Bael tree (Aegle marmelos) 5 seeds

Aegle marmelos

A medium-sized fruit tree native to India. It grows up to 15 m tall. Hindus consider it sacred. The leaves are oval, pointed, and shallowly serrated. Older leaves emit a slight odor when damaged. The flowers are very fragrant, white with a yellow center. The fruits are used for consumption. These fruits ripen for 11 months on the tree. They reach the size of a grapefruit or pomelo. They are consumed fresh or used to make various cocktails and juices. They can also be used for preserves, jams, jellies, and compotes. Hard fruit shells are used to make containers and snuff boxes. In our regions, it is grown like other citrus plants, but it can also be cultivated as a regular houseplant or bonsai.

How to Grow Bael Fruit

• Requires a sunny location. It tolerates both extreme heat and light frosts down to -7°C. The optimal temperature is 25°C. It does not tolerate waterlogging but tolerates drought relatively well. From spring to autumn, plants spend the summer on the terrace or balcony. In winter, they are content with a cool room around 10°C. The plant can be shaped as a bonsai.

• Soak the seeds in warm water for 2 days before sowing. Then plant 1 cm deep in special substrate designed for sowing, enriched with perlite. Peat Jiffy can also be used. Germination at room temperature takes 4-5 weeks.

• Requires rich, well-drained soil. It grows vigorously in soils with a pH value of 5 to 8.

• During the growing season, fertilize 1-2 times every 14 days with a complete NPK fertilizer with higher nitrogen content.

• In our climate, plants do not suffer much from pests and diseases. However, plants can be attacked by spider mites, aphids, and scale insects at high winter temperatures. For protection, use special insecticides such as Agrion Delta, Biolit, Decis Mega, Fast M, Karate with Zeon technology 5 CS.

• Fruits are harvested when they are yellow-green and stored for 8 days until they lose their green coloration.