The breadfruit tree - where it grows and why it is called that
Content:
The exotic deciduous crop is a member of the Mulberry family. Where did this exotic come from in Russia? New Guinea is considered the birthplace of the breadfruit. However, today the tree grows successfully in other tropical countries. The fruits of the culture are massive. The mass of one fruit reaches 2.7-3.2 kg.
Breadfruit or jackfruit: description
There are about 50 types of breadfruit. The most popular type is considered to be jackfruit (the name of the Indian variety). Its height exceeds 25 m. Every year the tree grows by 1-2 m. In appearance, the culture resembles an oak. The bark, which is colored gray, is smooth. The branches of the plant are quite dense. Thin side shoots are well leafy.
Jackfruit
The plant's leaf plates are unique. They can be either whole or pinnately dissected. Foliage differs in the degree of pubescence. If the climatic conditions are favorable, then the flowers will form inconspicuous, painted in light green tones. The first to bloom are male flowers, resembling long cluster inflorescences. Female inflorescences resemble the outlines of lush large buds.
Gradually, in place of female flowers, ovaries are formed, which turn into large fruits resembling knobby melons. The fruits can be arranged singly on the branches or grow in the form of bunches. Any part of the wood is made of sticky latex, painted in a milky shade. It is this product, which can be called jackfruit, that allows the poor people living in India and Africa to survive.
The fruits are not only nutritious, but also inexpensive. They can be consumed both ripe and unripe. Unripe fruits are considered vegetables, while ripe fruits are fruits that taste like melon or mango.
The seeds can also be fried and eaten like chestnuts, or made into various dishes. Monkeys love this delicacy, so trees often have to be protected from animals. Monkeys can come to green spaces at any time of the day or night.
Origin
The breadfruit as a species is a relic. Its domestication dates back to ancient times.
Fruit
The fruits of the plant, called knobby melons, contain:
- 70-78% starch;
- 12-14% sugar;
- 0.9-1% oil.
During the harvest, the entire population of New Guinea is sent to work in the grain grove, which is a monkey paradise. Animals just love to feast on large fruits.
People use slingshot sticks to shoot gnarled melons. With the help of pointed short pegs, each fruit, which can be called a jackfruit, is pricked 2-4 times. The fruits left overnight begin to ferment. The process resembles the moment when yeast dough rises.
The aroma of breadfruit is rather unpleasant. The fried product, which looks like a huge melon, tastes like a potato dish.
Where does the breadfruit grow
The birthplace of culture is the rainforest of New Guinea. Today the plant is widespread in the tropical rainforest of India, Africa, the Sunda and Moluccas.
Perennial culture has a long fruiting period
How to grow a breadfruit from a bone at home
In order to grow jackfruit on your own, you must first prepare:
- soil mixture, which is better to prepare with your own hands;
- a container with a volume of 1000 ml;
- jackfruit seeds;
- expanded clay for the drainage system.
Step by step guide
It is possible to grow breadfruit in Russia from seeds. Why not try to grow exotic on your balcony by leading such an unusual project? After the sprouts appear, the tubs with the culture are taken out to the winter garden or to the greenhouse. For planting, you will need to extract seeds from a mature product and leave them for a day after filling them with water. Longer storage of seeds negatively affects their germination.
- For planting, containers are prepared, the volume of which is in the range of 1000-1200 ml. A soil mixture is poured into the container, which includes fertile soil, peat, humus and sand. A small amount of expanded clay can be used as a drainage system.
- The bones that have been soaked in water are immersed in the ground to a depth of 20-30 mm. The recommended distance between seeds is 2-3 cm.
- The container is covered with a piece of glass.
- The soil is moistened 2-3 times a week using a spray bottle. It is recommended to take the containers into a room where the temperature reaches 27-30 ° C.
- The first shoots will appear on 21-42 days. As soon as 4 leaf plates are formed on the sprouts, you should start transplanting. To this end, the sprouts are rolled into a more spacious container along with an earthen clod that covers the root system of the perennial. The procedure is carried out as carefully as possible to avoid damage to the roots of the culture. Correctly transplanted seedlings will continue to grow rapidly.
Breadfruit prefers areas well lit by the sun's rays. With the onset of winter, the plant begins a dormant period. It is recommended to reduce the frequency of watering during this time. It is enough to moisten the soil in the cold season 2 times a week. The surface of the ground should never be dry. However, waterlogged soil can cause problems and cause root rot.
Perennial culture
Even when grown in a greenhouse, you can achieve abundant fruiting from the plant. However, in this case, it is important to take care of self-pollination. It should be borne in mind that male flowers are located near the jackfruit on thin shoots, and female flowers are concentrated on thick branches closer to the stem. It is in this area that the formation of fruits, which can be called gnarled melons, takes place. Aging takes about 120-180 days. However, you can also eat unripe fruits.
Breadfruit is a representative of rubber crops. It brings significant benefits. Milky sap, due to the presence of gluten in the composition, is often used to impregnate swimming devices from leaks. Wood is not affected by termites, which is why it is used as a building material in Africa and India. Perennial sap and leaf plates are used in folk medicine to treat various diseases of the digestive system. Observing the recommendations of experts, it will be quite simple to grow a breadfruit.
