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Tropic Sun Custard Apple

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Ivan starts with ...
Hi everyone

I just planted two of these trees in my backyard on the weekend. Would like to hear feedback from those who have grown these as to how they perform and taste like. I live in Adelaide.
Info available on the internet are fairly scarce on this particular variety. What sport are they from?

Thanks
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Ivan
 
12th November 2012 3:12pm
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Brain says...
I have one of these tropic sun, purchased 2 years ago. Been through 2 winters in Brisbane, no flowers as yet, let alone any fruit, so definitely can't tell you on taste. it's been growing in a pot and is a slow growing plant, currently at about 2m tall. It apprears to tolerate the dry and the wet. I also tip purne but it does not respond by growing side shoots, it seems to just stunt any more growth.

I also have a Paxton's Prolific/KJ Pinks, same age 2 years and grown in a same size pot. This one is a bit more energetic, does put on new leaves easily. This one is also FLOWERING. I have like 7 flowers now, so fingers cross for some fruit. Irony is, desite not being a dwarf like the tropic sun, this plant is actually smaller.

From my observations, tropic sun is 'dwarf' due to it's lower vigour.

Good luck :)

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Brain
Brisbane
12th November 2012 4:08pm
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John Mc says...
Mine is in it's second season coming into spring/summer. It grew tall and lanky, so late winter I pruned the three main branches back hard to around 8" from the main trunk. This will give it a stronger backbone to carry future growth. Flowers are appearing for the first time.
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JohnMc1
 
12th November 2012 4:44pm
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BJ says...
Will anyone have spare wood for budwood next late winter-spring? I purchased one last year, but it was a mess and didnt get a chance to graft it onto my PP before it passed over. They seem to be grafted onto sugar apple, which is weaker in the sub-trops and stunts the plant's growth. I'm hoping grafting onto PP will get the most out of the plant, with cherimoya as a better rootstock. My PP had four fruit its first year in ground and is flowering its head off right now. It doesnt seem to set the early flowers well but will set a high percent of the later flowers.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
12th November 2012 5:05pm
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Brain says...
Hey BJ, if by budwood, you mean like a Citrus T-Bud type of graft, you are more than welcome to a few nodes. If you want to Whip/tounge graft, then I think my tree limbs are too skinny for that. Remind me again come closer to winter. Cheers :)
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Brain
Brisbane
12th November 2012 6:43pm
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Db says...
I'm also growing one of Tropic Sun, bought and planted in ground around 9 months back, so been through only one winter so haven't tasted yet. It has now dropped all of its previous season leaves and putting on new growth, I can see 3 tiny flowers on it but I'm not expecting it to set any fruit this time. It is slow grower but so is my Paxton's Prolific.

I bought and planted PP in ground same time as Tropic Sun. PP has set 25+ flowers on new growth in this season but most are dropping without setting fruits. Looks like 5 flowers has set fruit as they are still hanging on tree after dropping its petals around week back, so fingers crossed..

My Tropic Sun is growing slightly better than PP..
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Db
Brisbane
12th November 2012 7:08pm
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M Nash says...
My HW is a real trooper, Fruited in two years. My AP planted at same time is only now flowering so is a year behind.
I really think they need to be in the ground for best results
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MNash1
 
13th November 2012 4:28pm
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John Mc says...
BJ I'll have some as well.
I successfully grafted a number of my prunings onto several annonas this spring, including a lower limb on an African Pride Atemoya with new growth beginning to push out, I didn't want to waste any. I didn't take the scionwood till I saw big fat buds, they appear to graft quite easily. Have you read up on the green grafting method for Annonas? I'm going to give it a go when there is enough green growth to prune.
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JohnMc1
 
13th November 2012 5:53pm
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peter 1000 says...
Hi John
green grafting, that sounds interesting,
keep us posted of your progress.
i wonder if it would work for the
white sapotes?
on another note, ive been offered a
fruiting laquot, any tips on relocating
such a tree?
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peter 1000
adelaide
13th November 2012 6:22pm
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John Mc says...
Loquat? I didn't have much luck with a tree I moved. I'd do it again if I ever get the opportunity, there's nothing to lose. It hung on for 6 months but slowly slowly died. I was lucky enough to successfully graft a scion from it to a seedling Naga before it died completely. It was the Champagne cv.

