Will That Zaboca Seed Grow the Same Fruit? The Answer May Surprise You

 Every seed tells its own story. Plant it with hope but let nature write the ending.      -  The Grey-Haired Gardener

Image  Credit : Rahime Gul on Pexels.com

After my last post about the avocado lace bug, I thought I'd stay with the zaboca for a little longer—but this time, we're looking at what might—or might not—grow from the seed.

Here in Trinidad and Tobago, most of us don't ask if someone has an avocado tree—we ask if they have a zaboca tree.

It's the name many of us grew up with, and every year, as the season rolls around, I know what's going to happen. Someone will cut open a beautiful Pollock zaboca—large, buttery, creamy, and absolutely delicious. Before long, they'll be holding up the seed and saying,

"I'm planting this! Imagine getting zabocas just like these."

It seems perfectly logical. If the fruit was exceptional, surely planting the seed should give you another tree producing the very same fruit.

Unfortunately, nature doesn't quite work that way.

Image Credit: Stephen Bedase on Unsplash.com

A Seed Isn't a Photocopy

An Avocado Seed with a newly emerged root, the beginning of a gardener’s experiment in hope.     Photo: Shamela Rambadan

One of the things I enjoy most about gardening is that it's always teaching me something new. This is one of those lessons that surprises many gardeners.

Planting the seed from a Pollock zaboca doesn't guarantee you'll get another Pollock tree.

Instead, you're growing a completely new avocado tree with its own unique genetic makeup.

Think of it like a family. Brothers and sisters may share the same parents, but each one is wonderfully different. Some may look alike, others may not, and each has their own unique qualities.

Avocado seedlings are no different.

The seed carries genetic material from both the mother tree and the pollen that fertilized the flower. The result is a brand-new individual, not an exact copy of the tree the fruit came from.

That means your future zabocas may be larger, smaller, creamier, less creamy, earlier, later—or quite different in taste altogether.

That's part of the mystery...and part of the beauty of growing from seed.

Image Credit: Rahime Gul on Pexels.com

Then Comes the Waiting...

Growing a zaboca from seed also calls for a generous helping of patience.

I've seen many enthusiastic gardeners carefully nurture a seedling for years, watching it grow taller and taller, convinced that the first harvest is just around the corner.

In reality, a seedling often takes seven to ten years—or even longer—before it produces fruit.

And after all that waiting, the fruit may still be quite different from the one that inspired you to plant the seed in the first place.

Image Credit: Stephen Bedase on Unsplash.com

So How Do Farmers Grow Pollock Trees?

This is where another gardening secret comes in.

Commercial growers don't depend on seeds when they want to produce a particular variety like Pollock.

They use grafted trees.

Without getting too technical, grafting allows growers to take a piece from a mature Pollock tree that's already proven to produce excellent fruit and grow it on a young tree.

The result is a tree that produces the same variety people know and love—and usually starts fruiting much sooner than a seedling.

Image Credit:  Justus Menke on Pexels.com 

Should You Still Plant the Seed?

Absolutely!

I would never discourage anyone from planting a zaboca seed.

Watching that large seed split open, send down its first root, and produce new green leaves is one of those simple pleasures that reminds us why we love gardening.

Just plant it with the right expectations.

Instead of expecting another Pollock tree, think of it as giving nature the opportunity to create something entirely new.

Who knows? You may end up with a wonderful avocado that's unique to your own garden.

 Image Credit: Gilmer Diaz Estella on Pexels.com

The Best Choice Depends on Your Goal

If your goal is simply to enjoy the journey of growing a tree, then by all means plant the seed.

If your goal is to harvest those same large, buttery Pollock zabocas, then your best option is to buy a grafted Pollock tree from a reputable nursery.

Knowing the difference can save you years of waiting—and a little disappointment.

A Final Thought

One of the things gardening has taught me is that understanding why plants behave the way they do, makes us better gardeners.

The lesson doesn't stop with zabocas, either.

The same principle applies to many of our favourite fruit trees, including mangoes, citrus, and several others. A seed can grow into a healthy, productive tree, but it won't necessarily produce fruit identical to the one it came from.

