plundccre

Does anyone know of a good source for a Star Fruit plant? I've searched the internet without much luck. I bought one out of San Diego that was very small (about 5") and did not survive.

Thanks

Jananas Bananas

They are very easy to grow from seed. I bought a star fruit and planted the seeds and I think 100% have come up for me.







~JaNan

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Jananas Bananas

plundccre

Did you have to do anything to the seeds? Dry them? Scar them? Anyting special in the soil?

Peter

Jananas Bananas

I rinsed them off really well with tap water, and I let them dry overnight on a paper towel. The next day I put them into soil less seed starting medium (peat) and covered them with a clear dome. I wet the soil and misted every other day. I sat them in a windowsill and they were all starting to sprout within a weeks time. You can see other pictures in the "Whatcha Got Sprouting" thread.

You could probably use the moist paper towel and baggy method with these seeds also.

~J

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Jananas Bananas

plundccre

Thanks. I'll give it a try. I usually don't have much luck with seeds that I purchase but this seems simple enough.

raygrogan

If you do find a source for a grafted plant the best variety I've tasted is Kari.

breakintheweb

Toptropicals has a wide variety of grafted plants.

Averrhoa carambola, Carambola, Starfruit, Five-finger, Balimbing - TopTropicals.com, rare plants for home and garden

chong

Check out Dave's Garden on Top Tropicals:
The scoop on 'Top Tropicals LLC'

Here is a source for Carambola, they have great customer service:
Logee's Greenhouse-Averrhoa carambola 'Maher Dwarf' "Dwarf Star Fruit"

breakintheweb

Thanks for the info on top tropicals. I thought their prices seemed a bit high but they seemed to have a good selection. I'll be shopping elsewhere.

cherokee_greg

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Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA
http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

plundccre

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I have purchased several plants from Top Tropicals and have always had good luck with them. My only hesitation with them is that their shipping charges are so high. They want over $30 to ship the Star Fruit plant. It seems like every other grower that I order from in Florida ships for around $10 or less.

I think that I am going to try to grow my one and see how that works out. Thanks for all of the suggestions.

chong

Here are additional sources:

Carambola/Star Fruit: Arken - 3 Gallon - GRAFTED

Carambola/Star Fruit: Kari - 3 Gallon - GRAFTED

Carambola/Star Fruit: Fwang Tung - 3 Gallon - GRAFTED

Carambola/Star Fruit Tree Grafted ― PlantOGram.com

Tropical fruit trees, akee, all spice, ambarella, annona, avocado, cherry, bay leaf, black pepper, caimito, canistel, carambola, cashew, coconut, coffee, curry leaf, grumichama, guava, jaboticaba, jakfruit, longan, loquat, lychee, macadamia, malay ap

I have ordered from Jene's and Pine Island Nursery in the past.

plundccre

Thanks again. Shipping is the problem again. $25.19 to ship. Where is Home Depot with the Star Fruit? I heard a while back that someone bought one at Albertson's for $20.00. Still want to try growing them before I spend $70+ (plant and shipping_ for something that I don't know if it will survive.

The problem now is finding the fruit in the grocery store to get the seeds. I checked a few of my local markets and they do not seem to carry them.

chong

Where are you located? I have bought mangos, avocados, guavas, carambola, etc. from HD, WalMart, and Lowes, in CA and FL. In CA, sometimes even Costco and other grocery chain stores have some of them. Also, in Asian markets.

The cheapest one that you can get them from, in terms of shipping is Logee's. Unfortunately, they are currently out of stock. Wait a month, and I'm sure they'll have them again.

Occasionally, the Safeway stores in the Seattle area would carry Carambola fruit. Definitely, when they're in season, Asian stores would have them. If you want I can alert you if they have them here.

plundccre

I'm in Sherman Oaks, Ca (Los Angeles area). I've been asking around at HD, Lowes and some of the larger local nursery's but no one carries Star Fruit in plant form. We have all kinds of other tropicals - guavas, mangos, bananas, mac nuts and a whole host of others - but no Star Fruit.

There is a large Asian market not far from here that I may check to see if the have the fruit in stock.

breakintheweb

I know either the Lowes or home depot here in south florida carries them. Maybe they carry them seasonally?

chong

Most of the Asian markets in the LA area buy their tropicals from this company:
Temple Garden Center
11314 Lower Azusa Rd, El Monte, CA91732 United States
34.09111, -118.02076 (GPS Coordinates)
(626) 452-0133

I've bought Starfruit from them and one of them actually fruited. There were only two fruits and they were small. But what would you expect, with the weather here in Seattle? I've been buying plants wholesale from them since 2004, though not in the last couple of years due to my work travel. It may be a little bit of a drive for you, but outside of HD, Lowes, or Walmart, that's the closest one that I know of. Although, it may not be too bad. I used to fly in/out of the Burbank airport, when I was working with FEMA in 05 for the mudslides in the Pasadena area. I was staing in the Residence Inn in Arcadia, and when traffic wasn't bad, I got there in no time at all. Their guavas are great tasting, too. As is their Sapodilla. Sadly, due to my constant travel coupled with our weather here, most of my plants are gone. Although, I've also sold a few of them. If you go there, let them know "Chong sent you!" LOL.

plundccre

Thanks. I'll stop by next time I am in that part of town and see what they have. I just bought a Starfruit this evening and am going to give the seeds a try just for fun. I'll let you know when I go by the place.

plundccre

OK. I bought I Starfruit tonight and cut it open. Where are the seeds? They must be small and soft. Any suggestions?

Richard

Nursery owners are hesitant to carry Star Fruit for good reasons:
1. A significant portion of individuals - particularly of European ancestry, are genetically prone to liver and kidney disorders at mature age. This is still hard to predict with present medical technology.
2. Another fraction of society are also prone to liver and kidney later in life due to environmental and lifestyle factors.
3. Star fruit leaves deposits in both of these organs which can greatly exacerbate the condition later in life.
4. For persons currently with liver or kidney disorders, eating the fruit can be fatal.

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