Originated in China where they have been cultivated for more than 4,000 years.
This is perfect for North San Gabriel Valley. Can withstand a wide range of temperatures; virtually no temperature seems to be too high in summertime and requires only a small amount of winter chill. The plant revels in summer sun and heat, with the lack of either limiting fruit production more than winter cold. They require minimal water.
Small, deciduous tree, growing to 10 feet tall in California. The naturally drooping tree is graceful, ornamental and often thorny with branches growing in a zig-zag pattern. The wood is very hard and strong. Plants send up suckers from their roots, and they should be removed.
The small, oval leaves are 1-2 inches long and a shiny bright green. In the autumn, the leaves turn bright yellow before falling. As the growing season commences, each node of a woody branch produces one to ten branchlets. Most of these are deciduous, falling from the plant in autumn.
The tiny white to greenish-yellow flowers are somewhat fragrant and produced in large numbers in the leaf axils. Individual flowers are receptive to pollen for only one day or less. Cross pollination takes place.
The fruit is a drupe, varying from round to elongate. It has a thin, edible skin surrounding whitish flesh of sweet, agreeable flavor. The single hard stone contains two seeds. The immature fruit is green in color, but as it ripens it goes through a yellow-green stage with mahogany-colored spots appearing on the skin as the fruit ripens further. The fully mature fruit is entirely red. Shortly after becoming fully red, the fruit begins to soften and wrinkle. The fruit can be eaten after it becomes wrinkled, but most people prefer them during the interval between the yellow-green stage and the full red stage. At this stage the flesh is crisp and sweet, reminiscent of an apple. Under dry conditions jujubes lose moisture, shrivel and become spongy inside. They are high in vitamin C.
Unpruned trees produce as well as trees that have been pruned. Extensive winter pruning, however, will keep the plants in better health and produce more easily obtainable fruit.
Appears to have no serious disease, insect, or nematode pests, so no spraying is necessary. Only the pocket gopher has shown a liking for the roots.
The crop ripens non-simultaneously, and fruit can be picked for several weeks from a single tree. If picked green, jujubes will not ripen. Ripe fruits may be stored at room temperature for about a week. The fruit may be eaten fresh, dried or candied.
Healthy vines were started from free seedlings gotten from a winery in Santa Ynez a few years ago. They are perfect as table grapes - very sweet, soft skin with one tiny seed that can easily be chewed along with the grapes.
