The Brazilian grape tree, which is known as Jaboticaba (Jaboticaba), belongs to the genus Pliny of the Mirtov family. This plant is cultivated in the tropics as a fruit. Jabotababa grape tree grows naturally in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Today it is acclimatized in Uruguay, Colombia, Panama, Peru, as well as in Cuba and the Philippines. From the article you will learn how to grow this plant at home and how to properly care for it.
Botanical Description
This evergreen tree with a low growth rate can reach heights of 5 to 12 meters. Glossy leathery leaves of medium size and elongated oval shape. Exhaust characteristic myrtle aroma. The bark of the tree has a pinkish tint and is covered with gray spots, which is clearly visible in the photo of the grape tree.
Jaboticaba blooms in spring and continues to bloom all summer. Small white flowers bloom on the trunk and main branches, where fruits are then tied. This phenomenon is called caulifloria. Drupe fruits of dark violet color of a round or elongated shape up to 4 centimeters in size. The pulp is white or pinkish, juicy. Fruits ripening in three to four weeks are combined in clusters.
Several crops are harvested from the grape tree from spring to autumn. In the process of ripening, the fruits change their color from green to dark red, and then to almost black. Ripe fruits resemble grapes, but inside they have one big seed. The taste of pulp is unusual sweet.
Jaboticaba Application
The fruits of the grape tree can be eaten unprocessed. They also make sweets, juices and wine.
Due to the fact that the fruits of jabotababa after removal are stored for a very short time and begin to ferment after only three days, in order to avoid damage to the crop, you have to immediately start it to make wine.
The most widespread production of wine from the fruits of grapevines is common in Brazil. The peel of the fruit is very rich in tannin, and therefore has a bitter taste. Thanks to it, wine and sweets from Jabotikaba have a rich red color. Commodity production of grape fruit is developed only in some countries of South America. The tree grows very slowly, it is extremely sensitive to low temperatures, and the crop is stored for a very short time. All these factors impede its wider distribution.
Jabotababa fruits are used in medicine. A decoction is prepared from the dried peel, which is used as a remedy for asthma and diarrhea. It also softens the throat and reduces its inflammation. Modern research suggests that this plant can help fight cancer.
Growing Jabotababa at home
In the open ground, a Brazilian grape tree can only be grown in the tropics. In areas where there are even short-term periods of frost, jaboticaba cannot survive. But because of its appearance, it is gaining more and more popularity and it is grown in houses and apartments, conservatories and greenhouses.
Growing seedlings
For home cultivation, it is best to purchase two to three grafted hybrid seedlings aged one to three years. After rooting, you need to choose the most intensively developing shoot and focus on growing it.
The plant begins to actively bloom and bear fruit at the age of four to six years, depending on conditions and individual characteristics. It not only fits perfectly into any interior, but also emits a light, pleasant aroma of myrtle. Like many tropical plants, the Brazilian Jabotababa grape tree requires partial shade for active growth and proper development. In direct sunlight, the plant can be left only in the morning and in the evening. Be sure to protect the plant from cold drafts.
Seed germination
You can try to grow a Brazilian grape tree from seeds. But we must take into account the fact that, unlike a plant grown from a seedling that can bloom in the fourth year, seedlings begin to bear fruit only after 10-12 years. The shelf life of seeds is very short, so they need to be planted in the soil as quickly as possible, otherwise they may lose their germination and mold. The plant needs a light and loose soil mixture.
The grape tree does not tolerate saline, dense soils and soils with high acidity. The first shoots appear about a month after planting. Over the first few years, growth will be extremely low. You can slightly accelerate the development by introducing mineral fertilizers. In addition, iron preparations can be added - this will avoid damage to chlorosis.
Watering mode
Drying of the soil should not be allowed - this will necessarily negatively affect the growth and development of the jabotababa. Watering should be carried out each time, guided by the drying of the top soil layer to a depth of one to three centimeters. After watering, the soil is covered with mulch to avoid too rapid evaporation of moisture. Excessive water stagnant in the pan is also dangerous for the plant. For irrigation, it is imperative to use warm water with a low chlorine content.
How to get rid of chlorine?
To maintain tap water is required for at least seven hours in an unopened glass container. In the first four hours, water will be freed from volatile impurities, and the rest of the time is required for the precipitation of salts. After settling, the water must be carefully poured into a clean vessel, avoiding shaking. The precipitate formed during sedimentation must be drained together with the lower layer of water.