Fruit and Nut Trees

by steve stamos

Candle tree or Cuajilote, is a beautiful, evergreen tree native to It reaches a height of up to 10 meters and it can adapt to a wide range of climatic conditions but, it prefers the lowland forest areas with a medium to high rainfall, frost free, full sun and reasonable drainage.

Flowers are large, borne all year, singly or in clusters, greenish-cream in color and directly from the stem or branch tips. At the end of summer it produces many large elongate, banana-shaped fruits. The solitary fruits grow 10-18 cm long, on the trunk and large limbs of the tree. They have an external waxy yellow-red color and an internal white juicy, sweet flavor similar to sugar cane, flesh. The fruit is edible either raw or cooked and they are sometimes made into pickles or preserves. It is a staple in the diet in parts of Central America.

Propagation of the candle tree is easily accomplished by planting the small seeds. It bears fruit in approximately 5 years.

Candle tree

Trees2grow

all about fruit and nut bearing trees

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

by steve stamos

This exotic perennial tree belongs to the rubiaceae family like coffee. It is found growing in the shade of other trees in the rainy forests of the Pacific coast of Colombia, where the average rain fall is more than 4,000 mm and with an average temperature of 28ºC, wild and in commercial plantations. It reaches a height of 3-5 meters with large, green, glossy leaves and there are separate male and female trees. The female tree produces only single flowers, while the male produces clusters of fragrant white flowers.

The fruits of the borojo tree are round, 7 to 12 centimeters in diameter with an olive- green shell that turns brown when ripe; it has a brown pulp with numerous seeds in the center, and an average weight of 750g. It is a highly nutritious fruit with excellent levels of protein, minerals and B vitamins, in comparison to other fruits. It is used fresh and in products such as juices, jams, sauce, wines and ice cream. The fruit is ripe when it falls from the tree. It should not be picked green as this is stressful to the tree and it has not, at this stage, developed its highly nutritious properties.

The Borojo tree grows in humid-tropical zones and It prefers a rich soil, and the under canopy of other trees to grow successfully. Its fruits are famous in western Colombia for its supposed aphrodisiac properties.

Borojo
Trees2grow

all about fruit and nut bearing trees

by steve stamos

The canistel, Pouteria campechiana, is the most attractive fruit of the family Sapotaceae. An evergreen tree that usually reaches no more than 10 meters in height, but it may, in exceptionally favorable situations, reach a height of 25-30 meters and its trunk may attain a diameter of up to 1meter. The evergreen leaves are glossy 10-25 cm long, and 5-8 cm wide. Fragrant, cream-colored, 20mm long, bisexual flowers are borne in small clusters.

The canistel tree does well in a tropical or subtropical climate and it s tolerant of a diversity of soils but a deep, fertile, well-drained soil is best. The tree does not demand special care but some organic matter or a balance fertilizer can be applied during growth periods. Blooming extends from early spring to early summer though some trees flower all year round. The waxy yellow fruits-ranging from round to oval is ready from about early autumn to early winter. It must be picked mature but still firm. If left on the tree to ripen the fruit most likely will split. Fruit will keep in good condition under refrigeration for several days. It is eaten fresh or baked. Flesh may be used in ice creams, milkshakes or custards and jams.

Canistel seeds lose viability quickly and should be planted within a few days after they have been removed from the fruit. The seedlings grow fast and begin to bear in 3 to 5 years. Cleft grafting, and air-layering are also successful methods of propagation. Mulching is beneficial in the early years. There are very few pests and diseases that attack the canistel.

Canistel
Trees2grow

all about fruit and nut bearing trees