I read about green grafting in this CSIRO book pictured.


Pictures - Click to enlarge

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JohnMc1
 
13th November 2012 9:12pm
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peter 1000 says...
well its going to get the chop if i dont take it so like you say,
nothing to lose.
did you prune it down when you did yours
how big of a root system do they have?
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peter 1000
adelaide
13th November 2012 10:17pm
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Db says...
Brain, instead of tip pruning, have you tried removing few leaves from the other end of the branch? That will encourage plant to shoot new branches there, I haven't tried it yet (as lower leaves on mine already dropped by now and new branches growing) but thats what is mentioned on my PP's label. Tip pruning will simply stunt it and stop growth as they are slow grower...

Also, they seem to like in ground instead of being in pot, I'm growing one PP in pot as well but its not growing well as compared to one in ground (but I stunned it by pruning top half when I planted it to encourage side branches, so that could be the reason its not growing well in pot)..
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Db
Brisbane
14th November 2012 10:46am
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Original Post was last edited: 20th November 2012 8:57am
Brain says...
Hi DB, would you be able to type out the entire PP label? Obvisously I didn't get a label on mine and would love to see what the instruction says.

Once I win the lotto/ozlotto/powerball, I'd be singling "Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above
Don't fence me in .." and give my trees their little bit of land :)
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Brain
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14th November 2012 4:53pm
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Ivan says...
Label from PP. Very interesting tips about pruning...
Pictures - Click to enlarge
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Ivan
 
14th November 2012 8:17pm
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BJ says...
Annona atemoya
(A. cherimoya x A. squamosa)
One of the most delicious subtropical fruits to grow at home. Can be maintained at 2.5 - 3m by annual winter pruning.
Ideally suited to coastal areas from Perth to Sydney and inland from Rockhampton, including Mt Isa, Katherine and across to Broome.
Site selection: Well drained soil important. otherwise build a mound min 300mm high by 1m diameter. Full sun position, protected from strong winds & heavy frosts until well established.
Soil preparation: To m2 before planting apply 2kg Dynamic Lifter, 200g dolomite, 100g gypsum, 100g nitrophoska or equivalent.
Side dressing: August 100g dolomite, 50g gypsum. Sept, Dec, March 50g nitrophoska blue & 2kg dynamic lifter per m2.
Mulching: Use grass clippings & compost max. 50mm thick in August prior to fertilising.
Winter pruning: Essential to promote early fruit set & heavy cropping. Late july / Early August prune back all medium to strong previous summer growth by half & remove 2-4 leaves from end of branch.
Summer pruning: Nov & Feb. When growth is 400-500mm prune back to 300mm & remove two leaves from end of branch to allow new growth to shoot from under leaf stalks (petioles).
Harvesting: Fruit mature March to july. pick large fruit from tree and eat when soft 2-5 days after harvest.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
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14th November 2012 8:25pm
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BJ says...
Ivan, you beat me and could have saved me alot of time!
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Theposterformerlyknownas
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14th November 2012 8:26pm
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Ivan says...
Sorry BJ, Camscanner on the IPhone is just so convenient :-)
I also have two PPs. Still in their first year but will definitely try the new pruning ideas next year when they put on enough growth.
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Ivan
Adelaide
14th November 2012 8:43pm
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VF says...
Thanks Ivan (and BJ) - I too didn't have tag on PP when I bought it. Ended up getting a TS from Daley's last week - WOW, comparing their pruning to mine (on the PP) is worlds apart! I've definitely been too soft.(Think manicure scissors v chainsaw . Well almost, anyway). The TS had some flowers open today and the scent was divine - as my daughter said, they smelt like a really yummy custard apple. (PP flowers not open yet, so can't compare, but I don't recall last year their scent being as good.)
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VF
Wongawallan
14th November 2012 10:20pm
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Db says...
You guys have obviously saved my time, so thanks Ivan and BJ...
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Db
Brisbane
15th November 2012 9:04am
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Brain says...
thank you thank you! You people are too kind.

