Can you grow jackfruit in Florida?
Jackfruit trees will grow best in South and lower central Florida. Jackfruit trees can be killed when temperatures reach 28°F, so those in north Florida will have a more difficult time growing jackfruit. Jackfruit trees can grow in a wide range of sizes. Trees can be 20-30 feet tall and produce fruit up to 50lbs. For best results water regularly and pick a spot that receives 8+ hours of sun.
There are a number of varieties of jackfruit that you can grow in Florida. Each tree will grow to different sizes and produce a range of different sized fruits. Choose the best variety for the amount of space that you have.
Best Jackfruit To Grow In Florida
| Cultivar | Tree Height | Fruit Size |
| Black Gold | 8 – 10 ft | 20 lbs |
| Cheena | 8 – 10 ft | 5 – 10 lbs |
| Chompa | 8 – 10 ft | 10 – 20 lbs |
| Cochin | 8 – 10 ft | 2 – 5 lbs |
| Dang Rasimi | 10 – 20 ft | 15 – 20 lbs |
| Gold Nugget | 8 – 10 ft | 7 – 12 lbs |
| Honey gold | 8 – 10 ft | 10 – 12 lbs |
| J – 30 | 10 – 20 ft | 15 – 25 lbs |
| J – 31 | 8 – 10 ft | 25 lbs |
| Kun Wi Chan | 13 – 25 ft | 30 – 40 lbs |
| Lemon Gold | 12 – 25 ft | 10 – 15 lbs |
| NS1 | 10 – 20 ft | 10 – 15 lbs |
| Tabouey | 10 – 20 ft | 20 – 25 lbs |
Varietal information, tree, and fruit size have all been sourced from Ifas
Be sure to take your sight selection into account when choosing which kind of jackfruit to buy
Best Time To Plant Jackfruit in Florida
The ideal time to plant a jackfruit tree in Florida is late spring to early summer. Jackfruit trees love the warm and wet weather. If you live in South Florida you can plant jackfruit trees at any point in the year.
Can You Grow Jackfruit In North Florida?
Jackfruit trees grow best in south Florida and some of the mid to lower parts of central Florida. Jackfruit trees can die if temperatures are sustained at 28F. small branches and leaves will see damage at 30F.
Florida gardeners see nights where the temperatures do get that chilly. This provides a challenge for north Florida gardeners. David the Good, has lived in north Florida and has some great tips for those of you that do live in north Florida.
The easier option of tricks that he suggests is to plant your tree as close to a south-facing wall as you can. South-facing walls retain heat and provide a slightly warmer microclimate.
In order to do this, you should choose a smaller growing tree and heavily prune it back in order to keep the tree small and able to grow close to your house.
He also suggests digging a hole and building a greenhouse above it. This is an option for large, mature trees. While it might be a pain to dig a big enough hole, it’s cheaper than buying a mansion of a greenhouse.
Can you Grow Jackfruit In Pots?
Jackfruit trees do not like to have their roots constricted. If you keep a tree in a pot for too long the tree will have pot bound roots. roots grown this way do not transfer well.
You can grow a jackfruit tree in a pot if you prune heavily and choose a smaller sized tree. A good choice would be black gold. You should also choose a large pot, one that is at least 24 inches deep.
How Do You Keep A Jackfruit Tree Small?
In order to keep your jackfruit tree to a manageable size, you will need to prune it. Don’t be afraid to heavily prune your tree, jackfruits are vigours growers and the benefit from a good pruning. Take a look at this video, he’s cutting off some good-sized branches.
Best Fertilizer For Jackfruit
Jackfruit trees benefit from regular fertilzing. When fertilzing a young tree you should get a fertilizer with more nitrogen in it. something like an 8-2-4 is perfect.
As your tree matures you should switch to a fertilizer that has more phosphorus and potassium and less focused on nitrogen. something similar to this 3-9-4 will be just fine.
Nitrogen promotes a larger tree, while phosphorus promotes flower and fruit production. below is an ifas recommended fertilizer schedule.
| Year | Times Per Year | Amount Per Tree (lbs) |
| 1 | 6 | 0.25 – 0.5 |
| 2 | 6 | 0.5 – 1 |
| 3 | 6 | 1 – 1.5 |
| 4 | 2-3 | 1.5 – 2.5 |
| 5 | 2 -3 | 2.5 – 3.5 |
| 6 | 2-3 | 3.5 – 4 |
| 7 | 2-3 | 4 – 4.5 |
| 8 | 2-3 | 4.5 – 5 |
It’s also beneficial to apply a foliar spray that contains zinc, Manganese, boron, molybedenum, and magnesium.
How Long Does It Take Jackfruit To Bear Fruit?
If you planted a jackfruit from seed, there are multiple reports of people in Florida getting flowers and fruit within 2 years.
Growing Jackfruit In Florida
- South Florida has the best climate to grow jackfruit. Those in central and north Florida can attempt to grow it but be prepared to provide shelter in some way from the cold.
- Choose Florida friendly varieties, the most popular ones are black gold, gold nugget, and NS1 to name a few.
- The best time to plant is in late spring to early summer.
- Be sure to prune your tree heavily. These are large trees that grow vigorously when conditions are warm and wet.
- Follow the above mentioned fertilizing schedule.
- Well cared for jackfruit trees can begin to set fruit at 2 years of age.
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