kettleman 895 872 1,176.5 015 Stratford 1,256 1,064 1,400.5 County StationStation Units Units Units Name Number Name < 45F32-45FUtah Model Lassen 057 Buntingville 2,803 1,528 1,443.5 Los Angeles 082 Claremont 689 676 866.5 133 Glendale 631 628 942.5 174 Long Beach 610 603 426.0 159 Monrovia 494 494 479.5 078 Pomona 735 718 782.5 099 Santa Monica 92 92 112.0 Madera 145 Madera 1,398 1,189 1,668.0 Marin 063 Novato 1,124 992 1,530.5 Mendocino 085 Hopland FS 1,301 1,175 1,838.5 106 Sanel Valley 1,294 1,070 1,624.5 Merced 092 Kesterson 1,173 1,035 1,541.5 056 Los Banos 1,020 920 1,449.0 148 Merced 1,206 1,050 1,524.0 Modoc 090 Alturas 2,926 1,428 1,223.0 Monterey 114 Arroyo Seco 964 859 1,279.0 019 Castroville 708 681 1,396.0 113 King City-Oasis Rd. 1,211 1,050 1,400.0 129 Pajaro 716 680 1,295.0 116 Salinas North 727 721 1,371.5 089 Salinas South 866 827 1,458.0 Napa 109 Carneros 1,002 910 1,428.0 077 Oakville 952 887 1,391.0 Orange 075 Irvine 393 389 543.5 Riverside 135 Blythe NE 863 792 390.5 118 Cathedral City 285 285 -197.0 162 Indio 431 431 -307.0 176 La Quinta 571 565 -279.0 136 Oasis 216 216 -479.5 175 Palo Verde II 983 814 345.5 151 Ripley 935 863 525.0 154 Salton Sea North 65 65 -834.5 062 Temecula 363 360 389.5 137 Temecula East II 1,091 1,029 899.0 044 U.C. Riverside 484 484 515.0 County StationStation Units Units Units Name Number Name < 45F32-45FUtah Model Sacramento 131 Fair Oaks 831 796 1,507.0 140 Twitchell Island 1,000 946 1,715.5 San Benito 126 San Benito 1,036 931 1,431.5 143 San Juan Valley 1,047 937 1,426.5 San Bernardino 134 Barstow NE 1,237 1,024 1,064.5 117 Victorville 1,520 1,128 1,223.0 San Diego 153 Escondido SPV 929 813 686.5 173 La Jolla 62 61 640.0 150 Miramar 439 438 587.5 049 Oceanside 996 823 438.0 147 Otay Lake 546 546 660.5 066 San Diego 789 646 375.0 San Joaquin 042 Lodi 918 844 1,485.5 166 Lodi West 1,045 969 1,670.5 070 Manteca 918 844 1,485.5 San Luis Obispo 163 Atascadero 1,388 1,069 1,305.5 052 San Luis Obispo 570 567 1,008.5 160 San Luis Obispo West 777 768 1,185.5 Santa Barbara 088 Cuyama 1,718 1,282 1,349.0 094 Goleta Foothills 64 64 37.5 120 Guadalupe 0 0 0.0 107 Santa Barbara 341 341 620.0 064 Santa Ynez 1,182 976 1,047.0 165 Sisquoc 987 961 1,241.0 Santa Clara 132 Morgan Hill 1,421 970 1,397.0 069 San Jose 660 651 1,209.0 Santa Cruz 104 De Laveaga 877 847 1,589.0 111 Green Valley Road 952 873 1,368.5 177 Watsonville West 686 676 1,638.5 Shasta 043 McArthur 2,884 1,786 1,484.5 Siskiyou 091 Tulelake FS 2,995 1,438 1,175.0 County StationStation Units Units Units Name Number Name < 45F32-45FUtah Model Solano 121 Dixon 1,003 912 1,600.0 122 Hastings Tract 969 890 1,602.5 123 Suisun Valley 970 889 1,558.0 139 Winters 866 803 1,500.5 Sonoma 144 Petaluma East 1,163 1,040 1,639.5 083 Santa Rosa 1,203 1,072 1,593.0 164 Valley of the Moon 1,099 978 1,570.5 103 Windsor 991 884 1,271.5 Stanislaus 071 Modesto 1,246 1,068 1,700.5 161 Patterson 1,087 1,025 1,787.0 Sutter 030 Nicolaus 1,017 906 1,578.5 Tehama 008 Gerber 1,011 939 1,670.0 Tulare 086 Lindcove 1,145 1,060 1,419.0 169 Porterville 1,382 1,213 1,478.5 033 Visalia/ICI Americas 1,209 1,123 1,483.0 Ventura 152 Camarillo 502 497 386.0 101 Piru 634 620 617.5 Yolo 155 Bryte 793 779 1,583.0 006 Davis 960 912 1,650.5 027 Zamora 983 920 1,624.0 Yuba 084 Browns Valley 772 746 1,495.5 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Using Online Resources to Determine Your Gardening Microclimate. Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 05:57:50 -0800 From: Leo Manuel http://www.cloudforest.com/weather/weather_res.html ------------------------------------------------ Subject: The Cloudforest Cafe Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 06:20:24 -0800 From: Leo Manuel http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/ ------------------------------------------------ Subject: The Cloudforest Gardener Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 06:27:28 -0800 http://cloudforest.com/ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. None this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN2000204A.txt<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rare Fruit News Online - April 15, 2002 - AKA RFN2000204B.txt <><><><> Notes In Passing - Leo <><><><> For the moment, my 'real' email address, leom@rarefruit.com is working again. I'd suggest trying it first, and if problems arise, use the alternates rarefruit@abac.com or leo92129@yahoo.com. "Spring Has Sprung! (The BurmaShave ditty continued.... The Grass Has Riz, Where Last Year's Careless Drivers Is" Mango trees blooming with a few pea sized fruit on a very few trees. Some apples are larger than a pigeon's egg. There's even a light sprinkle of rain this morning, April 15. PitayaFruit (Yahoo) Newsgroup has 27 members. There are pictures in the Photo section and articles in the Files section that should be of considerable interest and utility to those interested in fruit of pitaya, pitahaya, Dragon Fruit, .... >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber, Los Angeles, A Shipper Of Specialty Fruits Jim New Subscriber, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Brett Portman New Subscriber, Las Vegas, Nevada - With Surprising Climate Starfarmer New Subscriber, Pennsylvania: Grow Mangoes In Containers? Scott & Lorena Breneman >> Readers Write << Canary Islands 'In Vitro' Propagation Of Various Cacti Juan M. Laulh Avocado Pest ? Edward & Althia Musgrave UC Davis List of Tropical Fruit Eunice Messner Re: Rare Fruit News Online - April 1, 2002 - 5 Lisa Pitaya Questions in Guam Regina Ragan Re: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... Regina Ragan Re: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... Leo Manuel To: Regina Ragan Re: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... Regina Ragan Re: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... Leo Manuel To: Regina Ragan Re: Feijoa (Acca) sellowiana As A Tropical Fruit Eunice Messner To: Leo Manuel Re: Pomegranates To: Re: pomegranates bentleye To: Re: pomegranates andrew@acequity.com.au To: bentleye Polyembryony Juan A. Rivero A New Zealand award for one of RFNO members Sainarong Siripen Rasananda Bananas As Container Plants? Nan Sterman >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Tropical Lychees Sainarong Siripen Rasananda To: Mark Re: Potassium chlorate Sainarong Siripen Rasananda To: Mark Update on Longan in Thailand Latest Sainarong Siripen Rasananda RE: Update on Longan in Thailand Latest Jonathan H. Crane >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< Permaculture News April, 2002 Elfpermacl@aol.com >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm ARS Method Shows Promise for Decontaminating Groundwater David Elstein, (301) 504-1654, delstein@ars.usda.gov >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber, Los Angeles, A Shipper Of Specialty Fruits Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 09:45:04 -0800 From: "Jim" I am interested in receiving your newsletter. I am not a grower but a shipper in Los Angeles of Specialty fruits and veg. Thanks, Jim Ptaszenski mailto:jim@seashorewest.com Seashore West, Inc. 1321B Wholesale Street Los Angeles, CA ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia From: "Brett Portman" To: rarefruit@abac.com Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 13:49:39 -0400 I would like to subscribe to Rare Fruit News On Line. Name: Brett Portman Live: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Growing: nothing at the moment Brett Portman mailto:airenwei@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------ From: "Starfarmer" Subject: New Subscriber, Las Vegas, Nevada - With Surprising Climate Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 19:53:42 -0700 Hello, I'm writing to become part of this round-robin thing. I'm currently a member of the Rarefruit group on Yahoo! and I used to be a member of CRFG. My name is Lenadams Dorris...in case you're wondering a) I'm a man and b) my adopted mother made it up in an attempt to make me feel "part of the family" (her father's name was Adam, and her husband's name was Leonard; she added the "s" because "otherwise it sounds too foreign". Heh!) On less down-to-earth online activities I sometimes go by the moniker "starfarmer", but here let's just call me Len. I'm 42 years old and live in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the northeast corner of North America's Mojave desert. Vegas is my hometown, but I've lived in many other places before returning. In years past I've worked in the corporate world as the marketing VP for a chain of nurseries. I've also owned my own "boutique" nursery and a "garden caf" (replete with an outdoor stage wreathed in "Incense" passionflower, climbing "Betty Prior" roses, jasmine potato vine, Cape plumbago, pineapple guavas, pomegranates, tropical morning glories, climbing aloe and four different Campsis cultivars. And that's just the *stage*!) but I closed the caf at the end of 2000. My actual profession is that of a writer; I've written for various horticultural magazines, general interest mags and several guide books, and I've been the restaurant critic for a local paper for the last six years. In addition I've spent the last two years homeschooling my daughter, who has just recently left for higher education on the east coast. Once upon a time the house was full of grandparents, parents, kids and lovers, but these days it's just me and the dogs and cats and birds. For so long I either owned a public garden in which I could play out my plant fantasies, or I owned a nursery where I was surrounded by plants every working hour. In either case I never did much gardening-wise at home, but now I find myself gearing up to realize the true potential of this suburban lot, with its many microclimates. If you're a westerner you're familiar with Sunset's Western Garden Book. Sunset says Vegas is "zone 11", a horrible zone in which nothing but cactus and windbreak trees survive. If you believed the book, you would think the ostentatious palm and tropical gardens of the big resorts were annual, replanted fresh each windy spring after each devastating winter. The truth is that while we are not as frost-free as Palm Springs, Phoenix or San Diego we share many climatic similarities with all three (surprisingly, more with San Diego than the other two because Vegas is like coastal California a winter-rain Mediterranean climate...we just get one-sixth the rain and often somewhat hotter and colder because we lack the moderating ocean influence). We can pretty much grow anything Sunset lists as suitable for zones 9,12 and 18, and a surprising number of those zoned for zones 8, 13 and 19. I'm just getting back into growing fruits and have a decent amount of rooms to work with. Right now all I have is a dwarfed Valencia orange, a Rajapuri banana, a Flame grape, a Mexican guava, a Mexican oregano bush, a thornless boysenberry, some arrowroot and some taro (I mean in the way of fruits...there are lots of other plants mixed in!) My major interest in rare fruits: I am looking to collect unique varieties of temperate, subtropical and tropical fruits that have been bred or found to do well in an intense desert climate, especially those varieties that can stand a degree or two of frost in such a climate (strangely, things that have frozen in Florida and Texas have been undamaged here at the same degree and duration of frost; we believe it is a function of soil and air moisture). For example, for years I have read of relatively hardy mango and avocado varieties in India, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt that perform well in intense heat and less than delightful soil. Unfortunately I have never been able to track them down. Then there's the variety of pistachio from Kermanshah, Iran that produces delicious nuts fully twice the size of those available in the U.S. Years ago I actually had an arrangement for a transfer of bud wood from that variety, but a sudden change in the political climate aborted that possibility, and I have even lost track of the university professor who was to send it to me. I have also read accounts of citrus varieties bred in or proven in desert climates in Spain, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Australia and Latin America. The problem has been that even if I have been able to track such things down, getting hold of suitable material for reproduction has generally been impossible. Perhaps there are member of this list who live in the US and have collected some of these varieties who would be willing to share. So that's enough for now. I'm looking forward to learning a lot! Len mailto:starfarmer@radiant.org P.S. My homepage is ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Pennsylvania: Grow Mangoes In Containers? Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 11:37:23 EDT From: Scott & Lorena Breneman Hello, My nameis Scott Breneman and I live near Lancaster, PA. I am trying to grow indoors: mango, papaya, passionfruit, sugar apple, starfruit, and kiwi. I would like to hear of other attempts to grow mangoes outside of their normal range in containers and if they were successful. Scott & Lorena Breneman mailto:buretachi@juno.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Canary Islands 'In Vitro' Propagation Of Various Cacti Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 11:11:47 +0100 From: "Juan M. Laulh" Dear Leo, Thanks, as always for The Rare Fruits News Online. Please note my new E-Mail: bandama@canaldirecto.com After a year waiting for the permits, we will begin to develop new installations and a new improved "in vitro" lab. Our useful cactus collection is growing and we are receiving new fruit, fodder and nopalitos varieties from Texas, Mexico, Argentina and Chile. Regarding Hylocereus (pitayas), our collection is still very small, but we have had very good results propagating those "in vitro". We will try to collect new varieties this year. Please visit our webs: www.agrodesierto.com www.xerics.com Thanks and nice regards, Juan Manuel mailto:bandama@canaldirecto.com Laulh Canary Islands, NW Africa ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Avocado Pest ? Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 07:39:59 -0500 From: "Edward & Althia Musgrave" Hi Leo I have a problem with my Avacado leaves. Every year around early spring my avacados get a small bug on the undersides of leaves just as the new leaves and flowers appear Which causes the leaves to turn yellow and drop and I loose my fruit for that year. I have used various sprays to no avail. What is this and what do I do to stop this. Can I use a systemic on edible fruit and still eat it ? Ed mailto:eamusg@quixnet.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: UC Davis List of Tropical Fruit Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 08:34:03 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner Leo... Did you notice that Fejoia (Acca) sellowiana was listed in the tropical fruit category? Although it is from Brazil and Argentina, here in California it does its best in Northern Califoria. We can grow it well in our subtropical area where it will tolerate some shade. But, it really does best with colder winters. Be interesting to know the resason it was listed as tropical. Eunice Messner mailto:eunicemessner@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Rare Fruit News Online - April 1, 2002 - 5 Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 14:02:20 EST From: Lisa Hi, Leo; I am curious as to why my name was never mentioned at a new subscriber? I joined in Feb2002-and my question did not appear in any of your news online. I have a small lychee nut tree (about 3' tall) what can I do to promote it's growth? I live in Florida, Thank you, Lisa Duncan mailto:Iam875@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Pitaya Questions in Guam Date: Mon, 01 Apr 2002 07:50:19 +1000 From: "Regina Ragan" Dear Leo, I have four, 5-inch high patichayas (sp?) growing. It's a cactus! Anyway, I am wondering how to grow these. They are cactuses but they grow in Thailand which is tropical, so do they need a lot of water? And what kind of soil and conditions do they grow under? I'm in Guam which is also tropical. I can't seem to find these in any of my books. What is their botanical name? Thanks. Gina Ragan - Guam mailto:ginaragan@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... Date: Mon, 01 Apr 2002 09:21:45 +1000 From: "Regina Ragan" Thank you for the information. I joined the Pitaya group. I've never had success with cactus, maybe this time. From the pictures, it looks like I'll have to provide support. Thanks again. Gina mailto:ginaragan@hotmail.com | From: Leo Manuel | To: Regina Ragan | Subject: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... | Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 14:14:34 -0800 | | Hi Regina, | | Hylocereus undatus is probably the botanical name for the pitaya | you have. If you look for them by that name, or by either pitaya | or pitahaya or dragon fruit, you will probably find a lot of information. | I like to use "http://www.google.com" to search for information. | | They don't require a lot of water. | | You might visit the PitayaFruit webpage, see | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/ | for pictures and information to read. If you join and ask questions | of other readers, you will learn a lot. | | Leo. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 15:40:17 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Regina Ragan Hi Regina, Some people let them climb up in trees. I like to keep them trimmed to have no side branches until they are at whatever convenient height you want to pick the fruit. Then don't let them get too tall. If you have space, you can put up poles and a wire, like a clothes line, about five feet high. Put the four pitaya plants between the end posts, train each one up to the wire, and let them hang over the wire. Maybe have two wires at the top for them to drape over. But don't let them branch out until they reach the top of the wires, then cut them off so they will branch out at that level. They will fruit better if they are hanging down. Do you know where your plants came from? Some pitayas require a different one for pollination, when they bloom. You can use pollen from the cactus orchid epiphyllum, if you or one of your friends have it, at the time your pitaya blooms. They usually take a few years to bear, if they were planted from seed. Those grown from cuttings taken from older plants bloom sooner. Good luck, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 21:28:43 +1000 From: "Regina Ragan" Thanks. I got them from a fruit in Thailand when I was there. So should I cut off the two little branches that the six inch high one has? I potted them in cactus mix, but my ground soil is red clay. Sorry for bothering you with this, I know you're busy with all the other emails you get from the fruitgrowers group. Then should I plant them where they are to grow or just keep potting them up in bigger and bigger pots until they get to size where I won't be able to handle them? Thanks again. Gina mailto:ginaragan@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Pitaya, probably Hylocereus undatus, ... Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 05:25:06 -0800 From: Leo Manuel To: Regina Ragan Hi Gina, I would remove the two little branches, and if you want to root them, first cut the branch off just above where it joins the parent plant. Second, let the cuts air dry for a few days, Third, put the cut pieces in a almost-dry soil or sand or perlite mix. Fourth, after a few (maybe as many as four or even more) weeks, lift up the baby plants to see if there are any roots forming. Fifth, after roots emerge and are 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length, put the young plants in a separate small pot. Probably the two little plants on a six-inch tall plant will be too small and tender to root. If so, they will probably rot. I keep all of my pitayas in pots. Their roots are not deep, so you can keep them in clay or plastic pots. The height of my pots for the larger plants is about 2 feet (2/3 meter) and the diameter is about the same, or a little less. Use whatever you have, but if you will be lifting them, keep the weight of the pot and soil light. You may want to use a cactus potting mix. Epiphyllum and pitaya are very similar, and if you know what soil is used for epiphyllum, you can use the same for pitaya. The soil should drain well, and water one to two times per week. Too much water in cool weather will sometimes cause the plant to rot at the root. If you look at the photos in PitayaFruit, you will see that in Thailand they are sometimes raised as ornamentals, and in pots. The cactus mix can be made more light weight by adding perlite, say one-fourth, by volume or less perlite to three-fourths cactus mix. I'm just learning about pitaya so my answers should be compared to what you learn elsewhere. Take care, Leo in San Diego, California ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Feijoa (Acca) sellowiana As A Tropical Fruit Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 17:24:31 -0800 (PST) From: Eunice Messner To: Leo Manuel Leo... Hortus says it grows in the warm dry areas of S. Brazil, N. Argentina. Urguay, Paraguay. I have read it will take cold down to 17 degrees. Eunice mailto:eunicemessner@yahoo.com |--- Leo Manuel wrote: | |Hi Eunice, | |Do you know at what altitude they grow in Brazil and Argentina? | |Thanks for writing, and we'll see what the readership thinks | |Leo | |Eunice Messner wrote: || || ||Leo... || ||Did you notice that Feijoa (Acca) sellowiana was listed in the ||tropical fruit category? Although it is from Brazil and ||Argentina, here in California it does its best in Northern ||Califoria. We can grow it well in our subtropical area where it ||will tolerate some shade. But, it really does best with colder ||winters. || ||Be interesting to know the resason it was listed as tropical. || ||Eunice Messner ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Pomegranates From: Andrew To: David Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 9:54 PM David - I got your address from Leo's Rare Fruit list. I have a pomegranate orchard in Australia and had a similar situation to yours - it's very common. Although pomegranates are very hardy, they are also very demonstrative of anything wrong. In this case there are various possible causes. One is obviously frost burn on the new shoots. Another is aphids - but I presume you would have seen them. A third is a trace element deficiency (most likely copper). There's little you can do about frost burn once the trees are in the ground, but the other two possible causes are easily treated. Aphids can be addressed with a water spray or a light soap solution. You can also boil up some old pomegranate bark and use the water ti kill aphids. The trace element deficiency can be addressed with a dilute foliar spray and a slightly stronger soil injection (it would be best to mix copper sulphate, manganese sulphate and zinc sulphate) - be very careful to keep the copper very dilute in the foliar spray as it can be a defoliant in larger doses. The good news is the trees will recover very well. Hope this helps Andrew mailto:andrew@acequity.com.au ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: pomegranates Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 23:21:11 -0800 From: David To: Andrew Thanks, Andrew. I know its not frost. Aphids are an interesting possibility. There are a lot around here, but I have seen none on these little cuttings that are just starting to leaf out. Maybe they come and go and I've missed them. The fact that only one cultivar is affected may indicate that it is particularly succulent to aphids. As to copper etc., I'm curious as to how much copper sulfate etc. you would put per liter of foliar spray solution. I might check around and see what I have on the shelf here. I know that I have a copper containing fungicidal soap that I might try, as well as some house plant fertilizers with some trace elements. Do you grow pomegranates to market them? Or is it more of a hobby? --David mailto:bentleye@cox.