Has anyone successfully grown jackfruit in zone 9? Unprotected?

Well, I'd never heard of Jackfruit, so I just had to go look. If you get freezing temperatures in your area, you probably won't be able to grow them unprotected, according to this site:

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/ja...

"Adaptation: Jackfruit is adapted to humid tropical and near-tropical climates. Mature trees have survived temperatures of about 27° F in southern Florida, but these were frozen to large limbs. Young trees are likely to be killed at temperatures below 32° F. Unlike its relative, the breadfruit, the jackfruit is not injured by cool weather several degrees above freezing. There are only a dozen or so bearing jackfruit trees today in southern Florida, and these are valued mainly as curiosities. There are also several trees planted in the Asian exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. What they will do or how high they will grow remains a question. The tree is too large to make a suitable container-grown plant. "

There are a few photos from members in zone 9b: Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Well, then we'll just give a little nudge to @bonitin and @RobertB and @tarev
See if we can get them to chime in.

Thanks Woofie and Dave. I tried to grow jackfruit once before, but the infant trees were killed by an unusually cold winter. I guess I'll find out if I can have the patience to protect the little trees until they can handle our slight freezes...whenever that may be.

We are growing it successfully here in Naples which is 10 a; I think they will always have to be protected anytime the temperatures go below 35 or it is very wet and cold.

Hi Woofie and Porkpal,
I took my pictures in Paraty in the Rio State of Brazil, I guess the zone must be something like 10a or 10b, According to my friends living there, it never freezes in winter, the fact that people even don't have heaters in their houses implies that the t°s must still be very mild...

Thank you all. I guess I will have to take special care of my little trees as it does occasionally freeze here - usually just briefly.

Hello everyone. The only jackfruit I know of that sets in zone 9 is near the bay front so always a few degrees warmer there. Its never been covered and bears fruit .http://garden.org/plants/photo/106156/
As you can see the specimen is in good health. It wouldn't make it in a colder situation and they grow to 80-90 feet rather quickly once established. A true tropical tree.

Hmmmm, I guess being next to a river doesn't cut it. There is a sort of warmer micro climate at the SE corner of our house. I think I'll try it there. When it gets too big to protect perhaps it can make it in a sheltered spot. Clearly it would not make a congenial house plant.

I was going to mention that the ones here are enormous. There are several around the city that I have noticed over the walls of houses and one really big one in the grounds of a convent. I can't imagine them in a pot but plants are amazingly adaptable.

Caldwell Nursery, near you, has them. Website says they are Zone 10 hardy, but can take short periods of 32 degree temps. One fruit can weigh 80 lbs!

Really! I will have to go inquire. I just grew mine from some seeds. I wonder whether there are different varieties?

This might help;

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/new...

Interesting! Thank you Sandi.

i think you only need to grow one. An 80 lb fruit is beeg!

I actually don't much like the fruit (the pigs do, though). I just like the appearance of the tree, and with several trees perhaps one will survive.

I have not grown jackfruit, but I have seen its huge tree and equally huge and heavy fruit in the Phil. It thrives on very hot and humid conditions..think humidity of 90F and higher, and torrential moonsoon rains. It is a huge tree with yummy spiny aromatic fruits. I think it needs to be protected if you intend to grow it in colder areas..if it will thrive at all. I think wet and hot temps okay..but not wet and very cold temps.

Well, from what you say, part of our climate is suitable; I'll just have to see how faithfully I can protect it from the rest. I am just growing it as a curiosity, but I'd like to give it the best chance.