TREES

Amaltas Bel Chikoo Citrus varieties Drumstick or Moringa Ficus Harsinghar Kurejia Moulsari Peach Tree Phalsa

Amaltas

We-have-one-in-villa.-samne-ka-bagh-21-side-samne-ka-corner.

Height_30-40_ft.

Foliage:Deciduous

Other details:This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birdsFlowers are fragrantAverage Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

The flowers appear when the branches are bare, just before the new leaves emerge and are a favorite of bees and butterflies. The blooms are followed by the production of two-foot-long, dark brown, cylindrical, woody seed pods which persist on the tree throughout the winter before falling to litter the ground.

Propagation Methods:From seed;

Seed Collecting:Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seedsRemove fleshy coating on seeds before storingProperly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored

Cassia fistula is a legume, and native to India and South Asia. The tree resemblies a wisteria when in bloom, only in a nice yellow 1 foot hanging blooms that completely cover the entire tree.

Amaltas flowers remain in bloom only during the months of May and June. amaltas emits a truly lovely fragrance, especially in the morning.

The_tree_can_take_5-10_yrs_to_flower.-The new leaves normally appear during March-July in India. The flowers appear mainly from April to July, although some trees flower as late as October,

especially during dry years. The long cylindrical pods develop rapidly and reach their full length by October and they ripen during December-March. The ripe pods start falling during May.

All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested. Bark of tree is rich in tannins.

On Apr 26, 2004, desertboot from (Zone 10a) wrote:

It's working! A fistful of Cassia fistula seeds from a single pod collected in the wild in April 2003 sat dormant in a tray of sand, outdoors, watered...until last week. As an experiment, I:a) sifted out the seedsb) lightly nicked the hard outer seed-cases with a pair of nail-clippers, being very careful not to damage the embryos;c) let the nicked seeds sit overnight in a cup of water; andd) sowed the bloated up little fellas in a 50:50 combination of peat and sand in a seed tray the following morning.

That was on the April 20, 2004. Delighted to report that the tops of the seeds are just beginning to emerge from cover - a sure sign of rapid activity below? All this, happening in South India where the temp is around 34 degrees C.

C. fistula grows wild in most Southern Indian jungles, and a bit of a rarity in urban gardens. The few that I've seen in and around town appear rather stunted (possibly because they are young?) but still "showy" when in bloom - as some indeed are right now - and nothing close to their larger wild cousins! I've also been warned that they are a delicate species and need all the TLC one can lavish on them - at least for the first three years. But what's exciting is that last years seeds had lain dormant for a good 12 months, just waiting to happen. Viva mum nature!!!

13th May: Update24 delicate little goldenshower baby trees, each identical in almost all respects, all a uniform 3 inches tall...

It is the national tree of Thailand and its flower is Thailand's national flower. The golden shower tree is the state flower of Kerala in India.

Bel

ative Photo: Thingnam Girija

Common name: Bel-Botanical name: Aegle marmelos Family: Rutaceae (Citrus family)

Bel is a fruit-bearing tree which is cultivated throughout India, as well as in Sri Lanka, northern Malaya, Java and in the Philippines. The tree, which is the only species in the genus Aegle, grows up to 15 meters tall and bears thorns and fragrant flowers. All parts of this tree, viz., root, leaf, trunk, fruit and seed, are used for curing one human ailment or another.

Bael is a species of tree native to India.- The leaves and small shoots are eaten as salad greens.

Chikoo

We-have-one-in-the-villa.-aangan-corner,-abutting-balconys-stairs.

Sapodilla is known as chikoo ("चि�क्कू� " or "chiku," "��कू� ,") in India and Pakistan.- Native to the Yucatan, Guatemala, and Belize.- Its polinitation is by insects and bats

Chikoo is a fairly slow-growing, long-lived tree, upright and elegant.- t grows up to to 18 m high in the open.- It is strong and wind-resistant.- Its leaves are highly ornamental, evergreen, glossy.- Flowers are small and bell-like.- Though smooth-skinned the-fruit is coated with a sandy brown scurf until fully ripe.- Some fruits are seedless, but normally there may be from 3 to 12 seeds.

From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from 5–8 years to bear fruit. The sapodilla trees yield fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round.- The fruits mature 4 to 6 months after flowering.- In the tropics, some cultivars bear almost continuously. In India, the main season is from December to March.

A dwarf type called 'Pot' bears early and can be maintained as a pot specimen for 10 years.

Propagation-- Seeds remain viable for several years if kept dry. The best seeds are large ones from large fruits.

Good drainage is essential, the tree bearing poorly in low, wet locations.

In India, the plants are placed in deep, pre-fertilized pits and manured twice a year, sometimes with the addition of castor bean meal or residue of neem seed (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), wood ash.

Most people find it difficult to tell when a sapodilla is ready to pick. With types that shed much of the "sand" on maturity, it is relatively easy to observe the slight yellow or peach color of the ripe skin, but with other types it is necessary to rub the scurf to see if it loosens readily and then scratch the fruit to make sure the skin is not green beneath the scurf. If the skin is brown and the fruit separates from the stem easily without leaking of the latex, it is fully mature though still hard and must be kept at room temperature for a few days to soften. It is best to wash off the sandy scurf before putting the fruit aside to ripen. It should be eaten when firm-soft, not mushy.

In the Bahamas, children bury their "dillies" in potholes in the limestone to ripen, or the fruits may be wrapped in sweaters or other thick material and put in drawers to hasten softening. Fruits picked immature will shrivel as they soften and will be of inferior quality, sometimes with small pockets of gummy latex.- Mature, hard sapodillas will ripen in 9 to 10 days and rot in 2 weeks at normal summer temperature and relative humidity.- Firm-ripe sapodillas may be kept for several days in good condition in the home refrigerator. At 35º F (1.67º C), they can be kept for 6 weeks.

In general, the sapodilla tree remains supremely healthy with little or no care.-In India, it may be necessary to spread nets over the tree to protect the fruits from fruit bats.

Citrus

Lemon tree

Lemons, in common with other sweeter, slow growing varieties of citrus, often benefit from being grafted to more vigorous rootstocks.

Citrus are from the Rutaceae family. They form small, compact evergreen trees, are usually slow growing and have a shallow root system. The best thing about citrus is that they are fairly easy to grow and need little pruning. All varieties ripen slowly and can be stored on the tree to be harvested over months.

The true lemon tree reaches 10 to 20 ft in height and usually has sharp thorns on the twigs. The alternate leaves, reddish when young, become dark-green above, light-green below; are oblong, elliptic or long-ovate. The fruit is oval with a nipple-like protuberance at the apex.

Lemon juice is about 5% to 6% (approximately 0.3 M) citric acid, which gives lemons a sour taste, and a pH of 2 to 3. This makes lemon juice an inexpensive, readily available acid for use in educational science experiments. The exact origin of the lemon has remained a mystery, though it is widely presumed that lemons first grew in India, northern Burma, and-China. India tops the production list with about 16% of the world's overall lemon and lime output.

Flowering & Fruiting

Lemon trees, like all citrus trees, take from two to five years to produce viable fruit. If you grew your tree from a seed rather than a cutting, it may take several years longer.

Citrus fruits are usually self-fertile (needing only a bee to move pollen within the same flower) or parthenocarpic (not needing pollination and therefore seedless, such as the-satsuma). -So-gentle-shaking-of-the-plant-should-do-them-good-for-pollination.

To get as much fruit as possible from a citrus tree, it should be fertilized at least three times a year.

