Jujube Gardening For Beginners – How To Start

Introduction to how to start jujube gardening for beginners, planting tips, ideas, techniques, questions, and answers (FAQs): Hello gardeners, we are here with one more new topic and the article is all about jujube gardening. Do you want to know how to grow a jujube tree and do you have any doubts about planting and growing a jujube tree? Then follow and read this complete article to grow the perfect jujube tree. In this article, we are going to discuss some frequently asked questions about jujube gardening.

Ziziphus jujuba, which is often known as jujube, red date, Chinese date, or Chinese jujube, is a buckthorn species in the Ziziphus genus.

The Chinese date, or jujube (Ziziphus jujube), is a fruit endemic to China. This medium-sized tree with glossy green deciduous leaves and light grey bark can reach a height of 40 feet or 12 meters. The single-stoned, oval-shaped fruit starts green and turns dark brown over time. When left on the vine, the fruit, like figs, will dry out and wrinkle. The flavour is comparable to that of an apple.

A step by step guide to how to start jujube gardening for beginners, planting tips, ideas, techniques, questions, and answers

Jujubes thrive in hot, dry areas, but can withstand temperatures as low as -29°C in the winter. As long as you have sandy, well-drained soil, growing jujube trees is simple. They don’t care about the pH of the soil, but they do need to be planted in full sun. Seeds or root sprouts can be used to propagate the tree.

Fruit yield is aided by a single application of nitrogen before the growing season.

Even though this robust tree can withstand drought, frequent watering will aid fruit production.

This tree does not have any known insect or disease concerns.

When it comes to picking jujube fruit, it is quite simple. When the jujube fruit turns dark brown, then it’s time to harvest it. Alternatively, you can leave the fruit on the tree until it is completely dry.

Instead of removing the fruit from the vine, cut the stem when harvesting. To the touch, the fruit should be firm. In a green fruit bag, keep the fruit between 11 to 13°C.

Now, let us discuss some frequently asked questions about jujube gardening;

What is the best way to plant a jujube tree?

Planting: Dig a hole big enough for the root system to fit in. The same depth should be used to plant bare-root trees as in the nursery row (or no more than 1-inch below). Because jujubes demand high light intensities for good output, they should be spaced 10 to 15 feet apart.

How long does it take a jujube tree to grow?

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How to grow jujube tree — **Jujube tree** (pic credit: pixabay)

Jujube trees are young. They bloom the same year as they are planted or grafted, and some cultivars can even produce fruit. In the second year, most varieties will produce a few fruits. Jujubes will produce a reasonable output after 4 to 5 years.

Is it necessary for jujube trees to be in full sun?

You need to plant jujube trees in full sun in any well-drained soil. Jujube trees are drought resilient once established, yet regular irrigation will result in larger yields. Without fertilizer, jujube can grow in practically any soil and at any pH. Once the tree is a year old, fertilize it with a fruit-tree fertilizer for the greatest results.

Is it possible to grow jujube from seed?

Although jujube trees are most usually propagated by vegetative methods, they can also be grown from seed. Once sown, the seeds don’t need much attention, but they must be well cleaned and prepared before planting to ensure germination.

What is the best way to fertilize a jujube tree?

Don’t fertilize jujubes when they’re first planted; instead, use 1 cup of 8-8-8 fertilizer to the soil under the tree’s canopy each spring after that. Better water jujube trees every few days after they’ve been planted until they’ve established themselves. When the weather is dry, mature trees only need to be watered once a month.

When it comes to jujube trees, how often do you water them?

Deeply Throughout the colder early spring and fall seasons, water newly planted jujube plants weekly (1 time per week), then 2 to 3 times per week during the hot summer season. Watering should be halted in the winter since deciduous plants go dormant (lose their leaves).

Is it true that jujube trees self-pollinate?

Although the Li Jujube is self-fertile, planting it with Lang will result in larger fruit production. Jujube trees are drought-tolerant, prickly, and pest and disease resistant.

Why are the leaves of my jujube tree turning yellow?

Cause – Fruit trees’ foliage becomes yellow when they are deficient in iron, manganese, or magnesium. Herbicides are sometimes present in tree fertilizers, causing the leaves to yellow and thicken. Trees grown in highly alkaline or poorly drained soil are prone to nutrient shortages.

What is the appearance of a jujube tree?

Why aren’t my fruit trees bearing fruit?

