Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Look at my persimmon trees when the leaves have fallen

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Wow Benny - that is awesome! How old are those trees and what do you do with all that fruit? Do you make preserves or eat it fresh?

Cassie

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Beautiful fruit! I can almost taste and smell my mom's Persimmon cookies...

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Thanks Casie and Anna for nice compliments.
Those Fuyo persimmons are eaten fresh and while still firm. Once it gets soft it is not as good but still very sweet. It is just like eating a very sweet apple but the texture is like silk.
It may look a lot but I have many friends who would give their right arm for those fruits so there is no problem getting rid of them. I guess that's why I have so many friends (lol).
My sister sometimes make persimmon cake and it is so delicious but I don't know how. Let alone making a crust for it.
I also have 3 Fuji apple trees but that is a different story.
I'll post their pics later.
Casie, those trees are the smaller kind and only about 12 feet high. I planted them around 1987. They don't grow very big.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

My Fuji Apples

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Great pics Ben


Tony

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Thanks Tony.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

This is my tainung papaya which I believe will fruit at 3 feet in height.
I had given up growing papayas but here I go again.
Thanks to Gina baby blue which she gave me some insight how to combat this spider mites that get my papayas every year.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

I have papayas in greenhouse but grow too high to bear fruit in my climate.

This variety is really so dwarf?

Paolo

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Am looking forward to tasting your papayas Benny.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

I grew papaya from seeds from Jungle Seeds but they didn't do so well. Grew ok but were so suscepable (sp) to slug damage that the plants were not viable, now I'm growing local cultivars that the slugs don't seem to attack. Once I can stop the dogs from digging them up in the early morning before I can police them - I will be in business!! Never simple!!

Cassie

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Benny, I have never seen Fuji apples that look like that, plum purple. What selection is this particular one. Your moist climate would likely aid coloring but I still have not seen any Fuji like this.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

I checked with Benny several years ago, and it is a Red Fuji. My Fuji on the other hand is ordinary green that has red tinge. I tried Benny's Red Fuji and it produced red fruits here, only to be eaten by pesky birds! Next year would look more promising as I did not trim it this time.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

I also think that the sun has got something to do with the red coloring. The fruits that are not exposed to the sun are dull yellow/green with tinge of dull red around. And as you said the tempt in our area are cool even in the summer time.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Paulo:
Try annd see if you can order the dwarf papaya here:

Aloha Seed & Herb
World's Best Papaya Selection!

* 202 East Main Street
El Centro, CA 92243
* (760) 337-3100
* (fax) (760) 337-3135
* sales@alohaseed.com
or if you google this
Aloha Seed & Herb
you can choose the seeds you want as far as height and fruit size you want to grow.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Joe:
I meant to ask you how was that Fuji doing. Now I know.

Casie:
You and I are in the same boat.
But here I am again.
I am sure you can do it because you are much further South than I. I have to do a lot of hucus focus to get mine going.

Joe: You got to be kidding if I can fruit my papaya. If I do I'll bring you some good cooking tinola for sure.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Coloring of apples is influenced by sunlight and moisture, thus some growers here in the California Central Valley have installed overhead misters and quite a few growers everywhere will use white material for ground covering to reflect more light up into the tree canopy. Still, I have never seen Fuji (Red Fuji or otherwise) with such an intense color. I'd like to get a stick of wood from either of you (Benny or Joe) this winter.

I also have a papaya indoors right now and it's about 30" high right now. It was just sent as a bonus with one of my banana purchases as a form of apology by the seller by delaying shipment of my order. I am expecting to plant it outdoors late next spring with hopes of it producing fruit outdoors. I also hope to trial a different low-fruiting papaya.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Harvey:
We are all going to the CRFG meeting and scion exchange on Jan 12 08 in San Jose with Joe and EZ. We are all bringing stuff each one of us needs.
Want to go? I can bring some branch for you. Joe wants some of his Bicol calamondin and my cherries.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

The best time to graft apples is in spring time never miss. mine all took. also all of my European plums that I got for free at the CRFG took and now the canopy of my santa Rosa plum are full of different kind of plums. I expect them to fruit this spring.

Re: Fall Came into my Backyard
 

Benny, I don't know if I can make it to the SCV CRFG scion exchange. My son has a Pinewood Derby event that day and I am helping, though I might be able to make it since I'm putting in my time already (just got back from running a workshop and have one more to do in two weeks). If I go, I'd like to get a stick from you. If not, maybe you can leave one with Joe for me. I need to find out the schedule from Joe. The exchange is open at 10am for members and 11am for non-members (I am a member), but I need to find out what Joe's driving schedule is like since I'd probably ride with him if I go.

Thanks!