Jackfruit is not the kind of tree that demands constant attention. Once it is well-rooted, it quietly gets on with its job — growing taller each year, casting generous shade, and producing harvests that can feed families season after season.

Long before supermarkets stocked neatly packaged produce, jackfruit trees stood in backyards and farms across India, offering everything from tender vegetables to sweet, ripe fruit.

Perhaps that is why Thomas, a jackfruit conservationist from Kerala, has spent years collecting and nurturing different varieties of the fruit.

Concerned by the growing dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture, he began collecting jackfruit varieties and cultivating them organically. Over time, a former rubber plantation transformed into an orchard that now houses more than 210 types of jackfruit.

His work is driven by a simple belief: this hardy, versatile tree deserves far more attention than it gets.

The good news is that you do not need acres of land to grow one. With the right care in its early years, a jackfruit tree can thrive in a home garden and continue producing fruit for decades.

Here are 10 tips to help you get started.

1. Choose the right location

One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make is underestimating how large a jackfruit tree can become.

A healthy........

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