Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Florida's Best Fruiting Native and Exotic Shrubs and Vines by Charles R. Boning Charles R. Boning. Charles R. Boning has been an associate attorney with the Mallory Law Group since 2001. He is admitted to The Florida Bar and to the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. His practice extends to commercial litigation, construction law, corporate law, contracts, commercial leases, landlord and tenant law, constitutional law, appellate law, and related fields. Mr. Boning attended the University of Florida College of Law, where he contributed to the Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy, participated in Moot Court, won two book awards (top grade in class), and won the Makar Award for best note. He graduated in 1995 with honors and attained the Order of the Coif (top 10 percent of law school class). Before attending law school, Mr. Boning was involved in the educational publishing business in New York. As an author/illustrator with Barnell Loft, Ltd., he wrote 35 children’s books including: Remember Paul Wilson, Some People Never Learn, One Last Try, Old Snapper, and The Chicago Inferno. These books were sold and distributed to public and private schools across the nation. He served as vice president until the company was purchased by acMillan/McGraw Hill. After graduating from law school, Mr. Boning served for five years as a staff member with the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee. He authored the House’s internal manual, Detecting Constitutional Problems in Florida Law, published in 1997/1998 and again in 2000. As counsel to the Council on Civil Justice, Mr. Boning participated in supervising the staff of four committees, advised members regarding constitutional issues, and was responsible for shepherding key bills through the legislative process. Since leaving the public sector, Mr. Boning has continued to write and illustrate books through publisher, Pineapple Press, located in Sarasota, Florida. In 2006, his book, Florida’s Best Fruiting Plants: Native and Exotic Trees, Shrubs, and Vines, was nominated for a Florida Book Award. Since its publication, this book has enjoyed brisk sales, has been the subject of many positive reviews, and has come to be regarded as a gardening classic. His book, Florida’s Rivers, published in 2007, was also nominated for a Florida Book Award. In 2010, Mr. Boning completed the companion book to Florida’s Best Fruiting Plants, titled Florida’s Best Herbs and Spices: Native and Exotic Plants Grown for Scent and Flavor. Mr. Boning has been a frequent speaker at gardening events around the state and maintains an extensive collection of rare trees. Other interests include Civil War history, genealogy, maritime history, boating, fishing, hunting, and biology. Florida's Best Fruiting Plants: Native and Exotic Trees Shrubs and Vines by Charles R. Boning. Fig. 2 tricuspidata . Fig. 4 Silkworm Bark. C. tricuspidata by the stream at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Fig. 6 Young M. tricuspidata . Reading Material Information, California Rare Fruit Growers Melonberry, Just Fruits and Exotics nursery Che: Chewy Dolloops of Maroon Sweetness, Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden pdf 6 pages Che, Eat The Weeds Fruit of the Month: Che, California Rare Fruit Growers. Origin This species is native to and East Asia. It is widely distributed in southern Europe and other warm temperate regions of the globe. Description Although it has not yet achieved the popularity it deserves, the che is well suited to dooryard planting in north and central Florida. This small tree is easy to grow, cold hardy, drought resistand and produces a berrylike fruit in great abundance. The flavor is mild, sweet and delicious. No sighnficant faults are associated with the che, apart from sharp thorns and the tendency of some juvenile trees to form suckers around the base. 3 The deciduous trees can eventually grow to about 25 ft. in height, but often remains a broad, spreading bush or small tree if not otherwise trained when they are young. Immature wood is thorny but loses its thorns as it matures. Female trees are larger and more robust than male trees. 1. Leaves Leaves alternate, resemble mulberry but smaller, thinner, pale yellowish-green, trilobate, with central lobe sometimes twice as long as the lateral lobes, frequently unlobed. 5. Flowers The che is dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants. Appearing in June, both types of flowers are green and pea-sized. The male flowers turn yellow as the pollen ripens and is released, while the wind-pollinated female flowers develop many small stigmas over the surface of the immature fruit. Male plants occasionally have a few female flowers which will set fruit. 1. Fruit Like the related mulberry, the che fruit is not a berry but a collective fruit, in appearance somewhat like a round mulberry crossed with a lychee, 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The ripe fruits are an attractive red or maroon-red color with a juicy, rich red flesh inside and 3 to 6 small brown seeds per fruit. The flavor is quite unlike the vinous quality of better mulberries. While still firm they are almost tasteless, but when fully soft ripe they develop a watermelon-like flavor that can be quite delicious. The sugar content is similar to that of a ripe fig. In colder areas with early leaf drop the bright red fruit are an attractive sight dangling from smooth, leafless branches. 