In most situations, a lack of pollination is the main culprit. This might be due to a variety of factors, the most prevalent of which is a lack of insect activity. To set fruit, most fruit trees require a pollination partner, so make sure your tree has a matching partner-in-crime nearby.

How long does jujube take to yield fruit?

Harvesting: Jujubes will begin to produce in 3 or 4 years, and the yield can be quite large. They’re ready when their hue shifts from lime green to a rusty brown. Pick fruit first thing in the morning for the finest flavour. Jujubes can be eaten straight from the tree or incorporated in recipes that call for apples.

What is the best jujube tree fertilizer?

Jujubes appear to thrive in the absence of fertilization. During the growing season, light broadcast applications of a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at two-month intervals will likely speed up growth. Do not fertilize the newly planted tree until it has had many months to establish itself.

How do you preserve jujube trees at a manageable size?

Weak and competitive branches should be trimmed out from the base of a jujube tree if it has too many primary shoots. We can utilize these to enhance the fruiting area of a tree that is lacking in branches, but we can thin them out or reduce them to 2- to 3-year-old secondary branches if the tree is overcrowded.

When do you prune your jujube trees?

The jujube tree is a somewhat fast-growing tree that requires frequent trimming to keep its growth and shape under control.
To protect your skin and eyes from the thorns and branches of the tree, put on strong gloves and safety glasses.
After the tree has gone dormant, prune it in late fall or early winter.

When is the best time to plant a jujube tree?

Early in the spring, before the tree leaves out, choose a sunny new planting location for the jujube sucker.
The root that connects the jujube sucker shoot to the parent plant should be dug up.
With a sharp garden shovel, cut a circle around the jujube sucker 6 inches from the trunk.

What is the best way to prune a jujube tree?

Trees must be pruned every year for them to produce a complete yield.

Pruning and conditioning
At about 50cm, cut the dominating central leader shoot.
Reduce the length of the following three top side shoots to 1 to 2 buds.
Any side shoots that are excessively upright should be bent horizontally.
Reduce the number of buds on the opposite side shoots to five or six.

What is the flavour of jujube fruit?

The fruits of the jujube tree are tiny and tasty. They have a chewy texture and a date-like flavour when dried. These fruits have a sweet, apple-like flavour when eaten fresh and make a healthy snack. They have a pit in the middle with two seeds that must be removed before eating.

What is the best way to care for a jujube plant?

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Jujube plant care — **Jujube plant** **care** (pic source: pixabay)

Drought-tolerant jujubes require water to yield luscious fruit. Allow a few inches or 5 to 10cm of soil to dry out before watering, and then water deeply. Each spring, fertilize and apply new compost.

Is it true that jujubes can withstand drought?

The tree forms a deep and significant taproot in natural settings, making it drought resilient. Jujube trees thrive in areas that have a long, hot, dry summer with enough rain early in the season and cool temperatures throughout the dormant season.

Is it possible to grow jujube trees in pots?

Yes, jujube trees may be grown in pots, and in fact, many apartment dwellers usually have potted jujube plants on their balconies.

What is the best way to propagate a jujube plant?

Jujubes are propagated by grafting two genotypes or cultivars together, just like many other deciduous fruit trees. Grafting requires two parts: the rootstock, which serves as the root system, and the scion, which is the cultivar or variety chosen.

How far apart should jujube plants be planted?

Because jujubes demand high light intensities for good output, they should be spaced 10 to 15 feet apart. Irrigation: The jujube tree’s drought tolerance is one of its most notable characteristics.

What kind of soil does jujube like?

Soils: Jujubes will grow in a variety of soil types, but they favour sandy, well-drained soils and struggle in heavy, poorly drained soils.

Planting: Dig a hole large enough for the root system to fit in. The same depth should be used to plant bare-root trees as in the nursery row (or no more than 1-inch below).

When jujube is ripe, how can you know if it’s ready to eat?

They’re ready when their hue shifts from lime green to a rusty brown. Pick fruit first thing in the morning for the finest flavour. Jujubes are used in a variety of ways. Jujubes can be eaten raw or incorporated in recipes that call for apples. Apple flavour is modest in ripe fruits.

Do jujubes ripen after they’ve been picked?

The majority of jujube fruit ripens around October and can be collected for a long time. Green fruit will not ripen after being picked, but slightly riper, pale-yellow fruit will ripen if sealed in a bag and exposed to ethylene gas produced by a ripening apple. Fruit that has not been fully ripened will be less delicious than fruit that has been fully matured on the tree.