Jack fruit is a fruit, also use as a vegetable in various dishes. Vegans take Jackfruit as meat for their meals. The average size of a Jack fruit is around 16kg (35 pounds) to 60kg (132.27 pounds) in weight. A mature tree produces at least 200 fruits per year. Therefore the size of the tree must have the ability to bear the weight of jack fruits.
How big can a Jack fruit tree get?
Jack fruit plants grow up to 80 feet (24.5m) depending on the species. Redish brown Trunk diameter extends 10 to 30 inches (25.4cm to 76.2cm). Jackfruit plants take more than 4 years to grow up to the maximum height. In an acre, approximately 45 trees can be planted.
Jack fruits are cultivated in Sri Lanka, India, China, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia also can be found in Brazil and Jamaica. Fruits are bearing by the trunk of the tree and not by its distributed branches. Therefore the tree has a strong trunk with a big circumference to bear its fruits. Due to the height and strongness of the trunk Jack fruit trunk use for timber.
This plant is produced by its seeds. One fruit has approximately 30 seeds. The size of one seed is about 1.6 inches ( 4cm) and it has a light brown shiny surface. Jack fruit cultivation is easier than other cultivations.
Because you only have to treat the plant in the first 6 months. After that, you only have to add fertilizers annually. Even in the summer season, you don’t want to supply water to the trees. Jack tree falls its leaves to withstand drought.
Is there a dwarf jackfruit tree?
The Cultivars Black Gold, Dang Rasim, Golden Nugget, Golden Pillow or Mong Tong, Cheena, and Cochin are considered dwarf jackfruit varieties. By growing them in large containers, can keep 8 feet in height.
You can plant Dwarf Jack fruit plants either on the ground or in pots. But if you choose a pot you have to select a big pot with a 20-inch diameter(50.8cm) and 24 inches (60.96cm) depth for its root development. By this method, you can keep the plant 8 feet in height and nearly 3 inch diameter. If you plant it on the ground then its height will exceed 8 feet.
For this glazed pots are more suitable than terra cotta pots. Because glazed pots have a porous nature which is suitable for plant cultivation. Also, there must be some small holes for drainage. Otherwise, roots may rot due to the excess water in the container.
In the beginning, you have to select good seeds for seed germination. For that, you should select seeds from a healthy, mature plant. After getting the plant you should place the container where direct sunlight is getting to the plant at least 10 hours a day.
Can I grow a jackfruit tree indoors?
If the jack fruit planted in a container wintering indoors will keep it alive during its first 6 months. But with the increment of height ( about 8 feet), it’s better to keep the tree outside. Jack fruit needs more sunlight for best growth and fruit production.
It’s impracticable to plan a common Jack tree indoors. Because its height increases up to 80 feet. But if the jack fruit is a dwarf plant and planted in a container it only extends its height for about 8 feet.
If the fruit is in the first 6 months period then you can keep it indoors to protect it from bad climates like winter. Otherwise, it must be kept outside, Jack fruit needs more sunlight to grow well and to produce more fruits.
How long does it take for a jackfruit tree to bear fruit?
If you have supplied fertilizers and water as needed, can probably expect your first fruit three to four years after planting. If the Jack fruit tree grows indoors it will never bear fruits if it does get sufficient sunlight.
Normally you cant get many Jack fruits the first time. Young trees don’t produce much fruit because the nutrition of the tree uses them to increase the strength, increase height, spread the branch and root network.
With maturity, the tree starts to increase its fruit production. The mature Jack tree produces approximately 500 fruits annually. Also with maturity sizes of the fruit also increases little by little. By adding correct fertilizer and water on time you can increase the harvest.
Some people let the jack fruit ripe on the tree itself to eat Jack fruit as a fruit. And also you can pick them before ripping them to make other types of dishes. It doesn’t matter you can ripe them after picking them early too.
What is the lifespan of a jackfruit tree?
Jack fruit only takes 4 to 5 years to achieve its maximum height. If the tree gets sufficient water and fertilizers, the tree continuously produces fruits.
Jack fruit trees have a life span of 100 years although appear to be inherently capable of living for centuries, considered as a “third-generation tree” as it can support farmers, their children, and their grandchildren.
Therefore it is a very profitable tree to cultivate to get fruits continuously for a long period by supplying the least amount of things to the plant.
Summary
Jack fruit is a tree that plants outside. These fruits are cultivating in dry climates. It takes up to 4 years to bear fruits. Jack fruit is a fruit but also use as a vegetable to make various dishes. Jack fruit also named as the Vegans’ meat.
If you like to plant a Jack tree in your garden it’s better to plant a dwarf plant. It takes only a little space but it will give you fruits for you, even for your grandchildren.
