Acerola not forming fruit (forum)

Jackie Clark starts with ...
Our surviving acerola, one of three from Daleys (others killed by frost) has had blossom twice this year, once in spring and again now – covered in blossom at the moment. But no fruit appears to be setting. It certainly didn't last year nor in spring this year. We have bees all around us. We have had drought and now rain. What can we do to encourage fruit to set please? It is Florida Sweet so I imagine it's self-fertile??
Thanks in advance for your help.

Time: 21st March 2018 9:39pm

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About the Author Jackie Clark
Gloucester
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Fruitylicious1 says...
HI Jackie

Acerolas needs consistent irrigation and plenty of sunshine for successful fruit set. They are known not to bear fruits during drought periods and shy to fruit in a shady spot. For consistent watering install an automatic irrigation system, so even if you are on holidays it wont go thirsty. If it is in a shady spot try to make the area as clear for sunshine to penetrate. If it is in a pot situate it in a sunnier position possibly in a northern or southern part of the house or building for extra warmth especially this coming winter. Yes, they are frost tender when young. A second acerola tree is not a bad idea to further improve pollination and fruit set though named varieties are said to be self fertile. Soil amendment with sulphate of potash regularly during spring and sporadically throughout the growing season might also help with fruit set.

Happy Gardening :-)

Time: 24th March 2018 6:51am

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Original Post was last edited: 24th March 2018 1:49pm

About the Author Fruitylicious1
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David01 says...
Hi Jackie Clark,

I was wondering how old your Acerola? There are few basic things need to do to improve the yield:

1. Acerola only produces fruit on the old wood, so it is only productive after 2-4 years old depends on cutting or seedling.
2. Soil PH between 6.5 and 7.5
3. Needs NPK and dynamic lifter, Calcium, Iron and Boron and plenty water to promote flowering.
4. 80% blossoms can fall but the yield can be improved by using small paint brush to do manual pollination if you don't have bees around. Cheers


Time: 24th March 2018 2:14pm

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Jackie Clark says...
This is to show that lack of blossom isn't the problem. The plant gets full sun all year, plenty of pollinating insects as I indicated and this is its second blossoming this year.

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 26th March 2018 10:05am

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About the Author Jackie Clark
Gloucester
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Jackie Clark says...
I think sulphate of potash may be the thing to try. Thanks for the suggestion. As for other acerolas . . . well, if the other two hadn't been zapped by frost there would have been better chance. We are on a steep slope and where we place plants is critical to avoid frost damage. I'm not inclined to buy another unless we can circumvent the frost. Let's see what this winter brings?

Time: 26th March 2018 10:11am

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About the Author Jackie Clark
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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Jackie

You can address the frost issue by erecting a square box wrapped with sturdy transparent plastic around and over your young tree during the cooler months. This will ward off the frost and create a warmer microclimate for your young tree. After a few years you can dismantle the temporary shelter when the tree has acclimatised.

Happy Gardening :-)

Time: 27th March 2018 1:43pm

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