Jujube

These spindly trees are upright and lose their leaves in winter. Plant where you can mow around them, as they will reproduce more trees through root suckers if not kept in check.

Care of Jujube Trees  

Planting: Plant during the winter when you purchase the tree (January to early July). Plant in full sun with good drainage. Dig a hole that is wide and deep enough to accommodate the root system. Spread the roots out. The graft, where the tree was grafted onto a hardy disease resistant variety, should be a couple of inches above the soil when you finish planting. Use existing soil only – no amendments. Water in well, and water every day for a few days unless it rains.. They are very upright, so they can be planted 4’ or 5’ from each other.

Care: These trees have no problem with freezes. drained after a rain or watering. So, a large sunny spot with good drainage is best.

Watering: Like all fruit, make sure jujubes get consistent water in the first few years.  Watering can come from rain or a hose.  During the first year, provide the tree with about 7 gallons of water per week, preferably once a week and water slowly.  This will be a little more than 3 minutes with a ½” hose and 1 ½ minutes with a 5/8” hose.  Remember to account for rainfall when determining how much to water with a hose.

Harvesting: They will start producing in 3 or 4 years, and the production can be very heavy. They are ready when they start to change color from lime green to a rust color.

Fertilize with a couple of cups of cottonseed meal or other organic fertilizer in late February or early March.

Pollination: It is best to have a pollinator, so buy two trees or later find graft wood from someone’s existing tree and graft onto your tree.

Varieties of Jujubes for the Houston Area Climate

Lang Jujube Lang is the most widely grown named variety in Texas. It produces heavy crops of large pear shaped fruit that matures ahead of the Li variety. Lang produces a more spreading tree than other jujube trees.

Li Jujube This fruit is almost round and 3-4 inches long. Some people like to eat this cultivar green straight off the tree, but most prefer to pick the fruit when amber sports appear, or even wait until the fruit is completely brown. The fruit ripens well on a kitchen counter or in the refrigerator. The trees are cold hardy to Ohio. Zones 5-10

Tigertooth Considered one of the best jujubes; vigorous tree; long fruit has crisp texture like an apple; mild flavor; quite sweet; a heavy producer every year.

Sugarcane Small to medium fruit which can be round or elongated.  Extremely sweet fruit on a very spiny plant.  The fruit is worth the spines!