In this video, I’m back in Jupiter, Florida visiting my friend Jerry, who grows over 240 tropical fruit trees using a true “set it and forget it” philosophy. No spraying. No fertilizing schedules. No irrigation systems. Just planting trees in the ground and letting nature decide.
Jerry’s approach is completely different from commercial fruit production. He’s a collector, focused on variety over yield, growing mangoes, jackfruit, loquats, jaboticaba, bananas, sapodilla, white sapote, rare annonas, citrus, avocado, and many other exotic fruit trees.
We talk about:
The difference between fruit production vs fruit collecting
Why Jerry avoids spraying chemicals even organic ones
How trees can still fruit heavily with no watering
Mango tree spacing shade tolerance and pruning philosophy
Banana pup types sword suckers vs water suckers
Why trunk size matters more than tree age for fruiting
Which fruit trees thrive under neglect
Why overthinking stops people from planting trees
Rare and unusual fruit tree varieties growing in South Florida
This tour is perfect for anyone who wants to grow fruit trees without stress, chemicals, or constant maintenance. Whether you’re planting your first mango tree or building a backyard food forest, this video will challenge how you think about fruit tree care.
👉 Remember: The best time to plant a tree is today. Yesterday would have been better.
Let me know your questions in the comments and I’ll answer them.
0:00 Set it and forget it growing philosophy
1:08 Introduction at Jerry’s property in Jupiter Florida
2:23 Best time to plant fruit trees and goal setting
4:09 Jerry explains his collector mindset and variety focus
5:41 Mango trees water pruning and spacing philosophy
7:44 Why Jerry avoids spraying and chemicals
9:06 Mulberries pruning and fruiting habits
10:44 Mango varieties performance and disease tolerance
12:08 Jackfruit male vs female flowers explained
13:18 Loquats flowering pollination and fruiting
15:04 Managing shade sunlight and selective pruning
18:45 Production vs collection spacing strategy explained
20:10 Banana varieties growth habits and harvesting
21:28 Atemoya sugar apple comparison and recommendations
22:15 Harvest Moon mango and flavor preferences
23:52 Pickering mango reliability in heavy shade
25:27 Heavy producing mango varieties discussion
28:22 Selecting promising mango seedlings
30:10 Jaboticaba varieties growth and patience required
33:10 Rare and exotic fruit tree collection tour
35:28 Abiu flowering and fruit expectations
36:05 Caimito pollination and variety requirements
38:04 Finger lime fruiting and use
41:09 Disease resilience through neglect philosophy
43:02 Mango hedge and privacy planting
51:01 Banana pup types sword vs water suckers
57:21 Seedling jackfruit success story
59:05 Avocado seedlings risks and rewards
1:00:04 Canistel trunk size and first fruiting signs
1:02:43 Rabbit damage and tree recovery
1:03:12 Edible perennial greens katuk discussion
1:06:41 Avocado Marcus Pumpkin flavor review
1:09:04 Miracle fruit and taste modification
1:13:20 Garden water feature for bees birds and fish
1:16:02 Pomelo citrus greening observation
1:18:09 Sapodilla and fruiting maturity
1:20:01 Superior lemon drop mangosteen highlight
1:22:24 Citrus and mango new plantings
1:25:13 Surinam cherry growth behavior
1:26:14 Final thoughts on goals philosophy and learning
1:27:42 Closing remarks and viewer questions invitation
🌳 Have a Fruit Tree Garden? Let’s Film It!
If you have a yard with fruit trees—especially in the South Florida area—I’d love to visit and film your garden for the channel!
📩 Contact me at paul@rawlife.com (please include your location).
