Babaco
The mountain papaya
Common Names:Babaco, Mountain Papaya.
History/Origin
The babaco thrives in a cool subtropical climate, free of frost. In California it grows in coastal areas of the southern part of the state and with some protection as far north as the San Francisco Bay area. With some shade it will grow in the warmer interior regions, but high temperatures and low humidity may result in sunburned fruit and immature fruit drop. The babaco is much more tolerant of cool, damp winters than the papaya. It will withstand temperatures to about 28° F, although it may lose most of its leaves. The babaco is ideally suited to container culture and also excellent for greenhouses.
Babaco Salad
Babaco
Tomato
Cucumber
Grated carrot
Leafy lettuce
Thai Basil leaves
Purple perilla leaves
Mint leaves
Society Garlic flowers
Nasturtium flowers
Tomato
Cucumber
Grated carrot
Leafy lettuce
Thai Basil leaves
Purple perilla leaves
Mint leaves
Society Garlic flowers
Nasturtium flowers
Babáco is best eaten raw. It contains three times the amount of papain as in papaya and is considered as an excellent source of vitamin A and C. Our body needs vitamin C which mainly helps to heal wounds and also to maintain healthy gums.
tough and disease-resistant. They are very susceptible to root rot diseases when they become saturated with water or full of water. Severe root rot diseases in babacos can only be treated by chopping down the plant and either treating the soil with a fungicide or,chopping out the whole root system and leaving the ground empty by without planting any other fruit tree there for at least a year.
1) The capacity of a matured babaco tree is nearly between 38 to 100 fruits per year.
2) Fruits are harvested only when they lose their green color and turn yellow all over.
3) Babacos require a very warm, humid climate and perfect drainage. They are not tolerant to strong winds and hot dry conditions.
4) All babacos are female and do not require pollination, which means all the fruits are seedless.
5) The babaco plant has an average life span of about eight years.
6) The babaco plant is damaged by air frost, and sometimes will be killed in severe air frosts.
7) Babaco fruits may get damaged easily, hence it should be handled very carefully.
2) Fruits are harvested only when they lose their green color and turn yellow all over.
3) Babacos require a very warm, humid climate and perfect drainage. They are not tolerant to strong winds and hot dry conditions.
4) All babacos are female and do not require pollination, which means all the fruits are seedless.
5) The babaco plant has an average life span of about eight years.
6) The babaco plant is damaged by air frost, and sometimes will be killed in severe air frosts.
7) Babaco fruits may get damaged easily, hence it should be handled very carefully.
The fruit
A torpedo-shaped, 5-sided fruit native to Ecuador, 8-12 inches long and 4 inches in diameter. The edible skin turns from green to golden yellow as the fruit ripens. Babaco are juicy, seedless and taste like a cross between a pineapple, papaya and strawberry.