If you have the urge to grow tropical fruit trees and you live in Florida or Hawaii then things are fairly easy.
If you live elsewhere you can also give it a try, given a warm protected position many ‘tropical’ fruit trees can be grown in less than tropical conditions.
Many species need protection when they are young and once established can withstand colder temperatures.
Frost is usually a problem so in frost prone areas consider growing tropical trees in containers so that they can be moved to a sheltered position or indoors as required.
It is also worth looking for trees that have been grown or grafted onto dwarfing rootstock, much easier to grow in containers.
Tropical Fruit Varieties
For the home gardener the best varieties will be the dwarf ones.
- Black Sapote (zone 10b)
- Star Fruit (zones 9-11)
- Cherry of the Rio Grande (zones 9-11)
- Mango (zone 10)
- Miracle Fruit
- Jackfruit
- Banana
- Santol
- Cherimoya
- Mangsteen
- Abiu
Growing conditions and care.
The best way to grow tropical fruit trees in non tropical zones is to try to mimic the environment. We are looking at warmth and water in most cases.
Growing Tropical Fruit Trees in Cooler Climates
It is not always possible, however if you can create the right microclimate, or have a heated greenhouse, you can give it a try.
- A strategically placed garden with a south facing wall could be the best position.
- If you are lucky enough to have a masonry wall this is an advantage. The thermal mass retains warmth and with some added protection in the colder months you have a head start.
- You can also look for smaller growing varieties and over winter them in a greenhouse, a warm patio or indoors.
Even with these conditions it will be the sub tropical varieties that have the best chance.