So the next time you enjoy a delicious Pollock zaboca, don't hesitate to plant the seed if the experience brings you joy.

Just remember—you aren't recreating the tree you admired.

You're beginning the story of a brand-new one.

And I think that's a pretty wonderful way to look at it.

                                           --------0--------

Next in the series: Will a mango seed grow the same mango?

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Have you ever planted a zaboca seed?

Did it eventually bear fruit, or are you still waiting? I'd love to hear your experience in the comments below. And if you know someone who's saving a seed from this year's zaboca season, feel free to share this post with them—they might be surprised by what they learn!

Grey-Haired Gardener's Tip 🌿

Plant a seed for the joy of growing.
Plant a grafted tree for the fruit you're hoping to harvest.

Grey hair, green thumb and proud of my roots

thegreyhairedgardener.blogpsot.com

I Almost Missed This Pest on My Young Avocado Trees

The best gardener isn't the one who never has problems—it's the one who notices them before they become disasters.- The Grey-Haired Gardener

Avocado leaf showing a bronzing or scorched effect due to the activity of Avocado Lace Bugs

The rainy season has settled in here, and like many gardeners, I've been spending less time in some corners of the garden. One area that has been getting less attention is my garden shed(greenhouse), where I keep several of my young grafted avocado plants.

When I finally took a closer look this week, I noticed something wasn't right.

 Closeup of the Avocado leaf          Photo: Shamela Rambadan

Several leaves had a pale, bronzed appearance, almost as though they had been dusted with a fine tan powder. 

Turning the leaves over revealed the culprit: avocado lace bugs.

The underside of the leaf showing avocado lace bugs, eggs and faecal matter

How to Spot Avocado Lace Bug

One of the easiest ways to identify this pest is by looking at both sides of the leaf.

On the Upper Surface

• Yellow or pale tiny spots
• Bronzed or scorched appearance
• Brown patches as damage worsens

On the Underside

• Tiny insects clustered along leaf veins
• Dark, shiny specks of faecal matter
• Eggs and immature stages hidden beneath the leaf

 Avocado lace bugs and droppings on the underside of the avocado leaf 

The insects feed by sucking sap from the leaves, reducing the plant's ability to photosynthesize efficiently.

Why I Didn't Notice Them Earlier

The constant rain has meant fewer visits to the greenhouse area. 

The trees looked reasonably healthy from a distance, and the damage only became obvious when I inspected the leaves closely.

It's a good reminder that pests don't take a rainy-season vacation.

Using the Macro setting on my phone camera, I captured a clearer close‑up of the avocado lace bug.                           Photo: Shamela Rambadan

What I'm Doing About It

Since these are still young, grafted trees, I'll be:

• Removing heavily infested leaves
• Monitoring the plants weekly
• Improving air circulation around the trees
• Using a neem oil treatment during a dry spell, making sure to spray the undersides of the leaves where the insects hide
• When pests get out of hand, chemical control may sometimes be the only way to achieve quick knockdown. But whenever you can, choose biological treatments — they’re gentler on your garden and safer for the environment.

It's one thing to treat a young, grafted tree that's shoulder high. 

It's quite another when your avocado has grown into a towering shade tree. 

By then, reaching the underside of thousands of leaves becomes nearly impossible without specialized equipment like a mist blower.

Early detection (your best weapon)

This is still the most effective strategy.

Small infestations are easy to manage.

Large infestations become difficult.

Early intervention is usually enough to prevent serious damage.

Garden Lesson of the Week

Sometimes the most important gardening tool isn't a fertilizer or a spray bottle—it's simply taking a few minutes to look closely at your plants.

Those few minutes can save weeks of recovery later.

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Have you ever discovered a pest problem only after it had been quietly building for weeks? Tell me about it in the comments.

Grey hair, green thumb, proud of my roots.

thegreyhairedgardener.blogspot.com

Papaya Flower Guide: Is Your Papaya Tree Male, Female, or Hermaphrodite?

A gardener learns patience from seeds, but observation from flowers                      -The Grey-Haired Gardener

Papaya tree showing off its male flowers     Photo: Shamela Rambadan

A Quick Note About "Paw Poi"

Before we go any further, I have to confess something.  Growing up in a rural community, I used to call this fruit "paw poi." In fact, if someone had asked me for a papaya as a child, I might have wondered what on earth they were talking about!

