Acerola is a small, evergreen tree that grows in tropical and subtropical climates. This hardy plant can be grown anywhere you have space for it. Acerola trees grow best in full sun but they will thrive in partial shade as well. The leaves are shiny green with some red or purple variations on the underside of the leaf. The flowers are white and grow on long stems at the top of the tree where they resemble little balls of cotton candy! They bloom year-round, so there's always something to enjoy about this beautiful specimen. But what makes acerolas really special? It's all about their fruit! These berries are bright orange orbs that follow along similar lines to other citrus fruits like oranges and lemons when it comes to taste. The acerola is touted as being the best natural source of vitamin C! There is no other fruit that even comes close to acerola in terms of size, yield, and nutritional value!
Acerola trees can be purchased through a wide variety of online nurseries, or even from your local garden center. Make sure that you know what type of acerola tree you are purchasing because they are not all the same! There are acerolas that grow in temperate zones and acerolas that grow in warm climates. Some acerolas can even survive in both climates! Make sure to read the label and take note of the acerola's climate preferences before you buy it. Once you know what type of acerola tree you are buying, follow these tips for how to plant acerola:
In general acerola, trees can be planted at any time of year, but it's best to plant them in a sunny garden during warmer months and then move them inside your home for the winter. Plant acerolas in an area that gets full sun. They will grow most abundantly where they receive direct sunlight from dawn to dusk. Acerola trees have aggressive root systems, so be sure to dig a hole in the ground that is twice as deep as the acerola's original pot and wide enough for its base (at least 4 feet). The acerola tree will need to be planted on a slope since acerolas don't like to sit in water. So dig the hole in a sloping position and create a mound of dirt around the acerola's original pot. This will allow water to flow down away from roots and prevent water buildup around acerolas.
Once you have dug your acerola planting hole, mix in some acerola potting soil with the native soil. Mix acerola potting soil with native soil in a ratio of 80% acerola potting soil and 20% native dirt. Then, fill your acerola hole about halfway full with this acerola/dirt mixture (leaving enough room for the acerola roots still in the acerola pot). After you have filled the acerola hole about halfway full with acerola/dirt mixture, carefully dig your acerola tree out of its acerola pot and place it in the acerola planting hole. Then fill the acerola planting hole the rest of the way up to ground level with acerola/dirt mixture. Tamp down acerola soil and water acerola well, making sure there is moisture all around acerola plant roots (don't overwater acerola!).
Acerolas should be planted in early spring or late fall. The acerola trees should be planted in rich, well-drained soil where they will receive six hours of sunlight each day. While acerolas are small enough to be grown in planters, the environment they need to thrive is so specific that you might find better luck growing acerolas in the ground. They should be watered regularly so that their soil remains damp but not soggy. To help acerolas grow to the best of their ability, make sure they are fertilized often and properly. Dead branches can be pruned at any time during the acerola's life span to promote better growth throughout the rest of it.
Acerola trees will begin to fruit around two years after being planted. Make sure you know when acerolas ripen so that you can prepare and be ready for their harvest! When acerola berries are ripe, they will come off the tree easily but only if they're picked at the right time. Ripe acerolas will give a little when you squeeze them lightly, but if the acerola is too ripe it will be mushy and soft. If acerolas aren't left on the tree long enough to ripen fully, they won't taste very good or have their full nutritional value! In order to harvest acerolas at just the right time, you'll need to check their color. Acerolas should be picked when they are bright orange. If acerola berries turn too dark or a deep yellow, do not pick them! They will no longer taste good and acerola harvesting season will come to an end early for your acerola tree.
Acerolas are not very large; there are acerola berries that range from the size of an acorn to acerola berries with a diameter of about 2 inches. The color varies depending on the acerola you're looking at, but acerolas are most often bright orange. Acerolas taste a bit like citrus fruits with a slight bit of tartness to them. For acerolas that are not overly ripe, taste buds will pick up notes of strawberries and pineapples with an extremely slight sourness to them. As acerolas get more and more overripe, the acerola taste changes. Overripe acerolas have a very drastic acerola taste change; acerola fruit becomes very sour and acerbic.
Acerola berries are very delicate. They bruise very easily and acerola berries have high water content. Because of acerolas' susceptibility to bruising, acerolas should be handled as gently as possible! When acerolas are out of season and you want to extend their life for a short amount of time, store acerolas in a brown paper bag at room temperature. The acerola will stay fresh for up to five days this way! They can also be stored in the refrigerator. Acerolas should not be frozen because acerolas' delicate texture will not survive a full thaw and refreeze.
If acerola berries are going to be stored for longer than a few days, acerolas need to be put in water. The acerola needs air to stay fresh, but acerolas won't last long if they are left out in the open. Place acerolas in a glass container with a lid and cover acerola berries with lukewarm water so that the acerola can still be seen. Leave acerolas in the water for three to four days and change out the acerola water every day so acerolas are always covered in fresh acerola water.
Acerolas have a wide variety of uses across many different cultures. The acerola is recognized as being one of the best natural sources of vitamin C, which has made it an important food in many tropical areas for many thousands of years. Acerola fruit is also commonly used to make acerola juice, acerola jam, acerola butter, acerola paste, acerola ice cream, acerola sorbet and many other acerola-based foods.
Acerolas are often sold as a dietary supplement and acerola extract is used in many acerola juice blends. Both acerolas and acerola extracts are high in vitamin C, which has numerous benefits for overall health. Vitamin C keeps the immune system strong, promotes healthy skin, helps acerola growers recover from injuries more quickly, and can even help alleviate symptoms of depression.
Acerola is a great tree to grow. There are many uses and benefits of Acerola, such as its use in the making of jams or jellies, which make it an attractive option for those looking to incorporate more fruit into their diets. If you're thinking about growing this wonderful plant at home, let us know. We'd love to hear all about your experience with acerolas! Do you grow them? Have you been looking into them? Let's talk in the comments below.
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