coconut trees and tropical fruit trees? (Miami, Tampa: house, clubs, residential)

[58robbo]

Originally Posted by TB Fla

You CAN grow tropical fruits in tampa. I have a coconut tree, some papayas, a banana tree, and a pinnaple. But its easier to do it near the water where the 2 or 3 freezes we get a year dont really affect anything. But most land near the water is pretty developed. If you want to grow tropical things in tampa for fun, like me, then great. but for agriculture? get some land in Pinallas county, or right on the bay in Tampa. Acually the south shore area of hillsborough county, near ruskin or Apollo beach is technically a zone 10 area for plant hardiness and there is plenty of open land down there. I see a lot of coconut trees down there, so it might work. Good luck

What else do you grow tb. any idea how figs, melon, watermelon, canteloupe and kiwi do in tampa?

[58robbo]

i know next to zero about gardening and fruit but have similar ambitions to the op. i think it will be a good project for my little ones to learn about growing stuff and earning some pocket money. i was just wondering if it might be worthwhile to also grow peaches, pears, cherries and apples along with the tropical fruits. in the years where the weather is warm and there is no frost the tropical stuff will bear loads of fruit and in years where the frost kills of the tropical stuff, the cherries, apples etc will thrive? does the temperature ever get cold enough for long enough to do this?

[maureen1]

Annaegel

Thanks for the link. I'll try to make it if I am in the area

[maureen1]

58Robbo

I have a low chill peach tree growing in central florida bearing fruit. I bought it at HD. It seems to be doing well

[maureen1]

Chasls2

$800k+ ? that would be when I win the lotto

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by 58robbo

What else do you grow tb. any idea how figs, melon, watermelon, canteloupe and kiwi do in tampa?

Figs do fine even in north FL. I have a big fig tree in my yard and can't stand them so give em away.

Melons are hard to grow as are lopes.

[Steven Hung]

I have a mulberry tree, a loquat tree, a persimmon tree, a pomegranate tree, a lychee tree, a longan tree and a pomelo tree in my backyard located in New Tampa. These trees were about 2 years old when I planted them early last year. Most of the trees took a bad beating, loosing all it leaves and almost didn't survive from the several days of frost this past winter. The loquat tree was the only exception and didn’t seem to mind the cold. I was surprised I got several sweet loquat fruits that my wife and I enjoyed.

[annaegel]

I have a fig tree (newly planted last fall and doing well), peach tree (Florida variety), banana (though it died back from the cold) and an orange tree.

My neighbor has grown watermelons, and pumpkins in her yard and they did great!

[maureen1]

My fig tree, florida peach tree, pomegranate and loquat trees did well after the freeze. @ Annaegel. Watermelon and pumkin can take the whole yard . How much of a yard does your neighbor have?

[maureen1]

Steven Hung I'm thinking aboutgetting a lychee tree. Did your lychee come back from the frost? How tall is it? Did you use any protection?