Jujubes adaptable; pomegranates, tough but tricky
Among nontraditional fruits grown in Texas, jujube remains one of the most overlooked, said Monte Nesbitt, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
“Jujube adapts well to Texas soils and climate,” Nesbitt said. “It tolerates drought, handles the heat and thrives in poor soil conditions.”
Despite its hardiness, commercial production remains limited. It’s not an easy plant to work with, being a large-sized and moderately thorny fruit that’s prone to sucker and overgrow an area, Nesbitt said.
More variety testing and reducing the suckering problem could help jujube gain a foothold in Texas fruit production, he added.
Like jujube, pomegranates can endure Texas’ tough conditions, but they remain a niche crop due to cultivation challenges and inconsistent yields, Nesbitt said.
“Pomegranates are fine as a dooryard specimen plant, but they aren’t consistently viable for commercial growers,” he said. “Low fruit set, poor freeze survival and fruit disease susceptibility remain major hurdles.”
Figs are reliable in Central Texas and raspberries a surprise
In Central Texas, figs continue to thrive, said Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, Uvalde.
Varieties such as Alma, Celeste and Texas Everbearing perform well in the region.
“Figs have always been among Texas’ more forgiving fruits,” Stein said. “They can handle the heat, require minimal chill and recover well from extreme weather.”
Raspberries may be the most unexpected addition to Texas’ list of alternative fruits. Long considered too delicate for the state’s heat, raspberries are now under evaluation at the Texas A&M AgriLife Viticulture and Fruit Lab in Fredericksburg, where the emphasis has been on variety comparison and use of colored shade fabrics.
“For the first time, we’re seeing real potential for raspberries becoming a viable crop in Texas,” Nesbitt said. “These experimental yields and fruit quality look good, and the growers are highly intrigued.”
High tunnels promising but pricey
Protected growing methods such as seasonal high tunnels and greenhouses offer new hope for expanding fruit production across Texas.
“We’ve seen growers consistently harvest peaches in North Central Texas using high tunnels,” Nesbitt said. “That same approach could benefit crops like strawberries, apricots, blackberries and raspberries where the winter-spring weather transition brings high risk for crop loss from frost and freeze.”
Still, high tunnels come with high up-front costs and their own temperature and pest challenges.
“They aren’t a silver bullet,” he said. “Wind, warm temperature spikes at the wrong time, and static, moderate environment that favors pests like mites and thrips create additional management burdens that should be considered.”
Water is always key
Regardless of the type of fruit, success ultimately depends on access to water.
“Texas horticulture begins and ends with water,” Nesbitt said. “Growers need at least an inch of water per week per acre sometimes more.”
Alternative fruits won’t replace staples like peaches or blackberries anytime soon. But for growers facing climate uncertainty or exploring niche markets, crops such as jujube, fig and raspberry may offer valuable options.
“These crops won’t succeed everywhere,” Stein said. “But in the right places, with the right strategies, they can add real value.”
Source : tamu.edu