Carambola - Star Fruit

In short: Carambola (Averrhoa carambola) is a tropical evergreen tree grown for its star-shaped, 5 to 7 cm fruit. Indoors keep it at about 20°C and never below 16°C. Seeds sown 3 cm deep sprout in roughly 10 days, and trees usually bear fruit from the 4th to 5th year, ripening 4 to 5 months after flowering.

Star Fruit - Carambola

Carambola (lat. Averrhoa carambola) - is a tropical evergreen tree originating from Southeast Asia. According to its origin - mainly found in Malaysia, China and India - it is also called the "Malaysian star". This exotic plant belongs to the wood sorrel family (lat. averrhoaceae). It is grown primarily for its juicy fruits with a sour taste, which are called carambolas. For export, it is mainly grown in the Antilles, Malaysia, India and Hawaii. It grows in warm lowlands up to 600 m above sea level. The optimal average annual temperature for good growth of Carambola is 26-28°C.

Carambola is grown as a fruit tree, for its yellow star-shaped fruits and also for medicinal processing. The oxalates contained in these fruits can cause brain disorders, thinking problems and seizures in some people with kidney disorders. There are also countries such as the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, Brazil, Jamaica, Peru and others, where Carambola is grown only for its decorative appearance, rather than for human consumption.

Appearance of Carambola: This fruit tree grows up to 12m in height. The branches are drooping, the wood is white. The trunk turns red when peeled. Dense branches create a decorative rounded crown. The tree's leaves are alternate, imparipinnate with opposite and ovate leaflets. Finely hairy underneath, whitish. When leaves sprout from buds, they have a red color. Older leaves have a yellow-green or dark green color.

Carambola is a tree with amazing decorative flowers. Carambola flowers are small, pink to light red. They smell beautiful and form throughout the year directly from the leaf axils at the end of twigs on the trunk. The flowers are bisexual. When flowers grow directly from the trunk, it is technically called cauliflory.

The fruit of Carambola is a waxy yellow berry with five prominent ribs, measuring 5-7 cm. Some fruits can have a more elongated shape up to 12 cm in length. In cross-section, they have a star shape. Carambola seeds are brown and oval.

Growing Carambola

Carambola is a tree widespread in the tropics and subtropical regions. It has a low, attractive growth habit. It therefore prefers higher air humidity, higher average annual temperatures and well-drained soil. It is suitable for cultivation in a heated greenhouse, where the temperature does not drop below 16°C year-round. With sufficient light conditions, we can grow Carambola as a houseplant.

TIP: Before sowing, wash the seeds thoroughly and let them rest for 2 days after drying. Prepare a planter with substrate suitable for sowing. If it's heating season, place the planter on a radiator and push the seeds about 3 cm deep. Otherwise, place it on a sunny windowsill. Keep the substrate moist throughout the germination period. You can mist the soil with a spray bottle. After about 10 days, the first sprouts with seed coats will begin to appear. After another week, the seedling will have 2 small leaves.

Germinated mature seedlings flower several times a year. A one-year-old seedling reaches a height of about 30 cm. If you're going to transplant it, think ahead and prepare a larger pot. Star fruit plants tolerate any further transplanting very poorly.

They bear fruit from the 4th to 5th year. However, they can flower and bear fruit already in the first year. Star fruit ripen 4-5 months after flowering. One inflorescence produces 2-3 fruits - star fruits. Fruits are harvested at full maturity. Since the plant flowers throughout the year, there can be both very ripe and unripe fruits on it at the same time.

Watering of star fruit must be regular. Follow it according to soil drying. As soon as the plant dries out significantly, it tends to shed leaves and stops being aesthetic. You'll know there's enough water when the substrate around the plant is moist and the saucer is full of water to the brim. The plant will then absorb this back into the pot and the saucer should remain dry. Don't overwater the plant. Root rot may occur.

If you're planning a small star fruit orchard, plant individual trees 6 m apart. The plants are sensitive to frost. We therefore recommend transplanting into portable pots and placing them in the garden only during the warmest summer months. If you own a heated greenhouse, you have excellent conditions for growing star fruit and you'll enjoy beautiful flowers and fresh fruits all year round. If the trees are not hardened, don't leave them in the garden even during cold summer nights. The optimal room temperature for growing indoors is 20°C. The temperature for growing star fruit should not drop below 16°C. It will tolerate a drop below 15°C or even a temperature drop to 0°C, but only once. Don't intentionally expose the plant to low temperatures.

Growing in a greenhouse is ideal, where temperatures are constantly higher and last even at night.

Star fruit are delicious when cooked with cloves, sugar and apples. Star fruit juice pairs excellently with strawberries and strawberry juice. Traditional wine is also made from star fruit.

Star Fruit - Fruit Processing

Star fruit - botanically Averrhoa carambola - produces fruit shaped like a star. The ripe fruit has a distinctive yellow color and very aesthetic appearance. The juicy flesh of star fruit is sweet-and-sour to sour. It has no internal structure, the flesh is similar in consistency to grapes. It is suitable as decorative fruit for cold platters. When sliced, it has the shape of a perfect star. Star fruit is consumed fresh. It can be processed into jams and fruit juices.

Star fruits are fruits that maintain their shape and color. If the star fruits turn brown, it is caused by tannin content. Star fruits contain high amounts of vitamin C, antioxidants, potassium and oxalates. Excessive consumption of oxalates can cause so-called oxalate toxicity or carambola neurotoxicity. Toxins are filtered by the kidneys. For people suffering from kidney problems, the juice from the fruits can have fatal consequences. After consumption, hiccups, vomiting, nausea and mental confusion may occur. The fruits contain a very low sugar content, about 4%, so their consumption is suitable for weight-loss diets. Star fruit juice can also be used to remove rust from objects and textiles. It can be used as a mordant in fabric batik dyeing.

Star fruits can also be dried and used to make Christmas decorations or for holiday table decoration.

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