Hog Plum is not hard to grow. You simply need to understand its specific growing requirements. One thing you will need for sure, is hot night temperatures for this tree to grow. If you have the yellow variety ( Spondias Mombin ), these growing tips are the same for both red and yellow. 
 
 Growing Tips 
 
Best time to plant: Anytime night temperatures are at least 50F and expected to rise in the next month or so. This is going to be mid to late spring for most people.
 
Sun: Full sun anywhere in the U.S. It doesn't grow well in the shade. 
 
Winter: Frost sensitive, protect from cold wind and frost. Cold hardy to low 20F's (Mature trees).
 
Young trees may take damage sooner. Root system: Roots grow straight down several feet. Tap root. 
 
Growth structure: This is naturally a shrub. It can grow up to 15-20ft. Tall in ideal conditions and short in not so ideal conditions.
 
Fruiting: This tree flowers in the spring and fruits ripen sometime in the spring. Those grown from seed tend to take a few years before setting flowers. Ours are grown from cuttings so they fruit same year. Trees in pots don't hold fruit as well as those rooted in ground.
 
Watering: Shallow water first season in ground. As the tree gets older, deep water. Do let soil dry somewhat in between watering. This is a semi-deciduous tree, once all leaves have fallen in the winter, don't water until new growth shows up in the spring. 
 
Fertilization: In containers, any slow release fertilizer will work. In ground, compost and mulch is all you will ever need. No special fertilizers needed. Container Grown: Due to its root system, this plant doesn't grow well in a container long term. We recommend you to plant in the ground rather than growing it in a container.
 
Personal Growing Tip: Once you plant this tree in ground, no top growth is normal until the tree roots in ground. The rooting process can take 1 year+ depending on your local night temperatures. Hot=It Grows faster, Cold=It grows slower.