Page 314 - FRUTAS DEL TRÓPICO

314 Frutas del trópico

productive canopy, and improve air movement to reduce fruit/leaf disease problems. In other
production areas trees are hand pruned often and maintained at 1.5 to 2.5 m in height and 3

to 4 m in spread with selective hand pruning.

Pruning to induce flowering and off-season fruit production of carambola

Carambola is unique in that once a shoot and limb develop the ability to flower it can flower

repeatedly. Shoots gain the ability to flower after about 3 months. Pruning willow-like long

shoots (“whips”) and/or selecting a limb and removing lateral shoots to their collar will induce

flowering in about 21 days and fruit in 70-80 days later. Pruning during Auguste. may result in

fruit during October. Pruning during Nov-Dec may result in fruit during Feb.-April or June. This

is because cool temperatures may prevent fruit set during Jan-March; however, generally, the
shoots will continue to flower until fruit is set.

Sacrificing fruit to induce carambola off-season fruit production

Removing young fruit from trees during cool weather will assist in leaf retention and early

spring canopy recovery and flowering and result in early summer fruit. Removing young fruit
along with selective pruning to induce flowering is another option to induce off-season fruit

production.

Harvest indices

Should be picked when horticulturally mature fruit, i.e., with yellow color along the midribs.
Picked too early (too green)–will turn color but does not develop additional sweetness.

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