Growing Cherries in Mumbai!
Growing cherries on the terrace!
Been there and done that...
Barbados cherry/ West Indian cherry/ Acerola cherry
This plant really taxed my patience to the limit.
I had planted this as a small sapling in a 12 inch container some 5-7 years back. Every 2 years, after a lot of leafy growth it was pruned, somewhat harshly ( because, no yield yet) and planted back into same container.
About three years back, I planted it into a 25 litre plastic drum, where it languished for another year. Last year it decided to reward my pain with a few , ie only 3, cherries which the birds promptly polished off before ripening.
Then came along the September of 2021. The plant decided to make up for lost time. It was in full glory and literally raining cherries on the terrace.
I tasted a few, very sour; they went into making of a somewhat unique jam. This variety definitely cannot be eaten plucked from the tree.
What was my learning from this plant.... patience pays, never fails... also cherries can be grown in Mumbai and that too on terrace. It's after all a matter of having enough patience...
Happy gardening and keep growing!
