Leaving North East to go to Florida for 5 days - Anyone have a place to see figs?

[The Figster]

Tomorrow Wednesday 23 I fly to Florida for some Easter sun with the family. We will be staying on the east cost in the Stewart / Palm City area.
Does anyone know of a place to go where I might see a fig collection? The idea of seeing a fig in leaf in March is very exiting.
I could travel about 90 minutes in any direction, it would just be me - no hangers on.

Ian

[fitzski]

You could go visit WillsC in Inverness.

I have no idea how long a drive that would be but it would be definitely worth the trip.

[SarinaP]

If you go south at all, there's a tropical fruit farm in Delray Beach--http://delraymango.blogspot.com/

[The Figster]

Wills place is 3 hours northwest and just too far. I will check out the delray mango idea.
Anywhere else?

[COGardener]

JF&E is in Florida

[fitzski]

There are many members in FL. Anyone know how to search for them by location?

[WillsC]

There are many members in FL. Anyone know how to search for them by location?

Sadly the software does not allow for that.

[Levar]

Not really figs but in Palm City, I'm sure you can go visit the citrus orchards. I think Navels are about to wrap up and Valencias should be ready to harvest very soon, if they haven't started already.
Do not miss Florida citrus. whew.

In May - June, it's Lychee season, which is heaven on earth. That's followed by mango season, which lasts from May - August. Consider coming back down for one of the mango festivals - amazing stuff.

[The Figster]

I did not get time to explore, but had a great time with family and in laws - thank you for your suggestion

Ian

[WillsC]

Levar,

Speaking of that my Lychee are LOADED with blossoms. Last year they had exactly 1 cluster and zero fruit so pretty excited to see what happens. If the citrus are in bloom now (should be) go for a drive in the orchards, the smell is indescribable.

[COGardener]

I've been wanting to go to this park for years, the last two times I was in FL I could not make it happen time wise. I understand it is amazing and worth the making it happen... Could not tell you if they have figs, but regardless.

http://www.fruitandspicepark.org/

[Levar]

Levar,

Speaking of that my Lychee are LOADED with blossoms. Last year they had exactly 1 cluster and zero fruit so pretty excited to see what happens. If the citrus are in bloom now (should be) go for a drive in the orchards, the smell is indescribable.

How old is your lychee and what variety is it? Mine's a Sweetheart and has been in the ground for three years and is still just putting out foliage. It was likely a young air layer when I got it.
It stands at about 10 feet right now and gets full sun. One thing I understand about them is that if you don't get blossoms in by Jan or Feb, you can rule out getting fruit that year. I also know that you sometimes have to trick them into thinking they fruited by pruning them after the typical harvest period has ended in early July. I tried that last year but maybe mine's still too young.

And I just got a Persian lime on sour orange rootstock for the yard. I got an everbearing variety so that I could smell those blossoms all year long... that aroma is one of nature's greatest gifts to man.

[WillsC]

Levar,

There are two Lychee and two mango but they are planted close....the two lychee are just 30 inches apart, the mangoes are the same way and 20' from the Lychee. It is sweetheart and ???? I would have to look at the tag But not Brewster. They were planted in the spring of 2014. They are now about 8' tall and 10' wide but like I said that is two trees side by side. I hope your time table is for you in 10b and not 9b lol. They are planted in the greenhouse but are in the ground. They are on the south end of my shop as that is what the greenhouse butts up to. They have grown fast but they are protected from the wind and in the greenhouse stay warm and get daily water. I will take a picture of it tomorrow.

[Levar]

Did you decide against Brewster? I was thinking about adding a different variety for cross pollination and I had my eye on Brewster.

Honestly, I've never even known anyone with a lychee tree so I'm not 100% sure about the time tables across different varieties. I just know they disappear from farmer's markets as late as early July.

I'd really like to see what you've got going with them.

[WillsC]

Levar,

No I did not decide against Brewster but the nursery we went to in Myakka city, well not really a nursery it is a private person that has a few greenhouses and sells was out of it. Im not sure where you are located but it is a neat place. The owners are Thai and own a few Thai restaurants in the area. Bought trees then they insisted we have a bite to eat and a drink lol....... VERY good prices for VERY good sized trees. They had 2 100x30 foot green houses full of nothing but mature dragon fruit plants, they sell the fruit. Then they had another 3 or maybe 4 greenhouses full of Lychee, Mango and another fruit that the name slips my mind but similar to lychee just brown skinned.

Like you I have never seen a Lychee with fruit on it, have had the fruit itself though.

[Levar]

Longan? In recent years the best way I've come up with describing the flavor of a longan is a lychee's cousin who doesn't bathe after using the gym.

[WillsC]

Here are my trees as of today.


Lychee




And here is the Mangoes. The mango on the right was taller then left till the top snapped off the other day due to the weight of the blossoms. I am going to extend the overhead sprinklers with long lines so they extend down below the canopy and then they will just water the ground not the leaves. Should have done that from the start as doing so will remove fungal issues on the fruit.

To the right of the trees you can see the tilapia tanks with the new fig starts on top of them.

[Levar]

HA! Tilapia tanks! Fantastic! https://www.chefsteps.com/activities/fish-and-chips The best.

Which varieties of mango are you growing? I've got a Glenn but I'm looking for a midseason recommendation. I've got my eye on Mallika or maybe Maha Chanok. I'm gonna hit up a few mango festivals this year to see for myself but what's your favorite?

I like the height of your lychees. I know they're supposed to be monsters but I recently was told that planting them that close together makes their heights, and therefore harvesting, more manageable. Maybe true?

Also, do lychee blossoms smell like anything? Are they as funky and musty as mangos?