Fruit Trees in lower HPP

[macuu222]

Whether it was the unseasonably dry, sunny warm weather we had in January and February or lack of wind or a combination of both....but our fruit trees this year are on their way to having a bumper crop of mango's, limes, lemons, tangerines, grapefruit and coffee.

[robguz]

I'm sure it's all of that. Mangos started flowering in my yard in January, as did white pineapples, way ahead of last year. Will probably get my first white pineapples this month or early next, way ahead of mid-late July like last year. My lychee has been in the ground 4 years and this is the first time I've ever seen it flower--not that I expect to get fruit yet. All my citrus have gone bloom crazy in the past few weeks. My bananas however looked miseable after that drought, but are coming back.

[dmbwest]

macuu222,

If you have a minute, would you tell how you have the trees planted ? And how old ?

Drill holes, raised ?

Thanks,
aloha,
pog

[macuu222]

Deep Ripped backyard with a d-9, then dirt trucked in(quite expensive). Then planted in a full sun area (lower HPP gets more sun then upper HPP). Fruit trees are all only 3 years old with the exception of hayden mango which is 20 years old and about 30 feet tall.

[dmbwest]

Mahalos Macuu22 for the info ...

Got some new stuff we want to put in.

aloha,
pog

[Aki]

Macuu222: how low are you in HPP? Just curious for comparison as we are on 10th and also planted about a dozen fruit trees three years ago (inexpensive trees in deluxe holes with quality soil and fertilizer). So far, the lemon and star fruit are bearing fruit, along with the lime tree that is just staring to show some small fruit for the first time. The orange tree is healthy and growing, with blossoms, but no fruit as yet. One of the two avocados is starting to fruit, though very small, while the other avocado of a different variety has proved difficult to train, with continued 'upstarts' below the graft line that drain the plant's resources. We also have an allspice tree which is growing like gangbusters and starting to develop. I made a mistake by planting a breadfruit so I gave it to Rozett's Nursery to replant as I didn't think I could handle the fruit production.

[macuu222]

Yes..Breadfruit is messy if your not on top of it all the time.

I'm on 5th. We bought all our fruit trees at "Plant it Hawaii" in Kurtistown. All of our fruit trees were grafted from vigorous rootstock. It makes all the difference in the world with regard to fruit production. Ask someone there what trees have been vigorously producing before you buy. Also when planting...... the "wider" the whole.......the better. If they say 3 foot circumference for planting...double it. It's alot more work...but it works!(especially in our area with little or no dirt)

[macuu222]

Avocado's are tough to grow and fruit in lower HPP. The lack of soil and periods of drought and heavy rain make it difficult to reach maturity. A grafted avocado needs about 3 to 4 years in the ground before fruit production starts. It's a heavy feeder of fertilizer and it will die very quickly if it doesn't have excellent drainage