1 Although che fruits ripen late in the growing season, be patient with their harvest because they are tasteless until softened and dead ripe. Do not expect the fruits to drop into your hands at that time; each che has to be plucked individually (a case for parthenocarpy). Likewise, do not expect to pick the fruits all at once, because they have a long ripening season, a month or more. 4. Varieties Few named cultivars are available in the United States. 'Darrow' is sometimes planted in north Florida. 3. Harvesting It is important that the fruits be thoroughly ripe to be at their best. A darker shade of red with some blackening of the skin is a good indication of full ripeness. You’ll know the fruit is ripe when the stem doesn’t bleed white sap after picking. 2 Do not pull the fruit from the tree. If it doesn't come off with a gentle pull give it another day. If you pull the fruit off with force it will be dripping sap and will not taste good. 9. Pollination No fruit is produced by the Male but without his flowers the Female won’t fruit. The Male will cause seeds to be produced in the fruit of any Female Melonberry variety within pollination range. If you have a Female Melonberry that isn’t producing well or drops all its fruit, and you don’t mind seeds in the fruit, then a Male Melonberry within 15-20 ft of the Female. 2. Propagation The che is readily grown from seed, although the plants can take up to 10 years to bear. Seeds should be sown as soon as extracted from the fruit. The plants are often propagated from softwood cuttings taken in midsummer and treated with rooting hormone. The che is also easily grafted to Osage orange rootstock using either a cleft or whip-and-tongue graft. 1. Planting Because space is usually limited, savvy gardeners have planted the male and female che in the same hole. The male is kept pruned to about ¼ of the total canopy for adequate pollination and best fruit production. 2 Plant away from walks, drives or patio, as fallen fruit stains porous surfaces. Terminal branches may be armed with sharp thorns. 3. Pruning Trees fruit on the current year’s wood. Prune heavily in winter to encourage new growth for best fruit production. Remove approximately half the branches formed the previous year and head back remaining shoots by about half. If the male and female have been planted together, keep the male to about 25% of the total canopy. This may entail addition summer pruning of the male. The trees can be allowed to reach full height or kept smaller for ease of harvest. 2. Fertilizing The type of fertilizer you choose may be chemical or organic. Make sure that the fertilizer contains iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, copper and boron. These minor elements are very important to plants and most soils are low in these elements. 2. Irrigation The first year is a critical time for the establishment of a new tree. Water thoroughly twice a week on light soils and once a week on clay soils. Soak the entire root system deeply – this usually takes 40-50 minutes. Mandarin Melonberry should receive at least 1 inch of water each week for best growth and fruit production. Water regularly, especially during dry periods. Fruit may drop prematurely if insufficiently irrigated during dry spells. 2 Food Uses Use fresh in fruit salad or eat out of hand. 2. Other Uses The plants have been valued by the Chinese for their leaves, as feed for silkworms. Although the silk produced from them was said to produce lute strings with a particularly clear sound, their leaves were used only to supplement mulberry leaves as feed, perhaps because thorny stems make picking them more difficult. 4. General Female trees are larger and more robust than male trees. Osage orange is sometimes used as a rootstock because che on its own roots can sucker badly. Osage orange as a rootstock for che gives you a plant that is more easily trained as a standard, single-trunked shrub or small tree. 6 The Tanzhe Temple west of , China is named for this tree 8. Florida's Best Fruiting Plants: Native and Exotic Trees Shrubs and Vines by Charles R. Boning. This is a user-friendly, practical field guide for the classification and identification of soils in central and southern Florida. Read More. Insect Galls of Florida. Insect Galls of Florida is a compilatin of available description, host plant, known U.S. and Florida-specific distribution, and life-cycle information for insect galls that have been reported in Florida. Read More. Fundamentals of Plant Pathology. This is a user-friendly, practical field guide for the classification and identification of soils in central and southern Florida. Read More. Florida's Best Fruiting Plants: Native and Exotic Trees Shrubs and Vines by Charles R. Boning. Fig. 2 C.grandiflora (natal plum): leaf, flower, thorns, and fruit. Fig. 3 Ripe fruit, seeds removed. Fig. 4 Acrid latex exuding when picked unripe. Fig. 5 C. macrocarpa (Natal plum). Leaves. KiHana Nursery Kihei, Maui, Hawai'i. Fig. 6 New leaf growth. Fig. 7 Flower buds. Fig. 8 C.macrocarpa (Natal plum) flower. Fig. 9 C. macrocarpa (Natal plum). Flowers and leaves. Kahului Airport, Maui, Hawai'i. Fig. 14 Fruit, flower and leaves. Fig. 