How to Grow Jackfruit? Detailed Planting Methods and Techniques
Jackfruit is the heaviest fruit in the world, generally reaching up to 120 jin at maturity, and it is a tropical fruit. The flesh of jackfruit can be processed into canned goods, candied fruit, and more, while the seeds are very rich in starch and can be boiled for eating. The flesh and sap have a range of effects such as reducing swelling and detoxifying, relieving cough, and promoting lactation, making it a fruit with relatively high economic value. So how should jackfruit be grown? Let's take a look together below!
1. Orchard Selection
Jackfruit is a tropical fruit, so the key factor determining whether jackfruit can be grown as an economic crop is temperature. When the average annual temperature is above 22°C and the lowest temperature is not below 0°C, jackfruit can grow normally. However, when growing it as an economic crop, it is best to choose a place where even the lowest temperature is relatively high. According to experiments, in areas with sufficient moisture and rainfall above 1200 mm, jackfruit grows relatively well. The jackfruit tree has a relatively deep root system and is very drought-tolerant, but it still needs moisture retention, so in autumn and winter, an irrigation system should be set up properly. Jackfruit also has a relatively high demand for sunlight, but it is also very shade-tolerant. Seedlings should not be exposed to overly intense sunlight, so jackfruit should be appropriately densely planted, leaving more nutrient-bearing branches and shoots.
2. Orchard Establishment and Field Planting
To establish an orchard, the land should first be reclaimed and holes dug before basal fertilizer is applied. Generally, on flat land, machine plowing and deep turning are used, and then the land is leveled once. If it is hilly land, the orchard should be planted in terraced fields according to contour lines, generally at 1.5*2.5 m, and should not slopes outward, otherwise it is not conducive to water retention. When planting, the planting area must be considered well, because the jackfruit tree is relatively tall and can grow up to 20 m at most. As for planting time, in Hainan, planting can generally be done throughout the year, but spring planting is still best. Choose strong seedlings about 25 cm tall, avoid damaging the roots during transport, and after planting, water thoroughly to settle the roots.
3. Reasonable Fertilization
During the growth of jackfruit, the water requirement is relatively high. The main purpose is to fertilize young trees to promote branch and shoot growth and allow them to quickly form a canopy. In addition to applying organic fertilizer in winter as the main basal fertilizer, quick-acting fertilizer should be applied each time before the tree sends out new shoots, to promote shoots and strengthen them. For fruiting trees, after harvesting the fruit, organic fertilizer should be applied heavily along with a small amount of quick-acting fertilizer, mainly to restore tree vigor, improve leaf function, and then promote flower bud differentiation. When buds sprout and inflorescences are produced in early spring, some quick-acting fertilizer should also be applied appropriately to promote new shoot growth and inflorescence differentiation. Fruit-strengthening fertilizer should also be applied during the fruit expansion stage to promote fruit development.
4. Pruning and Fruit Thinning
When growing jackfruit, if it is not pruned or thinned and is allowed to grow naturally, it is also relatively easy for it to form a round-headed canopy. Pruning mainly involves cutting off dead branches, diseased and damaged branches, and other useless branches on the tree. After harvesting the fruit, the fruiting branches and male flower branches remaining on the trunk and large branches should be cut off. Winter pruning is mainly the main pruning period, and appropriate pruning should also be done in spring. Fruit thinning is meant to control the balanced development of the tree. When the fruits grow to the size of a pear, fruit thinning begins. In the first year, keep two fruits per plant, and in each following year keep 2-3 more fruits.
The above is a brief introduction to jackfruit planting methods. The smell of jackfruit is similar to that of durian, and so is its appearance, so many people mistakenly think that jackfruit is durian and that the taste is similar too. But that is not the case. The taste of jackfruit and durian is completely different, so everyone can plant it with complete confidence. Jackfruit has relatively high economic value, but when planting it, attention must be paid to pests and diseases, and a good growing environment should be provided for jackfruit.