Jujube (Winter Delight)

Planting & Care

Site Selection

• Choose the sunniest site you have for the most consistent fruiting and ripening.
• Jujubes handle a wide range of conditions once established, but drainage and sun exposure make the biggest difference.
• Give trees room for airflow and easy access at harvest—jujubes are best picked in multiple passes as fruit colors up.

Soil Preparation

• Plant in well-drained soil. If your site holds water, plant on a slight mound or in a raised planting area.
• Jujubes tolerate many soil types, but they dislike prolonged wet feet.
• Ideal soil pH is roughly 6.0 to 7.5.

Planting Instructions

• Dig a hole about twice the width of the root system (or container) and only as deep as needed.
• Set the tree so the root flare is at or slightly above the finished soil level.
• Backfill with native soil, tamp lightly, and water deeply to settle.
• Mulch 2–3″ deep to conserve moisture, keeping mulch a few inches away from the trunk.
• Stake only if needed for wind; remove staking after the first season.

Watering & Fertilizing

• Water consistently during the first growing season while roots establish.
• Aim for deep watering, then allow the soil to begin drying between irrigations—jujubes respond well to a wet-to-dry rhythm.
• Once established, water during extended drought or prolonged summer dryness, especially while fruit is sizing.
• Go easy on nitrogen. Too much fertilizer can push leafy growth at the expense of flowering and fruiting.
• If growth is weak, use a light, balanced feed in spring; avoid heavy summer fertilizing.

Pollination

• Winter Delight is commonly grown as self-fertile.
• For heavier crops and more consistent set, plant another jujube variety within 20–30 feet.
• In cool or rainy bloom periods, having a second variety nearby can help overall fruit set.

Pruning & Training

• Train young trees to a simple open structure with 3–5 main scaffold branches, or a central leader if you prefer.
• Prune in late winter to remove crossing branches, dead wood, and overly crowded interior growth.
• Keep pruning moderate—jujubes don’t need heavy annual pruning once the framework is set.
• New growth may have thorns; wear gloves and long sleeves when training or harvesting.

Harvest & Use

• For fresh eating, harvest when fruit has begun to color but remains firm and crisp.
• For drying, allow fruit to fully mature and brown; fruit can finish drying on the tree or indoors with good airflow.
• Harvest in multiple passes—jujubes often ripen unevenly across the canopy.

General Tips

• Expect production to improve as the tree matures; grafted trees may fruit very early, but consistency increases with age.
• Protect young trunks from weed trimmers and rodents; bark damage can set a tree back.
• If your fall weather turns wet, pick crisp-stage fruit promptly to reduce splitting and preserve texture.
• Once established, jujubes are one of the most low-input fruit trees you can grow.