And for those of us who were "prunning challenged" with the custard apples, let's hope for better season next year.
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Brain
Brisbane
16th November 2012 11:34am
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VF says...
Haha Brain, I'll be named and shamed - until next year then....
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VF
Wongawallan
16th November 2012 8:32pm
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Ivan says...
VF- how'd you get your hands on the Tropic suns last week? I was monitoring the Daleys sales list for the last fortnight and snapped the only two available one morning. You must have been faster than me... Fitzroy are out of stock until jan next year hence my keeness. My next target are the bernitsch ca and fino de jete cherimoya.
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Ivan
Adelaide
16th November 2012 10:28pm
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VF says...
I snagged it back in September and attached it to some plants I had on a spring order offer, hence arrival last week (no super powers involved). Good luck with your next hunt - Fino's one I would have liked too...
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VF
Wongawallan
17th November 2012 6:30am
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Mike says...
My tropic sun stayed spindly and after a year of arse dragging I took some interventionist action and euthanazed it recently.In spite of the name I suspect they are not lovers of warm weather.Frigid daughter might be a better name for it.
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Cairns
17th November 2012 9:18am
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Db says...
Just an update abt my PP I mentioned in my first post above - Out of those 5 flowers that I mentioned, 4 has been now dropped and 1 has set fruit (yey), not bad considering I planted it just 9 months back.. and lots of flowers yet to open, so hopefully it will set couple of more fruits in this season...
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Db
Brisbane
17th November 2012 4:35pm
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VF says...
Mike, sounds like the TS may look sugar-appleish, but has the soul of a cherimoya - hopefully then it does better for us further south.
Good luck Db. I know I'm always excited when something fruits for the first time.
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VF
Wongawallan
17th November 2012 5:33pm
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Mike says...
VF the TS and I had been fighting for a while and it didn't seem to appreciate all I had done for it.I could see it wasn't happy and just had to let it go.
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Cairns
17th November 2012 5:50pm
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peter 1000 says...
Hi Db
did you hand polinate.
if not dont get to exited yet, any
little fruit that you see could grow
to pea size or even golf ball size
then sit there for the whole year
without growing before they fall off.

got your email today, so will stick
to the original plan.
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peter 1000
adelaide
17th November 2012 6:07pm
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Original Post was last edited: 17th November 2012 6:13pm
Db says...
Peter, I was bit excited to see first fruit but I know it can get dropped anytime so fingers crossed... I did not hand pollinate it.. So do you mean hand pollination will not drop fruit and make it to full size??

I have excellent quality custard apple tree in my home country that I planted more than 15 yrs back, I don't know variety but on outside it looks like TS. It has excellent flavour and can be kept in fridge for much much time than the one one we get here.. My parents now enjoys that fruit every year.. I wish I could bring seeds/cuttings here, hahaha...
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Db
Brisbane
17th November 2012 7:49pm
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Original Post was last edited: 17th November 2012 8:41pm
peter 1000 says...
yes hand pollination will give you a much better chance of fruit set.
i wish we could bring in annona seeds
to, there are some excelent cherimoya
varieties in the u.s.
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peter 1000
adelaide
17th November 2012 9:07pm
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Db says...
Peter, then I'll try hand pollination in next season. In this season, I don't have enough male-female flowers at a time for hand pollination and I think pollens remains viable only for 24hrs(?)..
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Db
Brisbane
18th November 2012 9:22am
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BJ says...
A week after my moaning in the above post I've now got at least 10 small fruit set on the PP (4ft bush) and around 50 on the sugar apple next door (8-9ft). Flowering has really only just started on both. I've been hand pollinating the rollinia as well and it looks like I may have around 5-6 fruit on it also (12ft). The rollinia is the hardest to pollinate as the flowering cycle goes closed-female-male on alternate days, so the pollen has to be fridged for at least 24hrs before use, so much of it isnt viable, but it appears that some still is? or the PP pollen in the same container also assists in pollinating rollinia? The only ass dragger in my annonaceous crew now is the grafted 'Kyogle' soursop. I may dig this one up and offer it to another Brisbane grower if they have the patience, space and love of guanabana to wait until its flowering cycle settles itself as it currently flowers heavily in early winter but doesnt hold fruit through till spring...
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Theposterformerlyknownas
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19th November 2012 8:26pm
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Mike says...
My sugar apples,african pride and gefner all have loads of flowers now and small fruit look like setting.All I need is rain and the storms have dodged me so far.I see SEQ has had inclement and showery weather the last few days.
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19th November 2012 8:31pm
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BJ says...
Yep, I was very happy yesterday when I checked to see the damage from the hail storm. It came with sheeting rain and good sized hail, but turned to heavy rain after about 3 mins. Luckily no damage to young fruit, just shotholes in leaves. I thought I'd be back to 0 annona for sure! The heavy rain will ensure a healthy crop of annonas, eugenias, jamaican cherries, papaya, grapes, summer loquats, bananas and others.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
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19th November 2012 8:39pm
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Db says...
That's a good score BJ, nice.
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Db
Brisbane
20th November 2012 8:49am
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John Mc says...
It's good to see my Annonas have aligned themselves this year with their cuz'es way up north, flowering and setting at the same time as Cairns. Wow, I'm usually hand pollinating mine after Christmas. Even the A. Squamosa's are flowering now, together with grafted Rollinias, Atemoyas and Cherimoyas. It's shaping up to be a good year for the Annonas.
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JohnMc1
 
20th November 2012 12:12pm
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Ivan says...
Hi everyone, I have just ordered myself a Late Gold Custard Apple from Daleys. Does anyone have experience with this variety? The bronze coloured fruits look interesting enough.
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Ivan
Adelaide
20th November 2012 4:05pm
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VF says...
I've been curious about LG myself. I've heard of Maroochy Gold which is supposedly good but is a big tree - wonder if it's the same (like PP = KJ Pinks)?
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VF
Wongawallan
24th November 2012 10:23am
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Db says...
Peter, thanks for your tip regarding hand pollination on custard apple.. I have now successfully hand pollinated 4-5 fruits on my PP, fruits are still very tiny but looks like they are set :) I have also hand pollinated one flower on my Tropic Sun, I had only 2 flowers in this season so far on tropic Sun, first flower didn't set naturally so tried hand-pollination on 2nd flower using PP's pollens and looks like it is set but it is too early to confirm it, may be couple of more weeks to confirm it.. I'm not sure if PP's pollen will work on tropic Sun though, result will be interesting to see if this fruit sets.. Anyway, very happy with hand pollination on PP so far, I'm sure once tree grows bigger there won't be any need to do hand pollination..
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Db
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4th December 2012 10:39am
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Original Post was last edited: 4th December 2012 10:40am
Jantina says...
Peter, DAFF told me we could import cherimoya seed, just the usual about free of flesh and correct botanical name etc. Do you know who sells seed in the US?
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Jantina
Mt Gambier
4th December 2012 5:16pm
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Mike says...
Jantina DAFF give out alot of bad advice only for the importer to have seeds confiscated.
http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_casecontent.asp?intNodeId=8276092&intCommodityId=23412&Types=none&WhichQuery=Go+to+full+text&intSearch=1&LogSessionID=0
They must be treated with phosphite and other chemicals.Melbourne will always confiscate annona that is untreated but Sydney will let them through after inspection.This has been a repeated theme for me lately with imported ilama,A.reticulatas and others.The green curtain is quickly snapping down.
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Cairns
4th December 2012 7:53pm
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peter 1000 says...
Hi Jantina/Mike
ive tried importing cherimoya seeds
from a couple of sources via ebay.
one lot made it through the post
but another was held back in Sydney,
when i spoke to them they wanted me to
spend a fortune for them to treat
the seeds before sending them to me.

i dont know anywhere in particular
that sells seed in the US but im sure
i could arrange something if it was
a simple process to bring them in.
they certainly have some excellent
varieties over there.
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peter 1000
adelaide
4th December 2012 8:35pm
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Mike says...
peter 1000 a few months ago I said I was trying to get the top cherimoyas from the US and portugal.The seeds got pocketed by DAFF due to cryptic conditions not evident in the on ICON.Extortion is the next step in the process.As a biologist having worked on pest management I was taken aback at how phoney it all is.I had kuinis pocketed by them last week due to the husk not being removed.DAFF will look for a way to snatch permitted seeds and the import conditions won't let you know what you have to do.It really should be about risk but the system is a shonk as you just have to look at what is coming in legally.
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Cairns
4th December 2012 9:07pm
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peter 1000 says...
yes those import conditions can be rather confusing, surely they could simplify the whole process.
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peter 1000
adelaide
4th December 2012 10:16pm
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Jantina says...
So right Mike, I knew someone (now gone to heaven) who worked for the then AQIS and they brought home a lot of what they confiscated for their own use. That and my subsequent experiences mean I've lost all faith and respect for that system, which by the way changes all the time. AND some officers I have spoken to simply know very little about plants.
Disgusted just about sums it up!
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Jantina
Mt Gambier
5th December 2012 11:09am
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Have Gefner, late Gold and Pink's Mammoth in flower for the first time.. three year old trees, hope the Rollinia follows suit.
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TyalgumPhil
Murwillumbah
5th December 2012 12:08pm
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John Mc says...
Yes Phil, I still have no flowers on my 4yo seedling rollinia, so I grafted a piece of Sputnick cv onto a lower limb about 8 weeks ago and has flowers already.
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JohnMc1
 
5th December 2012 5:39pm
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BJ says...
i hand pollinated my Rollinia two weeks ago and got about 30 fruits for 4 nights work. It set 4 on its own last year. Its 4yo.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
5th December 2012 9:41pm
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Jenny says...
Must say I was disappointed my tropic sun quietly died leaf buds never grew at all. Much happier with new Pp even has a couple of fruit developing with pollen from rollinia.
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Jenny
Brisbane
27th December 2012 9:38pm
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John Mc says...
BJ, any hints on hand pollinating Rollinia?
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JohnMc1
 
27th December 2012 10:23pm
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BJ says...
My tree is on a three day cycle - closed - female - male. its easy to tell when they are in each stage. female is open slightly and has an intoxicating scent, male is open fully. The trees cycle means that I have to collect pollen in the male stage and store it in a chinese food container in the crisper in the fridge for at least 36 hours until i hit female stage again and can pollinate. it seems to keep for 36-48hrs, rather than the 24 hrs literature might suggest. The pollen is easy to extract, and you can pull the petals off if you want extra pollen. you'll need a nice thin natural fibre paintbrush or the like to deposit the pollen into the females as the hole in the flower is much smaller than other annona. i've also pulled off a wing on some to make it easier to get into the female flowers.

Its mostly the same as other annona, just with stranger flowers.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
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28th December 2012 9:21am
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peetah says...
can you use the pollen straight away?.Is there anyway of knowing if a flower is pollinated?
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peetah
 
28th December 2012 7:32pm
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peetah says...
can you use the pollen straight away?.Is there anyway of knowing if a flower is pollinated?
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peetah
 
28th December 2012 7:32pm
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John Mc says...
Allright, I'll give it a go, I have heaps of male flowers on ATM. I'll collect the pollen from them and store them in the crisper till I see the female flowers start to open.
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28th December 2012 9:07pm
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VF says...
How have your Tropic Suns coped with the big wet we've just experienced? Mine looks pathetic! It's lost all its leaves except for new growth on all branch tips, but the growth not particularly flash looking. Does anyone have tips for growing this wretched plant?? My PP and cherimoyas look the picture of health.
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VF
Wongawallan
21st March 2013 8:04am
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Db says...
VF, mine is growing very well after all this rain here, tree has dropped few leaves after yellowing but only 5-10 leaves. New growth has also developed few flowers but they are are not getting pollinated so falling one by one. My tree is in raised garden bed, roughly 1.5 ft raised ( we have heavy clay below raised garden). Excellent drainage upto 1 mater down from top soil level is very important for custard apple tree to flourish it, that's the key.
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Db
Brisbane
21st March 2013 8:47am
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BJ says...
Im still interested in trying to graft a limb or two of my PP if anyone will have some wood to share in winter/spring :) I'll make it worth your while :)
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
21st March 2013 8:57am
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VF says...
Maybe I put too much horse manure in soil and it's retaining too much water, as the mound is 30cm high on sloping ground (so drainage is ok).

BJ, if tree picks up condition, you're more than welcome to have some wood.
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VF
Wongawallan
21st March 2013 9:28am
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Db says...
VF, may be try applying liquid groundbreaker to help more with drainage...
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Db
Brisbane
21st March 2013 10:08am
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John Mc says...
Same BJ there'll be plenty of scionwood come winter/spring, and I take it you're not after PP.
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21st March 2013 10:14am
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Brain says...
I have the same problem, my Tropic Sun has these tiny developed leaves (about 5 per each node) and then it stopped. Despite the rain, it grew maybe a tiny fraction bigger during the 2 week rainy period but remains in suspended animation. Seriously there is something very strange going on with that plant.

PP flowered but no fruit. Still growing well. Should have spare wood, albeit on the skinny side - tree is only like 1m tall with 6/7 branches.
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Brain
Brisbane
21st March 2013 11:21am
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VF says...
Brain, I half wish mine would just die and free up a prime position - but no, it has enough growth to keep my hopes up and continue to torment me! I'll give it a few more months, and then may re-pot it or just toss it .
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VF
Wongawallan
23rd March 2013 9:15pm
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John Mc says...
VF, I've revived many a plant by re-potting them up untill they recover. My problem, which has been fixed now by permanent retriculation, is not giving them the water they craved. There was a massive explosion of growth here with all that recent rain. Goes to show just how much water they really like. And besides, I'm on sloping ground, so drainage is not a problem, more of a curse for me.
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24th March 2013 1:51pm
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Brain says...
I paid good money for the Troipcal Sun, and with the motto of never say die,I will just have to keep trying :). I like John's suggestion of repotting and probably do it over winter in a few months' time.

Thinking back when I first got the TS, it was full of leaves and green. So something must have went terribly somewhere.
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Brain
Brisbane
25th March 2013 11:51am
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John Mc says...
Looks like I have the bragging rights over the Tropic Sun. My 2 YO TS is reaching 2.4m, and very healthy.
Late winter, it will be pruned back hard to within 200mm from the main scaffold branches.
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JohnMc1
 
25th March 2013 10:15pm
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VF says...
Well John Mc, hats off to you! I now officially envy you :) What's your secret????

I read your earlier post, and went out early this morning with spade in hand ready to dig plant up. I was pleasantly surprised to see several very small furry buds where previous leaves had fallen off, so fingers crossed, it may yet make a revival....hopefully.

At the moment it looks like a real dud. Here are a couple of pictures, with TS being one and Sofia Cherimoya the other. I'll let you guess which is which. These 2 were bought at same time, planted the same way on the same day, yet have developed very differently. Now you can see why I'm not happy!
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Picture: 2
 
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VF
Wongawallan
26th March 2013 1:41pm
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John Mc says...
I think you're right VF. Not all grafted trees grow into beautiful strong healthy specimens. I bought two "White" Cherimoya's, one is a beautiful healthy tree, 3m tall, the other has struggled from day one and is still only knee high.
I have black sapote's that have grown into nice shaped trees, while others just have this long scraggly mess of branches that just sag around on the ground.
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26th March 2013 4:20pm
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VF says...
Thanks John Mc for soothing my ego - I'll just blame the plant! :)

For the time being I'll mollycoddle my TS. If no real improvement, I may consider a replacement.
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VF
Wongawallan
27th March 2013 4:55pm
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Db says...
VF, may be give your TS some more time, I think it will start re-growing in spring.. Mine didn't grow much for first 6 months or so... I purchased mine and put it in ground around 13 months back.. Now its healthy, leaves has now become bit yellowish after recent rain but its not a major issue.. Here is photo of my TS -
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Picture: 1
  
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Db
Brisbane
28th March 2013 8:07am
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VF says...
Nice tree Db! Wish mine looked half as good :( Thanks for the encouragement - guess I can't do much more than wait now.
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VF
Wongawallan
28th March 2013 4:27pm
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VF says...
Hi Brain, how's your TS now. I bought a second plant, and this one is actually healthy and growing! First plant is now ditched. The difference between the two was the rootstock used. Unhealthy dud had sugar apple, healthy has cherimoya. What a a difference! Guess the squamosa hated the wet we had. Hope yours is ok.
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VF
 
28th August 2013 3:38pm
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Brain says...
I think my tropic sun is now dead. :( the tiny leaves (from bud development since last spring) had never developed further into normal size leaves and now, everything is brown. About 2 weeks ago, I pruned the tips looking for signs of life but the bark/wood has no green.

How do you check for type of rootstock? I saw some TS at bunnies but have stayed away. I could be tempted to give it one more go.

On a happier note, my PP produced one fruit last season and was picked about a month ago. Can't comment on taste as I gave it away to my mother.

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Brain
Brisbane
28th August 2013 4:00pm
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BJ says...
I may buy one from Daleys as they do them themselves on Cherimoya. The Rocky supplier does them on Sweetsop, which performs poorly as a rootstock here, and likely much worse the further you go south. Sweetsop does very well here on its own, but it sucks as a rootstock supporting an atemoya. My one was evidently suffering root rot when purchased, as roots were spongy when I tried to plant it, so I put it in the bin and didnt even try to 'save' it. The replacement PP has been more than I could have hoped for.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
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28th August 2013 4:16pm
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Brain says...
Thanks for the tip BJ. I probably do the same. I used Daley's new courier company and the freight to Bris for one tree is now quite reasonable.
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Brain
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28th August 2013 5:06pm
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Db says...
Just wondering what rootstock I got with my TS Which is growing nicely as you can see from above pic. Daleys label on mine says it has 'Fl11' rootstock, does anyone know what is it?
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Db
Brisbane
28th August 2013 6:12pm
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John Mc says...
That's interesting BJ, they were reporting TS as a dwarf, hence the CV being grafted onto sugar apple. My TS is definitely not a dwarf, growing to over 2.4m in two years. I suspect mine is a Daley's graft on Cherimoya, definitely a large, strong plant. I don't have a lot of success with sugar apples here, although one sugar apple seedling has been doing OK for the past three years, but is still only 1 metre tall.
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28th August 2013 7:56pm
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BJ says...
I was beginning to wonder if the dwarfing was rootstock related, as sweetsop only gets to 2.5m ish. I'd prefer a strong regular sized atemoya on atemoya or cherimoya stock than a slow growing weak tree on sweetsop.

As an aside, my sweetsop gets loaded and performs as well as my atemoyas and has nice smooth flesh that tastes like condensed milk. But I wouldn't graft an atemoya onto it.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
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28th August 2013 8:36pm
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Mike says...
BJ sweetsops get 7 or 8m in the tropics.I was wondering if my original TS was weak and spindly due to rootstock being cherimoya rather than sugar apple or atemoya.The rootstock was not identified on the label.
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29th August 2013 8:03am
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BJ says...
yeah, I should have said in typical atemoya growing areas (where TS is being targeted) it usually stays small. Though even here, I guess, if I didnt prune mine back yearly it would be 4m odd. Still, they dont generally come close to atemoya sized trees.

Im still unsure of why the rootstock failed so badly. They were in a gritty mix. It should have been free draining, but in nurseries that water twice daily most folks I've heard from have found root rot and rootstock problems.

Mike, if yours was unlabelled with rootstock and didnt come from Daley's recently, it would have been from Rocky and the same stock. I am not 100% but I think Daley's are the only other propagator of TS outside of the Rocky folks, similar to the Achacha situation...
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Theposterformerlyknownas
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29th August 2013 9:15am
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Mike says...
BJ yeah just a Rocky one bought at Bunnings.It had a rocky life alright in spite of the pampering.I have another now on cherimoya rootstock from a forum member.
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29th August 2013 1:58pm
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VF says...
Brain, I had the commercial plant tag which differentiated between the two rootstocks. There was a visible difference in appearance too. The cherimoya looks same as stock for my PP and grafted cheri's, the squamosa was ?darker and ?smoother if I remember correctly (going back a few months ago now) - I can' t recall accurately as I was pleased I found a replacement and got rid of the dud, but they didn't look alike.

Glad your PP gave you a fruit at least. Should be more this year.

Mike, you'll have to let us know how the cherimoya rootstock fares up north - I' m curious to see if it works well for you too.
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VF
 
29th August 2013 9:56pm
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Brain says...
I will double check my tag when I get back out into the garden. Still, I would like to get the dwarfing rootstock but from what I read, the cherimoya is a winner but just not dwarf. Decisions decisions.

Update: checked my tags, in fact, my TS is from Daley. Now I can't even blame the rootstock for poor performance.
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Brain
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30th August 2013 1:42pm
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Original Post was last edited: 2nd September 2013 10:40am
JohnMc1 says...
Tropic Sun is holding on to two fruits for the first time. Last year they fell off around marble size.
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Picture: 2
 
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JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
20th April 2014 11:01am
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ThanhT says...
Hi,
I have hand pollination more than 30 flowers of tropic sun custard apple (4 years old) and sofia cherimoya(3 years old) in the last 4 weeks but none turn into fruit, really frustrated atm. I collected pollen from completely OPEN flower around 6-7PM and put in the freeze, early next morning (7-8AM) dabbed, twirled the pollen to the JUST open flower. The petals just dried off (ts1), dropped (ts2) then the whole flower fell off to the ground. Do you know what to do?

The attached is the carob. Just want to know when the fruit is ready and how to eat?

Thank you very much.
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Picture: 2

Picture: 3
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ThanhT
FAIRFIELD EAST,2165,NSW
22nd November 2014 1:16pm
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Jenny says...
Hi Thanht I do not have a tropic sun but a young Paxton prolific and rollinia. My suggestion is trying to vary the times of collection and pollination, I am having good success by collecting pollen from both trees between 4:30 - 5:30, keeping it in a small airtight container in the fridge not freezer and then pollinating the next afternoon about the same time. Some small fruit will die but some should hold on. Keep the trees well watered too. Good luck!
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Jenny
Brisbane
23rd November 2014 12:13pm
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ThanhT says...
Thank you Jenny for your suggestion.
Sorry I mean, storing the pollen in the fridge.
I hope will do better time next year then as no more flower on the cherimoya and only a few flowers left on the tropic sun.
Just a question, when you see a male flower stage does it mean that flower FAIL to fruit? ( wether hand pollination or natural).
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ThanhT
FAIRFIELD EAST,2165,NSW
24th November 2014 7:58pm
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The poster formerly known as... says...
Males cannot be pollinated. If you pinch off the terminal growth you should get more flowers.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Keperra
24th November 2014 11:05pm
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JohnMc1 says...
If the flower gets pollinated it still goes through the male stage and produces pollen before petals drop and small fruit appears.
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JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
25th November 2014 7:08am
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Beerie says...
Hey, Did you know that Redland Bay was the first place commercially grown Custard Apples were grown & sold to the public. I have a magnificent 3 year old Pink's Mamoth on the north side of Brisbane & it has fruited magnificently. I have given it lots of organic matter to feast on.
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Beerie
Carseldine
7th June 2015 7:50pm
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Markmelb says...
Hi Beerie - was wondering did you hand pollinate? What was your routine? How many months did it flower for? your prunng routine too?
Be great if you could put some photos up of whole tree and fruit etc - Thanks :)
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Markmelb
MT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
7th June 2015 8:06pm
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