EUGENIA NEONITIDA

POPULAR NAMES: PITANGATUBA, PITANGA-UBÁ, PITANGA-CARAMBOLA, PITANGATUBA

MYRTACEAE

 

 

 

INDIGENOUS NAME: Pitangatuba comes from the Tupi, referring to the skin of the fruit, which is small and delicate or thin tube adjective means big or large as in fact the fruit is.

Origin: Coastal thickets of Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Characteristics: Bush to 1 to 2 m tall, with dense foliage clump formed horizontal. The leaves are firm when old and fuzzy (covered with floccus) when new, with very short stem or support at the base and with sharp edge at the apex. The fruit looks a lot like a carambola.

Planted in the site of Frutas Raras: November 2002, blossomed in 2004, bear fruit in 2004.

Tips for cultivation: Slow growing bush appreciates red and sandy soils with rapid drainage of rain water, is resistant to light frosts  to -3°C (27°F). The plant  does fruit only in full sun and should be planted in well fertilized soil, enriched with plenty of decomposed organic matter. 

Propagation: The seeds are large and germinate in 60 to 120 days, the seedlings should be formed on substrate with 50% of red soil, 30 % organic matter and 20% of sand, have slow growth. They begin to produce 2 years after planting.

Planting: I recommend to plant in full sun in a space of 4 x 4 m. Best planting time is October to November, to water 10 l of water after planting and every 15 days if no rain. The holes must have dimensions of 50 cm in 3 dimensions and there are to give 30% sand gravel + 30% organic matter mixed to 30 cm under the surface into the pit.   

Cultivating: The plant grows slowly and does not require special care, the surface should be covered with powder to close and eliminate any weed that can choke the plant. Fertilize with 2 kg of organic compost made from chicken manure and work 30 grams of NPK 10-10-19 in. Distribute the nutrients to 5 cm into the surface 20 cm from the stem at the beginning of October. 

Uses: The fruit is consumed in-kind and in the form of juices that are very creamy. The fruit has great potential for the manufacture of pulp and ice cream. 

Flowering in the site of Frutas Raras: September to February.

Fruiting in the site of Frutas Raras: November to April.

 

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