Hi Guys,
As a Canadian, I'm limited in my tropical fruit tree suppliers. Therefore, I'm limited to the types of trees I can purchase. I plan on purchasing a mature fruit tree from a supplier in the near future.

I was wondering what you(biases included) would suggest I purchase as a tree; given the traits - suitable to grow in a container, taste, and appearance.. From this list;

Assumptions being made: The fruit tree variety is a tasty one

- Rose Apple
- Sweet Sop
- Loquat
- Kumquat(Miewa--from what I've read in these forums this was the tasty variety)
- Pumelo
- Sour Sop
- Lychee

Hopefully within a few years, I'll have one of each!

Thanks
Steve

I'm only an amateur but I would go with the Kumquat. It is cold hardy to about 15 F I believe and can be kept small making it transportable. The fruiting here in the South is prolific with no pollinator required and the taste is fairly good. If you aren't nuts about the taste you can make Marmalade. You aren't going to sit down and eat up all the fruit in one day that's for sure! LOL Additionally it is very forgiving and undemanding not having lots of pest or requiring sprays. As with any plant you will want to feed and water it. It is also an atractive plant and quite beautiful when covered with fruit. Overall I would start wth the Meiwa Kumquat.

Thanks for the suggestion Darkman! Very intrigued!
Can anyone else debate why another fruit on that list is better?

Well, since you're assuming tasty fruit, you can rule out rose apple. It's pretty, and the fruit do have a delicious fragrance of roses. But when you bite into one, you realize the flavor is just like paraffin or styrofoam -- nothingness crunch.

lol!

Thank-you Malcolm, I've long been interested in the Rose-Apple. But, I don't I think I need to add Rose Apple on my 'to buy' list after that description

I know a few of these aren't on your list but if you can obtain them n
Sugar apple (grafted varieties produce less seeds in my opinion)
Seedlings do fine for me also.
Atemoya
Star fruit (grafted varieties tastier but seedlings do just fine for me)
Lychee (very tasty)
Jujube(only grafted varieties)
Longan
Butan on the pummelo
That's a few on my top list of favorites in which I grow and sell.

Sparkes,

To what extent are you willing to go to provide protection from the cold and how much effort are you willing to do. The loquat is a tree. I'm not sure if there are dwarf varieties that are available or if heavy pruning will work. I have seen them 15 - 20 foot tall. I don't think it would be practical for most to try and container grow it with the expectation of getting fruit. They bloom in the Fall and mature the fruit through the Winter. Of course the Winter I am talking about is in a tropical environment where frost and freeze are things fairy tales are made of.

Thanks, for the continued input all .

Darkman, I bring my tropicals indoors once the weather becomes cooler.
I'm not afraid to experiment and am willing to heavily prune specimens .

David, I have the option of sugar apple, star fruit, lychee, and longan.
I'm not sure if their grafted varieties, but that can be found out

I have heard a lot of good things about starfruit as a container fruit.
Do lychee and longon need heavy pruning?

Steve

Kumquats are definitely the best adapted for container culture off of your list, though they are one of my least-favorite fruit I have ever tasted. I prefer the juicer (and more sour) 'Nagami' over 'Miewa.'

Starfruit was another great suggestion and you could try guava if you find sources. Pineapples are excellent for container culture as well and are easy to root form the tops.

Thanks for the input John,

I've never tasted Kumquat before, so perhaps I should wait till I find them on the grocery shelf and see if I have similar taste-buds as yourself.

I currently have a young Psidium guajava and have intentions of purchasing a strawberry guava once shipping conditions become warmer.

Starfruit right now is a leading contender. Thou pineapple, could be fun as well(long wait thou, from what I hear). lol

Pink lady guava and ruby supreme are awesome guavas.
Lychee would be the best in my opinion but star fruit does alot better in container though. No prunig at all on lychee or starfruit.