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NMSU to host jujube fruit tree growing habits, pruning workshop in Alcalde, Los Lunas

Date: 03/09/2018
Writer: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu

LOS LUNAS – Interest in raising the jujube as an alternative fruit crop continues to grow among New Mexicans because of crop reliability and its ability to adapt well to a wide range of soil pH levels and weather conditions.


Woman in purple vest with pruners
Shengrui Yao, New Mexico State University Extension fruit specialist, demonstrates how to prune a jujube fruit tree. She will host a pruning demonstration at NMSU’s Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 22; and a workshop on the growing habits of the tree, followed by a pruning demonstration at NMSU’s Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Alcalde at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29. (NMSU photo by Jane Moorman)

To help home gardeners and potential commercial growers better understand this fruit-bearing tree of Chinese origin, Shengrui Yao, New Mexico State University College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Extension fruit specialist, will host a workshop on the growing habits of the tree, followed by a pruning demonstration.

The workshop will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at NMSU’s Sustainable Agriculture Science Center at Alcalde.

Prior to this workshop, Yao will hold a pruning demonstration from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at NMSU’s Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas

“To serve the people in the central and southern areas New Mexico, we will have a pruning demonstration at Los Lunas,” Yao said. “If people want to learn about the growing habits of the tree they can attend the workshop in Alcalde.

“Our sunny and semi-arid weather makes the jujube fruit quality excellent,” she said. “Jujube fruit is very nutritious, with a vitamin C content of 200 to 600 mg per 100 grams of fresh fruit weight, which is four to 10 times higher than oranges.”

Jujube trees leaf and bud out four to six weeks later than most fruit tree species, which allows them to avoid the late frosts.

“With their late season start-up, wide adaptation, nutritional facts and mild flavor, jujubes are a perfect alternative fruit in New Mexico,” Yao said.

Register online at http://rsvp.nmsu.edu/rsvp/jujubehabits or contact Anna at 505-852-4241.