63 “Plant Once & Forget” Fruiting Plants for Your Backyard in Kerala

63 “Plant Once & Forget” Fruiting Plants for Your Backyard in Kerala

I love plants, especially fruiting ones. But I can’t nurture them like I do my own kids. For example, I may, or may not, care to water them in summer. What to do? Well, I’ve stumbled upon the perfect solution drawing on veteran planters and personal experiences. Here I am to share it with you happily ever.

If we are away or too busy to give time to our green friends, the six-months-long dry spell in Kerala can be a trying time for many fruit trees we wish to come to fruition in our backyards. Many may wither and die back depending on the water retention capacity of the soil they are in. However, thanks to the six months of Monsoon, we can still grow a lot of fruit plants depending solely on the rain in this, God’s own country. What matters most is the choices we make and a little bit of homework before we line the plants up on the ground.

Here is a range of drought-resistant fruit plants for your next vacation to-do list. Their ability to withstand a no-watering summer may vary but they can survive to an amazing extent. However, if we can somehow manage to water them during the initial period following establishment, they will surely thrive. They are bound to be back with a smiling face much earlier than expected. Plant once with care and forget about them, only be back when they summon you back with a “Thank You” note. Let us look at the list. Feel free to choose as many of them as you like.

1.    Sindooram mango (സിന്ദൂരം)
2.    Chandrakkaran mango (ചന്ദ്രക്കാരൻ)
3.    Kaalappadi mango (കാലപ്പാടി)
4.    Moovandan mango (മൂവാണ്ടൻ)
5.    Komaanga (കോമാങ്ങ) or Priyor mango (പ്രിയോർ)
6.    Vietnam super-early jackfruit (വിയറ്റ്നാം സൂപ്പർ ഏർളി)
7.    Honey Jackfruit (തേൻ വരിക്ക)
8.    Sindoor jack (സിന്ദൂർ)
9.    Anakkayam-1 Cashew (ആനക്കയം ഒന്ന് കശുമാവ്)
10.           Priyanka Cashew (പ്രിയങ്ക കശുമാവ്)
11.           Sulabha K10-2 Cashew (സുലഭ കശുമാവ്)
12.           Rambutan N18 (റംബൂട്ടാൻ N18)
13.           Rambutan King (റംബൂട്ടാൻ കിംഗ്)
14.           Mamey Sapote (മാമിസപ്പോട്ട Pantin variety)
15.           Mattova (മട്ടോവ)
16.           Longan (ലോങ്കൻ)
17.           Stelechocarpus Burhol (കെപൽ)
18.           Soursop (മുള്ളൻ ചക്ക)
19.           Breadfruit (കടച്ചക്ക)
20.           Pineapple (കൈതച്ചക്ക)
21.           Little Indian Gooseberry( അരിനെല്ലി)
22.           Indian Gooseberry (സാതാനെല്ലി)
23.           Jamun White (ഞാവൽ വെളള)
24.           Jamun Black (ഞാവൽ ബ്ലാക്ക്)
25.           Star fruit / Carambola (ചതുരപുളി)
26.           Tamarind (വാളൻ പുളി)
27.           Sweet Tamarind (തായ്‌ലൻഡ്പുളി)
28.           Scramberry / Lovelolica ചണ്ങമ്പഴം
29.           Indian Plum (അമ്പഴം)
30.           Common fig /Arabian fig (അറേബ്യൻ അത്തി)
31.           Jujube (എലന്തപ്പഴം)
32.           Baccourea courtallensis (മുട്ടിപ്പഴം)
33.           Egg fruit (മുട്ടപ്പഴം)
34.           Gold fruit (ഗോൾഡ്ഫ്റൂട്ട്)
35.           Wild Jack (ആഞ്ഞിലി)
36.           Bhod Tree/ Stunted Jack  (വെട്ടി/ഏച്ചില) Aporusa Lindleyana
37.           Ceylon oak/Gum lac tree (പൂവം/പൂവത്തി ) 
38.           Thadathi (തടത്തി) To be updated with English name
39.     Spinous Kino Tree/ Cork wood(മുള്ളൻ വേങ്ങ/ മുള്ളൻ കയനി)

40.           Kilo guava (കിലോപേര)
41.            Guava Alahabad Safeda (അലഹബാദ് സഫേദ) / Lucknow 49
42.           Thailand Guava (തായ്‌ലൻഡ്പേര)
43.           Manila Tennis Cherry (മാനില ട്ടെന്നീസ് ചെറി)
44.           West Indian Cherry (വെസ്റ്റ് ഇന്ത്യൻ ചെറി)
45.           Large Rose Apple Green (പച്ച വലിയ ചാമ്പ)
46.           Rose Apple Red / Rose, large or small variety (പനിനീർ ചാമ്പ വലുത്)
47.           Lime (ചെറുനാരങ്ങ)
48.           Pomegranate (നീർമാതളം)
49.           Pomelo (മാന്തോളിനാരകം)
50.           Mulberry (മൾബറി)
51.            Pakistani Mulberry (longer fruit) (പാകിസ്താനി മൾബറി)
52.            Jaboticaba (ജബോട്ടിക്കാബ)
53.           Peanut Butter (പീനട്ട് ബട്ടർ)
54.           Bullet Wood (ഇലഞ്ഞി)
55.           Sapote (സപ്പോട്ട)
56.           Awaiting verified information
57.           Awaiting verified information
58.           Awaiting verified information
59.           Awaiting verified information
60.           Awaiting verified information
61.           Awaiting verified information
62.           Awaiting verified information
63.           Awaiting verified information

Spoiled for choice? I thought as much. But hang on a minute. I told you to “plant them once with care” before you leave them behind. The operative words here are “with care”. I recommend digging a large pit (തള്ളക്കുഴി) no less than 1 cubic meter (1m x 1m x 1m) in size. The bigger, the better. Fill it with all sorts of locally sourced organic manure and fertilizers like cow dung, bone meal, peanut cake, neem cake and a bit of pseudomonas. Laying down a few layers of coconut husks will aid water retention. Then dig a smaller pit (പിള്ളക്കുഴി) right in the middle of the bigger one and firm down the green baby in it. Now the two of you are friends for life. She won’t sulk even if you prove a little indifferent in the years to come.

A big round of applause for the soil that supply nutrients. A pat on the invisible shoulder of the breeze that aerates. A naughty wink at the clouds that water, and a thumbs-up to the bees that pollinate. You be right back there in time to savor nature’s candy. When that happens, don’t neglect to leave some for our feathered friends.

Why wait? Pull on your garden boots and get your hands dirty for an abundance of fruits year-round.