Harvest with the stalk on, and pack into a dry cardboard or wooden box with lots of crumpled newspaper. Ensure that the paper surrounds each lemon so none are touching each other. Store in a dry position indoors. Only clean, unblemished fruit should be stored. Lemons can be stored in this way for about 2 months.

Pruning

Citrus do not need too much pruning and generally this is only done for shaping, height reduction, or rejuvenation of old trees. However some citrus grow very thickly and the centre of the plant may become congested which can result in fungal problems. If this occurs then the centre of the tree should be thinned. In most instances pruning is best done lightly and often, rather than radical pruning. Pruning can also be done to remove dead or diseased wood and to ensure that fruit is not too low to the ground where it may be exposed to soil borne fungal diseases.

All citrus trees apart from lemons only need pruning once every two years or so to keep them looking good, healthy and within bounds. This can be carried out any time between March and August, but is best done before flowering begins early in the year. Lemons need to be pruned more frequently to keep them within bounds and make fruit picking easier, as they grow more quickly than other species of citrus.

Inspect the tree from all angles starting from low down on the trunk. First of all, identify the graft joint. In layman's terms this is the point where the growing shoot of the tree species was joined with the rooted stem of a stock variety. It is usually found on citrus trees between one and two feet (0.3 and 0.6 metres) from ground level and looks like a slightly swollen lump, although it is not always obvious. Above the graft joint is where the main branches of the tree are seen to branch out. If there is strong new growth starting from low down on the main trunk below the graft joint these are suckers that must be removed. Suckers are new shoots produced by the donor rootstock and will not be true to the variety of tree. They will often be extremely thorny and will grow strongly but

produce no edible fruit. They sap the strength from the tree and will severely reduce fruit production, so it is very important that they are removed as soon as they are noticed. Use your hand pruning shears to cut them off as close to the trunk as you can get with a clean vertical cut. A vertical cut is essential to allow moisture to run away to prevent rot setting in and to allow the trunk to heal and absorb the wound quickly.

Once all the suckers are removed, pruning of the main canopy can begin. It is important that the centre of the tree is opened to allow sunlight and air to penetrate. As you prune, walk around the tree several times if necessary to get different viewing angles of your work. Prune out any branches that cross in the centre and remove all thin, spindly twigs by cutting hard to the main branch. Also cut out any dead wood to prevent infestation by wood boring beetles. You can prune quite brutally when opening out the centre of the tree's canopy, leaving as few as three main branches to grow outwards evenly from the centre with smaller fruit bearing branches growing outward from them. To keep the size of the tree in check to ease fruit picking, prune tall branches back to keep the height of the tree to below eight feet.

Problems

A hole in a citrus tree indicates a more serious problem. It's caused by a borer. Borers are the schoolyard bullies of the plant kingdom. They attack the weakest plants and those under stress. It does not mean they will spread to other trees. For recent holes take a piece of wire, and jam it down the hole to skewer the borer. But for a tree riddled with borers and other problems it might be better to remove the tree and plant a healthy, new one. Plant it a little away from the old tree and in a couple of years you'll have a great crop of lemons.

Food and other uses

The peel oil is used as a wood cleaner and polish, where the solvent property of d-limonene is

employed to dissolve old wax, fingerprints, and grime.

A halved lemon dipped in salt or baking powder can be used to brighten copper cookware. The

acid dissolves the tarnish and the abrasives assist the cleaning.

As a sanitary kitchen deodorizer the juice can deodorize, remove grease, bleach stains, and

disinfect

Difference-between—a-lime-tree-and-lemon-tree

If you have a lime tree, snap off a fairly new leaf and smell the newly exposed bark. My lime trees smell very strongly whereas I could not tell a lemon tree by leaf smell alone. Key limes are very small, round and bear in clusters. The lemons I have (Lisbon and Eureka) have very pointed ends.

You can also tell by the leaves. Key limes have very small leaves -- maybe up to 1.5" across by 2" long max (usually smaller) with little or no petiole wing. 'Tahiti' limes have "average" leaves, maybe 3" long, with variable petiole wings, but at least some leaves should have a significant wing. Lemons have among the largest of all citrus leaves -- 4-5" long, with no petiole wing at all.

Lemons can easily be identified when in bloom by the purple blush on the flowers where as other citrus flowers are pure white. If you can't determine which is which then when the fruit are ripe you'll know then. Key limes will stay small and almost round like a ping ball. true lemons get much larger and wil usually have a pronounced nipple on one end even when green.

Lime-Tree, Botanical name: Citrus aurantifolia

Lime fruit is similar to lemon, but has a thinner skin, which turns yellow on ripening. Lime is a shrubby tree, to 5 m, with many thorns. The trunk rarely grows straight, with many branches that often originate quite far down on the trunk. The leaves are ovate 1–3.5 in long, resembling orange leaves (the scientific name aurantiifolia refers to this resemblance to the leaves of the orange, C. aurantium).

Flowering and Fruiting

During the first two to five years, a lime tree flowers but does not set fruit. The flowers develop, bloom and eventually fall from the tree. After several years, the tree matures enough to develop fruit. Most lime trees, including the Bearss seedless lime, grow white flowers in spring during March and April.- Most lime trees bloom and grow ripe fruit over a period of six to nine months. Mature lime trees drop many of their flowers and focus energy on producing only a small percentage of pollinated blooms. Lime trees grown from seeds may take up to eight years to produce fruit.

The flowers are yellowish white with a light purple tinge on the margins. Flowers and fruit appear throughout the year but are most abundant from May to September. Lime have an odour similar to lemon, but more fresh. The juice is as sour as lemon juice, but more aromatic.

Propagation

This variety of citrus can be propagated from seed and will grow true to the parent. Be sure to keep the seeds moist until they can be planted, as they will not germinate if allowed to dry out.- Digging around a mature tree to sever roots will encourage new sprouts that can be transplanted to another location.

Lime-Persian

Persian lime (Citrus latifolia) is a citrus fruit sold simply as a "lime" in the United States. The fruit is about 6 cm in diameter, often with slightly nippled ends, and is usually sold quite green, although it yellows as it reaches full ripeness. It is larger, thicker-skinned, and less aromatic than the key lime (Citrus aurantifolia), which has a wider agricultural distribution worldwide. The advantages of the Persian lime in commercial agriculture compared to the Key lime are the larger size, absence of seeds, hardiness, absence of thorns on the bushes, and longer fruit shelf life.

Mosambi

Citrus limetta is a species of citrus. Common names are sweet lime,-mosambi.- It is a small tree which may reach 8 m in height. The sweet lemon has irregular branches, and relatively smooth, brownish-grey bark. It possesses numerous thorns which may grow to anywhere from 1.5 to 7.5 cm

long.- The pulp is greenish and the juice is sweet rather than acidic. [2]- It is native to South Asia and South East Asia. It is propagated by seed.

“Sweet lime (C. limetta) is a fruit that resembles lemons in every respect, except it does not have the mouth-puckering taste. Its mild, sweet juice tastes like home-made lemonade without the hard work or sugar. There are three varieties of limettas, all having the characteristic nipple on one end with a furrow round it. Grown mainly in Italy and California. It is also grown on a small scale in India and around the Mediterranean.”

Learning :

1. Mosambi is propagated by seed.

Kinnow

The Mandarin orange, also known as the mandarin, is a small citrus tree (Citrus reticulata) with fruit resembling other oranges.

Citrus fruits are usually self-fertile (needing only a bee to move pollen within the same flower) or parthenocarpic (not needing pollination and therefore seedless, such as the-satsuma).-So-gentle-shaking-of-the-plant-should-do-them-good-for-pollination.

