Tropical and subtropical fruits lecture
By Denise Stewart
The Scripps-Mesa Garden Club’s meeting on March 24 at the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library featured Richard Reid, a tropical and sub-tropical fruit expert.
According to the program chair for the club, Alva Rivera, Reid currently grows more than 100 different species of tropical and subtropical fruits. His focus is on dragon fruit, Plinia (jaboticaba) species and Eugenia on his small suburban lot in Carmel Valley. He has been a member of the California Rare Fruit Growers since the mid-1990s and a member of both the San Diego and the North San Diego County chapters. He is also a member of the San Diego County Master Gardeners class of 2025.
When thinking about tropical and sub-tropical fruits, most people stop after bananas, mangos and kiwi, Reid said. However, there is an entire world of rare and delicious subtropical fruits just waiting to be explored.
In this presentation, Reid guided the audience through what is a subtropical fruit, how to grow and how to care for them. He also talked about many of the unusual and beautiful plants available that can enhance both your landscape and your fruit basket, Alva Rivera explained.
Alva has engaged another expert to speak at the April 28 meeting. The gardeners will enjoy Donna Payton who will focus on the popular subject of California native plants.
As the days lengthen later in the spring, the Garden Club meetings will include evening tours through private gardens here in Scripps Ranch. Visit scrippsmesagardenclub.com.