Reading the "Avocado plant" thread reminded me that there are quite a
few tropical and sub-tropical fruits that are available in supermarkets,
etc, that can provide seeds. Most plants from them will only last a year
or two before outgrowing the windowsill or conservatory, but are worth
trying nonetheless. Apart from avocado, lychee, custard apple, papaya,
passion fruit, and of course date will provide viable seeds. I've never
tried growing a rambutan, mangosteen, or mango, though. Anyone here
tried growing one?

At the present I'm growing a "sharon fruit" (persimmon). Although I've
been eating these for years, it's very rare for them to have seeds, let
alone viable ones. The plant might be passably hardy (a bit like
Eriobotrya japonica), but like that species I doubt that it will fruit here.

A couple of months ago I found another source of "tropical seeds" from
fruits which are rare in the UK. These were in a Chinese supermarket.
One was a pack of longans. I've not seen these in the UK for years, but
they are quite nice to eat. All the fruits germinated - I've now got a
couple of dozen plants! More interestingly, I found a pack of something
called "Sour santol". I've never come across these before. IMHO the
fruits are pretty much a waste of time - slightly acid with little
flavour. They have very big seeds in them, and more in hope I stuck a
couple in a pot and put it next to the gas boiler. About 6 weeks on I
have a nice plant!

Next time I go I'll have a look and see if there is anything else of
interest. There were jackfruit pieces in packs, some with seeds in them,
but I don't think I'll bother with those. I just wish that there were
some which grew into bushes rather than trees, and might fruit in a
conservatory. The only one I can think of (other than citrus) is
physalis, but I've never found these particularly tasty.

--

Jeff

On 21/07/2015 11:07, Jeff Layman wrote:
Reading the "Avocado plant" thread reminded me that there are quite a
few tropical and sub-tropical fruits that are available in supermarkets,
etc, that can provide seeds. Most plants from them will only last a year
or two before outgrowing the windowsill or conservatory, but are worth
trying nonetheless. Apart from avocado, lychee, custard apple, papaya,
passion fruit, and of course date will provide viable seeds. I've never
tried growing a rambutan, mangosteen, or mango, though. Anyone here
tried growing one?

At the present I'm growing a "sharon fruit" (persimmon). Although I've
been eating these for years, it's very rare for them to have seeds, let
alone viable ones. The plant might be passably hardy (a bit like
Eriobotrya japonica), but like that species I doubt that it will fruit
here.

A couple of months ago I found another source of "tropical seeds" from
fruits which are rare in the UK. These were in a Chinese supermarket.
One was a pack of longans. I've not seen these in the UK for years, but
they are quite nice to eat. All the fruits germinated - I've now got a
couple of dozen plants! More interestingly, I found a pack of something
called "Sour santol". I've never come across these before. IMHO the
fruits are pretty much a waste of time - slightly acid with little
flavour. They have very big seeds in them, and more in hope I stuck a
couple in a pot and put it next to the gas boiler. About 6 weeks on I
have a nice plant!

Next time I go I'll have a look and see if there is anything else of
interest. There were jackfruit pieces in packs, some with seeds in them,
but I don't think I'll bother with those. I just wish that there were
some which grew into bushes rather than trees, and might fruit in a
conservatory. The only one I can think of (other than citrus) is
physalis, but I've never found these particularly tasty.


There's a goji berry growing in our local park, planted I think by one
of our Chinese residents. Spreads like crazy but not a lot of fruit

In article ,
stuart noble wrote:

There's a goji berry growing in our local park, planted I think by one
of our Chinese residents. Spreads like crazy but not a lot of fruit

A recent name for a plant that has been naturalised for a very long
time in a few places. The Duke of Argyle's Tea Tree.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 21/07/2015 11:54, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
stuart noble wrote:

There's a goji berry growing in our local park, planted I think by one
of our Chinese residents. Spreads like crazy but not a lot of fruit

A recent name for a plant that has been naturalised for a very long
time in a few places. The Duke of Argyle's Tea Tree.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.


