Any tips from successful Rocoto/Manzano growers?

[filmost]

The gist I have gathered from different responses I have received here and else where is basically we'll need to experiment. Some people are having good results in full sun others are saying partial or even full shade works better for them. I imagine the variety also plays a large role.
 
For what it is worth, I asked Judy about her Giant Mexican Rocoto and she said shade is good once temps take off, and to keep them fairly wet. She is also experimenting with something like 37 varieties she said. So if you can try to grow two of whatever varieties you have with one in shade and one in full sun and see what happens.

I have no trouble with manzanos in full sun.

 
That is one beautiful plant. From what I can tell from the pic, this plant appears to have a kind of vining growth habit, is that true?

 

[Cayennemist]

My zano's like sun till noonish and shade the rest of the day. http://thehotpepper.com/topic/46754-nice-fat-manzano-bush/#entry985854

 

[filmost]

My zano's like sun till noonish and shade the rest of the day. http://thehotpepper.com/topic/46754-nice-fat-manzano-bush/#entry985854

 
That is massive. It's only one plant? How was the production on it?

 

[Cayennemist]

 
That is massive. It's only one plant? How was the production on it?

 
Updated that thread today. Yes that is one plant... well it is swallowing a small rosebush but you can tell the difference between the two.

 

[willard3]

Building is to the north of the plant and the tree is a closely-pruned dwarf apricot to the east making very little shade.

 

[Bob_B]

These from seed this season:
 
Locoto:
 

 
 
Yellow Canario

 
 
Orange Manzano:
 

 

[CAPCOM]

The manzano topic being discussed to this point has been its tolerance or preference to direct sunlight, partial sun or shady locations. While temps directly in most cases coincide with sun exposure, there is a point where temperatures exceed the plants tolerance level sun or no sun. All you can do is give it your best shot while keeping close tabs on you plants signs. consider it a learning experience that you can share with others who have been wondering the same thing or how much they can push the growing conditions of  manzanos, rocotos.
 
100+ degree days will put stress on any plant this side of cacti or photographs of plants.

 

[willard3]

In the Bajío of Méjico, where manzanos are grown commercially, they are grown in the open with no shade.

 

[Cayennemist]

Yeah I dont think its so much the amount of sun, more like the peak day time temp. My zano gets nice shade during the hottest parts of the day, keeping the highs lower.

 

[filmost]

The manzano topic being discussed to this point has been its tolerance or preference to direct sunlight, partial sun or shady locations. While temps directly in most cases coincide with sun exposure, there is a point where temperatures exceed the plants tolerance level sun or no sun. All you can do is give it your best shot while keeping close tabs on you plants signs. consider it a learning experience that you can share with others who have been wondering the same thing or how much they can push the growing conditions of  manzanos, rocotos.
 
100+ degree days will put stress on any plant this side of cacti or photographs of plants.

 
Well put!
 
In any case, this weekend I decided not to move any plants anywhere after observing the how the sun moves across our yard. We do have two trees, a large sakura tree in the corner at the entrance/approach to our place and a small & scrappy crape myrtle in the yard towards the front. I noticed around 3 or 4pm that these two trees make a lightly shaded area in the yard covering part of where my plants are sitting, and have since shuffled them around to that the pubes get hit with shade. The other reason for doing this is b/c I had some lemon balm out behind my house waiting to be planted out and they have since been inundated with caterpillars of some kind of moth, so rather than dealing with pests I'd rather leave them in front where I can see them everyday.
 
Thanks for all the ideas and examples! Gonna mark HB's reply as the best answer, but feel free to keep discussing and sharing pics! I will be back with some pics of mine probably this coming weekend.

 

[Pr0digal_son]

Variety is a big factor that is overlooked. Pick a prolific type to grow. Large podded pubescens seem to be more difficult to get a lot of numbers from.

I have a few plants that are still in 1 gallon nursery pots. They are in full sun (10-12 hours) and the pods are sticking daily.

It is still in the low 80s here with a few days last week in the upper 80's. When the temps jump up,my plants will get a few hours of open shade but never full shade. Last year I did some plants in full shade and was unimpressed with the results. I tried again with different varieties this season and the results are similar. Smaller plants and longer ripening times. They already take an eon to ripen!

 

[filmost]

Variety is a big factor that is overlooked. Pick a prolific type to grow. Large podded pubescens seem to be more difficult to get a lot of numbers from.

I have a few plants that are still in 1 gallon nursery pots. They are in full sun (10-12 hours) and the pods are sticking daily.

It is still in the low 80s here with a few days last week in the upper 80's. When the temps jump up,my plants will get a few hours of open shade but never full shade. Last year I did some plants in full shade and was unimpressed with the results. I tried again with different varieties this season and the results are similar. Smaller plants and longer ripening times. They already take an eon to ripen!

 
That is a good point. What variety is in that picture?