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    • Fruit Tree Care >
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        • Solutions for Citrus Tree Problems
        • Citrus Greening Disease
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      • Pruning Fruit Trees
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        • Organic Pesticides
    • Educational Videos
    • Wholesale Pricing >
      • Seedling Care Sheet
    • Abiu
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    • Avocado Trees
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    • The Baobab Tree
    • Cacao trees >
      • Cacao Growing Quiz
      • Cacao Grafting Video
      • Cacao History Quiz
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      • Coffee Growing Quiz
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      • Video on Jaboticaba Propagation
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      • Lychee Problems
      • Brewster Lychee Video
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    • Muscadine Grape Vines
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    • Persimmon Trees >
      • More on persimmons
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    • Sapodilla Nispero
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Acerola, delicious and loaded with Vitamin C

The Barbados cherry Malpighia punicifolia  (Acerola) is a large, densely branched shrub. The plant can be pruned so it will form a central trunk and can grow as a small tree.  The shape varies from a low and spreading habit to more upright and open. Leaves are shiny and light to deep evergreen, leaves will vary in size from 1 to 3 inches and are rounded in shape. This small tree or shrub features, attractive flowers that vary in color from pale pink to rose. Flowers appear in April and flowering continues throughout the summer and often into the fall. 

Soft, juicy, thin-skinned Barbados Cherry fruit are light red to deep crimson when mature. The outer shape somewhat resembles a small apple, but inside the fruit  are several very un-apple like seed.  The fully mature fruit average about an inch in diameter.  Barbados cherries are borne in leaf axils, singly or in clusters of 2 or 3. The shrub may have 3 to 5 crops per year, from May to November, with the largest crops appearing during the summer. In frost-free areas it is almost everbearing.

The fruit is rather tart but  some selections are sub-acid to almost sweet.  Inside, the flesh is yellow-orange and very high in vitamin C  (ascorbic acid). The Vitamin C content of one fruit ranges from 1000 to 2000 mg per 100 grams of edible fully ripe fruit.   More acid fruit has higher vitamin C content, and the amount of this compound is much higher in partially ripe fruit.  Sometimes a single Barbados 


Cherry fruit can supply the daily adult requirement of vitamin C. 



How to grow Acerola Barbados Cherry Trees

These trees or shrubs depending on how you train them are pretty easy to grow. You can keep them as a small 5 foot tree or let them grow into trees that can reach 15 feet in height and 8 feet width. You can even easily grow them as bonsai plants. When handling the trees be aware that tiny hairs on the leaves can irritate the skin They have a shallow root system and seem to handle pruning quite well. 

Be cautious when planting your acerola in sandy soils. In Florida and other regions, nematodes infest and thrive in dry sandy soil conditions. Incorporate some lime to balance pH in the soil and also use mulch and other organic material that deters nematodes. Nematodes cause root damage by causing root knots that weaken the plants root system.

Acerola flowers look like tiny orchids and very beautiful in my opinion. Fruit set is often heavy on plants propagated from superior cultivars. Soil pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5. Acerola plants are drought tolerant and grow in a variety of well drained soils. 

Plants that have endured some drought conditions will defoliate and generally recover quickly once watering returns to normal. Soil should be kept moist but not allowed to become water logged. Plants will often flower and produce heavy crops after a short dry period followed by steady rain or irrigation.

The best varieties are cloned from tasty high producing plants. Typically the acerola plant is propagated from cuttings and may be air layered using rooting gel or rooting powder. Barbados cherry can also be grafted but this is rare. Seeds are not true to type and have very low germination rates. Germination from seeds can be as low as 10%. 


Your acerola plant can tolerate some shade but will grow better and produce higher fruit yields in full sun. Be sure to keep them at temperatures no less than 36 degrees. They can tolerate a little lower temperature but not freezing temperatures. Wind protection is also a good idea.


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 Fertilizer Recommendations for Acerola
Trees/bushes in the landscape.

Acerola in the landscape are fertilized 
with either an 8-3-9-3 or you could use 10-10-10-3 or similar. 

Young trees: 1/4 lb every 2 months

Mature trees: 2-4 lbs is applied 3 times per year. 
Maximum of 15 lbs per year.
Over fertilization often forces mostly vegetative 
growth and little fruit production.
Do not fertilize in winter!


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Grow Your Own Chocolate:
​The South Florida Handbook 


​Grow Your Own Chocolate: The South Florida Handbook
 is the ultimate guide for anyone eager to cultivate cacao trees in South Florida’s subtropical climate. Cuban-American grower Jason Pepe shares his expertise from his Fort Lauderdale mini cacao grove, offering a complete roadmap for growing, nurturing, and harvesting cacao. From selecting the perfect tree to mastering soil health, pollination, pruning, cold protection, and fermentation, this comprehensive handbook equips you with step-by-step instructions to produce your own cacao and craft tree-to-bar chocolate—a pursuit that could shape Florida’s sweet future.
Rooted in the Caribbean’s rich cacao traditions, Pepe connects South Florida’s groves to the vibrant heritage of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. Elevate your harvest with authentic recipes like Cuban Chorote and Haitian Chocolate Beignets, blending cultivation with culinary delight. Whether you’re a novice gardener, seasoned grower, or chocolate visionary, this book is your key to building a thriving cacao legacy with Pepe as your guide.



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Growing Soursop - Guanabana Trees: Complete Step by Step Guide
​

​Meet soursop, the Beyoncé of tropical fruits—spiky, elusive, and worth every ounce of effort. In this laugh-out-loud second edition, Cuban-American fruit guru Jason “Pepe” Tormo spills the juicy secrets to growing soursop (aka guanabana) in your own backyard, whether you’re in the Florida Keys or beyond. With his signature Cuban sass, Pepe guides you through every step—from picking the perfect tree to mastering hand-pollination hacks that’ll have your soursop tree pumping out fruit like a tropical slot machine.

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​A Florida Geisha:
The Story Of La Esperanza


A Florida Geisha: A Short Story (Seeds of Rebellion Book 1)

Dive into the vibrant, rebellious world of A Florida Geisha, the thrilling kickoff to Jason Pepe’s Seeds of Rebellion series. Follow Pablo Alvarez, a gritty Cuban-American farmer, as he risks everything to revive his family’s lost coffee legacy on Florida’s Pine Island. Smuggling rare Geisha seeds with his chaotic family and a shady smuggler, Pablo battles USDA crackdowns, federal red tape, and his own doubts to grow a caffeinated revolution. Packed with Cuban humor, heart, and defiance, this tale of family, grit, and forbidden beans sets the stage for a high-stakes series launching in late 2025. Perfect for readers who love underdog stories with a shot of Miami spice!

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Your one stop site for all of your mango research and social resources.

​​MARY'S HEIRLOOM SEEDS

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The products and statements made about specific plants or products on this web site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided on this web site or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new vitamins, supplements, diet, or exercise program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

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