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: pomegranates Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2002 16:50:43 +0800 From: andrew@acequity.com.au To: David I work on a copper sulfate solution no stronger than 1 -2 parts per million for foliar sprays - but I prefer to use copper only for soil injection at the rate of 3 - 5 ppm. As for aphids, if you had them, my guess is they would still be there now, and would be quite obvious on the new shoots - and they tend not to be very discerning as to which cultivar they will eat - so it probably is not them. I grow pomegranates commercially (about 2,000 trees, 20 cultivars). Andrew mailto:andrew@acequity.com.au ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Polyembryony Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 19:51:39 -0500 From: "Juan A. Rivero" Hola Leo: A question often asked is why is it possible for several embryos to come out from only one seed. Here is the answer. In the seeds of some fruts like avocados, jaboticabas and some citrus there are two types of embryos, a sexual or zygotic embryo and several asexual or nucelar embryos. In the ovule, the embryo sac is surrounded by the nucellus, at the apex of which there is a small opening called the micropyle. When pollinization takes place the pollen tube reaches to the embryo sac and fertilizes the ovule through the micropyle (the nucleus of male and female gametes fuse) producing an organism with the double number of chromosomes (2N), half of which is derived from the male parent and half from the female. This is the zygotic embryo. Because two parents are envolved, this embryo will have characters derived from both parents and will not be true to type. In other words, it will be different from the plant which provided the seed. All additional embryos originate from the nucellus and are said to be somatic or vegetative; in other words, they are equivalent to a plant propagated from a cutting and will be identical to the mother plant. Nucelar embryos penetrate de embryo sac and compete with the zygotic embryo, sometimes elliminatig it. When this happens, all plantules will be nucelar, and thus, equal to the mother plant. However, pollinization is usually necessary for nucelar embryos to develop. In some species seeds will only produce nucelar embryos (the mangosteen is said to be one of these, which explains its low degree of varability). Among the citrus fruits, only some are poliembryonary. Pomelos, citrons, Clementine mandarins, Temple oranges and Persian limes only produce zygotic embryos; the Sampson tangelo only produces nucelar embryos. Lemons and limes produce a high percent of zygotic embryos but oranges grapefruits and the majority of mandarin oranges produce, mostly, nucelar embryos An interesting byproduct of nucelar propagation is that, at least in citrus fruits, virus infections are not usually transmited to nucelar embryos but they are transmited to cygotic embryos. Juan A. Rivero mailto:jarivero@caribe.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: A New Zealand award for one of RFNO members Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 18:38:15 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" I am very happy to inform you that one of our RFNO members, Gail Newcomb in New Zealand, won the Dr. Don Mckenzie award for services to the Tree Crops Association, which is a New Zealand-based association. She must have done a lot of good works to qualify for such an award. For more details on the Tree Crops Association and on Gail's hobby/pride, visit the websites below. Gail Newcomb writes: | Award night dinner and when I showed up in my pretty dress | someone commented that I actually had ankles! But nothing could | make me more proud than to be the first female to win the Dr Don | McKenzie award - an 8-9 million year old fossiled walnut - for | services to Tree Crops. Mainly for writing the Tree Crops in NZ | book or Green Book is as it often called because of the green | cover which helps new property owners select a crop they could | grow and also for doing the Fact Sheets with more detailed | information - for which I wheedled or badgered people for their | knowledge. The websites were also mentioned and the new national | one Les is webmaster for is www.treecrops.org.nz along with our | Bay of Plenty site. | | Will be doing reports on the wonderful places we visited and | profiles on Tree Cropper personalities when we can glean enough | information - so if you know of any people connected with NZTCA | in the past and have some personal reflections to pass on we'd be | most grateful. We are losing so much information. | | Gail Newcomb | | Email: mailto:ecoworks@nzero.co.nz Web Pages: | http://www.nzero.co.nz/ecoworks/ ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Bananas As Container Plants? Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 08:42:51 -0700 From: Nan Sterman Will bananas grow and produce if grown as container plants? Nan Sterman mailto:nsterman@cox.net San Diego County Sunset zone 24 >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Subject: Tropical Lychees From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" To: Mark Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 21:25:25 +0700 Mark writes: Do you have any info on the Korm lychee? I was told this lychee does not need cool weather to fruit. Sainarong answers: Lychees are subtropical and the best lychees are produced in subtropical southern China. that much is well known. However, what is not so well known is that there are a few tropical varieties of lychees in tropical central Thailand. It is surmised that, about a century or two ago, many Chinese immigrants sailed from southern China to central Thailand. These immigrants would certainly have brought some longans and lychees with them, and attempted to grow their beloved fruit trees in their adopted home. Some of the lychees, like their Chinese owners, must have adapted so well to their new land that they became native, or in other words, tropical. These tropical lychees grow well in tropical central Thailand. They flower once a year during the cool season when the ambient temperature drops down to about 16 - 19 degrees for about a week or so. The fruits mature about one or two months earlier than their subtropical cousins. While the subtropical lychees are sweet with a tinge of sourness, the tropical lychees are sweet with no hint of sourness at all.As this is desirable for the Thai palate, the tropical lychees are priced higher than the subtropical ones - the fact that they are harvested earlier also contributes to the higher price. Thailand has a few tropical lychees, of which Korm is the most grown, simply because it flowers and fruit sets better than the others. However, there are other varieties which are just as tasty or probably even more delicious than Korm. I myself am just about to try to grow Sam Pao Kaew, a tropical lychee, because the climate in northern Thailand is getting hotter and more humid, probably as a result of this cursed global warming. In a few years time, I hope to be able to tell youthe result of my attempt. Enjoy Yourselves! Sainarong mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th ------------------------------------------------ From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" To: Mark Subject: Re: Potassium chlorate Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 13:44:45 +0700 Mark writes: I tried another application of potassium chlorate. The first application I did was 400 g per tree on Dec 1st. Not very good results. The few panicles that emerged were small or deformed. I did another application of 800 g per tree in March. I watered it in well and have been watering about every three days unless it rains. I am seeing a lot of red flushing but no sign of bloom. I did a leaf analysis before applying the second application. The trees were in good shape, dormant and no rain for over thirty days. The nitrogen level was possibly a little high at 2.3% and manganese was a little low at 47 ppm. I am not sure what is going on unless it is too warm. Sainarong answers: The mystery deepens. I know people who say they can make longan flowers any time, I also know others who are mystified. I am probably half- way between the two groups. I have noticed a few things as follows; Those who can make longan flower easily mostly live in tropical areas, the soil of which is fertile, and the climate of which is humid and rainy. Those, whose trees flower better than the others, tend to have healthy looking trees. I have just started to note another factor; the trees with high level of nitrogen seem to have problem flowering. However, I do not have sufficient data as yet to be able to comment much about this. Mark writes: What do you recommend the levels of nutrients be prior to applying the potassium chlorate? Sainarong answers: I have done almost fifty leaf analyses of many longan trees over a period of time. The acceptable range of each nutrient seems to be very wide, much wider than for other fruit trees. Yan Diczbalis of Australia came to the same conclusion in his research. Now, I simply use the good old visual test; I think that it is as good as any, and probably better than most! I am not saying that there is not a good scietific method, I just have not found it yet. Sainarong mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Update on Longan in Thailand Latest Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 10:17:55 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" This time, I shall flood you with statistics which speak for themselves. I shall not insult your intelligence by doing the analysis for you. You can draw your own conclusion from the figures below. The effect of potassium chlorate, which became public knowledge in 1998, obviously has considerable influence on the Thai longan production. See you at the 2nd International Symposium on Lychee, Longan, Rambutan and Other Sapindaceae Plants in Chiangmai next year. If I were a rich man, I would gladly pay for all your expenses, but alas I am but a poor fruit grower. Sainarong Rasananda Table 1: Longan Production in Thailand Unit: ton Year-------------Total--Chiangmai&Lampoon--Rest-of Thailand 1997------------236,335-----165,253---------------71,082 1998-------------17,964------10,638----------------7,326 1999------------212,240-----123,075---------------89,165 2000------------370,386-----197,469--------------172,917 2001------------186,803-----127,969---------------58,834 estimate2002----390,725-----250,000--------------140,725 Table 2: Thailand Export of All Longan Products (weights of all processed longans are adjusted to fresh longan equivalents) Unit: ton Year------Total-----China&HongKong--------The-Rest 1997----236,208-------174,025-------------62,183 1998-----17,718---------4,356-------------13,362 1999-----87,585--------41,732-------------45,853 2000----301,881-------105,830------------196,051 2001----200,887-------144,004-------------56,883 Table 3: Thailand Export of Fresh Longan to China & Hong Kong Unit : ton Month------------------2000--------2001 Jan.------------------2,383-------1,717 Feb.------------------2,567-------3,931 Mar.------------------2,736-------3,561 Apr.------------------2,970-------4,869 May-------------------3,573-------5,504 Jun.------------------4,212-------5,623 Jul.-----------------23,028------19,464 Aug.-----------------14,860-------6,885 Sep.------------------1,846-------4,210 Oct.--------------------796-------5,567 Nov.------------------1,390-------5,986 Dec.------------------1,803-------7,570 Total----------------62,165------74,887 *Remark: before potassium chlorate was used, well over 90% of the export of fresh longan to China and Hong Kong was in just 2 months, July and August. ------------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 18:56:35 -0400 From: "Jonathan H. Crane" Subject: RE: Update on Longan in Thailand Latest Dear Dr. Sainarong Siripen Rasananda: I would like to receive information about the 2nd International Symposium on Lychee and Longan to be held in Thailand next year. Is there a web site I can visit to register for more information? Sincerely, Jonathan H. Crane, mailto:jhcr@mail.ifas.ufl.edu Tropical Fruit Crop Specialist >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Permaculture News April, 2002 Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 14:23:21 EST From: Elfpermacl@aol.com Please forward or post as appropriate. Dan Hemenway will lead a 10-day permaculture design intensive July 25 through Aug. 3 in Oberlin, Ohio. Participants will produce an advanced-draft permaculture design for the workshop site. The workshop suits homeowners who wish to learn the permaculture design process for their personal use, people seeking a superior preparation for the permaculture design course, and permaculture certificate holders seeking advanced work in permaculture design. Students may also arrange in advance to use the design as the basis for the Elfin Permaculture Design Course Online, given at least once yearly. For information contact Eric at fstewart@oberlin.edu A one-day workshop and an evening lecture will be offered prior to the design intensive. Aug. 1 is the deadline for submitting scholarship applications for the Elfin Permaculture Design Course Online. For details on how to apply, check the course web site at http://barkingfrogspc.tripod.com/frames.html The 7th Elfin Permaculture Design Course Online begins Sept. 15, 2001. The six-month course includes weekly sets of lectures* sent by email, reading assignments, four reports from each student including a full permaculture design report and class discussion of all this work via email. Instructors include Dan Hemenway, Cynthia Hemenway, CNM, and Dr. Willem Smuts. For details, download (separately), the course protocol, the course reading list, and the course assignment schedule from http://barkingfrogspc.tripod.com/frames.html Time is running out to download, free, Permaculture Design Course Pamphlet I, Introduction to Permaculture, from the Barking Frogs Permaculture web site, http://barkingfrogspc.tripod.com/frames.html In the near future, we will replace it with Pamphlet II in the series. To obtain all of the pamphlets, download the Yankee Permaculture Order Form from the same web site. Barking Frogs Permaculture Center The protocol for our Annual Permaculture Design Course Online is at http://barkingfrogspc.tripod.com/frames.html or http://www.permaculture.net/~EPTA/Hemenway.htm Our next annual Permaculture Design Course Online begins Sept. 15, 2002. Check the above sites for details. Our next design intensive is July 25-Aug.3 in Oberlin, Ohio, near Cleveland. A list by topic of all Yankee Permaculture titles also may be found at http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/ypc_catalog.html >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. Subject: ARS Method Shows Promise for Decontaminating Groundwater Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 09:51:28 -0400 From: David Elstein, (301) 504-1654, delstein@ars.usda.gov Trichloroethylene (TCE), a colorless, toxic liquid widely used as a solvent for dry cleaning and degreasing, has been known to seep into groundwater and make it dangerous for consumption. TCE also has been found in groundwater on some military bases. Now Agricultural Research Service scientists may have found an inexpensive but effective product to clean up the mess: vegetable oil. Microbiologist Jim Hunter of the ARS Soil-Plant-Nutrient Research Laboratory, Ft. Collins, Colo., has discovered that vegetable oil can be used to clean up groundwater contaminated with TCE. He recommends using soybean oil since it is inexpensive. Battelle, a nonprofit scientific company, originally suggested that vegetable oil may clean up pollutants in groundwater, and Hunter was able to prove it. Hunter also has shown that vegetable oil can clean up groundwater that is contaminated with nitrogen fertilizer and the herbicide chlorate. Hunter believes the best way to get the oil into the water is by injecting the oil into the ground as an emulsion using high pressure to create a porous, oil-containing barrier across the contaminated aquifer. The oil, used in low concentrations, stimulates microorganisms naturally present in the aquifer to grow and accumulate in the barrier. The TCE is degraded by these microorganisms as contaminated groundwater flows through the barrier. Parsons Corporation, an environmental consulting firm in Denver, Colo., is using this ARS method to cleanse TCE from groundwater. Parsons is halfway through its tests on several Air Force and Navy bases to see how effective the vegetable oil is. The company has already completed some pilot tests and is now working on full-scale evaluations. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's primary scientific research agency. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN2000204B<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rare Fruit News Online - May 1, 2002 - AKA RFN200205A.txt >>>> New Subscribers <<<< New Subscriber, Michigan, Wants To Grow Rare Fruit Lora Fox Thank you Lora Fox New Subscriber, Boca Raton, Growing Banana, Lychee, .... "Lee & Keri" New Subscrber, Humboldt County, CA, Getting Started... "Sheila Roskie" >> Readers Write << RE: Avocado Problem "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" Looking for "Otaheite Gooseberry / Phyllanthus acidus " plant "Gurram, Gopi" Milk and Powdery Mildew, and Avocado close planting Todd Abel Fruit set in Carlsbad Matthew Shugart Re: Greenhouses for Tropical Fruits Scott & Lorena Breneman Rare annona seeds "Mike Moser" Introduction "Mike Moser" Carambola Question David Silverstein Re: Carambola Question David Silverstein "Leo Manuel" Re: Carambola Question Leo Manuel David Silverstein Self-Fertile Pitaya Cuttings Sought "Michael Youman" >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Follow Up on Update on Longan in Thailand "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" Climate change impact for kiwifruits crops in Thailand "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" >>>> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <<<< None, this time >>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<< None, this time >>>> NAFEX List <<<< None, this time >>>> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <<<< None, this time >>>> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <<<< None, this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 08:15:41 -0700 (PDT) From: Lora Fox Subject: New Subscriber, Michigan, Wants To Grow Rare Fruit Hello , My name is Flora Fox.... I want to know more about rare fruit. I'm from the Philippines and now live in Michigan. It is cold here. I would like to grow rare fruit that we have in the Philippines. My husband is willing to build me a greenhouse so I can grow them. I would like to have a catalog or information where I could get one. Thank you very much, I hope you can help me out. Flora mailto:cherrieblossom2001us@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 16:51:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Lora Fox Subject: Thanks! Thank you Leo for all the information on growing the tropical trees. I have a mango seed that I planted before but didn't grow, only because I didnt know that I have to take the seed out of the husk. I really enjoy reading all the information you send me .. Now I'll be able to grow some of the fruit that I enjoyed back when I was a little girl in the Philippines. You dont know how big of a help you are to me. thank you again. Flora mailto:cherrieblossom2001us@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ From: "Lee & Keri" Subject: New Subscriber, Boca Raton, Growing Banana, Lychee, .... Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 19:41:05 -0400 I'm Roy HobbsI live in Boca Raton and I have a navel Orange, banana, Lychee, and Jakfruit tree on my property. "Lee & Keri" mailto:remmos@mindspring.com ------------------------------------------------ From: "Sheila Roskie" Subject: New Subscrber, Humboldt County, CA, Getting Started... Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 18:52:38 -0700 My name is Sheila and I live in upper coastal Humboldt County (California). I have started a slow project of creating edible landscaping in the back yard of our suburban home. Many of my plants are not 'rare' in the sense that they came from commercial mail orders (mainly RainTree) or local nursery stock. I have the following fruits: Liberty, Mutsu, Red Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, Gala, Watsana apples; an unknown red blossom/very red skinned crab apple; red fleshed apples: Airlie, Pink Delight, Pink Pearl, and Scarlet Surprise; a couple of plums; several grapes; assorted red raspberries; misc. strawberries (+ alpines); an artic kiwi pair; Hamilton dwarf cranberries; assorted variety of blueberries; Frost peaches; Bartlet and Moonglow pears; Tomcot apricot; lingonberries; a couple gooseberries; nanking cherries; Crandall clove currant; white currant; aronias; Ukrainian high bush cran; seabuckthorns; huckleberries; salal; a couple of low chill almonds and a medlar. The reason I would like to subscribe is the obvious (I'm interested in gardening/fruits). I love to pass on what I have found that is either new, interesting or what may work for another gardener. I am involved in the local senior center's garden club (though I'm not a senior). We are a homeschooling family and have a kids' garden club within our homeschool support group. I have even gone as far as bending the ear of a local pastor in hopes that he will put in edible landscaping and a community garden at his new church and retreat. I am also a new member of California Rare Fruit Grower. I am looking forward to learning from other within this group. Most sincerely, Sheila >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: RE: Avocado Problem Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 08:59:50 -0700 From: "Amy of Marvelous Gardens" To: Have you tried Neem? There are a few products out there containing neem, www.gardensalive.com for one, carries it. Safer's also has a product, containing azadirachtin (derived from Neem). About Neem: Using neem derivatives for managing pests is a non-violent approach to controlling pests. Neem products work by intervening at several stages of the insect's life. They may not kill the pest instantaneously but incapacitate it in several ways. Neem very subtly employs effects such as repellence, feeding and ovipositional deterrence, growth inhibition, mating disruption, chemo-sterilization, etc. These are now considered far more desirable than a quick knock-down in integrated pest management programs as they reduce the risk of exposing pests' natural enemies to poisoned food or starvation. http://www.neemfoundation.org/pest.htm http://www.neemfoundation.org/ http://www.neemfoundation.org/farming.htm http://www.neemtreefarms.com/ Amy mailto:marvelousgardens@attbi.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Looking for "Otaheite Gooseberry / Phyllanthus acidus" Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 16:53:00 -0700 From: "Gurram, Gopi" Hi, I am looking for "Otaheite Gooseberry / Phyllanthus acidus" plant for by backyard. Do you have any ideas on where I can buy this plant. Thank you, Gopi mailto:Gopi.Gurram@wonderware.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Milk and Powdery Mildew, and Avocado close planting Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 08:19:32 -0700 From: Todd Abel Leo, I have recently been reading articles on the net that discus using Milk to combat the Powdery Mildew on Roses, and even Grapes. Since I am totally organic, I gave it a try on an old Rose that I fight with every year (I would love to take it out, but I don't want to sleep on the couch-wife). The articles suggest a 1:5 Milk:water ratio once a week, which is what I used. The milk actually works. The rose began to look better the next day. So I proceeded to spray my Papayas, which have quite a bit of powdery mildew after the rains and cold weather. The milk actually works on the Papayas also. Don't know why, but it seems to be working. By the way the Huach Grande Capulin Cherry has fruit on it already, at 2ft high and in the ground for 2months. We will meet up within the next year, so I can give you a piece of scion wood. Another note is about Avocado. I have all these exotic fruit trees growing well, and I be damned that I haven't killed two Gwen Avocado trees. I am really starting to get pissed about paying $2/pc for bad Avocadoes from the store. Space is all but gone at my house, so I had to get creative to fit a real Avocado tree in the ground. So in my engineering mind I am running an experiment. I have close planted a Reed and a Bacon at 18" in one hole. I am going to attempt to keep them small. The trees were only $16 for 5gal at Home Depot on sale. They have been in the ground for 1month and look great. I used a raised bed with pavers, and only dirt from the yard. Bacon is flowering already, and Reed has flower buds, the trees are looking very healthy. We shall see. For $32, I'll give it a try. Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com Orange, CA ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Fruit set in Carlsbad Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 09:35:24 -0700 From: Matthew Shugart Dear Leo and RFNO readers: What a year this is shaping up to be for deciduous fruit production here in Carlsbad! I am about a mile and a half from the coastline, near the Buena Vista Lagoon, on the first ridge east of the beach bluffs. I have been growing pluots and a cherry tree for a few years now. Apricots do well here almost every year--especially Royal and Newcastle. (Gold Kist, despite being billed as the best for the coast, is very unreliable here, and barely even bloomed this year.) I have had Flavor Supreme pluots a few times in the past, and got three cherries on my very young six-foot and barely branched Stella tree last year. This year I have a very heavy set of young fruit on the Geo Pride pluot, and a pretty good set on Flavor King and Flavor Supreme. Plums, especially Fortune, have also set well--a relative rarity here, for some reason. I even have a couple of Flavor Queens this year, for the first time. And the Newcastle and Royal have set incredibly heavily. So has the Doughnut peach. The Stella just opened about ten blooms the other day. In the subtropical category, Valencia Pride mango is now covered with blossoms, as are all the citrus. Sanguinelli blood oranges are coloring up well on the outside. I haven't picked any fruit yet. The Moros were very good this year, so I am really looking forward to the Sanguinellis, which usually don't get sweet here till May. Best wishes for a good growing season, Matthew Shugart mailto:mshugart@ucsd.edu Carlsbad, California (Sunset zone 23/USDA zone 10) ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Greenhouses for Tropical Fruits Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 15:41:33 EDT From: Scott & Lorena Breneman Dear Leo, Thank you very much for the Ray Bayer article: that is exactly what i'm interested in. Is Mr. Bayer still actively growing tropfruit? Is any publishing a bulletin similar to the indoor citrus & rare fruit society one that evidently is no longer around? Are there any websites devoted to indoor/outdoor growing of rarefruit? I also wondered if hydroponics would be possible for fruit deemed unsuitable to containers such as mango. Thank you for making this email newsletter possible. Regards, Scott mailto:buretachi@juno.com ------------------------------------------------ From: "Mike Moser" Subject: Rare annona seeds Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 10:07:00 -0800 Leo, I'm trying to locate a seed source for Illama (annona diversifolia) and Poshte (annona scleroderma) Can you help me out on this one? Mahalo, Mike Moser ------------------------------------------------ From: "Mike Moser" Subject: Introduction Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 10:27:31 -0800 Leo, For the past two years I've been passionately planting and tending rare and not so rare fruit trees on our 17 acres south of Hilo Hawaii. We have atamoya, cashew,illama, soursop, breadfruit, chempedak, marang, starfruit, rambai, borojo, peanut butter plant, miracle berry, papayas, cinnamon allspice, nutmeg, bay, figs, citrus from calamondin to tangerine, wampee, cocoa, cupuacu (30 trees), coffee; chocolate, green, mamey, white, chico and south american sapotes of several varieties, dovyalis tropical apricot, durian, mangosteens, duko langsat, 8 eugenia species, 12 mango varieties, loquat, several odd garcinia and rheedia species, inga ice cream bean, lychee, rambutans, longans, mamee americana, genip, monstera, jabotacaba, cabeluda, vexitor blue grape tree, camu camu, malibar chesnut, many different varieties each of guava, passion fruit, and giant granadilla; avocados, abiu, canistel, lucmo, rollinias, santol, naranjilla (three varieties), cassabanana, ugni molinae, tamaraind, jack fruit, and lots and lotsof others in seed or pots. My interest is in rare strictly tropical fruits and I'm trying to see if cupuacu will yield an acceptable "cash crop" on the Big Island. I would be very interested in hearing from any of your other readers who live or have lived in Hawaii so we can share information and experience as tropical fruit is a new interest for me. My home most of the time is in Alaska, so I must commuteto Hawaii severaltimes a year to work the trees and keep the bugs and jungle from consuming everything. Your newsletter is an inspiration and I always enjoy reading what your very learned contributors have to say. Keep up the fine work and Mahalo! Mike Moser mailto:fhcpal@mtaonline.net ------------------------------------------------ From: David Silverstein Subject: Carambola Question Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 22:10:26 -0700 I planted two carambola trees, aKari and Sri Kembangan,in the ground last friday.I heard a lot ofconflicting advice regarding shade/sun. I ended up going with a very sunny spot that gets direct sun from early morning until early afternoon and then gets a mix of shade and filtered sun the rest of the day. The spot is also pretty breezy, but its a cool breeze up from the ocean. The thing that concerns me is that the leaves are showing stress.The worst stress is in the new tender growth on theKari, which came from a shadysheltered spot at the nursery. It looks likemost of the new leaves are just shriveling up and falling off. The Sri Kembangan looks less stressed, but it also has very little new growth leafed out. Most of its new growth is just starting. I'm wondering if these plantsneed to bereplanted in amore shady and/or more sheltered area.Or are they just in temporary transplant shock which they will get over?Maybe I need to ease their transition by rigging some temporary partial shade for them. Any insights you can offer would be most welcome. David Silverstein mailto:bentleye@cox.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Carambola Question Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 21:57:33 -0700 From: David Silverstein To: "Leo Manuel" Thanks Leo. That answer is consistent with what a few other people have said and it reconciles the conflicting answers. It also makes sense that a tree from a tropical place would want to be shade adapted when young and then punch up out of the thicket into the sunlight and thrive there in its mature years. I'm actually thinking of moving the trees to the north side of solid wooden fence where they will get very little direct sun untill they get up above that fence at which point they'll get at least six hours of direct sun a day. Leo, You said: Hi David, I will publish your questions. I have had the same question and find conflicting answers. I put a shade cloth up to protect a Sri Kembangan that was not doing well in more full sun. It helped a lot. The new growth was more healthy. In my garden I believe shade is desirable - at least in the early years. However, I have seen larger trees in the yards of other growers with no shade that were doing well. It may be that providing shade while young and allowing the tree to grow up above it as it matures will be useful. Take care, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Carambola Question Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 05:40:44 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: David Silverstein Hi David, A grower of Pitaya in Thailand is considering using pigeon peas as shade for Pitaya up to a height of three feet or so. If you've seen them they're bush-like in growth habit, will set nitrogen, and the peas are edible - apparently pigeons think so, anyway. Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Self-Fertile Pitaya Cuttings Sought Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:45:11 +1000 From: "Michael Youman" Hi I'm trying to get some self-pollinating, white-fleshed pitaya cuttings. I already have the red-fleshed and the yellow skinned white-fleshed. I know a fellow who has them in the Northern Territory, Australia but he has no intentions of selling cuttings for at least another year. Could you help me? Thank you Michael Youman mailto:Michael.Youman@agric.nsw.gov.au >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 09:36:30 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" Subject: Follow Up on Update on Longan in Thailand After I sent out the e-mail on Update on Longan in Thailand, I received the following interesting e-mail from Dr. Amos Blumenfeld of Israel. Here it is: "Thank you for your statistics about longan in Thailand. You write that you do not want to insult our intelligence by analyzing the data for us. Please do it for me, as I have some problems with the numbers: For example, how come that you exported in 2001 more than you produced? same for 1997: you eat in Thailand only 127 tons? Is it correct that you exported to China and H.K processed fruit (equivalent to fresh) ca 43000t in 2000 and 70.000t in 2001? The Chinese do not have enough of their own?" I re-checked my figures which are obtained from official sources and can now confirm that I did not make any mistake in copying the data. Are the figures reliable? I think that everyone is aware there are problems with the accuracy of agricultural production figures anywhere. The Thai figures may probably be the best we can get. The import-export data are generally more reliable and fairly accurate provided that the compiler understands his topic. My answers to each of Amos' comments are as follows: Comment How come that you exported in 2001 more than you produced? Answer Your guess is probably as good as mine! Comment Same for 1997: you eat in Thailand only 127 tons? Answer Yes, it does stretch your credibility, doesn't it? But the government officials really do believe that official figures from anywhere in the world must be correct. Comment Is it correct that you exported to China and H.K processed fruit (equivalent to fresh) ca 43000t in 2000 and 70.000t in 2001? The Chinese do not have enough of their own?" Answer I believe the figures are quite close to the mark. The reason for the high volume is quite complicated. Dried longans, unlike the fresh longans, can be kept for many months. During those years, our price for dried longans continually dropped and the Chinese kept on buying them. They must have built up quite a large inventory of dried longans in China. I have seen dried Thai logans in China which are over one year old. The dried longan market is unlike the fresh logan market. The merchants build up inventory during the longan season for sale later in the year, so they have to forecast both the demand volume and the price. If the forecast is good, they make a good profit and vice versa. Besides, in the past, the centre of the dried longan market in China is in Fujian Province, and most of the Chinese dried longans are Fujian longans. However, the picture is continually changing and the people in Guangxi and Guangdong provinces are developing their dried longan market; the dried longan industry in Guangxi and Guangdong is developing and may be growing very fast in the near future, which may change the entire picture. See you at the 2nd International Symposium on Lychee, Longan , Rambutan and Other Sapindaceae Fruits in Chiangmai, Thailand in May next year. Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th ------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 12:20:24 +0700 From: "Sainarong Siripen Rasananda" Subject: Climate change impact for kiwifruits crops in Thailand TUESDAY, 23 APRIL 2002 R U R A L S T O R Y Climate change impact for kiwifruits crops assessed 22 April 2002 A major study is underway to assess the impact of global warming on the Bay of Plenty after predictions of a significant decline in the viability of kiwifruit - a key economic driver in the region. Environment BOP is spending $50,000 to draw up local scenarios based on the rapidly expanding volume of evidence being accumulated by climate scientists in New Zealand and overseas. There is now consensus among world scientists that changes in temperature and rainfall are inevitable, with new and stronger evidence that most of the warming was attributable to human activities. Environment BOP resource planner Amanda Hunt said a case study on kiwifruit by the Ministry for the Environment showed the crop needed winter chilling to promote bud break and produce good numbers of fruits per vine. Using the upper-end of New Zealand climate change predications, rising temperatures would lead to a significant decline in the viability of kiwifruit in the Bay of Plenty from 2050 onwards. Under a more optimistic scenario, there would be little change in the crop's viability for the rest of the century. The study said the effectiveness of chemicals which artificially break vine dormancy was expected to decline from 2040 as winters grew milder. Using upper-end of projections, Hawke's Bay, Nelson and Marlborough would start to overtake the Bay of Plenty as the premier kiwifruit growing regions from 2040 onwards. Growing conditions in the other major kiwifruit producing countries may also become marginal, so it was vital that New Zealand planned well to make the most of economic opportunities and risks posed by climate change. One solution was to breed cultivars that adapted better to warmer winters: "This is not currently a high priority for the kiwifruit industry, but it will need to become so over the next 10 to 20 years," the case study said. Ms Hunt said the main climate change predictions for New Zealand were increased westerly flows, sea levels rising 30cm to 50cm, more frequent heavy rain, temperatures rising between 1degC and 2degC, fewer frosts and rising snowlines. Ms Hunt said th e challenge would be to reach a level of accuracy predicting whether it would rain more in one area than another. This meant looking at local factors such as the topography. "The earlier we start thinking about it, the better prepared we will be," she said. The study will be a valuable pointer for local authorities planning major long-term infrastructural projects, such as what diameter pipes they should be used on stormwater systems, or roading along coastal areas. The study would also look at the implications on ecosystems, such as a changes in the range of some species. Plants had an optimal temperature and rainfall range and if it got too hot, they died out or retreated up hillsides. Another impact of climate change would be on human, animal and plant health. Warmer weather would bring new opportunities for accidentally introduced pest species like disease-carrying mosquitoes which at the moment could not survive because it was too cold in winter. There had already been episodes with the mosquito which carried dengue fever. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. Subject: Boards and Resin From Guayule? Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 09:53:11 -0400 From: Marcia Wood, (301) 504-1662, MarciaWood@ars.usda.gov To: "ARS News List" Plywoodlike boards made from a desert shrub called guayule might shrug off attack by voracious termites and wood-rot microbes. Preliminary results from Agricultural Research Service scientists and their colleagues show that guayule leftovers can be formed into durable, versatile substitutes for today's conventional plywood and particle board. Research chemist Francis S. Nakayama, with ARS' U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory in Phoenix, Ariz., leads these experiments. With its silvery, grayish-green leaves and yellow flowers, guayule--pronounced why-YOU-lee--somewhat resembles sagebrush. Hardy and drought resistant, guayule is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. In tests, the scientists combined components of guayule plants with the whitish, translucent plastic of recycled milk or water containers. This yielded a composite material that resists costly insect and microbial damage, according to Nakayama. Guayule composite board might replace many kinds of wood that today are used in floor, wall and roof construction in homes and offices. Nakayama's colleagues made guayule components into prototype composite boards at the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wis., for testing there and at the University of Illinois, Urbana. Their examinations showed that guayule boards made with high-density polyethylene from melted-down milk containers best withstood attacks by common termites and wood-rot microorganisms. In addition, guayule leftovers can be processed into resin for protecting wooden buildings, boats, decks and outdoor furniture. Nakayama and colleagues found that pine blocks impregnated with guayule resin resisted termite and wood-rot damage. Earlier, U.S. Navy investigations of candidate preservatives for wooden piers indicated that guayule resin thwarted several types of termites and marine borers. The guayule composite board and resin studies focus on using the brownish-white slurry that remains after guayule stems and leaves are ground up to remove their latex. Work by plant physiologist Katrina Cornish at ARS' Western Regional Research Center in Albany, Calif., has shown that guayule latex is hypoallergenic, and thus ideal for making medical and personal products such as surgical gloves, catheters and condoms. Details are in the April 2002 issue of the agency's Agricultural Research magazine, on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/apr02/shrub0402.htm ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Catching Grasshoppers the Old-Fashioned Way Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 09:27:57 -0400 From: ARS News Service To: ARS News subscriber With all the high-tech tools scientists have at their fingertips, sometimes the simplest device is still the best--especially when you're counting grasshoppers. A pane of glass and soapy water are all entomologist Dennis Fielding needs to catch grasshoppers. He snags these pests to estimate how many are invading cropland from surrounding areas that don't have crops. Standard sampling methods, developed on grasslands with relatively sparse vegetation, are based on visual counts. Fielding, an Agricultural Research Service scientist in Fairbanks, Alaska, wants to develop a way to conduct his grasshopper "census" in areas where there is a dense canopy of cultivated crops--especially, small grains. Grasshoppers have eaten agricultural crops--and lots of other plants--over the course of history. They especially enjoy small grains and vegetables, which is bad news for farmers' incomes. Fielding's traps are based on similar devices that have been catching other insects for perhaps a hundred years. The grasshopper flies into the vertical pane of glass and falls into soapy water. The insect then sinks because the soap breaks the surface tension of the water. Grasshoppers may be attracted to the trap because of the smell of their dead "friends"; they are known to eat dead grasshoppers. The traps will probably be restricted to research applications because of their considerable cost in materials and labor and the large number needed to get good counts. Fielding had nearly 100 traps deployed on more than two areas. Each field had traps placed near the roadside and also in the area where crops were growing. Fielding's research has been under way for two years, and he thinks it may take another two to calibrate and test the traps under a variety of conditions. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Straw-Fiber Packaging Within Grasp Soon Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 10:09:43 -0400 From: ARS News Service Today's leftover rice and wheat straw might tomorrow be used in making environmentally friendly packaging materials or other biobased products. The molded polystyrene forms that hold computers or electronic components snugly in their shipping cartons, for example, could be replaced with biodegradable inserts made--in part--from straw fiber. That's according to Agricultural Research Service chemist William J. Orts. He is leader of the Bioproduct Chemistry and Engineering Unit at the ARS Western Regional Research Center in Albany, Calif. Orts directs studies that are revealing how cellulose-rich fibers from straw hold up during pulping. The pulping process results in a slurry of straw, water and additives, such as clays and starches, that are dried and molded into rigid shapes. Straw fibers must perform predictably so that the finished pulp product is uniform, according to Orts. Otherwise, manufacturers might opt to stay with familiar raw materials instead of choosing straw. Orts is collaborating in the studies with Regale Corporation, a California-based designer and manufacturer of customized packaging made from recycled materials. In new tests at the Western Regional Research Center, Orts and co-researchers are putting rice and wheat straw through a modified hot-water and a conventional chemical-based pulping process. The researchers hope to discover variations that could lower costs. That could boost the appeal of rice or wheat straw as an economical manufacturing option. Packaging materials and other biobased products from straw could give growers a new, profitable market for straw that today is plowed under or perhaps sold for animal feed or bedding. The amount of straw produced each year is enormous. In California alone, the annual rice crop generates more than 300,000 tons of straw. And the state's wheat crop yields an estimated 400,000 tons of straw. An article in the April 2002 issue of the agency's Agricultural Research magazine has more information. It's posted on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/apr02/straw0402.htm >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>End of RFN2000205A.txt<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Rare Fruit News Online - May 15, 2002 - AKA RFN200205B.txt <><><><> Notes In Passing - Leo <><><><> The San Diego Municipal Landfill has free mulch and compost, to residents of San Diego, and will even load your pickup, truck, or trailer with a skiploader for free (compost only.) For $4 per generous yard, they will load the compost as well. Some residual herbicides MAY be present and affect certain sensitive plants. I was made aware of that after spreading it over most of my yard, in talking to CRFG members at a recent meeting. PitayaFruit Newsgroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PitayaFruit/ may be of interest to you, if you want to read about or see photographs of Pitaya (aka Dragon Fruit, Pitahaya.) The membership is 34 now. Not bad considering it only began after the first of this year. Yard Tour And Plant Sale At My Home In Late May or Early June Somehow I manage to collect more plants than I reasonably expect to use for yard. There are a few plants of several different types that I will be selling, including pitaya (some of which are from Paul Thomson's collection), plants of guava, pitanga, rose apple, kei apple, There will be a more definitive date on the plant sale later, but you may stop by for a yard tour by appointment almost anytime. <><><> New Subscribers <><><> New Subscriber, Miama, FL, Has Fantastic Mamey Seedling MILAY NAVARRO New Subscriber, Tampa, Growing Mango, Lychee, .... S. Peter Miciak <><><> Readers Write <><><> Re: Milk and Powdery Mildew Leo A. Martin Irrigation Matthew Shugart high-density avocados Matthew Shugart To: tabel@statek.com Milk for fungus Amy More on organic and chemical treatments for fungal diseases Amy Pigeon Peas - My Experience In Thailand Joseph Berry To: David Silverstein Strawberry Mango Joseph Berry To: Re: Carambola tree? bentleye To: Edward & Althia Musgrave Re: pigeon peas bentleye To: Joseph Berry Re: Carambola David Silverstein To: Todd Abel Want Seeds For Lychee, Loquat, and Kumquat Chris Baker Pistachio-Bloom OK, Fruit Set OK; However No Kernel Robratzan@aol.com Tell Me About My New Dwarf Ambarella Tree Dibee9@aol.com Loquat Recommendation Sought - Anyone Have 'Macbeth'? Silverstein, David E <> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <> None, this time <><><> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <><><> Duguetia species http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/species%20Duguetia.htm Genus Annonaceae http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/genus%20Annonaceae.htm Family of Fruit... http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/family.htm Duguetia lepidota AKA Yara yara - Fruit very-very good http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/Ficha%20Duguetia%20lepidota.htm Last Call for Tropical Fruit Trips with Santol Santol <><><> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <><><> None, this time <><><> NAFEX List mailto:nafex@cet.com <><><> None, this time <><><> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <><><> None, this time <><><> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <><><> None, this time <> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov <> http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm Detecting a Weed From the Air ARS News Service Insect Remains Are Better Suited' for Fight Against Pests ARS News Service >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> New Subscribers <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: New Subscriber, Miama, FL, Has Fantastic Mamey Seedling Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 17:50:15 -0400 From: Raul Hello Leo My name is Raul and today is my first visit to this site. I live in Miami, FL and have a mamey tree (pouteria zapote) that I brought it from Cuba as a seed in 1986 and this is the fourth crop and the last crop I picked over 800 fruits right now there is over 1200 fruits getting big would you like to see it let me know. I hope to hear from you. Are you close by? Take care Raul in Miami FL mailto:CHYCHI@msn.