Tropical Fruit > Tropical Fruit Discussion
Breadfruit Festival in Hawaii
fruitlovers:
Went today to a nice event with speakers, luncheon with many dishes prepared with breadfruit, handicrafts, and demonstrations, such as making of breadfruit cloth and breadfruit poi (pounded breadfruit paste). Main speaker was Dr. Diane Ragone, our local expert, and probably one of leading world specialist on breadfruit (see breadfruit.org). There is an attempt here to revitalize breadfruit in Hawaii and also to introduce breadfruit in countries that have malnutrition/starvation. Fortunately many of the countries with high rate of malnutrition are in tropical areas where breadfruit grows well. Breadfruit trees grown in proper climate make massive amounts of food of high quality and very nutritious (very high in iron and potassium). The breadfruit institute has started to tissue culture breadfruit cultivars to mass produce them. So far they have only released one cultivar, the Samoan Ma'afala, but will be propagating and releasing others soon. Dr. Ragone mentioned she had over the years collected over 400 selections of breadfruit, but the institute is so far only able to grow and maintain about 180. Still it's by far the largest collection of breadfruit on the planet. There are two growing centers, one on Kauai and the main one on Maui.
Oscar
Saltcayman:
Very cool oscar. Thanks. That is a worthy cause. I am growing one breadfruit seedling. My main concern,if I can get the tree to maturity, is drought. How drought tolerant are breadfruit trees? Thanks, dave
fruitlovers:
--- Quote from: Saltcayman on March 04, 2012, 07:44:36 AM ---Very cool oscar. Thanks. That is a worthy cause. I am growing one breadfruit seedling. My main concern,if I can get the tree to maturity, is drought. How drought tolerant are breadfruit trees? Thanks, dave
--- End quote ---
This topic came up in one of the presentations. The answer was that the trickiest part is getting the plant established in a dry area. Once it is established with lots of watering and the plants has good root system set down, then if you mulch around the tree it is pretty drought tolerant.
Oscar
Saltcayman:
Thanks oscar, that is great to hear. I lost a two year old seedling a few years back when the cistern went dry and the r/o on the island was broken. I am trying it again with heavy mulch and have my fingers crossed. Dave
fruitlovers:
Yes, baby that breadfruit tree for the first 1-2 years, lots of water and fert and TLC, then it should do well on its own.
Oscar
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