AZ is hotter than FL but its a dry heat thus so many less insects and fungal issues. Same for many parts of CA. Grapes grow awesome in Phx. We grew lots of yummy seedless grapes there. I really wish I could grow those types there. There is a bunch of blackish purple grapes growing wild all over our property. They have seeds and don't taste all that great. I let the chickens eat them. Maybe they are better for making jams? Anyone know of any seedless varieties that will grow in zn 9a (NE FL)?

hey Al, the mangos would need winter protection. The condo mangos, sugar apples, and carambolas can be grown in pots and brought indoors, or at least moved to a covered area. Warning, if you do the large potted tree thing, in a few years you will start looking into a greenhouse. So far, I have not tried a feioja that I like (I've had smooth skinned and bumpy). Tropical guavas on the other hand can be quite good. If you like sweetish fruit, strongly consider planting a white sapote in the ground. Possibly you could find some fruit at a farmers market to try first. Seedlings grow fairly fast, you could then graft over to a known flavor later. Make sure to keep one branch of your seedling to try the fruit, just in case it is cultivar of the future. You could also just buy a ready grafted variety to make things easier and achieve fruit faster. Jaboticaba would also make a great conversation piece for your yard. -Ethan

I did Stan! I had one in Chowchilla at my previous place. This was out in the countryside so it was exposed to a lot of cold wind and frost in the winter (with overhead protection). Unfortunately after I moved, that palm was dug up and moved to a different spot in the yard. I drove by the other day and the majesty palm is barely hanging on with two spindly, green fronds. It was a beautiful palm with a bulging trunk that almost made it look like a spindle palm. I'll be trying some here in Fresno perhaps in the springtime after winter has come and gone. I've seen several Bismarkias in Bakersfield. Bakersfield is just over Tejon pass from the Los Angeles basin and I've noticed that nurseries there tend to carry more of the exotic palms - perhaps because they have more access to deliveries from palm growers in LA, Orange, Ventura and San Diego counties. I've been meaning to make a trip to Golden Gate Palms in Richmond to see if they carry any 5 gallon Bismarks. You wouldn't happen to know would you? Did you have a Howea forsteriana that was getting to a nice big size? I think I remember seeing posts about it a while back.

PK- I've known a lot of people who grew Meyer Lemons in pots - many assume that's the only way they'll grow in San Antonio. Like most container plants they take a little more attention than if they're in the ground since you're supplying all the nutrients, water, etc. The people I know that have them will get ~50 lemons a year at most when the tree is mature. And yes, the blooms are heavenly. The main reason I would hesitate to grow a big tree in a pot is that most of the time they need to be moved in the winter to someplace that they're more sheltered and even if they're on the smaller side they're heavy. But if you choose something that's cold tolerant in the container or can shelter it in place, that's not an issue. Lisa Edited: Just saw you're question about sun requirements. You'd probably get better blooming if there was more sun since it's citrus. But that's an assumption on my part- mine gets full southern sun all day. Lisa