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Cultural Calendar for Mature Caimito Trees


From the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida


Newly planted caimito trees should be watered at planting and every other day for the first week or so and then 1 to 2 times a week for the first couple of months. During prolonged dry periods (e.g., 5 or more days of little to no rainfall), newly planted and young caimito trees (first 3 years) should be well watered twice a week. Once the rainy season arrives, irrigation frequency may be reduced or stopped.

Once caimito trees are 4 or more years old, irrigation will be beneficial to plant growth and crop yields during prolonged dry periods. The specific water requirements for mature trees have not been determined. However, as with other tree crops, the period from bloom and through fruit development is important, and drought stress should be avoided at this time with periodic watering.


Operation Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
General1 Apply NPK   Apply NPK   Apply NPK   Apply NPK       Apply NPK  
Nutritional sprays2       Foliar applications during the warm season are more effective than during cool periods.    
Iron applications     Dry soil applications of ferrous (iron) sulfate to neutral and low-pH soils and liquid soil drench applications to high-pH soils are more effective during the warm season.    
Watering Water trees during prolonged dry periods.       Reduce watering to slow or stop plant growth and enhance flowering.
Insect control Monitor for leaf and fruit diseases. Contact your local county extension agent for current control recommendations for more information.
Disease control Monitor for leaf and fruit diseases. Contact your local county extension agent for current control recommendations for more information.
Pruning       Selectively prune trees after the harvest season.     Follow-up pruning      
1 NPK, nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium; apply granular fertilizer 3-4 times per year. Reduce the amount of NPK application during late summer, early fall to slow plant growth in preparation for flowering in the late fall.
2 Foliar nutritional spray materials should contain magnesium, manganese, zinc and possibly other micronutrients.



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Bibliography

Crane, Jonathan H., and Carlos F. Balerdi. "Caimito (Star Apple) Growing in the Florida Home Landscape." Horticultural Sciences Dept., UF/IFAS Extension, HS1069, Original pub. Jan. 2006, Revised Jan. 2009 and Nov. 2016, Reviewed Dec. 2019, EDIS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs309. Accessed 12 Apr. 2017, 15 Apr. 2020.

Published 24 Dec. 2014 LR. Last update 15 Apr. 2020 LR
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