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wardog25

Are these trees difficult for a beginner?

14 years ago

I've recently moved to a house with enough space for fruit trees. I'd like to put in a few trees and I realize they take work, but I don't want to bog myself down or try something too difficult. I'd prefer to stay as organic as possible, but not be obsessive about it.

Below is the list of what I'd like to put in. Some I have researched and some I have not. So when it comes to pests, diseases, pruning, watering, fertilizing, etc.... are these trees easy, hard, or what? Should I make other choices?

I live just south of Orlando by the way.

-Mango (not sure what variety yet)

-Guava

-Peach (perhaps a Florida Prince or something similar)

-blueberries (3 varieties. Emerald, Jewel, and 1 more)

-Avocado (probably Brogdon or Lula)

-Ice cream Banana

Comments (8)

  • 14 years ago

    For a beginner, I would classify peaches as moderately easy, blueberries as extremely easy AS LONG AS you get the soil pH and moisture/watering right, and I have enough experience with bananas to say overall they're pretty easy. Living in Michigan, I've actually have all 3 of the others as potted plants (well, a pineapple guava, not a true guava), but I'm not really qualified to speak of their in-ground temperament in the tropics/subtropics.

  • 14 years ago

    You are a bit too cold for an unprotected mango and a normal guava, but otherwise they have few problems beyond nematodes for the guava in those sands.

    You have to get the correct blueberries too.

    I'd talk to the local Rare Fruit Council and ag extension agent before purchasing any plants.

  • 14 years ago

    I would check your neighborhoods first before ruling out Guava. Here is San Jose (9b tops) people grow Guavas and many are unprotected. The CRFG Rare Fruit Orchard in San Jose has Guavas that are probably 20ft-25ft tall. They may need protection the first few years. You could plant them on a south facing well as well. Lemon Guava is not a "true" Guava but hardier and tastes very good.

  • 14 years ago

    Get a Sweetcrisp blueberry. Bred in FL and the best eating quality.

  • 14 years ago

    Flordaprince is a delicious peach, but it is a Peach Leaf Curl fanatic. Its leaves are 5 times worse than all my other peaches (except Flordaking, which is just as bad--what's up with this line???) On the other hand, I never get around to spraying mine in time, it always has leaves twisted into curls by March, but then it "powers out" a new crop of leaves in summer and seems to grow even more vigorously because it was hit so bad. The fruit doesn't seem to suffer.
    SO I would definitely recommend it, but don't be shocked when it gets the disease every spring, and spray well the first couple of years until it gets established.

    Carla in Sac

  • 14 years ago

    Its interesting you did not mention any citrus. Citrus has its problems but overall they are easier to grow and require less toxic sprays for the most part.
    Fruit trees don't take a lot of physical labor but they do take a lot of brain time to make sure you are on top of the Insects and fungus that want to prevent you from having fresh fruit. It is all about timing and knowing what to do when.
    Peach trees in our hot humid weather have to be sprayed. If you have gray squirrels, then you must protect the peach tree or they will eat them all. Still, fresh peaches are hard to beat.

    Call your local Extension agent they can be a great source of information.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Georgia Home Orchard

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks for the info everyone.

    Randy, yes I thought about citrus, but I don't know of any that would be worthwhile. Oranges are a dime a dozen at certain times of year around here. And everyone I know is giving away grapefruit at other times because they get sick of it and their trees are laden.

    I suppose if I could find a citrus that is significantly different from what is available at the store but still something we'd like to eat a lot of, I'd go for it.

  • 14 years ago

    I keep wanting to try a Page orange/Mandarin but I can't get a tree out of FL. Same with the pineapple orange.

    Have you thought about apples. They like peaches need a lot of attention. Anna apples will knock the socks off store bought apples in June.

    Do look your Extension Agent up. Give them a call or go by there office. They are more than happy to help out a beginner. They will have some nice handouts on too on peach trees for FL.