A Glenn mango, a Kohala longan or a jaboticaba can go home with any Deerfield Beach single-family homeowner on Halloween morning, at no cost. The City of Deerfield Beach is holding its annual Fall Tree Giveaway on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at Johnie McKeithen Park, 629 N Deerfield Ave., with cars entering from NW 1st Terrace.

The city announced the date on Oct. 19. Every tree on offer this fall is a fruit tree, and there are five kinds to choose from. The trees are meant to be planted on the homeowner's own property.

Who can get one

The giveaway is open to Deerfield Beach residents who own a single-family home. The limit is one tree per household, handed out first come, first served while the supply lasts. There is no registration ahead of time. Bring proof of Deerfield Beach residency, since the city checks it on arrival.

Pickup runs through a single drive-through lane. Each tree comes in a 3- to 5-gallon container and stands 1 to 4 feet tall, and the city suggests arriving early and leaving enough room in the car to carry a container that size upright.

The five trees

The city published growing details for each variety, which help in picking one that fits a yard.

Glenn mango. Grows to about 25 feet tall with a 20-foot spread. It needs full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and its fruit comes in June and July.

Kohala longan. Reaches about 25 feet high and 25 feet wide. It wants full sun and well-drained soil and bears fruit from mid-May to mid-June.

Ruby Supreme guava. A moderate grower that tops out around 20 feet. It tolerates full sun and moderate salinity. Fruit comes in spring and summer, usually starting two to three years after planting.

Barbados cherry. Grows to about 20 feet high and 20 feet wide in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It has the longest season of the five, fruiting from May through December.

Jaboticaba. The city describes it as compact and slow-growing, eventually reaching 20 to 35 feet with a 15- to 20-foot spread. It does well in full sun or partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, and it fruits in March and April.

Picking the right one for the yard

Spread is the number to check first. The longan and the mango both reach 20 to 25 feet across at maturity, so they need open ground away from the house, the pool cage and power lines. The guava and the Barbados cherry stay smaller. The jaboticaba grows slowly and is the only one of the five the city lists for partial shade, which makes it the candidate for a yard without full sun all day.

Season is the second thing. The jaboticaba fruits earliest, in March and April; the longan and mango follow from mid-May through July; the Barbados cherry runs from May into December.

Other dates on the city calendar

The city also posted on Oct. 19 that it will honor veterans at a ceremony on Nov. 11. The Haunted Arboretum on Oct. 23 is already sold out, according to the city.

If you go

What: Deerfield Beach Fall Tree Giveaway, five fruit tree varieties
When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to noon, while supplies last
Where: Johnie McKeithen Park, 629 N Deerfield Ave., Deerfield Beach; enter from NW 1st Terrace
Who: Deerfield Beach single-family homeowners, one tree per household
Bring: Proof of Deerfield Beach residency and room in the vehicle for a 3- to 5-gallon container
Cost: Free; no registration

Sources