Many Trinidadians know Carica papaya simply as paw paw, even though the true Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is an entirely different fruit native to North America.

Old habits die hard, so if you catch me slipping between papaya, paw paw, and paw poi throughout this article, you'll know why............Lol

A few days ago, while admiring my papaya tree, I noticed it was covered with beautiful creamy-white flowers. The blooms were attracting bees and adding a touch of elegance to the garden. But as every gardener eventually learns, not all papaya flowers are created equal.

Unlike many fruit trees, papaya plants can be male, female, or hermaphrodite. Knowing which type you have can help explain why your tree is loaded with flowers but producing little—or no—fruit.

Male Papaya Flowers

The flowers in my photos are a good example of male papaya flowers.

They are:

• Small and fragrant
• Produced in large clusters
• Borne on long branching stalks
• Rich in pollen and attractive to bees

A male tree's main job is to produce pollen. While it can help pollinate female flowers nearby, it usually does not produce edible fruit.

Male papaya flowers grow in clusters on long stalks and are an important source of pollen for pollinating insects.       Photo: Shamela Rambadan

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Female Papaya Flowers

Female flowers look quite different.

They are:

• Larger than male flowers
• Usually found close to the trunk
• Produced singly or in small groups
• Easy to recognize because a tiny swollen ovary sits behind the flower

Once pollinated, that swollen base develops into a papaya fruit.

 Female flower attached directly to the trunk showing the tiny developing fruit.                             Photo: Shamela Rambadan

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Hermaphrodite Papaya Flowers

Hermaphrodite flowers contain both male and female parts.

They are:

• More tubular in shape
• Often longer and narrower than female flowers
• Capable of self-pollination
• Preferred by many commercial growers

Most elongated papayas found in markets come from hermaphrodite plants.

Close-up showing the long tubular flower shape.   Photo: Shamela Rambadan

When I first examined the flowers on my fruiting tree, I wondered if I had a hermaphrodite 'paw paw'. A closer look revealed the large swollen ovaries typical of female flowers. It was a reminder that identifying papaya flowers can sometimes be trickier than it seems!

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Why Isn't My Papaya Fruiting?

If your tree is flowering but not setting fruit, one of these may be the reason:

✔️ It is a male tree.

✔️ Pollination is poor due to lack of bees or rainy weather.

✔️ The plant is still young.

✔️ Environmental stress such as drought or nutrient deficiencies is affecting flower development.

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A Gardener's Tip

When growing papayas from seed, it's impossible to know in advance whether a plant will be male, female, or hermaphrodite. That's why many gardeners plant several seedlings and wait until flowering time before deciding which plants to keep.

In my garden, I always pay close attention when the first flowers appear. They tell the story of what the tree may become long before the first fruit arrives.

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Have you ever waited months for a papaya tree to flower only to discover it was male? Share your experience in the comments. I'd love to hear whether your papaya turned out to be male, female, or one of the productive hermaphrodites!

Grey hair, green thumb and proud of my roots

thegreyhairedgardener.blogspot.com

Your First Harvest..... Celebrate it!

The first tomatoes ripening on the vine ... sweet victory!                         Photo: Shamela Rambadan

I still remember the thrill of spotting those first tomatoes turning from green to a little orange on the plant. The garden felt different that morning — alive with promise.

For weeks I had been checking the plants, fussing over the leaves, worrying about pests, and wondering when or if anything would ever ripen.

And then, there they were: two small tomatoes, glowing like little rays in the morning sun. Happy Garden dance! 💃

It may sound simple, but that moment was powerful. I was elated to say the least!

I grew this.

With my own hands, in my own soil, I coaxed life into being.

For a beginner gardener, even two tomatoes are a triumph. They are proof that patience, care, and a little faith can turn seeds into food.

The first harvest is never about abundance.

It’s about affirmation. It tells you that your garden is working, that your efforts are not in vain. After all, I don't know who said it but it's true:

“Gardening is 20% inspiration and 80% perspiration.”