The tree grows vigorously and has an upright form, with a strong tendency to alternate bearing, take five year to start commercial production and stay on fruiting for 16 years with on and off-(less fruit) years.

The fertilizer may be applied at two time for the year, First in February.-Second in august. The leaves are the manufacturing part of the plant - removing too much of the canopy will reduce tree growth and crops. Citrus bark burns easily if over exposed to the sun. Typical Kinnow trees go through three periods of fruit drop. First is the drop of about 60 to 70 percent of the flowers during and immediately following bloom. The second drop occurs a couple of weeks later, involving small fruit of pea-size to marble-size. The third drop occurs in late August , A few fruit on Kinnow will continue to drop through final harvest, but that is normal and cannot be prevented. Kinnow fruits generally store well on the tree; some fruit drop does occur but usually is compensated by increased size of the remaining fruit.

Look closely at the underside of one of the leaves. If the leaf is yellow in color but the veins on the leaf are green, the citrus tree is deficient in iron. Purchase iron chelate from a garden store and mix it with water according to the directions on the packaging. Place the substance into a garden sprayer and spray it onto the leaves of the citrus tree. When the leaves are saturated, pour the remaining liquid into the soil at the base of the tree.

Look for tiny white flies, worms or moths that are on or near the citrus tree. These parasites suck the sap from the tree. As a result, the tree will develop an overall drooping appearance. Another common problem on citrus is wiggly lines. It is caused by the citrus leaf miner, a tiny moth that lays its larvae into young leaves and causes distortion of the leaves.- Weird looking, twisted, deformed fruit with almost finger like growth is the result of citrus bud mite. It's a microscopic sap sucking insect that affects the leaves, flowers and fruit. If you've got trees with deformed fruit don't worry it

will not hurt the tree. Routine oil sprays will keep the mite population under control.-Mix a solution of 1 cup cooking oil, 1/2 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of dish soap . This is known as white oil. Put it in water, so it's about 40 parts water to one of this mixture. Stir it up and spray it on. Remember to get good coverage of the leaves so that you get the white fly. It smothers them and they die

Exposed bark on citrus trees can sunburn in summer heat, so the trees should not be pruned to the point of exposing the bark or the trunk should be protected with a coat of white latex paint.

Orange Tree

The sweet orange is a tree of moderate size. The leaves are shiny and leathery, oblong to elliptic, up to 4 in long, and have narrow wings on their petioles (leaf stems). Orange flowers are white, very fragrant, and arranged in clusters of 1-6. They bloom in spring and give rise to oranges the following autumn or winter. Last year's oranges often are still on the trees when the new flowers are blooming Honeybees love orange blossoms and the honey they make is mild and delicious.

Oranges do not continue ripening after picking, so leave them on the tree until you're ready to use them.

Florida orange trees begin as seeds and remain that way until they germinate. Germination is the process by which a seed becomes fertilized and begins sprouting; this generally takes about three weeks. The tree will grow approximately 3 inches out of the soil after one growing season. Over the next 15 years, an orange tree will reach maturity. It will remain in a mature state until it begins to die, usually 50 to 60 years after planting if properly cared for.

Oranges that appear on an orange tree during the second, third or fourth season of its life should be removed immediately. Removal of fruit ensures that the tree can focus its energy on growing, rather than reproducing through fruit.

The orange blossom, a fragrant white flower, is the state flower of Florida. Orange blossoms that sprout one year will produce fruit the next.

Flowering will usually begin to occur in the second year following planting. Regular flowering begins approximately four years following planting.- Trees in tropical conditions can undergo multiple periods of blooming every year.-Only a small percentage of orange flowers will produce fruits, as many of the flowers will drop after they open. Large numbers of fruits will drop between 10 and 12 weeks following pollination. It takes approximately seven to 14 months for fruit to adequately mature.

The-desired size for the tree is typically achieved at between 10 and 14 years following planting. The fruiting ability of the tree will then generally decline from its peak, which is achieved at around 20 to 25 years. Some orange trees have been known to bear fruit for as many as 250 years, surviving beyond their expected life span.

Organic-fertilizer-for-citrus-trees--Fish Emulsion Fish emulsion is often a recommended organic fertilizer for citrus trees, though it can be expensive. It is, however, a good fertilizer to put on citrus trees during cool weather when slow-release fertilizers become ineffective. It offers a rich supply of nutrients that are immediately

available to the tree. It has an odor that dissipates quickly after application. Fish emulsion requires more frequent application than chemical fertilizers.

Chicken Manure Composted chicken manure can also be used as a good organic fertilizer for citrus trees. Chicken manure contains from 2 to 3 percent nitrogen, which citrus feed on heavily. By comparison, cow manure only contains 1 percent nitrogen, according to the University of Florida Extension. Chicken manure should be applied frequently but thinly, taking care not to get the material on leaves, which may cause burning.

Soybean MealSoybean meal is not as well known as other organic fertilizers but is often recommended for citrus trees. It is very high in the nitrogen that citrus trees require and also has available phosphorus.

One organic grower uses a combination of fish emulsion, dried seaweed powder and a dash of ocean water to fertilize citrus trees.

Pambalimasu or Tamil pampa limāsu,(பம்பளி� மா�சு)[3] = pompous lemon] or pomelo or citrus maxima

Growing-in-villa-on back boundary.

Slow growing under the above conditions (understandably), but incredibly worthy even without flowers or fruit. Beautiful semi-glossy large double leaves like Kaffir lime smell nice when crushed.

Pomelo

ative Photo: Tabish

Common name: Pomelo •Hindi: Sadaphal, बतावी�नी�म्ब�, �कू तारा • Tamil: Pambalimasu

Botanical name: Citrus maxima

The pomelo is a citrus fruit, usually a pale green to yellow when ripe, larger than a grapefruit, with sweet flesh and thick spongy rind. The largest citrus in the world, the pummelo can reach 12" in diameter. The pummelo tree may be 16 to 50 ft tall, with a somewhat crooked trunk, and low, irregular branches. Some forms are distinctly dwarfed. The young branchlets are angular and often densely hairy, and there are usually spines on the branchlets, old limbs and trunk. the leaves are alternate, ovate, ovate-oblong, or elliptic, leathery, dull-green, glossy above, dull and minutely hairy beneath. The flowers are fragrant, borne singly or in clusters of 2 to 10 in the leaf axils. The pomelo is native to Southeast Asia and all of Malaysia.-It is widely cultivated in southern India.

pomelo hybrids include grapefruits and mandelos.- In Bengali, in Bangladesh, pomelo is known as a jambura. It is the largest citrus fruit, usually weighing 1–2 kg.

Sun Exposure:Full SunSun to Partial Shade

Flowering and fruiting

Citrus fruits are usually self-fertile (needing only a bee to move pollen within the same flower) or parthenocarpic (not needing pollination and therefore seedless, such as the-satsuma).

The pomelo seedlings take approximately 8 years to start blooming and yielding fruit.

The trees flower in the spring, and fruit is set shortly afterward. Fruit begins to ripen in fall or early winter months. Some, such as the grapefruit, may take up to eighteen months to ripen.

Citrus fruits pass from immaturity to maturity to over-maturity while still on the tree. Once they are separated from the tree, they will not increase in sweetness or continue to ripen.The colour of citrus fruits only develops in climates with a (diurnal) cool winter. In tropical regions with no winter at all, citrus fruits remain green until maturity, hence the tropical "green oranges".

