Author Topic: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.  (Read 1585 times)

Kankan

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Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« on: August 14, 2022, 10:39:36 AM »
I've tried many times and the plant just seems to slowly languish and die. I've read they like sun and can handle the temperatures here. Has anyone in CA had luck growing these? Full sun? Acid soil? whats the trick?

Thanks in advance to any responders!

agroventuresperu

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2022, 11:13:43 AM »
What's the scientific name?

Jaboticaba45

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2022, 12:24:08 PM »
What's the scientific name?
Artocarpus parvus
Finally the name got cleared up after decades of confusion.

Kankan

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2022, 10:23:42 PM »
Thanks Jaboticaba45, It's supposed to be a great tasting fruit (at least theres a variety out there that has earned multiple opinions that are favorable). Its related to hampedak, A. integer Merr.; jackfruit A. heterophyllus; lakoocha, A. lakoocha Roxb.; marang, A. odoratissimus; pingan, A. saraswakensis; butong, A. nitidus; monkey jackfruit but I've heard more cold hardy. Just like achacha, they just seem to not want to live here...

palingkecil

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2022, 03:34:58 AM »
I almost buy a tree! Have you ever tried to grow lakoocha instead?
I read that it is more cold hardy.
How about jackedak/nangkadak? They all supposed to taste similar.

Jaboticaba45

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2022, 08:03:27 AM »
I almost buy a tree! Have you ever tried to grow lakoocha instead?
I read that it is more cold hardy.
How about jackedak/nangkadak? They all supposed to taste similar.
Having tasted lakoocha it is not the best fruit compared to kwai muk.
Lakoocha is most used for pickles/chutneys is what I have read
When it’s ripe, it’s not too sweet and I would rank kwai muk over it.

hammer524

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2022, 11:27:22 AM »
In one of Joe Hewitt's youtube videos I remember that his Kwai Muk grew pretty well in the Bay Area. I'm trying to grow it out here because of that.

elouicious

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2022, 03:39:25 PM »
I've tried to grow, and killed all of these multiple times-

Artocarpus are a pain in the ass blend of gigantic, hungry, and cold intolerant plants

Jaboticaba45

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2022, 04:03:09 PM »
I've tried to grow, and killed all of these multiple times-

Artocarpus are a pain in the ass blend of gigantic, hungry, and cold intolerant plants
Well I gotta say tha kwai muk and lakoocha can take the cold and can take light freezes according to people. Adam's got froze and came back from the roots
I think there was someone in NY who had a flowering kwai muk
But for the most part, yes they get way too big and are way to sensitive.

Kankan

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2022, 04:05:22 PM »
I've tried lakoocha but it was small and didnt make it. I think if I were to have success with Kwai Muk it would be in a pot rather than in the ground. Maybe doesnt like 90-100 degrees F?

CGameProgrammer

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2022, 10:16:49 PM »
I bought a Kwai Muk from TopTropicals a couple of years ago, here in San Diego, and it's done just fine for me. Way too young to flower but it remains evergreen even through winter. I just have it in regular potting soil. At first I had it in the ground but felt it got too little sun, so now it's in a pot on my balcony and seems to do better. I need to find a sufficiently sunny spot in the ground for it.

I haven't ever fertilized it, I just give it water.

Kankan

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2022, 11:43:03 PM »
CGameProgrammer- Thats good to hear! Mine always did better in a pot and tanked once they were put in the ground. Im pretty careful about acclimating them to sun first so I dont think it was that. Can you tell me if your Kwai Muk is in morning sun only or how many hours of sun/day? What soil did you use?

I feel like theres a secret with growing these. I've had decent luck with its relative-Jackfruit-but no go on Kwai Muk!

Epicatt2

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2022, 04:14:54 AM »
I keep wondering whether Kwai Muk would be a good choice to grow here in Tampa,, FL - 9b.

Now after reading in this thread that they get very large and are sensitive to the cold (how much cold can they survive?) I am also wondering whether there are any selected varieties in the trade.  And ideally a dwarf or semi-dwarf cultivar that could be recommended for a space-limited yard in town.

TIA

Paul M.
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Jaboticaba45

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2022, 07:55:04 AM »
I keep wondering whether Kwai Muk would be a good choice to grow here in Tampa,, FL - 9b.

Now after reading in this thread that they get very large and are sensitive to the cold (how much cold can they survive?) I am also wondering whether there are any selected varieties in the trade.  And ideally a dwarf or semi-dwarf cultivar that could be recommended for a space-limited yard in town.

TIA

Paul M.
==
Kwai muk is a good choice
Doesn’t get to the size of other artocarpus
The can also take a freeze.
Adam had lakoocha and Kwai muk up in a Orlando
They survived several freezes and he speculates them to be very hardy.
Fruit of Kwai muk is good. Think of it like a citrus peach mango that’s tart.

brian

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2022, 08:34:49 PM »
I have a jackfruit in-ground in my greenhouse and it is vigorous and healthy.  I recently planted a kwai muk that was struggling in a pot and seems much happier since I put it in the ground.  I am not sure about the climate in CA but as in general plants are always much happier in ground than in containers for me, all else equal.

Rtreid

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #15 on: August 17, 2022, 11:01:02 PM »
I have one that has been in the ground for about 8 years.  It is about 6 ft tall and flowers every year but has not set a fruit.  It is in full sun, against a fence so it gets extra radiant heat.  It grows ok, but nothing spectacular with no special treatment, and a mix of clay and red sandstone soil.

Kankan

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Re: Growing Kwai Muk in Southern CA.
« Reply #16 on: August 18, 2022, 02:22:34 AM »
Rtreid-Thats encouraging to hear! Not sure what part of CA your in, does it get over 100F? Is your soils acidic or alkaline? Any fertilizer regimen? What does your water schedule look like? I suspect my DG somewhat clayless alkaline leaning soil may not be conducive to Kwai Muk growing(?)