15 C. macrocarpa (Natal plum). Flowers fruit and leaves. Haiku, Maui, Hawai'i. Fig. 19 Large spines which are forked at the end, sometimes exceeding two inches in length. Fig. 21 Trunk is short and woody. Fig. 22 C. macrocarpa (fruit and flowers). Maui, Kahului, Hawai'i. Fig. 23 C. macrocarpa variegata (Natal plum). Flower and variegated leaves. Iao Tropical Gardens of Maui, Maui, Hawai'i. Fig. 24 Natural growth habit. Fig. 25 C. macrocarpa (Natal plum). Box sheared. Kahului Airport, Maui, Hawai'i. Fig. 26 As a tiered tree. Fig. 27 As a rounded bush. Fig. 28 Flowering hedge in Jerusalem. Reading Material Carissa, Fruits of Warm Climates Carissa grandiflora Natal Plum, Common Carissa, University of Florida pdf Carissa, Archives of the Rare Fruit Council of Australia The Carissa, Manual Of Tropical And Subtropical Fruits The Natal Plum, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Natal Plums Num Num, Eat the Weeds. Origin Southern Africa (KwaZulu/Natal) Description The carissa is widely grown in Florida as an ornamental hedge. The plant is tough, can tolerate unfavorable conditions and will grow on barrier islands. The glossy, dark green foliage and beautiful white flowers provide visual appeal. The crimson fruit, which can be of very good quality, should not be permitted to go to waste. The carissa deserves recognition as an outstanding dual-purpose plant. 9. Flowers The plant blooms most profusely in early spring, but produces a few flowers throughout the year. The flowers bloom singly or in small terminal cymes at the end of the branches. The flowers are 30mm-50mm (1½" to 2") in diameter, white and fragrant. The 5 petals are twisted to the right. 5 Some plants bear flowers that are functionally male, larger than normal and with larger anthers, and stamens much longer than the style. Functionally female flowers have stamens the same length as the style and small anthers without pollen. 6. Fig. 10 Fig. 11 Fig. 12 Fig. 10. Flower buds forming Fig. 11. C. macrocarpa (Natal plum). Leaves and flowers. Shopping Center Pukalani, Maui, Hawai'i. Fig. 12. C. macrocarpa (flowers). Location: Maui, Shopping Center Pukalani, Hawai'i. Fruit The fruits of the carissa ( Carissa grandiflora ) are oval or round and vary in size and shape. A typical fruit is approximately an inch in diameter and one and a half inches long. The skin of the fully ripe fruit is bright crimson streaked with darker red; it is thin and bruises easily. The flesh is deep red or crimson with white mottling. In the center there are approximately twelve small brown flat seeds. The fresh fruit has a mild, slightly pungent flavor, is slightly granular in texture, and is somewhat astringent. When bruised, broken, or cut, the fruit and branches exude a white latex. This substance is harmless, except that it may be irritating if it comes in contact with the eye. 2 The fruit matures in approximately 60 days, yielding most of its fruit in the summer. Carissa is not usually available in commercial markets. It is most often grown in South Florida. 2 The fruit production peaks around Thanksgiving and some people favor it over cranberries. If picked too soon, the flesh will exude very acrid white latex (Fig. 4). Fig. 16 Fig. 17 Fig. 18 Fig. 16. Fruit (unripe) of a Big num-num at the TUT campus Fig. 18. Ripe fruit and unripe fruit showing latex. Varieties The selections 'Fancy', 'Gifford' and 'Torrey Pines' are said to be of good fruit bearing quality. Season While the carissa flowers and fruits all year, the peak period for blooming and fruiting is May through September. The 5-pointed calyx remains attached to the plant when the fruit is picked. 6. Harvesting The carissa must be fully ripe, dark-red and slightly soft to the touch to be eaten raw. 6 If the fruit is harvested too soon, the flesh will exude acrid white latex. 9. Pollination In its homeland, the carissa is pollinated by small beetles and hawk-moths and other night-flying insects. Various degrees of unfruitfulness in America has been attributed to inadequate pollination. Some seedlings are light-croppers, but others never bear at all. It has been found that unproductive plants, apparently self-infertile, will bear fruits after cross-pollination by hand. 6. Propagation By seed, expect germination in about 2 weeks, but the seedlings grow very slowly at first and are highly variable. Vegetative propagation is preferred and can be done easily by air-layering, ground-layering, or shield-budding. Cuttings root poorly unless the tip of a young branchlet is cut half-way through and left attached to the plant for 2 months. After removal and planting in sand, it will root in about 30 days. Grafting onto seedlings of the karanda (q.v.) has considerably increased fruit yield. 6 Seedlings may begin to produce fruit in 2 years; cuttings earlier. 1. Culture Along our coastal areas, carissa has been used for a hedge since it is highly salt-tolerant and can be planted in exposed locations with little chance of being damaged. One disadvantage is the shrub's large spines (Fig. 19) which are forked at the end, sometimes exceeding two inches in length. Because of its spiny nature, carissa has long been used as a privacy hedge or people-stopper, since an attempt to penetrate a hedge of carissa is rare. It should not be used in areas where small children frequent. While most people use carissa as clipped hedges forming a dense screen, it is not uncommon for it to attain a height of 20 feet at maturity. 