Pummelos may flower 2 to 4 times a year. In the Old World, there are usually 4 harvesting seasons. The main crop matures in November but it is said that fruits that ripen at other seasons have fewer seeds and superior quality.

In Thailand, fruits for marketing are generally picked when just beginning to turn yellow, heaped in large piles for sale. If not disposed of immediately, they are stored in dry, ventilated sheds shaded by trees. The fruits keep for long periods and ship well because of the thick peel. After 3 months, the peel will be deeply wrinkled but the pulp will be juicier and of more appealing flavor than in the fresh fruit. If stored too long, they may become bitter. Paper-wrapped fruits in ventilated crates have kept in good condition for 6 to 8 months during sea transport to Europe. According to an old Chinese Atlas, the fruits of the 'Double' pummelo, if hung in the house, will remain in good condition for a year.

Learnings :

1. The pomelo seedlings take approximately 8 years to start blooming and yielding fruit.2. Pummelos may flower 2 to 4 times a year.3. Paper-wrapped fruits in ventilated crates have kept in good condition for 6 to 8 months

Pruning

All citrus trees apart from lemons only need pruning once every two years or so to keep them looking good, healthy and within bounds. This can be carried out any time between March and August, but is best done before flowering begins early in the year.

Inspect the tree from all angles starting from low down on the trunk. First of all, identify the graft joint. In layman's terms this is the point where the growing shoot of the tree species was joined with the rooted stem of a stock variety. It is usually found on citrus trees between one and two feet-from ground level and looks like a slightly swollen lump, although it is not always obvious. Above the graft joint is where the main branches of the tree are seen to branch out. If there is strong new growth starting from low down on the main trunk below the graft joint these are suckers that must be removed. Suckers are new shoots produced by the donor rootstock and will not be true to the variety of tree. They will often be extremely thorny and will grow strongly but produce no edible fruit. They sap the strength from the tree and will severely reduce fruit production, so it is very important that they are removed as soon as they are noticed. Use your hand pruning shears to cut them off as close to the trunk as you can get with a clean vertical cut. A vertical cut is essential to allow moisture to run away to prevent rot setting in and to allow the trunk to heal and absorb the wound quickly.

Once all the suckers are removed, pruning of the main canopy can begin. It is important that the centre of the tree is opened to allow sunlight and air to penetrate. As you prune, walk around the tree several times if necessary to get different viewing angles of your work. Prune out any branches that cross in the centre and remove all thin, spindly twigs by cutting hard to the main branch. Also cut out any dead wood to prevent infestation by wood boring beetles. You can prune quite brutally when opening out the centre of the tree's canopy, leaving as few as three main branches to grow outwards evenly from the centre with smaller fruit bearing branches growing outward from them. To keep the size of the tree in check to ease fruit picking, prune tall branches back to keep the height of the tree to below eight feet.

Learnings :

1. Check for suckers below the grafting point and remove them.2. It is important that the centre of the tree is opened to allow sunlight and air to penetrate.

Propagation

Pomelos are usually grafted onto other citrus rootstocks, but can be grown from seed, provided the seeds are not allowed to dry out before planting.

Propagation is Commonly by seed which usually produce trees very near in fruit quality to their parent.

Problems

they are evergreen and do not drop leaves except when stressed.

Food Use

Though there is some labor involved, it is worth the effort to peel good pomelos, skin the segments, and eat the juicy pulp. The skinned segments can be broken apart and used in salads and desserts or made into preserves. The extracted juice is an excellent beverage. The peel can be candied.

the flavor varies from mildly sweet and bland to subacid or rather acid, sometimes with a faint touch of bitterness.

In Thailand, the fruit is called som-o (Thai: ส้�มโอ), and is eaten raw, usually dipped into a salt, sugar

and chili pepper mixture. In Tamil Nadu, it is locally called asgadarangai. It is more commonly used for making pickles together with salt, oil, red chillies and other spices. In coastal Maharashtra, especially in Konkan, papanas (पपनीस) are a major substitute for oranges, and mostly eaten sprinkled with salt and/or sugar. The fruit is known as chakotha hannu(ಚಕ್ಕೋ���ತ ಹಣ್ಣು) in Kannada.

Candied pomelo peel: Deeply score a small to medium cleaned pomelo (2 pounds) in eighths. Remove peel and trim ends. Cut peel lengthwise into 1/4- inch strips. These should measure 4 cups total. Place peel in a large pot of boiling water and boil 1 minute. Drain and repeat two more times, the last batch for 8 minutes. Drain and set aside. In a 3-quart saucepan, combine 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 1 1/4 cups dark corn syrup, 1 1/4 cups water and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Bring to a soft boil. Add the drained peel and simmer for approximately 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. When most of the liquid is gone, carefully remove the peel and place on a sheet pan that has been covered in sugar. Sprinkle more sugar on top and gently toss to coat. If desired, use organic cane sugar, which has larger crystals. Place peel on a baker's rack and allow to dry for a day or two. Store in an airtight container.

Learnings :

1. In Thailand, the fruit is called som-o (Thai: ส้�มโอ), and is eaten raw, usually dipped into a salt,

sugar and chili pepper mixture.

Drumstick or Moringa tree

Moringa oleifera is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Moringa. The tree itself is rather slender, with drooping branches that grow to approximately 10m in height. In cultivation, it is often cut back annually to 1-2 meters and allowed to regrow so the pods and leaves remain within arm's reach.

The plant starts bearing pods 6–8 months after planting, but regular bearing commences after the second year, continuing for several years. Mature pods contain ripe seeds that are used for planting the next crop or for extracting oil.

Propagation

It can be propagated by seeds. Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds. When producing seed for oil extraction, allow the pods to dry and turn brown on the tree. Harvest pods

before they split open and fall to the ground. Store seeds in well-ventilated sacks in a cool, dry, and shaded area. Seeds remain viable for planting for two years.

Seeds are planted an inch below the surface and can be germinated year-round in well-draining soil. Germination takes place a f t e r 8 - 1 0 d a y s . A f t e r 3 0 - 3 5 d a y s seedlings, are ready for planting in mainl a n d .

Seeds can be planted as soon as they are mature but should only be kept for up to 3 months in natural conditions. Before sowing, soak the seeds in water for one day then plant the seeds 2cm apart and 1cm deep. Water lightly and they will germinate in 15 days. When the seedlings reach 30cm in height they should be thinned to 10cm apart and when they reach 60 to 90cm tall they can be planted out, but they will be very fragile.

Seedling: dig a hole twice the depth of the pot. Be careful not to disturb the root when transplanting. Cut the bottom of the pot out and slit one side. Place the pot and seedling into the hole and back fill with soil, tamp gently.

When a Moringa tree stops bearing pods/flowers these branches also need to be cut back in order to restart the growth process. These cuttings can also be used to grow new Moringa trees. Moringa is propagated by planting 1–2 m-long limbs cuttings, preferably from June to August.

Cuttings of healthy branches with hard wood, 45cm to 1.5m long and 10cm wide, should be taken in the rainy season. Trim any green wood without damaging the bark of the hardwood and leave the cutting ends in a shady place for 3 days to dry. Plant the cutting directly in the soil or in polybags containing 3 parts soil and 2 parts sand. One third of the cutting’s length should be placed in the soil (i.e. if the cutting is 1.5m long, plant it 50cmdeep). The soil should be moist but not over watered. Cuttings planted in polybags will take a long time to develop roots and may be planted out after 2 or 3 months.

As Food

Immature seed pods

The immature seed pods, called "drumsticks", are commonly consumed in South Asia. They are prepared by parboiling, and cooked in a sauce until soft.[10] The seed pods are particularly high in vitamin C.