And it teaches you something important: growth takes time, but it always comes.

I sliced those tomatoes, drizzled some olive oil and savoured them slowly. They weren’t perfect — one was a little uneven, another had a blemish — but they tasted like victory. Sweet, tangy, and fresh, they carried the flavour of accomplishment.

If you’re just starting out, don’t be discouraged by small yields. Celebrate them.

A few freshly picked ochroes from the garden Photo: Shamela Rambadan

Two tomatoes today can become ten tomorrow.

Each harvest builds your confidence, and each plant teaches you something new.

This lovely photo comes from a devoted home gardener, who shared that these harvests were meant for her neighbours. Such a thoughtful and generous gesture!

Photo Courtesy: ADG

Practical Tip: After your first harvest, keep your plants healthy by pruning away yellowing leaves and giving them consistent water. Remove weeds wherever possible (they steal your crop's nutrients)

A little compost or fertilizer can encourage more blossoms, which means more fruit. And don’t forget to stake your plants well — tomatoes love support, just like gardeners do.

So here’s my advice: honour your first harvest, no matter how modest.

My first Mediterranean figs from the garden. I grow these in pots and I'm always happy to try something new. Photo: Shamela Rambadan

Take a photo, write it down, share it with a friend. Because that small handful of tomatoes is more than food — it’s the beginning of your gardening story.

And trust me, once you’ve tasted that joy, you’ll never look at your backyard the same way again.

Happy Garden Dance! 💃

Grey hair, green thumb, proud of my roots

thegreyhairedgardener.blogspot.com

What's Really Causing the Black Rot in Our Soursops?

 🌿 GHG Garden Detective Files #2

A friend's harvest, an expert's advice, and what every soursop grower should know.

"Good gardeners don't just grow plants—they learn to read the stories those plants are telling."- The Grey-Haired Gardener.

 

I wasn't even in my own garden when this story unfolded.

Recently, I visited a friend who was excited to cut open a soursop she had harvested. From the outside, it looked reasonably healthy, although there were a few dark, sunken spots near the blossom end that raised our suspicions.

The outside of the soursop showed several dark, sunken lesions near the blossom end. At this stage, it was impossible to know exactly what had caused them.

Curious to see what was inside, we sliced it open.

Cutting open the fruit revealed areas of black rot beneath the external lesions, while much of the surrounding flesh remained white and apparently healthy.

The inside told a very different story.

 A large, blackened area of decaying flesh had developed beneath the damaged portion of the fruit, while much of the remaining pulp still appeared healthy. The contrast was striking—and disappointing.

Neither of us could say with certainty what had caused the damage.

But one thing was obvious.

This wasn't an isolated problem.

If you've spent any time in Caribbean gardening groups, you've probably seen photos very similar to these.

One gardener blames seed borers.

Another says anthracnose.

Someone else insists it's fruit flies.

So...which is it?

That question sent me looking for answers.

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Looking Beyond Social Media

Because this issue appears so frequently in gardening groups and among both home gardeners and commercial growers, I wanted to go beyond the opinions shared online and seek advice from someone who works with these problems professionally.

I recently spoke with Dr. Augustus Thomas, Assistant Lecturer (Plant Pathology) and AES Coordinator, Department of Food Production of The University of the West Indies, who generously shared his knowledge and practical recommendations.

The information presented in this article has been shared with Dr. Thomas for review prior to publication to ensure that I have represented his recommendations accurately.

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It's Not Just One Problem

One of the biggest things I learned from our conversation is that gardeners are often looking at two problems working together.

According to Dr. Thomas, several insect pests—including seed borer moths, scales and mealybugs—cause injury to developing soursop fruits when they feed.

These injuries allow for easy entry of fungal pathogens.

The fungi are then responsible for the black rot that gardeners discover when the fruit is finally cut open.

In other words...

The insects start the problem. The fungi finish it.

That explains why the symptoms can look so dramatic by harvest time.

 A close-up view of the basal tip of the soursop fruit         Photo: Shamela Rambadan

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Understanding the Life Cycle

Dr. Thomas explained that adult seed borer moths lay their eggs on developing fruits.

