A Quick Look Ahead

Sometimes I tell new customers that our mango season begins in May even though we have a few 'Rosa' mangos now.  Rosa has a great flavor, but its flesh is very firm and unlike any other variety that we grow.  I hope that new customers can wait until May or June when we have a nice selection of fiberless mangos.  First impressions are important.
In a few weeks, 'Dwarf Hawaiian' mango should be ripe. 
'Jakarta', 'Florigon' and 'Edward' will probably be available in May.
In June, we should have many more varieties of mangos, including a good 'Haden' crop.

The timing of this year's mango crop seems to be very typical for Florida.  Most of our fifty mango varieties will ripen in June and July.  'Neelum' and 'Keitt' will be later.   'Julie' seemed like the only variety that has dropped all of its fruit already, but a few others like 'Petegrew' and 'Best' are looking questionable. 

As I've mentioned before, we are expecting our first lychee crop in three years.  Our huge 'Brewster' tree is in bloom as is our 'Red Ohia'

This summer we plan to sell Collard Greens and Italian Flat Leaf Parsley.

Fruit for Saturday, March 29

Looks like we'll have Caimito, Black Sapote and Sapodilla, and a few mangos to sell tomorrow.

Rosa Mango

Around the grove....

Julie...a great bloom

but unfortunately a terrible fruit set

Right now is a great time to plant, and we have a good selection of trees.  We have started to graft onto existing trees, and we are planting a few more trees.

Fruit for Saturday, March 22

The Caimito supply is a little better than last week.  Next week should be better than this week.  Our Caimito season will probably last 2-3 more weeks.

Black Sapote is still in season, although I was only able to find a few that were ready to pick.  Their season also will probably last 2-3 more weeks.

The few remaining Jaboticaba are small, yet very tasty.  I'll pick all that is left for today.

There should be a few Sapodilla ready to pick.  Sapodilla season should continue for about two months.

We will have several 'Rosa' Mangos for sale.  'Rosa' Mangos have a rich somewhat resinous flavor, and are very firm (fibrous but not stringy).

Hours... Current and Forecasted

At the moment fruit is relatively scarce.  Our 'Rosa' mango tree has fruit.  One of our Black Sapote trees  and one of our jaboticabas still have some fruit.  The season is just beginning for sapodilla and the second crop of Caimito.

Because only a handful of trees are producing fruit now, we are only open Saturday mornings.
We expect to have a lot more fruit available in May and will open other days at that time.  
Hopefully by the end of May we will be open for a few hours four days a week.

Also of note, the lychee crop still looks promising on three trees.  Lychees ripen in June.

Fruit for Saturday, March 15

Open Saturday, 9am - noon

We will probably have a few more Jaboticaba
Caimito should be more plentiful in a couple weeks...sort of between seasons now
Black Sapote still available
We should have a few more Sapodilla






The Few, The Proud.... The Rosas
The first mangos of the season.  Rosa is very firm but tasty
Rosa might be the only mango variety available until May.

The last Custard Apple of the year... not saleable, yet delicious

Raised Bed Project and Fruit Update

First Raised Bed... built with 2x2 pallets

Second Raised Bed... much easier version
We are repairing a little damage then filling in the gaps with salvage wood

Open Saturday 9am-noon

Caimito
Black Sapote
Probably the last of the current Jaboticaba crop
Some Sapodilla
...and the very first 'Rosa' mangos of the season. I tasted one 'Rosa' that was in very bad shape and found it milder than those later in the season.

Taking Requests, etc.

Fruit for tomorrow includes:

• Jaboticaba
• Black Sapote
• Caimito

Open Saturday, 9am - noon




Current Project!


6 loads of mostly-composted horse manure, 4 loads of mulch and many pallets...
The beginning of the Raised Bed Project



We have begun to build raised beds for growing vegetables.  This weekend we hope to complete a 128 cu ft bed which will use 20 small pallets.  We're still accumulating pallets and scrap untreated wood.

Please let us know what vegetables you would like us to grow.  One of our customers has already requested Callaloo.