Making drumstick bharta : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-rIFw1i5Do&feature=fvsr

Leaves

The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, being a significant source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, provitamin A as beta-carotene, magnesium and protein, among other nutrients reported by the USDA. When compared with common foods particularly high in certain nutrients, fresh moringa leaves are considerable sources of these same nutrients.

The leaves are cooked and used like spinach. In addition to being used fresh as a substitute for spinach, its leaves are commonly dried and crushed into a powder used in soups and sauces.

Tender drumstick leaves, finely chopped, are used as garnish for vegetable dishes and salads. It is also used in place of or along with coriander, as these leaves have high medicinal value. In some regions, the flowers are gathered and cleansed to be cooked with besan to make pakoras.

You can sprinkle some of the powdered leaves on your food just as you sprinkle yeast in those days. It contains all the nutrients you need. Three spoonfuls of Moringa leaf powder contain 272% of a typical toddler's daily Vitamin A requirement, along with 42% of the protein, 125% of the calcium,, 71% of the iron and 22% of the Vitamin C. It contains a full complement of minerals and all the amino acids of meat.

Moringa Leaves will make an excellent addition to your Dog's food.

An easy way of cooking them is to steam 2 cups of freshly picked leaves for a few minutes in one cup of water, seasoned with an onion, butter and salt orother seasonings according to taste.

Making Ice moringa tea : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbiIWf0-frE&feature=related

Mature Seeds

The seeds, sometimes removed from more mature pods and eaten like peas or roasted like nuts, contain high levels of vitamin C and moderate amounts of B vitamins and dietary minerals. When seeds are abundant they can be sprouted like wheat grass, eaten as tender nutritious greens.

For old, mature pods, take the dry seeds, dehull them and grind them into an extremely nutritious flour.

The seeds contain about 40 per cent protein and the oil from the seed is very rich (almost same

composition as olive oil). The seeds contain 40% oil known as Ben Oil. The oil is highly nutritious and

has a fat composition similar to Olive Oil. The oil contains a potent anti-oxidant which makes it highly

resistant to rancidity. Including Ben Oil in the diet will ensure the supply of many essential fatty acids

which are utilised by the body to construct cellular membranes and other structures. Please

remember that as with any vegetable oil, Moringa oil is best used raw and not heated. Heating

damages the molecular structure of the fats in a similar way to Hydrogenation.

How to make Moringa Oil

1. Crush the seeds

2. Add 10% by volume of water

3. Heat gently over a low fire for 10–15 minutes, taking care not to burn the seed.

4. After boiling, strain through a cloth into a clean container. Leave overnight to allow the oil to separate from the water. There may be some debris floating on the surface of the oil. Success...

After the oil is extracted, the rather bitter tasting presscake still has all the properties of fresh seed in treating and cleaning water. With a 60% protein content, it may be used as a soil fertiliser.

Flowers

The flowers are pleasantly fragranced, white or cream coloured and are borne profusely in axilliary drooping panicles 10-25 cm long. They contain good amounts of both calcium and potassium. They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked or used to make a tea.

Avoid the root and its extracts. They may contain a toxic substance that can cause paralysis.

As fertilizer

One thing I would recommend for gardeners here is to explore the leaf mass and wood material as an alternative to store bought fertilizer. Living in SW Florida, I potentially have the worse gardening soil imaginable. Whether as a compost, green manure or green manure tea.

Moringa can be used as a 'Green' Manure. The trees are densely planted (10cm x 10cm) and plowed into the soil to a depth of 15 cm after 25 days (Proyecto Biomasa, Nicaragua).

Making green manure tea out of moringa leaves : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40Mlgxft4PQ&feature=fvst

Foliar Sprays are made from Moringa leaf extract. It is reported that an increase in yield of 25 % often occurs.

The Moringa leaves can be used as a natural fungicide - by digging Moringa leaves into the ground before planting (Pythium debaryanum), damping-off disease can be prevented amoung seedlings.

In great news from Nigeria, used moringa seed cake has been successfully used for environmentally-friendly crop fertilizer.

Medicinal uses

The leaves are sometimes used to cure headaches. Rub on the temples for headache.

The official, a diabetic, had been drinking Moringa tea to control his glucose for years, but had been

unaware of its nutritional properties.

Diabetes - In cases of Hypoglycemia (a difficulty or inability of the body to properly regulate blood sugar levels) eating the Moringa Leaves has been shown to be effective in lowering blood sugar levels within 3 hours of ingestion (though less effective than the hypoglycemic drug Glibenclamide).

the seed is anti-arthritis, it cures arthritis, pains, migraine headaches and cleanses the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the rectum. All you need to do is chew two seeds in the morning and two in the evening.

Cleaning water

Pressed Moringa seeds can turn a tumbler of bacteria-laced river muck into clean water more economically than imported chemicals, researchers say.

Moringa seeds make excellent water purifiers. The seeds are ground into a powder and the powder is used as a flocculant working as well or better than the expensive, toxic and environmentally harmful aluminium sulphate which many municipalities use to remove particles from the water. Even very turbid water becomes clear within an hour of treatment. The Moringa seed powder flocculant joins with the particles and they sink to the bottom. Between 90 and 99% of the bacteria are removed in the same way. About 5 tablespoons of seed powder will purify 10 litres of water. It is believed that this flocculant effect takes place in the body as well, making the Moringa an excellent detoxifier.

Ficus

We-have-a-Ficus-Benjamina-in-the-villa.-aangan-corner,-next-to-hanging-basket.

Ficus (pronounced /ˈfɪkʊs/)[2] is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae.

The_Common Fig (F. carica) is a temperate species native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region (from Afghanistan to Portugal), which has been widely cultivated from ancient times for its fruit, also referred to as figs. The fruit of most other species are also edible though they are usually of only local economic importance or eaten as bushfood.

Figs are keystone species in many rainforest ecosystems. Their fruit are a key resource for some frugivores including fruit bats, capuchin monkeys, langurs and mangabeys. They are even more important for some birds. Asian barbets, pigeons, hornbills, fig-parrots and-bulbuls are examples of taxa that may almost entirely subsist on figs when these are in plenty.

The specific identification of many of the species can be difficult, but figs as a group are relatively easy to recognize.[4] Many have aerial roots and a distinctive shape or habit, and their fruits distinguish them from other plants.

Ficus benjamina, commonly known as the Weeping Fig, Benjamin's Fig, or the Ficus Tree and often sold in stores as just a "Ficus". It is the official tree of Bangkok, Thailand.- It is a topiary treereaching 30 metres (98 ft) tall in natural conditions.- In its native range, its small fruit are a favorite food of some birds, such as the Superb Fruit-dove, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Ornate Fruit-dove, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Torresian Imperial-pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon

The leaves are very sensitive to small changes in light. When it is turned around or re-located it reacts by dropping many of its leaves and replacing them with new leaves adapted to the new light intensity.

There are numerous cultivars available (e.g. 'Danielle', 'Naomi', 'Exotica', and 'Golden King'). Some

cultivars include different patterns of colouration on the leaves, ranging from light green to dark

green, and various forms of white variegation.

The miniature cultivars, especially 'Too Little', are among the most popular plant for indoor bonsai.

Weeping Fig has been shown by NASA to effectively filter indoor air toxins.[2]

Sacred-fig-or-peepul-tree.- In Hindu texts, the Plaksa (peepul)-tree is associated with the source of the Sarasvati

River.

