You Can't Beat Star Fruit for Major Production

Starfruits Turn Yellow When Ripe
St. Petersburg, Florida
October 27, 2015 8:25pm CST
My beautiful star fruit tree is exploding with flowers and fruit. I am completely amazed at what a producer it is. I bought it about three years ago, and it has surpassed all my expectations. When I bought it, it wasn't as tall as I am, planted. I used to talk to it, standing beside it, and I told it that it needed to get big and strong. Well, star fruit trees must be great believers in the spoken word, because now it is approximately 18' and going on it's second year of producing a bumpere crop of starfruits. I will say that for anyone living in a tropical, sub-tropical or even a wee bit north of that (Texas comes to mind), star fruit trees are a great option. I don't know how far north they grow, but they like the warmer weather. I have not had problems with disease of any kind, and it doesn't seem picky at all. It has medium to dark green frilly leaves, which makes it a great yard tree. It will grow to about 30' or so, depending on how you keep it trimmed. Some people keep it topped off to better manage it. The fruits are so juicy, and taste a bit like apple. There are the tart varieties and sweet. I have the sweet. I don't pick them until they are golden, with most of the green off. The picture here is of an unripe star fruit. I just came back from a walk with my cat, and I always tell the tree how beautiful "she" is. It doesn't need a "mate" in order to set fruit, and the bees just love the masses of small lavender flowers that coat the branches. Star fruits are best eaten raw by themselves or in a salad. They have small seeds, which can be planted in a pot as gifts for friends. You can find a lot more about them on YouTube if you like.
9 people like this
8 responses
@allknowing (136125)
• India
28 Oct 15
I have that tree that yielded profusely. We had a mini tornado in July which chopped off the top of this tree. Now it has branched off and the wings are quite low that I will be able hand pick the fruits. The tree is in full bloom at the moment. Parrots love this fruit but I am not sure if they will be comfortable coming down to the level that the tree is now.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
28 Oct 15
It's a delicious fruits specially when it's already ripe . But i haven't tried putting it in a salad . What's the other ingredients please for that particular salad?
2 people like this
• St. Petersburg, Florida
28 Oct 15
Just chop it (remove seeds) in with other fruits, and some honey. You can also use honey and sour cream. This works best with apples, grapes, celery, nuts, bananas. They can also be juiced, I would expect. Never tried it, but will this year.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
29 Oct 15
@ThankyouLord I will try it when that is in season . Thank you .
1 person likes this
@paigea (36317)
• Canada
31 Jan 16
@ThankyouLord mmm, that sounds like a nice salad!
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
3 Nov 15
You are truly blessed. I have never tasted star fruit. It is good to know that the trees are such good producers. Of course it does not hurt that you have taken such good care of it.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
28 Oct 15
We don't call them star fruit in Jamaica - I think that we call them Jimbalin! lol
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30352)
• United Kingdom
28 Oct 15
That sounds nice, I have only had star fruit a few times and I found it rather uninspiring, but perhaps I should have had ripe ones fresh from the tree! What will you do with all the fruit?
2 people like this
• St. Petersburg, Florida
28 Oct 15
Try to give it away. Last year that worked pretty well, but this year is going to be a new challenge. I may put a small table out front by my mailbox with a load of them on it and a "free" sign.
2 people like this
@paigea (36317)
• Canada
31 Jan 16
Oh, now I want to buy a star fruit the next time I see one at the grocery store. They can't grow here of course.
@bookbar (1609)
• Sudbury, England
28 Oct 15
Sounds delightful... but don't think it would appreciate a UK winter, however sweetly I spoke to it!
@gegia1 (7)
• Italy
28 Oct 15
Molto interessante