The rains are coming soon and it is the usual time when fruit tree growers buy their seedlings for planting.
Fruit trees are for the long term and it is important that the growers don’t commit the usual mistakes that could be very expensive. Just like the huge mango plantation (178 hectares) we visited recently. They planted their grafted seedlings at 5 meters by 8 meters which means 250 trees per hectare.
CRAB NUTRITION — One reason why crablet production in the laboratory is increasingly becoming more efficient is that the researchers have come up with improved nutrition for both the broodstock as well as the juveniles. Among the scientists who have been studying ways to improve the composition and physical properties of the feed are Drs. Mae Catacutan and Relicardo Coloso. Photo shows Dr. Catacutan with pelletized crab feed at the SEAFDEC/AQD.
Of course that was a very costly mistake. Eventually, more than 20,000 trees had to be cut down at a very huge expense. The lesson here is that one should really find out from the real experts the proper distancing. The latest we got from the experts is that it is best to distance the mango trees at 14 to 20 meters apart.
Another reminder is to plant only superior varieties or strains. There are several carabao mango varieties that have been certified by the National Seed Industry Council. You have to be familiar with them. There are the selections from Guimaras, from MMSU in Ilocos Norte and from Zambales.
FRUITS OTHER THAN MANGO — One thing we have observed is that when a Filipino, whether farmer or professional, is thinking of planting fruit trees, the first thing he usually has in mind is mango. People should realize that not all places in the Philippines are best suited for planting mangoes, especially our carabao mango.
We remember a fellow who planted a lot of mangoes in a Quezon town. One time he approached us. He would like us to help him sell his mango plantation. That’s because he was not making any money. The place is too humid for carabao mango to bear fruit. In another case, we personally witnessed the cutting of hundreds of hectares of carabao mangoes in a town in Negros. The reason is that the trees were not producing enough fruits due to unsuitable weather.
AVOID FRESH MANURE — Use organic fertilizer in your plantation but, please, don’t use fresh manure. A marketing manager from the city was so happy that his cousin who had a big poultry farm had offered his chicken manure for free.
The poor marketing manager who planted grafted Guimaras mango seedlings applied newly collected manure on his newly planted trees. Of course, they got burned and the fellow had to buy new seedlings to replace the dead ones.
WHAT OTHER FRUITS? — When an acquaintance of ours heard that pummelos are a good investment, he immediately went to Davao to procure his requirements. He got what he called Davao pummelo. He thought everything that came from Davao should be good. He didn’t realize that there are good ones and some that are not so good.
The best thing to do is to get from a reliable source. If possible you should taste the fruit of the variety you are going to plant.
Aside from pummelos, we know of a fellow who is very happy with the Mama Sita banana he planted in Tarlac. It is producing very well and is a money-maker. He tells us that the Mama Sita has become a favotite of banana-cue makers in his place.
GROW SOMETHING DIFFERENT — One strategy in growing fruit trees is to grow something nice to eat but is not readily available in the market. For instance, the sweet balimbing is a familiar backyard tree in some places. The fruit is nice to eat but we know of nobody who is producing this fruit commercially.
Growing balimbing is not really difficult. It can even be grown in containers. The only big problem is the fruitfly that can damage the fruits. But there is a solution to that – it is bagging the fruits.
Something that should be saleable in the local market is the Key Lime. This is a small tree that is fruitful whether grown in the ground or in a container. We strongly believe that producing this commercially can be rewarding.
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