Sally Scalera

Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702

Subtropical fruits

April 1, 2006

Brevard County is in a great spot. We are in the center of the state and on the east coast. This places us on the southern end of the hardiness range (we are in Zone 9B) for deciduous fruits like apples and peaches and a good spot for subtropical fruits like Atemoya, Avocado, Longan, Lychee, Mamey and Mango.

When it comes to tropical fruits like Carambola, Banana, Mango, Papaya, Jaboticaba, Passion fruit and Jakfruit we are on the northern end of their range. Of course, every rule has an exception and that would be Merritt Island and the beaches, which are zone 10A, and that is fine for tropical fruit crops. So, when you look at the big picture, we can grow one of the largest varieties of fruits! The subtropical fruits do not require as much cold protection as the tropical fruits and can be grown easier on the mainland (versus Merritt Island and the beaches where they normally won’t require much cold protection, if any at all.) Here is some information on a few of those subtropical fruits that you could grow in your own backyard.

The Atemoya is a hybrid between the Sugar apple and Cherimoya. It produces a fruit very similar to the Sugar apple, also called Sweetsop or Anon. It is a small to medium-sized, open, deciduous tree with a rounded canopy rarely exceeding 20 feet in height and width. Because of their relatively small size, Atemoya trees are suited to small yards. A relative of the Atemoya, the Sugar apple, has similar characteristics. The fruit is heart-shaped, round and ranges from two to four inches in diameter. The pulp is white or creamy white, with a custard-like consistency and a sweet, pleasant flavor. When ripe, Atemoyas become light green or yellow-green in color. The pulp of Atemoyas is consumed mainly as a dessert fruit. It may be eaten fresh but it can also be used to make ice cream or milkshakes. The fruit ripens from late August through October and sometimes into December and January.

The Longan is large tree that can grow 30-40 feet tall and wide. The fresh fruit has a nice flavor. The fruit has a peel that is tan or light brown, thin, leathery and smoother than the Lychee. The sweet pulp is whitish, translucent and does not adhere to the seed. Longan trees have a round or oblong crown. Plant them in a sunny, well-drained site and they may begin to bear fruit within three to five years of transplanting. The fruit normally ripens in August and September.

Lychee is an excellent fresh fruit and the fruit has the best flavor if allowed to ripen on the tree. The Lychee may grow to forty feet tall and have a beautiful, dense, rounded canopy. The trees are very attractive with dark green foliage and reddish-colored fruit. The fruit are borne in loose clusters and the fruits skin color can range from yellow to pinkish or red. Lychees can be harvested from mid-May to early-July, depending upon the variety.

The Mamey sapote trees are large and erect reaching a height of about 40 feet here in Florida. The trees make an excellent specimen tree in the home landscape with their glossy foliage. The fruit has a brown, scurfy peel and the flesh of mature fruit is salmon pink to reddish brown in color and has a unique, sweet flavor. The tree grows well in a variety of soils but does require good drainage. The fruit can be eaten fresh and is also excellent for use in ice cream, sherbets, jellies and preserves. Milkshakes can also be prepared from the flesh. The Mamey sapote require very little care and yields a useful, good tasting fruit. Some trees will produce fruit all year while others can be harvested from January through September.

Mango trees are hardly a newcomer to Florida since they have been planted and enjoyed here for over 100 years. Mango trees are a medium to large tree, up to 100 feet, and there is a wide variety of cultivars available with fruits that have varying shapes, colors and ripening times. Most mangoes are ripe when the fruit softens slightly and takes on a yellow to orange or red color and has a subtle sweet fragrance. Mangoes are a good source of vitamins A and C. They can be eaten fresh or pureed. The trees are tough and relatively easy to grow. Most varieties of grafted Mangoes bear in as little as 3-5 years after transplanting. Low temperatures, such as 45 degrees or lower, during bloom generally reduce fruit set and can occur here in Brevard County, like last weekend!. The time of year to eat fresh mangoes is May through October.

If you are interested in finding out more information about these subtropical fruits or others you can check out our website called Fruitscapes. here is information on Deciduous fruits, subtropical and tropical fruits on the Fruitscapes website. Just go to http://fruitscapes.ifas.ufl.edu/ and see all the information that is right there at your fingertips. If you have thought about adding a new tree to your landscape you may want to consider a subtropical fruit tree.