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Tampa, Growing Mango, Lychee, .... From: S. Peter Miciak Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 11:26:28 EDT Greetings: I am S. Peter Miciak in Tampa (on Davis Islands) I am presently growing three Kent mangoes, One Nam Doc mango, a Brewster Lychee, a Sapodilla, a Key Lime, a Carambola, eight Papayas, and most recently a Macadamia Nut. I've been passionate about fruit trees all my life, growing up in South Broward County with a 45 foot Kent in my backyard. I traveled the world in the U. S. Navy for 22+ years visiting many countries and admiring the local fruit trees (the Philippines were my favorite). I'm retired now at the ripe old age of 45 in Tampa and wish to grow Sugar Apples in addition to my other species. Thanks, I love the discussions. S. Peter Miciak mailto:MeeChuck3@aol.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Readers Write<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Re: Milk and Powdery Mildew Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 18:46:06 -0400 From: Leo A. Martin > I have recently been reading articles on the net > that discuss using milk to combat powdery mildew... > The articles suggest a 1:5 milk:water ratio once > a week, which is what I used. The milk actually works. Powdery mildew likes cool dry weather. Spraying plain water on your plants once a week (be sure to wet the undersides of the leaves) will prevent mildew. You don't need to use the milk. Plain water kills spider mites, too. No need for miticides. Leo A. Martin Phoenix, Arizona, USA Do you like cacti and other succulents? http://www.centralarizonacactus.org mailto:leo1010@attglobal.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Irrigation Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 16:03:25 -0700 From: Matthew Shugart Hi Leo, Do you have any company you can recommend for installing irrigation systems, and especially timers on valves? I have just bought 8+ acres in Bonsall! Currently there are about 3 acres of grapefruit and maybe 3 of avocados. Irrigation lines are in, and appear to be in good condition, but right now it all needs to be operated manually. Is there anyone you can recommend to help with this? I hate to just pick someone out of the phone book. Thanks, Matthew Shugart mailto:mshugart@ucsd.edu ------------------------------------------------ Subject: High-density avocados Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 17:27:10 -0700 From: Matthew Shugart To: Todd Dear Todd: In the last RFNo you noted that you had killed two Gwen avocados and had tried recently a planting of two avocados in one hole, 18" apart. I have similar experiences. Because of limited space, I planted four avocados in such a planting group. The varieties were Reed, Stuart, Gwen, and Whitsell. After a couple of years, one died. Guess which one? Yep, the Gwen. The others, however, are thriving. The Reed is bearing its first crop of fruit this year. (A "crop" of two on a 5 to 6-foot tree). The Stuart is the tallest of the three, and needs to be pruned the most. It is blooming for the first time now. The Whitsell is the least vigorous, and so I planted it, along with the Gwen, on the south side of the other two, to minimize the shading of the smaller by the larger. While it's early in the life of these trees, it looks like a high-density planting is going to work. The Gwen may just not be vigorous enough to handle the competition. Matthew Shugart mailto:mshugart@ucsd.edu Carlsbad, California ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Milk for fungus Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 18:24:51 -0700 From: "Amy" I understand that it is the casein in the milk that is an antifungal I use 1 part milk to 2 parts water on papayas, tomatoes, dahlias, roses (even helped get rid of the rust on them), calendulas, anything with the powdery mildew on it. I do use pasteurized milk, raw is too expensive to use on my plants, and I've read of some using powdered milk on the Organic Gardening List From ATTRA: One of the most interesting substances exhibiting fungicidal properties is cows milk. Researchers in Brazil discovered that aqueous solutions containing from 5% to 50% milk all demonstrated significant suppression of powdery mildew on squash plants. Sprays containing as little as 10% cows milk were at least as effective as conventional fungicide sprays, with efficacy increasing as concentrations were increased (21). The mode of action for cows milk is not fully understood. However, fresh milk has long been known to exhibit antimicrobial properties. It is unknown whether a pasteurized product from the supermarket shelf would have any such effect. http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/powderymildew.html I also use 1 scant tsp baking soda, 1 scant tsp LOC or castile soap and 1 scant tsp vegetable oil on the hibiscus to get rid of the whiteflies (not residual) and their "whiskers", also on fuschias for whiteflies, oh, also on citrus trees. It is my take on the Cornell University recipe : http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,GALA_project_3055,00.html http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/index/0,1105,GALA_3089_project_1,00.html Neem is also an antifungal Just bought a Surinam Cherry at the Fullerton Arboretum Green Scene. I can hardly wait till it fruits! My Petite Nigra fig is leafing out beautifully and the Blue Java Ice Cream musa plants recovered from this winter and are putting out new leaves! http://www.biosafesystems.com/ Organically yours, Amy mailto:marvelousgardens@attbi.com zone 10 or 23 in No. Tustin, So. Calif. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: More on organic and chemical treatments for fungal diseases Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 18:39:48 -0700 From: "Amy" More on milk for powdery mildew. I have heard that more like 25 to 30% works better from other's experience. http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/Fungus%20Problems.htm http://www.ars.org/experts/powdery.html |from Swaziland. | |Dear Friends | |I must say I was shocked to read that spraying ordinary cows |milk mixed with water is as effective at preventing the |growth of the powderey mildew mould /Sphaerotheca fuliginea/ |on cucumbers and zuccini as any commercial chemical |fungicides! | |This was a discovery by Wagner Bettoil in Embrapa, the |Brazilian Agricultural Research Corp. He sprayed it on |heavily affected plants twice a week. It worked as well as |Fenarimol or Benomyl. In many cases milk was faster and more |effective. In some cases it was 6 times more effective as a |fungicide. It qualifies as an organic treatment. | |Effective control can be maintained with a 5% spray once a |week. It is not yet clear why it works but it might boost |the plant's immune system. | |Powdery mildew is a serious problem in Swaziland where we |cannot grow certain crops in some areas because of its |endemic presence. | |Amy mailto:marvelousgardens@attbi.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Pigeon Peas - My Experience In Thailand Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 15:59:07 +0700 From: "Joseph Berry" To: David Silverstein Hi David I'm the dragon fruit grower in Thailand using pigeon peas to see if I can get useful shade for my plants. I planted in February and now they are about 4 feet high. I have not tried this before but heard of it being done about 20 years ago from some permaculture people. All I remember about them is that their real name is cajan something or other. Pigeons and chickens are not the only things that like them but millions of Indians throughout the world do as well making a food called dahl. Last year my dragon fruit were so badly affected by the sun I really thought that we were going to loose all of them, and today you can still see the damage that was caused. I have about 300 plants and decided to cover them with shade cloth. Using galvanized pipe and concrete. 60 /40 shade cloth which was the lightest I could get here. Here in Thailand it's not a big deal finacially as the lot would not have cost me more than 500 dollars (American). By the way, pigeon peas don't grow to a height of 3 feet but to a height of 3 meters. I did write another letter about this but it only got to the Pitaya web site. Don't know what your original question was but hope you get an idea from here and please let me know how you go. Joe at Bahn Noy mailto:intara20@cscoms.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Strawberry Mango Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 08:08:28 +0700 From: "Joseph Berry" To: Steve Hi Steve, I don't think the Bowen and Strawberry are the same. The Strawberry is red on the outside. Apart from Austinville (or perhaps its Wollongbar) you could try e-mailing the Queensland Dept. of Ag. I've always found these people really helpful. Give them a ring and you have the info in 2 days. Think they might be a bit strange in that they are a government dept. that are afflicted with efficiency. I have a new mango that's fruiting now called ''maha chanook'' here in Thailand. It's pink on one side and delicious. I have 9 trees. it's a tangy sweet fruit which appeals to my taste. But the reason I got them was because the colour reminded me of the strawberry mangoes. I think the colour makes them more attractive to my buying instincts. I can't remember the taste of the Strawberry, but consider that it might not have good value in taste and this might be why its not too well known. Regards Joe at Bahn Noy mailto:intara20@cscoms.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Carambola tree? Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 19:59:12 -0700 From: David To: "Edward & Althia Musgrave" Thanks for the input on this. What worried me was that I was keeping the trees well watered and it was happening anyway. But I think the trees might have been experienceing a little transplant shock and been unable to keep up with the drying effect of the wind and the sun in their new location. They seem to be stabilizing some now. Most of the newer leaves over .75 inches long have fallen off. But the tiny new leaves seem okay. And the branchlets that were just getting started when I brought the trees home are growing noticeably. I think sun may be a good thing in my coastal location. My sun and heat are probably weaker than your semi-shade. Anyway, I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm watching the trees and still considering shade cloth or a trellis of pigeon peas or something like that. David Silverstein mailto:bentleye@cox.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Edward & Althia Musgrave To: bentleye@cox.net Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 4:38 AM Subject: Carambola trees ? |Hi | |I live in FL zone 9b I grow about 80 varieties of rare |fruit trees among them I also grow Carambola My guess on |the fruit stress is 1. wind - can't do much about that. 2. |the leaves that shrivel - could be lack of lots of water. If |they dry up -- lack of water. Fruiting trees that produce |fruit need lots of water to make big fruit. My Carambla are |in semi-shade they produce lots of very large fruit. | |Ed mailto:eamusg@quixnet.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: pigeon peas Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 20:13:31 -0700 From: "bentleye" To: "Joseph Berry" Thanks for the information Joseph. I'm watching my two Carambolas closely. (They were the subject of my question.) I have to look into the pigeon peas more though. They sound similar to lentils. David mailto:bentleye@cox.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Carambola From: David Silverstein To: "Todd Abel" Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 20:09:13 -0700 Thanks for the encouraging news. I'm glad to read this. I was feeling cautiously optimistic about my plants before I read your post. I 'm more optimistic now. My trees are looking a little better now and even growing a little bit. They are also hanging on to the tiny newest leaves. I'm curious though. How big was your Fwang Tung tree when you put it into its sunny spot. There's still the theory floating around that sun is bad when they are little and good when they are big. David Coastal San Diego mailto:bentleye@cox.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Todd Abel" To: David Silverstein Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 11:20 AM Subject: Carambola |I have been nursing my FwangTung Carambola for over a year. |The transplant shock was severe with a lot of yellow leaves |that drop. They also really dislike the cool wet winters here |in Southern California. I talked to someone at the Riverside |University, and he said that their Carambolas lost all the |leaves the first winter, but have been fruiting for last |3 years. My tree is in FULL sun (and reflected heat). During |the summer I sometimes water overhead to cool it off. We had |5 delicious fruit the first year! So I would recommend Full |sun, with a nursing hand for the first year. George Emerich |has his Carambolas in Full sun, and he has so many fruit! |This year the tree is looking real good! I put peat moss and |a Palm granule fertilizer. It did not drop too mnay leaves |this winter, and in fact tried to flower in January when the |warm spell hit. Don't stress as mine looked bad for the first |6 months, but it sound like you have the perfect spot for |them. | |Good luck. | |Todd | |Todd Abel Orange, CA 92867 mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Want Seeds For Lychee, Loquat, and Kumquat Date: Sun, 05 May 2002 13:38:08 +0000 From: Chris Baker Hi Leo, Many Thanks for your awesome magazine. I find it very informative and a pleasure to read. Can you tell me where I can get Lychee seeds? Loquat? Kumquat? I'm doing some research on rare fruits and the challenge of growing them in colder climates like Michigan. Thanks. Chris Baker mailto:aquafarm3@attbi.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Pistachio-Bloom OK, Fruit Set OK; However No Kernel From: Robratzan@aol.com Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 15:16:39 EDT Dear sirs, I have 3 female and one male Pistachio trees here in Tucson, Az. They are at least 10 yrs old, and year after year I have beautiful big fruit but no meat inside them, just a little white kernal. They are not getting pollinated for some reason. The male is about 20 feet from the female. Any suggestions on how to enhance the pollination so they will bear edible fruit ? Thanks, Rob Ratzan mailto:Robratzan@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Tell Me About My New Dwarf Ambarella Tree Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 17:07:08 EDT From: Dibee9@aol.com Hi Leo, I live in on the west coast of Florida and purchased a Dwarf Ambarella a couple of years ago from Walmart. The clerk in their nursery obviously didn't know anything about the tree because he told me it was something else. I was in a wonderful botanical garden here and saw my tree. That was how I found out the name of it. There was no one there that day that could give me any info on the tree but I did find out it was a fruit tree from Asia. Can you tell me anything about the care and whether the fruit is edible, etc.? Any info would be appreciated. Also, how large will it get? Thanks. Dibee9@aol.com Dibee9@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Loquat Recommendation Sought - Anyone Have 'Macbeth'? From: Silverstein, David E Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 16:57:24 -0700 Leo: I'm looking to get a loquat that'll grow up vigorously with a spreading crown that'll shade my front porch. I have a Big Jim. So I'd like a good white one that is either earlier or later in the season than the Big Jim. Any ideas or input are very welcome. Oh also I'm seeing the cultivar, Macbeth, in a lot of nurseries. I know its got white fruit, but I don't know anything else about it. Any comments welcome. David mailto:bentleye@cox.net >>>> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <<<< Nothing, this time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Subject: Duguetia species http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/species%20Duguetia.htm Duguetia Species Sub species Status Common Name Origin Uses -------------------------- Po: -------------------------- cortia, -------------------------- pindaiba, D. lanceolata--------------pindava,--N.Brazil---Edible fruit -------------------------- pindava, -------------------------- perovana, -------------------------- pindabuna D. lepidota (Miquel)-------Wild--------Yara yara--Orinoco----Edible fruits ---------------------------Po: D.marcgraviana-------------pindaeua,-------------Edible fruit ----------Cultivated-------ameiju,----Amazon ---------------------------meiju, ---------------------------envireira ---------------------------Po: jaboti, D. stenantha---------------p de------Amazon-----Pulp eaten fresh ---------------------------jaboti, mo ---------------------------de cabra ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Genus Annonaceae http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/genus%20Annonaceae.htm Annonaceae Amer. Genus Species fruit number species ----------Annona----------100----------24 ----------Asimina-----------8-----------2 ----------Duguetia---------70-----------4 ----------Fusaea------------3-----------1 ----------Rollinia---------65-----------9 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Family of Fruit... http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/family.htm FRUITS FROM AMERICA - An ethnobotanical inventory Geo Coppens d'Eeckenbrugge and Dimary Libreros Ferla -------------------- Acca sellowiana -------------------- Acrocomia aculeata -------------------- Acrocomia totai -------------------- Aiphanes aculeata -------------------- Ambelania acida -------------------- Ambelania sagotii -------------------- Amelanchier alnifolia -------------------- Amelanchier alnifolia var. pallida -------------------- Anacardium occidentale -------------------- Ananas comosus -------------------- Annona cherimolia -------------------- Annona montana -------------------- Annona muricata -------------------- Annona reticulata -------------------- Annona squamosa -------------------- Astrocaryum vulgare -------------------- Attalea allenii -------------------- Attalea cohune -------------------- Bactris gasipaes -------------------- Bertholletia excelsa -------------------- Bombacopsis glabra -------------------- Borojoa patinoi -------------------- Borojoa sorbilis -------------------- Bromelia karatas -------------------- Bunchosia armeniaca -------------------- Byrsonima crassifolia -------------------- Calocarpum mammosum -------------------- Calocarpum viride -------------------- Campomanesia lineatifolia -------------------- Carica papaya -------------------- Caryocar glabrum -------------------- Caryocar nuciferum -------------------- Caryocar villosum -------------------- Casimiroa edulis -------------------- Cereus hexagonus -------------------- Chrysobalanus icaco -------------------- Chrysophyllum cainito -------------------- Clidemia biformis -------------------- Clidemia petiolata -------------------- Clidemia rubra -------------------- Coccoloba uvifera -------------------- Couma utilis -------------------- Diospyros digyna -------------------- Duckesia verrucosa -------------------- Duguetia lepidota -------------------- Eugenia dombeyi -------------------- Eugenia latifolia -------------------- Eugenia patrisii -------------------- Eugenia stipitata -------------------- Eugenia uniflora -------------------- Euterpe oleracea -------------------- Genipa americana -------------------- Grias peruviana -------------------- Gustavia macarenensis -------------------- Gustavia superba -------------------- Hancornia speciosa -------------------- Hylocereus triangularis -------------------- Hylocereus undatus -------------------- Inga edulis -------------------- Inga laurina -------------------- Inga meissneriana -------------------- Inga stipularis -------------------- Juglans neotropica -------------------- Lecythis pisonis -------------------- Lucuma obovata -------------------- Malpighia glabra -------------------- Mammea americana -------------------- Manilkara zapota -------------------- Matisia cordata -------------------- Mauritia flexuosa -------------------- Maximiliana maripa -------------------- Melicoccus bijugatus -------------------- Monstera deliciosa -------------------- Myrciaria cauliflora -------------------- Myrciaria dubia -------------------- Oenocarpus bacaba -------------------- Oenocarpus bataua -------------------- Opuntia ficus-indica -------------------- Orbygnia phalerata -------------------- Pachira aquatica -------------------- Passiflora alata -------------------- Passiflora antioquensis -------------------- Passiflora caerulea -------------------- Passiflora capsularis -------------------- Passiflora cincinnata -------------------- Passiflora coccinea -------------------- Passiflora cumbalensis -------------------- Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa -------------------- Passiflora edulis -------------------- Passiflora foetida -------------------- Passiflora gabrielliana -------------------- Passiflora laurifolia -------------------- Passiflora ligularis -------------------- Passiflora maliformis -------------------- Passiflora manicata -------------------- Passiflora mixta -------------------- Passiflora nitida -------------------- Passiflora pergrandis -------------------- Passiflora pinnatistipula -------------------- Passiflora popenovii -------------------- Passiflora quadrangularis -------------------- Passiflora tripartita var. mollissima -------------------- Passiflora tripartita var. tripartita -------------------- Passiflora tarminiana -------------------- Passiflora tiliaefolia -------------------- Patinoa almirajo -------------------- Paullinia cupana -------------------- Persea americana -------------------- Physalis peruviana -------------------- Physalis pubescens -------------------- Platonia insignis -------------------- Poraqueiba sericea -------------------- Pouroma cecropiaefolia -------------------- Pouteria caimito -------------------- Pouteria campechiana -------------------- Pouteria macrocarpa -------------------- Pouteria macrophylla -------------------- Pouteria sapota -------------------- Pouteria speciosa -------------------- Prunus capuli -------------------- Psidium cattleianum -------------------- Psidium guajava -------------------- Rheedia madruno -------------------- Rollinia mucosa -------------------- Rollinia pulchrinervia -------------------- Solanum betaceum -------------------- Solanum muricatum -------------------- Solanum quitoense -------------------- Solanum sessiliflorum -------------------- Solanum stramonifolium -------------------- Spondias mombin -------------------- Spondias purpurea -------------------- Talisia esculenta -------------------- Theobroma bicolor -------------------- Theobroma cacao -------------------- Theobroma grandiflorum -------------------- Vasconcellea cauliflora -------------------- Vasconcellea x heilbornii -------------------- Vasconcellea pubescens -------------------- Am. Families Genera fruit Fact Am. Families Genera fruit Fact species sheets species sheets Adoxaceae 2 7 Hippocrateaceae 3 8 Anacardiaceae 9 25 3 Humiriaceae 4 4 1 Annonaceae 5 41 8 Icacinaceae 2 3 1 Apocynaceae 8 16 4 Juglandaceae 2 14 1 Araceae 5 8 1 Lauraceae 2 7 1 Araucariaceae 1 2 Lecythidaceae 7 27 5 Arecaceae 27 105 12 Malpighiaceae 4 19 3 Berberidaceae 2 10 Melastomataceae 13 43 4 Betulaceae 1 2 Moraceae 12 34 1 Bignoniaceae 1 3 Musaceae 1 1 Bombacaceae 4 10 4 Myrsinaceae 1 6 Boraginaceae 4 15 Myrtaceae 13 102 10 Bromeliaceae 6 19 2 Nympheaceae 1 2 Burseraceae 3 9 Olacaceae 1 2 Cactaceae 22 75 4 Onagraceae 1 5 Capparidaceae 3 6 Passifloraceae 1 58 25 Caricaceae 4 13 4 Polygonaceae 2 16 1 Caryocaraceae 1 8 3 Proteaceae 1 1 Chrysobalanaceae 4 17 1 Quiinaceae 3 3 Clusiaceae 4 11 3 Rhamnaceae 4 12 Convolvulaceae 1 1 Rosaceae 7 84 3 Cornaceae 1 1 Rubiaceae 9 19 3 Cucurbitaceae 1 1 Rutaceae 1 3 1 Cupressaceae 1 1 Sapindaceae 4 15 3 Dilleniaceae 2 3 Sapotaceae 13 60 9 Ebenaceae 1 6 1 Solanaceae 3 26 7 Elaeagnaceae 1 2 Sterculiaceae 3 21 3 Ericaceae 10 28 Tiliaceae 2 2 Euphorbiaceae 5 8 Ulmaceae 4 9 Fabaceae 9 62 4 Verbenaceae 2 12 Fagaceae 1 2 Violaceae 2 3 Flacourtiaceae 4 7 Vitaceae 1 9 Gnetaceae 2 9 Vochysiaceae 1 1 Grossulariaceae 1 9 ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Duguetia lepidota AKA Yara yara - Fruit "very-very good" http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/Ficha%20Duguetia%20lepidota.htm FRUITS FROM AMERICA An ethnobotanical inventory Geo Coppens d'Eeckenbrugge and Dimary Libreros Ferla Duguetia lepidota (Miquel) Pulle (Annonaceae) Contributed by Maurizio G. Paoletti (identification of the species by Prof. P.J.M. Maas) Common names: Yara yara (as named by the Piaroa Indians of the Upper Orinoco). Origin and geographical distribution : Upper Orinoco (Venezuela). Status: Wild. Observed in the forest. May be known by the Yanomamo and Baniwa but not frequent and not many villagers know it. As far as I know, it is not grown in the slash-burn gardens or in the backyard gardens. The fruits, 10-12 cm in diameter, are very-very good and nicely flavoured to eat. Medicinal properties are also recorded. Any further information on this species would be appreciated. Prof. Dr. Maurizio G. Paoletti Dipartimento di Biologia, Universit di Padova-Italy e-mail: paoletti@civ.bio.unipd.it Copyright CIRAD-FLHOR/IPGRI Project for Neotropical Fruits, 2000. All rights reserved. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Last Call for Tropical Fruit Trips with Santol Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 12:43:40 -0400 From: "Santol" Hello everyone, Please forgive the fact that this E-mail is a form letter (and please forgive any duplicate E-mail you may receive). This spring's set of tropical fruit trips begins very soon, on Saturday May 18. If you have been considering going on the trips, now is the time to let me know. All the details are on my web site. You can go right to it by clicking on the following link: http://www.tropfruit.com/troptrip.html There have been a couple of changes since my original E-mail to you, plus one additional "surprise" stop. You are sure to find the experience well worth it. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions, or wish to let me know you want to join in. My number is (954) 964-9718. I hope to see you with us. Sincerely, Bruce Livingston >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< None this time >>>>>> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <<<<<< None this time >>> Discussion list for New Crops <<< None this time >>> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <<< None this time >> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars << http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. Subject: Detecting a Weed From the Air Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 07:25:59 -0400 From: "ARS News Service" Infestations of giant salvinia, one of the world's worst water weeds, might be more easily detected using airborne color-infrared photography. This fern, known to scientists as Salvinia molesta, forms dense mats in ponds, lakes and reservoirs. The mats use up oxygen that fish, insects and other aquatic dwellers require. They also clog irrigation and electrical-generating systems and snarl swimming, boating and waterskiing. Color-infrared photography, taken from aircraft-mounted cameras, is a fast and affordable way to find and monitor the notorious weed. That is according to Agricultural Research Service rangeland scientist James H. Everitt. He is based at the ARS Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco, Texas. With colleagues from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Everitt tests remote sensing techniques to spot salvinia outbreaks. In these experiments, Everitt has analyzed color-infrared photographs of salvinia in several lakes and ponds near Liberty and Bridge City in southeast Texas. Color-infrared photography has been used for decades to differentiate among types of vegetation, based on the amount of light that each reflects. But, Everitt and co-researchers are likely the first in the world to use color-infrared photos successfully to observe salvinia outbreaks. Everitt is currently exploring the possibility of combining color-infrared video--instead of photography--with global positioning and geographic information system technologies. He says the updated package could enable researchers and waterway managers to find giant salvinia outbreaks faster than if they used ground surveys. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Insect Remains Are Better Suited' for Fight Against Pests Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 09:26:42 -0400 From: ARS News Service Jim Core, (301) 504-1619, jcore@ars.usda.gov May 13, 2002 ___________________________________________ A team of Agricultural Research Service scientists has developed a patented formula that coats and holds fragile insect cadavers together. Why preserve dead bugs? Not for the cadavers, but for the nematodes inside them. These nematodes are beneficial because they kill pests but don't harm humans or the environment. Beneficial nematode offspring escape their deceased hosts when placed in orchards or greenhouse soils. The nematodes then protect crops such as citrus, pecans, cranberries, greenhouse ornamentals and mushrooms from soil-dwelling pests like citrus root and black vine weevils. The nematodes also pack another potent weapon against pests: bacteria that live inside them. Once the nematode infects an insect pest, the bacteria leave the nematode and they both, working together, kill the pest after about 48 hours. The nematodes and bacteria then feed off their host and reproduce inside it. The usual method of releasing nematodes into a desired environment is through a liquid spray solution, but this is often more expensive than chemical insecticides. The cadaver method allows many more nematodes to be reared in insects at a lower cost, according to David I. Shapiro-Ilan, a research entomologist at the Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory in Byron, Ga. A patented starch-and-clay coating was developed to protect the insect cadavers from deterioration. Shapiro-Ilan collaborated with Edwin E. Lewis, a professor of entomology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., and other ARS researchers to find a way to successfully formulate cadavers using sticking agents and powders. The coating makes it easier to store and handle the cadavers and also improves tolerance to environmental extremes. When the surface becomes moist, the coating degrades rapidly because it is made from environmentally friendly materials. H&T Alternative Controls, LLC, of Perry, Ga., recently signed a cooperative research and development agreement with ARS--the chief scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture--to mass-rear nematodes and produce infected cadavers. More information can be found in the May 2002 issue of Agricultural Research magazine, available on the web at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may02/insect0502.htm <><><><><><><><> End of RFN2000205B.txt <><><><><><><><><><><> Rare Fruit News Online - June 1, 2002 - AKA RFN200206A.txt <><><><> Notes In Passing - Leo <><><><> Yard Tour and/or Plant Sale At Home Of Leo Manuel June 8, 9, or.... See Announcements Section. Snail Tests - Decollate Snails: When Alice Snow brought me some Decollate snails, I put them in a plastic bucket with damp soil in the bottom, and put an adhesive copper tape strip about one inch wide just below the top, going all around the interior. I found a half-dozen European snails of various sizes and a few slugs to put in the bucket, to see how many would be left the next day. The European snails were much more active and the daybreak found them across on the other side of the copper 'barrier' on the net I had stretched across the top. None of the European snails had been attacked. I crushed each one, putting the wet bodies back in the bottom of the pot. Now, the Decollate snails congregated about, feasting on them, but aren't they supposed to take care of the larger variety without help? What has been your experience? Have you found the copper tape to be effective? July 1 Newsletter May Be Late I'm going to visit my father in Missouri in late June, and won't be back until late on June 30. This will probably cause the newsletter to be a little late. -> -> -> Messages follow the Table Of Contents <- <- <- <><><> New Subscribers <><><> New Subscriber, Canada, Likes To Eat Pitaya Jonathan Wiznuk New Subscriber, FL, Has Mangoes, Coconut, .... Juan Martin New Subscriber, Australia, Interested In Dragon Fruit David Boehme New Subscriber, NJ, To Plant Trees In Hawaii Judi Steinman & Paul Janes <><><> Readers Write <><><> Re: What's happening at your place? Ben Pierce Avocados Lee & Lou To: mshugart@ucsd.edu> Re: avocados Matthew Shugart To: leelou@pacbell.net Re: avocados Lee & Lou To: Matthew Shugart Re: avocados Matthew Shugart To: leelou@pacbell.net Avocado Info David Silverstein RE: Avocado Variety -- Recommendations Silverstein, David E (EFDSW) To: 'David Stottlemyer' RE: Avocado Variety -- Recommendations David Stottlemyer [mailto:Davids@ucrac1.ucr.edu] To: Silverstein, David E (EFDSW) Avocado Variety -- Recommendations David Stottlemyer [mailto:Davids@ucrac1.ucr.edu] To: Silverstein, David E (EFDSW) Nematodes David Silverstein Re: Steinernema feltiae Dawn H. Gouge [mailto:dhgouge@ag.arizona.edu] To: Silverstein, David E (EFDSW) Steinernema feltiae Silverstein, David E (EFDSW) To: Dawn H. Gouge [mailto:dhgouge@ag.arizona.edu] White Mulberry Edmond Lanclos American or Mexican Hawthorn - I'd Like To Buy Young Tree Leo Manuel To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org Re: jambolan Lon J. Rombough To: j k Jambolan j k Florida Lychee Grower Wants Recipies For Jelly, Jam, .... Brian Simmons <><> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <><> None, this time <><><> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <><><> Yard Tour and/or Plant Sale At Home Of Leo Manuel Symantec Security Response - W32.Klez.E@mm http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.klez.e@mm.html <><><> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <><><> None, this time <><><> NAFEX List <><><> None, this time <><><> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <><><> None, this time <><><> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <><><> None, this time <> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov <> http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm Spray Weeds With Vinegar? ARS News Service National Arboretum Still Beautiful at 75 ARS News Service New Trap To Control Silverleaf Whiteflies ARS News Service <><><><><><><><> New Subscribers <><><><><><><><><> Subject: New Subscriber, Canada, Likes To Eat Pitaya From: "Jonathan Wiznuk" Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 23:41:50 -0400 Hey there, I just ran into your website at rarefruit.com. While searching for dragon fruit. Ive bought Dragan Fruit a few times at my local grocery store. Each time I go shopping I try one new fruit Ive never tasted. I was pleasantly surprised when first tasting the Pitaya. There was no big pits or seeds the whole thing was nice, white, juicy fruit with little seeds kinda like a Kiwi. They sell for 6.99/pound here in Toronto/Canada.the most expensive fruit Ive tried although worth it in taste. I guess importing them from Vietnam or wherever they import them from costs quite a bit. The variety of fruits we have on this earth sure is amazing! My email addresss for receiving the newsletter is fruit@jonwiz.com I also have a Multimedia Company and I produce websites, etc. If your server supports PHP, I could create a simple message board/guestbook with php/flash, so that people could post thoughts and questions directly from your site. Let me know if youd like me to do something like that. I could do it for free, as long as I could put a link to my website. Thanks Jonathan mailto:jonwiz@rogers.com http://www.jonwiz.com/ ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, FL, Has Mangoes, Coconut, .... Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 09:59:06 -0700 (PDT) From: Juan Martin Yes I am interested in receiving your Rare Fruit Newsletter Online. My Name is Juan Manuel Martin Garcia Hollywood, FL. 33024 I am growing tropical fruits. Mangoes, Avocados, Sugar Apple, Lichee, Mamey, Coconut, Tamarindo, Caimito, etc. I don't have much experiences in taking good care of those tropical fruits and I am interested in learning. I will appreciate your Newsletter, knowled and advice. Thank you Juan mailto:jmartin1856@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, Australia, Interested In Dragon Fruit From: "David Boehme" Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 12:07:44 +0930 Hi there, Great to find your web site. I would like to subscribe to the newsletter. At present we are just establishing some plantings in the Darwin region of NT australia. Our highest interest at the present is Dragon Fruit and we are desperate for information and sources of material. It would seem there are a few varieties that we should trial. The second interest is papaya which we have a small trial in and the 3 is Rollinia. followed by everything and anything to eat. look forward to hearing any information you might have. Thanks David and Tamara mailto:dboe@bigpond.com ------------------------------------------------ From: "Judi Steinman & Paul Janes" Subject: New Subscriber, NJ, To Plant Trees In Hawaii Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 22:26:14 -0400 My name is Judi Steinman and my husband is Paul Janes. We live in Neshanic Station New Jersey and have bought twelve acres in Laupahoehoe on the Big Island of Hawaii. This is along the Hamakua coast and was sugar cane until we put cattle on the land and they have eaten down most of the cane. Our property is around 1300 foot elevation and we get 75 to 100 inches of rain a year. We do not currently grow fruit trees but we are planning to plant some of the Hawaii property with fruit trees. We have been advised to plant longon (or is it longan?) and mangosteens at our elevation. We would greatly appreciate information from anyone about other fruit producing trees that would do well in our environment. We are interested in learning as much as we can as to what crops are profitable, interesting to grow, disease resistant, etc. We were told that ramutans won't do well at our elevation, but would appreciate input from others on this topic. As we say in Hawaii, mahalo! Judi Steinman & Paul Janes mailto:pbjxs@net-lynx.com <><><><><><><><><> Readers Write<><><><><><><><><><> Subject: Re: What's happening at your place? Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 14:27:42 +0000 From: "Ben Pierce" Hi Leo, Everything is starting to take off around here. It looks like a good year for the higher-chill fruit. My Tilton apricot has more fruit on it than the Katy. My Asian pears have a lot of fruit set. Even the Flavor Supreme pluot had more buds on it this year than last. Still it hasnt set any fruit yet. The Flavor King pluot has a lot of fruit on it. A white apricot I grafted on last year Supkhany looks like it is going to do well here in San Marcos. It has lots of fruit. Don't know how much different it will look and taste but I have heard it is a white apricot. Also, My Ice Cream banana fruited this year as well. My grafts that I did only had about a 50% take rate. I wonder if that was due to the weather? Tried grafting some peaches this year but the only one that took was Pallas. My Pitahaya are starting to have lots of side shoots. One question for the readers? Does anyone out there have the following peach or nectarine varieties or know of a source that does? El Dulce Peach Eagle Beak Peach Peregrine Peach Tashkent Gold Nectarine Samarkand Nectarine I would like to try doing some summer budding and if those don't take then I would like to try to graft some of these in the spring. Ben Pierce mailto:mariposafamily@hotmail.com> ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Avocados Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 06:58:54 -0700 From: Lee & Lou To: mshugart@ucsd.edu Hi, I have a stuart and a pinkerton in the same hole for a year. The Stuart is really an attractive avocado tree--not lanky like all the rest. Stuart is doing better than Pinkerton. Pinkerton died back from our frost even though i wrapped the trunk BUT is making a comeback. Stuart was not bothered by the frost. Still no fruit as of yet. What are you feeding it? Elaine mailto:leelou@pacbell.net Northern California ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: avocados Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 11:12:18 -0700 From: Matthew Shugart To: "leelou@pacbell.net" Elaine, Yes, Stuart is certainly one of the more sturdy looking and attractive avocado trees. As for feeding, I give my avocados a strict organic diet. I have used Whitney Farms Citrus and Avocado Food with pretty good results, although in my sandy soil I have to add lots of chelated micronutrients (e.g. True Green). Last year I switched to just blood meal and they seemed happier--less yellowing from deficiencies. Maybe the Whitney Farms is not high enough in nitrogen? Of course, mulching is the real key. I keep a good blanket of organic matter around them. Matthew mailto:mshugart@ucsd.edu ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: avocados Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 06:59:18 -0700 From: Lee & Lou To: Matthew Shugart Matthew: I would be interested to hear your rating of the fruit quality of your avocados, esp. the Stuart since I don't know anyone who has (knowingly) tasted one. I am using alfalfa as a cover crop around the avocados to per last months article in CRFG that it somehow stimulates and increases fruit production. Also, various sources say Stuarts are A and some say they are B... further inquiry indicated that they have both A and B flower, so should be great pollenizers for other avocados. Elaine mailto:leelou@pacbell.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: avocados Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 09:33:02 -0700 From: Matthew Shugart To: "leelou@pacbell.net" Elaine, I have tasted Stuart. It has a very rich nutty flavor. One of the best avocados I've ever tasted. I had a sample of one at the South Coast test station in Irvine during a tour after the CRFG annual meeting several years ago when it was held in Orange County. That's why I decided it was a variety I had to have! I have also heard that it is unknown what flower type Stuart has. Matthew mailto:mshugart@ucsd.edu ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Avocado Info Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 15:15:00 -0700 From: David E. Silverstein Leo: Attached is a string of e-mails I accumulated when I made some inquiries on Avocado varieties. You are welcome to use it in the newsletter if you think there'd be interest. David mailto:bentleye@cox.net -----Original Message----- From: David E. Silverstein Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 9:08 AM To: 'David Stottlemyer' Subject: RE: Avocado Variety -- Recommendations Thanks. You have been very helpful. I feel like I got a lucky break with the Kona Sharwil. David E. Silverstein mailto:bentleye@cox.net -----Original Message----- From: David Stottlemyer [mailto:Davids@ucrac1.ucr.edu] Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 7:35 AM To: David E. Silverstein Subject: RE: Avocado Variety -- Recommendations David, Your Kona Sharwil from Exotica Nursery are probably the only Sharwils propagated in California! You are lucky to get them! As to the Reed - yes, along with many other avocado varieties, the Reed will lose its leaves when it flowers heavily (Hass does this also). The tree will put on new leaves with the spring flush that should start pretty soon. Sometimes, if the temperature heats up and the days are clear and sunny, the tender trunk and branches exposed to the direct sunlight are susceptible to sunburn (damage shows up as dark, black dying areas on the branches or trunk). If this happens to one of your trees, you can protect it by using white latex paint diluted with water - about 1 part latex to 5 parts water. Paint the trunk and exposed branches. This will protect the exposed tissues until the tree can leaf out and protect itself. Hope this helps. David mailto:Davids@ucrac1.ucr.edu | Thanks for your answer on this. | | I have settled on a Sharwil and a Reed. They have a Sharwil tree | at Exotica Nursery in Vista. Few other people had even heard of | Kona Sharwil. It happene that Exotica was doing grafting | instruction on Saturday and since I asked, they used wood from | the Sharwil for demonstration purposes. Exotica grafted several | five gallon seedlings. I got a nice stout looking one along with | some budwood and grafting instruction as well. I also intend to | get a 15 gallon Reed, but Exotica had none. At this point I | think that I'll just plant my little Sharwil a couple feet | southeast of the Reed and kind of let the trees grow together. Or | I might graft some of my budwood to the Reed and give the little | Sharwil away if the grafts take. | | One other question. The only 15 gallon Reeds I've seen in | nurseries in the last week or so have spent flowers on them and | no leaves. They look pretty sad. The nursery people tell me that | they lose their leaves in the spring and then sometimes don't | leaf out again until they are done flowering. Is this true? The | little five gallon reeds all look like they have nice new leaves | on them. | | Thanks again. | | David E. Silverstein mailto:bentleye@cox.net -----Original Message----- From: David Stottlemyer [mailto:Davids@ucrac1.ucr.edu] Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 2:56 PM To: David E. Silverstein Subject: Avocado Variety -- Recommendations || David, || || The Kona Sharwil is a very good 'B' flower tree but || obtaining it might be something of a problem as I don't || believe any nursery is propagating it at this time. We do || have Kona Sharwil in our germplasm collection but you would || have to contact Dr. Arpaia for permission to receive budwood || for this variety. || || As far as 'A' type flower varieties, any of the ones you || mentioned would be fine - but Ardith will be hard to locate. || Of the others, I would give the highest marks to XX3 and || Reed - the XX3 having just been released to nurseries will || not be available till spring of 2003 but it is an excellent || fruit on a naturally small tree. Both Reed and XX3 are ripe || in the fall. The Gwen is another excellent tasting variety || on a small tree - but it does have one drawback - if climate || conditions change suddenly it has a tendency to drop its || leaves. This may not be a problem in your San Diego area. || The Lamb is also a good choice. Just be aware that the Lamb || avocados size up and look ripe on the tree BEFORE they are || actually ready to be picked and eaten. They get large and || black, so people pick them - and when they soften, they do || not taste good. With the Lamb you need to wait later in the || season before you harvest them. In most areas they do not || start tasting good till July or later. || || Hope this helps. || || David Stottlemyer mailto:Davids@ucrac1.ucr.edu || At 6:06 PM -0700 5/7/02, Silverstein, David E (EFDSW) wrote: ||| Hi. Could you recomend a couple of Avocado Varieties for ||| backyard planting? ||| ||| I have a backyard two blocks from the ocean in San Diego. ||| We have a cool overcast spring and early summer, and a warm ||| but not hot summer that extends through October. Winters ||| pretty much never get below 40 degrees. ||| ||| I would like two small trees, an A and a B flowered type to ||| plant close to one another, possibly right in the same hole. ||| I am interested in getting fruit of excellent flavor and ||| texture and stretching out my season so as not to be glutted ||| all at once with quick spoiling fruit. Productivity needs ||| to be good, but I am really only looking to supply my family ||| and give a few away so I don't need the heaviest producer. ||| I am also willing to look at more medium sized trees if ||| their size is reasonably controlable by pruning. It would ||| also be interesting to get away from common commercial ||| varieties, but not essential. ||| ||| I've looked at the recomendations on the CRFG website and ||| tentatively favor Kona Sharwil as a B tree, and Lamb Hass, ||| Reed, XX3, Ardith or Gwen for an A tree. Any comments on ||| these good or bad would also be appreciated. ||| ||| Thanks in advance for whatever guidance you can give. I ||| know some of this stuff is pretty subjective so I'm just ||| taking it into consideration, not blindly relying on it. If ||| you'd prefer to call rather than E-mail you can reach me at ||| the number below. (This is my daytime, work number.) ||| ||| David E. Silverstein mailto:bentleye@cox.net ||| ||| -- http://www.ucavo.ucr.edu ||| ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Nematodes From: David Silverstein Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 15:21:19 -0700 This is a short exchange I had with a nematologist at the University of Arizona. It might also be of some general interest. David mailto:bentleye@cox.net -----Original Message----- From: Dawn H. Gouge [mailto:dhgouge@ag.arizona.edu] Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 1:12 PM To: David E. Silverstein Subject: Re: Steinernema feltiae Hello David, Actually S. feltiae and several other Steinernematid nematodes seem to have a beneficial effect. We really do not know why some plant feeding nematodes are reduced by Steinernematids (there are a bunch of different theories), but I can say that I have seen several data sets (some of my own) which show an empirical benefit when combating RKNs. Go for it!! Dawn mailto:dhgouge@ag.arizona.edu ----- Original Message ----- From: David E. Silverstein To: Dawn H. Gouge [mailto:dhgouge@ag.arizona.edu] Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 1:57 PM Subject: Steinernema feltiae Professor Gouge: | | I have seen the subject nematode marketed as a remedy for | root knot nematodes in home garden soils. I most recently | saw this on biopest.com. I live in Southern California and | have a lot of root knot problems. I did use this or a | similar product one year and experienced better than average | yields of tomatoes, but that may have been a weather | dependent coincidence. I'm curious as to whether this little | critter has any documented efficacy against root knot, | whether this is just hype for the hopeful. Do you know | anything about this? Can you point me to any publications? | | David E. Silverstein mailto:bentleye@cox.