Black Gold, Mai 1, Mai 2, Golden Nugget
The Jackfruit is the world's largest fruit. This is an amazing tree that is prized in some areas of the world and allowed to go to waste in others.
The fruit is most popular in India and Asia. Here in the United States it is often looked upon with curiosity and amazement. Today this fruit tree is grown in many parts of the world including the tropics & sub tropics. Many people here in South Florida enjoy growing and eating Jackfruit.
"The jackfruit is adapted only to humid tropical and near-tropical climates. It is sensitive to frost in its early life and cannot tolerate drought. If rainfall is deficient, the tree must be irrigated."
Julia F. Morton Miami, FL. Fruits of Warm Climates 1987
Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus
Black Gold
This cultivar from Queensland Australia, is a vigorous fast growing tree. The growth is easily manageable with annual pruning. This fast growth and size management make it ideal for growers wanting quick production or have a limited growing area. Jackfruit trees have been known to grow as much as five feet per year with proper care, plenty of sun and nutrition. Trees tolerate a pH range from 5 - 7.5
Trees can be maintained at 8-10 feet in height with about an 8 foot spread. Once topped, trees require continual pruning or the new growth of stems often breaks under the weight of the fruit.
Note:
Only prune your trees during the summer months to avoid limb dieback disease and rot!
The fruit are medium in size, approximately 12-18 pounds each. The fruit has thick sharp spines all around the surface and is dark green in color on the exterior. One characteristic is that the spines have a zigzag structure and don't flatten as the fruit matures. Black Gold produces about 150 pounds of fruit per tree on average. In Florida fruit generally ripens in the fall.
The flesh is orange and very soft with a strong sweet aroma and taste. This Jackfruit cultivar has a flesh that is removed easily from the fruit, unlike other varieties.
Black Gold seedlings are often used as a rootstock for grafting. In general, seedling Jackfruit will grow much faster than grafted varieties and will often produce fruit sooner of fair quality. For the finest in flavor or other specific characteristics, purchase a grafted tree.
Note:
Jackfruit trees can tolerate plenty of water but be sure to have a well drained soil and plenty of good compost in and around the tree. You don't want soil that becomes waterlogged. They do not like "wet feet". Wet roots mean trouble and the tree will most likely not bear fruit or may die. Plant them only in areas that do not flood!
Flowers/Pollination
Jackfruit trees are monoecious, having both male and female inflorescences on the same tree. These inflorescences are called "Spikes"
How to tell if a Jackfruit is mature
For the best fruit quality, the fruit must be allowed to develop to full maturity on the tree. Your fruit will ripen after it has been picked. Fruit that is harvested even a few days too early, will only get you a fruit that will not ripen to its best quality. Fruits can take from 3–8 months from flower to mature fruit, depending on the individual tree, growing conditions, and weather. Depending on time from flower to fruit is not a reliable indicator of maturity.
A little time and effort trial and error will make you a pro before you know it.
Okay can't waste time trying to play the trial and error expertise game?
Here are some guidelines to help!
1) The skin turns from light green to yellowish or brownish green on some varieties
2) the points of the spines grow further apart and may flatten a little and the skin yields slightly to pressure
3) The last leaf on the stalk turns yellow
4) the fruit produces a dull, hollow sound when tapped.
When you have at least two or more of these indicators present you are ready to go and pick it!
Wait don't eat that fruit yet!
After 3–7 days the fruit begins to emit its characteristic strong odor.
For most people, the fragrance is too strong to bear indoors, and the fruit is kept outside or in an open shed until eaten.
Harvesting fruit
Get a hook, saw and or ladder. Pick and lower with a rope. Have fun! Small trees are easier to harvest of course. Don't fall out of that tree!
How to avoid a sticky mess
When cutting into a jackfruit, a very sticky latex is exuded from the rind and fibrous parts of the fruit. Coating the knife and hands with olive oil will prevent the latex from sticking.
Nutritional Recommendations For Healthy Productive Trees:
These trees will benefit greatly form fertilizer applied monthly from March - August. Apply a granular fertilizer such as a 6-6-6 or 8-3-9 containing nitrogen(N) phosphate(P) potash (K).
Do not apply any nitrogen containing fertilizer after August as this could likely force the tree to continue growing during the winter. This additional winter growth may damage young tender growth and also reduce flowering in the spring. Be sure to apply a foliar spray of a liquid mineral nutritional once in the winter and twice during the summer containing magnesium, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, and boron. Use a seaweed based liquid supplement and iron supplement as a soil drench and foliar spray in spring and summer.
NPK applications max per year 1 year old tree about 3 pounds
Example: 6 fertilizer applications = 1/2 pound per application
NPK for a 3 year old tree max per year 6 pounds
Example: 6 fertilizer applications = 1 pound per application
Uses and Nutritional Value of Jackfruit:
Fruit may be eaten and used in many ways. Some of the typical ways are as follows.
