Light. Plant in full sun, 25–30 ft from other trees and buildings.
Water. Water every other day the first week, then once or twice a week for a couple of months. Young trees need water twice a week in dry spells. Choose a spot that does not stay wet after summer rains.
Soil and feeding. It grows in sandy and limestone soils. Feed young trees every 1–2 months the first year. After that, 3–4 feedings a year with a fruit tree fertilizer such as Citrus and Fruit Trees are enough.
Size. Kept to about 20 ft with pruning; unpruned trees grow 30–75 ft.
Pruning. Prune after harvest to control height and spread.
Problems to watch. Few pests or diseases affect it in Florida. Timed lawn sprinklers can overwater it and cause root rot.
Good to know. Only the cream aril of naturally split fruit is edible. Unripe or overripe fruit is highly poisonous, so plant it only if your household knows safe harvest.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS HS1128: Ackee Growing in the Florida Home Landscape
