Fruits hanging from a Jamun tree

Mango trees are deep-rooted, symmetrical and evergreen. They attain heights of about 90ft and widths of about 80ft. Mangoes continues to bear fruit for many years — grafted trees bear good crops for up to 50 years or more and there are many orchards of seedling trees which are more than 150 years of age.

This beautiful large canopied Jamun tree is indigenous to India. It is also found in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Scientifically called Syzigium Cumini, it belongs to the Myrtacea family, along with the popular fruit Guava.

The Jamun tree is tall and reaches up to height of 60 to 100 feet. It is a favourite avenue tree in India largely because of its ornamental shape and because its much-branched crown remains dense and shady throughout the dry season. It is fast growing and reaches full size in about 30 to 40 years. It is abundant in south Indian moist forest, where it grows to a great size. In Salt Lake Jamun tree are found on the roadsides and in some places on the road median.

Legend has it that during his period of his exile from Ayodhya, lord Rama subsisted on the Jamun fruit for 14 years.

know the tree

Since Jamun is a hardy fruit crop it can be grown under adverse climatic conditions and on a wide range of soils but deep loam and well-drained soils are ideal. It does not prefer hard soil. It thrives well under tropical conditions and requires dry weather at the time of flowering and fruit setting. Early rains are beneficial for better growth, development and ripening of the fruits.

Leaves of the tree are opposite, smooth, leathery and 10 to 15cm long with pointy tips. The upper surface of the leaf is dull glossy and the underside is paler and mettle. The leaves have a beautiful, characteristic vein pattern. Lateral veins are very fine, parallel and run straight from the mid-rib towards the margin and unite with the marginal vein which runs round the leaf close to the leaf margin. The leaf is aromatic when crushed.

Flowers are faintly fragrant, greenish-white and small of about 4 to 5mm in diameter, stalk-less and appear from the twigs usually below the leaves, crowded in small heads.

Calyx tube top-shaped, petals unite into a cup and fall off in one piece while stamens are many. The flowers generally appear from March to May.

The fruit is an edible berry not quite spherical but oblong and ovoid. It appears green at first and turns pinkish to shining crimson as it matures. The skin of the berry is thin and glossy. The inner pulp is white or pink, juicy sweet or with an acid tang containing a pigment which strains the mouth blue after being eaten along with salt. The pulp normally encloses a single oblong green or brown seed. The fruits ripen from June to July and are devoured by flying foxes and birds which help disperse the seeds.

propagation

Jamun is propagated both by seeds and vegetative techniques, but more commonly through seeds. The seeds have no dormancy and hence fresh seeds can be sown. The seeds germinate 10 to 15 days after sowing and the seedlings become ready for transplanting in the next monsoon season.

The plants bear fruits of variable sizes and quickly so, and for this reason vegetative method by patch budding is quite a successful technique for producing Jamun commercially. A new Jamun variety Goma Priyanka has been developed by scientists of central Horticultural Experimental Station, Vejalpur, Panchmahals, Gujarat in 2009. This semi-dwarf plant, of spreading-type growth pattern, starts flowering after its fourth year of budding. It is suitable for commercial cultivation with high density planting.

fertilisation

In pre-bearing stages, 20 to 25kg of well-rotten farm yard manure or compost per plant per year may be applied. For fruit-bearing trees this dose may be increased up to 50 to 60kg. Adult trees should be given 500g nitrogen, 600g phosphorus and 300g potash per plant per year. The ideal time for manuring is a month before flowering. Irrigation should be done just after manuring.

harvesting

Jamuns ripen between June and July with the onset of rain. The average yield of full-grown budded and seedling trees is 50 to 70kg and 80 to 100kg respectively per plant per year. Jamun fruits are highly perishable.

Fully ripe fruits are eaten fresh and can be processed into jelly, jam, squash and vinegar. In recent years Jamun fruits are becoming popular among the people due to its rich medicinal values particularly for its anti-diabetic properties. The leaves, stems and bark have medicinal properties too.

Wood work

The wood of the Jamun is strong and water-resistant and is thus used for making wheels of bullock carts. It is ideal for structures that must remain underwater, like well curbs. It is also used to make cheap furniture in rural regions.