skip to main content

Fruit & Orchards

Jujube still flowering, no fruit set

8 years ago

I have both Sugarcane and Li, both a few years old (never fruited before), and filled with flowers. Last year there were flowers throughout much of August too, but no fruit!

Pollination should not be an issue of course, as trees are maybe 15 feet apart. Why not fruit set? When do they usually set fruit in zone 6? How long do they take to ripen?

Keep in mind I'm in a proven climate for jujube, many are grown nearby and sold at farmer's markets, and my trees appear to be plenty old enough to bear good crops.

Thanks for any info...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
8 years ago
My Sugarcane set the yr it was planted in Alpine, TX. Li was much slower. I had about 6 varieties for pollination. So don't know what your issue might be. Grafting on more varieties is all I can suggest.
Daniel North Texas
8 years ago
They should be self-fertile. humm.. Sounds downright scary, but I have heard that a great way to force them into bearing heavily is to stress them a bit by gouging the trunk.. some Chinese farmers cut the bark of Jujube trunk - it somehow sparks a reproduction response in the plants and helps prevent the tree from dropping fruit.. it is a technique that has been used (supposedly) for centuries. Here is a link http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTMyNDEwMjY4.html. It is in Chinese, so I have NO IDEA what is happening other than they are scoring the trunks.. research it!
Related Discussions
Jujube Honey Jar not fruiting
Q
Comments (6)
the new stem from the bottom may be from the root stock? if so, you need to prune it out and get new growth from above the graft. If everything above the graft rotted out and is dead, you could do your own new graft to the new stem using material from your healthy trees. as to why no fruit, its hard to say without more info, but from what you have said here, you may be giving too much water (since you had rot) The main thing though, you say you bought them and planted them this year? It is not unusual for new trees to have no fruit the first year due to the stress of transplanting. The older trees should be old enough. I have Li and Lang, the Lang starts it's bloom about 10 days after Li but I'm not sure that's your problem.
...See More
4-yr old Varigated Pink Lemon still not fruiting?
Q
Comments (1)
Trueblue, I live in Connecticut, but did live for a decade in Florida, and I grow a variety of citrus in containers, so this reply is not completely out of the blue! My guesses: The variegated lemon is by the very nature of that trait less robust than the Ponderosa Lemon (which are of course very robust if awkward growers), and grapefruits. The Minneola Tangelo may suffer from the same issue. The solution may be as simple as a better fertilizing schedule. Another possibility is that the soil the trees are growing on is not good. The two successfully fruiting trees may be in slightly better soil, or they may just be a bit more tolerant. I might dig a hole a couple of feet away from the drip line of the branches of the two struggling trees and bring the soil to the agricultural station or a good nursery for testing. Don
...See More
Has Anyone Eaten A Florida-Grown Jujube Fruit?
Q
Comments (33)
@bananafan, check this out, it has some nice pix of fruiting jujubes, as well as important horticultural details. Like mulberries, jujube flowers and fruits on new growth, so you could literally carve it up as you see fit. As the two last links show, you could grow them close together, simply by cutting off lateral branches to about 6 inches long, and they will grow like columnar italian cypress trees, which grow elegantly slender and upwards. The 6-inch long lateral branches will then thicken, and form fruiting spurs. Most jujube growers would let their columnar jujubes grow to a manageable 10 feet tall, then chop off any vertical shoots, and just let the lateral shoots send out fruiting branches for easy access. This practice also maximizes the trunk strength to height ratio. Not that it is much needed, since a 10" diameter jujube trunk will easily support one end of a hammock(jujube wood provides one of the world's strongest lumbers) http://www.wildlifegrowers.com/QDMA_Jujube_article.pdf http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1157&g2_GALLERYSID=8c777c1f662328237ae4db83f8c0d1c6 http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1682
...See More
My Mortgage Lifter is 5.5 foot and still no fruit set!
Q
Comments (3)
Would love to hear if I'm likely to ever get fruit off this plant, because if not I'm inclined to turf it in favour of something that will produce. ***** Slashy, there's no way that anyone can tell you if it will set fruit IMO. How tall a plant it is means not much to me b/c I grow most of my plants by sprawling. I've grown several different strains of Mortgage Lifter several times, especially the Estler ML which I like better than the Radiator Charlie one, and they've grown and set fruit like all my other plants. I don't think your plant needs more sun since all the others are setting fruit. Is there any blossom drop due to too high temps or too much humidity? Not all varieties are the same when it comes to blossom drop. Too rich soils or too much N fertilizer can inhibit blossom formation and/or fruit set but again, all your others are setting fruit so that doesn't seem to be a problem either. Your season downunder is in the early stages. If it were me I'd let the plant go and not send it to an early death.( smile) Carolyn
...See More
Daniel North Texas
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I did a quick google search and the technique is called "Girdling" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girdling

Obviously I'm not suggesting the girdle the entire trunk of the tree (that would kill it) - just a small bit.. any others with experience here would be appreciated if they could chime in..
nmfruit
Original Author
8 years ago
Very interesting Daniel! I should report as a follow up that I did recently find two jujubes on the sugarcane. They are still immature, and I'm thinking they were not set until quite recently, but I'm optimistic they will ripen before first frost.

Incidentally, I will probably wait another year before getting bent out of shape over no jujubes from my trees. I have since added another good-sized Li, so things should work out eventually I guess.

Thanks for your info...
Sue Trevor
3 years ago
Hi, did you ever find out the solution? I have a Jujube tree that was inherited from the previous owner of my home. It is a beautiful, healthy tree with flowers everywhere (it's been flowering for months), but no fruit.

Related Stories

ENTERTAINING Eye-Catching Centerpieces Beyond Flowers and Fruit

By Catherine Funkhouser

Use your imagination to create a tableau that reflects your surroundings, creates dramatic tension or elicits surprise

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Crazy for Fruit Trees

By Marianne Lipanovich

Whether a single citrus or a mini apple orchard, even the smallest landscape space can bear deliriously delicious fruit

SELLING YOUR HOUSE Save Money on Home Staging and Still Sell Faster

By Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

Spend only where it matters on home staging to keep money in your pocket and buyers lined up

MOST POPULAR How to Get Rid of Those Pesky Summer Fruit Flies

By Mitchell Parker

Learn what fruit flies are, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them in your home

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Grow Blueberries for Their Fruit and More

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

Eastern gardeners should consider growing blueberry plants for their delicious fruits, bee-friendly spring blooms and brilliant fall foliage

FALL GARDENING 5 Fall Fruits You Can Grow in Containers

Brighten your porch or patio with a potted pomegranate, kumquat, blueberry bush or another great fall fruit

DINING ROOMS Guest Picks: Set Your Table Dutch-Master Style

By MFAMB aka Jenny

Make your Thanksgiving feast pop against moody black and rich gold pieces inspired by still-life paintings

BENEFICIAL INSECTS Attract Pollinators for a Productive Edible Garden

By Abundant City

You can lure bees, butterflies and birds into your yard with the right flowers and nesting spots

HEALTHY HOME 12 Ways to Set Up Your Kitchen for Healthy Eating

By Becky Harris

Making smart food choices is easier when your kitchen is part of your support team

DECORATING GUIDES Set the Right Mood With the Right Lines

By Design With Science

Soothe with curves or go straight-up efficient. Learn the effects of lines in rooms to get the feeing you’re after

Sponsored

J.Holderby - Renovations

4 Reviews

Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

More Discussions

Advice on planting blueberry plant

9

Small pomegranate for container?

1

Whats wrong with my apple tree?

18

Peach tree dead buds

2

how to ripen Pyrus communis bosc pears

0