The larvae feed within the fruit, causing damage that opens the door for fungal pathogens.

Once they complete their development, they leave the fruit and pupate in the soil, later emerging as adults to repeat the cycle.

Understanding this life cycle helps explain why removing damaged fruit alone may not completely solve the problem.

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Why Is It So Difficult to Control?

Unfortunately, once these pests become established, management becomes much more challenging.

Dr. Thomas explained that non-chemical methods alone are often not enough once an infestation is well established, particularly in larger trees.

Another challenge is ensuring that treatments actually reach the developing fruits.

Soursop trees can become quite tall and dense, making it difficult for sprays to penetrate the canopy effectively.

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Dr. Thomas' Recommendations

Based on his experience, Dr. Thomas recommends an integrated pest management approach.

1. Reduce Existing Pest Populations

Where infestations are already established, collect and destroy infected fruits.  

An appropriate insecticide may be necessary to reduce pest numbers.

Farmers also use a fine mesh around the fruits to deter pests.

The aim is to interrupt the pest's life cycle before more fruits become infested.

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2. Protect Against Fruit Rot

Because fungal pathogens are responsible for much of the visible decay, a suitable fungicide should also be used to protect developing fruits.

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3. Achieve Better Spray Coverage

One recommendation that stood out to me was the importance of good spray coverage.

Rather than relying solely on a knapsack or hand-held sprayer, Dr. Thomas recommends using a motorized mist blower whenever possible.

The fine mist penetrates the tree canopy much more effectively, allowing treatments to reach developing fruits hidden throughout the tree.

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4. Apply Both Products Together

For efficiency, the insecticide and fungicide can be prepared separately according to label directions and then added to the sprayer for a single application, provided the products are compatible and their labels allow tank mixing.

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5. Follow Up With Botanicals and Biologicals

Following the initial treatment, Dr. Thomas recommends using appropriate botanicals and biologicals  to help deter future pest build-up.

Botanicals like neem may not eliminate an established pest infestation, but if used prior to pests being established it can help to deter their establishment and forms part of a longer-term management programme.

Biologicals like Biophyt 1.0 can also help to reduce disease severity and integrating them into an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy will significantly reduce the reliance on chemicals and make the fruit healthier and safer for consumption.

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Don't Forget Good Garden Hygiene

Chemical control alone isn't enough.

Good sanitation remains one of the gardener's best tools.

Remember to:

• Remove and destroy badly infected fruits.
• Pick up fallen fruits beneath the tree.
• Prune overcrowded branches to improve airflow.
• Monitor young fruits regularly for signs of damage.

These simple practices help reduce both pest populations and disease pressure.

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My Take

When we first cut open my friend's soursop, it would have been easy to point the finger at a single culprit.

Instead, I discovered that the answer is often more complex.

The black rot that so many gardeners are seeing may actually be the result of insect pests and fungal pathogens working together.

That conversation with Dr. Thomas reminded me of something every gardener eventually learns:

Nature rarely reads the textbook.

Sometimes one problem opens the door for another and understanding that relationship is the first step toward finding an effective solution.

As gardeners, we don't have to know everything.

But we should never stop asking questions.

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"Every garden mystery has a story. The patient gardener learns by observing first, asking questions second, and drawing conclusions last."

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Have You Seen This in Your Garden?

Have you cut open a soursop only to find blackened flesh like this?

What methods have worked for you?

Have you tried fruit bagging, pruning, sanitation, neem, or other management techniques?

I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Leave a comment below. Your story might be the clue that helps another gardener solve the next garden mystery.

🕵️ GHG Garden Detective Files
Real garden mysteries. Real investigations. Practical solutions.

Grey hair, green thumb, proud of my roots

thegreyhairedgardener.blogspot.com 

When Did We Start Paying for Limes?

"We never had much money, but we always had food."-The Grey-Haired Gardener

                                                                There's always something to harvest from the garden; a handful of this, two or three of that.... Photo: Shamela Rambadan

The other day, I found myself looking at the price of limes and shaking my head.

It got me thinking about how much life has changed.