Harsinghar

Common name: Har singar, Coral Jasmine, Tree of Sorrow, Queen of the night • Hindi: Har singar, Shefali, परिराजाता Botanical name: Nyctanthes arbortristis Family: Oleaceae (Jasmine family)

Har singar should not be confused with the West Indian shrub Cestrum nocturnum, also called queen of the night. It is native to southern Asia. Nyctanthes arbortristis literally means, night-blooming sad tree. Grows as large shrub or small tree depending on how it is trained. The large attractive leaves are rough and hairy. The sweet scented flowers are small, attractive with white petals and an orange-red tube in center and bloom profusely, opening at night and drop off in the morning, thus making a carpet of flowers in the morning. Used for worship. Needs warmth during winter months. Use well drained soil and fertilize once a month.

Comment : I grow this tree in South Florida. The flowers have a wonderful honey scent hard to describe. Generally flowers during cooler days of the year and thrives in South Florida. The flowers can be picked right off the branches when I get to the plantaround 6 am . When I collect the flowers in my hand,they feel very soft and my hand smells really good for long time.When you grow from seed,it may flower the same year or next year.Seed should be sown in spring.Tree grows straight up and often times may have branches coming from base which are even better because you get more flowers. Small butterflies hover around it all day.

A good pruning after flowering increases bloom in the next season. Night jasmine is easily propagated by seeds or cuttings.

A powdery mildew caused by Oidium spp., can do some damage to the foliage, but it can be controlled by dusting with sulphur

Kurejia

We-have-one-in-villa.-aangan,-next-to-hanging-basket.

Has-thorns.-violet-flowers-on-the-huge-parent-tree-in-sunder-nursery.

Lychee Tree

The lychee (Litchi chinensis, and commonly called leechi, litchi, laichi, lichu, lizhi) is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family. It is a tropical and subtropical fruit tree native to

China, and now cultivated in many parts of the world. The fresh fruit has a "delicate, whitish pulp" with a "perfume" flavor that is lost in canning, so the fruit is mostly eaten fresh.[2]

Adaptation: Lychees require seasonal temperature variations for best flowering and fruiting, Warm, humid summers are best for flowering and fruit development, and a certain amount of winter chilling is necessary for flower bud development. Most varieties need between 100 and 200 hours of standard chilling (32° - 45° F). Cool winters with low rainfall are ideal for lychees. The trees become more hardy as they age. Mature trees have survived temperatures as low as 25° F when fully hardened off. Young trees may be killed by a light frost. Lychees can be successfully grown in frost-free coastal areas of California. There are trees in San Diego, California that are over 90 years old with no sign of decline in sight. It first fruited in Santa Barbara in 1914. They can be grown for a short period in a large container.

DESCRIPTION

Growth Habit: The lychee tree is handsome, dense, round-topped and slow-growing with smooth, gray, brittle trunk and limbs. Under ideal conditions they may reach 40 feet high, but they are usually much smaller The tree in full fruit is a stunning sight.

Foliage: The leathery, pinnate leaves are divided into four to eight leaflets. They are reddish when young, becoming shiny and bright green. Lychee trees have full foliage and branch to the ground.

Flowers: The tiny petalless, yellowish-green flowers are borne in in terminal clusters to 30 inches. Lychees are eye-catching in spring when the huge sprays of flowers adorn the tree. Flowering precedes fruit maturity by approximately 140 days.

Fruits: The fruit is covered by a leathery rind or pedicarp which is pink to strawberry-red in color and rough in texture. A greenish-yellow variety is not grown in California at present. Fruit shape is oval, heart-shaped or nearly round, 1 to 1-1/2 inches in length. The edible portion or aril is white, translucent, firm and juicy. The flavor is sweet, fragrant and delicious. Inside the aril is a seed that varies considerably in size. The most desirable varieties contain atrophied seeds which are called "chicken tongue". They are very small, up to 1/2 inch in length. Larger seeds vary between 1/2 to 1 inch in length and are plumper than the chicken tongues. There is also a distinction between the lychee that leaks juice when the skin is broken and the "dry and clean" varieties which are more desirable. In some areas lychees tend to be alternate bearers. Fruit splitting is usually caused by fluctuating soil moisture levels.

CULTURE

Location: Lychees need full sun, but young trees must be protected from heat, frost and high winds.

Soil: The tree needs a well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. A soil pH between 5.5 and 7.5 is acceptable, but plants grow much better in soils with a pH at the low end of this range. Apply a thick layer of organic mulch to the soil after planting.

Irrigation: The lychee will not tolerate standing water, but requires very moist soil, so water the tree regularly when it is growing actively. The trees are very sensitive to damage from salts in the soil or in water. Leach the soil regularly in the Southwest.

Fertilization: Young trees tend to grow slowly, and many gardeners tend to give them too much fertilizer in an attempt to push them along. Young trees should receive only light applications of a

complete fertilizer. Mature trees are heavier feeders and should be fertilized regularly from spring to late summer. Use fertilizers formulated for acid-loving plants. Chelated iron and soil sulfur may be necessary in areas with alkaline soils.

Pruning: Prune young trees to establish a strong, permanent structure for easy harvest. After that, removing crossing or damaged branches is all this is necessary, although he trees can be pruned more heavily to control size. V-shaped crotches should be avoided because of the wood's brittle nature.

Frost Protection: Lychees need warmth and a frost-free environment, but can often withstand light freezes with some kind of overhead protection. When they are young, this can be provided by building a frame around the plants and covering it with bedding, plastic sheeting, etc. when frost threatens. Electric light bulbs can also be used for added warmth.

Propagation: Air-layering is the most common method of propagating lychees because grafting is difficult and seedlings are not reliable producers of quality fruit. To grow a plant from seed it is important to remember that seeds remain viable for no more than a day or two under dry conditions. Young seedlings grow vigorously until they reach 7 or 8 inches in height. They will stay at this height for up to two years without further noticeable growth. Wedge and bud grafts are possible, but seldom used.

When planting a Lychee, hole preparation is the same as for planting avocados. If planting marcots directly, most leaves should be removed. A round of hog wire covered with plastic gives excellent wind protection and also holds moisture in. In case of a freeze, one has only to throw a blanket over the top. The plastic should not touch the plant. This protection should be planned on and taken care of the day the plant goes into the ground.

Pests and Diseases: Mites, scale and aphids occasionally infest lychees. Birds are often attracted to lychees, eating both the immature and the ripe fruit. It may be necessary to cover the plants with a protective netting.

Harvest: The Fruit must be allowed to ripen fully on the tree. Overly mature fruit darken in color and lose their luster. The flavor lacks the richness associated with a certain amount of acidity. To harvest, snip off entire fruit clusters, keeping a short piece of the stem attached. Lychees can be stored for up five weeks in the refrigerator. They can also be frozen or dried. Lychees will begin to deteriorate within three days at room temperature.

The lychee (Litchi chinensis), also spelled litchi, is native to southern and southeastern China, near Guangdong and Fujian. It is a tall tree, reaching almost 40 feet with a full, lush canopy. The tree can handle a number of different soils, but it doesn't do well right at sea level or in elevations where it might encounter frost in the winter. Lychee trees grow in small coastal portions of southern Florida; some areas of California; and Hawaii, although they aren't considered a commercial crop in Hawaii. The University of Florida says anthracnose is the biggest disease threat, along with injury from lawnmowers and weed cutters. The trees are somewhat able to handle drought, but not to the point of it becoming water stress. Lychee fruits have a red to brown peel that can vary in how rough and bumpy it is, white pulp, and a central, inedible seed.