Here in SE London it can't seem to make up its mind whether to grow or
not. I have a cutting in a pot which remains sickly looking after 2-3
years. Maybe I'll give it some lime

On Tue, 21 Jul 2015 11:07:10 +0100, Jeff Layman
wrote:

Reading the "Avocado plant" thread reminded me that there are quite a
few tropical and sub-tropical fruits that are available in supermarkets,
etc, that can provide seeds. Most plants from them will only last a year
or two before outgrowing the windowsill or conservatory, but are worth
trying nonetheless. Apart from avocado, lychee, custard apple, papaya,
passion fruit, and of course date will provide viable seeds. I've never
tried growing a rambutan, mangosteen, or mango, though. Anyone here
tried growing one?

At the present I'm growing a "sharon fruit" (persimmon). Although I've
been eating these for years, it's very rare for them to have seeds, let
alone viable ones. The plant might be passably hardy (a bit like
Eriobotrya japonica), but like that species I doubt that it will fruit here.

A couple of months ago I found another source of "tropical seeds" from
fruits which are rare in the UK. These were in a Chinese supermarket.
One was a pack of longans. I've not seen these in the UK for years, but
they are quite nice to eat. All the fruits germinated - I've now got a
couple of dozen plants! More interestingly, I found a pack of something
called "Sour santol". I've never come across these before. IMHO the
fruits are pretty much a waste of time - slightly acid with little
flavour. They have very big seeds in them, and more in hope I stuck a
couple in a pot and put it next to the gas boiler. About 6 weeks on I
have a nice plant!

Next time I go I'll have a look and see if there is anything else of
interest. There were jackfruit pieces in packs, some with seeds in them,
but I don't think I'll bother with those. I just wish that there were
some which grew into bushes rather than trees, and might fruit in a
conservatory. The only one I can think of (other than citrus) is
physalis, but I've never found these particularly tasty.

years ago Bob Flowerdew recommended Guava as a good plant to grow from
seed obtained from the fruit, but I have never seen a guava on sale in
supermarkets. Has anyone tried?

In article ,
Pam Moore wrote:

Next time I go I'll have a look and see if there is anything else of
interest. There were jackfruit pieces in packs, some with seeds in them,
but I don't think I'll bother with those. I just wish that there were
some which grew into bushes rather than trees, and might fruit in a
conservatory. The only one I can think of (other than citrus) is
physalis, but I've never found these particularly tasty.

I can recommend not bothering with dragonfruit, though the flowers
are very attractive. There are quite a lot of others, including
tree tomato (a small tree) and passion fruit, but all are a bit iffy,
and keeping them under control might conflict with fruiting.

years ago Bob Flowerdew recommended Guava as a good plant to grow from
seed obtained from the fruit, but I have never seen a guava on sale in
supermarkets. Has anyone tried?

Yes. No joy, but I suspect that the fruit was picked green and
'ripened' artificially, from the lack of taste. That's why I don't
usually bother with sub-tropical fruit in the UK - people who have
never had ripe ones are more easily satisfied. And guava seeds are
very hard, so might need chipping.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 21/07/2015 11:07, Jeff Layman wrote:
Reading the "Avocado plant" thread reminded me that there are quite a
few tropical and sub-tropical fruits that are available in supermarkets,
etc, that can provide seeds. Most plants from them will only last a year
or two before outgrowing the windowsill or conservatory, but are worth
trying nonetheless. Apart from avocado, lychee, custard apple, papaya,
passion fruit, and of course date will provide viable seeds. I've never
tried growing a rambutan, mangosteen, or mango, though. Anyone here
tried growing one?


I managed to grow a mango many years ago. It looked a bit like an
avocado plant, but slightly more "elegant"... As far as I remember, I
cleaned the stone fairly thoroughly then dry it for a little bit to
avoid risk of mould, then directly into compost.

I always wanted to try papaya as the leaves look very attractive. Are
they easy to grow?

In article ,
gogo wrote:

I always wanted to try papaya as the leaves look very attractive. Are
they easy to grow?

Yes. The plants aren't, however. Think of a gigantic brussel sprout.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 11:07:12 AM UTC+1, Jeff Layman wrote:
Reading the "Avocado plant" thread reminded me that there are quite a
few tropical and sub-tropical fruits that are available in supermarkets,
etc, that can provide seeds. Most plants from them will only last a year
or two before outgrowing the windowsill or conservatory, but are worth
trying nonetheless. Apart from avocado, lychee, custard apple, papaya,
passion fruit, and of course date will provide viable seeds. I've never
tried growing a rambutan, mangosteen, or mango, though. Anyone here
tried growing one?

