Q: I need some advice on which fertilizer(s) would be perfect for
my C​annonball tree and its cousin Heaven's Lotus (Gustavia augusta). ​I also have fruit trees... soursops, mango, etc. and a collection of flowers including pua keni keni, plumeria, bougainvillea, etc. I am wondering if you can recommend a custom
fertilizing regimen for my garden (especially the cannonball and the gustavia since
they are young).
A: It is a perfect time now to fertilize your plants as they
start active growth. We have suggestions on fertilizing programs for your trees.
You will find here our recommendations for:
1. Young trees
2. Flowering trees
3. Fragrant plants
4. In-ground grown fruit trees... CONTINUE READING >>
How to feed a Mango tree...
and to grow a Dwarf Mango
How to fertilize a Mango tree
Q: My mango trees that I bought and planted last august now have
fruit. I bought 2 types of fertilizer from you and never used it. Should I
use your fertilizer now?
A: It is a perfect time now to fertilize your plants as they
start active growth.
For mango trees, we recommend liquid fertilizer Sunshine Booster - Mango Tango. It is formulated for Mango trees,
especially for container grown. It improves quantity and quality of flowers and
ability to set fruit, reduces bud-flower-fruit drop. Can be used as often as
with every watering. For best results, use in combination with Sunshine Honey and Sunshine Superfood plant supplements. Its scientifically-balanced
stable formula is organic Amino-acid based and has NO EDTA chelators to eliminate
nutrients lockup; it does not affect crop taste.
Additionally, you may use slow-release granulated fertilizer Mango-Food once a month during hot season only. Dosage: 1 teaspoon per
each gal of soil.
Water-soluble fertilizers can be also used, however, those are usually
EDTA-chelated which is not as efficient as Amono-acid based Sunshine Boosters and
may create nutrients build up, especially if overdosed in containers.
For in-ground mango trees, you may use all the above, and slow-release
granulated fertilizer can be applied in larger quantities: spread a handful
around the drip line.
Remember that only liquid Sunshine Boosters can be applied year around.
With other fertilizers, you need to be careful not to overdose, and apply
only during hot weather (when night temperatures are steadily above 65F).
How to grow a Dwarf Mango tree
Q: I received the Ice cream mango tree in great condition (thank you for the ingenious
packing job) on Wednesday and have planted it in a pot slightly bigger than the
root ball. I plan to grow the tree on my front porch, so how big a container
should I ultimately use when the tree outgrows this pot? How big a container
does it need to fruit? I hope to keep it around 6-7 feet high, if possible.
I live in Hawaii.
A: Ice Cream mango is a perfect variety for container culture,
and it should be happy in Hawaii. You did everything right. Keep it in this
small pot for now and wait until it starts vigorous growth in Summer. Once it
starts growing (and you will notice roots growing too, sometimes they try to
grow through the holes in the bottom of the pot), then it's time to step up
into a bigger container (7-10 gal). Eventually you may use container size as
large as 15 gal. Ice cream mango is slow growing and compact, and you will be
able to maintain it under 7 ft with very minimal pruning if any.
Grafted trees, including Mango and Avocado, will start flowering and fruiting right away
Q: It would be easier for us buyers, if we could search for
plants that produce fruit in 2 years or less... I don't have the patience to wait
longer than that for fruit. I'm trying to buy for a fairly good sized garden
but want some fast growers and fruit produced in 2 yrs. Can you help me
out?
A: Fruiting time depends on many factors (growing conditions,
fertilizing, and even specific variety), this is why we can not just put a
simple icon "will fruit within 2 years".
However, most grafted and air-layered fruit trees, including all Mango, Avocado, Loquat, Sapote, Sapodilla, Longan, Peaches and Nectarines - will fruit right away. If you see in our store "grafted" or "air-layered" in plant description
- these trees will fruit soon. Some of them are already flowering and
fruiting!
