The June plum tree produces an unusual tropical treat that cannot be compared to the popular plum fruit. The taste of a June plum is similar to a pineapple and mango with the crispness of an apple. The fruit can be eaten unripe or ripe, making the taste either mild or spicy. June plums are a rare commodity that you probably won't find in the grocery store. This fruit tree makes an excellent addition to the home garden if your climate allows.
June Plums thrive in the heat but cannot tolerate frost. They are very popular in the South Pacific islands where they originated. They are extremely uncommon in the United States, but can be found in Florida and California. They are more popular in Florida because of the hot and humid conditions, but the potential for growth still exists in other areas of the United States.
June Plum trees offer more than just fresh fruit. Juices, jams and sauces can also be made from the tropical fruits. They can be pickled and added to dishes for seasoning. The young leaves are also edible and are often eaten either raw or steamed in Southeast Asia. In addition, the leaves can be used to tenderize meat.
Fortunately, June plum trees are very easy to grow too. They can be grown in the ground or in a pot. They need full or partial sun, which makes them an ideal candidate for a fruit tree on the patio. They have very few pest and disease problems. As long as plum trees can be protected from frost in June, there is no reason not to grow your own!
Get yourself a June plum tree
Good products for growing June plums:
Brief instructions for care
The June plum tree or Ambarella tree is a beautiful tropical one. Source: Cerlin Ng
| Common Name (s) | June Plum, Ambarella, Golden Apple, Tahitian Apple, Jewish Plum |
| Scientific name | Spondias dulcis |
| Days to harvest | variable |
| light | Full to partial sun |
| water | Moderate |
| ground | All types well drained |
| fertilizer | 2-4 applications per year with 10-10-10 |
| Pests | Minimal; Occasionally dandruff, thrips, mites and fruit flies |
| Diseases | Minimal; Root rot, fruit rot |
Everything about the June plum tree
A look up at the canopy of a spondias dulcis. Source: Loupok
June plum (Spondias dulcis) has many different common names, but the most common are Ambarella, Golden Apple, Jewish Plum, and Tahitian Plum. This tree is native to the South Pacific Islands but has been distributed to many different tropical regions. Spondias dulcis belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. This family also includes mangoes, cashews, and pistachios.
Spondias dulcis is a deciduous tree with elliptical, pinnate leaves with 9-25 leaflets. Trees can grow up to 40-60 feet tall, although most of the trees sold are dwarf varieties that grow to only 6-8 feet tall. The flowers grow in large clusters of at least a dozen and are small and white. The fruits are green when unripe and golden yellow when ripe. The fruits are oval and about 2.4-3.5 cm long.
June plums are self-fertile, so multiple varieties are not required for cross-pollination. Each fruit has a large, fibrous seed in the middle, similar to a mango.
Ambarella trees have a very unique life cycle as they can be very different. Trees do not have a specific flowering period. Flowers are triggered by dry spells followed by a rainy season. Depending on the irrigation practice, this can be triggered at any time. It is not uncommon for trees to have flowers and ripening fruit at the same time. Trees can also drop their leaves during excessively dry periods or cold winters. Leaves and shoots eventually return as conditions improve, usually with some new clusters of flowers.
plants
Golden apple trees can grow in a container or on the ground. They do not tolerate frost, so they need to be planted in a warm place or brought in in winter.
Due to the size of the dwarf variety, Spondias dulcis is a great terrace tree and can also withstand partial sun. When planting trees in containers, it is common for trees to become root-bound. Monitor the roots for the circling. Trees need to be planted in a larger pot if root circles appear.
When planting in the ground, plant in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Do not plant trees in overly windy locations. The best time to plant is when there is no danger of frost. To plant in the ground, dig a hole three times as wide and as deep as the root ball. Plant firmly in the soil and cover the top layer of soil with 2-3 inches of mulch.
maintenance
The weight of the Ambarella fruit can bend the branch downward. Source: Loupok
Ambarella trees are very versatile and easy to care for. They require some input, but are practically no problem if properly maintained.
Sun and temperature
June Plum trees prefer full sun, but also grow well in partial sun. You need at least 4-6 hours of sunlight every day. Plants can be grown in USDA Zones 4 through 11 if potted and moved inside during the frost. When planted in the ground, they can be grown in USDA Zones 9-11.
Spondias dulcis grows best in humid tropical and subtropical climates. Trees are very sensitive to frost. A severe frost leads to the death of entire branches or can kill the tree. If freezing temperatures are predicted, bring potted trees in or cover trees recessed in the ground with frost tissue. Excessive heat above 100 ° C can cause sunburn on immature trees. Cover immature trees with a light shade cloth or protect the trunk with a sleeve.
Water and moisture
Ambarella trees are fairly drought-resistant when ripe, but grow stronger and produce more fruit with sufficient water. Young trees need more frequent watering until they are around 3 years old.
Watering trees in containers can be done manually with a hose or with drip irrigation. The grouting medium should be completely saturated after each watering and should dry until it is slightly damp before it is poured again. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the potting soil and weather.