Growing up in a farming family in a rural community, it would have been almost unthinkable to pay for certain things. Bandhania (chadon beni), limes, dry coconuts, dasheen bush, green figs, cow's milk—these were simply things we had. They grew in our yard, a neighbour's yard, or belonged to a nearby relative.

We never had much money, but we always had food.

We were "garden people."

  My squash ready to harvest         Photo : Shamela Rambadan

 Some fresh herbs from the garden. These can be easily grown in pots

Our family reared cows, goats, sheep, ducks, chickens, and turkeys. We had eggs, milk, meat, and homegrown produce. Ma even made dahee (yogurt) from fresh cow's milk. We grew rice and sugar cane, and there always seemed to be something growing somewhere in the yard.

  First picking: A handful of seime   

Life wasn't easy, though.

Before school, we often had chores waiting for us. One of them was taking the sheep and goats out to pasture. In the evening, we brought them back to their pens. There were animals to feed, crops to tend, and weeds to pull. Looking back, I realize that the food on our table came from a great deal of hard work.

But that hard work gave us something many families are now struggling to afford—food security.

Ma baked bread regularly, and when guava was in season, she made guava jam for our sandwiches. That jam lasted us for months, sometimes nearly the entire year. There was no refrigeration, no fancy equipment, just knowledge, experience, and a determination to make the most of what we had.

Nothing went to waste.

The manure from the animal pens went into the garden. Kitchen scraps fed animals or returned to the soil. Long before terms like "organic gardening" and "sustainability" became popular, many farming families were already practicing them out of necessity.

 Freshly picked ochroes  from the garden        Photo: Shamela Rambadan

I also remember how connected our community was.

If Ma was cooking and ran short of something, she would send one of us to a neighbour or nearby relative.

"Go and get a few limes."

"See if they have a dry coconut."

"Ask Tanty(Auntie) for a hand of green fig."

Nobody thought twice about it. Those items were plentiful, and sharing was simply what people did.

Today, things are very different.

Many of the foods that were once freely exchanged between neighbours are now purchased. We routinely pay for limes, bandhania, green figs, coconuts, and countless other items that previous generations often grew themselves.

 Chadon Beni (Bandhania)  growing  in a pot in the garden   Photo : Shamela Rambadan

I am reminded of a line from a calypso by Lord Relator:

"A lime long time was ole talk and fun... but now a lime is twenty-five cents for one."

At the time, that line made people laugh. Today, it feels almost prophetic. Depending on the season, a single lime can cost several dollars.

Imagine telling our parents or grandparents that one day people would be paying $5 for a lime.

They probably would have laughed.

Yet here we are.

This is one of the reasons I believe gardening is just as important today as it was back then.

Yes, gardening provides fresh, nutritious food. Yes, it gets us outdoors and keeps us active. But it also helps reduce grocery bills at a time when food prices continue to rise.

Every lime picked from your tree is one less lime you have to buy.

Every bunch of chadon beni harvested from your garden is money saved.

Every tomato, pimento pepper, chive, or lettuce harvested at home puts a little less strain on your wallet.

And when the harvest is abundant, don't let it go to waste.

Freeze it. Dry it. Preserve it.

And if you can, share it.

A sense of pride: planting pineapples for the first time and harvesting my first fruit!

After all, that may be the biggest lesson I learned growing up in a farming family. A garden isn't just about growing food. It's about creating abundance—enough for your household and sometimes enough for someone else too.

Did you grow up in a home where food came from the backyard, a neighbour, or a family farm? What are the things you remember that your family grew, made, or shared?

I would love to hear your stories. Share them in the comments — because every garden has a story, and every generation has something valuable to teach the next.

And if this story brought back memories of a time when food was grown, shared, and appreciated, consider planting something of your own. A few herbs, a lime tree, a pepper plant, or a small backyard garden can be the beginning of something meaningful.

Times have changed.

But a garden still provides food.

A garden still saves money.

As I look at today's food prices, I am often reminded of how much has changed. The things we once took for granted are now the things we pay dearly for.

That is why I believe gardening remains just as important today as it was then.

And perhaps now, more than ever, a garden is one of the smartest investments we can make.

Happy Gardening!

Grey hair, green thumb, garden savvy.
thegreyhairedgardener.blogspot.com