Page 15 - Edible Trees For Tucson

P L ANTIN G N O TES

• Chill hours: None required.
• Height: 30-feet tall with a canopy 25 feet.
• Lifespan: First seed crop produced in 6-7
years; trees live for 100+ years.
• Water needs: Very drought tolerant, though
trees produce higher yields with irrigation.
• Soils: Grow on a range of soil types;
tolerant of rocky, poor and saline soils.
Carob root mycorrhiza fix nitrogen and
make it available for other nearby plants.
• Microclimate: Choose sunny areas with
adequate spacing, protect from harsh
wind. Carob trees are adapted to mild,
Mediterranean climates and are cold
tolerant to around 20ºF.
• Pollination: Trees have either male or female
flowers, though limbs of male trees may be
grafted onto female trees. Both are needed
for pod development. Carob flowers are
wind- and insect-pollinated.
CARE

Mature trees may require a light pruning to
remove dead or diseased and damaged wood
every 3-4 years.

H AR VES T
Carob pods
are used as a
dark, naturally
sweet, rich
and flavorful
chocolate
substitute. The
pods are ground
or pounded into
a fine powder,
which is added
to cold or heated
milk and used in
baking, syrups
and beverages.

15