OT - My Fall Collection

[FMD]

Tallahassee may not be the best place for fig culture but is not too shabby for these...

[Rafaelissimmo]

Is that guava? Feijoa?

[FMD]

Yes, indeed. Pineapple guava. It is a bit of an acquired taste.

[strudeldog]

Frank That sure looks like a Sheng Kaki I have fruit on mine 1st time this year, but it does not look quite as segemented. I was actually getting some fruit on my Pineapple Guava before that last couple winters. I got some of my Chestnuts on my earlier tree the bear got most. My wife is probably driving by you right now on her way back from St. George with a stop at Just Fruits for me. The Van is loaded

[FMD]

Phil, I've forgotten the name of the persimmon. It is an astringent variety.
Looks like we have similar tastes. Do you grow jujubes too?

[strudeldog]

Frank, Sheng is astringent, almost certain that's what it is. I do grow Jujubes but have not had real good luck with them. They are supposedly real hardy but I have had 2 die to below graft after leafed out in spring in mid 20s F. I got a handful from one of my older trees at my cabin this year.

[Harborseal]

They look great!

[FMD]

Thanks Bob, to me they kind of define Fall.

[Gina]

Your first photo of the fruits is especially lovely and 'fall' looking.

I currently have some Feijoia (from a friend) that i'm enjoying. Just love them.

[FMD]

Thanks Gina. Last year my two feijoia bushes produced a ton of fruit. This year less. They taste better/sweeter after chilly weather.

[Q*]

Beautiful looking plate Frank! I love pineapple guava....one of my favorites! Silly question but.......what do chestnuts taste like? Once in a blue moon i'll see them at a farmers market but i've never had one before......to me they look like huge hazelnuts.

[FMD]

Ah, chestnuts! The versatile nut. You can eat them raw, roasted or boiled. You can dry them and turn them into flour. Taste? Hard to describe but different from the regular nuts we are used to. They have a hint of sweetness not found in hazel or walnuts.
Roasted chestnuts and a glass of wine around Christmastime...yum.

[WillsC]

Frank,

Great collection. I despise roasted chestnuts but fresh they are awesome. The squirrels leave you alone?

[FMD]

Shhh, don't mention the S word, Wills. They must be busy in someone else's yard this year.

[Sarahkt]

Beautiful fall photo, Frank. Pineapple guava blossoms are edible and slightly sweet, not sure how widely known this is. I used to nibble on one or two if the tree had enough blossoms that I wasn't worried about production. Do you eat the fruit only, or do you do anything with the blossoms too?

[FMD]

I did not know that. Can't wait to try them next spring.

[Sarahkt]

As Phil said, just pluck off the individual petals, not the entire flower head. I haven't tried to prepare them in an particular way, just nibbled them as-is. They're good!

[strudeldog]

I love the Pineapple guava blossoms. They melt in your mouth like cotton candy. Great in a fresh salad as well. If you just pick petals they can still set fruit I undertstand. I have a couple still in pots, but my last 2 0F winters killed 2 of my 4 in ground the other 2 put back weak growth

[vito12831]

Hi Frank.
that's a great looking plate! It does looks like fall.
Enjoy.
vito

[quackmaster]

I can not comment on the rest but those persimmons look sooo good! I like how that variety is in quarters. I like both the astringent and non astringent varieties, I have two fuyu persimmon trees. They are starting to turn colors!

[Hershell]

Nice fall colors. Chestnuts are addictive to me. Thanks for posting them Frank.

[Harborseal]

Talk to me about fresh chestnuts. Do you just open the shell and eat them raw? Do you do anything else with them? I didn't know you could eat them raw. I love them roasted.

[FMD]

Bob, the membrane between the hard shell and the nut is hard to remove in fresh chestnuts. My trick is to cut chestnuts half way through with a sharp knife and put them in the microwave for about a minute. The kernel slides out quite easily then. Pop it in your mouth and chew. It is crunchy and delicious.

I am constantly surprised at how many people have never had a chestnut or a persimmon, never mind a feijoia.

[Harborseal]

Like persimmons, love chestnuts, hated feijoa.

[Snaglpus]

Hey Frank, I've had chestnuts. They are pretty good but expensive. I bought a small bag from a guy at the farmers market last year. I googled how to roast in the oven. I also read how you have to be careful and make sure your chestnuts don't have worms in them. I checked mine and some had pin holes. I had to trash most of them. I roasted those without holes after pricking the shell first. They were good. But now that I now what to look for, I will inspect them before buying them again.

[Harborseal]

Dennis, Harvey has great chestnuts, not that expensive and I've never seen a worm in his.

http://www.chestnuts.us/order.htm

Regular Large size available now. I'm waiting for XL, myself