View Full Version : Need Advice!
Mason
07-10-2008, 08:01 PM
I will be going off to high school in late August. I want to grow my first plant before school starts. (Don't get me wrong. I've grown plants, just not by myself) This will be my first plant I ever grow by myself. Does anyone know of a good, fast-growing fruit tree? Thank you!
Chironex
07-10-2008, 11:45 PM
Just fast growing, or fast to fruit?
Mason
07-11-2008, 12:11 AM
Just fast growing, or fast to fruit?
Fast to get fruit.
mskitty38583
07-11-2008, 01:15 AM
ummmm for that youll have to ask richard or benny or joereal.
Bananaman88
07-11-2008, 06:22 AM
I think that I've read that 'Raja Puri' is pretty fast to fruit. I'm growing it for the first time myself this year thanks to a friend, so we'll see how quickly it fruits.
turtile
07-11-2008, 07:01 AM
From a seedling or a cutling? Many fig trees will instantly produce fruit from cutlings with any new growth. I'm not sure if they do the same from seed.
bencelest
07-11-2008, 07:46 AM
Fruit tree?
Almost all of the potted tree that you buy at the store like Home Depot, Wallmart, will fruit the same year. In fact pick one up that is your favorite with flowers or fruit already. And enjoy the fruit the same year.
jpfloors
07-11-2008, 09:27 AM
I've always been told don't eat the fruit off of a fruit tree the first year due to the treatments they give plants, but that might only apply to here in FL with citrus. Are you wanting a fruiting banana? Banana plants ususally take two years to fruit! Are you wanting to have the fruit by the time you're back in school?
bencelest
07-11-2008, 10:57 AM
I never thought of that. I know of a big nursery here very well and I know how they fertilize their fruit trees from the cuttings all the way to the distribution but I don't see any different how they treat their plants except that they buy theirs wholesale.
As I know it either synthetic or natural fertilizers are the same as far as the plant is concern. Treating the plants organically maybe more of disadvantage because of the danger where those fertilizers came from such as contaminated poo or pathogens that were in the poo.
Mason
07-11-2008, 11:03 AM
To answer all of your questions, I want a fast fruiting fruit tree. Preferably, I want to have it fruit within 3 months. I don't care whether it is a seedling or cutling. Thank you all.
jpfloors
07-11-2008, 11:19 AM
I'm afraid you'd have to purchase one that's already fruiting then (that could be well over $50-100). They usually would be in 15-25+ gallon pots. Sometimes even then new trees like that could take years to fruit and them being in pots stuns their growth. They do best in the ground as they're meant to be. Not sure if you were wanting to take this to school with you or not. It all depends on the type of tree it is. You could possibly try a fig tree as John suggested, but I think their fruiting season is in the spring. I'm not too familiar with fig trees. You could possibly get a key lime tree, they fruit very small sizes and fruit all year round.. but can take months til the fruit is ready. They would also be one of the better trees to keep in pots as it's not often that they get over 10 feet. Though here I do know someone that has one that's almost 20! But again with citrus, you don't want to eat the first years fruits due to the pesticides they spray on them. Best of luck to you!
jpfloors
07-11-2008, 11:21 AM
To answer all of your questions, I want a fast fruiting fruit tree. Preferably, I want to have it fruit within 3 months. I don't care whether it is a seedling or cutling. Thank you all.
What exactly are you wanting the fruit for?
Bananaman88
07-11-2008, 11:22 AM
Sorry, Mason; I just assumed you meant a banana plant.
bencelest
07-11-2008, 11:37 AM
To answer all of your questions, I want a fast fruiting fruit tree. Preferably, I want to have it fruit within 3 months. I don't care whether it is a seedling or cutling. Thank you all.
Even buying a fruiting tree from the store will not help you to harvest fruit in 3 months' time. I am not trying to be facetious but since you are going back to school and all that I am not sure if you have the time to take care of a plant. It needs tender and loving care. There is no such thing as 3 months for a plant to flower and fruit with that short period of time. Your tree will need sunshine, fertilizer, water, and checking for bugs. That takes A LOT OF TIME - not 3 months. A couple of years maybe.
Cuttings and seedlings are out of the question.
Even if you buy already a fruiting tree, it's going to take 6 to 8 months for the fruit to mature. Taking care of a plant is pretty expensive.
Would you consider just buying fresh fruits from the store then?
hersirsmiley
07-11-2008, 01:31 PM
While I am no expert on anything. I will give my two cents. When i was in high school i started to grow plants starting with just a summer garden of my own. It is possible to grow a single plant of any kind while in school provided you are willing to make sure you have time to look after it. As far as fruiting trees go i agree that three months to go through a fruiting cycle is asking alot, but if you care for it throughout the year you'll be fine.
-smiley
:drum:
Mason
07-11-2008, 02:24 PM
Ok, thank you all for answring to my thread. I am very new to this, so if asking if I could grow a plant in 3 months seemed a little naeve, then I'm sorry.
