Table of Contents
Introduction
Monstera Deliciosa fruit will drop off the plant when ripened, and the white pulp is peeled back and then the fruit can be eaten.
In my area, it is often known as the fruit salad plant, because of the flavors in the fruit. It is abundant in rain forests growing in the canopy, and taking months to ripen partly because it is shaded. There are actually 48 different species of Monstera Deliciosa.
Growing Monstera Deliciosa
The plant is a bit hard to grow mainly due to a deficit of chlorophyll, causing slow photosynthesis, slowing down the growth of the plant.
This is interesting because in the rain forests they grow like weeds. This means that the suburban garden is probably not ideal for them, but once established they are quite hardy.
When Does Monstera Deliciosa Bear Fruit?
The fruit will take about 10 months to ripen. The fruit must be ripe, as green fruit can burn your throat. When the scales on the outside of your fruit are loose, and the inside turns banana yellow, your fruit is ready to eat.
When it is ripe it is a nice fruit salad/ banana type flavor, but it is a fruit that many people will never get to try.
Planting Your Monstera Deliciosa
Only plant your Monstera Deliciosa in a hot dry climate, and be prepared to wait for about three years for fruit. Plant in well-drained soil rich in organic matter, and keep watering it to keep it moist.
It actually looks nice trailing along the fence, and this might be a good thing to do while you are waiting for the fruit. It is propagated from a cutting and likes full sun. Use soluble fertilizers applied in warmer weather.
How to Harvest Monstera Deliciosa Fruit
The fruit is elongated and you will know that it is ready to harvest when it shows a creamy color at the base of the fruit about 1 year after flowering.
When the fruit is ready it can be easily broken off from the stem. After you have picked the fruit place it in a brown paper bag on a windowsill or in a warm position, and after a couple of days the green cap will be shed from the ripe section, exposing the edible part.
If the caps are not shed, don’t try to eat the fruit underneath, as it is not ripe. Leave the unripe piece in the paper bag and it will continue to ripen.
What can Happen if you Eat Monstera Deliciosa Fruit Before it is Ripe?
Between the edible segments of the fruit are small black scales and these fall away when the fruit is ripe. The unripe fruit also contains oxalate, and if you eat it before it is ripe it does irritate the throat and tastes awful.
Once you gain expert knowledge of your Monstera Deliciosa fruit this will never happen, as you will know when it is ready to eat.
Monstera Deliciosa Fruit Diseases and Pests
The plant is very hardy, and most plants that are evergreen don’t get attacked by many pests. However, sometimes it may attract the mealybug
A mealybug is a tiny bug often appearing in white cottony masses on leaves, stems, and fruit, drawing out the sap from fruit and other tissues.
To get rid of the mealybug.
- Dip a cotton swab in alcohol and wipe off visible mealybugs.
- Mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and two drops of liquid soap and 30 oz of water.
- Spray the whole Monstera Deliciosa Fruit and all leaves with the soapy mixture.
- Do this once or twice a week, until you are sure they are gone.
- This is an ecologically safe treatment and you will be still able to eat your fruit.
Can you grow a Monstera Deliciosa Fruit Inside?
Yes, in a sunroom or sheltered warm spot, if you do grow it indoors sponge down the leaves once a week to keep them free from dust. Your plant will require bright indirect light, and remember to fertilize it, as you will be waiting for the fruit to appear. Inside the tropical foliage will be abundant
If you have a greenhouse or glasshouse in a cooler climate you will also be able to grow much more fruit.
How Big Will my Indoor Monstera Deliciosa Fruit grow?
Either inside or out your plant can grow from 10 to 20 meters in height, It will need some structure and support, so if you have it in a sunroom you may want to trail it around the wall.
The foliage is a large and perforated, and very tropical green looking. If you are growing your plant inside use two different fertilizers a slow-release fertilizer in spring. A water-soluble fertilizer every month during Spring and Summer to encourage fruit.
Indoors it will tolerate bright direct light. When indoors allow the soil to dry out in winter between watering.
If You want to be Certain your Monstera Deliciosa will Fruit.
Definitely grow it indoors to get a big fruit, as sometimes when outside the fruit growth may not occur every year due to a cold summer or lack of light.
If it is in your sunniest room and you water and fertilize the plant you will get very large fruit in 10-12 months. This is a fruit you hardly ever see in a fruit shop, so it is worth persevering with.
Your plant will only live for around 5 or 6 years, not long, so remember to take a cutting and establish another one every two years, to keep them going. Of course, you can also buy them in a plant shop, and they will be a bit more advanced.
Conclusion
This is an attractive and interesting plant. Sometimes given the right spot in the garden, they grow amazingly big and in a really warm Summer will produce a lot of fruit.
I recently tasted one that was very like pineapple, and if you didn’t know the difference you would be sure that it was pineapple.
I find it fascinating that the tastes vary from plant to plant.
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
