How to grow Ackee tree from seed to harvest

According to history Ackee originated from Ivory Coast and Gold Coast of West tropical Africa. The scientific name of Ackee is called  Blighia sapida. Some of the common names are ackee, akee, achee, vegetable brains. This particular fruit belongs to the family of Sapindaceae. Some of the relatives of Ackee are lychee, longan, rambutan, etc. The following are the steps on how to grow Ackee tree from seed to harvest.

The site selection for planting

Under normal condition Ackee is planted in full sun for best growth and fruit production. Make sure you select a part of the landscape away from other trees, buildings and structures, and power lines. Don’t forget that the trees can become large if not pruned to contain their size. Make sure you select the warmest area of the landscape that does not flood (or remain wet) after typical summer rains. If you want to start digging, make sure you contact your local utilities to avoid disrupting water, cable, and electrical lines. This particular tree really grows well in well-drained, deep, fertile soils and also non-fertile soils like sands and oolitic limestone.

The propagation of Ackee tree

This particular fruit is propagated by seed. The Ackee seeds are short-lived, so make sure it is planted within a few days after extraction from the fruit. The Ackee seeds may take two to three months to germinate. The Ackee seedling can begin to produce fruit in three to six years.

The Spacing of the Ackee tree

Try and make sure the Ackee trees are planted in full sun but generally it should be at least 25 to 30 ft (6.7–7.6 m) from adjacent trees and structures. If the Ackee trees are planted too close to other trees or structures it may not grow normally or produce much fruit due to shading.

How to plant an Ackee tree

Without been told the proper planting of the Ackee tree is one of the most important steps to achieve a successfully growing strong, productive tree. One of the first thing to do is to choose a healthy nursery tree. Under normal condition nursery ackee trees are grown in 3-gallon (11-liter) containers and trees stand 2 to 4 ft (0.6–0.9 liters) from the soil media. Make sure you avoid large trees in smaller containers because the root system may be “root bound.” Which actually means that all the available space in the container has been filled with roots to the point that the tap root is growing along the edge of the container in a circular fashion. Also root-bound root systems may likely not grow properly once they are planted in the ground. Make sure you really inspect the tree for insect pests and diseases, and also inspect the trunk of the tree for wounds and constrictions. Make sure you select a healthy tree and also water it regularly in preparation for planting in the ground.

The fertilizer of the Ackee tree

Make sure the young Ackee trees are fertilized every one to two months during the first year, you can start with 1/4 lb (114 g) of fertilizer and later increase to 1 lb (454 g) per tree. Later on three or four applications per year in amounts proportionate to increase the size of the tree, make sure you do not exceed 20 lb per tree per year.

The Watering of the Ackee tree

Make sure the newly planted ackee trees are watered at planting and also every other day for the first week or so and then one to two times a week for the first couple of months. If there is a prolonged dry periods make sure the newly planted and the young ackee trees  are well watered twice a week. Immediately the rainy season arrives, you may reduce irrigation or stopped it.

The harvesting of Ackee fruit

This particular fruit can be harvested immediately after the fruit has split longitudinally. Don’t forget that if the fruit are picked prior to splitting or it has been split too long (eg over ripe) it is very poisonous.