4 Natal Plum will tolerate a variety of soils and exposures and only needs light pruning. It makes a nice, full foundation shrub. While it thrives in full sun, natal plum can adapt to fairly heavy shade and requires only moderate watering and fertilization. Plant on three to six-foot centers for a hedge or mass planting, closer for the compact cultivars. 1. Pruning Only light pruning is required unless one would prefer a clipped hedge or an espalier (Fig. 26). Fertilizing A standard, well-balanced fertilizer suffices except on limestone where trace elements must be added. 6 Irrigation The carissa benefits from periodic irrigation, although rainfall is usually adequate to sustain the plant. 9. Pests Die back is common. Spider mites, thrips and whiteflies, and occasionally scale insects, attack young plants, especially in nurseries and in the shade. Diseases A number of fungus diseases have been recorded in Florida; algal leaf spot and green scurf caused by Cephaleuros virescens ; leaf spot from Alternaria sp., Botryosphaeria querquum , Fusarium sp., Gloeosporium sp., Phyllosticta sp. and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides which also is responsible for anthracnose; stem gall from Macrophoma sp., Nectria sp., Phoma sp., Phomopsis sp., and both galls and cankers from Sphaeropsis tumefaciens ; dieback caused by Diplodia natalensis and Rhizoctonia solani ; thread blight from Rhizoctonia ramicola ; root rot resulting from infection by Phytophthora parasitica and Pythium sp. 1. Food Uses The carissa must be fully ripe, dark-red and slightly soft to the touch to be eaten raw. It is enjoyed whole, without peeling or seeding, out-of-hand. Halved or quartered and seeded it is suitable for fruit salads, adding to gelatins and using as topping for cakes, puddings and ice cream. 6 The carissa may be eaten fresh but it is more enjoyable when cooked. The cooked juice and pulp have an unpleasant milky-red appearance but become an attractive bright red when cooked with sugar. The jelly has a lovely red color with a delicate, characteristic flavor suggestive of raspberry. The sauce, made by straining or sieving the stewed fruit and cooking it with sugar, is preferred by some to cranberry jelly. 2 The white latex in the fruit forms a rubbery, sticky ring around the pan in which the carissa are cooked. To remove, rub with a piece of dry paper towel or with a coarse bit of cloth soaked with salad oil. Do not use steel wool or an abrasive powder as these make the sticky substance more difficult to remove. This fruit may be used canned or frozen; as jelly or preserves; in salads, sherbets, and sauces; or as a juice for punch. 2. Other Uses Natal plum is the perfect hedge plant. Its dense foliage makes it a good screen, and its thorns make it an effective barrier as well. 3. General The carissa macrocarpa is a ground cover: Carissa macrocarpa Dwarf Natal Plum, University of Florida pdf Forked spines, about 1-2 in (2.5-5.1 cm) long, arm the branches and the ends of the twigs. 3 The botanical name for that family is Apocynaceae which is Greek for “keep it away from the dog” meaning it kills them easily. It does us, too. Nearly all parts of the Natal Plum are poisonous, like the Oleander, except for the red-ripe fruit. 7 Carissa comes from the Sanskrit word “corissa” the local name of one the the species. Macrocarpa is Greek for large fruit. 7. Fig. 29 Species distribution. Further Reading The Carissa, Tropical Fruit News RFCI Carissa, Archives of the Rare Fruit Council of Australia Carissa Botanical Art. South Florida Grows. I have agonized for days, gathering every useful piece of information I could find about how to grow tropical fruit trees here in the South Florida, and organizing it all into this nice neat chart. Most of the information came in bits and pieces from various internet sources, so i can't guarantee all of it is 100% perfect. However, much of the info came from recognized reputable sources, including: Florida's Best Fruiting Plants, Native and Exotic Trees, Shrubs and Vines by Charles R. Boning, "Tropical Fruit for the Home Landscape" (a publication on The University of Florida's IFAS extension page- http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_home_tropical_fruit ) Purdue University's "Newcrop" information site- http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html. The chart is mostly complete, but i will be adding a few bits and pieces to improve it in later updates. I will also be adding a continuation of the chart that includes info on seed sprouting for each plant, how long it takes the plant to bear, and propagation methods. If you think of anything else that might be useful to add onto the chart, or feel there are errors in the information provided, feel free to leave me a comment and I will consider your recommendations. The point of this chart is to provide a free, simple and straightforward guide for laymen to use/refer to when caring for their fruit trees. Feel free to copy, paste, reproduce, and send to anyone you know who is interested in growing tropical fruit. If you are interested, check back every now and then as I will also be doing similar charts for Florida-friendly vegetables, herbs, citrus fruit, groundcovers, and medicinal trees.