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Figs & More Update

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Originally Posted by greysmith
I've got the same question about the bags and how they hold up.

Papaya was one thing I really missed when I moved north. You can buy them up here but they don't taste the same as tree ripened. I'd leave them on the tree till they looked well past their sell by date... and they'd be just right. I found that a top dressing of wood ash makes a big difference in their taste. You might try that if you aren't already doing it. I tried growing a dwarf one in NC. I got it through the winter but the lack of light made the trunk too thin. Looked like a hourglass the next summer and didn't set fruit.


As I mentioned, I'm very impressed with the SmartPots' durability.  I've had many of mine for more than three years and none are in need of replacement.  They last longer than the plastic pots, IMHO, and in addition to the air pruning, there are several other benefits, including keeping the root zone cooler and making it virtually impossible to over-water.  The only real negatives I've found is that they tend to dry out quicker than plastic, so need more frequent watering, and, the roots do tend to grow into the fabric, so, when up-potting, you're going to rip up some roots.  For that reason, I tend to start my plants in smaller plastic pots and then up-pot them to the SmartPots for their final homes.  Almost all my SmartPots are 15 gallon or larger.

You definitely had the technique right on the Papayas!  Leave 'em on the tree until they get fully yellow.  You almost NEVER see a yellow papaya in the store.  You need to buy them green and ripen them at home, which as you point out, is just not the same as tree ripened.

The only thing keeping me from trying your wood ash suggestion is that most of the homes here in South Florida, including mine, don't have a fireplace! ;)
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That is a beautiful collection of exotic plants. Your tropical plants growth looks very good and nicely shaped making me, a north-north-easterner, jealous.

The forum is a place to appreciate the beauties created by others. However, sometimes real feelings need to be expressed with the hope that in some case it may help the other person and hoping it is not felt the wrong way as a criticism.

To be honest I would expect better growth from your fig plants. The 4-years old Mission has enough height but the overall growth indicates something desirable. The same with the other fig plants. Could it be that the soil is not fast enough draining for your wet looking location. Your soil may need to dry up a bit in between the rains or watering. Also the weed in the fig pots need weeding out. You have a long summer, probably twice as long as in my area. My plants here can easily get about 1.25" diameter trunk and branching in four years. You may try a fast draining gritty soil if the current type of soil stays wet for prolong time or frequent rains (as it appears from the appearance).
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I could send you some wood ash. I just happen to have some. I heat with wood and I have every spare bucket and barrel filled, around 200 gallons. I sift the charcoal out and add it to my compost pile or spread it on the field. I've been using the charcoal in my forge but it's getting ahead of me. I want to start grinding it up and experimenting with biochar.

It might be simpler for you to just get some wood and burn it. It didn't take a lot. My papaya had a sharp strong papaya taste. I put some ash around it and watered it in and the next fruit I took off that tree was sweet and mild. From then on whenever I planted a papaya I'd turn in a shovel full of ash around where I was putting it. I was planting in ground. If your fruit are already mild and sweet your soil mix may already be good.
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Good looking stuff!

Are you avoiding growing in ground due to RKN?

But seriously, growing ground cherries? They are essentially weeds up here in PA, I see them all over. Of course, they may not be an edible species, being nightshade relatives and all.
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