Some non-grafted trees will fruit within a couple of years or even
sooner (those from cuttings, root division or even seedlings) - such as: Annona, Artocarpus (Jackfruit), Eugenia, Guava, Banana, Dragon fruit, Mulberry, Blackberry/Raspberry. Banana, Mulberry, Dragon fruit,
Blackberry-Raspberry - usually fruit within a year. You may refer to our store directory page for fruit specials.
Q: I've been a long time customer of yours and always been very
happy with my purchases. Last year I purchased a coconut cream mango tree
from you and while it did flower and show signs of starting to fruit, they soon
fell off and I never got any fruit from the tree. This year, there are many
more little buds on the tree and much earlier in the season. I want to do
whatever possible to get as much fruit as I can and prevent these from all
falling off again. Please advise what I should do.
A: Mango flowers can be tricky and there are several factors that
may affect setting fruit and especially possible fruit drop. Here are a few
ideas that may be helpful...
Q: I purchased an avocado tree from local garden centers three
times but every time it dies on me. My neighbor has a nice tree in his yard and
it grows beautifuly. I just purchased one online from you and I need to know
what I was doing wrong? Are there any secrets how to make an Avocado tree
happy? I have a big garden and several mango trees, but no luck with
Avocado...
A:Avocado tree is famous for being such a pain to establish. But once it
starts growing, it's growing! We will share a few simple tricks how to make
it right.
1. Plant high and provide good drainage. Wet feet is number one
reason for failing an avocado tree. It doesn't like wet soil and won't
tolerate soggy conditions. Plant it in the highest spot of your yard and slightly on
a "hill" (3-4" higher than the surrounding ground).
DO NOT plant Avocado tree in low spots or wet spots of your yard. Save
those spots for Cannas or Black Sapote or even a Mango if you want a fruit tree there. 2. Use quality soil. Use only well-drained soil with high content of
organic matter. You may add compost to existing sandy soil, or add some professional potting mix that contains pine bark and perlite. Remove
rocks from the hole if you see any while digging. Dig a big hole and fill it
with a good soil; compact the soil in the hole very well before setting the
root ball. Reminder: plant the tree high! 3. Water regularly. After planting an Avocado tree in a nice high
spot with a good drainage, start watering it... daily! Avocado likes water,
although it doesn't like wet feet! Once you figure out this combination, you've
got the recipe of success. Water by hand daily for the first week after
planting, then twice a week for couple weeks, then once you notice new growth -
you may rely on sprinklers, but keep watching the tree and don't let the soil
over-dry. It must be slightly moist, but not soggy. 4. Fertilize. For such finicky tree, we suggest mild formulas of
fertilizers. Dry fertilizers may burn roots, especially of a young tree. Even
smart-release granulated fertilizers should be used very carefully. The best
way to feed your young avocado tree - get a complete set of Sunshine Boosters Pro system. It has all necessary elements for all
stages of plant development and never burns the roots. Sunshine Boosters Pro can
be used with every watering - no need to guess how much and when. Besides,
it is a natural fertilizer based on amino acids - exactly what you want to use
on your fruit trees and other edibles! 5. Boost immune system of the tree. Apply Sunshine Epi plant hormone every 2 weeks as a foliar spray to boost
immune system and metabolism of the tree and protect it from diseases. Epi makes
plants (especially young plants) grow twice faster! It also enhances effect
of fertilizers by increasing plant metabolism. 6. Do not prune until you see significant growth. The tree is small
and can use as many leaves and branches as possible for photosynthesis and
healthy metabolism. We suggest to avoid pruning for at least the first year. On
the second year your tree most likely will be covered with flowers (assuming
you followed fertilizer program). Let it go through the blooming stage and
setting fruit; prune in Fall after fruiting is over. 7. Keep number of fruit to minimum for the first crop. Don't let the
small tree exhaust itself. Keep just 2-3 fruit to develop. The next year, no
need to control fruit quantity, the tree will develop as many as it can
support. P.S. If you got the tree from a mail-order, remember to establish it
in a pot before planting in the ground; move gradually from shade to sun.
Follow planting instructions.
