Black sapote may be propagated by seed, marcottage (air-layering, budding, and grafting). Black sapote varieties do not come true from seed and seedling trees may take up to 5 or 6 years to flower. Trees with only male flowers will not produce fruit; trees with female or male and female flowers will bear fruit.
How do you germinate black sapote seeds?
Clean and wash them with water before sowing. You can also soak seeds in water for 24 hours for a better germination rate. Sow seeds in a seed tray or small pot in seed starting mix about 2 cm deep. The period of germination is approximately 3 – 4 weeks.
How do you start sapote seeds?
Plant the sapote seeds in soil-free medium, no more than 14 days after harvesting the seed. Sapote seeds do not do well in storage. Place the seed with the pointed side up 1/2 inch from the surface of the soil and water deeply. Water thoroughly and deeply while germination occurs, which will be in 2-4 weeks.
How do you propagate sapote?
Propagation. White sapote trees may be propagated by seed or vegetatively. Seeds should be planted within 3 weeks of harvesting from the fruit, and seedlings may begin to bear in 7 to 8 years.
How long does it take to grow sapote?
Production (Crop Yields)
Seedling trees begin to bear fruit after 7 years or longer. Grafted trees begin to bear in 3 to 5 years. Mamey sapotes are very prolific and mature trees may bear 200 to 500 fruit per year.
How long does black sapote take to fruit from seed?
It can take as long as five years before a black sapote tree is mature enough to produce plentiful fruit. The fruits are ready to harvest when the skins have turned from shiny green to dull, muddy green.
How do you sprout Sapota seeds?
Be sure that the pointed side of each seed faces up about 1/2-inch from the surface of the soil. Water the plant each seed deeply. Continue watering deeply throughout germination, which occurs in 2 to 4 weeks, and through sapota seedling growth. Once seedlings outgrow their pots, transfer them to larger containers.
How long does a black sapote tree take to grow?
1 Black Sapote is the most planted locally. Culture: Seedling trees usually take 5 – 7 years to fruit. Grafted trees will fruit within 2 years and are a more compact tree.
Is black sapote self fertile?
Almost all Black Sapote varieties are self-fertile, so you can save your own seeds to plant. Expect your seed-grown tree to bloom in five to six years. Every two or three years you will want to repot your Black Sapote. Always repot it into a pot that is one size bigger.
How long does it take for a sapote tree to bear fruit?
Seedling trees usually begin to bear in 7 – 8 years; grafted trees will start bearing in 3 or 4 years. Pests and diseases: The white sapote has few natural enemies but the fruits of some cultivars are attacked by fruit flies where that is a problem.
Is black sapote skin edible?
About the size and shape of a squat tomato, ripe sapote have a thin, inedible, olive green peel.
How tall does a black sapote tree grow?
The tree is handsome, broad-topped, slow-growing, to 80 ft (25 m) in height, with furrowed trunk to 30 in (75 cm) in diameter, and black bark.
What is the best tasting sapote?
‘McDill’ – Yellow-green, excellent flavor, very large size. ‘Cuccio’ or ‘Florida’ – Light green, excellent flavor, average size, holds on tree, bears at early age. ‘Pike’ -Green bitter skin, good flavor, medium size, older variety. ‘Fiesta’ – Yellow, good flavor, very small size, handles well.
How long do sapote trees live?
100 years
Once planted, the mamey sapote is there to stay as they are known to live up to 100 years!
What is black sapote fruit good for?
Antioxidant activity of black sapote scavenges free radicals and protects against cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other ailments. The fruit enhances the absorption of non-heme iron and promotes would healing. It also helps maintain collagen and connective tissues in the body.
Does Sapota need full sun?
In general, mamey sapote trees should be planted in full sun for best growth and fruit production.
Does sapota grow from seed?
Sapota trees may be propagated by seed or vegetatively. Seeds must be planted within 3 weeks of harvesting from the fruit, and seedlings may begin to bear in 7 to 8 years.
Can I plant seeds from frozen fruit?
Some seeds actually need a cold dormant period in order to sprout. Others can be held over the winter in a freezer and planted the following spring, and will still sprout, but with a lesser yield. For example, the first year, perhaps 80% of seeds will sprout, but after freezing, only 60%.
Can sapodilla grow in pots?
Sapodilla is a tropical evergreen tree, cultivated in many countries for export. This tree can be grown in home gardens and containers as well.
How long does it take for black sapote to ripen?
We pick the fruit when they are still hard and green. They then take about 7 to 10 days to ripen and as they do the skin darkens to a rich chocolate brown. Black Sapotes are ready to eat when their skins go black and they feel mushy to touch.
What is sapote in English?
Sapote (from Nahuatl tzapotl) is a term for a soft, edible fruit. The word is incorporated into the common names of several unrelated fruit-bearing plants native to southern Mexico, Central America and northern parts of South America. It is also known in Caribbean English as soapapple.