How to Grow Dwarf Ambarella at Home (The No-Fail Guide)

Introduction

in this article, I’m going to show you How to Grow Dwarf Ambarella at Home

• Botanical name – Spondias dulcis
• Common name  – Dwarf Ambarella
• Other names – June plum, golden apple, Ambra, Amra.
• Origin – Polynesia
• Introduced – Portuguese
• Dicotyledonous plant
• About 1 – 1.5 m height
• Leaves – Conical shiny leaves
• Flowers – Small, inconspicuous white flowers in terminal panicles.
• Fruits arising in Clusters.
• A cluster has 10 – 25 fruits
• Immature fruits – light green
• Mature fruits – Dark green with ash colour pots
• Ripen fruits – Golden yellow 

Importance

1. The fruit is eaten fresh.
2. Used in juices, jams, jelly,
3. chutney and souces.
4. Used in canned forms.
5. The green fruit can be used in
6. salads, curries and pickles or relishes.
7. Used for flavouring soups and stews.
8. Young ambarella leaves are used in
9. fresh salads.
10. Some parts of ambarella tree are used
11. in ayurvedic medicins

Food value per 100g of edible portion

Calories	157.30
Total solids	14.53% – 40.35%
Moisture	59.65% – 85.47%
Protein	0.50% – 0.80%
Fat	0.28% – 1.79%
Sugar (Sucrose)	8.05% – 10.54%
Acid	0.47%
Crude fiber	0.85% – 3.60%
Ash	0.44% – 0.65%

Health Benefits of Ambarella

• Preventing heart disease
• Eye health
• Increase endurance
• As an antioxidant
• Wound healing
• Overcome anaemia
• Prevent premature ageing
• Controlling cholesterol levels
• Recovery of body
• Maintain healthy bones and teeth

Cultivation

Climate Requirements

• Dwarf ambarella grows well in warm subtropical climates and the tropics up to 700m.
• There are some drought tolerance and foliage may be shed briefly when under stress.
• There is very little frost tolerance.

Soil Requirements

The dwarf ambarella grows on all types of soil, including limestone in Florida, as long as they are well-drained.

Agronomic practices

• Watering
• Weeding
• Make hole
• Fertilizer application

Watering

• Make sure to lightly soak the soil and then do not water again until the top 2 inches are dry.
• Depending on light conditions, location and foliage watering may be required weekly or daily.
• Be sure to not overwater, mucky soil will almost always cause decay and ultimately kill the tree.

Weeding

• When the tree is young curb the weeds around the tree
• When the tree has grown, keep a one-meter circle around the tree free of weeds.

Field Establishment

• Recommended spacing – 2m × 2m
• First, the appropriate land is selected, the holes are cut and filled.
• Size of holes – (2ft × 2ft × 2ft)
• Filling the holes for use

     Topsoil : compost : cow dune

1. : 1: 1  ratio.
2. After the seedling plant.

Fertilizer application

Fertilizer recommendation

When to apply	Urea (g)	Rock phosphate(g)	MOP(g)
Planting hole	60	115	50
6 Months after planting	30	60	25
1 Year after planting	60	115	50
1.5 Year after planting	60	115	50
2 Year after planting	60	115	50

• Apply the above fertilizer twice a year

Pests and Disease

• In Indonesia, the leaves are severely attacked by the larvae of the dingdong Spring – beetle. (Podontiaaffinis).
• In Costa Rica, the bark is eaten by a Wasp, causing necrosis which leads to death.
• In Jamaica, the tree is subject to gummosis and is consequently short-lived.       
• In Indian condition, Aphid, Fruit fly and Mite cause damage up to a certain extent. 

Control pests

• Mite, Aphids – Weed control, Continues water supply, Chemical control by abamectin.
• Fruit fly – Use pheromone traps, Destroy affected pots, Pod covering, Use recommended insecticides.

Harvesting

• The fruit is harvested green for the Asian commercial market.
• whilst Europeans prefer the ripe fruit harvested when yellow or when there is colour changed and allowed to ripen in a few days. 

Ripening

• The pit, however, hardens upon ripening.
• The best ambarella has a waxy, glossy skin with no signs of bruises.
• The slight discolouration is natural, as is the occasional small dark spot.
• The aroma should be pleasant, tropical, floral and slightly musky at peak ripeness.

Storing

• If ambarella needs ripening, keep them at room temperature; over the course of a week, the fruits will reach maturity.
• Ambarellas keep for an additional two weeks when placed in the refrigerator.
• Though the taste will not be adversely affected, expect the fruits to lose their golden lustre during cool storage.
• Let ambarellas sit at room temperature for an hour before Consuming.
• Do not chill the fruits below 5⁰C.

Value-added products

• Export ambarella         
• Ambarella jam      
• Ambarella nectar
• Ambarella juice
• Ambarella Chutney
• Bottled ambarella curry
• Ambarella candy
• Ambarella pickle

Check out my other article:Bael Cultivation (Full Guide)