On our top 7 is Mango.

Mangos are exotic, aromatic fruit trees that absolutely abhor cold temps. Flowers and fruit drop if temperatures dip below 40 degrees fahrenheit, even if only briefly. If temps drop further, like below 30 degrees fahrenheit, severe damage occurs to the mango. Since many of us don’t live in such consistently warm regions, you might be wondering how to grow mango trees in pots, or even if it’s possible. Can You Grow Mango in a Pot? Yes, growing mango trees in containers is possible. In fact, they will often thrive container grown, especially the Bonsai varieties. Mangos are native to India, hence their love of warm temperatures. The large varieties make excellent shade trees and can grow up to 65 feet in height and live as long as 300 years still fruitful! Whether you live in a cool climate or just plain don’t have space for a 65-foot tree, there are several Bonsai varieties perfect for a container grown mango tree. How to Grow a Mango in a Pot? Dwarf mango trees are perfect as container grown mango trees; they only grow to between 4 and 8 feet. They do well in U S D A zones 9 to 10, but you can fool Mother Nature by growing them indoors if you can fulfill the mangoes’ heat and light requirements or have a greenhouse. The best time to plant a container mango is in the spring. Select a dwarf variety such as Carrie or Cogshall, a smaller hybrid like Keit, or even one of the smaller sized regular mango trees such as Nam Doc Mai that can be pruned to keep small.

Orange occupy our Top 6 spot. Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) is most common among citrus fruits grown in India. It occupies nearly 40% of the total area under citrus cultivation in India.

In India, in terms of area under cultivation, citrus is the third largest fruit industry after Banana and Mango. Nagpur mandarin is one of the best mandarins in the world. Production of this fruit crop in central and western part of India is increasing every year. Orange is rich in vitamin C, A, B and phosphorus. Orange is consumed fresh or in the form of juice, jam, squash and syrup. It is the main source of peel oil, citric acid and cosmetics which have international market value.

Mandarins grow successfully in all frost free tropical and sub-tropical regions upto 1,500 m. above m.s.l. An annual rainfall of 100-120 cm. and temperature ranging from 100-350 Celcius is suitable for cultivation of the crop.
Mandarins can be grown in a wide variety of soils but medium or light loamy soils with slightly heavy sub-soil, well-drained with pH of 6.0-8.0 are ideal for cultivation.

Mandarin orange is propagated by seeds and also vegetatively propagated by T-budding. Seedlings are mostly transplanted in the month of July-August after commencement of monsoon.

Mandarins are usually planted in pits of 50 cm by 50 cm by 50 cm. size in a square system with a spacing of 4.5 to 6 m. , accommodating 350 to 450 plants per hectare. In north-eastern parts of India, Khasi mandarins are very closely spaced (4.5 m by 4.5 m), accommodating more than 500 plants per hectare.

Important mandarin orange varieties cultivated in India are Ngapur Santra, Coorg Santra, Khasi Santra, Mudkhed, Shringar, Butwal, Dancy, Kara (Abohar), SZ-IN-COM, Darjeeling Mandarin, Sumithra mandarin, Seedless-182 and Kinnow mandarin.

During 2001 to 2002, around 29 thousand tonnes of fresh oranges were exported to Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Canada, U.S.A., U.K., Germany and Gulf countries , Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. Fruits exported to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal are sent by trucks.

Top 5 Belongs to lemon. Citrus is an important fruit crop. Lemon is one of the important category of citrus. It is mainly known for its pulp and juice throughout the world. Different citrus fruits are used throughout the world as food or juice. In central India, Nagpur santra is grown on a large scale. Mandarin Production states are Assam, Dibrugarh and Brahmaputra valley. In India Citrus cultivation is done on an area of about 923 thousand hectare with annual production of 8608 thousand metric tons. In Punjab citrus is grown on 39.2 hectares of land.Lemons can be grown in all types of soils. Light soils having good drainage are suitable for its cultivation. PH range of soil should be 5.5-7.5. They can also grow in slightly alkaline and acidic soils. Light loam well drained soils are best for lemon cultivation.

Time of sowing
The best season for planting is July-August.

Intercropping: Intercropping with cowpeas, vegetables, french beans can be done in initial two to three years.

Spacing
Spacing between plants should be kept between 4.5 by 4.5. Pits of size 60 by 60 by 60cm should be dug for planting seedlings. 10Kg of Farmyard Manure and 500g of single superphosphate should be applied to pits while planting.

Sowing Depth
Pits of size 60 by 60 by 60cm should be dug for planting seedlings.

