Planting and Growing Eggfruit (Canistel)

Eggfruit (also known as a Canistel) originated from Southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador.  They can be found distributed throughout Central America, the Caribbean, southern regions of South East Asia and areas of Africa.

Canistel (Eggfruit) are not typically grown on a large commercial scale, but are harvested and sold in a limited scale in the Philippines, Central America and Florida, along with a number of South East Asian countries.

Canistel (Eggfruit), when propagated, typically grow to around 20-25 feet tall, however are capable to grow in excess of 50 feet tall. Canistel (Eggfruit) leaves tend to be whorled at the ends of branches and grow between 2 to 10 inches long, tapering towards the ends.  Their flowers are typically cream in color and have 5 sepals and 5 to 6 petals, being bell shaped.  The Eggfruit (Canistel) fruit ranges from spindle shaped to round in shape, typically with a pointed apex.  Fruit ranges from 3 to 5 inches long and 2 to 3 inches in diameter.  Their peel is thin, smooth and waxy, with a bright yellow to orange color when ripe.  The pulp from ripe fruit tends to be kind of moist and mealy with a smooth texture, similar to hard boiled egg yolk. The fruit tend to have between one to 5 glossy brown seeds.

Growing Canistels (Eggfruit)

Canistel  trees grow best in tropical and warm subtropical climates at altitudes below 4,500 ft, requiring periodic rain.  Trees are only moderately cold tolerant, however young trees can be damaged or killed at temperatures below 29°F (-1.6°C) and mature trees at 23°F (-5°C).

Canistel trees can tolerate and even survive excessively wet or flooded conditions for several days, however crop production can be impacted.  Trees do however tolerate moderately windy conditions, and trees pruned to limit their size and allow for wind movement have survived hurricane-force winds without toppling.  Established canistel trees can also survive long periods of drought, although impacts the fruit size during such periods.

Tree Propagation

Canistel (Eggfruit) can be propagated by seed, however the seeds don’t survive long and need to be planted within a couple of days of removal from the fruit.  Seeds can however take up to 2 - 3 months to germinate. Young trees start bearing fruit in 3 to 6 years. Some varieties can also be propagated by grafting or budding onto seedling rootstock.

Canistel trees should be planted in full sun but generally should be spaced out by at least 25 to 30 ft (6.7-7.6 m) from adjacent trees and structures. Trees planted too close to other trees or structures may not grow properly and may not produce much fruit due to shading.

Fruit Production

Mature Canistel trees produce between 100 to 200 lbs (45-90 kg) of fruit per year. In the subtropical and tropical climates, flowering can be induced by cool temperatures or a dry period, with fruit being harvested during the late winter-early spring.  In tropical climates some fruit may be available all year round.

Canistel trees do seem to tolerate of most well drained soils including acid and alkaline soils. Trees that are grown in fertile soils do produce fewer fruit, however larger and juicier.  Trees grown in infertile soils tend to produce more fruit, but smaller in size.

Planting Trees

 Planting your tree correctly is very important for successfully establishing and growing a strong, productive trees. You firstly need to choose a healthy nursery tree. Nursery canistel trees tend to be grown in 3-gallon (11-liter) pots and trees tend to be between 2 to 4 ft (0.6–0.9 liters) in height. Large trees in smaller containers should be avoided because the root system may be all tangled up and may not grow properly once planted in the ground. Inspect the tree for insect pests and diseases, and inspect the trunk of the tree for wounds and constrictions. Select a healthy tree and water it regularly in preparation for planting in the ground.

Canistel trees should be planted in a sunny position to promote better growth and fruit production. It is best if it is planted from other trees, buildings and structures, and power lines. Canistel trees can grow quite large if not pruned to contain their size.

Planting in the ground is very easy.  Dig a hole 3 to 4 times the 3 times as deep as the pot the canistel tree came in.  By making a larger hole in the ground, it will allow the new tree’s roots to expand more rapidly.  When planting, there is no need to apply fertilizer, just mix the existing soil with some new planting soil (top soil) to backfill the hole.  Remove the tree from its pot and place it in the hole so that the top of the soil media from the pot is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil level.  Fill soil in around the tree roots and tamp slightly to remove air pockets and then water the soil around the tree. Staking the tree with a wooden stake is recommended to ensure it does grow straight and to prevent the tree being dropped by strong winds.

The canistel is tolerant to many soil types, including calcareous, lateritic, acid-sandy and heavy clay.  Canistel trees grow best in deep, fertile, well-drained soil but is said to be more fruitful on shallow soil.  Trees can be cultivated on soil considered too thin and poor for most other fruit trees.

Taking care of your Canistel (Eggfruit) Tree

Young Canistel (Eggfruit) trees need to be fertilized every couple of months in the first year, starting with around 100 grams of fertilizer and increasing to around 500 grams per tree.  After the first year, its best to fertilize your Canistel tree around 3 to 4 times a year, increasing the quantity as the tree grows in size.  Fertilizers uses should contain 5 to 10% nitrogen, 5 to 10% phosphoric acid, 5 to 10% potash and 5 to 6% magnesium for younger trees.  Fruit bearing canistel (eggfruit) trees should have their potash increased to between 10 to 15% and available phosphoric acid can be reduced to 2 to 4%.

Young newly planted canistel trees do require watering once planted and daily for the first week.  Watering can then be decreased to once or twice a week for the first couple of months.  Also, during dry periods young canistel trees should be watered around twice a week.  During the wet season, watering can be stopped.

Mature canistel trees (over 5 more years old) can still benefit with a watering during the dry season, which helps improve fruit quality and allow for plant growth.

Periodic pruning of canistel trees can help keep trees at a manageable height.  Young newly planted canistel trees should be planted and left to grow during their first year so that they can establish themselves quickly.  The following year in spring, trees should be trimmed back to encourage branching along the main trunk to encourage the formation of evenly spaced branches.

For optimum fruit production and to control the tree height, trees should be pruned annually. To begin, the tree should be pruned at about 10 to 12 ft (3.1–3.7 m) in height by removing the primary (central) leader and secondary leaders and any vigorous upright limbs during the spring.  In subsequently years, the tree can be shaped by selectively pruning to form a round shaped canopy.  Pruning should be done in late summer to remove any new, vigorous growth.  Removing the central leader and periodically selectively removing vigorous growth will help the canopy to improve light penetration, improve fruit production and limit the tress size. 

Harvesting Canistel (Eggfruit)

Canistel fruit should be harvested when the fruit color turns yellow-orange.  Leave the fruit in room temperature for 3 to 10 days to ripen.  Ripe fruit is soft but not mushy.  Harvest the fruit carefully as the peel is very thin and can easily be damaged.  Once fruit is ripe, it can be stored in the refrigerator.