Jackfruit

Overview

Jackfruit is a relative of breadfruit that bears the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, sometimes over 40 pounds. Young green fruit is cooked as a starchy vegetable, ripe fruit has sweet, fragrant yellow pods, and the seeds can be boiled or roasted. A mature tree can produce dozens of fruit a year.

History

Jackfruit is native to the rainforests of southern India and is a staple across South and Southeast Asia. It is grown in home gardens across the islands.

Growing on Kauaʻi

• Best in warm, low to mid elevations with good rainfall or irrigation.
• Needs deep, well-drained soil; roots rot in standing water.
• Give it room: plant at least 20–25 ft from buildings and other large trees.

Planting and propagation

• Grafted trees of good varieties fruit sooner and with better quality.
• Seeds sprout easily but must be planted fresh, within a few days of removing them from the fruit.
• Seedlings have a taproot and dislike being moved; plant them out young.

Care and maintenance

• Prune young trees to a few strong main branches and keep the height manageable; fruit grows on the trunk and main limbs.
• Mulch heavily and water during dry spells.
• Thin fruit on young trees so branches aren’t overloaded.

Role in the guild

Like breadfruit, jackfruit can anchor a guild as the long-term canopy, with pigeon pea, banana, and ground covers around it while it grows.

Harvest

For cooking as a vegetable, pick young green fruit. For sweet ripe fruit, harvest when the spines flatten and spread slightly, the fruit sounds hollow when tapped, and it begins to smell sweet. Oil your knife and hands before cutting; the sticky latex is hard to remove.

Uses

• Food: young fruit cooked in curries and stir-fries; ripe pods fresh or in desserts; seeds boiled or roasted.
• Soil and shade: large leaves make good mulch; the dense canopy shades the ground.
• Wood: the yellow timber is prized for furniture and instruments.

Problems to watch

• Fruit rot and fruit flies on fruit left too long on the tree or ground.
• Root rot in waterlogged soil.
• Rats on ripening fruit.

General guidance for Kauaʻi; conditions vary by site. Check any new plant at plantpono.org before planting.