By Victoria Torley

We want a lot from our trees. Let’s talk about what grows on trees. 

Not the ordinary stuff. We all know oranges, grapefruit, mandarins, lemons and limes. In upstate New York, even oranges were exotic fruits. Here in Costa Rica, we have some really exotic fruits.

The jackfruit is a relative of the breadfruit and is borne on a tree that grows to 50 feet so you get shade and fruit in the same tree. The fruit can weigh 70 pounds and be three feet long – not something for branches so it hangs from the trunk of the tree. I found a note that it smells unpleasant but that the fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, and is especially nice when mixed in a curry. The large white seed can be roasted like chestnuts and is said to have a similar flavor.

 

Going on to the jackfruit’s relative, the breadfruit, we find a 60-foot tree with huge evergreen leaves. I tried and failed to grow one and may try another. The fruits are smaller, only about 10 pounds, and are eaten boiled, fried or roasted. They are vitamin-rich and quite good for you. Another relative, the breadnut tree, produces a prickly fruit with edible seeds.

The pitanga, or Surinam cherry, is neither a cherry nor from Surinam; it actually came from Brazil. This is a smaller tree, about 25 feet, and produces a cherry-sized red fruit with a longitudinal indentation that makes it look pumpkin-like. The fruit is tart and can be very refreshing when you are out there gardening. There is a single pit, again cherry-like. I have a friend who uses the fruits to make a lovely tart jam, delicious on my morning toast. I haven’t tried it in a pie yet and will have to mix it with something due to the tartness. Some day . . .

The guava, or guayaba, has just about everything. At 25 feet, it provides some shade. It can produce fragrant white flowers and then fruits! The fruit is lemony and rich in iron, calcium and vitamin C. The guava is often made into a fruit drink but it also makes a nice jam or jelly.

Personally, I think the guava jelly from the supermarket is too sweet so I mix it with pitanga jam. The real solution, of course, would be to make my own; after all, I do have a tree.

Plant for the week. Then there is the cashew, the marañon. If you want to attract parrots, this is one of the trees to plant. But don’t think you are going to harvest the nuts, just enjoy the fruit. The nut is a difficult puzzle. It hangs from the bottom of the fruit and has to be prepared carefully. I wasn’t careful enough when I tried to remove the outer husk and ended up with chemical burns on my arm. When you buy cashews, remember that getting them to market is hard work.

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Find more amazing stories about gardening in Costa Rica on the Costa Rica Garden website. Regarding questions on this article, Ms. Victoria Torley, gardener columnist, can be reached by emailing victoriatorley1@gmail.com.