Fuyus, ready to eat.

flyboyFL
I did not measure the tree when I purchased it but I do remember that it was taller than me. I would estimate that it is between 7-8 feet tall now. The bad thing is that the trunk is not thick with about ¾ -1’’ caliper diameter at the base. I have it staked in three directions which was recommended on the tag for two years. I am going to remove fruit above the area where I have it supported. I did fertilize last fall and in February of this year.

oldude, don't tie the tree too much. It's the swinging around that forces the tree to increase its trunk caliper.

I don't know of a sure way to force a tree to sprout the dormant buds on the trunk other than cutting the trunk down to ~40" and letting it branch anew. I wonder if spraying a lateral bud with some sort of growth hormone would work?

Bettydee
I agree about the tying too tight. I use three of the smallest bungee cords that I could find and string these to the three fence T post. The tree can move around quite a bit but it will not blow complete over.
Another thing that I read over on Fruit facts is that too much nitrogen will cause fruit drop, so I can see why minimal fertilizer is recommended

The blooms have opened and it's just so cute!

mimi

Congrats! Now the wait begans.

Trois and Bookworm,
Just stumbled on this thread and saw familiar names. This was taken last year at Frostweed's house. She had a tree full!! Not sure what variety it was she may can tell you that. We got to taste one and she sent others home with us too. They were very good. Not sure I could eat all it produced though!

Sheila, it looks like we will have more than we can consume this year. I really am looking forward to them.

Hi Sheila! Trois has had me drooling/dreaming about fuyus since the beginning of this thread! Unfortunately, I've not planted one this year - so have to wait another year. I've been trying to figure out where to put one. Guess I'd better get going on that for next year.

bookworm, try to find a containerized one at one of the local nurseries. Fall is actually a better time to plant trees. They'll have all winter to get established and be ready to grow in spring.

You need to come up to the October 28th RU this year in Arlington. It was mid Oct when those pics were taken, so they will be ripe and I know she would love to share.

I'll sure try to come up there this year, Sheila! I found a "pick your own" orchard north of Houston this past December. The Matt family orchard. He has lots of Persimmon trees, citrus, and figs. I planted citrus and figs in fall '06, but not yet a persimmon.

Bettydee - that's good advice. I knew that, but had forgotten fall is the right time.

My Fuyu tree has a few hundred fruits, and they are larger than golf balls now.

Show-off !!!

: )

I gotta take what I can get.

Envious!! Mine is about the size of a quarter. I'm worried about my tree though. There must be about 15 fruits on each of them and the trees are so small!

In my limited experience, if it feels overloaded it will simply drop some. Mine dropped about 50 this spring. We have never thinned the fruit. We let it do it itself. You may have to prop a branch or two so they won't break.

I will do that. So exciting to see the all the fruits! I can't wait for them to get ripe!!

My fruit fell but my tree looks very good.I guess the tree is just too young to bare fruit.It was started bare root only 1 and a half years ago.

My pomegranate tree 2 and a half years old had only one flower and it also fell.

My figs however,are covered with the first round of fruit and they are also very young.

Blueberries and thorn less blackberries are loaded.

My Blueberries all died. Too much rain last year.

I have much less fruit on my pomegranate trees -- yet the trees look fine. They did catch heck with last summer's weather.

The figs are going gangbusters though.

: )

Both of my figs are doing well. I will soon be eating fresh Kadotas.

The squirrels have started on the others.

My figs have fruits for the first time this year. My asian pear has only one fruit. Japanese plum, also one. A bunch of apples on my trees. Citrus trees, some are loaded (hamlin, valencia), couple of myer lemons, but others have no fruits...must be the lack of rain. I have a bunch of guava, also.

You have a lot to care for.