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: White Mulberry Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 14:11:29 -0700 (PDT) From: Edmond Lanclos Dear Leo, Do any of your subscribers know of a source for the "Shatoot" - Morus Macroura mulberry? I live in south central Louisiana. Any lead would be appreciated. Thanks. E. Lanclos mailto:edlanclos@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: American or Mexican Hawthorn - I'd Like To Buy Young Tree Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 11:38:24 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org I would like to find either American Hawthorn or Mexican Hawthorn. Do you know where I can find a young tree to ship into California? Will they grow readily from cuttings? If so, then a source of good cuttings would be great. Thanks in advance, Leo Manuel ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: jambolan Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 10:12:04 -0700 From: "Lon J. Rombough" To: Junaid Kamal Sorry, but I don't handle it. I suggest you visit www.crfg.org for sources. I am also forwarding your letter to someone who may be able to help. Lon Rombough mailto:lonrom@hevanet.com ---------- From: "j k" Subject: jambolan Date: Wed, May 22, 2002, 9:49 AM Hi Do you grow jambolan, the one that is mostly found in india... if so I would like to order some. I am in Houston, TX. Junaid Kamal mailto:imgs2000@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Florida Lychee Grower Wants Recipies For Jelly, Jam, .... Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 15:15:50 -0400 From: Brian Simmons We are lychee growers in south Florida. We are looking for lychee recipes for jelly, jams and preserves that can be canned. Can you help us. Thank You Brian & Jessica Simmons mailto:narleyharley@msn.com <><> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <><> None this time <><><><><><><><> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <><><><><><><><> Yard Tour and/or Plant Tour (Your Choice) June 8 and 9 at my home in Rancho Peasquitos San Diego(near intersection of Carmel Mountain Road and Black Mountain Rd. Address: 9028 Sundance Court, Zip 92129. (858) 484-9280 Below is some preliminary information about plants that may be available. I'll probably be home Thursday, Friday, or Monday, (June 6, 7, 10) by appointment. (Phone or email: leom@rarefruit.com) I will also try to have copies of Paul Thomson's booklet, "Pitahaya - A Promising New Fruit Crop For Southern California" which I am selling for Paul. It is now out of print, so the cost is now $13 of which $10 goes to Paul. With each copy bought at my home, I will give a cutting (probably rooted) of one of Paul's special pitayas. More complete email list should be ready by Wednesday, June 5. Plant---------------Variety Bamboo--------------Clumping - Rooted Bananas-------------Dwf Colorado Blanco (may have dug by then) Bananas-------------Dwf Jamaican Red Bananas-------------Gold Finger Bananas-------------Raja Puri Begonia-------------Angel Wing Black Walnut--------Seedlings Capulin Cherry------Seedlings Cherimoya-----------Grafted May have Cherimoya-----------Seedlings Guava---------------Air Layers May have Guava---------------Seedlings Hardy Kiwi----------'Ken's Red' Jackfruit------------Seedlings Kei Apple------------Seedlings Longan---------------Air Layer 'Kohala' May have Lychee --------------Seedlings - 'Emperor' Malabar Chestnut ----Seedlings Mango Grafted--------Nam Doc Mai May have Mango Grafted--------Pen Seng Mon May have Mango----------------Seedling 'Thomson' (polyembryonic) Nectarine -----------Seedlings Low Chill Passiflora (Passion Fruit) Pitanga -------------Seedlings Lolita Pitanga -------------Seedlings misc Pitanga -------------Seedlings Vermillion Pitaya - Dragon Fruit---Several Most were developed by Paul Thomson ------------------------Price Range: $5 to $25 Pitaya -----------------Selenicereus Megalanthus Rose Apple--------------Seedlings Thornless Blackberry----'Apache' White Flowering Ginger White Sapote Seedlings Yellow Strawberry Guava--Large fruit, small seed; from Exotica ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Symantec Security Response - W32.Klez.E@mm Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 11:20:37 -0700 From: Leo Manuel http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.klez.e@mm.html .. Klez-E, Win32.Klez.E, I-Worm.Klez.E Variants: W32.Klez.H@mm Type: Virus, Worm Systems Affected ... 2000, Windows XP, Windows Me Systems Not Affected: Macintosh. ... W32.Klez.E@mm [Category 3] Discovered on: January 17, 2002 Last Updated on: May 14, 2002 at 11:38:19 AM PDT Due to an increased rate of submissions, Symantec Security Response is upgrading the threat level for W32.Klez.E@mm from level 2 to level 3 as of March 6, 2002. W32.Klez.E@mm is similar to W32.Klez.A@mm. It is a mass-mailing email worm that also attempts to copy itself to network shares. The worm uses random subject lines, message bodies, and attachment file names. The worm exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express in an attempt to execute itself when you open or even preview the message in which it is contained. Information and a patch for the vulnerability are available at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-020.asp. The worm overwrites files and creates hidden copies of the originals. In addition, the worm drops the virus W32.Elkern.3587, which is similar to W32.ElKern.3326. The worm attempts to disable some common antivirus products and has a payload which fills files with all zeroes. Removal tool Symantec has provided a tool to remove infections of all known variants of W32.Klez and W32.ElKern. Click here to obtain the tool. This is the easiest way to remove these threats and should be tried first. Note on W32.Klez.gen@mm detections: W32.Klez.gen@mm is a generic detection that detects variants of W32.Klez. Computers that are infected with W32.Klez.gen@mm have most likely been exposed to either W32.Klez.E@mm or W32.Klez.H@mm. If your computer is detected as infected with W32.Klez.gen@mm, download and run the tool. In most cases, the tool will be able to remove the infection. Also Known As: W32/Klez.e@MM, WORM_KLEZ.E, Klez.E, W32/Klez-E, Win32.Klez.E, I-Worm.Klez.E Variants: W32.Klez.H@mm Type: Virus, Worm Systems Affected: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Me Systems Not Affected: Macintosh [protection] * Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater)* January 17, 2002 [Image] * Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate)** January 23, 2002 [Image] * Intelligent Updater virus definitions are released daily, but require manual download and installation. Click here to download manually. ** LiveUpdate virus definitions are usually released every Wednesday. Click here for instructions on using LiveUpdate. <><><><><><><><> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <><><><><><><><> None this time <><><> NAFEX List See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nafex <><><> None this time <><> Discussion list for New Crops <><> None this time <><> [rarefruit] List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rarefruit <><> None this time <> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. Subject: Spray Weeds With Vinegar? Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 09:40:31 -0400 From: ARS News Service Some home gardeners already use vinegar as a herbicide, and some garden stores sell vinegar pesticides. But no one has tested it scientifically until now. Agricultural Research Service scientists offer the first scientific evidence that it may be a potent weedkiller that is inexpensive and environmentally safe--perfect for organic farmers. ARS researchers Jay Radhakrishnan, John R. Teasdale and Ben Coffman in Beltsville, Md., tested vinegar on major weeds--common lamb's-quarters, giant foxtail, velvetleaf, smooth pigweed and Canada thistle--in greenhouse and field studies. They hand-sprayed the weeds with various solutions of vinegar, uniformly coating the leaves. The researchers found that 5- and 10-percent concentrations killed the weeds during their first two weeks of life. Older plants required higher concentrations of vinegar to kill them. At the higher concentrations, vinegar had an 85- to 100-percent kill rate at all growth stages. A bottle of household vinegar is about a 5-percent concentration. Canada thistle, one of the most tenacious weeds in the world, proved the most susceptible; the 5-percent concentration had a 100-percent kill rate of the perennial's top growth. The 20-percent concentration can do this in about 2 hours. Spot spraying of cornfields with 20 percent vinegar killed 80 to 100 percent of weeds without harming the corn, but the scientists stress the need for more research. If the vinegar were sprayed over an entire field, it would cost about $65 per acre. If applied to local weed infestations only, such as may occur in the crop row after cultivation, it may only cost about $20 to $30. The researchers use only vinegar made from fruits or grains, to conform to organic farming standards. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: National Arboretum Still Beautiful at 75 Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 08:06:42 -0400 From: "ARS News Service" The U.S. National Arboretum, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, has some impressive numbers to show for three-quarters of a century in the nation's capital. Each year, more than half a million visitors from all parts of the world come to view the 9,000 different kinds of plants growing inside the arboretum's 446 acres in Washington, D.C., showing that the arboretum is a valuable facility for both research and public education. More than 250,000 visit "virtually," through the World Wide Web at http://www.usna.usda.gov, to ask questions about the arboretum and gardening. Scientists in the arboretum's Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit use classical breeding, genetic engineering, molecular biology, entomology and virology to solve horticultural problems encountered by industry professionals as well as by recreational gardeners. Topping the list of industry needs is finding hardy plants that are resistant to diseases and pests. Researchers recently used a technique called polymerase chain reaction to confirm the presence of plum pox virus, detect different strains and assess their potential damage to host plants. This virus is of great concern to the stone fruit industry that includes plums, peaches, apricots and nectarines. Developing elm trees resistant to Dutch elm disease and preserving the historic Yoshino cherry trees that ring Washington's Tidal Basin are two of the arboretum's best-known recent accomplishments. But over the course of its history, the arboretum and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which administers the arboretum, have introduced more than 665 new plant releases and have secured 13 patents and two Environmental Protection Agency biopesticide registrations. A more in-depth article about the arboretum appears in the May issue of Agricultural Research magazine, available on the web at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may02/arbor0502.htm ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Trap To Control Silverleaf Whiteflies Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 09:31:35 -0400 From: ARS News Service A new inexpensive, environmentally friendly trap developed by Agricultural Research Service scientists in Phoenix, Ariz., captures pesky silverleaf whiteflies that cause millions of dollars a year in damage to field and greenhouse crops. The trap was developed by plant physiologist Chang-Chi Chu and Thomas Henneberry, director of the ARS Western Cotton Research Laboratory in Phoenix. The new trap is an improvement on their CC Trap developed in 1996 to monitor whiteflies in the field. The new trap is known as a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Equipped CC (LED-CC) Trap. The original trap only captured enough whiteflies to be used for monitoring whitefly population levels. But the new version captures so many whiteflies--in the greenhouse and outdoors--that it has potential to be used in control programs, not just for monitoring population levels. The new trap contains a green LED light that has been used as a pilot light in many types of electronic equipment and appliances. The whiteflies are attracted to this light and then get caught in the trap, which looks like an overturned plastic cup with a yellow ring on the bottom. The LED-CC trap works especially well at night in attracting whiteflies. Also, LED-CC traps are inexpensive and durable. Chu points out that one of the major benefits of the LED-CC Trap is that it is "whitefly parasite friendly"--unlike many other traps on the market. That means the new trap will control whiteflies without harming beneficial insects that attack whiteflies. The new trap also captures and kills whiteflies without the use of pesticides. The original CC trap, used for field monitoring, pinpointed infestations so that farmers could then initiate control actions based on the severity of the infestation. The original CC Trap was a definite improvement on the popular yellow sticky card trap that caught other insects, as well as dust. Scientists and farmers are just starting to receive information about the LED-CC Trap, but there is already high initial interest because of the trap's potential for controlling whiteflies. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. This item is one of the news releases and story leads that ARS Information distributes on weekdays to fax and e-mail subscribers. You can also get the latest ARS news on the World Wide Web at www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm. * Feedback and questions to ARS News Service via e-mail: Info@ars.usda.gov. * ARS Information Staff, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Room 1-2251, Beltsville MD 20705-5128, (301) 504- 1617, fax 504-1648. <><><><><><><><><> End of RFN2000206A.txt <><><><><><><><><><> Rare Fruit News Online - June 15, 2002 - AKA RFN200206B.txt <><><><> Notes In Passing - Leo <><><><> June 29, Saturday, is the 86th birthday of Paul Thomson, one of the two co-founders of CRFG. An attempt to organize a birthday celebration is underway, but you may write or call him: Paul H. Thomson, 4339 Holly Lane, Bonsall, CA 92003-7108 (760) 758-0054. He is somewhat discouraged at the damage his pitaya suffered last winter. I'm sure he would be pleased at being remembered. Lots of information in this issue on Slugs, Snails, and their control. There's a nematode effective in controlling them, but it's not available yet in the U.S. In a new 'Recipe' section are many recipies for Bananas - both using the fruit, and parts of the plant. These are reprinted from an earlier Rare Fruit News Online Some of you may find mail addressed to me will be returned. If that happens, I would like to know about it, and you can reach me at the Yahoo alternate mailto:leo92129@yahoo.com. For some reason people writing with an AOL.com address more often have problems with mail getting through. While I don't check the Yahoo address as often, I will get it, and really would like to know so I can find out from my server why there is a problem. -> -> -> Messages follow the Table Of Contents <- <- <- <><><> New Subscribers <><><> New Subscriber, Chula Vista, CA Want Care Information Bob Luce New Subscriber, AU, Looks For Rare Fruit Clubs Down Under "Kerri Daniel" <><><> Readers Write <><><> Nannyberry Question Margaret re: Peaches - Locating Them Eunice Messner re: Avocados - Stuart vs Stewart, etc. Eunice Messner re: RootKnot Nematodes - Where To Get Help Eunice Messner To: David Pepino Dulce in Israel Dr. David Levy Jambolan Maurice Kong Re: curled citrus leaves; nightsoil for lychee lee & lou Re: curled citrus leaves; nightsoil for lychee Leo Manuel To: lee & lou Avocado info "Alan Schroeder" To: David Web Sources Of Tropical Fruit Information Dan Polyembryonic Mango Question; Carambola, Sapodilla Report Todd Abel Re: Polyembryonic Mango Question; Carambola, Sapodilla Report Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel RE: Polyembryonic Mango Question; Carambola, Sapodilla Report Todd Abel White Sapote Scion Wood Todd Abel Jambolan Information Via Dr. Parmer, India "vic" To: Re: Copper and Snails Dmshuck@aol.com Re: Copper and Snails Dmshuck@aol.com <><> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <><> None, this time <><><> Recipies <><><> Banana Recipies Collected [Reprinted From Earlier RFNO] <><><> Announcements and / or Web Sites To Consider <><><> Upcoming Florida event - Fruit Fiesta - June 29 Welcome to www.rareplants.de - where nature is at home http://www.rareplants.de/e_index.htm Tropical Fruits http://www.rareplants.de/plants/seeds/tropical_fruits.htm Molluscicidal Nematodes for Biological Control of Pest Slugs http://slosson.ucdavis.edu/pdf/99-00/Kaya99.pdf SlugFest - Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/957/19586 Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/pathogens/phasmarhabditis_h.html Bruce Zimmerman | Those Creepy Slimy Sneaky Slugs & Snails http://www.brucezimmerman.com/SNAILS_AND_SLUGS.htm <><><> Zingiber List (Bananas, Gingers) <><><> None, this time <><><> NAFEX List <><><> None, this time <><><> From NEWCROPS List mailto:newcrops@purdue.edu <><><> None, this time <><><> From "rarefruit list" - rarefruit@yahoogroups.com <><><> None, this time <> Agricultural Research Service (ARS) mailto:ars>news@arsgrin.gov <> http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm Watermelon Shows Its Lycopene Stripes ARS News Service E-mail Lists Tell What's New for Kids at Science Web Sites ARS News Service <><><><><><><><> New Subscribers <><><><><><><><><> Subject: New Subscriber, Chula Vista, CA Want Care Information Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2002 13:42:34 -0700 From: Bob Luce We grow Cherimoya and strawberry guava trees in Chula Vista We have had a good crop as the trees are three years old. Now we need to know the Pruning and fertilizer needs of these trees. Enjoy your news letter on line. Our e-mail is bobandjanluce@aol.com We would like to subscribe to your news letter. Thanks, Bob Luce mailto:bobandjanluce@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: New Subscriber, AU, Looks For Rare Fruit Clubs Down Under From: "Kerri Daniel" Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 22:30:22 +1000 Hi, I am Kerri Daniel, in HERVEY BAY. Queensland. AUSTRALIA Fruit trees I am now growing are....Mango, Bananas, Passionfruit and I want to start a collection of rare fruit trees! Comments: I am looking for Rare Fruit Tree Clubs/Organisations in Australia. Thanks Kerri mailto:kerdi@dnet.aunz.com <><><><><><><><><> Readers Write<><><><><><><><><><> Subject: Nannyberry Question Date: Sun, 02 Jun 2002 11:40:06 -0700 From: Margaret Leo, I also have a question about an unusual fruit. I have a Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) that is 6 or 7 years old, has suckered profusely, and blossoms abundantly, but I've never seen any fruit on it. It's supposedly self-fruitful. Do you have any archived information on this shrub? Might it fruit if root-pruned? Thank you, Margaret Lauterbach mailto:melauter@earthlink.net ------------------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 07:39:33 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner Subject: re: Peaches - Locating Them Ben... The "Peregrine" peach, which originated in England is available from South Meadow, P.O. Box211, Baroda, MI 49101. Definitely not a low chill peach and I doubt the others listed are either. The others are collector's items and not available commercially. However, Andy Mariani, the California Rare Fruit Growers' Northern Stone Fruit Specialist, says they are sometimes available at the scion wood exchanges in the northern chapters. Eunice Messner mailto:eunicemessner@yahoo.com === Ben said: | | One question for the readers? Does anyone out there have the | following peach or nectarine varieties or know of a source | that does? | | El Dulce Peach, Eagle Beak Peach, Peregrin Peach, Tashkent | Gold Nectarine, Samarkand Nectarine. | | I would like to try doing some summer budding and if those | don't take then I would like to try to graft some of these in | the spring. | | Ben Pierce mailto:mariposafamily@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 08:59:49 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner Subject: re: Avocados - Stuart vs Stewart, etc. The June 1 Newsletter talks about a Stuart avocado. I am unfamiliar with this one. I know of "Stewart", a Mexican variety and of a "Stearns" growing on Paul Thomson's property (described in the year 2000 Fruit Gardener). Germplasm of this one is being saved by Orange County Chapter volunteers at the South Coast Field Station. It was offered also at our April "Green Scene" sale at Fullerton Arboretum as were most of the home garden type of avocados listed on our website To name a few of those our members propagate: Edranol, Ardith, Nimlioh, Kona Sharwil, XX3. Our chapter members are so fortunate to have this greater selection of avocados available to them. Others will have to come to next years Green Scene. We had people drive from Arizona and northern CAlifornia for other specialities we grow. To David who was looking for a 15 gallon avocado. Although you may get immediate gratification by looking at this larger size tree, it has been proven that a smaller size will catch up and outdo a larger speciman. They develop a better rootstock when they are planted small. Trees that are fleshy rooted,like avocado, bananas, papaya and citrus, don't have root hairs and will be greatly enhanced by sprinkling mycorrhizae on the roots at the time of planting. Eunice Messner ------------------------------------------------ Subject: re: RootKnot Nematodes - Where To Get Help Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 09:06:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Eunice Messner To: David Anyone with a root knot nematode problem should go to the Orange County Chapter webpage and read the article on this subject. Eunice Messner mailto:eunicemessner@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Pepino Dulce in Israel Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 20:47:50 -0700 From: Dr. David Levy Recently, we have developed two varieties with good taste and no after-taste. The fruits store well at about 12 centigrade for few weeks and keep their good quality. The skin is firm enough to allow handling and shipping, and the fruits were exported from Israel to Europe and arrived in a very good shape. In tests conducted in Europe by a major supermarket chain, our variety Pepo got the best marks for taste and appearance. The fruits were also tested by the association of diabetics in Israel and found a suitable fruit for diabetics due to their low sugar content. Samples were distributed to about 300 households, and also exposed to the public in agricultural fairs, getting a good response. Some supermarkets in Israel are already marketing the fruits and there is a request for a regular supply. The fruit tastes best when cool and contributes much to taste when incorporated into fruit salads and vegetable salads. The plants are grown in Israel in 'high roof' glasshouses. Planting is in the autumn, mid to late September in 'tuff' (volcanic rock particles, or in sandy soils). First fruits are present in January-February, but main harvest starts on March till July. Yields are over 5 metric tones per 1000 square meters (50 t/ha). Dr. David Levy mailto:levy_@zahav.net.il Institute of Field and Garden Crops The Volcani Center, ARO Bet Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972 3 9683462/876 Fax: 972 3 9669642 Website: http://www.agri.gov.il/ ------------------------------------------------ From: Maurice Kong Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 07:41:47 EDT Subject: Jambolan I have the popular variety of Jambolan from the Philippines called Giant Duhat which is a far superior cultivar to the many seedling varieties sometimes available in nurseries. Please let me know if there is any interest in this variety. Maurice Kong mailto:chino228@aol.com Phone: (305) 554-1333 Rare Fruit Council International, Inc, Miami ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: curled citrus leaves; nightsoil for lychee Date: Tue, 04 Jun 2002 10:29:16 -0700 From: lee & lou Hi Leo: On my still young Pixie mandarin orange tree, planted in the ground last year, all the leaves that are green but all curled under. It has blossomed but not yet produced fruit. Trunk is about 3/4" diameter. Any ideas as to what's causing the curled leaf and what to do? Also, can you describe exactly what "night soil" is? Evidently it is the only fertilizer used on lychee trees in parts of rural China. Elaine No. California mailto:leelou@pacbell.