skip to main content

Florida Gardening

Is star fruit in season yet over there?

11 years ago

Are star fruit coming to season in Florida yet or already is in season? If some one has a bountiful tree that's loaded with more than they can eat and can spare some fruits and ship to California, I would like to try some. I am considering to get a tree, but don't know which cultivar taste best(more sweet than tart, juicy not too crunchy and watery/bland). But any that taste good is fine even a seedling's fruit. I can send you some snow peas or sugar snap peas( they're in season) in exchange or I can pay shipping?

Thanks to anyone that can help!
Seng

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

shuffles_gw
11 years ago
Here in Tampa ours came in in January and February. They have not re-bloomed yet.
nessz79_10a
11 years ago
Mine bloomed in January, but all the blooms fell off. It's still a young tree, though.
Related Discussions
Getting nervous ... Why Haven't i barred any fruit yet
Q
Comments (1)
What size pots, and how large are the trees? Did the trees suffer die-back? Are the trees root bound? High nitrogen fertilizers will grow leaves and not too many figs. Try pinching back new growth to encourage figs to set. By the way, trees are set back this season by about a good month, and main crop figs are just starting to sprout from leaf nodes. We also had a very cool spring which didn't help. Many fig growers in the cooler climates are experiencing the same problems. Try pinching to control new growth...this may work. Good luck. Frank
...See More
Any Star Fruit/Tropical Tree Experts Here?
Q
Comments (9)
Brute--They say that a picture is worth a thousand words but it is more than that. It's like being in your yard. It is very good that you removed the grass from under the tree and placed some mulch under it. If you haven't fertilized in a while I would give it some fertilizer now. Your tree is still very young so using the 12-5-8 is a good thing. I see you are in zone 10 so I would give it some fertilizer now and another (light) feeding in 2 months. Then I would wait until late winter when you see new growth to fertilize again with the 12-5-8. Then for the rest of the feedings next year I would back off of the nitrogen to 8-10-10 or something similar that has a lower first number. When you want something to flower (then make fruit) the middle number needs to be near equal or higher than the others. I know you are anxious for fruit but you must give this tree more time to grow. A big tree will have more energy to support fruit. Be patient. I see the curled shape of some of the fruit that you mentioned. It is not unusual for this to happen. The fruit tastes just fine when this happens. The very dark orange fruit hanging looks over ripe. But that just might be the picture. I would pick that bigger one on the right. The tree looks just fine for its age.
...See More
Can you grow Star Fruit (Carambola) in Oklahoma?
Q
Comments (4)
you can grow anything here as long as you can keep it warm during winter. Really what I have learned over the last 3 or 4 years is I only need to protect my stuff fully meaning always in the greenhouse from about mid November to late February. I say fully because that seems to be the time of year were there arent enough warm sunny days in a row to justify bring things out for a while. I grow citrus, pineapple*, mango*(seedling), plumeria, bananas*, palms, and adenium(desert rose). all in containers except for a couple bananas, basjoo is in ground. Plumeria can be put in the ground then dug up for winter storage. I havent tried star fruit, papaya, jack fruit, etc or some of the more "exotic" types but the key is just keeping them warm with enough light and humidity. *-havent gotten fruit from these yet but patiently waiting. Mike
...See More
Now Carambola (Star Fruit) is in bloom for the 1st time ...
Q
Comments (11)
I recently purchased a Sri, from reading most people don't get the short styles to fruit. Guess I should have researched before going on my clearance frenzy. But I've read a couple of instances, including Michigan where they fruit heavily without the presence of a long style variety. It sounds like some regions might have a small polinator that can get the job done. I guess it could be the case of either mis-identification of plant type or longer styles on a short variety. I saw a table awhile back listing all of the short and long style cultivars. There were quite a few in each column. The Kari and Arkin seemed to be the most readily available of the long styles. Guess I'll be getting another tree.....again. I think I'll wait until the tree irritates me by not fruiting.
...See More
soaht
Original Author
11 years ago
shuffles-
looks like I missed your first season

