Introduction:
- In reality, this is an apple berry which is also known as Indianjujube or apple ber
- Apple bor plants are relatively low-maintenance. With a little care, they will continue to give you fruits for years.
- To ensure good fruiting, the plant needs plenty of sunlight.
- If kept in shade, it will not flower well, so it should be placed where it receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.
- For good growth in a pot, regular fertilization is essential.
- Once a month, add two handfuls of vermi compost and well-rotted cow dung compost to the soil.
- The plant requires very little water.
- Overwatering can lead to root rot and nutrient loss.
- Water only when the topsoil feels dry.
- Apple bor is quite resistant to diseases, but if you notice any pests, mix 500 ml neem oil in 1 liter of water and spray it all over the plant.
In this blog I will show you how to plant apple bor in a pot. I will also explain how you can grow a lot of large, juicy apple berries in a completely organic way. I will cover the proper care of the plant at different growth stages, from planting to harvesting, with updates on its growth over two years.
Appearance:
Apple ber looks like a green apple and has a taste that combines the flavors of jujube and apple. It is very easy to grow an apple ber plant in a pot. Though it can also be grown from seeds, it takes four to five years or sometimes even more for the plant grown from seeds to start fruiting. Therefore, the best way to grow apple ber is by using grafted or air-layered plants, which start fruiting within six to eight months because they are mature grafted plants.
Harvesting time:
I purchased this apple bor plant from a local nursery for around 150 rupees. It is quite healthy and even this small plant is producing fruits. The best time to plant it is during the rainy season, from February to March. By September, flowers begin to appear, and by December, the fruits are ready to be harvested.
Repoting Process:
Now I will shift the plant from its growing bag to a larger container. Apple ber needs a large pot as its roots spread out quite extensively. If you use a small pot, the plant will have reduced growth and slower fruiting. A pot that is at least 20 inches in diameter is ideal. I have transferred the plant into a container made from an old classic fruit box.
Soil Preparation:
Although apple ber plants grow well in any well-drained soil, for pot planting, you will need nutrient-rich soil. To make the best supporting mix, you need 50% garden soil, 30% vermicompost, 20% cow dung compost, and a little bit of peat moss. You can also add a handful of neem powder, which acts as an organic fungicide.
Flowering:
A month later, this plant has settled well and has developed new branches. It has grown about 18 inches tall. It has been four months since the plant was transplanted, and flowering has begun. To ensure abundant flowering and prevent the flowers from dropping, mix well-rotted cow dung, mustard cake powder, and vermicompost in equal quantities. Apply this mixture to the soil around the plant. After five months, the plant is full of flowers, and small fruits have started to appear.
Fertilizers:
The fertilizer we applied last month has worked well. I have placed this plant on my rooftop where it gets sunlight throughout the day. After seven months, most of the flowers have converted into fruits, which have grown a bit larger. You can see that some branches are still having issues.
It has been eight months since the transplant, and this two-foot plant is completely full of fruits. To prevent the branches from breaking under the weight of the fruits, I have supported them with bamboo sticks. Now, I will harvest the ripe fruits. When the fruits turn from dark green to a golden light green color, they are ready for harvesting.
How Plant grow Rapidly?
This season, the first fruits are about one to one and a half kilograms in size. After harvesting the fruits of the season, fertilize the plant again with an organic fertilizer mix. This will help the plant grow rapidly and thicken up during the growing season.
After 16 months, see how thick the trunk has become and the tree has also grown about six feet tall. It has produced many new branches, making the tree quite happy. It's September, and the plant is experiencing tremendous growth. You can see that each branch is covered with lots of flowers.
How to get maximum fruiting?
To get the maximum fruiting, we will start fertilizing with organic fertilizers again as we did in the previous season. This will ensure the plant gets balanced nutrition. I have made a detailed video on how to prepare the best natural fertilizers for vegetable and soft plants at home. You can watch it by clicking the link in the description box or pinned comment. Follow these simple tips, and you can also grow tasty and healthy apple berries in your rooftop, balcony, or garden just like this.
