I was so thrilled that anyone would have thought I’d just found a long lost uncle. I hadn’t seen old Mr Tan for more than a decade.
Dad used to buy bags of soil and fertilizer from him whenever we went to the garden centre. Then suddenly, he and his wife disappeared and the place was taken over by others.
I was thrilled to see him looking well, hopping off his old bike as it came to a halt. We chatted a while and the kindly old man asked after my dad. Then he said, “Wait. I have something for you. Come, come.”
I followed him as he shuffled to the backyard where he surveyed two rows of knee-high spondias dulcis plants. He chose one. “This is dwarf; and seedless. I grow these for my friends. This is for you.”
I was really touched. It obviously gave him much joy to share his plants. “I’ll tell my dad it’s from you, Mr Tan,” I said and thanked him profusely.
And that’s how we came to have a dwarf kedondong, as this fruit is commonly called here, in our garden.
It sits in a big urn and has since fruited three times; first there was just a lone fruit, then three, and finally a dozen which looked a bit too heavy for the diminutive two-foot plant.
This crunchy, tangy tropical fruit is best picked before it ripens. It can be eaten neat, but tastes best dipped in a sauce, served in salads or blended into a refreshing drink. Of these, the latter remains my favorite.
It’s nutritional value? The fruit is packed with vitamin C but this, to me, is secondary. I’d enjoy it whatever the case. There is nothing quite like a nice cold refreshing kedondong drink. I’m sure many will agree with me.
Cheers, Mr Tan!
.
Care and propagation: full sun, well drained soil, water moderately. Propagate using seeds or hardwood cuttings
that plant is commonly known as a dwarf KEDONGDONG. the fruits are crunchy when green and best used in achar – a typical nyonya pickled spicy salad. it can also be used in rojak – again another typical local salad which uses dark salty fermented prawn paste or hay kor.
when it’s ripe, the fruit is rather soft and not as tasty as when it’s green and crunchy. be warned. this fruit is highly acidic and sourish and could give a pain to the denture especially those with sensitive teeth.
Wow this one is so healthy. I planted one 4 years ago, never bear fruit under my hand. Had to give it up when we moved to a flat. 😦
was it the dwarf variety?
Yes it was. Actually it was given by my hubby’s friend. Was very sad to leave it behind back then.
My small tree attracts ladybirds which have eaten all the leaves. Any advice how to protect tree?