Jackfruit is a fruit originating from South India and its tree is well-known as the largest tree fruit. The tree has 20-inch diameter, 120 pounds in weight, and 35 inches long. As one of the perennials, this plant can live up to 100 years and keep producing fruit for 30-60 years. Here is the planting guide for you who want to try to grow it.

How to Plant Jackfruit Step by Step for Best Result

  • Consider the Ideal Time to Plant
    As the fruit that grows best in humid tropical regions, you need to think of the ideal time to plant. Spring or early summer is the best time to grow jackfruits in your home. The fruit won’t be able to thrive if you plant them in cold and dry seasons.

  • Find the Right Location
    For the best growth, you should find a warm location with full sun and high humidity. The trees should grow in a location that is free of shade. A site with temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the one you look for.

  • Use the Right Soil
    Aside from the right site to plant, you also have to think about the right soil. Sandy or loamy soils are usually the best option to grow jackfruits. These soils with a higher pH, between 6 and 7, are more recommended. When you have chosen the site and soil type, you must stick with it until the end.

  • Choose Between Seeds and Trees
    If you decide to use seeds, prepare and soak them first for 24 hours. Get ready with some 4-liter pots with drainage holes, fill them with the soils you have chosen. The soil composition would be perlite, sand, and organic compost.
    Place 3 seeds 1 inch deep and 1-2 inches apart in the soil. If you take care of them very well, usually one seedling would start germinating in 3 weeks. When they are germinating, it is the right time to thin down one healthy seedling.
    Jackfruit planting guide also recommends you to move the seedling to the ground to grow well as a tree. When you see 3-4 true leaves are formed on the seedling, move it to the high-wind and full-sun area. This planting area should not be too near to your house to avoid underground damage.
    However, you should also know that the seedlings are usually too fragile. If you want to grow jackfruits in your garden easily, plant the small tree instead. Create a hole in well-draining soil with 2 x 2 x 2 feet in size.
    You can use the hole to plant the seedling or to plant the small tree you have prepared. Do not overwater the soil, but make sure the soil is moist enough 1.5 inches deep. You need to water your tree twice a day if dry periods have come.

  • Care for the Plant
    When the tree starts growing, remove weeds around your plant once a month. Use your hands to pull the weeds instead of using herbicides. Prevent the weeds by mulching around the tree. Moreover, make sure you fertilize the tree every 6 months and water the plant right after it is fertilized.

Jackfruit tree will take around 2 years to grow taller and 3-4 years to bear fruit. Even if the productivity is slow, patience and lifelong commitment are the keys. You will later be able to harvest multiple jackfruits and taste the sweeter flavor of its ripe fruit.