Help me choose something different!

[vette-kid]

I've got the itch to try something different and need some ideas. Looking for an edible fruit, doesn't have to be mind blowing flavor, but good enough to bother picking.

Considering passion fruit, dragon fruit, papaya, something else? Zone is 8b/9a. Below freezing tempos are rate and short lived. This winter we had an 8 or 10 hour stretch below freezing and people thought it was the end of the world. I have some success with bananas, just to give a better feel for the climate.

I have a location worth full sun or a few partial areas. Either way, nothing to big (full size trees or large bushes). Ideas? Something different or strange?

 

[Esther Knapicius]

just saw something about Pickled cherries. never ate them yet. but sounds interesting.

 

[vette-kid]

just saw something about Pickled cherries. never ate them yet. but sounds interesting.

Cherry tree would be cool, but I don't have the much space!

 

[Chuck]

I am partial to avacados but can't grow them here. You can if you plant one of the "cold hardy" varieties. Other than that how about a mango. They will grow good there.

 

[Tjohn]

Figs and Kiwi are pretty good, too!

 

[alp]

Jackfruit if you have a big greenhouse!

 

[alp]

Blueberries - easy and good for you and should be OK in your zone. They don't take up a lot of room either. What is there not to love?

 

[alp]

Lychee if you have tasted the really delicious juicy ones.

 

[alp]

I really enjoy fruits fresh.

 

[vette-kid]

I am partial to avacados but can't grow them here. You can if you plant one of the "cold hardy" varieties. Other than that how about a mango. They will grow good there.

Oh man, I would love both of those. Is there a smaller variety? I thought both were pretty good size trees?

 

[Chuck]

Oh man, I would love both of those. Is there a smaller variety? I thought both were pretty good size trees?

They are both good sized trees, especially the mango which can go over 100 feet tall but there are numerous dwarf varieties which will stay less than 20 feet in the ground. An example is Julie but there are many others. You will just have to check with your local real nursery to see what grows best in your area. Avacados can also become a large tree but it takes years and years. You can always top an avacado and keep it as a bush type plant. And there are numerous dwarf varieties of avacado which stay less than 20 feet in the ground. Again, just check with your local nursery

 

[vette-kid]

They are both good sized trees, especially the mango which can go over 100 feet tall but there are numerous dwarf varieties which will stay less than 20 feet in the ground. An example is Julie but there are many others. You will just have to check with your local real nursery to see what grows best in your area. Avacados can also become a large tree but it takes years and years. You can always top an avacado and keep it as a bush type plant. And there are numerous dwarf varieties of avacado which stay less than 20 feet in the ground. Again, just check with your local nursery

Awesome, time to do some research!

 

[vette-kid]

Blueberries - easy and good for you and should be OK in your zone. They don't take up a lot of room either. What is there not to love?

Blueberries do grow here. We used to go to a patch not too far and pick them dirt cheap. Challenge is keeping birds off them.

 

[alp]

I'd also like mango and avocado, one for flavour and one for health. Wonder if they have a dwarf version for both. LOL!

Jackfruit is now hailed as one of the very healthy foods and as you live in near tropical area, it might be a good idea. Yes, I know I'm a bit mad! Well, quite mad!

 

[Daren]

I'm Going to pop My Favourite Fruit On the List Mespilus, commonly called medlar. Native only to southwest Asia and southeastern Europe, i.e. near the BlackSea coast and western Mediterranean. I have Read about a second proposed species of Mespilus, discovered in North America in 1990 It Turned out to be a Cross Between Mespilus germanica and a Hawthorn. They Do Grow in Britain & I love them & eat Every one I pick After they have started bletting befor picking & then tend to need to be Eaten or used to make Jellys but Not sure About your Zone. Would need to do a little Research

 

[Mark56]

Agree with Alp, I'd love to grow Mango. Damn, now I'm craving it

 

[vette-kid]

While we were in the NICU with our baby (he's fine now) someone gave us a bag of dried mango. That was hands down the best snack in the world. I would love to try that with my own mangos. I think my wife would rather have avocado.

Gotta look into jackfruit and mespilus (never even heard of that)

 

[Silentrunning]

When I lived in Florida I had great luck with Blueberry bushes. I grew them in pots so I could control the moisture better (flooding). There is a Blueberry farm on US-301 midway between Ocala and Stark that you can buy young bushes from. These are specially bred for the Florida climate and soil. They are well worth the extra money.

 

[vette-kid]

I find that there are a lot of options suitable to ones environment that don't really hot the main stream. Being semi topical we have irons if you are careful in winter.

Found out there is already a blueberry bush in the yard. Went ahead and got a few more to pollinate it. I'm

 

[alp]

Thats good if you want to do something different but one thing you should keep in mind that fruit and vegetables requires suitable environment to grow. So, if you try something which is not suitable in your area would result in disappointment.

Yes, I remember this person who was a tenant wanting to keep his parents alive. The designer named the plants, but sometimes we really have to follow the conditions given. I can't try to grow mango in the UK.