![]() ![]() Fruit setting on my Tikal Sapodilla tree Potential Problems It will get some sun scorch around the edges of the leaves periodically during the hottest parts of the year. My Silas Woods Sapodilla I tend to move around the yard, but primarily it gets morning sun until around noon without any shade protection and does well. I also utilize a shade clothe the first couple years. I have my Tikal Sapodilla along an East facing wall so it gets shade in the later afternoon. I also periodically top with compost.Ĭheck out the products that I use and recommend here. I give them a steady dose of liquid fish and seaweed fertilizer throughout the growing season. I feed my Sapodilla trees the same regimen as most of my tropical fruit trees. RELATED POST: How to Water Fruit Trees in Hot Climates the Right Way Feeding The leaves start to wilt when wanting water, so it is easy to identify if you need to give them watering. I’ve noticed that Sapodilla’s have shallow root systems and the roots tend to be more towards the surface, which is probably why they need frequent watering in hot, dry climates. This may be the case when the tree is older, but from my experience with Sapodilla’s they need a lot of water in the hot months of my desert climate. I’ve read some things that have said that Sapodilla can be fairly drought tolerant. Sapodilla Flowers from one of my trees Watering Sapodillas seem to handle high PH soil or salts in the soil a lot better than some other tropical fruit trees. As long as it’s not just sitting in water you should be fine. Sapodillas don’t seem that particular about the soil type. RELATED POST: Growing Fruit Trees in Containers in Hot Climates Planting Tips Make sure the roots have completely filled the pot before moving it to the next larger size pot. Be careful of putting it in too large of a pot, because the soil will hold too much water. Since it grows fairly slowly it makes it easy to container grow. I would recommend a variety like Silas Woods, which is naturally dwarf, for a container, but other varieties can also be maintained in a container. Sapodillas are great for growing in a container. Sapodillas are also not tolerant of frost and cold temps may also effect fruiting, so it will need some frost protection in climates that get some potential frost. It does take some effort to provide some shade, at least when the tree is young, when temps are consistently over 100 degrees. I would say that growing Sapodilla in a hot, dry climate takes a moderate skill level. A method I’ve seen to pollinate is to squeeze the blossom together, which I’ve attempted. The flowers are supposed to be self-pollinating. I’ve yet to have any fruit on my tree in their first two years. Many people compare the taste to a pear with brown sugar or cinnamon sugar toast. The texture is similar to a pear with that little bit of grit. ![]() When you cut them open they have a few large seeds that are fairly flat with a hook on the end. Sapodillas have a similar look to a small potato or kiwi. My Silas Woods Sapodilla Tree in Container Fruiting It may have something to do with one being in the ground and the other in a container or just all the transplanting that the Tikal went through slowed it down. Sapodillas generally grow fairly slowly outside of the tropics, but the Silas Woods has definitely grown faster than my Tikal. In summer of 2018, I had a large windstorm that snapped the tree in half, so it is recovering. I’m concerned that maybe it needs more humidity during flowering to set fruit. In more humid climates, like South Florida, this variety tends to fruit year round, but I’ve only seen it flower in the spring in my area. It has flowered in its first two years in the spring, but hasn’t set fruit. I purchased mine in fall of 2016 as a mail order plant and it was around a foot tall. It’s a dwarf variety that is supposed to fruit prolifically, even at a small size. This is a variety I’m extremely excited about. My Tikal Sapodilla Tree Silas Woods Sapodilla ![]() I had one fruit set in the second year, but a windstorm blew it off. ![]() Tikal Sapodilla tends to flower a couple times of year in spring and late summer. It’s now doing well, but it’s in a location near my AC unit, so the air from the AC tends to blow on it, which isn’t good in the dry heat or cold winter nights. Needless to say, the tree has taken some abuse and did have periods where it showed. I dug it up and kept it in a container for that winter, then planted it in the ground the next spring. We decided shortly after planting it that we were going to put our house up for sale, so there was no way I was leaving it behind. Well one summer day, I decided I had a good spot in the yard for it and planted it in the ground. I purchased the tree in the spring of 2016 and originally intended to grow it in a container. This tree and I have quite a history together. I purchased my Tikal Sapodilla at a local nursery in a 3 gallon size. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |