how do I tell if my Carambola is self fertile? (forum)

LydiaB starts with ...
This forum helped me to identify one of the trees in my garden as Carambola. (Thanks all). But now that Ive been reading up on its care and maintenance I realise I dont know what variety it is and whether it is self fertile or whether it requires a mate. Is there any way to tell? It is a out 3 years old so prsumably it should be fruiting by now but is not. It looks healthy enough considering the drought weve had and lack of attention.

Time: 11th January 2015 1:09pm

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sternus1 says...
They're all self fertile as far as I'm aware. Try hitting it with some fertiliser with trace elements and give it a really big, deep watering.

Time: 11th January 2015 1:15pm

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About the Author sternus1
Australia
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denise1 says...
There are long-style, and short-style flower types. Long style varieties have a well developed fruit embryo in the flower and are pretty much self fertile. Short style varieties have a tiny fruit embryo in the flower and rely muchly on being pollenated by a long-style variety. Perhaps most of the shortstyle ones could be biffed out to remove the problem.

Time: 11th January 2015 4:58pm

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Tommoz says...
There are 'long style' cultivars and 'short style'. To be safe, why not try to graft a new cultivar that compliments the one you currently have. Your crop will surely increase controlling for other factors.
There are some diagrams and a good list here: http://rfcarchives.org.au/Next/Fruits/Carambola/FruitSetCarambola3-92.htm

Time: 11th January 2015 5:31pm

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denise1 says...
On further searching, long style partners are not always compatable and may need a short style partner. Also sometimes short style partners will bring fruit. Sometimes a large planting of one self incompatable variety will bear well. North Queensland (heat) can encourage shy bearing ones to fruit also. The whole pollenation issue is complicated so I retract my statement that short style ones be culled and recommend planting a mixture or just graft a mix of types on one tree if not space for more.

Time: 12th January 2015 7:27am

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LydiaB says...
Tks Denise. Guess i will need a grafting lesson next :)!

Time: 12th January 2015 7:12pm

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Michael Dang says...
My Fwang Tung star fruit is always covered in flowers but never sets fruit.I looked it up and its a short style cultivator which requires a long style type for pollination. I don't want to buy another variety so is my Fwang Tung a goner and should I give up hope of it ever fruiting on its own.

Time: 30th January 2016 9:09pm

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Manfred says...
Where is Wakely? Do any of your neighbours have carambolas or are you close to someone who can provide scion material to graft onto your tree?

I have had zero success with cuttings, and that's usually an indicator of the likelihood of success with grafts, but it might be worth trying anyway.

Time: 31st January 2016 9:55pm

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About the Author Manfred
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Michael Dang says...
Wakeley is about 26km south west of Sydney.I have never seen a fruited star fruit in my area.I've seen plenty of mangoes,dragon fruits,jak fruits,longans,and sapodillas fruiting in the area but never a star fruit.(Unless someone proves me wrong)

Time: 2nd February 2016 7:48pm

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