Fruit Trees

Plant damn friut trees people!! I don't know if it's because of my Jamiacian heritage, but I find it crazy that more people do not take advantage of what we can grow here in the way of fruit trees. While we may have to put a little "extra" into rearing healthy fruit-bearing trees, it is so worth it. To the left is a photo of our papaya tree one year after planting. It bore fruit the very first year. My husband calls it "super tree", so that's what it's known by. This year it is taller than me (not hard, I know).

As a general rule with the trees in the yard, I clear the grass from around the base, place a rock border and keep the area created free from grass and weeds. This prevents the growth of grass strangling the tree out. The funny thing about grass, we pay for loads of it in squares and then fight to keep it from taking over forever after. Inside the area created, I use marigolds to keep away bugs, and their roots are not intrusive to the tree. Or, I use mulch/pine nuggets to keep down weeds and keep in mositure.


The papya tree is different to grow though. It is either a male or female plant. The females are the only ones that flower and fruit. I understand that a female tree will only bear fruit for a period of time and then after that never again. I'm usure of what age, so I intend to cultivate another couple of females soon.

Other fruit trees in the yard are guava, mango, sapodilla, avocado, peach,
ackee, bananas, coconut, star apple and I will put in seagrape soon.