Aegle marmelos a.K.a Bengal Quince, Golden Apple, Stone Apple, Aegle marmelos
Aegle marmelos, commonly known as Bengal quince, golden apple, stone apple, wood apple, bili, is a species of tree native to India. It is present throughout Southeast Asia as a naturalized species.
The fruit is eaten fresh or dried. If fresh, the juice is strained and sweetened to make a drink similar to lemonade. It can be made into sharbat (Hindi) or Bela pana or bel pana, a refreshing drink made of the pulp with water, sugar, and lime juice, mixed, left to stand a few hours, strained, and put on ice. One large bael fruit may yield five or six liters of sharbat.
Growing Info:
Scarification: Soak in water, let stand in water for 24 hours.
Stratification: none required.
Germination: sow seed 3/4″ deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed.
Other: expect germination in 10 days @ 70-85 degrees F, it will take longer if cooler.