The fruits will have a sweet-tart, acidic flavor with mild, earthy, and subtly bitter nuances, sometimes reminiscent of the vegetal earthiness found in green bell peppers. Surinam cherries have an unusual, often polarizing flavor. Consumers appreciating the flavor, while others find it an acquired taste.
Plants will produce fruit in 2–3 years. Fruit matures within 3 weeks after flowering. In many parts of our Land, fruiting occurs year-round when rainfall is abundant. Cultivation of Surinam cherry occurs in many countries.
The Surinam cherry is a bush or small tree to 25ft in height. Plants can be trained as small bushes or hedges but can take on a more tree-like growth pattern. Flowering may occur several times a year, with a single moderate sized tree having thousands of flowers.
Benefits:
Surinam cherry has various uses. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, the cherry is used as a folk remedy in South America against stomach diseases. In addition, Surinam cherry is also known for its use for blood pressure reduction and bronchitis, heartburn, and colic prevention. Children seem to be particularly attracted to the fruit and often eat them out of hand. They can be used to make sauces, jams, jellies and in salads. If you cut them in half, remove the seeds and add a bit of sugar, then allow them to eat.
Sunlight:
It requires full sun. In temperate zones, the plant is grown in pots for its attractive foliage and bright fruits. In summer, Eugenia likes the heat, while it prefers winter temperatures between 46-68F (7-20C). It needs to be indoors in winter temps drop below 30F(0C) degrees.
Watering:
This plant can tolerate standing water so it should be forgiving of over watering. They need an inch of water every two weeks while they’re young. It may be a good idea to keep up with the rainfall with weather reports or a rain gauge to see how much rainwater your trees are getting.
Soil:
It grows in almost any type of soil–sand, sandy loam, stiff clay, soft limestone–and can even stand waterlogging for a time, but it is intolerant of salt. Plant on the top of a slope to avoid late spring frosts. Cherry trees are more susceptible to root diseases if grown on heavy clay soil.
Fertilizer:
Cherry trees are light feeders and prefer a low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10 .Use a fertilizer that’s low in nitrogen late in the winter or in the early spring. About a month before your trees flower is the best time to fertilize.