From the Archives
of the Rare Fruit Council of Australia
by Gene Joyner
The Grumichama:
Quick to Grow, Lovely to Behold and a Juicy Treat to Boot!
Scienticic
names: Eugenia
dombeyi or E.
brasiliensis
Family:
Myrtaceae
Most
grumichamas in the nursery trade are grown from seed and seedlings
produce acceptable quality fruits, but generally take about two years
before they reach a bearing size. Seed germinate quickly, about one
month after planting, so if you propagate grumichamas from this year's
crop or seed, you can have a good-sized shrub by the end of the
year.There are some varieties that produce larger fruit and these can
be propagated by cuttings or by grafting.
Grumichamas have few
serious pest problems and little spraying is needed once they have been
established in the landscape. Grumichamas are not highly salt-tolerant,
so keep them protected from strong winds. Young plants can be injured
by the cold, but mature plants will tolerate temperature down to
26°F without serious difficulty. For the best growth and fruiting,
plant the grumichama in full sun or light shade and fertilize lightly
but frequently with a good quality fruit tree type fertilizer.
The
grumichama can grow well in a container and can be fruited quite easily
in a 6 or 8-inch container. So even if you don't have an outside
growing area you can still enjoy this delicious tropical fruit.
There
are no named varieties of grumichama at local nurseries; however, there
are a lot of differences in size and fruiting characteristics and you
should try to collect seed from superior plants.
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