Tag: Chrysiophyllum caimito

Growing caimito – part 2

Cultivation is not very extensive, though the seedling requires constant ring weeding while young..

Farmers in Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna regularly  grow filed crops like rice, corn, pineapple, and root crops between young caimito trees to maximize use of land. Other farmers plant fruit trees like banana, coffe and lanz0ones between caimito trees to sterilize all available space.

Fertilizer application is not always necessary. A caimit tree can draw sufficient food from the soil to support growth and fruit production. However, it is a good practice to apply nitrogenous fertilizer when the plants are young. Usually, animal manure is good substitute for commercial fertilizer. To improve fruit production, apply complete fertilizer may also be applied at the start of the rainy season before flowering and when the soil contains enough moisture. The broadcast method of fertilizer application is economical and effective.

Caimito is a medium-sized and spreading tree. Its leaves are oval, with pointed tips, and are light to dark-green on the upper surface, and copper or golden  beneath,

Continue reading “Growing caimito – part 2”

Growing caimito – part 1

Caimito: a tough productive fruit tree

By: Dell H. Grecia and Pit La. Cantilang

Nobody can say with any degree of certainty why it is called star apple or caimito. There have been several wild attempts to explain these names. One corny version has it that the fruit was named caimito because it was first owned and propagated by Mito; thus kay mito

However it got its name, the introduction of this fruit in the Philippines was certainly one of the bsest things to happen to our fruit industry. For star apple or caimito (Chrysiophyllum caimito, L) is now one of the widely appreciated Philippine fruits.

The tree was introduce here in 1905 form the West Indies and Central America. Grown all over the Philippines today, caimito trees are thriving in La Union, Tarlac, Batangas, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulcan, Cavite and many other provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Continue reading “Growing caimito – part 1”