Educate yourself, and have fun. Though exotic in appearance, star fruits, also sometimes known as carambola, are not newcomers to the North American scene. Star apple is found growing in farms, gardens, parks, as well as in the wild, on all the islands of Hawaii. When the fruits are cut crosswise, those ridges morph into the five points of a star, giving rise to the common name. The trees first arrived in Florida about 100 years ago and have been grown commercially and in Florida, California, and Hawaii ever since. To flourish indoors, potted star fruits need well-drained, loamy soil (Fafard® Natural & Organic Potting Mix) with a slightly acid pH (5.5-6.5) and regular fertilizer for acid-loving fruit trees. All contents unless otherwise noted copyright © 2005-2020 Sun Gro Horticulture Canada Ltd. All rights reserved. How to Grow Star Fruit. While we have made every effort to ensure the information on this website is reliable, Sun Gro Horticulture is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. It is a tall fruit tree, up to 50-60 feet, and easily recognized by its unique foliage: the leaves are dark glossy green on top and golden brown on the underside. In tropics, you can plant starfruit tree in any season, except summer. Tropical Fruits of the Hawaiian Islands. Indoors or out, water when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Growing a star fruit tree (carambola) from seed. If you live in a cold-winter climate, you can enjoy homegrown star fruit if you pick a dwarf variety, like ‘Maher Dwarf’, which has sweet, crunchy fruit, or ‘Dwarf Hawaiian’, which has super sweet fruit, in large containers—at least during the cold weather months. When outdoor night temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the star fruit indoors. 2. Thanks for sharing posting. Star fruit trees grow most actively in spring and summer, so this is the time to fertilize with balanced, granular fertilizer, added at intervals according to manufacturers’ directions. Robert recognized the noni fruit I pointed out to him at once. The trees perform best when temperatures are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the air is moderately humid. Provide them with lots of sunshine and enough water to keep the pots just moist. Dwarf trees generally need relatively little pruning. These materials are available only for informational purposes and are presented “as is” without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including without limitation warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. It is evergreen and … Eaten out of hand or used in salads or desserts, star fruit is both tasty and decorative. © 2020 Sun Gro Horticulture Canada Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Looking for an easy-to-grow fruit that will bring light and sparkle to your gardening life during the darkest months of the year? Reliance upon any such opinion, advice, statement or other information is at your own risk. Growing Star Fruit Indoors Some star fruit varieties have orange mature fruits while others are more yellow or yellowish-green. Start by buying a few ripe star fruits from the grocery store. No materials contained herein may be duplicated or used in any way without the express written permission of Sun Gro Horticulture or its legal representatives. Starfruit trees bear yellow fruit, about ¾-inch long with very waxy skin and five severe ridges. All contents unless otherwise noted copyright © 2005-2020. Sun Gro also does not review the materials to determine if they infringe the copyright or other rights of others. You’ll want … Where Does Star Fruit Come From. This tropical fruit tree is native to Asia. If the plant drops a few leaves in the days after the transition, don’t worry. Most people can enjoy them regularly, but they are high in oxalic acid, which can cause kidney problems for those with related illnesses, so consult health care providers before eating lots of them. I impressed by that. In no event shall Sun Gro Horticulture Distribution, Inc. or any of its affiliates be liable to you for any inaccuracy, error, omission, fact, infringement and the like, resulting from your use of these materials, regardless of cause, or for any damages resulting there from. If you like the tropical taste of star fruit and relish a horticultural challenge, try adding a dwarf star fruit tree to your house plant menagerie. It is very informative post. (Click here to learn more about growing other tropical fruit trees indoors.). It may be the start of a tropical fruit tree collection. Now, these trees can be are grown in places such as Malaysia, Philippines, India, Taiwan, some parts of China, Hawaii, and even South Florida in the United States. Growth slows down during the winter months, so feeding can stop at that time. foraging, wild food, wild edibles, wild food recipes, eat weeds, wild edible plants photography, forage wild food, fungi, foraging family, wild mushrooms, wild mushroom recipes, mushroom photography, eat invasive plants, wild mushroom hunting. Either way, give your new potted star fruit a good start by trading its nursery pot for a slightly larger one and filling it with our high-quality, natural and organic potting mix. It is likely a recent introduction to Hawaii as a fruit tree that has escaped into the wild. At winter’s end, just as you are about to start fertilizing again, prune back branches that seem weak or unshapely. Early star fruit varieties were smaller and very tart, but breeding improvements have led to the larger, sweeter fruits, that are available in supermarkets today. Please forage responsibly. If you choose a starter specimen in a 6-inch pot, expect to see pink flowers and resulting fruit by the time it reaches about 18 inches tall. 1. Click here to learn more about growing other tropical fruit trees indoors. Rambutan. Don’t let the rambutan’s hairy red and green shell scare you: Slice it open and you’ll find a … If possible, let them spend the late spring, summer, and early fall soaking up sunshine outside. All parts of the fruit, including the rind, flesh, and seeds, are edible and provide vitamins A and C, plus minerals. As tropical denizens, star fruit trees love warmth. 770 Silver Street Agawam, MA By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. Slow-growing star fruit mature to 30 feet in both height and spread. When the fruit is cut crosswise, a resulting perfect five-point star is in evidence. Dwarf plants are best for pot culture because they are bred to stay compact. But if you’re growing in the cold climate, summer is the best planting season. Depending on your finances and level of patience, you can begin your star fruit journey with a starter specimen in a 6-inch pot or choose a mature 3- to 4-foot tree. Use of this site is subject to express terms of use. 01001 info@sungro.com. Carefully cut the fruit, take care not to cut the seeds. I've never been to HI; I may have to visit in sometime in the next few years. United States of America, 1-800-732-8667 Eat some of the fruit (the fun part) to see if it’s sweet and worth planting. This site may contain content (including images and articles) as well as advice, opinions and statements presented by third parties. Tasty, tropical star fruits (Averrhoa carambola) may be the answer, even if you live in a cold-winter climate. ® Fafard, Sunshine Advanced, Sunshine, Our Expertise is Growing, The Science Behind the Art, All the Riches of the Earth, RESiLIENCE and Sun Gro are registered trademarks of Sun Gro Horticulture Canada Ltd. ® Black Gold is a registered trademark of ODIN Enterprises II, LLC.