How to Grow Jujube
Ziziphus jujuba
Jujube trees are surprisingly hardy and can fruit in the warmest parts of the UK, especially against a south-facing wall. They leaf out very late in spring, so do not worry if they look dead into May. Plant in full sun with well-drained soil and give them as much summer heat as possible. The date-like fruits ripen from late August and can be eaten fresh when crisp or dried like dates when wrinkled and brown.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Apply a balanced granular fertiliser in early spring as growth begins. Jujubes are low-maintenance and rarely need heavy feeding — excess nitrogen promotes foliage over fruit.
Watch For
- Aphids on new growth
- Powdery mildew in late summer
- Coral spot on dead wood
- Birds pecking ripening fruit
Track your Jujube care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun, south-facing wall ideal for UK ripening
Full sun is essential. Plant against a south-facing wall to maximise warmth and reflected heat. Jujubes need long, hot summers to ripen fruit in the UK.
💧 Watering
Drought-tolerant once established, water young trees
Drought-tolerant once established. Water young trees regularly during the first two seasons. Mature trees rarely need supplemental watering except in prolonged drought.
🌱 Fertilizing
Balanced feed in early spring, avoid excess nitrogen
Apply a balanced granular fertiliser in early spring. Avoid excessive nitrogen which promotes vegetative growth over fruiting. Mulch with compost annually.
✂️ Pruning
Late winter pruning, remove suckers and dead wood
Prune in late winter to remove dead wood, crossing branches, and root suckers. Jujubes fruit on current season's growth, so moderate pruning encourages new fruiting wood.
Growing Tips
Late to leaf out
Jujubes are among the last trees to break dormancy, often not leafing out until late April or May. This is normal — do not assume the tree is dead.
Maximum sun and heat
Plant against a south-facing wall to maximise warmth. Jujubes need long, hot summers to ripen fruit well in the UK climate.
Harvest in stages
Pick fruits when they turn from green to reddish-brown for fresh eating (crisp and apple-like), or leave longer on the tree until wrinkled for drying.
Sucker management
Jujubes can produce root suckers. Remove these promptly to keep the tree tidy and prevent unwanted spread.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of small green insects on young shoot tips, sticky honeydew
- Squash by hand or blast off with a jet of water
- Encourage ladybirds and hoverflies
- Spray with fatty acid or plant oil-based insecticide if heavy
Pest Birds
Identification: Pecked or damaged fruit, especially as it colours and sweetens
- Net the tree with fine mesh as fruit begins to colour
- Use bird scarers or reflective tape as a deterrent
- Not applicable
Disease Powdery Mildew
Symptoms: White powdery coating on leaves, especially in late summer
Treatment: Remove badly affected leaves. Improve air circulation
Prevention: Ensure good airflow around the tree. Avoid overcrowding
Disease Coral Spot Nectria cinnabarina
Symptoms: Small bright orange-pink pustules on dead or dying branches
Treatment: Prune out affected branches well below the visible infection. Burn or bin prunings
Prevention: Remove dead wood promptly. Make clean pruning cuts. Avoid leaving snags
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 450 cm |
| Row spacing | 550 cm |
| Mature height | 500 cm |
| Mature spread | 400 cm |
Trees are upright and can be planted closer (300cm) if pruned heavily. Known for late leafing out.
Log Jujube in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
Start planning free