Moulsari

In the category of shade-giving trees, a favourite is the moulsari. This ancient evergreen tree with dense foliage is grown for its disciplined canopy. It forms a true umbrella shape. It is, therefore, a

natural choice for places where big garden parties are held. It is also an excellent specimen tree. This tree is also most suitable for lining an avenue. Those who have a park in front of their houses can grow it outside too as it is shady and clean, ideal for parking a vehicle under it. The tree bears fragrant white flowers in clusters. Even the berries are yellowish orange and attractive.

Peach Tree

We-have-one-in-villa.-samne-ka-bagh-samne-ki-taraf,-next-to-amaltas.

The scientific name persica, along with the word "peach" itself and its cognates in many European languages, derives from an early European belief that peaches were native to Persia (now Iran). The modern botanical consensus is that they originate in China, and were introduced to Persia and the Mediterranean region. Recently, the history of cultivation of peaches in China has been extensively reviewed citing numerous original manuscripts dating back to 1100 BC.[2] Italy, China, India and Greece are major producers of peaches outside of the United States.

The peach often plays an important part in Chinese tradition and is symbolic of long life. One example is in the peach-gathering story of Zhang Daoling, who some say is the true founder of Taoism. Elder Zhang Guo, one of the Chinese Eight Immortals, is often depicted carrying a Peach of Immortality. Peach blossoms are highly prized in Chinese culture and because they appear before a single leaf has sprouted, the ancient Chinese believed the peach to possess more vitality than any other tree. When early rulers of China visited their territories they were preceded by sorcerers armed with peach rods to protect them from spectral evils. On the last day of the year local magistrates would cut peach wood branches and place them over their doors to protect against evil influences.[16] Peach kernels are a common ingredient used in Traditional Chinese medicine to dispel blood stasis, counter inflammation and reduce allergies.[17]

The seed can contain high levels of hydrogen cyanide. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.

Peach trees that grow in cooler climates usually live for about 10 years. In warmer climates, the trees can live much longer. With proper pruning, watering and fertilizing, peach trees have lived for more than 50 years.

It is a deciduous tree growing to 13–33 ft tall. For home gardeners, semi-dwarf (10 to 13 ft) and dwarf (7 to10 ft) varieties have been developed by grafting desirable cultivars onto dwarfing rootstock. Fruit size is not affected. Another mutation is flowering peaches, selected for ornamental display rather than fruit production. a medium size peach has a mere 40 calories, and it contains no fat, sodium, or cholesterol. It provides 2% of the daily requirements of vitamin A and 10% of the daily requirements of vitamin C. A medium peach of 75 g has 30 Cal, 7 g of carbohydrate, 1 g of protein, 140 mg of potassium, and 8% of the daily value for vitamin C.[20]

The flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves; they are solitary or paired, 2.5–3 cm diameter, pink, with five petals. Peach trees are self pollinating, that is pollen of the same flower can pollinate and develop a fruit. Depending on climate and cultivar, peach harvest can occur from late May into August; harvest from each tree lasts about a week.

Peach Trees do better in full sun with good air circulation so that the tree can produce lots of peaches. a lot of summer heat is required to mature the crop, with mean temperatures of the

hottest month between 20 and 30 °C. A 2 to 3 year old peach tree should be fed three fourths of a pound of fertilizer in the months of March and May. A peach tree that is 4 years old or older needs between 1 and 2 pounds of fertilizer in the months of March and May. The same article advises that a May application of fertilizer is not required if the peach tree is healthy and will not be producing fruit that season. Peaches have a high nutrient requirement, needing more nitrogen than most other fruit trees. NPK fertilizer can be applied regularly, and an additional mulch of poultry manure in autumn soon after the harvest will benefit the tree.

Fruits will begin to appear in the second year.-The flowers blossom during early spring. If the full amount of peaches is left, they will be under-sized and lacking in sugar and flavour. In dry conditions, extra watering is important. The fruit should be thinned when they have reached 2 centimetres (0.79 in) in diameter, usually about two months after flowering. Fresh fruit are best consumed on the day of picking, and do not keep well. They are best eaten when the fruit is slightly soft, having aroma, and heated by the sun. Peaches should be stored at room temperature and refrigeration should be avoided as this can lessen the taste of the peach. Peaches do not ripen after being picked from the tree, so storing for ripening is not necessary.[15]

You can simply sow seeds after eating the peach fruit. Make sure the seeds do not have any piece of fleshy fruit sticking onto them. You can remove the flesh by simply soaking the seeds overnight in fresh water. germination can take from 2-3 weeks to up to 2-3 or more months. STAGES of a peach tree :

also called whip; up to 1 year of age SAPLINGjuvenile tree that displays vegetative growth only; plant may bloom without bearing fruits ADOLESCENTthe plant bears its first fruit; yield increases gradually over the next few years; up to 3

years old MATUREthe plant starts to bear significant harvests; 4 years old and older

DORMANTin winter season (November-February) the peaches are "asleep"; peach trees require a large number of chilling hours (hours of cold weather below 45 degrees) to awaken and produce a high quality crop; the chilling hour requirements range from 600 to 1100 depending on the variety and pick date

FLOWERINGthe bloom occurs in March-May GREEN FRUITa period of rapid growth that lasts about 30 days; by the end of this stage, nearly

all the cells of the fruit have been formed and the pit begins to harden MATURE GREEN FRUITpit hardening; fruit size increases more slowly RIPENINGfruit development from pollination to harvesting; peach fruit development typically

requires ~90 days or longer; peach fruit is climacteric and is characterized by production of ethylene during its development; the ethylene is involved in the fruit's ripening; concentration of the ethylene is gradually rising during fruit development and at certain point it induces a mature, not growing tissue to switch rapidly into a new state – ripening

BREAKER STAGE turning of the fruit color and fruit softening; the stage begins 4 to 6 weeks before harvest; it is period of rapid growth of the skin (exocarp) and flesh (mesocarp) of the fruit; climacteric rise of the ethylene occurs at the end of this stage; usually peaches are harvested at the at the firm-breaker stage

February is considered an ideal time for pruning. Do not prune the tress during winter seasons. This will cause undue damage to the branches and barks leading to production of poor quality flowers

and fruits. This will result in premature death of the plant. Do not prune the trees right after the flowering season either.

Pruning young immature trees before three years will produce strong vegetative shoots that can successfully carry healthy flowering shoots and fruits. Remove flower buds during the first three years. Make the plant completely vegetative. This will give rise to abundant fruit growth later on.

After the 3rd year, remove the secondary branches. This will allow sunlight to seep through the branches allowing complete maturation of fruits. Maintain the height of the tree at less than 30 inches. Make sure the tree grows horizontally instead of growing vertically. Remove dead, diseased and low-lying branches. Prune the trees in such a way that the shoots are placed at a distance of four to six inches from each other. Pruning is also necessary to maintain peach tree health and promote a long life span for the tree. Peach trees are typically pruned in the open vase form, where there aren't any branches growing at the center top of the tree.

peach trees should be properly trained to allow enough air and sunlight into the plant. Without enough air circulation, peach trees are susceptible for contracting a fungal disease that can reduce peach crops. By cutting back the branches, you help the peach tree focus its growing efforts on its main trunk or leader.

