JUJUBES

Jujubes have been used as herbal medicine for thousands of years throughout Asia.

Jujubes are highly nutritious and loaded with vitamins and minerals that benefit the blood stream, hormones, bones, soft tissue, enzymes and neurotransmitters.

Jujubes are high in vitamins A, C, and potassium that strengthen the immune system. The mucilaginous property of the fruit soothes sore throats. These benefits combined make Jujubes a natural cold and cough preventative.

Jujubes contain 18 out of the 24 important amino acids and helps form more than 50,000 proteins of the body; triggering wound healing.

Jujubes have a soothing effect on the nervous system and act as a natural sedative; and relieve stress and anxiety.

Jujubes help lower blood pressure.

Antioxidants in Jujubes help protect the liver from injury.

Jujubes are used to treat anemia and purpura.

And perhaps the most important benefit is that Jujubes inhibit the growth and movement of free radicals. This helps control the growth of tumor causing cells and the cells that lead to cancers; especially leukemia.

Tom Fetch 1-12-2014

The information I am sharing is from a multitude of sources, and cultures over a wide time span. Neither L. E. Cooke Co. nor I as a representative assume any liability concerning the efficacy of the information shared. We do not suggest that any dietary protocols discussed are to replace conventional medical treatment or guarantee any results by their practice. We are nurserymen, not MDs, and proud of the trees we grow and the enhancements to life they provide.

October Ripening Fruit

This time of year I wonder if we would be smart to open a roadside fruit stand.

From May through the end of November we have fresh fruit at our fingertips (tough job isn't it?) but it is this time of year the local Farmers Market street vendors knock on our door seeking permission to pick fruit.  All summer, when we have mouth watering fresh apricots, nectarines, peaches and plums, they are nowhere to be found.  Guess they grow enough of their own.

But this time of year they flock to our doors seeking permission to pick Jujubes and Figs.

Right now the street vendors are picking the Li, Lang and GA-866 Jujube from our budwood orchard trees.  Too early still for the Sherwood.   (We have not told them about our young crop of Sugar Cane Jujube.  We are hoarding them for ourselves although Denise claims she mailed some samples to some of her customers.)

What is always amazing to me is that in another week or two they will also be harvesting fruit from the new 9 month old trees in our growing fields.  They set fruit that early in life!  See the next two photos.

 Li Jujube already setting fruit in the production rows.  These trees were only grafted early last February!

 Li Jujube already starting to ripen on the 9 month young production field trees.

Figs are continuously ripening this time of year as well and the Farmers Market vendors do well selling them.

 Black Jack Figs in October

One street vendor found enough late hanging Asian Pears to make his day.  I'll bet they were good and sweet!  Some purchasers are in for a real treat.

I have also noticed that the Izu Persimmons in the budwood orchard are nearly ready - as expected, a month ahead of the other Asian Persimmons.

Guess I better quit writing and go pick some fruit for my wife.

Ziziphus jujuba 'Sugar Cane'

This exciting tree will be a new offering for the 2011 shipping season (sorry - not 2010).

The trees you see here were just planted January 23, 2008!  The amount of fruit the second year is impressive. These trees will be supplying the graft wood for the trees to be sold in 2011. Based upon the rapid growth, if we have enough seedlings, we should get a good sized initial crop to sell.

These photos were taken last Thursday 9/17/09 showing that this variety fruits earlier than the others (normally October and later).  Each tree seems to have a lot of fruit in various stages of ripening.  Fully ripe, half ripe and a lot of green which promises for more to come.  Not sure the commercial farmer will like that, but it will be great for the home owner.  Since these trees are so young, it is premature to know if this is normal for a mature tree.

I also noticed that the thorns are much, much smaller than Li or Lang Jujube.  So far they are tiny.  They are not lethal to tractor tires on this variety. Again, I'll wait for older trees to see if this holds true over time.

Lloyd is harvesting Sugar Cane Jujube for samples to try in the office.  You can see a substantial amount in the box.  He filled it before that picking was finished. That evening I went to the box to take some home for my wife to try and only 3 Jujube fruits were left.  Clearly the office staff loved them.

The name Sugar Cane is fitting.  The fruit is clearly very sweet - something I really go for.  For those of us who like sweet fruit, the Sugar Cane became our favorite of all the Jujube varieties we grow.

Jujube fruit is very popular among the Asian cultures and I think has been somewhat of an "acquired taste" for the American cultures.  Based upon the response to our tasting, Sugar Cane Jujube will be an instant hit with all cultures - at least if you like sweet fruit.  I am really excited about this product.

To get a feel for demand so we can attempt to produce enough, we are taking advance bookings now for January 2011 delivery.  Our goal will be to produce enough initial stock to distribute widely in at least limited quantities before we offer commercial quantities.  If your nursery is interested, give us a call.