nessz79-
must have been due to the young tree's age, i'm sure in a year or two, yours will be loaded with more than you can handle then you can send me some ;)
garyfla_gw
11 years ago
Hi
Though mine produces two crops they are late summer through winter. Isn't it illegal to ship plants to California??
soaht
Original Author
11 years ago
garyfl-
Plants that are grown above ground in pots and is from a certify nursery that has been inspected may be able to ship. But if they are grown in the ground then it's a no. But then again I 've gotten from Fl ebay sellers that aren't nursery and they came thru fine? So i'm still confuse. But I was asking for just the fruits not the actual plant. I'm sure you could ship other fruit except citrus. I could get the plants over here in California just fine. Just wanted to try some different cultivar fruits before deciding on buying one. Sorry if I confuse you.
shuffles_gw
11 years ago
Gee, I wouldn't wait for a taste test. They are small trees with very few recommended varieties (at least in Florida). Why wait to plant? It takes only a couple to three years to fruiting.

Here is a link that might be useful: Carambola for Florida
soaht
Original Author
11 years ago
Well even if there are not very many varieties, they do very in taste and texture,some being juicy n sweet while others are crunchy, tart and bland/watery (well at least that's what I've read from the tropical fruit forum). Don't want to get a tree, to only grow then don't like the fruit, "you know what I mean." Which variety do you have? What does yours taste like? I was thinking maybe the cultivar "Kari/Kary" is that one good?
shuffles_gw
11 years ago
Ours is either Kary or Lara - I lost track. It is crunchy, watery, not tart, not very sweet. Produces like crazy. I use it in smoothies (frozen if out of season), but my granddaughter thinks there is no more refreshing fruit out there when fresh.
soaht
Original Author
11 years ago
Kari doesn't seem to fit my bill so maybe i'll go with another variety then. Must do more research pronto! If your granddaughter likes the refreshing taste, she should try dragon fruit if she hasn't already. Chilled is the best way to eat them. Red flesh is supposed to be sweeter than the normal white ones, but the little yellow skin white flesh is the sweetest. Maybe too sweet. You should try growing some they propagate easily from cuttings and grow like mad once they start growing.
katkin_gw
11 years ago
Give a squeeze of lime juice to the dragon fruit to improve the taste. :o)
ruth12342
9 years ago
It is Feb. 23 and my neighbour gave me a bag of star fruit and they are very delicious. I live in SW Florida.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Grow Blueberries for Their Fruit and More

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

Eastern gardeners should consider growing blueberry plants for their delicious fruits, bee-friendly spring blooms and brilliant fall foliage

MOST POPULAR How to Get Rid of Those Pesky Summer Fruit Flies

By Mitchell Parker

Learn what fruit flies are, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them in your home

FALL AND THANKSGIVING Fall Decorating Ideas From a Designer to the Stars

By Vanessa Brunner

You might think all-out glitz and over-the-top glamour make up Adam Hunter's fall decorations. You'd be wrong

ENTERTAINING Eye-Catching Centerpieces Beyond Flowers and Fruit

By Catherine Funkhouser

Use your imagination to create a tableau that reflects your surroundings, creates dramatic tension or elicits surprise

SHRUBS 5 Glorious Late-Season Shrubs

Spilling over with berries or bursting with blooms, these stunning underused shrubs keep the garden party going through fall

WINTER GARDENING Great Design Plant: Gold Collection Hellebores Perform Like Stars

Exciting colors, longer bloom times, forward-facing flowers ... These hybrids leave old hellebores in the dust

INSPIRING GARDENS Chickens, Chess and Swimming Star in a Silicon Valley Yard

By Hoi Ning Wong

Some fowl play is afoot in these outdoor rooms, but the family members and their many guests have a pretty good time too

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Lindera Benzoin Offers 3-Season Interest

By Curtis Adams

Support wildlife and enjoy the aromatic leaves of this U.S. native also known as spicebush, Benjamin bush and spicewood

FALL AND THANKSGIVING It's Black and White and Fall All Over in a Holiday-Happy Home

Get inspired for budget-friendly fall decorating by a resourceful stylist's thrifty but sophisticated adornments

LIFE Kitchen Traditions: Tomato Season Meets a Family Legacy

By Tiffany Carboni

Somewhere a Sicilian great-great-grandmother is smiling at a bowl of American-made sauce

Sponsored

Manifesto, Inc.

9 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 2x Best of Houzz Winner!

More Discussions

2024 January : upload your photos of first blooms of season

19

Rats in the garden ID?

6

Garden plans for 2024?

6

Greening Satsuma

2

New Blooms Feb./Mar.

26