🌳 Wood Apple (Kot Bel) – Growing & Care Guide

Wood Apple, locally known as Kot Bel, is a hardy fruit tree valued for its medicinal properties and nutritious pulp. It grows well in dry and semi-arid regions and requires minimal maintenance.

Botanical name: Limonia acidissima

🌱 Growing Instructions

Climate: Thrives in tropical and subtropical climates. Highly tolerant to heat and drought.

Temperature: Ideal range 20°C–40°C.

Soil: Can grow in poor, rocky, or sandy soils. Prefers well-drained soil.

Sunlight: Requires full sunlight (6–8 hours daily).

Planting Distance: 6–8 meters apart.

Watering: Minimal watering required once established. Avoid waterlogging.

Best Planting Time: July–September (monsoon) or February–March.

Fruiting Time: Starts fruiting in 3–5 years (grafted plants fruit earlier).

🌿 Care Instructions

Fertilizer: Apply organic compost once or twice a year.

Pruning: Light pruning to remove dry or damaged branches.

Mulching: Helps retain soil moisture in dry regions.

Pest Control: Generally pest resistant; monitor occasionally for leaf-eating insects.

Weeding: Keep the base clean for better growth.

🍏 Uses of Wood Apple (Kot Bel)

Eaten fresh by scooping out pulp

Used in juices, chutneys, and traditional drinks

Rich in fiber, iron, and antioxidants

Known for digestive and medicinal benefits

Suitable for dryland farming and agroforestry