Hunt Institute Archives Text Discovery Platform

Page transcription

14.

tropical climates do not seem so favorable as those of the very warm subtropics. Thus in southern India the common purple form fruits much better above than below 2,000 ft., and in Hawaii is successful only above 1000 feet. The yellow form thrives at low elevations in Hawaii and El Salvador, but little is known of its behavior elsewhere. The only important soil requirement, other than low salinity is good drainage.

Seeds are commonly used for propagation, although cuttings can be rooted. Seedlings are almost always able to cross-pollinate each other, while the prevailing self-incompatibility in this species makes cuttings from the same plant unable to become pollinated. Seeds can be stored in the fruits at 55 degrees F. for up to 2 months, or may be washed, dried in the shade, and stored in sealed containers as long as 12 months. Germination takes 3 to 6 weeks. It is better to germinate seeds in fumigated soil. When seedlings are 6 to 8 in. tall, about 2 or 3 months after planting, they are set in the field.

The vines are commonly planted 15 ft. apart, in rows 10 ft. apart. Like grapevines, they need some sort of support, usually a trellis, preferably of horizontal type. They respond to fertilizer applications, which may be like those for papayas. Pruning may or may not be profitable. Usually it is desirable, after fruiting, to prune back the long shoots to the level of the trellis wires so that the next crop will be borne by shoots starting at this level. Renewal pruning may be needed after 3 or 4 years because so much unfruitful old wood has accumulated and the vines need re-invigoration.

Flowers are borne only on new shoots, usually appearing first about 5 months after field planting. Under tropical conditions the time from flower to mature fruit is about 5 to 10 weeks; this