Method of sowing
Propagation

Plants are propagated by budding or air layering. Minimum plant density of 208 per acre should be maintained. For proper growth of trunk of plant, Shoots in 50-60cm near ground level should be removed. Centre of plant should remain open. Water suckers should be removed at early stages of growth. Weed can be controlled by hand-hoeing and also controlled by chemically, use glyphosate@1.6litre per 150 litre of water. Use glyphosate only on weeds not on crop plants. Lemon requires irrigation at regular intervals. Lifesaving irrigation should be given in winters and summers. Irrigation is necessary for Flowering, Fruiting and proper plant growth. Over irrigation may also leads to diseases like Root rot and collar rot. High frequency irrigation is beneficial. Salty water is injurious for crop plants. Partial drying out of soil in spring may not affect plants. After harvesting, wash fruits with clean water then dip fruits in Chlorinated water@2.5ml per Liter water and then partially dried them. To improve appearance along with to maintain good quality, do Citrashine wax coating along with foam. Then these fruits are dried under shade and then packing is done. Fruits are packed in boxes.

Chikoo is on our Top 4 spot. Manilkara zapota, commonly known as sapodilla , sapota, chikoo, naseberry, or nispero is a long-lived, evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. An example natural occurrence is in coastal Yucatán in the Petenes mangroves ecoregion, where it is a subdominant plant species. It was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonization. It is grown in large quantities in India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Mexico. The name “zapota” from the Spanish zapote ultimately derives from the Nahuatl word tzapotl. A truly name worthy variety. The fruits of this variety are huge! A chickoo plant is a tree that grows to over 15 meters tall and as a spread of around 12 meters. Plants are slow growing and long lived. Do not crowd plants.
Growing tips:
Climate: Chikkoo grows well in warm and humid climates. It generally grows well up to 1000 meters above sea level. Heavy rainfall during flowering season results in poor fruit set. Chikkoo grows in most climates except regions with extreme cold.

Soil: Well drained fertile soils with good organic matter content are best. However Chikoo grows well in most soils having good drainage. Soil pH of 6 to 8 is fine.

Plants: Grafted plants should only be planted. Top or side grafted plants should be used. Plants of a minimum 3 feet height should be planted. Taller plants � save on time.

Planting distance: The Chikkoo plants are very long lived. Plants can yield for over a a hundred years. So, the growing time and space required should be adhered to strictly. In light to medium soils the planting should be done at 10 meters by 10 meters. In good fertile soils the planting should be done at 12 by 12 meters.

Planting: Planting is recommended in June / July, however it can be done throughout the year is adequate water supply is present. Pits of 1 meter width by  1 meter length by 1 meter deep should be taken. Top soil from these pits should be mixed with 50 kgs farm yard manure well decomposed cow dung manure, 2 kgs of single super phosphate and 200 gms follidol dust. Mix evenly to ensure proper distribution of the manure, fertilizer and pesticide. After planting, compact soil properly around the root ball. Soil from bottom of the pit can be used for making a bund / ring around the pit for keeping in the water. Leaves / grass can be put in this pit as a mulch.

Watering: Watering can be done every 10 to 15 days in winter and at weekly intervals during summer. Drip irrigation is recommended.

Papaya made it to the top 3. Papaya or Carica Papaya is a perennial plant that grows in both tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is native to tropic American countries like Mexico and California. They grow well in several countries like Africa, India, Florida, Philippines, Caribbean Islands, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Hawaii.Papaya is a small sparsely branch tree with a single stem growing about 5 – 10 meters. The leaves are confined at the top of the trunk. Leaves are large about 20-40 centimeters in diameter with 7 palmate lobes. Flowers are parted; male flowers have stamens fused to the petals, female flowers have a superior ovary with 5 petals connected at the base. Papaya flowers are sweet-scented, open at night and pollinated.

Fruit is a large berry about 20-35 centimeters tall. Papaya fruits can be eaten or juiced. It can also be used in ice-creams, desserts, cakes, sauces, jams, smoothies, chocolates for flavoring.

100 grams of papaya contains 43 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates and 8 grams of sugars. It is cholesterol free and low in proteins. Papaya is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. To develop papaya fruit pollination is a must. Pollens must be transferred from male gametes to the female gametes in plants. Flowers cannot transfer pollens by their own, so they attract insects such as honeybees, butterflies, and birds to transfer pollen grains for the fruiting purpose. To deter pests and diseases, spray ammonium sulfate solution on papaya plants. Pests or insects don’t like this solution and hence be away from plants. You can prefer other organic methods to overcome this problem. Harvest papayas only when fruit turns yellow. Papayas are ready to harvest after 6-9 months from seeds in the hot-temperate zone. It takes 9-11 months time to harvest in moderate temperate zones. Cut papayas using gardening tools (sharp knife or scissors). If you left it to ripe then mosquitoes and birds damage the fruit. Before eating store them in a refrigerator for 2-3 days and consume the fruit when it is half yellow.Papaya is a natural remedy for treating many diseases like heart problems, cancer, atherosclerosis and digestive health. Start growing papaya from seeds in a pot or large container that produces juicy fruits and monitors your health.