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: curled citrus leaves; nightsoil for lychee Date: Tue, 04 Jun 2002 11:11:51 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: lee & lou Hi Elaine, Night soil is human defecation collected in chamber pots overnight, as I understand. It would be better to use composted chicken manure. You might want to verify that by searching on the internet for 'night soil' in Google.com, or another search engine. I'll publish your letter. Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Avocado info Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2002 15:09:10 -0700 From: "Alan Schroeder" To: David Dear David: I thought I would share some more information regarding best avocados for the backyard gardener, at least insofar as California is concerned. Julie Frink of the California Rare Fruit Growers and who works at the South Coast Field Station where she has access to all the avocados in their collection spoke at the Carpinteria (California) Avocado Festival a couple years ago and made the following observations on this subject: When asked her favorite avocado she stated that "Reed" and "Kona Sharwil" are the best. The best Mexican race variety by far is the "Stewart" which is good to know if you live in a colder area that cannot grow the Guatemalan or hybrid varieties as the previous two. Other recommended varieties are: "XX3", "Nimlioh", "Hellen", "Jan Boyce". She also put in a good word for "Pinkerton" and "Julia" (which is the sweetest avocado, excellant for avocado ice cream). Others were mentioned but had some fault or other, such as "Nabal" and its tendency to alternate bear. Some of these avocados are available in the nursery trade and others are soon to be released, others would only be gotten by scion exchange or stealth. I have tasted several of the above and so far agree that "Reed" takes the award for best. Then again if you like a watery thin tasting type you can keep your "Zutano". Alan Schroeder mailto:arschroeder@cox.net Santa Barbara, CA ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Web Sources Of Tropical Fruit Information Date: Wed, 05 Jun 2002 20:45:45 -0700 From: Dan Fruits in general: Tropical fruits: Julia Morton's fruits of warm climates (there is a free online version: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/) http://www.tradewindsfruit.com (they have a pretty good database that lists MANY tropical fruits by scientific name, common name, or region Dan mailto:tabbydan@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Polyembryonic Mango Question; Carambola, Sapodilla Report Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2002 16:34:02 -0700 From: Todd Abel Leo, Hope things are growing really well. My plants are loving it. I have a nice stalk of Bananas, Manilla Mangoe has flowers again this year, Longan has small fruit, Giant Fuyu Persimon has fruit, The new Huacha Grande Capulin does also, Cherimoyas starting. Most exciting is that the Sapodilla has small flowers already, and is looking very healthy. My Carambola is looking the best I have ever seen it, after I hit is with slow release Avocado fertilizer. Anyway, to my question... I had an excellent Mangoe from a Farmer's Market at Orange County Fair grounds 2 years ago. It was a medium size oval mangoe almost completely red. I planted the seed and it turned out to be polyembryonic. I snipped the seedlings down to 2. Now at 2 ft tall they are in the ground, but not separated. One is 2 ft and the other 1 ft. I have been told that the tallest Mangoe from the group is the true to parent. Should I cut the smaller Mangoe seedling down, or is it too late? I also have a monoembryonic seedling that I would like to try to graft to. Todd Abel Orange, CA mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Polyembryonic Mango Question; Carambola, Sapodilla Report Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2002 20:58:22 -0700 From: Leo Manuel To: Todd Abel Hi Todd, If you are ever in San Diego, I hope you'll have time to stop by my home. There is no consensus of opinion as to which seedlings of a polyembryonic mango will or will not come true. The mango 'specialist' in CRFG assumes that all seedlings of a polyembryonic mango will be true. I don't really think so. I keep all of mine and separate them when a few inches tall, very carefully, so as to not snap off any root. So, don't remove any of them, would be my suggestion, although you might separate them, favoring one over the other, if you think you'd rather have one than the other. If a major part of the root is left, I think the tree will grow fine, at least above ground. What is the diameter of the monoembryonic mango? I like to graft them from about 3/8" to 5/8" diameter. Larger wood requires that I be more adept at whiddling than I am. You almost need to be a sculptor for larger wood. Another way to propagate mangos is by air layering, but I understand that it works best for non-grafted trees and then for rather young trees. I tried only once, and it succeeded, but the rootlets were brown, making it difficult to believe that there were any there. I finally gave up, thinking that it wasn't going to take, cut it off, and there were small brown rootlets. I am relatively successfully grafting mangoes from May through August. I'd recommend that the rootstock be in a growth flush, or having just finished one. And the scion seems best if it is a terminal bud just about to open. Take care, and do come by if in San Diego, Leo ------------------------------------------------ Subject: RE: Seedling Mangoe Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 09:40:15 -0700 From: Todd Abel It is common practice (from my Latin friends) that the largest seedling of the sprouts will be true and they cut out all others. Probably a old wife's tail. My wife also ties a red scarf around the Mangoe tree so the fruit won't drop, something about the moon. I just go along with it. Leo I WILL be by your house (and Mr. Chow's) this summer for sure. Right now I am working on my roof. My Mono seedling mango is about 1/4" thick and 1 ft high after less than a year. The thing went through the winter without any leaf damage, and seems very strong. I would like to graft to it. I may bring it with me when I come see you. It is funny that my wife tells me in southern Mexico poeple kick Mangoes out of the way on the street and they are seen as a Nuisance! There, the Mangoes can be propagated by sticking a branch in the ground. Todd Abel Orange, CA mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: White Sapote Scion Wood Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 16:18:31 -0700 From: Todd Abel Leo, Do you of any sorce for white Sapote scion wood? Other than Mcdill and Vernon. I am looking for Suebelle, Michelle, Pike, or some other "smaller" white sapote cultivar. I have a seedling in a pot that is about 2ft high. Thanks Todd Abel mailto:tabel@statek.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Jambolan Information Via Dr. Parmer, India Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 09:53:00 -0700 From: "vic" To: Dear Junaid, I read about your search for jambolan. I have received loads of information from Dr. Parmer, from India. He has been very helpful and very nice to share his wealth of information. His email address is parmarch@vsnl.com Good luck in your search. Respects and happy growing, Vic mailto:rockdawg@concentric.net ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Copper and Snails Date: Sat, 1 Jun 2002 11:07:02 EDT From: Denise Leo, I have used copper tape around the plastic nursery pots I have citrus in to keep the snails from snacking. It seems to have worked. I see them go up to the tape and stop. When I plant the trees I put a copper bender board around the trunk to keep them off. As long as I keep the tree branches from getting close to the ground then it seems to work. About 3 years ago I had one lemon tree the snails managed to devour all of its leaves before I noticed. I picked the remaining snails off and put the copper bender board around the trunk and the tree is doing very well. Decollate Snails seem to work in the garden. I have several in the garden. Don't know exactly where they come from but I have seen them crawling under the fence from our neighbors. I discovered this a couple of years ago when I was about to remove the volunteer nasturtiums to keep the snails from attacking the grape vines. I noticed there were very few European snails. I started looking around and found several decollate snails around empty shells. Hope this helps. Denise Woo mailto:Dmshuck@aol.com ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Re: Copper and Snails Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 10:37:49 EDT From: Dmshuck@aol.com Leo, The copper bender board looks like it is plastic bender board with a copper coating on the outside. The pack came with 3-4 copper stakes to hold it in place. It cuts easily with scissors. The last pack I bought was from Home Depot. Last week when I there they didn't have any. Last season I also saw it at Armstrong nursery. It cost about $12.00 at Home Depot and $15.00 at Armstrong. The width is 3" and length is about 10'. I looked for a package I thought I had but was not able to locate it so I must have used it up last year. I experimented with just copper tubing. I laid some down and put a European snail in front of the tubing. The snail would not go over the tubing. It would try to go around it every time. The decollates seem to be working every where else. The artichokes don't have and snails in them this year. The volunteer nasturtiums have very few snails. I hope this helps. Denise mailto:Dmshuck@aol.com <><> Mailbag of Sainarong Rasananda mailto:sainaron@loxinfo.co.th <><> None this time <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Recipies <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Subject: Banana Recipies Collected Introduction, Nicho Stamatis (George) Recipies - From "Nicho Stamatis" Preparing Musa Cabbage Banana heart chutney Nicest dish to make with banana cabbage Miscellaneous: Using Green Bananas Instead Of Potatoes.... Banana Sweets Caramelised bananas Fried Bananas In Batter Crisp sweet bananas - can also be made with taros Recipies - From: "JeffreyP" Banana Sweets - Three Other Favorites Of Jeffrey Green Plantains - (Caution On Pot Used) .................. --Introduction, From Nicho Stamatis (George) Eating Banana Flower Buds - Use Before Banana Produces Flowers! You must pick the inflorescence in bud form before it even begins to produce flowers. The bud should be big and fat like giant artichoke. You must soak it in salt water for some time to remove the bitterness. I have never made this dish, but I have been told that some banana varieties are better than others for this purpose. Other Recipies Using Banana Trees And Fruit Below are various and very delicious banana recipes that use various edible parts of the banana tree. The most common preparations made around here are various sweets from the fruit and also occasional curries made with (what we call) the 'cabbage'- that is the soft white layers of tissue found inside the heart of a mature banana pseudostem. If your climate is suiteabley warm and humid, you can harvest at any time of year. However, late summer, in the peak of the rainy season, when plant growth is literally explosive is the season when the banana hearts are most tender. This is because the banana trees have grown very rapidly and the resulting cabbage is very tender. Select a tree that is mature sized, but has not started to bud. Chop it down as near to the soil level as possible. Chop off the crown, so you just have the pseudostem left. Slice a shallow cut lengthwise down the pseudostem. Peal off sheath by sheath until you get to white sheats. Remove the white section (the removed portion is cylindrical in shape) and this is the piece that you prepare for use in cooking. I have explained how to prepare this already. As for which variety to use. In South Africa we do not have all the unusual and fancy varieties that you do in the USA, so I cant reccomend any of those as I have no experience using them for this purpose. We just have the basic types like Williams, Dwarf Cavendish, Mauritian Red, Lady Finger, Plantain, Butter and several weedy types that dont produce good fruit. We dont have things like Ae Ae, Kru, Pitogo, Hua Moa, etc. The varieties that we do have here are very abundant anyway. I have used Williams, Dwarf Cavendish and Mauritian Red banana hearts for cooking purposes and they are all good. However, Dwarf Cavendish produces the most tender cabbage- even if it is in smaller quantity. Recipies - From "Nicho Stamatis" Preparing Musa Cabbage The way we extract this cabbage is to fell the tree as close to the ground as possible and peel of the leaf sheeths layer by layer until there is white sheeths. This is removed (it is a cylindrical piece of white cabbage) and taken inside. Cut with a knife to test. If the knife goes through it without any crunching sound (from fibres) then it is soft enough. Discard the sections that are too fibrous and only reserve the really tender part. You can get about 1 kg of this from one tree, sometimes more sometimes less. Dwarf Cavendish banana are the best for this purpose (they are very tender). This cabbage has a slight burning taste (almost like cress). Slice the tender portion crosswise into fairly thin circles. Soak in cold water until ready to cook. Get it into the cold water immediately otherwise it will discolour. Trees yield the best cabbage towards the end of the hot rainy season when they have grown rapidly and elongated- this results in more abundant and mush softer cabbage. That's how you prepare the cabbage for cooking. Some do need a lot of exotic ingredients which might not be available to you. George South Africa Banana heart chutney This is one of the most basic recipes that does not use very unusual ingredients so it should not be difficult for you to prepare: I don't work with exact mesurements, so will list approxamate quantities, use you own judgement. You can leave out the dry fish/shrimp to change it to a vegan dish. 1 prepared banana heart (cabbage) you need quite a bit 4 fresh green chillis Handful (dhania) coriander leaves 1 sprig of curry leaf 1 piece (about 5 cm by 5cm) dry fish (prepared *) OR 1 tablespoon dry shrimp (soaked in hot water for 1 hour and chopped) 3 very ripe jam tomatoes, chopped Curry powder (mix 1 tsp. turmeric, 1 tsp. jeera, 1 tsp. chilli powder, 1 tsp. Dhania powder, and a pinch of strong cinnamon powder) Salt to taste BLEND/GRIND THE FOLLOWING TO A PASTE 1 large onion Good sized piece of FRESH ginger 2 garlic cloves 5- 15 fresh red chillis (depending on your taste) First heat the pan until hot. Once it is hot, add the oil (enough to cover the base of the pan). The oil should begin to smoke just a little bit. When it does, add the blended ingredients + dry fish and fry, stirring constantly, until it is fragrant. The oil should pull away from the sides of the mass when it has cooked enough. When the oil seperates, add the curry powder then stir for 30 seconds. Add chopped tomatos and curry leaves. Let the mixture cook for a while (add a bit of water to prevent any sticking). When the tomatos have softened and begin to break up, add the banana cabbage. Cook for a short while until cabbage is just cooked (dont kill it!). Once it is just cooked, add as much salt as you like and remove from heat. Slice green chilis into slivers and sprinkle over with dhania leaves. Serve as a side dish or as a meal with rice (any fragrant long-grain rice, preferably a sticky rice variety), or with taro boiled in there jackets - peal at the table and eat with the chutney- you are allowed to use your fingers! Have some shredded coconut and sliced banana at the table too. Enjoy, George SA * To prepare dried fish, just soak for an hour or two in some boiling hot water. Squeeze it dry and it should be quite flakey. Flake off the flesh into a bowl and discard the bones. Reserve the flesh for this dish. Nicest dish to make with banana cabbage This is probably the nicest dish to make with banana cabbage. It takes a while, but the result is worth it. It needs a long list of ingredients, so be prepared. It should be prepared with only the freshest ingredients- the herbs must be very fresh, if possible, picked out of the garden just as you need them. INGREDIENTS PASTE- liquidise/ grind the following one at a time, adding them to the liqudiser /mortar+pestle one at a time in the order that they are listed below: 2 stems fresh lemon-grass (must be fresh only, if you can't get fresh, leave it out) 4 tabspoons dried shrimps soaked in hot water until soft 10 cm ginger root 6 cm fresh turmeric root (if you cant get it fresh, add 2 tsp powdered form and a tiny bit of baby carrot to the liquidiser/mortar+pestle) 10 big garlic cloves 10 - 20 fresh red chillis (depending on you) 4 large onions 2 tsp chilli powder 4tsp paprika powder OTHER INGREDIENTS 1 fresh fish, any firm-fleshed variety, barracuda cut into steaks are best for this dish. You need 1 kg (2.2 lbs) 1 big banana heart, prepared for cooking 10 green onions, coarsely shredded (I think they are called scalions in the USA) 10 fresh green chillies, cut into thin shreds (cut lengthwise, not across) 1 big handful of washed fresh dhania leaves , coarsely shredded 10 tablespoons of fresh sesame seed, dry roasted on a pan and then grinded to powder 2 cups cooked chick-peas, liquidised A good helping of boiled and drained egg-noodles, or rice (preferably sticky, fragrant, long-grain type) (dish is better served on noodles) 2 cups coconut milk 1 cup lemon/ prayer-lime juice (prayer-lime is best as it is very acidic) Salt to taste Palm sugar (gor) to taste Enough sesame-oil (not chinese sesame oil) to cover the base of the pot very well METHOD heat up pot until it is really hot. Add the sesame oil. When the sesame oil is really hot (a tiny bit of smoke should rise of it), add the paste. Be careful of spluttering. Stir and fry rapidly until fragrant . If it sticks, add a little water to prevent this. Dont cook it on low heat, you need high heat. Fry until the oil seperates around the edges of the mass (oil should be red in colour). Once this happens add the barracuda steaks and the grinded sesame seeds and enough water to just cover the fish. Let the steaks boil rapidly until they are half cooked. Add the liquidised chick peas, salt and palm sugar. Gently mix into the pot. Add the banana hearts and again add enough boiling water to just cover the mixture. Boil rapidly until the banana heart is just tender. Add the coconut milk, and some more water if needed (dish should have a soup-like consistency with lots of gravy), adjust salt and palm sugar. Take pot off the heat. Add lemon/ prayer-lime juice. Stir in gently. Sprinkle over green chilli, dhania, and green onion and just slightly stir in. Place noodles/ rice into each plate and pour the curry over. Serve as a one-plate meal. You can serve with some cucumber + mint-leaf + onion salad. I know you will enjoy this dish. George SA --Miscellaneous: Using Green Bananas Instead Of Potatoes.... Using Green Bananas Instead Of Potatoes.... Green bananas if peeled are great used instead of potatos in curries. The same can be done with green papayas and there is also a curry that is made over here with green mangos (these must be picked off the tree when very green). George SA --Banana Sweets Some more recipes made with the actual fruit of the banana-All of them are sweets: Caramelised bananas - very rich sweet to be enjoyed at any time of day. Like toffee. 6 very ripe bananas 1/2 cup coconut cream 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup palm sugar (gor) crumbled pinch of salt grated coconut flesh to sprinkle over Peel and blend the bananas with the coconut cream until smooth and creamy. Spray a large non-stick skillet with a non-stick coating (if needed just a dash of oil or ghee) and fry the blended mixture on medium or low heat until it is dry (about 10 minutes). Add both sugars and continue to stir and cook until it the mixture caramelises. Spread on a cookie sheet to a depth of 1 inch and sprinkle coconut over. Allow to cool and set. Cut into 1 inch squares and serve as a sweet snack on its own or with sweet coconut and mango pieces. Fried Bananas In Batter -Very good if made with mauritian red bananas, but other varieties are just fine. Can also be made with ripe jakfruit. 