Mamoncillo grow and care – tree of the genus Nephelium also known as Spanish lime or Limoncillo, Mamoncillo perennial evergreen to semi-deciduous plant, used for the edible fruits and as shade tree, grow in tropic, mediterranean or subtropical climate and growing in hardiness zone 9+.
Leaves are green ovate when the leaves start to grow in red color.
Flower color are white the size 1-2 mm the flowers can separate to female and male flowers on separate trees or on the same trees.
Fruit are cover with thin skin with, color of the skin green, that pilled easily the flesh is white-pink with special structure remind little bit onion, some cultivar are easy to take off the seeds most of cultivars hard take of the seeds, the fruit taste are sweet with sour and remind the Lime with Lychee fruits the size of the fruit is 2-4 cm the shape and the color remind the lime structure, the trunk is wide, seeds also edible.
How to grow a Quenepa Mamoncillo tree – growing and care:
2 trees: female and male, slightly acidity soil, rich soil with organic matter, fertilizer with high ratio of nitrogen
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction – Air layer it’s a good method to get fruit faster, cutting insure the quality of the fruits and it’s takes less time to get fruits than seeds
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? Yes, but recommend grafting male and female on the same tree, consider to graft the male in the top because the tree is high so the fruits will be lower
Difficulties or problems when growing: Very slow growing
Planting season: Spring / Summer
Pests and diseases: Aphids, termite
Pruning season: Autumn / Winter
How to prune:
No need to prune much
Size of the plant: 10-25 m, 30-75 feet, can keep it smaller and ever recommend in order to pick up the fruits easy
Growth speed in optimal condition: Slow growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water, the first few years increase the water until the plant establish
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun, possible to start in half shade but will take more time to grow
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: No
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring / Summer
General information about the flower: Flower color are white the size 1-2 mm the flowers can separate to female and male flowers on separate trees or on the same tree
Pollination is done by: Bees
Edible Fruits
Fruit harvest season: Summer / Autumn
Fruits pests or diseases: Aphids, termite, birds
What can be done with big quantities of Mamoncillo fruits? Eaten raw, jelly, jams, alcohol
Work requirements on the fruit: Pick the fruits from the top of the tree
How long does it take to bear fruit? 5-10 years
Ripening of fruit: Can be taken before it’s fully ripen
