🍒 GROWING GUIDE – Jamaican cherry (Muntingia calabura)
🍒 Jamaican cherry (Muntingia calabura)
Small, sweet fruits all year round, continuous white flowering.
The Jamaican cherry tree produces small, sweet red berries with a taste of beard cotton, with almost continuous flowering.
☀️ Light
Full sun to partial shade. Minimum 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for good fruit production.
💧 Watering
Water regularly. Keep the soil slightly moist. Tolerates short periods of drought once established.
🌡️ Temperature
Ideal: 20-30°C. Minimum: 10°C. Sensitive to frost. Bring indoors as soon as temperatures drop below 12°C.
🌱 Fertilization
Apply a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer. A fruit tree fertilizer is recommended.
🪴 Repotting
Every spring for young plants. Every 2 years for mature plants. Well-draining potting soil.
✂️ Size
Prune regularly to control rapid growth and maintain a compact shape. Tolerates pruning very well.
🐛 Common problems
- Excessive growth: Prune regularly
- Fruit flies: Harvest ripe fruit quickly
- Few problems: Very hardy tree
🍒 Fruiting
Can produce fruit in as little as 1-2 years! Continuous white flowering followed by small, sweet red berries. Almost continuous fruiting under good conditions.
Tropico-Québec Tip: The Jamaican cherry tree is one of the fastest-bearing fruit trees. Perfect for those who are impatient!