Ice Cream Bean advice (forum)

renee starts with ...
Hi. I'm having a little trouble with my icecream bean tree. I have no idea if I should prune it severly or leave it to see if it will grow or if it's a lost cause. Your advice is appreciated (:

I got the plant maybe 2 weeks ago, and it was in the pot for a week as we had heavy rain all week. I hope this isn't what has affected it.
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Picture: 1

Time: 20th February 2010 4:07pm

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About the Author renee
Sydney
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Brendan says...
Hi renee,
I wouldn't prune it yet. Give it a good feed of gypsum and mulch well, keep the mulch away from the trunk.

Did they tell you how big these trees grow? The 'guru' up here reckons they grow too big for a 800 sq metre block! I see you have it close to a fence, when it grows up, it will shade a lot of your neighbours yard. You'll have to keep it pruned.

Maybe they only grow real big up here?

Time: 21st February 2010 8:08am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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renee says...
Hi Brendan,
Thanks for the advice, I'll try that.

I heard that they can be a weed problem in the tropical area, but I hadn't heard how they grow down here in Sydney, but I'll definately keep it under control.

Thanks again,
Renee.

Time: 21st February 2010 12:40pm

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About the Author renee
Sydney
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John Mc says...
Hey Renee,
I'm on the Central Coast, located half way between Sydney and Newcastle. There's lots of large Icecream bean trees flowering and fruiting their heads off here, some are in areas I thought could never grow, like Ourimbah. Very frosty in winter, but these trees are thriving and must be 10 years or older.
They love lots of water in summer, I can't give mine enough.
Oh, by the way, that's not an iceceam bean plant in that photo.

Time: 22nd February 2010 11:43pm

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Original Post was last edited: 22nd February 2010 11:50pm

About the Author John Mc1
Warnervale NSW
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Brendan says...
Hi Renee,
I think John Mc is right about that photo you posted, it doesn't look like an Ice Cream Bean tree. To me, it looks like a 'Granadilla' vine (also known as fruit salad fruit). They are related to passionfruit, but the fruits are much bigger.

Did it have an i.d. tag on it when you bought it?

Time: 24th February 2010 8:56am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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Jantina says...
Hi Renee , John Mc and Brendan, have to admit my first thought was that's not an icecrean bean tree too but then I looked at the picture again and see that the leaves do have what looks like that icecream bean thingy happening at the base of the leaf and what looks suspiciously like a Daleys label so I lost confidence and decided the picture must be at a bad angle. So tell us Renee is that a Daleys label? and could you please post a better angled picture of the leaves?

Time: 24th February 2010 9:19am

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About the Author Jantina
Mt. Gambier S.A.
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renee says...
It is an ice cream bean tree from Daleys... I'll get a better picture tomorrow when there's light.
Maybe you don't recognise the leaves because they're all brown and dying and you;re all use to healthy trees... I'm new at this. ha

*Okay I took a picture tonight.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 25th February 2010 6:45pm

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Original Post was last edited: 25th February 2010 6:58pm

About the Author renee
Sydney
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John Mc says...
Yeah right. It is an Ice cream bean. I can see the leaves better now. The leaves look very large, I wonder if your's is a different variety to mine? I've grown them from seed and none of mine have had leaves as large as that before.

Time: 25th February 2010 9:27pm

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About the Author John Mc1
Warnervale NSW
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