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Location: Although native to partially
shaded sites, full sun helps hasten flowering and ripening. When
placed in a southwest corner, the tree provides summer shade and
allows winter sun to pass through the bare limbs.
Soil: The raisin tree tolerates a wide range of soil conditions
and thrives in sandy loam.
Irrigation: Although somewhat tolerant
of drought, raisin trees do best with a regular supply of moisture.
Fertilization: Little is known about
the fertilization needs of the tree, but a light to moderate fertilizing
in mid-spring is probably useful.
Pruning: The tree tends to prune
itself, dropping the lower branches as the tree grows.
Propagation: The seeds have an
impermeable seed coat that severely inhibits germination. Several
methods have been employed to get around the problem. The seed
coat can be scarified by nicking it with a file, or soaking the
seed in concentrated sulfuric acid for two hours. Wash the seed
thoroughly with water following the acid soak. The seed can also
be soaked in hot tap water (approximately 140‹ F)
for three consecutive days. Others have had some luck with freezing
the seed. After treatment, the seed are planted in potting soil,
covered with clear plastic wrap and placed in bright light. Seeds
should germinate within a week to a month or more. Plants grown
from seed usually bear fruit within 7 - 10 years, though bearing
within 3 years is possible under good conditionsThe plant can
also be propagated by softwood cuttings taken in late summer,
and by root cuttings. Little work has been done in the area of
grafting.
Pests and diseases: Raisin trees
are apparently free of any significant pests and diseases. Deer
will probably browse the foliage, but the roots do not seem to
be attractive to gophers.
Harvest:Raisin tree peduncles do
not become tasty until very late in the season. They are excellent
to eat out of hand or may be used in anything where raisins are
normally used. The bonus with raisin tree "raisins"
is that they don't have to be dried. They are chopped and added
to fruitcake in Australia, and in China they are made into a beverage
called "tree honey" that is said to neutralize hangovers.
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