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45 Comments
SOMETIMES OVERLY CALCULATED WE STILL COME SHORT BECAUSE NATURE HAS ITS WAY BUT UNDER MANAGED GET LESS PRODUCTION WOULD BE SO NICE TO KNOW WHAT IS A GOOD BALANCE TO WALK ON
So I just bought some land in the Sahara, I'm looking at hydroponics as 'set it and forget" won't get me far there hahaha
1:10:30 "I don't think Florida avocados are watery". What? Look at the established avocado genetics. West Indies avocado varieties (Donnie, Simmonds, Catalina, Russell) have a measurably lower oil content than Mexican, Guatemalan or genetic hybrid avocados. This is basic, fundamental info. The Nishikawa he is growing will have a much higher oil content than the West Indies varieties people consider to be "Florida avocados".
Paul is he your brother or your arch rival? 😆 good show 🙏🏽
That abui is insane! Awesome collection!
Wow, wish I was that man's neighbor or employee
I love your guest!
They're is something so refreshing and wholesome in honesty direct communication without fluff. And I like his philosophy.
Excellent! Our gardens reflect us
Please explain how you grow jabos without water?
19:50 cuban anole
Love this guy. He’s a gem!
Thanks Paul!!! May Freddy get me the phone number or how to contact Going Bananas? Thanks
Great man and place!
Jujube seems to be the only fruit i can also grow.
Just planted, will see.
Thinking about loquat and hardy banana, mainly for looks.
Pawpaw is very slow here, might not see it getting 4" trunk…
Woh can imagine the debates at the bar😂
Hey this guy is great, I like him. He sets it and forgets it .
Hummm a collector not a producer .. I really like that, kinda takes the pressure off & makes gardening more enjoyable. I guess productivity can be built after establishment is achieved.
Hey Jerry I used to work for Jack at Urban Abundance and have been to Paul's house to get scions. Could I come by and get some avocado scions for my rootstocks?
Did he ever let you talk
You guys are comical. I’d love to help take a jackfruit or two off Jerry’s hands! I’m in Jupiter – I’d also happily help out in the garden in exchange for some fruit. 😊
💚 the enthusiasm in this video
15:00, please have fun, no tail chasing 😅
I have only one tree, a green caimito that's 1 year in the ground. I bought it as a 15 gallon and it's loaded with small fruit right now.
Hey Jerry @silverfizzyif you ever get those Superior Lemon Drop Mangosteen seedlings big enough to graft some scions from your main tree onto them I would love to buy 2 or 3 trees for my yard. Love the video you guys make a fun team.
Amazing video
This dude funny😂
always one of the best tours with jerry !
Cant wait to see you go back for those ripe jackfruits! “Its a crime leaving them to rot” so true!! Free food should not be waisted!
i just heard on a video that ice cream banana is just tall nam wah. idk if thats correct or not, always conflicting info on those few varietys lol
Really nice 👍
I have 16,000 olive trees but i have no time to film me waving my arms like a monkey on coke
In Florida you can but in California no you have to water it we get no rain in summer and 10-20" per year avocados will not fruit without water in California
Great video
I agree with this guy grow more type's of fruit.wonder if his ground water is close to surface. i Live in popanyinning western australia. Water is a real problem here
Jerry is a character 😂…. Good stuff! 👍🏾
Noticed the pine cones as mulch, is it for the PH?
You gotta love this guy.
I feel like im watching an argument over trees. Such a stressful tone and conversation.
My Gramps used to say "never baby a newly planted tree or you will have to baby it for your entire life. Set it in the ground and it will thrive or die, the ones that thrive will be overly abundant for you every year and the roots will be strong because disease and problems only come to weak trees."
The fact that he’s remembered every variety & has some information on it is impressive
Everywhere else in USA (except Hawaii) the only thing that will work are native fruit trees.
The tour was excellent, but the chemistry between both was interesting.I live by the set it and forget it, but i'm always open to any professional opinion.❤😂
Orange Essence is a Kent/Gary cross.
Ne 2:46 w sub from Palazzo Place in South Florida Paul. Please connect!✅
Green Anole. They have become rare in Central Florida. In the 1980's, they were everywhere.
Jerry is my fave! 😅 That guy is awesome