The green, immature fruit may be used as a vegetable in cooking and added to soups and in baked dishes. In many areas of the world the fruit is fried. The pulp of ripe fruit may be eaten fresh, dried, or preserved in syrup or used for salads. The seeds can be boiled and roasted (eaten as a nut) and have a chestnut flavor.
Jackfruit is low in calories and fat. The fruit is a good source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, niacin and phosphorus. Additional nutritional benefits include vitamins A and C.
Jackfruit is a no cholesterol food with a little protein and some fiber.
Trees can be maintained at 8-10 feet in height with about an 8 foot spread. Once topped, trees require continual pruning or the new growth of stems often breaks under the weight of the fruit.
Note:
Only prune your trees during the summer months to avoid limb dieback disease and rot!
The fruit are medium in size, approximately 12-18 pounds each. The fruit has thick sharp spines all around the surface and is dark green in color on the exterior. One characteristic is that the spines have a zigzag structure and don't flatten as the fruit matures. Black Gold produces about 150 pounds of fruit per tree on average. In Florida fruit generally ripens in the fall.
The flesh is orange and very soft with a strong sweet aroma and taste. This Jackfruit cultivar has a flesh that is removed easily from the fruit, unlike other varieties.
Black Gold seedlings are often used as a rootstock for grafting. In general, seedling Jackfruit will grow much faster than grafted varieties and will often produce fruit sooner of fair quality. For the finest in flavor or other specific characteristics, purchase a grafted tree.
Note:
Jackfruit trees can tolerate plenty of water but be sure to have a well drained soil and plenty of good compost in and around the tree. You don't want soil that becomes waterlogged. They do not like "wet feet". Wet roots mean trouble and the tree will most likely not bear fruit or may die. Plant them only in areas that do not flood!
Flowers/Pollination
Jackfruit trees are monoecious, having both male and female inflorescences on the same tree. These inflorescences are called "Spikes"
How to tell if a Jackfruit is mature
For the best fruit quality, the fruit must be allowed to develop to full maturity on the tree. Your fruit will ripen after it has been picked. Fruit that is harvested even a few days too early, will only get you a fruit that will not ripen to its best quality. Fruits can take from 3–8 months from flower to mature fruit, depending on the individual tree, growing conditions, and weather. Depending on time from flower to fruit is not a reliable indicator of maturity.
A little time and effort trial and error will make you a pro before you know it.
Okay can't waste time trying to play the trial and error expertise game?
Here are some guidelines to help!
1) The skin turns from light green to yellowish or brownish green on some varieties
2) the points of the spines grow further apart and may flatten a little and the skin yields slightly to pressure
3) The last leaf on the stalk turns yellow
4) the fruit produces a dull, hollow sound when tapped.
When you have at least two or more of these indicators present you are ready to go and pick it!
Wait don't eat that fruit yet!
After 3–7 days the fruit begins to emit its characteristic strong odor.
For most people, the fragrance is too strong to bear indoors, and the fruit is kept outside or in an open shed until eaten.
Harvesting fruit
Get a hook, saw and or ladder. Pick and lower with a rope. Have fun! Small trees are easier to harvest of course. Don't fall out of that tree!
How to avoid a sticky mess
When cutting into a jackfruit, a very sticky latex is exuded from the rind and fibrous parts of the fruit. Coating the knife and hands with olive oil will prevent the latex from sticking.
Nutritional Recommendations For Healthy Productive Trees:
These trees will benefit greatly form fertilizer applied monthly from March - August. Apply a granular fertilizer such as a 6-6-6 or 8-3-9 containing nitrogen(N) phosphate(P) potash (K).
Do not apply any nitrogen containing fertilizer after August as this could likely force the tree to continue growing during the winter. This additional winter growth may damage young tender growth and also reduce flowering in the spring. Be sure to apply a foliar spray of a liquid mineral nutritional once in the winter and twice during the summer containing magnesium, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, and boron. Use a seaweed based liquid supplement and iron supplement as a soil drench and foliar spray in spring and summer.
NPK applications max per year 1 year old tree about 3 pounds
Example: 6 fertilizer applications = 1/2 pound per application
NPK for a 3 year old tree max per year 6 pounds
Example: 6 fertilizer applications = 1 pound per application
Uses and Nutritional Value of Jackfruit:
Fruit may be eaten and used in many ways. Some of the typical ways are as follows.
The green, immature fruit may be used as a vegetable in cooking and added to soups and in baked dishes. In many areas of the world the fruit is fried. The pulp of ripe fruit may be eaten fresh, dried, or preserved in syrup or used for salads. The seeds can be boiled and roasted (eaten as a nut) and have a chestnut flavor.
Jackfruit is low in calories and fat. The fruit is a good source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, niacin and phosphorus. Additional nutritional benefits include vitamins A and C.
Jackfruit is a no cholesterol food with a little protein and some fiber.
