The breadfruit tree is only suitable for the warmest gardens, but if you have the right climate for it, you can enjoy this tall, tropical tree that produces tasty and nutritious fruits. If you do have the conditions for this tree, there are many different varieties of breadfruit from which you can choose for your yard or garden.
Types of Breadfruit for the Home Garden
Breadfruit is a tree native to the Pacific islands but can be cultivated and grown naturally in very warm climates, like south Florida or the Caribbean. In addition to growing it as a large landscape element, breadfruit can be grown for food. It produces more food than most other plants. The fruit is used in ways similar to potatoes: fried, boiled, or baked. There are hundreds of different breadfruit trees, so if you are looking to grow this tree, you have a lot of options for variety. Breadfruit types can be broadly categorized as seeded or seedless, but there are many other differences including leaf shape, fruit size, and time of ripening.
Breadfruit Varieties
The different breadfruit trees largely developed naturally, but many were also cultivated varieties. The National Tropical Botanical Garden in Hawaii is working to conserve many of the hundreds of varieties and to save them from extinction through neglect and disease. These are just a few of the different types of breadfruit: Aravei. This cultivar produces large fruits, between 8 and 12 inches (20-31 cm.) long with a yellow to green rind. The skin is spiky, but these sharp points drop as the fruit ripens. The flavor of the yellow pulp is considered among the best, and the pulp does not take long to cook. This is a seeded variety. Havana. The Havana variety has a sweeter and desirable flavor, but the fruits are perishable. Once picked, they need to be eaten within a couple of days. They cook quickly and are considered to be among the most desirable of breadfruits. Havana is a seeded variety. Maohi. Maohi is the most common type of breadfruit that grows in Tahiti. It produces a round fruit, smaller than other varieties, but it also produces a large quantity of fruit. The flavor is good and the texture smooth. It cooks slowly. Paea. This variety produces large fruits, growing to 11 inches (28 cm.) long and is seeded. The pulp is a bright yellow color and takes about an hour over even heat to cook. The pulp flakes when cooked and has a good flavor. Pucro. Pucro is highly regarded and considered to be one of the best breadfruits. It produces a rough-textured, yellow-green fruit with a smooth, yellow pulp. It cooks quickly and has one of the finest flavors. Your choice of breadfruit may depend on what is available, but if you have access to several breadfruit varieties, you can select a tree based on fruit size, texture, flavor, and other factors.
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Breadfruit Winter Protection: Can You Grow Breadfruit In WinterIn these tropical locations, providing winter protection for breadfruit is generally unnecessary. Gardens in cooler climates, however, may wonder can you grow breadfruit in winter? Click here to learn more about breadfruit cold tolerance and winter care.
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Breadfruit Seed Propagation: Learn About Growing Breadfruit From SeedIf you?re ambitious, you can definitely try growing breadfruit from seed, but keep in mind the fruit won?t develop true to type. If you?re interested in planting breadfruit seeds, click the following article for more information on breadfruit seed propagation.
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Does Breadfruit Have Seeds – Seedless Vs. Seeded BreadfruitBreadfruit is an extremely popular tropical fruit that is gaining some traction in the rest of the world. But not all breadfruits are created equal. One of the major divides is between seeded and seedless varieties. Learn more about seedless vs. seeded breadfruit varieties here.
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Common Breadfruit Diseases – How To Fix Unhealthy Breadfruit TreesIf you have the right climate for breadfruit tree, it's a great decorative and useful addition to the landscape. Your breadfruit may get damaged by disease, though, so be aware of what may strike it and what to do with a sick breadfruit tree. This article can help.
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Potted Breadfruit Trees – Can You Grow Breadfruit In A ContainerIf you live in a temperate zone and still want to try your hand at breadfruit cultivation, you should consider growing breadfruit trees in containers. Click on the following article to learn more about container grown breadfruit care and requirements.
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Breadfruit Harvest Time: Learn When And How To Harvest BreadfruitPicking breadfruit is easy if a tree has been properly pruned and trained low. Even if it's not, however, a breadfruit harvest is well worth the effort. Learn about when to pick and how to harvest breadfruit in this article. Click here for more info.
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Breadfruit Pruning Guide: Learn About Trimming Breadfruit TreesBreadfruit, like all fruit trees, benefits from an annual pruning. The good news is that pruning a breadfruit isn't all that difficult. If you're looking for tips on cutting back a breadfruit tree then you've come to the right place. Click this article for more information.
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Breadfruit Propagation Methods – How To Propagate Breadfruit TreesAlthough breadfruit trees are long living trees that reliably produce fruit for decades, many gardeners may find that having one tree is simply not enough. Click this article to learn how to propagate breadfruit trees.
