Image - Wikimedia / Rodrigo.Argenton
If you live in a place where the climate is tropical and also humid, it is important that you choose those plants that can live well in your garden; that is, that once established they can take care of themselves or practically alone, such as the star apple. To learn more about the types of fruit trees for the garden, keep reading.
It is a fruit tree that, in addition to being very beautiful and producing delicious fruits, gives very good shade. Would you like to meet him?
How is it?
Image - Wikimedia / David J. Stang
Our protagonist is an evergreen tree native to the Amazon that is known as caimito, aguaí or aguay and whose scientific name is star star pouteria. Reaches a height of up to 40 meters, with a 50cm trunk. The leaves are lanceolate, simple, and green. If you're interested in fruit tree care, you can learn more about How to grow cold-hardy fruit trees.
But without a doubt the most attractive of the plant are the fruits, which are oval in shape and turn yellow when ripe. The pulp is white, translucent, fragrant and caramelized, and contains a lot of sticky latex, hence it is recommended to smear the lips with grease so that it does not adhere to them.
What are the cares?
If you want to get a copy, we recommend providing the following care:
- Location: outside, in semi-shade or in full sun.
- Land: slightly acidic (pH 6), fertile and with good drainage.
- IrrigationFrequent. Every 2 days in summer and every 4 days the rest of the year. For more details on watering fruit trees, you can check out how to care for dryland fruit trees.
- Subscriber: during the warmer months, with organic fertilizers such as guano.
- Planting time: in spring. In the case of no seasons, something that happens in tropical climates would be at the end of the less rainy season.
- Rusticity: it does not support cold or frost. The minimum temperature must be 18ºC or higher. Also, you need protection from the wind.
For what do you use it?
Image - Calphotos.berkeley.edu
The star apple has several uses:
Culinary
The fruits, as we have mentioned, are edible as long as the lips are greased with fat before eating them. They have an acidic taste, and they are used to eat for breakfast or to flavor lemon juiceIf you are interested in learning more about the cultivation of other tropical fruits, please visit rare tropical fruits that you could grow.
Medicinal
Being an important source of calcium, vitamins A and C, and phosphorus, the fruits are used to relieve coughs, bronchitis and other diseases of the lungs. They are also effective against fever, diarrhea, anemia, and as astringents.