The peanut butter fruit, scientifically known as Bunchosia glandulifera, offers a distinctive experience for fruit enthusiasts and gardeners. This plant yields small, vibrant fruits known for their unique peanut butter-like flavor and aroma. Understanding its seeds provides valuable insights for cultivation. Growing this tropical plant from seed can be a rewarding addition to a garden.
Understanding Peanut Butter Fruit Seeds
Peanut butter fruit contains one or two seeds nestled within its thick, creamy pulp. These seeds are small, measuring 1 to 1.5 centimeters, with an elliptical, flattened, bony structure. Their light brownish color contrasts with the fruit’s vibrant orange-red hue. When consuming the fruit, the seed is easily separated from the pulp due to the fruit’s soft texture.
Seeds are extracted by carefully removing them from the fruit’s sweet pulp. The fruit’s dense, sticky flesh makes them readily accessible after consumption. This straightforward process simplifies seed collection for propagation.
Edibility and Culinary Uses
The peanut butter fruit’s pulp and thin skin are consumed, offering a flavor profile that strikingly resembles peanut butter, often with hints of fig, date, or sweet potato. This unique taste is complemented by a dense, creamy, and sticky texture, enhancing the “peanut butter” sensation. The flavor can intensify as more fruit is consumed, making it a memorable culinary experience. While the pulp is widely enjoyed, conflicting information exists regarding seed edibility, with some sources cautioning against their consumption.
Beyond fresh consumption, the fruit’s pulp can be incorporated into culinary creations. It blends into smoothies and milkshakes, adding creamy texture and nutty flavor. The fruit also transforms into jellies, jams, and preserves for spreads. Nutritionally, peanut butter fruit is a source of Vitamin C, dietary fiber, and antioxidants like lycopene.
Growing Peanut Butter Fruit from Seed
Cultivating peanut butter fruit from seed begins with seed preparation. After extraction from ripe fruit, seeds should be cleaned of pulp and dried if not planted immediately. They do not require cold stratification, thriving in warm, moist conditions. Planting seeds directly into a suitable medium soon after extraction promotes sprouting.
For planting, select a well-draining soil mix rich in organic content, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0-7.5). Plant each seed approximately 2 centimeters (1 inch) deep in individual pots or seed trays. Consistent moisture is crucial; keep soil damp but not waterlogged. Germination typically occurs within 2 to 4 weeks, but can extend up to 4 months.
Peanut butter fruit trees thrive in full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily for growth and fruit production. Once seedlings emerge, provide them with consistent warmth and ample light. Young plants are sensitive to freezing temperatures and should be protected. They are suitable for USDA hardiness zones 10+ or container growing indoors during cold months. Regular watering is important for new seedlings, ensuring moist soil as roots develop.
As the peanut butter fruit plant matures, it requires continued care. Fertilize young trees with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer during the growing season for foliage and fruit development. While mature trees become more tolerant of varying moisture levels, consistent watering, allowing soil to dry slightly between sessions, is best. Growing peanut butter fruit from seed takes 2 to 4 years to produce fruit.