Container Ranch Jackfruit

[Funkthulhu]

So, let's say you're a guy living in Nebraska and you sprouted a half dozen jackfruit seeds in a pot...

How long could I expect to keep those alive before they:

A- Give up and die, because Nebraska, or

B- Get too big for my apartment with 8 foot ceilings? 

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Jdiaz31089]

Following this thread because I may or may not have a handful of jackfruit seeds that sprouted, and well, I'm in Fresno. 

[The Silent Seed]

They do just fine in pots - just don't overwater them or they quickly rot. 

I've grown them here in Mass, no problem. 

[Funkthulhu]

A bit of backstory: 

I understand I'm never going to get fruit off of these out of a container, but I found the concept of growing the tree for however short a time to be entertaining.  I brought everything in for the winter after they were in spotty sun all summer, now they are under fluorescents and filtered natural light.  I am already considering a bigger pot. (I didn't expect they would sprout so I didn't give them a big one to begin with)  Also, all 6 are in the same pot.

So, 
Bigger pot?
Separate Seedlings?
Special treatment?  

They're already putting out differently shaped leaves and are all 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) tall right now.

[The Silent Seed]

No special treatment - and basically it's a "in the eye of the beholder" thing. A bigger pot is likely going to be a good idea to avoid root congestion, but not too big, or they might start rotting. 

I wouldn't fiddle with what is obviously working. 

[Alan_Tampa]

Don't assume no fruit in a pot. Can be kept to 8 ft or so and still get fruit. Have seen all sorts of trees fruit in pots in the back forty at many nurseries. 

 

I think some of the more precocious varieties would fruit in a pot. Might not be the most or biggest fruit ever but possible. 

The tree's whole mission in life is to fruit, so there is that. 

[Bennz]

I had a jakfruit seedling fruit at about 5 feet tall or less, under a very simple greenhouse cover. I think put them in a pot and they should be fine. I've seen mango fruiting in a pot that would be less than 10" wide, the tree was small enough that the 2 fruit on it were almost as long as the plant was high. I was impressed. A  plant under stress wants to reproduce before it dies.

[Fusca]

Jackfruit was one of my first non-palm seed projects - I brought back a few seeds from one of my first trips to Brasil back in the early 90's (international travel was much simpler back then!) after I helped my friend pick one (ouch!)  He was hoping I would get to try it, but it wasn't ripe.  I thought the seedlings were very attractive, but alas I was unable to keep them alive very long (wasn't much of a gardener back then).  Seeing the mature tree in person is impressive - I love how the 25-30 lb watermelon-sized fruits grow right off the trunk of the tree!  Nice to see others have tried it also.

Jon

[Hammer]

Get it going in a pot.  Make a deal with the Lied Jungle.   Tell them you will donate it to them on the condition that you get to help care for it and get to take fruit from it.  

[rprimbs]

I'd plant the tree in a garbage can as a pot, put perforated pipe in the bottom as a 'water reservoir', and put a hole in the side a little ways up for drainage -- and put a large saucer underneath to catch runoff.  A simple potting mix you can make yourself is one part peatmoss, one part orchid bark (I like to use cocoa mulch instead), and one part perlite.