How to Grow Miracle Fruit? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) belongs to the Sapotaceae family, genus Synsepalum. It is a typical tropical fruit, native to Africa, and was introduced to China in the 1960s. As a result, miracle fruit began to be cultivated artificially in our country. Just like its name suggests, it contains a miraculin protein. Although its own taste is somewhat sour and astringent, after eating miracle fruit, any sour fruit eaten within the following two hours will taste sweet, with no sourness at all. Today, the editor brings you the planting methods for miracle fruit.
1. Site Selection
Miracle fruit is native to the tropics and prefers fertile soil with high organic content and strong moisture-retention capacity. The soil needs to be acidic or neutral. It is suitable for planting in low-altitude subtropical areas. Tropical plants also have relatively high temperature requirements: the average daily temperature must reach around 25°C, and in winter it must also stay above 10°C, with the minimum not falling below 5°C, otherwise frost damage will occur. The site should be far from urban areas, traffic arteries, factories and other noisy places. Water sources must be sufficient and clean. It is best to choose a wind-sheltered hillside facing south or southeast to establish the orchard.
2. Transplanting Seedlings
Miracle fruit seedlings need to be transplanted in spring or autumn. Pay attention to the density at transplanting; the row spacing between each plant should be determined according to plant size, averaging 150*200 cm between plants, with planting holes 40*40*40 cm in height, depth and width. Before transplanting, apply base fertilizer to the planting holes according to the soil fertility and soil conditions, generally by mixing compound fertilizer, organic fertilizer and topsoil. Then place it into the planting hole, and place about 10 cm of soil on top of the base fertilizer to prevent the seedling roots from touching the base fertilizer and rotting. After transplanting, pile a planting mound at the base of the tree and press it firmly with your foot. Keep the soil moist within ten days after transplanting, and afterward decide whether to water based on humidity.
3. Fertilizer and Water Management
Miracle fruit is a perennial fruit that can flower and bear fruit multiple times a year, so its demand for fertilizer is also relatively high. During the seedling stage, compound fertilizer should be used scientifically, following the principle of applying more frequently but in small amounts, together with foliar fertilizer, to effectively promote the development of the fruit seedlings. For mature fruit trees, organic fertilizer should be used together with compound fertilizer, and nitrogen fertilizer should be used reasonably to promote the growth of branches and shoots. Never apply nitrogen fertilizer indiscriminately. Use compound fertilizer together with potassium dihydrogen phosphate to protect and strengthen the fruit. Miracle fruit also has a relatively high demand for water. After transplanting, keep the soil moist, and also spray water on the branches and leaves to keep them moist. To prevent the summer temperature from being too high and water from evaporating, certain moisture-retention work should also be done, and water management should be strengthened.
4. Shaping and Pruning
Prune miracle fruit before it enters the vigorous growth period. Be careful not to prune heavily, because at this time the main focus is still on promoting growth and shaping. Generally, the natural open-center form is used for pruning. When pruning, combine work such as bud removal and shoot fixing, distribute the branches reasonably, and select buds with strong vigor and different growth directions as side branches. Remove the dense branches and leggy branches of the fruit tree, which is beneficial for the short-cut work on the outer periphery. After harvesting in winter, promptly remove all undesirable branches such as diseased and pest-infested branches and overly dense branches.
The above is a brief introduction to the planting methods for miracle fruit. If you want to grow miracle fruit, you still need to have the correct planting method. Miracle fruit has a particularly high demand for water and fertilizer. When planting, be sure to pay attention to the supply of water and fertilizer. If they are not replenished in time, the yield and quality of miracle fruit will be reduced. What attracts people to miracle fruit is not its taste, but the magical effect after eating it. Although it is still relatively rare on the market now, it will certainly gradually enter the market. You might consider growing it!