Our local Pakistani-run shops sell lovely mangoes from Pakistan in season. The stones I always put in the compost, but they don't rot down in one season. Last year I found one had sprouted in the compost I used for my courgettes, it was coming up under the canopy when I cleared away the plants.

Not expecting it to survive a Manchester winter, I potted it up, but it propmptly died. It had nice long shiny leaves, next time I'll take more care of it.

Easiest of all (though only sub-tropical) are kiwi fruit. I've had them
germinate after winter in the compost heap. One of them having survived
several winters with no protection, is currently making a robust
territorial bid on our somewhat crowded front fence.

The very hairy red stems and big leaves lend a jungly exotic look though
its unlikely ever to bear edible fruit here in Scotland.

I've found lychees easy to germinate but didn't make a plant
interesting enough to bother keeping.

Janet.

On 22/07/2015 2:50 AM, Janet wrote:

Easiest of all (though only sub-tropical) are kiwi fruit. I've had them
germinate after winter in the compost heap. One of them having survived
several winters with no protection, is currently making a robust
territorial bid on our somewhat crowded front fence.

The very hairy red stems and big leaves lend a jungly exotic look though
its unlikely ever to bear edible fruit here in Scotland.

It might if you have a kiwi fruit of each sex (need both for fruit) as
they can be grown and will fruit where I live and we get down to -6 to
-9 regularly. They need protection form wind though.

In article ,
says...

On 22/07/2015 2:50 AM, Janet wrote:

Easiest of all (though only sub-tropical) are kiwi fruit. I've had them
germinate after winter in the compost heap. One of them having survived
several winters with no protection, is currently making a robust
territorial bid on our somewhat crowded front fence.

The very hairy red stems and big leaves lend a jungly exotic look though
its unlikely ever to bear edible fruit here in Scotland.

It might if you have a kiwi fruit of each sex (need both for fruit) as
they can be grown and will fruit where I live and we get down to -6 to
-9 regularly. They need protection form wind though.

It has no trouble surviving winter temps here (mine are warmer than
yours) The problem is the temperature in what we laughingly call
"summer".(Yours are warmer than mine).

Janet.

On Wed, 22 Jul 2015 12:55:52 +0100, Janet wrote:

In article ,
says...


It might if you have a kiwi fruit of each sex (need both for fruit) as
they can be grown and will fruit where I live and we get down to -6 to
-9 regularly. They need protection form wind though.

It has no trouble surviving winter temps here (mine are warmer than
yours) The problem is the temperature in what we laughingly call
"summer".(Yours are warmer than mine).


They're certainly grown around here, where the climate is Devon-like more
or less. Can't say I've ever seen a locally grown fruit though.

BTW there is now an self-fertile cultivar now, 'Jenny' is one, there may
be others. See


--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On Wed, 22 Jul 2015 12:05:11 +0000, Emery Davis wrote:

On Wed, 22 Jul 2015 12:55:52 +0100, Janet wrote:

In article ,
says...


It might if you have a kiwi fruit of each sex (need both for fruit) as
they can be grown and will fruit where I live and we get down to -6 to
-9 regularly. They need protection form wind though.

It has no trouble surviving winter temps here (mine are warmer than
yours) The problem is the temperature in what we laughingly call
"summer".(Yours are warmer than mine).


They're certainly grown around here, where the climate is Devon-like
more or less. Can't say I've ever seen a locally grown fruit though.

BTW there is now an self-fertile cultivar now, 'Jenny' is one, there may
be others. See

whoops, hit the wrong button. Meant to add

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=600

Has anyone grown the hardy kiwi Actinidia arguta I wonder?



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

In article ,
Janet wrote:
In article ,
says...

Easiest of all (though only sub-tropical) are kiwi fruit. I've had them
germinate after winter in the compost heap. One of them having survived
several winters with no protection, is currently making a robust
territorial bid on our somewhat crowded front fence.

The very hairy red stems and big leaves lend a jungly exotic look though
its unlikely ever to bear edible fruit here in Scotland.

It might if you have a kiwi fruit of each sex (need both for fruit) as
they can be grown and will fruit where I live and we get down to -6 to
-9 regularly. They need protection form wind though.

It has no trouble surviving winter temps here (mine are warmer than
yours) The problem is the temperature in what we laughingly call
"summer".(Yours are warmer than mine).

And, even if something sets, the very short period in which the light
levels are high enough to ripen anything. It's bad enough in Cambridge.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.