Germination temperature
Warm, tropical conditions; sow in the warm season or keep pots in a warm, sheltered place.
Visit deodar-seeds.in Fruit tree growing guide
Sapodilla seed needs no pre-treatment: sow it fresh, about 1 cm deep, and seedlings appear in about a month. Seedling trees are slow and variable, so seed is best used for rootstocks or for patient home growing in a frost-free climate.
Warm, tropical conditions; sow in the warm season or keep pots in a warm, sheltered place.
About 1 cm (0.4 in), about 2 cm (0.8 in) apart in a sandy seedbed.
About 30 days; up to about 80% for fresh seed.
Seed is covered; raise seedlings in light shade, then full sun.
None. Clean the seed and sow it fresh.
Sow in a seedbed or pots; move to polybags after a few months.
Take the shiny black seeds from fully ripe fruit, wash off the pulp and sow soon. Seed keeps for several months, but freshly collected seed germinates best.
Not needed. Sapodilla seed germinates without any treatment.
Not needed. This is a tropical tree and the seed needs no cold treatment.
Not needed. Sow into a moist medium instead.
Keep the seed warm. In India sow outdoors in the warm months; in cooler climates use a heated propagator or a warm windowsill and never let pots get cold and wet.
About 1 cm (0.4 in). In a nursery bed space seeds about 2 cm (0.8 in) apart.
A free-draining sandy seedbed or a sandy seed mix in deep pots. Avoid heavy, waterlogged mixes.
Keep the medium evenly moist but not soggy for the whole month the seed needs.
No light is needed under the soil. Once the seedlings are up, give bright, filtered light.
About 30 days. Germination is epigeal: the seedling lifts its two seed leaves above the soil.
After a few months move seedlings from the seedbed into polybags or deep pots.
Seedlings are slow. Even with good feeding, rootstock seedlings need 2-3 years before they are big enough to graft.
TNAU plants from June to December in 1 m (3 ft) pits filled with topsoil, 10 kg farmyard manure and 1 kg neem cake, at 8 x 8 m (26 x 26 ft). Stake young trees against wind and water well after planting, again on the third day and then every 10 days until established.
Cause: old, dried-out seed or a cold, wet medium. Fix: sow seed soon after taking it from ripe fruit and keep pots warm and only moist.
Cause: frost or near-freezing nights. Young trees can be killed at -1 to 0 °C (30-32 °F). Fix: in cooler climates keep the plant in a pot under cover until it is large.
Cause: seedling trees often take 6-10 years or more. Fix: be patient, or graft a named variety such as PKM 1 or Kallipatti onto your seedling once it is 2-3 years old.
Cause: dry soil during flowering and fruit set, or bud worm larvae. Fix: irrigate in dry spells and check flower buds for caterpillars.
Cause: sooty mould growing on honeydew from mealybugs and scale insects. Fix: control the insects; TNAU sprays a diluted starch solution that flakes off with the mould.
Seedlings vary in fruit quality and are slow to bear. In India named varieties are approach-grafted onto khirni (Manilkara hexandra) seedlings, which TNAU and PROSEA rate as the best local rootstock; sapodilla seedlings are also used.
Grow in full sun in any well-drained soil, including sandy, rocky and limy soils. The tree tolerates salt spray and saline soil well but not waterlogging. TNAU grows it up to about 1,000 m altitude.
This is a large tree. Allow about 8 m (26 ft) between trees or at least 7.6 m (25 ft) from buildings.
Feed once a year in September-October around the drip line: 10 kg farmyard manure and a balanced N-P-K dose in year one, increased each year.
Sapodilla is assessed as invasive in south and central Florida. Where it may spread, ask your local extension office before planting.
Sow sapodilla seed fresh and warm to raise your own seedlings or rootstocks.
Usually 6-10 years or more. Grafted trees bear in about 4-6 years, which is why orchards use grafts.
Not reliably. Seedlings vary in fruit size and quality; graft a named variety if you want a known fruit.
Only under cover. Young plants are damaged or killed near freezing, and mature trees survive about -3 °C (26 °F) only for a few hours.