Brute--I have a Starfruit/Carabola tree that is 8 years old. I do get a few fruits that get a weird shape. It seems like something such as insect will damage a fin which causes the fruit to contort.

Undersized suggests to me that the tree is producing too many fruits for its size and especially since it is so young. When there are too many fruits often times the tree will drop them because it doesn't have the energy to support all of that fruit. Over fertilizing with too much nitrogen will often times cause fruit drop. Quality of fruit should be good from the start and doesn't need age to improve.

Can you give more information about the care of your tree? What are you using for a fertilizer and how often? Does the tree ever dry out? How much sun? Is it mulched? Can you post a picture?

Happy,
Thanks for the quick reply. I'm on my way out the door right now, but I'll have that info and photo posted later.

Okay, here's that info you wanted. I've been using citrus and avocado fertilizer (12-5-8) every three months. With all the tropical storms lately, I haven't been watering it, but before the monsoons, about three times a week after it started fruiting. It gets full sun all day and it is mulched. I also have a bag of 8-2-8 fertilizer, but haven't used any of that yet. The tree is close to eight feet tall. Here's a pic:[IMG]http://i36.tinypic.com/29fsah4.jpg[/IMG]

Something went wrong. Can photos be posted here?

Brute---I just learned to post photos. I learned it from a previous thread that I found. I will make a comment on it to bring it forward. It advises the use of Photobucket and gives instructions. It worked for me.

Oh, the 12-5-8 fertilizer is too high in nitrogen for a fruiting plant. The high nitrogen puts the tree in growth mode. Something like 8-10-10 would be better.

Brute...I posted your photo here...so they can see it

Hey Pug, thanks a lot! We certainly have some helpful folks here at GardenWeb!

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.

Brute your very welcome...You did it right. Just add
img src= before the http... put in the very end... Hope I didn't confuse you...HTH

Nice tree and good luck with it...