Lakoocha and Kwai Muk

fruitist starts with ...
My Lakoocha tree is about 6 years old and 15 ft tall. It has been flowering for the last 2 years. The fruitlets developed to about golf ball size and then they dropped. Has any one got the fruitlets to mature and ripe in subtropical climate? The ripe fruits are shaped like a fist. I have eaten some ripe fruits in FNQ.

Same thing with Kwai Muk? Anyone has success with maturing and ripening Kwai Muk fruits in semi-tropical climate?

I think there may be 2 varieties of Kwai Muk based on my observation. One tree about 15ft tall has small leaves about 4cm x 8cm. That seedling tree was from Daleys. The other seedlings from another source have leaves abut 3 times bigger even these seedlings are only 2 ft tall in planter bags. Does anyone has the same small leave variety from Daleys?

Incidentally, the larget Kwai Muk tree I saw as about 50ft tall in Feluga.

fruitist says...
The kwai Muk seeglings with the large leaves are all lobed. Shallow multi-lobed just like the typical Artocarpus species. None of the small leaves on the seedling from Daleys are lobed, and the tree is 15 ft tall. The 4 years old 4 ft tall seedlings with the large multi-lobed leaves came from Bundaberg. I ate a couple of ripe fruits. So, that tree can bear ripe fruits at Bundaberg which has the same climate as Brisbane. However, the older and taller tree from Daleys have masses of fruitlets for 3 years but none mature to ripen stage. I think, the lobed leafed one is more cold hardy and definitely 2 different cultivars here. The hugh tree I saw at Feluga has a 2 ft diameter trunk. I couldn't believe it was a Kwai Muk.

trikus says...
Some of the Chinese traders may have brought seeds over to Borneo hundreds of years ago . I have found these trees very fast growing , one in the front yard has grown to 6 m, + in 4 years . No fruit yet , A mate has a 5 year old tree that was taller but has been pruned hard just recently , he had lots of flowers but no fruit ,, theory is you need a few trees to ensure cross pollination.

I am worried about one of my Lakoochas it seems to be getting burns on lots of the top branches .
Another that is slightly shaded by bananas is doing much better.

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fruitist says...
Mature Lakoocha is quite cold hardy, probably can survive to -5C. In its native home land, it can be found as high as 1200m altitude. Young seedlings are not cold hardy as Kwai Muk seedlings. I have both Lakoocha and Kwai Muk growing and bearing fruits.

John Mc says...
I have both Lakoocha and Kwai Muk planted here just north of Sydney. Both are pushing out very good growth. Probably doubled in size since planting out last August. They're planted in an area that hasn't seen frost, so, we'll see what happens. BTW, they come from Chester at Mullumbimby.

Jantina says...
Hmmmn you've got me thinking fruitist, hardy down to -5, maybe I should give kwai muk a go, what do you think?

John Mc says...
Hey micarle,
Temps here rarely drop below 0ºC.

Jantina says...
Thankyou fruitist for your generous offer which I will definitely take you up on.

trikus says...
Nice healthy branch on shaded Lakoocha , and then one that looks burnt a bit , it still has lots of new growth .. so it may pick up . The banana sheltering the best looking one got blown down this morning , so fingers crossed it stays ok .

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trikus says...
Lots of male flowers on the lakoochas , fingers crossed for some fruit this year . And my last remaining kwaimuk , that is laying down with nearly all but 1 branch dead , is flowering and fruiting , will trellis it and hope for it to survive .

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amanda says...
PS - fully surprised with my Kwai Muk....grew quite well in a crap hot/dry/arid, sandy environment and then got dug/hacked out and stuck in a 35L tree sack - it never missed a beat.

It's root bound already :-( but it's not a wimp that's for sure :)

trikus says...
Looks like I will have some Lakoochas soon .

MIke T1 says...
That is the irregular shaped lakoocha that is the better type.There is a smoother more regular shaped type that is more acid but these are less common.

Linton says...
Lakoochas growing too fast! Probably the most vigorous and cold hardy artocarp species and easiest to grow in Melbourne. The problem is they are starting to get too tall and I think they may become very large trees.

I read somewhere that the top can be lopped off and they will then develop more side branches which would be ideal. So I am seeking confirmation that Lakoochas can be pruned in this manner and if it would be an advantage to cut about one third of the main trunk off so they are not so high and will become more bushy. Thanks in advance for your valued opinion.

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