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Dalmatiansoap
08-10-2009, 07:24 AM
I went this morning to pick up ripe carob fruits and took my camera with me. Idea of sharing few pix with U guys makes me happy. I dont know how many of U even knows about this fruit but in my country we use it for many things. In old days it was used as flower for making cakes and as substitute for cacao and chocolate and nowdays is mostly used for making liquers, souvenirs and dried fruit. If it is well dried it can last very long.
Carob tree among olives:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20892&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20892&ppuser=4565)
Checking fruit quality:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20889&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20889&ppuser=4565)
Preparing for harvest. U can see my friend is allready up there.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20890&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20890&ppuser=4565)
First bag is full
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20888&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20888&ppuser=4565)
Second
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20895&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20895&ppuser=4565)
Worst part - up the hill. Full sun, more than 30C. Next station - beach :)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20894&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20894&ppuser=4565)
:woohoonaner:
Regards from Croatia

CValentine
08-10-2009, 07:34 AM
Awesome Ante!

I love cooking with carob & have used it for many other things also.

Thank you for sharing with us! :) ~Cheryl

Ohio'sBest
08-10-2009, 07:41 AM
You can make a wicked poison from it as well. From what I've heard...........

Jack Daw
08-10-2009, 07:44 AM
Rakia, Connecting people. :ha: :ha: :ha: :ha: :ha: :ha:
You've got to be kidding me. :ha:
I love these kinds of T-shirts, will bring you one Slovak someday. :woohoonaner:

A full bag. How many KGs? That must have been some downhill roll. :goteam::bananas_b:02:

Why I mentioned the T-shirt? Well, if I remember well, Rakija is made of Carob. :D
Good to know for everyone, who wants to taste it one day.

Dalmatiansoap
08-10-2009, 07:47 AM
Rakia, Connecting people. :ha: :ha: :ha: :ha: :ha: :ha:
You've got to be kidding me. :ha:
I love these kinds of T-shirts, will bring you one Slovak someday. :woohoonaner:

A full bag. How many KGs? That must have been some downhill roll. :goteam::bananas_b:02:

Rakia Correcting people Jack:ha::ha::ha:
Full bag aprox. 25kg.
Problem is that it is uphill not downhill to major road:nanadrink:

momoese
08-10-2009, 08:35 AM
Wow, nice harvest!

We have a Carob tree growing at the public park where we train our dogs. I don't think many people have any clue what it is though!

Dalmatiansoap
08-10-2009, 06:13 PM
You are apsolutly right Mitchel and it is shame that this plant isnt more exploated.
:woohoonaner:

bigdog
08-10-2009, 10:03 PM
Just how cold-hardy is Carob? I have a seedling of it, and gave one to my mother in Gainesville, FL (zone 8b/9a). Will it succeed there? Thanks for the pics!

Frank

Dalmatiansoap
08-11-2009, 03:11 AM
I have never seen it in continental areas, biggest populations are on islands here. I dont belive it can make it in zone 8 but I still belive that it is worth trying.
:woohoonaner:

Jack Daw
08-11-2009, 04:12 AM
Says zone 9 only here...
PlantFiles: Detailed information on Carob, St. John's Bread Ceratonia siliqua (http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/38318/)

jasonlotp
08-11-2009, 04:06 PM
There are a ton growing here in Palo Alto, CA in downtown. Thousands of pods. How do you know when they are ripe? The ones here stay shriveled and brown and don't fall off immediately so I don't know which ones are tasty but the ones I've tried were dry and kind of mealy, they may have hung too long.

Dalmatiansoap
08-11-2009, 05:52 PM
They are best whan all turn brown and are still a bit green on top. Pick them and let dry and ripe in dark place for maybe week. So thay will not loose flesh and will be enough dry for preservation.
:woohoonaner: