🌳 Breadfruit Seedling (Artocarpus altilis)
Breadfruit is a tropical treasure! It’s a highly nutritious, starchy fruit often cooked and eaten like yam or potato — and it grows on a large, shady tree. Here’s what you need to know about breadfruit seedlings:
🌱 What is Breadfruit?
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Scientific name: Artocarpus altilis
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Common names: Breadfruit, “Tree Potato”
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Uses: Cooked as food (boiled, roasted, fried); can be dried into flour
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Nutritional Value: High in complex carbs, fiber, potassium, and vitamin C
🌿 Seedling Characteristics:
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Height at seedling stage: 10–20 cm (4–8 inches)
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Leaves: Large, bright green with deeply cut lobes (even when young)
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Stem: Thick and woody
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Growth habit: Fast-growing tree, can reach 10–25 meters at maturity
✅ Ideal Growing Conditions:
| Factor | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical or humid subtropical |
| Sunlight | Full sun (6+ hours daily) |
| Soil | Rich, well-drained loamy soil |
| Watering | Regular; keep soil moist but not soggy |
| Spacing | 8–10 meters apart |
🌱 How to Plant Breadfruit Seedlings:
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Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball.
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Add organic compost to the soil.
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Place the seedling in the hole and backfill.
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Water thoroughly after planting.
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Use a stake if needed to support early growth.
🌾 Care and Maintenance:
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Watering: Regular during dry seasons, especially first 1–2 years
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Mulching: Helps retain moisture and suppress weeds
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Fertilizing: Organic compost or NPK 10:10:10 every 3 months
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Pruning: Minimal — just remove dead or diseased branches
🍞 When Will It Fruit?
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Breadfruit trees typically begin producing fruit in 3–5 years.
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Each tree can yield 50 to 200 fruits per season when mature.
