🌳 Jackfruit
Artocarpus heterophyllus
The fruit that can outweigh your dog.
Sun
Full sun, 8+ hrs
Days to harvest
3–6 years from grafted tree
Spacing
25–30 feet apart
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
How to grow
South Florida only — this tropical giant has zero frost tolerance and gets enormous, so give it a yard, not a corner. Plant in deep, well-drained soil with wind protection for young trees. One tree feeds a neighborhood, so coordinate with your street before planting.
Water & feeding
Regular deep watering while young; established trees are moderately drought-tolerant.
Common problems
- Cold damage — the limiting factor
- Fruit rot in rainy seasons
- Squirrels with industrial equipment
Harvest
Harvest when the skin turns yellowish-green and the fruit smells sweet; the sticky latex requires oiled hands and a machete mindset.
Nerdy fact: It's the largest tree-borne fruit on Earth — a botanical overachiever in the mulberry family, cousin to figs and breadfruit. One fruit can be a whole meal plan.