Many ornamental plants are planted for their flowers, while trees are popular for their fruit. Neither one nor the other is possible with the ginkgo, because it flowers late and its fruits are anything but fragrant.

The fruits smell extremely unpleasant

Do all ginkgo trees bear fruit?

Not all ginkgo trees bear fruit, as there are male and female trees. The male ginkgo bears kitten-shaped flowers, while the female has very small, inconspicuous ones. After the flowering period, the Mirabelle-like fruits only develop from the fertilized female flowers. However, this requires a sexually mature male ginkgo tree nearby, without which fertilization is not possible.

When does a ginkgo bear fruit for the first time?

It takes a long time before a ginkgo flowers for the first time. It only becomes sexually mature at around 20 to 35 years of age. So you will look in vain for flowers or fruits on a young ginkgo.

What do the fruits of the ginkgo tree look like?

In terms of shape and colour, the ginkgo fruits are somewhat similar to mirabelle plums. They are rounded, about two to three centimeters long and one and a half to two and a half centimeters wide. The outer skin is greenish until ripening in autumn. Before the fruit falls from the tree, it turns yellow. The point in time for this depends to a large extent on the prevailing temperature.

You can tell when a ginkgo fruit is ripe by its smell. The seed coat contains fatty acids that smell like rancid butter when they decompose. Because of this rather unpleasant odor, male ginkgo trees are often preferred to be planted. Without fertilization, you don't have to worry about odor nuisance in the female ginkgo either.

Are the fruits of the ginkgo tree edible?

Given the unpleasant odor, it's hard to believe that the fruits of the ginkgo tree are actually edible. However, it is better to process or remove the tasty kernels from the shell outside of your home. The smell is difficult to get rid of. This also applies to stains or splashes on clothing.

Be sure to wear gloves when collecting and unrolling, otherwise the scent of your hands will remind you of this work for a long time. Soaking the fruit also makes it easier for you to remove the outer shell. You can roast the kernels in the shell, but you can also remove them from the cracked shell and then use them.

The most important thing about the ginkgo fruit:

  • first flowers and fruit at least 20 years old
  • Fruit peel smells unpleasant (like rancid butter)
  • Color green
  • Size: about like a mirabelle plum
  • Shape: rounded
  • Core of the fruit edible
  • Use of the core/nut as a spice in Asian cuisine

tips

If your ginkgo actually has ripe fruit, you can try to grow a new ginkgo tree from the seeds.

Category:

Vegetable garden