How to Care for Breadfruit Plants

Breadfruit trees are native to the islands of the Pacific. The fruit, which has a long shelf life, was once very popular with sailors, who carried it on voyages for long-term nutrition. Today these large trees are grown in home gardens for their beauty and fruit. Take care of your breadfruit tree and it may live and produce fruit for up to 50 years.

Things You'll Need

• Quick-draining soil
• Shade cloth

Instructions

1. Plant your breadfruit tree from seed or as a sapling, in an area that will support it. Breadfruit plants are subtropical and require good levels of humidity with warm temperatures. Make sure your area can provide temperatures of 60 to 100 degrees year round. If you live in a cooler area, pot the breadfruit tree to take inside during low temperatures.

2. Plant breadfruit trees in quick-draining, rich soil. Although some research shows that breadfruit trees can grow in poor soil, if you have the option of providing more nutrition to plants, you should always do so.

3. Protect young breadfruit trees from direct sun using shade cloth, or shade from other plants and structures. Once the breadfruit tree is established (at least 1 year old), it needs full sun to grow. At that time, remove the shade cloth, or whatever has been shading it up to that point.

4. Maintain the moisture of your breadfruit tree, especially if you live in an area that isn't naturally humid. Breadfruit trees do best if they receive 80 to 100 inches of water a year through natural rainfall or irrigation.

Tips & Warnings

• Breadfruit trees naturally grow very tall (30 to 60 feet). Keep your tree pruned down to keep the breadfruit within reach.

• Breadfruit trees start producing fruit when they're 6 years old.

• Frequent wind and lack of moisture will cause breadfruit trees to die.

References

• "Fruits of Warm Climates"; Julia F. Morton; 1987
• FAO: Breadfruit