Guava claims our number 2 spot with an ease. Guavas, tropical fruit trees native to India into South America, are such a prized fruit that there are dozens of varieties. If you love this exotic fruit but lack garden space, have no fear. Growing guava in containers is easy. Guava does well in a variety of soils but prefer well-draining soil with a pH of between 5 and 7. Plant the tree with a combination of potting soil and organic compost. Select a container that is at least 18-24 inches across and the same depth. Be sure the pot has adequate drainage holes. These tough plants are adaptable, making them the perfect fruit tree candidate for guava trees in containers. Select a site for your container grown guava in full sun. Guavas don’t need frequent deep watering. During warm weather and growing season, water guavas two to three times per month, deeply. During the winter months, guavas are drought resistant, so water sparingly. Guavas have shallow roots that absorb water and nutrients rapidly. Fertilize them with an organic, granular fertilizer once every three months. Guavas don’t need much pruning, although they are amenable to shaping. Remove any dead or crossing branches and remove any foliage or branches that sprout below the graft union (where the fruiting plant is grafted onto the lower rootstock). Guavas fruit on new growth, so pruning will not adversely affect the fruit set. Take care to protect the tree if temps are likely to drop. Cover the tree with a sheet or tarp to protect it from frost. You can also use a circulating air fan or even spray the tree with water to help insulate it from frost. Stringing the guava with Christmas lights is another way to protect the tree during freezing temperatures. Other than that, these self-fruiting trees are very low maintenance and you need only wait for the succulent, fragrant guava fruit harvest. Guava fruits taste better when picked earlier than they fully mature. Fruits are highly nutritious, rich in vitamin C and can be eaten raw, its seeds are edible too. Ripened fruits can be used to make guava ice-cream, juice, jam, chutney, sauce or desserts.

And the top indoor fruit that is best grown at home goes to … Banana. Banana plant houseplant? That’s right. If you are not fortunate enough to live in a warm region where you can grow this tropical plant outdoors, then why not grow an indoor banana plant (Musa oriana) instead. With enough light and water, an indoor banana tree makes an excellent houseplant. A banana plant houseplant offers interesting foliage and white flowers emerging from purple buds. Keep in mind that while some banana tree varieties produce edible fruit, others do not—like that of Musa basjoo. Therefore, be sure to look into the type of indoor banana tree you have or want to ensure that it will accommodate your needs and vice versa. Below you will find some tips for taking care of a banana tree inside. How to Grow Banana Inside Since an indoor banana tree can get rather large, you may opt for growing a dwarf variety. Even still, you’ll need a large container that is deep enough to accommodate all of its roots. It should also provide adequate drainage. Like outdoor banana plants, an indoor banana plant needs rich, humus-like and well-draining soil as well as plenty of sunlight. In fact, indoor banana trees require bright light for about 12 hours or so for most varieties. However, you need to protect the banana plant from getting too hot to prevent scorching. Banana plants also do best in soils with pH levels between 5.5 and 7.0. Plant the banana rhizome upright and be sure the roots are well covered with soil. Taking Care of a Banana Tree Inside Banana plant houseplants require frequent feeding, especially during their active growth in warm weather. Therefore, you’ll want to give them a balanced soluble fertilizer each month. Apply this evenly throughout the container. These plants also like hot and humid conditions. Indoor bananas need warm temperatures; night temperatures around 67 degrees F. (19 C.) are ideal and day temperatures in the 80s (26 C.). While an indoor banana tree needs more water than those grown outside, it should never be allowed to sit in water, which inevitably leads to root rot. Allow the plant to dry out some between waterings. Misting their foliage can help keep them hydrated and happy. In addition, an indoor banana plant should have its leaves wiped down occasionally with a damp rag or sponge to collect any accumulated dust. Indoor banana plants can spend summers outdoors in warmer regions. However, they need to be protected from wind and cold. Make sure to acclimate plants both before bringing them back inside once it cools and just after setting them out in warm weather. To make moving plants easier, use rolling platforms. Taking care of a banana tree inside is just that easy. When you grow a banana inside, it is like you are bringing a little of the tropics into your home.

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