I don't know if this topic has been discussed before, but for some years I have been growing plants from fruit that I bought in the store.
Ones that have been successful are:
Mango (Genus Mangifera)
Longan (Dimocarpus longan)
Lychee (Lytchi chinensis)
Avocardo (Persea americana)
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
Date (Phoenix dactylifera)
Various citrus
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus)
Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Nick
Growing plants from store-bought fruit
Passion fruit seeds from the grocery store will grow into immense vines with beautiful blooms. When I lived in Kansas City, Mo., I planted some and they covered my laundry room window - think they were probably P. edulis - it didn't take them long, either - south facing window.
Pineapples
I've done the Papaya...probably the best way to get all trees to produce instead of just male/female trees.
I've grown ginger from the stores
rj
matter of fact growing papaya from store is the subject of my blog in Houston Chronicle gardening section this week...
http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?newspaperUserId=rjudd&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog:rjuddPost:3bd3ec1d-507b-49bf-b29d-65aa2043f179
This message was edited Feb 18, 2009 4:17 PM
Rj,
After you dry the seeds do you plant one seed per pod or what? I had a papaya that I bought from Logee's but it died in the move from North Dakota to Oklahoma. I tried to buy another one but they aren't selling them anymore. Thanks for all your help. Tina
Passionfruit, kiwi, Nopalea cactus, pomegranate, chayote, sweet potatoes, yams (Dioscorea), sugar cane.....
Tina, plant 10 papaya seeds in a maybe 6" pot. When 4" high, transplant the 3 best.
Passiflora, Carambola (Star Fruit), Pineapple, Pepinos, Ginger, Lichee nuts, (all in the greenhouse in PA)
This message was edited Feb 19, 2009 1:00 PM
Thanks I'm going shopping in the morning for my seed packages...you know fresh fruit. Tina
We had two Papya seedlings come up on the compost heap this past summer. It seems like a lot more would've come up but it was a very dry summer.
Malanga (xanthosoma), yucca, and Name (some kind of vine) are some grown from bulbs besides ginger and elephant garlic. Dragon fruit was very easy and pomegranate came up fast but fungus got to it (may have to try it again).
Thanks.
I forgot to mention I'm also growing pineapple and pomegranate which are doing quite well.
There is a book called The After-Dinner Gardening Book by Richard W. Langer. I'm not sure if it is still in print, but used copies are available on Amazon.
Nick
I have grown Taro with good success from the asian food store. The ones at the regualar grocery store didn't do anything. Same with ginger.
Tina,
I use to...but I grow so many now..I shove them in the pots..I just got through transplanting a bunch that were 4 in a pot. This works well, because they are so susceptible to root rot, that more in a pot controls the water table better..at least for me.
I too had a lot of seedlings come up in the mulch bin..and the growth rate is tremendously faster..So the next round is going to be planted in very loose mulch only...as an experiment...
I had a Tamarind grow after the seed came out of a chineese dinner dish.. cooking and all...
Kiwi was mentioned... by actual count.. there are over 2000 seeds in each fruit.. I take the inside seed layer out.. with it's kiwi mush. .. water it down some.... then cool the mix in the refrigerator for a few weeks.. washaway more pulp....sow in pots... stand back... these are a long and strong growing vines on a par with wisteria.. lovely red velvet covered leaves also..
I, too consolidate plants in a pot. Takes up less greenhouse space and allows me to grow more of them.
Some people have mentioned growing pineapple. Please tell me how you do it.
The normal method is to plant the top leaves of the pineapple, which are removed at the farm before the fruit goes to market.
However I have seen pineapples growing on rubbish dumps behind restaurants which could have grown from the skins. Is this possible?
John, if you buy the whole pineapple at the store, the top leafy part can be planted and may produce a small pineapple a year (or more?) later. The cut top should be allowed to callous before planting though so it won't rot. Since you live in Guatemala then you should have no problem growing it in the ground. It's very easy to do but I throw them out nowadays since I have no room to bring them in for winter.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2199882_grow-own-pineapple.html
Thank you for the lead, I will follow the instructions. Last year a farm worker brought me some rooted tops but I think I killed them with kindness. Pineapples cost me 50 cents in the market, I sometimes have to pay the Gringo price of 60 cents so I will be growing them out of curiosity.
I have just read that Hummingbirds are banned in Hawaii (to be shot on sight) because they pollinate the Pineapples.
John
I'll definitely give the Kiwi Fruit a try. I've tried tamarind before (from the dried pods - from Thailand) but with no success.
Nick
At what ethnic market should I look for malanga? I would love to try and grow one/some.
most any might have it.. it's at the regular supermarket here.. go to the place with the biggest selection of veggies
You can find malanga at any Spanish store, people from the caribean eat it!
Buttoneer, how did you do the star fruit one, just planted the whole thing???
Forgot to add, malanga is in the elephant ear family.
I haven't planted the seeds from the star fruit, yet. I keep checking the Giant store for Dragon Fruit, so I can taste it & grow the seeds.
Ok, I wanted one of those plants and was wondering. I do not want to pay full price for that plant. I just ordered a jocote plant, OMG, shipping is $30, but I want it, spoiled me, lol!
And what, pray tell, is a jocote???? Maybe something I can't live without either????
Jocote is a wondefull fruit and delicious. I have lived without it for 22 years, time for me to get it and it can give you fruit as a small plant in a pot. For me in the Northeast area is a blessing! Can't wait to get my new plant. I hear you can start it from cuttings!