When Do Hovenia Dulcis Fruits Ripen? Grow Them This Way and You'll Have More Than You Can Eat Every Year

Hovenia dulcis, also known as chicken-claw pear, is a common wild fruit found on mountains. It is deeply loved by people for its sweet taste and rich nutritional value. So when do hovenia dulcis fruits ripen?How do you grow them?

I. Introduction to Hovenia Dulcis:

1. What kind of fruit is hovenia dulcis?

Hovenia dulcis is a wild fruit that grows on mountains and is also a type of fruit. The fruit stalk of the chicken-claw pear is fleshy, twisted, and reddish-brown; the fruit is nearly spherical, hairless, about 7 mm in diameter, and grayish-brown. The fruit shape resembles the swastika character “&rdquo, hence it is called the fruit of longevity. The flowering period is June, and the fruiting period is from August to October. Ripe chicken-claw pear fruits can be eaten raw. The flesh is juicy, with no stone, and the seeds are exposed outside the flesh. The taste is sweet with a slight astringency. They can be eaten raw, used to make wine, or boiled into sugar, and are commonly used in folk traditions to make “hovenia dulcis wine” they can also be used in soup, which has a unique and mellow flavor.

2. Where is hovenia dulcis distributed?

It is mainly distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Jiangxi, Anhui, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan and other provinces.

II. When do hovenia dulcis fruits ripen?

Hovenia dulcis generally ripens around October. The fruit must be exposed to frost before it ripens; if it has not been frosted, it tastes astringent, but after frost it is no longer astringent and will fall off naturally, so you can pick it up every morning. The fruit ripening period can be divided into 3 stages: the white-ripe stage, the crisp-ripe stage, and the fully ripe stage.

III. How do you grow hovenia dulcis for high yields?

1. Site selection and land preparation

Hovenia dulcis has relatively strong adaptability and generally grows in sunny and moist environments, but the most suitable place for its growth and development is still land with fertile soil, a good drainage and irrigation system, and a moderate pH value. Because there are too many wild varieties, it has long received little attention from people. With problems such as logging and environmental pollution, resources have declined rapidly and commercial supply is lacking. Therefore, hovenia dulcis should be planted on a large scale. Before planting, after choosing a suitable area, first dig planting pits about one meter deep and one meter wide, dig sloping land into fish-scale shapes to prevent excessive soil erosion, and put some dead branches and fallen leaves into the pits to serve as fertilizer for planting.

2. Raising seedlings and sowing

The main propagation method for hovenia dulcis trees is seed propagation. Seeds are collected when the fruit matures every November. The seed coat is reddish-brown. Generally, one fruit contains 3 seeds. The seeds are leathery, and the embryo appears yellowish-white, making it relatively difficult for them to absorb water. Therefore, after harvesting, they should be stratified with wet sand to promote germination. Each layer of seeds should be stored with a layer of wet sand. Generally, radicles will appear after two months. Then sowing can begin. Seedlings usually emerge in early April, and when the seedlings have grown about 5 true leaves, thinning begins. Keep the strong and remove the weak. During the seedling stage, water and fertilize frequently to promote seedling growth.

3. Post-planting management

Because the seedlings of hovenia dulcis grow very slowly, management of young trees must be strengthened after planting. After planting, it generally takes 5 to 6 years before they begin to bear fruit. Every spring and summer, when weeds grow rampant, loosen the soil and remove weeds in time, and water promptly during dry weather. Apply fertilizer once each in spring, summer, and winter every year to promote tree growth. Using modern dwarfing and branch-bending techniques can effectively shorten the time for the tree to bear fruit. In the second year after planting, when the young tree grows to about 1.5 meters, bend its trunk to achieve early fruiting and greater fruiting, improving the economic benefits of cultivation.

4. Harvesting and processing

Before hovenia dulcis is fully ripe, the fruit stalk contains a large amount of tannic acid. This tannic acid affects our sense of taste, making it feel sour, dry, and astringent and difficult to eat. After several frosts each winter, when the fruit stalk turns reddish-brown, it is considered ripe and harvesting begins. Cut off the fruiting branches and store them in a cool place. After about a week, they can be brought to market for sale. They can also be squeezed into juice for sale. The main thing is still to tidy up their appearance, tie them into small bundles, and sell them to various bars and hotels.

The above is an introduction to the ripening time and cultivation methods of hovenia dulcis. I hope it is helpful to everyone.