Tropical Fruit Garden

Kellogg-Briand · Joined: 08 Mar 2013 Posts: 24 Location: Phoenix - Zone 10a

I love growing tropical plants in the Phoenix area and I thought I would show some of the plants I have that are not currently on the forum including an avocado with unusually large leaves. I have dozens of tropical plants. If anyone is interested, I can post more pictures.

Bkaus · Joined: 31 Jul 2012 Posts: 136 Location: North Phoenix

Welcome to the forum! Nice looking plants, have they been in the ground very long? I’m all for seeing more of your plants Very Happy

mariolo · Joined: 06 Feb 2012 Posts: 116

Kellog briand- welcome to the forum. We would love to see your other trees. Aslo tell us how you planted them. If u fertilize them or what you use

Kellogg-Briand · Joined: 08 Mar 2013 Posts: 24 Location: Phoenix - Zone 10a

The Fuerte, Coffee, and Cassia have been in the ground about a year. The new plants I am experimenting with are a Cashew, a Bilimbi Cucumber Tree, and a Huilboerboon. I live in an area of Phoenix that does not go below freezing, so I have a little more leeway. Although it has hit 32 degrees twice since I moves here in 2001.

As far as planting, the ground is dug out everywhere there is white rock. Is is 18 inches deep by the wall and about three feet deep in the middle. Digging this out was a massive undertaking back in 2007. The soil is half native soil and half palm-cactus mix. The native soil was sifted to remove any rocks larger than a small pebble. I only fertilize the citrus, pomegranates, bananas, and a cocktail plum tree. Everything but the bananas receives basic Miracle Grow. The bananas get Miracid (30-10-10).

Kellogg-Briand · Joined: 08 Mar 2013 Posts: 24 Location: Phoenix - Zone 10a

It is difficult to make bananas attractive in Phoenix; however, if you protect the plant from the elements, it is possible. I mail-ordered all the bananas from Florida. They were less than a foot tall when they arrived. Unfortunately, all the pictures I have are older. Furthermore, I wanted to thank the individuals who welcomed me to the site. I apologize for not doing this in the first response.

MKIVRYAN · Joined: 07 Dec 2010 Posts: 154 Location: Phoenix/Scottsdale

Looking great!

myamberdog · Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:41 pm Post subject:

Wow Kellogg - great work.

I'm wondering exactly what kind of area in Phoenix you live in that
has seem 32 only twice in the last 12 years. I happen to live in Palm Springs - a kind if sister city to you guys, weatherwise - and we've had in the mid to upper 20's a few times during that spell.

Do you cover these plants in the winter and with what? Any mango trees in your collection? Love the cinnamon and cashew trees - what would be your most sensitive plant in your opinion...

thanks, myamberpooch

Kellogg-Briand · Joined: 08 Mar 2013 Posts: 24 Location: Phoenix - Zone 10a

I live on South Mountain in Ahwatukee. By most accounts, this area should be running a few degrees cooler than Sky Harbor at night. However, my experience at the house is that it is consistently 2-3 degrees warmer at night. I can postulate on why I have not experienced freeze damage. I happen to live on top of a ravine that is considerably colder than where the house is on the hill. I believe the cold air is forced downward and the warm air upward creating more temperate weather at night. Furthermore, the temperature rises rapidly once the sun breaks in the morning.

I do cover the plants that are supposedly damaged at 32 degrees such as the bananas, the plumeria, the coffee tree, and the cashew. During the cold streak this January, the bougainvillea trees defoliated; however, there was no damage. They already leafed out and those purple blooms are all over the yard. It takes about an hour to pick up the darn things.

Currently, I have an Ataulfo Mango seedling. I had a grafted Philippine Mango for about 4 years. In its second year, it developed six perfectly formed fruits. It took about three garden stakes to keep that tree upright. Anyway, it fully developed the fruit and never recovered (the fruit tasted like a good Granny Smith apple with a soft texture). In two years after it fruited, it never developed another leaf and did not grow an inch.

The Cashew and the Bilimbi Cucumber Tree seem to be the most sensitive. The Bilimbi, which is supposedly related to the Starfruit tree, has new growth sprouting from the trunk. When it leafs out, I’ll post the pictures. Right now, it’s just a stick. Also, the cinnamon seems to be a very strong tree. I have a Cassia and a Ceylon and they are leafing out on the same schedule as the citrus and the avocados. I know the cinnamon takes at least 32 degrees and at least 115 degrees in the summer. Keep in mind that I use a shade structure in the summer. The cinnamon has not endured full sun yet.

myamberdog · Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 2:44 pm Post subject:

Well KB - no one can argue with experience. I know...I should say I believe that I do get the cold drain that you are talking about in my yard as we are right next to the mountain, and my temps are consistently 3-5 degrees above our forecasted lows over the winter. Guess you got lucky....

Good luck with everything - I'll have to think about getting a cinnamon plant...just love that smell.....

myambermango

Sardonic_007 · Joined: 17 Nov 2012 Posts: 8

Dang! I live in the tuk too, in the middle if a street that slopes nicely and my yard is ten feet higher than my neighbors. I also assumed my house would be warm but two of my guavas- both covered - froze to the ground. Everything else either was sleeping (poms, stone fruit) or came out okay.

I'm curious where you live in ahwatukee or if you're up the hill a bit where the cold air goes past you into my yard! I'm near mtn pt school.

Cool yard! Really neat stuff.