Trees newly planted in the ground should be watered once or twice a week for the first few months. Then once a week in dry periods. Check the soil moisture regularly. When the top two inches of the soil are dry, it's time to water. No additional water is required in rainy seasons. The best method for watering trees in the ground is drip irrigation or water tubing. This allows the soil to soak in the water without causing too much runoff.
ground
Ambarella trees grow well in all types of soil as long as they are well drained. They survive under poor nutrition, but grow more vigorously and produce more fruit when properly fed. Trees grow well in acidic to slightly alkaline soils with a pH of 5.5-7.5. They prefer more acidic soils.
Fertilize
Apply 10-10-10 two to four times a year when the tree is actively growing, especially during flower and fruit production.
clipping
Immature trees must be carefully monitored as they have been known to carry themselves to death. Flowers and fruits need to be thinned on younger trees, otherwise heavy fruits can cause new branches to split. Fruits also consume a lot of nutrients, so a lot of fruits on a young tree stunt its growth.
Dwarf trees tend to get bushier and need pruning to keep the tree at the desired height and shape. Standard trees need pruning to avoid overlapping branches and to maintain size and shape. Flowers don't need old growth to develop, so don't worry about cutting off flowering branches.
In severe frost, the branches can die and must be cut off in spring to stimulate new growth. Fruits should fall off, of course, but any old, rotten fruits should be removed to avoid disease and fruit flies.
Multiplication
Spondias dulcis can be propagated by seeds, hardwood cuttings, air layers, or plugs.
Propagation by seeds is easy, but fruit characteristics can be variable. Fortunately, trees grow quickly and start producing fruit at a young age. Some will even start producing after about a year.
Hardwood cuttings and layers of air are the preferred methods of propagation because they are simple and the fruit properties are the same. Trees can also be grafted onto the rhizome of the same species or a different spondias rhizome. However, cuttings and layers of air are the preferred methods as the process is much easier.
Harvesting and storing
Ambarella fruit has a tropical taste with the texture of a crispy apple. Source: Arthur Chapman
June plums can be picked green or golden yellow, which makes harvesting very easy. Although the fresh fruit cannot be stored for long, there are other ways to preserve fruit so that you can enjoy it over the long term.
harvest
June plums are great to eat unripe and ripe, so harvesting depends on personal preference. Harvest can begin once the fruits reach a full size, approximately 2.4 to 3.5 inches in length. The fruits can be picked green or golden yellow. When it is picked green, the taste is much milder. If the fruits are allowed to ripen, they develop a spicy taste.
Since the fruits will grow in a group of at least a dozen, the entire group can be removed with scissors. In the case of large trees, they can be shaken from the branches.
storage
Green fruits should be stored at room temperature until ripe. Ripe fruits can be kept in the refrigerator for several days.
Fruits can be processed into jam for long-term storage. They can also be juiced or made into a sauce and stored in the freezer.
Troubleshooting
This tree is very productive, sometimes to its disadvantage. Source: Loupok
Spondias dulcis generally has very few problems. Below are some common problems and some tips to help you resolve them.
Growing problems
Ambarella trees are productive producers – as much as they are can become fertile to death when immature. While it may be tempting to keep all of the fruit on a small tree, it is best to cut some of them off so they can grow and mature.
Another common problem is the weather. There is no control over the weather, but there are ways to protect your tree to prevent damage or death. When temperatures are expected below freezingProtect trees in the ground with frost tissue. Bring trees in containers until conditions improve.
Pests
The Caribbean fruit fly is a small orange-brown fly that lays eggs in the fruit and makes the fruit undesirable when the eggs hatch. Open wounds in the fruit can also lead to fruit rot. The best way to prevent fruit flies from laying eggs in the fruit is to put the fruit on the tree for protection.
Scale insects are round, flat insects that are available in different colors from green to red to brown. They are usually found on twigs and branches. Dandruff is primarily a problem because of its secretion of honeydew. Honeydew leads to the development of soot mold, which can cover the leaves of the tree and prevent its photosynthesis. It is very common for scales to go unnoticed until the black soot covers the leaves. When the problem becomes extreme, growth can be compromised. Natural enemies should keep populations under control, but oil sprays can be used to unbalance populations that are spiraling out of control.
Thrips are small, yellow to orange-colored insects that feed on new leaves and flowers. Damaging them can cause scars on the leaves and the development of fruits. Chemical treatment of Ambarella trees is usually not required. Spraying the leaves with water will help deter thrips.
Mites are small eight-legged arachnids that puncture the leaves. Plants are more prone to mite infestation when they are stressed. High damage can lead to a drop in vacation time and an overall drop. Maintaining healthy plants is the best defense against mites. When treatment is required, oil sprays are effective.
Diseases
Root rot can occur if the tree is overwatered or if it is not planted in well-drained soil. Excessive water drowns the roots and allows root diseases to easily infect the tree. Prevent root rot by planting in a good place and using the best watering methods.
Fruit rot is caused by infestation with fruit flies, which creates an open wound through which pathogens can infect the fruit. Avoid fruit rot by preventing fruit fly infestation by packing the fruit on the tree.
frequently asked Questions
Young June plums grow on the tree. Source: Cerlin Ng
Q: How does a June plum taste?
A: A June plum tastes like a combination of mango and pineapple with the crispness of an apple. The liveliness can vary depending on the maturity.
Q: What is June Plum good for?
A: June plums have a wide variety of uses. They can be eaten fresh. They are used to make juice, jams, and sauces. The leaves of the tree can be eaten like vegetables or used to tenderize meat.
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