How to Grow Mamoncillo | Care & Growing Mamoncillo

Learn How to Grow Mamoncillo in this informative guide. Growing Mamoncillo is easy if you live in a warm climate and have a big garden or yard.

Mamoncillo is a fruit grows on an erect tall-growing mamoncillo tree. Growing mamoncillo in a small patio or garden is not possible. You’ll need a lot of space to grow this fruit tree.

Family: Sapindaceae

Genus: Melicoccus

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10, 11

Propagation Method: Cuttings, seed

Difficulty: Moderate

Other Names: Melicoccus bijugatus, Chenette, Quenette, Gnep, Guinep, Guaya, Guenepa, Kenip, Genip, Ginnip, Kenepa, Knippa, Spanish lime, Limoncillo

About Mamoncillo

Also, known as Spanish lime, mamoncillo resembles small lime sold in clusters, it doesn’t belong to the citrus family and is more like indehiscent fruit (fruit that has a hard outer shell and tough to open). It tastes between lychee to lime. It grows up to 25 meters (85 feet) tall and spread vigorously.

The fruit looks like small unripe mango, and it resembles the texture of a boiled egg: hard covering from outside and soft pulpy fruit inside and seed in the center. The pulp of the fruit is used in making pies, jelly, and delicious jams.

Growing Conditions

Mamoncillo grows in a subtropical and tropical climate. It is drought tolerant and severe damage inflict if exposed to frost. It can’t bear the temperature below 25 F (-4 C).

Also Read: How To Grow a Cashew Tree

Requirements for Growing Mamoncillo

Sun

Mamoncillo is a tropical tree, and like other tropical plants and trees, it loves full sun, heat, and warm exposure.

Soil

It can be grown in a variety of soil types, poor to rich and sandy but the soil must not be with very poor drainage.

Water

Established mamoncillo trees are drought-tolerant, though young plants (less than four years) require regular watering while establishing.

Mamoncillo Propagation

Instead of growing it from seeds, you should buy a plant from the nursery because mamoncillo grown from seeds takes 8-10 years to fruit and even that only after grafting. Buy a healthy plant and plant it on a dry, sunny spot of your yard, which is clear from other trees.

Mamoncillo Care

Fertilizer

Feed young mamoncillo plant (below four years) with a complete fertilizer every other month. Twice in a year apply well-rotted manure around it. Once the mamoncillo tree becomes mature and starts fruit production, apply phosphorous and potassium-rich fertilizer.

Pruning

Pruning is required to control the height as it can grow really tall. Also, to keep the shape, density and to maintain the structure of the tree.

Harvesting

After 4-5 years of growing, mamoncillo starts to fruit in the summer and early fall. If you grow it from seeds, it takes a long time up to 8 years to fruit. When fruit’s shell becomes brittle and easily breakable, then it is the time to harvest fruits.

Pests and Diseases

Keep an eye on fruit flies, citrus black fly, and several other common garden pests. Leaf spot and green scurf are the common diseases that might affect it.

Benefits of Mamoncillo Nuts

Packed with nutrients Mamoncillo offers various health benefits. They are the following:

• The fruit contains fibers that are helpful in reducing cholesterol and improves digestion.
• The Vitamin A present in mamoncillo is effective in improving immunity and preventing kidney stones.
• It also helps in lowering the blood pressure and useful for people who are trying to lose weight
• Its seeds when combined with honey is useful in treating diarrhea