{"product_id":"wood-apple-10-bag","title":"Wood Apple - 10\" Grow bag","description":"\u003cp\u003eWood Apple (Limonia acidissima), known as kaitha, kavath or kothu, is a slow-growing deciduous tree of the citrus family bearing round fruit encased in a hard, woody, greyish shell. Cracking it open reveals a sticky, aromatic brown pulp studded with seeds, with a uniquely tangy-sweet, slightly fermented flavour cherished across India.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia, it is supremely well adapted to Indian conditions, thriving in dry, hot regions and poor soils where many fruit trees fail. The tree is spiny, with aromatic compound leaves that smell of anise when crushed and small dull-red flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWood apple is exceptionally tough and drought-tolerant once established, asking little in the way of water, feeding or fuss. This resilience, plus its traditional and Ayurvedic value, makes it an ideal low-maintenance tree for the Indian plains.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pulp is eaten fresh with sugar or jaggery, blended into refreshing sherbets, and made into chutney and the famous wood-apple jam. It has long been used in Ayurveda for digestive health.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFamily\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRutaceae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eNative region\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndian subcontinent and South-East Asia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eMature height\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6-9 m (up to 12 m)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eMature spread\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5-8 m\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eGrowth rate\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFoliage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous; pinnate, anise-scented leaflets on a spiny tree\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlower colour\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDull red to greenish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlower season\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpring to early summer (Feb-May)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eClimate zone\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTropical and subtropical; very heat- and drought-tolerant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSunlight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun; thrives in strong, hot sunshine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eWatering\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow — drought-tolerant once established; water young trees to establish, then only in prolonged dry spells\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSoil \/ mix\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; prefers well-drained light soils but tolerates poor, sandy and even slightly saline ground\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLoves heat; thrives 25-40°C; mature trees tolerate considerable heat and dryness, frost-sensitive when young\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eHumidity\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTolerates a wide range; suited to dry climates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFertilizer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight feeding — compost or balanced fertiliser once or twice a year is ample; over-feeding is unnecessary\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePruning\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimal; remove deadwood, suckers and shape lightly when young; mind the thorns\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eRepotting\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow grower; if potted, repot every 2-3 years, though it is better in the ground\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePropagation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeed (most common, slow), or air-layering, root cuttings and grafting for selected types\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003ePests \u0026amp; problems\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRelatively pest-resistant; occasional mealybugs, scale, fruit fly and leaf-eating caterpillars\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eToxicity \/ safety\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRipe pulp is edible and used medicinally; the tree bears thorns; no significant toxicity, though unripe fruit is very astringent\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEasy; very low-maintenance and resilient\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eUses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRipe pulp eaten fresh with sugar or jaggery\u003cbr\u003e\nBlended into cooling wood-apple sherbet (bel-like drinks)\u003cbr\u003e\nMade into chutney, jam and preserves\u003cbr\u003e\nUsed in Ayurveda for digestion and gut health\u003cbr\u003e\nHardy shade and hedge tree for dry regions\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowing tips\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant in full sun in a hot, dry spot — it thrives where other fruit trees struggle\u003cbr\u003e\nWater young trees to establish, then let the mature tree fend largely for itself\u003cbr\u003e\nBe patient: it is slow-growing and may take several years to first fruit\u003cbr\u003e\nWatch for thorns when pruning or harvesting\u003cbr\u003e\nLet the fruit ripen fully — the shell sounds hollow and the pulp turns aromatic and brown\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhere does wood apple grow well in India?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWood apple is native to India and thrives across the hot, dry plains and subtropical regions. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant and grows where many fruit trees fail.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow long before a wood apple tree fruits?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is slow-growing; seedlings may take 7-10 years to fruit, while grafted or air-layered plants fruit somewhat sooner.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow do I know when wood apple is ripe?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe hard shell turns greyish-brown, the fruit may drop, and it sounds hollow when tapped. Inside, the pulp is brown, soft and strongly aromatic.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow is wood apple eaten?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pulp is scooped out and eaten fresh with sugar or jaggery, blended into sherbet, or made into chutney and jam. It also has Ayurvedic digestive uses.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDoes wood apple need much watering?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eVery little once established. Water young trees to help them root, then the mature tree is highly drought-tolerant and needs water only in long dry spells.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs wood apple the same as bael?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. Wood apple (Limonia acidissima, kaitha\/kavath) is a different tree from bael (Aegle marmelos), though both are in the citrus family and have hard-shelled fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow wood apple from seed?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, seed is the most common method, but it is slow and seedlings vary. Air-layering or grafting gives quicker, more uniform fruiting plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDoes wood apple have thorns?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, the tree bears spines, so take care when pruning or harvesting. Light pruning to remove deadwood and shape young trees is all that is needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat soil suits wood apple?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is very adaptable, preferring well-drained light soils but tolerating poor, sandy and even slightly saline ground in full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs wood apple affected by many pests?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is quite pest-resistant. Occasional issues include mealybugs, scale, fruit fly and leaf-eating caterpillars, which rarely need serious control.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"vedicflora","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51049616179446,"sku":"PLT-WOODAPPLE-B10-NA","price":50.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0805\/4980\/6326\/files\/nurserylive-wood-apple-tree-of-vishakha-nakshatra-plant.jpg?v=1782712251","url":"https:\/\/vedicflora.com\/products\/wood-apple-10-bag","provider":"vedicflora","version":"1.0","type":"link"}