Mason
07-11-2008, 02:26 PM
Even buying a fruiting tree from the store will not help you to harvest fruit in 3 months' time. I am not trying to be facetious but since you are going back to school and all that I am not sure if you have the time to take care of a plant. It needs tender and loving care. There is no such thing as 3 months for a plant to flower and fruit with that short period of time. Your tree will need sunshine, fertilizer, water, and checking for bugs. That takes A LOT OF TIME - not 3 months. A couple of years maybe.
Cuttings and seedlings are out of the question.
Even if you buy already a fruiting tree, it's going to take 6 to 8 months for the fruit to mature. Taking care of a plant is pretty expensive.
Would you consider just buying fresh fruits from the store then?
Ya, I could buy fruits from the store. I just wanted to plant my own.
Mason
07-11-2008, 02:28 PM
What exactly are you wanting the fruit for?
Well, I want the fruit to eat. Also, next spring, my uncle and I want to sell some plants to neighbors.
turtile
07-11-2008, 08:33 PM
Well, I want the fruit to eat. Also, next spring, my uncle and I want to sell some plants to neighbors.
Have you considered herbaceous fruit plants such as tomatoes and squash? You can use the seed for spring.
Mason
07-11-2008, 08:42 PM
Have you considered herbaceous fruit plants such as tomatoes and squash? You can use the seed for spring.
I have tomatoes and squash in a vegetable garden.
bencelest
07-12-2008, 12:35 PM
Josh:
To reinforce my way of thinking, here's some excerpts from one of the moderators at a forum I am a member of:
"PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
I have always thought that "Chemical" fertilizers are a cleaner and safer type of chemical to use than are "organic" chemicals. I would much rather have nitrogen from a bag on my tree than some animal's waste (manure & urine). But each to their own. In the final analysis, yes citrus can be grown organically, but as has been said, what the roots take up into the tree and into the fruit, is exactly the same nutrients - no difference- (chemicals) no matter which method your use. The "residues" in the tree and fruit that you are concerned about will be exactly -no difference- the same residues no matter which method of fertilization you use. About the temperature question you asked. For optimum growth keep your tree between 76-86F. At temperatures below 55F or above 95F the trees growth stops. I strive for 86F. Take care, and happy and successful growing by what ever method you decide. - Millet"
jpfloors
07-12-2008, 12:48 PM
Thanks for the info Benny, but I'm more speaking of the pesticides they treat the plants with. Maybe they don't do the same treatments in CA, but in Fl they do a LOT and it's highly not recommended to eat the fruits for the first year until the chemicals and run through their cycle and risk getting contaminated yourself.
chong
07-12-2008, 02:44 PM
I will be going off to high school in late August. I want to grow my first plant before school starts. (Don't get me wrong. I've grown plants, just not by myself) This will be my first plant I ever grow by myself. Does anyone know of a good, fast-growing fruit tree? Thank you!
The fastest growing tropical fruit tree, that I know of, is the Dwarf Ambarella(Spondias dulcis, S. Cytherea). Under ideal conditions, It can bloom in nine months at 2 feet of height. And that's from a seedling. Flavor of fruit is a cross between mango and pineapple. In fact, it is a mango relative.
jpfloors
07-12-2008, 02:51 PM
That sounds good!
bencelest
07-13-2008, 08:40 AM
Thanks for clarifying Josh.
john_ny
07-13-2008, 03:20 PM
I had some passionfruit that I grew from seed, and had ripe fruit in ten months. I think it was P.edulis. I'll try to find the pictures of the seedlings, plants, flower, and fruit, and post it tomorrow.
john_ny
07-13-2008, 03:34 PM
Benny- You metioned chemical fertilizers, and organic chemicals. I think it would have been better to refer to them as chemical fertilizers, and organic fertilizers, as organic chemicals are carbon compounds, such as alcohols, and gasoline, etc.
I remember, when I was going to school, and taking organic chemistry, we would make a little perfume, on the side, for the girlfriends. Also, at that time, I heard of a magazine, called, "Organic Gardening". I thought it was a magazine about high tech gardening methods, etc., like tissue culture, or hydroponics, or something. I was a little disappointed, whe I discovered it was about using only things like cow poop.
bencelest
07-13-2008, 03:49 PM
John:
I stand corrected.
I believe it was a typo from my friend Millet when he said "organic chemicals" when he meant organic fertilizers.
Benny
Mason
07-13-2008, 06:01 PM
The fastest growing tropical fruit tree, that I know of, is the Dwarf Ambarella(Spondias dulcis, S. Cytherea). Under ideal conditions, It can bloom in nine months at 2 feet of height. And that's from a seedling. Flavor of fruit is a cross between mango and pineapple. In fact, it is a mango relative.
Thank you Chong! I will consider a Dwarf Ambarella. Also, mangos and pineapples are two of my favorite fruits.
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