Star apple

How to grow Star apple tree – growing condition and care:

More than 3C (37F) when mature, when the tree young can die in less than 5C (41F), but prefer higher temperatures, above 15C (59)

How to care:
Mostly pruning one a year, fertile for growth until arrive to maturity 3-4 times a year, organic matter, mulch, in hardiness zone 10b when the plant young is sensitive better to cover the tree at least 0.5m (2 feet) with dead leaves and better to cover with plastic wrap around the tree (but must be with air and not to touch the tree

What is the best way to start growing:
Plant / Seed ( care explanation bellow) / Vegetative Reproduction – air layer, cutting

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, but possible and ensure the quality of the fruits also make the tree bear fruits faster than without outside of the tropical zone, air layer even better when that grafting small tree.

Difficulties/Problems with growing:
Outside the tropic very sensitive when it’s young to sun and cold weather

How to plant:
Dig a hole as deep as the current root ball plus extra 20-40%, put in the hole organic matter, hummus and dried leaves and mix it with some soil, put the tree and loos little bit the root ball above the hole, plant the tree and cover it and don’t push the soil too much strong but not too much lightly because it won’t be stable, after this put mulch to keep moist on soil, put water, for the next two weeks put every day (better in the morning) , better to take that the tree will be stable, and if not support it with bamboo or a stick that it won’t fall.

Planting season:
Spring, summer, autumn ( and in the tropic can be also in winter)

Pests and diseases:
Aphids, prodenia

Pruning season:
Autumn to winter (better after the fruits)

How to prune:
Weak and dead branches, design of the tree, in hardiness zone 10b its important first to let the tree grow up and to prune it in the spring

Size of the plant:
8-20 m, 24-60 feet, smaller outside of the tropic zome

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Slow growing, average growing

Irrigation water management requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / half shade

Is it possible to grow indoor?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
No

Blooming information

When does flowers bloom?
In tropics in the winter in non-tropic spring

General information about the flower
Small yellow-white flowers grow in groups

Thinning / Deadheading of the blossom:
Wind can cause to thinning

Pollination is done by:
Bees

Edible fruits

When does it yield:
In tropics in the spring-summer in non-tropic summer

Pests or diseases in Star apple fruits:
Birds, mediterranean fruit fly

What can be done with big quantities of Caimito fruit?
Eat raw, juice, cakes

Work requirements on the fruit:
Sometime needed to cover with net

How long does it take to bear fruit?
3-5 years and outside the tropic zone can be 5-18 years

Ripening of fruit:
Can be picked up before fully ripening

How to eat:
Cut in the middle and eat the fruit itself without the seeds, also don’t eat the peel

How to grow star apple from seed

Sowing requirement:
At least 26C (79 F), high humidity and moist soil, sunny location

Saving seeds until sowing:
Dry, dark location in room temperature

Sowing season:
Spring to summer,

How to plant star apple seeds:
Dig hole 4 times bigger than the seeds, use mix of peat soil with perlite or vermiculite, cover it lightly, the vermiculite will keep the seed moist and help it to germinate, better to use separate pots and not to plant directly because better to graft the trees and this can ensure that what you plant will be grafted tree

Planting spacing:
Better in separate pots, but if sowing directly with transplant 40*60cm (16*24 inches), without transplant 5*4m (15*12 feet)

Depth of Sowing:
1-2cm (0.5-1 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, hot weather with high humidity

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water, don’t let the soil dry

Germination time:
2-12 weeks, depend the

Condition of seedling:
Warm weather, high humidity and moist soil (in hardiness zone 10b better to cover them overwinter)

Scientific name:

Chrysophyllum cainito

Alternative names: Caimito, Cainito, Tar apple, Star apple, Purple star apple, Golden leaf tree, abiaba, pomme de lait, estrella, milk fruit and aguay