Bradfl.......I second your comments on Carambola (Starfruit and some people call it Five Fingers). Your's looks like it is the variety called Sri Kembangan. Am I correct? If it is, I would say it is one of the best. I am growing that one, as well as Kari, Thai Night, Possum Trot, Hart, Bell, Fuang Tung, and Arkin. For the uninitiated, stay away from Arkin....it is the one generally you buy in the stores. It ships well and has excellent shelf life...but it is inferior in taste by a large margin.

hmh~

You are definitely an expert. That is exactly what it is. Sri Kembangan

I am impressed that you are also growing one of the same variety. It grows readily -- and is delicious.

You must have at least a quarter-section or so, to be able to grow all of that fruit. I am stuck with a small lot, so I have to be very selective.

Be well

(o_O)

Brad,
Looking good! In general I think that buiying fruit from the store is an injustice to your pallette. I nevere new how something like pineapple tasted until my parents brought back some golden pineapple from Hawaii. What a diffrence, I never knew how the fruit tasted until then. I know that some fruits are lacking flavor more then others(like carambola) It is too bad that us northerners only can buy thid variety. I also think that blood oranges ought from the store are a sad representatin of what the fruit really taste like. Not only do they sell them here for $1.25 a piece but unless you can get them at the right time, they are bitter and sour. I bought a dwarf moro tyoe for this reason. Ofcourse I have to say something about the mango. When I went to FL last summer I bought quite a few of these and WOW what a diffrence! The fruit was so juicy it was running down my arm! Well enjoy those fruit Brad, Congrats!!
Andrew

Andrew~

Thanks

Being down here is one of the perquisites that comes with great maturity.

Be well

(o_O)

They are also some of the best baking fruit. I've made breads, muffins, up-side down cakes and even smoothies.The juice is to die for.

They also are great dehydrated.....even the seeds are edible!

I think that the problem with the popularity of Carambola is the character of the ones they sell in grocery stores. Those things in the grocery store are strictly for decorating -- not for eating.

The other problem is that once the trees get bigger, the crops get more abundant -- and it is impossible to get rid of them. Not mine, yet -- but others have complained.

Yes, they produce huge crops......there are always extras. After the birds, possums and raccoons and us people, there are always extra fruit that falls and becomes the fertilizer for the next crop. The extra fruit has been known to be juiced and made into wine. I have had some and it is pretty good...very tropical and fruity.