Barbados cherry tree is also known as Acerola Cherry is a member of the Malpighiaceae family. It is one of the most beautiful and attractive plants. It is distinguished by its shiny evergreen leaves. Its leaves are round and they usually vary in size between 1 to 3 inches. It produces extremely charming flowers that come in different colors. Acerola cherry is highly decorative, highly delicious and highly healthy. To learn how to grow the Barbados cherry tree, follow the instructions provided in this article.
However, before giving you the instructions, you should know why learning how to grow the Barbados tree is an excellent fruitful idea. The fruits of this tree are greatly rich in vitamin C and vitamin A. They are also very acidic and sweet.
Barbados cherry fruits are widely used in making juices, jams, and toppings for desserts. Growing this adorable tree is easy as it is an adaptive tree. All the required information on how to grow barbados cherry tree successfully are provided below.
1. Propagation
Propagating Barbados cherry tree is an easy task. This plant can grow perfectly from seeds, cuttings, air layering and grafting. Propagating from seeds is slow because they germinate slowly. To plant from seeds, you should clean the seed and dry them out completely before using them. It is advisable to use the seeds of completely ripe fruits.
If you are a seedling, you need to buy a healthy sturdy seedling online or from your local store. To make sure that your seedling grows and thrives best, don’t transplant them into your garden or into a container until they are at least 3 inches tall.
2. Planting Barbados cherry tree
If you are planting from seeds, drill an at least two inches hole for each seed. Don’t plant the seeds close to each other, leave an at least 15 feet between each seed. Cover them with soil and water thoroughly.
For cuttings, you need to be careful with the plant to help it handle the shock of transplanting. Prepare a hole for each seedling you intend to plant. The hole should be as deep as the hole in which the seedling was grown and twice as wide.
After preparing the hole, extract the seedling from the tray in which it is grown, clean up gently its roots, put it in the planting hole and spread its roots kindly with care. Refill the hole with soil and water until the soil settles down. If you are planting more than one seedling, don’t forget to leave 15 inches between each seedling.
3. Choosing a proper location
Choosing the right spot to plant Barbados cherry tree is a decisive factor in the growth of the plant. In order to grow fast, it requires a sunny spot where it can receive a lot of sunlight daily. It also needs a shelter from winds. Therefore, it is better to plant it in the sunniest near your house.
Sunlight exposure improves the productivity of Barbados cherry tree. The more sun it gets the heavier yield it produces.
4. Soil
Barbados cherry tree needs a good quality well-draining soil that is heavily rich in organic matter. Thus some amendment may be required before planting. Add compost and manure to improve the quality of your soil. You should also clean the soil from any weeds, debris, and rocks.
Mulching is a great idea to retain moisture and cooler the root and protect them from the summer heat. The best way to mulch is by using Straw, grass clippings or bark. Spead one 2 inches layer of one of these mulching materials in a diameter of three feet around each tree.
Don’t mulch near the tree trunk. Keep the trunk three inches away from the mulch in order to avoid root rot.
5. Watering
During the growing season, Barbados cherry tree needs regular watering. You should always keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. When the tree matures, you can reduce watering. However, when the temperature degrees rise and when the plant starts fruiting, you should start to water the plant regularly again.
6. Fertilizing
Expert gardeners recommend that you apply citrus fertilizers to feed barbados cherry tree. It is advisable that you start fertilizing only when the plant starts growing. Regarding the amount and the time to apply fertilizers, follow the instructions provides by the manufacturer.
7. Pruning
Pruning is important to maintain the nice attractive shape of the plant. It is not necessary for growth, but it is necessary to have a decorative beautiful plant. You should prune your plants only in the fall after harvesting. However, for diseased and damaged branches, it is recommended to cut them whenever you notice them.
8. Pests and diseases
Barbados cherry tree is not pests and diseases free. There are many pests that threaten the growth and the yield of your plant. The most dangerous pests are aphids, scales, borers, and whiteflies. For diseases, you should be careful of root-knot nematode, leaf spot, brown rot and powdery mildew.
9. Harvesting
Knowing when to harvest the Barbados cherry tree is easy. When the fruits turn into the red color, it means they have completely ripened and you could pick them. They are better picked fresh. They are healthy and sweet when they are picked fresh.
Apply these tips to your Barbados cherry tree and it will not only grow but also produce a heavy yield. Growing barbados cherry tree is rewarding in terms of health benefits and decoration. This tree will give you extremely healthy fruits and will definitely decorate your garden and make it more attractive.
If you are interested in growing decorative plants, check these amazing decorative plants.
However, if you wish an off the grid stunning decoration, these flowers are an excellent idea.
Enjoy gardening and we welcome your feedback.