Cut any branches that are lower than 26 to 30 inches above the soil line in June. Pick three branches that are evenly spaced and growing from above 26 to 30 inches from the ground, and remove the rest.- Cut off any competing leaders or vertically growing branches off of the peach tree, because they destabilize the tree. You want to train the tree to have an open vase form.- Remove one-third of the previous year's growth on the branches to encourage new growth, because peach trees only produce fruit on one-year wood. Remove diseased or damaged wood from the tree by cutting back to healthy outward growing buds, or take off the entire diseased branch by cutting near the branch collar - The branch collar is the slight swelling that attaches the branch to the main trunk. Cut back branches on mature peach trees, so that they are no longer than 7 to 8 feet in height. The tree should be low growing to help with maintaining the tree.

Thin 10 to 20 percent of your mature peach tree every year to encourage growth and dense canopy. Avoid pruning in the fall or the tree can suffer major winter damage.

If the leaves of the peach are yellow or small, the tree needs more nitrogen. Blood meal and bone meal, 3–5 kilograms per mature tree, or calcium ammonium nitrate, 0.5–1 kilogram, are suitable fertilizers. This also applies if the tree is putting forth little growth.

the symptoms of peach leaf curl are red or purple, distorted and curled leaves. The blooms and fruit may also be affected. Although this disease appears to do considerable damage, it can be easily controlled. A fungicide should be applied in the fall when there are only about 10% of the leaves left on the tree and in the spring before the buds begin to expand. It is important to carefully follow product instructions and warnings. If leaf curl disease is particularly devastating, be sure to provide the tree with plenty of water, remove more fruit than usual, and fertilize the tree with extra nitrogen. Doing so will help the tree maintain its strength.

Fungus : creates small, purple-shaded lesions on foliage, twigs and fruit. With progression, the bumps turn brown and have purplish-brown edges. The collection of spores form bumps in the center of the lesions, which are surrounded with light green areas. The brown bumps in the center

often fall out and create holes. Protect peach trees with the use of dormant sprays such as Bordeaux mixtures and copper-based fungicides. Prune and remove all infected tree areas before applying fungicides to increase the efficacy of chemicals. Avoid overhead irrigation as prolonged moisture favors fungal growth.

Warts : he disease is characterized by red-colored, wart-like bubbles on new foliage. The foliage color is yellow, orange or purple instead of the normal green. Infected foliage is curled and tissues in the twigs are swollen. The fruit is often infected and displays raised growths resembling warts. As the disease progresses, foliage becomes gray and powdery and drops.- The use of dormant fungicides during fall or before bud break is often sufficient to contain the infection. Recommended fungicides include copper-based compounds, chlorothalonil or lime sulfur. Reduce stress to treated trees with adequate irrigation and extra fertilizer.

what-is-lime-sulphur?

Phalsa

The phalsa plant (Fig. 2) is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Seeds germinate in 15-20 days. The juvenile phase lasts for 15-18 months. Flowers develop only on new shoots of the current growing season. The period between flowering and fruit maturity is 45-55 day.

Propagation is mostly by seed which does not require any pre-sowing treatment. Seedlings are ready for planting out within 3-4 moths.

Phalsa is deciduous and requires annual pruning to stimulate the emergence of numerous shoots of moderate vigour which flower and fruit. Leafless plants are cut back to a height of 60-90 cm after heavy Manuring with farmyard manure.- Pruning is recommended in the late winter when vines are dormant. The new shoots should not suffer water shortage until he harvest in May (April-June in India); irrigation may be essential during this period. There is no serious pest or disease of this species.-

The flowers are yellow about 2 centimeters in length, and borne in densely crowded (rarely solitary) axillary cymes

The small fruits have to be hand-picked every morning throughout the harvesting season, which lasts for about three weeks. This is very time –consuming operating and can create difficulties where labour is scarce. Pre-harvest ethephon sprays (concentration 100 mg/1) are very effective in inducing simultaneous ripening but the treated fruits lack natural taste and flavour. The annual yield is 3-5 kg per plan.

The phalsa plant shows good response to nitrogen applications. High levels of phosphorus supply increase sugar content in the fruit while higher potassium suppresses sugar and promotes acidity.

The local variety of plum (which behave a lot like Peach) sheds its leaves in November and flowers profusely in February and March. The fruit ripens in early

May, the hottest period of the year. The new shoots are produced during the hot weather and early rains.

The guava drops its foliage in early March, simultaneously producing new leaves. It proved an excellent plant for the study of the root system, as the reddish roots are strongly developed and easy to follow in a grey alluvial soil like that of Pusa.

Although guava does not reproduce true-to-type from seed, seedlings are commonly used. Seeds should be planted immediately upon extraction from mature fruit.

Air layering is probably the easiest way to propagate a limited number of plants. Both veneer grafting and chip budding are successful, given young, vigorous, seedling rootstocks and scion wood that comes from terminal growth which is still green and quadrangular (in cross-section). Leafy cuttings will root well under mist propagation.

The soil underneath and around the young tree should be maintained completely free of all weeds and grasses, since the young tree cannot compete well for water and nutrients until it is much larger. Organic mulches are excellent for use under guava trees to eliminate weeds and to conserve moisture.

Pruning should be unnecessary except to remove dead or damaged branches or to thin out branches that overlap with others.

Vegetatively propagated trees will bear within three years, seedlings shouldn't take any longer. Larger fruit are primarily produced on vigorous shoots of two to three years of age. The primary season of maturity is summer, although some fruit may mature at other times of the year. Since fruit maturity is variable during the summer, mature fruit will be available every couple of days. Maturity is characterized by a change of the skin color from greenish to yellow and a concomitant softening of the fruit.

Vigorously growing young guava trees can produce half a bushel of fruit in the third season, increasing to several bushels on mature trees.

Guava is an outstanding source of Vitamin C, which probably exceeds that of orange juice. Fruit can be readily frozen and it is well suited to processing.

In general you should be doing your citrus fertilizing about once every 1 – 2 months during active growth (spring & summer) and once every 2 – 3 months during the trees’ more dormant periods (fall & winter)

Citrus trees are most nutrient hungry from the time they bloom until they have firmly set fruit so make sure you apply citrus fertilizer when the tree is in bloom regardless of health so that it has enough nutrients to properly produce fruit.

How to fertilize a citrus fruit tree

Citrus tree fertilizing is either done through the leaves or through the ground. Following the directions on your chosen fertilizer, which will be to either spray the fertilizer onto the leaves of your citrus tree or spread it out around the base of the tree as far as the canopy reaches.  Do not place fertilizer near the trunk of the tree.

Basic Fertilization Fertilize fruit trees with up to 1 lb. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per inch of trunk

diameter. Apply a maximum of 2 1/2 lbs. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per tree. Measure the diameter of the trunk 1 foot above the ground. Apply fertilizer about one month before the trees start to produce new growth in the spring. Broadcast it evenly within the area covered by the crown of each tree, but not within 12 inches of their trunks.

Planting Never apply fertilizer to the hole when planting young fruit trees. Give 1/2

lb. of balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer to each tree three weeks after planting. Apply in a circle at least 18 inches from the trunk.

Read more: How Often Should You Fertilize Fruit Trees? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_7982133_should-fertilize-fruit-trees.html#ixzz1ule7HM7P

Micronutrients Fruit trees require micronutrients as well as nitrogen to produce a good

crop. These can be supplied in spring just as new growth starts to appear. Apply 2/3 lb. of calcium nitrate per inch of trunk diameter to each tree, spreading it within the area covered by the crown. Give a maximum of 1 3/4 lbs. of calcium nitrate per tree. Also apply sulfate of potash-magnesia at 1/2 lb. per inch of trunk diameter, up to a maximum of 1 1/4 lbs. per tree.

Read more: How Often Should You Fertilize Fruit Trees? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_7982133_should-fertilize-fruit-trees.html#ixzz1ule2Kzwo