Q: We have an early Spring here in Florida. All plants in my
garden flushing out new leaves and buds opening. Can I start fertilizing? I have
Mango, Avocado, Peach trees, many medicinal herbs and flowering shrubs: Angel
trumpets, plumerias, bromeliads. I prefer mild organic fertilizers; can you
suggest something that is safe for edibles and butterflies?
Q: As a rule of thumb, tropical gardeners start regular
fertilizing when the minimum temperatures (at night) go above 65F. Keep in mind that
Sunshine Boosters fertilizers can be applied year around because they
have mild formulas and used with every watering; during cooler period, you water
less frequently, so feeding is reduced accordingly. Another advantage of
Sunshine Boosters - they are natural (derived from organic amino acids which is
the basics of Life). They are safe for edibles as well as pollinating
insects.
Here is the feeding plan for your plants: 1. The most universal solution for all plants (both potted and
in-ground): get a complete set of Sunshine Boosters Pro system: Advantage-Pro for vegetative growth, BloomBoom Pro for flowering stage, and Ca-Support-Pro + Constanta-Pro as necessary daily supplements. You will need all these 4
components for your garden. 2. Start adding these liquid boosters with every watering according
to dozing directions and you will notice amazing growth boost within a
week. 3. Apply Sunshine Epi plant hormone every 2 weeks as a foliar spray to boost
immune system and metabolism of plants and protect them from diseases. Epi
makes plants (especially young plants and those "waking up" from dormancy)
grow twice faster! It also enhances effect of fertilizers by increasing plant
metabolism. 4. After cool winter temperatures, some plants may develop element
deficiencies like chlorosis (yellowing leaves). Additional microelement boost
can be provided with Sunshine Greenleaf (iron supplement) and Sunshine Superfood (micro-elements). 5. For additional boosting of flowering and setting fruit, use the
following individual boosters:
Sunshine Robusta - for foliage plants and when you need rapid vegetative
growth
Sunshine TotalFeed - for Plumerias and other fragrant plants
Sunshine Megaflor - for Brugmansias and other flowering heavy feeders
Sunshine C-Cibus - for improving fruit production and quality
Sunshine Honey - for sweeter fruit (must be applied 4-5 times a year) 6. For young/small plants (seedlings, rooted cuttings) as well as
tender tropicals like bromeliads, and orchids - Sunshine Bombino is a perfect choice due to its mild formula. 7. To save money, order complete sets rather than individual
boosters; you will be able to safe up to 40%! Sunshine Complete Nutrition System
Kits: Combo
Kit, and Pro Kit.
If you are a fan of organic gardening, do not use dry fertilizers. While
water-soluble and granulated (smart-realease) fertilizers are popular choice
in plant nurseries due to their convenience, they are not as safe as liquid
boosters because they create salt build-up in soil and have a high risk of
overdosing/burning plant roots, especially potted plants, plants at breaking
dormancy, at establishing, and at early stages of plant development. Besides,
dry fertilizers may affect the taste of your fruit and herbs. See advantages of liquid boosters over dry fertilizers.
Q: I have been hunting for a rare and exotic edible to grow on my
property here in South Florida for some time now. I found an interesting
tree called Kwai Muk while browsing your website. I do not have a lot of space
left to plant but this tree seems to be smaller in size and also somewhat cold
and wind tolerant which is a bonus as far as I am concerned. It also sounds
like the fruit is exceptional. I would love to grow one. It is similar to
Jackfruit?
A: ...The piece de resistance of Kwai Muk is the excellent fruit it produces. Some people seem to think
it is some of the weirdest looking fruit out there! This may be true, but
what it lacks in appearance, it certainly makes up for in taste. It is called
sometimes "the ugliest and yet the best tasting fruit". The creamy pulp is
absolutely delicious and mostly eaten fresh. I have heard people say the flavor
reminds them of mango, apricot, jackfruit, fig, quava and strawberry. Sweet
and tangy loveliness with a hint of sherbet. The fruit looks like mini
jackfruit on the inside but is about the size of a fig. The flesh inside also closely
resembles jackfruit....