6 large bananas (ripe but still very firm and slightly on the green side) use more bananas if using lady-finger. Batter- 2 cups rice flower 1 tsp. baking powder (soda) 1 cup water 1/2 cup coconut milk (or cows milk) 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 cup lightly roasted sesame seeds 3 tablespoons raw sugar 3/4 cup shredded coconut flesh Oil for deep frying Mix together all the dry batter ingredients and stir, then add the wet ingredients and stir to make a smooth batter. Cut the bananas across at an angle into chunks. Heat the oil until it is hot (must be on high heat) Dip each piece in batter and deep fry until golden brown (should be very quick) and remove and then drain. Pour over a bit of honey, roasted sesame seed, and shredded coconut and serve while warm as a snack or pudding. Good with ice-cream and mango slices, or on its own. Crisp sweet bananas - can also be made with taros 6 large green bananas oil for deep frying Syrup- 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 drop of rose, vanilla, kewra or jasmine essence pinch of salt shredded coconut (optional) Peel bananas like potatos. Slice into long pieces of 10cm long, and 6 mm thick (they should come out like crisps. Heat oil on high heat and deep-fry bananas until golden and crisp. Remove and drain. (at this stage can be served as savouries with dipping sauces if preffered) Combine syrup ingredients heat to boiling and boil until the syrup becomes frothy and full of bubbles (should be really thick). Dip fried bananas into syrup and remove immediately. Roll in coconut (optional) and set aside for syrup coating to set. Serve as a sweet snack. More later. George SA ----Recipies - From: "JeffreyP" ---- Banana Sweets - Three Other Favorites Of Jeffrey #1 Take a couple store bought desert type bananas slice them in 1" (2 cm) pieces, roll them in sugar and fry them in butter on a stove set on medium heat. When they are a light brown color (sugar is carmelized) saute in 1 shot glass full of dark rum for about 30 seconds, then serve with vanilla ice cream or whip cream. #2 You need 2-3 (or more depending how hungry you are <> ) very ripe/black plantains (almost mush). Cut them in 2" (4cm) angled slices and you may lightly roll in sugar. Judiciously deep fry in vegetable oil for 1 minute or so. Drain on a paper towel...makes for some excellent fried plantains. #3 Chicharitas or Mariquitas - take any plantain type banana and peel it green. Slice with a potatoe chip slicer on an angle (makes longer chips). Deep fry as you would for potatoe chips, drain on a paper towel and lightly salt. Cheers, JeffreyP / www.the-banana.com Green Plantains - (Caution On Pot Used) Green Plantains may be cut into sections and fried, then flattened between two towels with the hands, and fried again to make Tostones, a French Fry sort of substitute. Blended tostones make wonderful soup thickening, and look better than blended fresh plantain, which tend to darken, take on a greyish puke color. Many down in south florida make the chip into soup..It's excellent with a bit of lemon juice by the way.. In the USA we have commercial banana "potato" chips in all the stores for eating out of hand, and cooking...especially the soup base, any good broth thickened with banana into a calorie rich vegetable dish with perhaps a smattering of meat. We boil green bananas unpeeled, and once they skins turn dark and they are soft, we serve them in the shell, sliced open with butter like a potato...delicious. The boiling, however, ruins your pot, as something akin to rubber boils out and sticks to the sides. A layer of grease, not just a drop or two, but enough however thin to cover all the water, will make cleaning the pot easier. Otherwise, do like the S. A. Indians do, and have one pot for banana boiling and let the crud build...just some thoughts... JeffreyP / www.the-banana.com <><><><><><><><> Announcements And Web Pages To Consider <><><><><><><><> Subject: Upcoming Florida event - Fruit Fiesta - June 29 FOURTH ANNUAL FLORIDA KEYS TROPICAL FRUIT FIESTA, Saturday June 29, 2002, 9 AM to 2 PM, Bayview Park, Truman & Eisenhower, Key West FL, Info: 305/292-4501, http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu, gkeeler@mail.ifas.ufl.edu Fun day of fruit tree sales, expert speakers, homegrown fruit contest, art auction, fruit tasting and auction, kid's activities, book sales, free literature, mobile computer lab, food, and fun. FREE admission. Lisa Wishe Administrative Asst. Monroe Co. Extension Service 1100 Simonton Street Key West, Fl 33040 305.292.4501 http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Welcome to www.rareplants.de - where nature is at home http://www.rareplants.de/e_index.htm [Tropical Plants] Agathis, Brachychiton, Cassia, Crassula, Erythrina, Haemanthus, Hibiscus, Mandevilla, Protea, Puya, Ravenala, Strelitzia, Tecoma [Tropical Fruits] Annona, Arbutus, Bixa, Carica, Cornus, Cyclanthera, Cyphomandra, Hylocereus, Laurus, Passiflora, Phoenix, Physalis, Psidium, Selenicereus, Solanum ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Tropical Fruits http://www.rareplants.de/plants/seeds/tropical_fruits.htm ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Molluscicidal Nematodes for Biological Control of Pest Slugs http://slosson.ucdavis.edu/pdf/99-00/Kaya99.pdf Page 1 Slosson Report 1999-2000 1 Molluscicidal Nematodes for Biological Control of Pest Slugs Harry K Kaya and Darryl K. Mitani Introduction Slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) are major pests of horticultural plants throughout the world (South, 1992). They are destructive pests of home gardens, landscapes, nurseries, greenhouses, and field crops (DeAngelis, 1993; Ohlendorff, 1999). California has been infiltrated by numerous pestiferous slug species including the gray garden slug, Deroceras reticulatum, the striped slug, Limax marginatus, the greenhouse slug, Milax gagates (Ohlendorff, 1999), and the garden slug, Arion hortensis. As generalists, slugs feed on a variety of living plants and decaying matter. However, their preference for succulent foliage makes them serious pests of seedlings, herbaceous plants, and fruit ripening close to the ground (e.g., tomatoes and strawberries). Slugs also pose a health threat to humans, pets, and wildlife by serving as intermediate hosts for many ver- tebrate parasites (e.g., lungworm) (South, 1992). California's slug problem is compounded by the state's mild climate. Restricted by their limited water retentive capability, slugs become inactive during dry conditions by moving deep into the ground and do not cause crop damage. They are also inactive in cold weather and hibernate in the soil. However, California's relatively mild climate, especially in coastal and valley regions and southern California, en- ables them to be active throughout much the year. Slugs reach maturity in about a year, but some species (e.g., the gray garden slug) are opportunistic breeders and can go through several generations in a year given optimum temperatures and moisture. Homeowners' lawns, greenhouses, nurseries, and landscapes tend to create favorable conditions for slugs due to heavy mulching and watering. Most recom- mended non-chemical control measures for slugs are very labor-intensive, often impracticable, and their ef- ficiency is questionable. Such control measures in- volve elimination of possible hiding places, frequent handpicking, non-chemical baits, and barriers (Ohlendorff, 1999). Although chemical control meth- ods exist, they have limitations including poor efficacy, negative environmental impact, and human and veteri- nary health concerns. Under ideal conditions, chemical baits, containing metaldehyde, can be somewhat effec- tive because this aldehyde paralyzes the slugs and they eventually die from dehydration. However, under cool and wet conditions when slugs are most active and troublesome, they can often recover (Ohlendorff, 1999).Biological control provides an attractive alterna- tive to traditional control practices. Molluscicidal nematodes (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae) possess excep- tional potential as biocontrol agents for pest slugs. In Europe, Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, isolated from gray garden slugs in England (Wilson et al ., 1993a,b), has successfully been developed as a biocontrol agent (NemaSlug TM, MicroBio Ltd, UK). Host range experiments have shown that P. hermaphrodita is effective against a wide array of economically important pest slug and snail species (Coupland, 1995; Wilson and Gaugler, 1997). Numer- ous field trials in various crops have shown that it can provide control equivalent to chemical standards with- out adverse effects on non-target molluscs. It would be a logical choice for introduction into the US, but there are no published records of its occurrence in the US. Thus, regulatory issues prohibit its introduction and marketing in the US. Our initial objective was to generate baseline in- formation that would allow the development of P. hermaphrodita as a biocontrol agent for pest slugs in California. However, because of the regulatory issues stated above, it will not be prudent to import this nema- tode species into California because of its potential impact on endangered molluscs (Ohlendorff, 1999). Therefore, our approaches are (1) to initiate a survey of California (emphasis in northern part of the state) for molluscicidal nematodes and to isolate ones that appear to be pathogenic and (2) to evaluate known species of entomopathogenic nematodes in the genera ------------------------------------------------ Subject: SlugFest - Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/957/19586 SlugFest Author: Mel. White Published on: May 11, 1999 Related Subject(s): Slugs (Mollusks) -- Control , Garden pests -- Control They're icky and they're ooky and alltogether goopy -- annd another of those creatures that almost nobody has anything good to say about. They're slugs, and they're the bane of almost every gardener's existance. While it's true that slugs are an important part of nature's cleanup crew, unfortunately they seem to think they have a mandate to clean up most things that don't move. Ours, for example, clean up the canned catfood that Tuan The WonderCat doesn't eat. We don't mind this service, since Tuan can be a terribly fussy eater and it keeps the backyard a bit neater. But after they've tidied up his bowl (tidy except for their silvery slime trails), they amble their slow way over to the four o'clocks and strip them down to the rootline before sliding onward to investigate the flowers just getting started in the butterfly garden bed. They show their appreciation of the four o'clocks by gnawing them down to the soil. There are almost as many ways of getting rid of slugs as there are of discouraging deer. For a wildscaper, putting out poisoned bait (the most effective method of slug control) is probably the worst option. While it does get rid of slugs, other wild critters come along and feed on the poisoned corpses and these chemicals get into the food chain and affect creatures we don't want harmed. You can eliminate most of your slug problems by using a combination of control methods and encouraging some of the slug- eating predators to come lurk around your house. The first step is to eliminate places where slugs can hide during the day. Hoe your garden area to break up dirt clods and destroy eggs. Make sure your compost pile is located away from slug-vulnerable plants. Boards, stones, leafpiles, weedy areas around tree trunks, leafy branches growing close to the ground, and dense ground covers such as ivy are ideal sheltering spots. If these areas are too close to your gardens, the slugs will slide out and help themselves to your tasty plants. The next most effective method of getting rid of slugs is putting out flowerpots and boards for them, checking these places regularly, and crushing snails and slugs you find there (or flushing them down the toilet. It's a bit violent for my tastes, but it's very effective. Do NOT use salt to kill them. That will increase your soil salinity and give you yet another gardening problem to deal with. Traps Beer-baited traps are popular homemade slug and snail control devices. The principle is that they crawl in for a drink, get intoxicated, and drown. They do work; however, they attract slugs and snails in an area of only a few feet, and must be refilled frequently to keep the level deep enough to drown them. Slugs, like humans, prefer fresh beer over stale beer. If you don't want to waste good beer on slime-covered slugs, you can make an equally effective mix of two tablespoons of flour, one-half teaspoon of brewer's yeast, and one teaspoon of sugar mixed in two cups of warm water. Barriers Copper barriers are very good at keeping slugs (and their cousins, the snails) away from plants because copper reacts with their slime and gives them a jolt of electricity. Some people erect copper mesh screen barriers, others wrap copper wire around flowerpots to protect porch flowers. Still others put copper strips around plants or use copper foil (a commercial brand is called "Snail-barr") to prevent damage. Other substances that are recommended as slug barriers include dry ashes, diatomaceous earth, cedar chips, oak bark chips, small gravel, a barrier line of powdered ginger, crushed eggshells, lime (the dry chemical, not the fruit), fresh or dried clippings from the mullein plant (verbascum), sand, oat bran, ground nut hulls, coffee grounds, chopped quack grass, oak leaf mulch, magnesium salts, mulches made of stems and leaves of strong smelling herbs. Barriers of fur or hair are also recommended -- and now you know what to do with all the fur you've brushed out of your pet's winter coat (if the birds don't swipe it for their nests, first). Some plants may act as a barrier because slugs don't like their taste. These include Artemisias, Alyssum, Daffodils,Daylilies, Freesia, Garlic, Lemon balm, Red cabbage, Lungwort, Spearmint, Azaleas, Peppermint, Rosemary, Basil, Evergreens, Ginger, Parsley, Sage, Fennel, Holly, Peruvian lily, Tansy, Foxglove, Hibiscus, Sunflower, Quack grass, and mullein. Planting some of these in front of your tastier plants may save them from a slug invasion. Last, but not least, people recommended dryer lint as a barrier. (I don't make this stuff up... honest!) Natural Enemies Slugs have many natural enemies aside from hordes of irate gardeners. These include ground beetles, snakes, toads, turtles, and birds (including ducks, geese, and chickens -- particularly Rhode Island Reds), but they are rarely effective enough to provide satisfactory control in the garden. The decollate snail and some nematodes are being used on a limited basis to control slugs and snails, however, this isn't a choice available to home gardeners. So what do I use? I protect seedlings with plastic soda bottles. I just rinse the bottles, toss the caps, cut the bottoms out, and stick the bottle into the dirt around the seedling. It's a no-fuss, no-kill method and keeps some of the other bugs and overeager birds off my plants as well. ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/pathogens/phasmarhabditis_h.html Left: Deroceras reticulatum infected with Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. Right: Healthy Deroceras reticulatum. Note the swollen mantle of the infected slug. R.Harvey Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae) by Michael Wilson and Randy Gaugler, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, PO Box 231, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a nematode parasite of slugs which has recently been commercialized in the UK as a biological molluscicide. The methods of production and formulation for this nematode are similar to those used for entomopathogenic nematodes. Appearance The nematodes are sold as infective juveniles (dauer larvae) approximately 1 mm long, which can be just seen with the naked eye. Habitat The nematode is a soil dwelling animal and is generally found where slugs are abundant. It has been isolated from grassland and crops of wheat and oilseed rape. Life Cycle Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita forms non-feeding developmentally arrested juveniles (dauer larvae). These are third stage larvae which retain a second stage cuticle, and in which the mouth and anus are closed. The dauer larvae move through the soil looking for slugs. Once they have located slugs they infect. For Deroceras reticulatum, the nematodes infect principally through a natural opening at the rear of the slug's mantle. The site of entry for other mollusc species has not been studied. Once inside the slug, the dauer larvae develop into self-fertilizing hermaphrodites which reproduce, and go through another generation. During this time, the slug usually develops a characteristic swelling of the mantle region. The slug typically takes between 7 and 21 days to die, but its feeding is markedly reduced from the onset of infection. In laboratory experiments, a dose of nematodes roughly equivalent to half the recommended field dose inhibited slug feeding by 90% within four days of exposure. Once the slug dies, nematodes spread out over the cadaver and feed. When the food-source is depleted the nematodes again form dauer larvae which leave in search of other slugs. Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a bacterial-feeding nematode. Unlike entomopathogenic nematodes, no specific symbiotically associated bacterium has been isolated from this nematode to date, although growing the nematode with different bacteria alters the resulting nematodes' yield in in vitro cultures and pathogenicity to slugs. At present, the relationship between P. hermaphrodita and bacteria is poorly understood. Pests Attacked P. hermaphrodita has been shown to infect and kill a wide variety of pest species of both slugs and snails. Slugs Deroceras reticulatum (the gray field slug) Deroceras caruanae Arion ater Arion intermedius Arion distinctus Arion silvaticus Tandonia budapestensis Tandonia sowerbyi Snails Monacha cantiana Lymnaea stagnalis Helix aspersa (the brown garden snail) Theba pisana Cernuella virgata Cochlicella acuta While all the above species have been shown to be killed by P. hermaphrodita in laboratory bioassays, many of the assays used high doses and unrealistic assay conditions, so it is not clear if P. hermaphrodita could be used to control all the above species under field conditions. Also, laboratory bioassays indicate that body size may be an important feature of susceptibility. For example the garden snail, Helix aspersa, is susceptible when its body weight is less than a gram, but larger individuals are not. Similar results have been found for the large slug Arion ater agg. Thus for some large species of slug, it would be advisable to apply nematodes at the time of year when only juvenile slugs are present. Relative Effectiveness Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita has been used in a number of field experiments in many European countries including the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Crops in which the nematode has been tested include high value horticultural crops such as lettuce and strawberries and low value field crops such as wheat, potatoes and oilseed rape. If applied at a dose rate of 3 x 109/ha the nematode gives equivalent control to methiocarb pellets, a chemical standard. The rapid feeding inhibition caused in slugs by P. hermaphrodita means that the nematode can be applied with the same timing as chemical molluscicides. Conservation Little is known about ways to conserve populations of P. hermaphrodita. Practices which typically conserve nematodes within the soil, e.g. reduced tillage and reduced pesticide input, are also likely to favor slugs. Pesticide susceptibility Soil insecticides, nematicides and fumigation should not be used when it is desired to conserve P. hermaphrodita. Commercial availability Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is presently only available in the UK where it is sold to domestic gardeners. It is manufactured by MicroBio Ltd, (Thriplow, Herts, UK) and distributed by Defenders (Ashford, Kent, UK) under the trade name "Nemaslug". However, nematode producing companies in other European states and in the US have expressed interest in producing P. hermaphrodita as a biological molluscicide. References Coupland J.B. (1995) Susceptibility of helicid snails to isolates of the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita from southern France. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 66, 207-208. Wilson, M.J., Glen, D.M. & George, S.K. (1993). The rhabditid nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita as a potential biological control agent for slugs. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 3, 513-521. All material is protected by Section 107 of the 1976 copyright law. Copyright is held by Cornell University. Use of this material for educational purposes is encouraged. Please notify the editors of such use and cite the author (if credited on the page you are using), date, site name, editors, Cornell University, and the URL (WWW address). Suggestions, corrections, and/or comments are appreciated: Contact Yaxin Li (YL236@cornell.edu). http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/pathogens/phasmarhabditis_h.html.html ------------------------------------------------ Subject: Bruce Zimmerman | Those Creepy Slimy Sneaky Slugs & Snails http://www.brucezimmerman.com/SNAILS_AND_SLUGS.htm THOSE CREEPY SLIMY SNEAKY SLUGS& SNAILS BY BRUCE ZIMMERMAN Slugs and snails are sneaky because they attack under the cover of darkness. They will go to great lengths to obtain their favourite foods. Slugs to this end will stretch out to twenty times their normal length enabling them to squeeze through the smallest openings. Those slimy trails that they leave behind while unsightly also act as a signpost on the super highway to their favourite foods. Yes, on subsequent evening forages all the other snails and slugs will follow this super highway too. Well if that was not enough Slugs not only over winter very successfully in the soil and under garden debris. They also start reproducing long before you start your spring gardening and continue to do so until winter. Their eggs are white ovals in clusters of up to two dozen and will stay dormant in the soil until the temperature and moisture levels are just right. Oh yes, I almost forgot so you think you killed them all, well slugs are hermaphrodites and can do it very well by themselves. Thank you very much! Controlling snails and slugs requires persistence. They love cool moist weather and dislike dry hot (over 80 degrees) weather. Hand picking and dropping them into salty water is messy but very satisfying. You can also use a long reach grabber or a barbeque fork to gather them. Toads eat them so encourage toads by putting out some toad abodes. You can also control snails and slugs by having some of the following around: frogs, turtles, garter snakes, ducks, birds and Rhode Island Red hens. Barriers are also used to keep the snails and slugs out. A circle of crushed eggshells, diatomaceous earth or wood ashes around your valuable specimens will work. A barrier of copper strips will also prevent them from crossing because it has a natural electrical charge, which repels them. Large clear plastic pop bottles with the bottoms cut out and the tops removed then placed over your very young seedlings will act like a little greenhouse and also keep the snails and slugs out. Need a haircut. Your hair can be laid out as a barrier. If you do not have enough hair then try a circle of coffee grounds, thorny twigs, rosemary, pine needles, mullein leaves, oak leaves, sandpaper, roofing shingles, hardware cloth, wormwood or tansy. There are all kinds of traps and baits out there. Sometimes I think there are as many of them as there gardeners. None of them are perfect so try different ones to see which ones work best for you. Here are some that should work. Comfrey: Slugs will come in droves to eat this. So place it in the troubled area for several nights then remove the slugs and put them into a bucket of salty water. Repeat! Grapefruit or Orange Rinds: In the troubled area in the evening you can overturn half of a grapefruit or orange after you have eaten the insides. The next day scrape out the slugs and snails dispose them in the usual manner. Wet Carpet: Place pieces of wet carpet on the ground in the troubled areas. Each morning scrape off the snails and slugs. Dispose of them in the usual manner. Wood: Place pieces of wood on the ground in the troubled area. Each morning scrape off the snails and slugs. Dispose of them in the usual manner. Note: This also works for other harmful insects too! Commercial Slug & Snail Baits: Many of these contain metaldhyde and may attract pets and other animals who after ingesting them may die. Always follow the label directions. Commercial Slug & Snail Baits: The newest ones contain Iron sulphate. These are said to be safer. Always follow the label directions. Beer: SLUGS PREFER: In 1987, Colorado State University Entomology Professor Whitney Cranshaw had his students conduct a test for the beverage that slugs liked the best. Here is the results of that experiment: note Budweiser was chosen as the test standard and the number of slugs choosing Budweiser represented one Bud Unit 1.00. And the winner was Kingsbury Malt Bevera