Babaco
Carica pentagona
Fleshy-stemmed plant bearing large fruit with a tangy flavour and pleasant juice.
Herbaceous plant with a fleshy stem. A close relative of the pawpaw.
FEATURES: Fruit matures from Spring onwards. Bright yellow when ripe.
CONDITIONS: Best in a mild, fairly humid climat
e. Only tolerates light frosts. Needs a free draining soil enriched with organic matter high in phosphate. Plant in a position protected from wind and preferably shaded from the hot afternoon sun.
FOR BEST RESULTS: Apply a high-phosphorous fertiliser and water frequently butKeep water and fertilisers away from the stem. Mulch well. After fruit harvest prune main stern back to 20cm high. Select a new shoot to become the replacement stem, remove all others.
PLANTING IDEAS AND USES:
• eat the fruit fresh in a fruit salad
• use the juice for delicious drinks
• the whole fruit, including skin, can be cooked or made into Jam.