Q: What exactly is Feijoa - Pineapple Guava? Does the fruit really taste like pineapple? I
am curious to know if it is easy to grow.
A:Feijoa is certainly one of the easiest fruit trees to grow as it does
not require much care. It is an attractive, evergreen tree or large shrub with
dark green, oval, leathery leaves. It has an abundance of uses in the garden
and produces lovely edible flowers and fruit! The fruit is eaten fresh,
added to smoothies or fruit salad and is also commonly used to make delicious
jams and wicked chutneys. Feijoa fruit go a long way in flavor.
This plant is drought tolerant and will grow in almost any soil type. It
loves full sun or partial shade and is wind resistant. A lot of gardeners like
to grow it as a wind barrier for this reason. It can easily be shaped into a
dense, informal hedge or screen that needs very little pruning. Because of
this density, it provides excellent shelter for all kinds of wildlife.
Butterflies, birds, and butterflies will all love you for growing Feijoa!
Space the plant five feet apart to create a wind barrier hedge. Heat does
no not bother it at all and it will also withstand temperatures to 10 degrees
F.
The plant gets its names from the delicious perfume it emits. Some folks
seem the fruit taste like pineapple, with a slight minty undertone. Others feel
the flavor reminds them of juicy fruit gum! The texture is described as
smooth and slightly gritty - almost like a pear, but firmer.
If you prefer to grow this plant as a tree rather than a large shrub,
simply remove the lower branches up to one-third of the tree's height over a
period of time. The Pineapple Guava can grow up to 15 feet wide and tall. They
also do really well as a container plant on patios where you can truly enjoy the
lovely fragrance of the fruit. It prefers rich, organic, well-drained soil
and will need light fertilization every other month in most soils.
Pretty, pink, edible flowers will wow you from May to June, followed in
late summer or fall by the delicious and fragrant fruit. An interesting thing
about this fruit is that you don't pick it. It falls to the ground when it
is ripe. Or simply place something under your tree, like a tarp, and shake the
tree. The ripe fruit will fall off. You can store the fruit in your
refrigerator for up to a week. And remember! The fruit of the Feijoa is not only a
very rich source of soluble dietary fiber, but also an excellent source of
Vitamin C, and very rich in antioxidants. They are also low in calories. Each
fruit only holds 55 calories.
Q: Hope there is help for my beautiful amazing papaya tree! There
where a loooooooot of fruits on it, but it broke! First of all, it was
leaning and friends tried to straight my beautiful tree. What can I do? Will it
get fruits again?
A: A couple months ago we also had a Papaya tree loaded with
fruit that fell down (see photos). It was heart-breaking. We secured it and it
continued growing for a couple of weeks but unfortunately, at the end the tree
still died, leaving us a million fruit.
The Papaya tree has a very sensitive root system and is hard to
re-establish once the roots are damaged.
However, if it just has a broken top, it has a good chance to grow back
from the side shoots.
Of course, remove all the fruit so they don't take energy from the
recovering tree.
When a tree is loaded with fruit, it is important to provide support for
heavy branches and for the trunk if needed. Always support the fruiting tree to
prevent from possible falling BEFORE it starts leaning down and may become
broken by even a light wind.
In the photo, you can see how we fixed boards around, but it was already
after the tree fell. Unfortunately, it was too late since the roots got
damaged. Always need to stake the tree up before the branches get too heavy!
A: Our favorite white Guava is Viet Nam variety that is also very rare and hard to find. The fruit is
very large, up to 6" in diameter, the pulp is very sweet and somewhat
crunchy.
The seeds are small which makes it more pleasurable to eat out of hand.
Another great feature of this variety, it stays compact and branches do not
get leggy, unlike most guavas. It can be easily grown in a container,
trimmed to the desired size and it will produce fruit under proper care.
Another cool variety is Indonesian, it also has a large round fruit and very few seeds to
compare with others.
And last but not least, if you prefer soft fruit to crunchy, the Peruvian
variety is a great choice. The fruit is pear-shaped.
Remember to provide plant food for good production, especially if grown
in a container.
